Backpacking in Egypt
Six Reasons why Egypt is a Top Destination for Backpackers
Is Egypt suitable for backpackers?
Absolutely!
It's cheap, accessible, and the transport infrastructure is well developed. It's beautiful, diverse, English is widely spoken and the locals are seriously hospitable.
Remarkably however, most of the country's ten million annual visitors opt instead to come on some form of package holiday or organised tour.
Below are the top six reasons why people considering backpacking, should consider backpacking in Egypt:
1) It is Affordable
Most travellers have some sort of budget to adhere and let’s face it, the less your trip costs you, the more cash you’ll have to put towards the next one.
Egypt is a cheap country in which to travel by almost standards and at almost any stage in your journey. Charter flights to a number of Egyptian cities and resorts run frequently and affordable from Europe and beyond, and transport prices in the country itself are even cheaper.
There is a variety of accommodation, from hostels and guests houses to deluxe five and even seven star hotels. But whatever your budget there is something to suit, and clean, comfy accommodation with a sea view and a hammock out front can start from as little as €5 per night in some places.
If you’re will to try the local cuisine a decent feed can cost less than €1, and if you take the time to hone your bartering skills you can even buy a souvenir from the market with the change.
To make your visit to Egypt even more cost effective read about Egypt Money Saving Tips
2) English is widely spoken
If you’re reading this website you probably have some level of ability in speaking and understanding the English language. So too do the Egyptian nation.
Whether due to the English colonial presence that lasted in Egypt until the 1950s, or merely the linguistically talented populace, English is widely spoken in the country, making backpacking in Egypt that little bit easier.
To further enhance your trip why not try learning some of the local lingo or download this free guide to basic Egyptian Arabic to bring on your trip.
3) Good Transport Infrastructure
The major sites in Egypt are well connected by good transport infrastructure. The big cities have cheap and frequent trains, tubes and taxi cabs, and buses run the length and breadth of the country, from the Libyan border to Israel and Jordan .
A train runs from Alexandria in the North to Aswan in the South, with spacious and comfy seating and private sleeper cabins for first class passengers.
And regular ferries power across the Red Sea linking mainland Egypt with Sinai and resorts like Sharm El Sheikh, Dahab, and Nuweiba.
Read more about transport options within Egypt
4) It can be linked to a much larger journey
One of the reasons Thailand is so popular with backpackers, is that it can be used as base from which to explore the rest of the region such as Laos , Cambodia , Malaysia and Vietnam.
Backpacking in Egypt offers similar opportunities.
Egypt shares a land border with Israel and a sea border with Jordan , both of which are beautiful, fascinating countries with oodles of history and culture to be explored. A period of three or four weeks is enough to make a whistle stop tour of all three. And if you have more time to spare you can spend many months doing the same trip and still feel like it was not enough.
Read about more Egypt tour itineraries.
5) The people are kind, helpful and hospitable
To really know a place is to know its people. You’ll never feel alone in Egypt as everywhere you go the Egyptians will talk to you. If you have any problems while backpacking in Egypt (lost, confused or just plain lonely), help is never more than a few feet away.
6) Diversity
Egypt has a formidable variety of sites, monuments, activities and landscapes all just a relatively short distance away from one another making it ideal for travelling.
If you decide to go backpacking in Egypt you can expect to enjoy lounging on the beach, climbing mountains, camping out under the stars, getting lost in medieval cities, driving though the desert, learning to scuba dive, and coming face to face with some of the world’s most ancient wonders… and all in the space of a week.
To find out more about destinations in Egypt simply look at this map and click on a destination
For More Information:
Travel Independent: For more advice on backpacking in Egypt and the rest of the world
