Is Egypt Safe for Family Holiday Activities and Adventures?
Is Egypt safe for family holiday activities and adventures? Overall Egypt is a very safe destination for tourists, including family trips. However, as is to be expected, some areas are safer than others, and we will delve deeper into this shortly. Our sincere hope is that this short post will help to ensure that you and your family can enjoy a safe and totally unforgettable vacation in the land of the Pharaohs.
Cairo the Bustling Egyptian Capital
There’s no denying the fact that Egypt is one of the world’s most fascinating tourist destinations, and for most people who head to Egypt, their adventure begins in Cairo. So, is Egypt safe for family holiday tours in Cairo? Absolutely, but for extra peace of mind and a totally hassle-free experience, we do recommend that you book your tour or tours through a reputable and well established Egypt tour operator.
Good Cairo private guided tours should include your own personal guide, your own private driver, and a clean and modern air conditioned vehicle. With your own private guide and driver, you won’t have to try and navigate the public transport system, and neither will you have to haggle with taxi drivers. This alone can add an extra layer of safety to your Cairo experience.
With a professionally organized tour, you can visit all of the city’s most iconic tourist attractions, including sites such as the legendary Giza Pyramids and Sphinx, the Egyptian Museum, the Cairo Citadel, Coptic Cairo, and more with absolute peace of mind.
If you decide to travel independently with your family, always remain alert and keep your valuables close by. Egypt has a surprisingly low crime rate, but petty crime such as pickpocketing does occur, especially in very busy and crowded places. Once again, if you have a professional guide with you, the risk of you becoming a victim of petty crime or being ripped off by taxi drivers is reduced.
Is Egypt Safe for Family Holiday Nile Cruises?
Yes, Nile River cruises are perfectly safe for families, including families traveling with children. However, if your children are below the age of 7 or 8 years, then you will need to be extra vigilant when lounging by the pool on your cruise ship. Virtually no Nile cruise ships have any child-safe features in place around the swimming pools. Accidents can happen quickly so please keep a close eye on any young children who are traveling with you.
As is to be expected, the younger your children are, the higher level of hassle you are likely to encounter because it would be wise to monitor them continuously. Also, we would recommend that you consider booking a five-star Nile river cruise, although some five-star ships don’t permit children below the age of seven.
Egypt Desert Adventures
Is Egypt safe for family holiday desert adventures? Yes, but naturally, some desert adventure activities, such as camel trekking and quad biking, are not suitable for very young children.
Some desert areas in Egypt, particularly the North Sinai region, are also not safe for tourists due to the risk of armed bandits, potential terrorist activity, and military activity. The travel advisories issued by most countries advise against all travel in North Sinai. Many travel warnings also advise against all non-essential travel in much of the South Sinai region.
This does not mean that you cannot enjoy a truly unforgettable desert experience during your time in Egypt, but once again, you should arrange your desert adventure through a reputable and well-established Egypt tour operator. Most top rated Egypt tour operators take the safety of their clients extremely seriously and will only offer desert adventures in areas which are deemed to be safe.
Breathtaking Seaside Vacations
Is Egypt safe for family holiday beach activities, and which areas are best for enjoying a break by the sea? Let’s take a look at a few popular seaside destinations:
Alexandria
Alexandria is a major city in the northernmost part of Egypt. It has a reputation of being a very safe city, but unfortunately, its beaches cannot compete to those which can be found elsewhere in the country. On the upside, you can enjoy time on the beaches in Alexandria without encountering huge crowds of international tourists, and of course, you can enjoy swimming in the Mediterranean Sea. The city is also home to a very busy port and is well known for its high quality seafood.
Hurghada
This charming coastal resort stretches approximately 40 km along the Red Sea coast. It was not long ago that Hurghada was a small fishing village, but in the last few decades, it started to become a very popular tourist destination, and as a result, the town has expanded considerably.
The town is extremely well geared up for snorkeling and scuba diving enthusiasts. It has a pristine coastline, complete with beautiful sandy beaches and crystal clear turquoise waters. It also boasts several different beach activities and water sports, including kite boarding and windsurfing. The ocean in this area is also almost always calm, making it safe for families with children.
Sharm El Sheikh
Sharm El Sheikh is located on the southernmost tip of the South Sinai Peninsula. It is exceptionally well geared up for tourism, and today it is considered to be one of Egypt’s most popular family holiday destinations. It really is absolutely perfect for Egypt family vacations by the sea.
The area is home to several pristine beaches with an abundance of beach activities and water sports available. It is also immensely popular among snorkeling and scuba diving enthusiasts. So, is Egypt safe for family holiday activities at Sharm El Sheikh? Absolutely, and believe us when we say that there is definitely no shortage of activities to suit people of all ages.
It should however be said that there are not many major tourist sites in the area, but if you only want to relax and unwind by the coast and enjoy the refreshing magic of the Red Sea, then Sharm El Sheikh is definitely one of the top contenders to consider.
3 Essential Tips for Staying Safe in Egypt
Is Egypt safe for family holiday travel? Yes! As we’ve mentioned throughout this article, most parts of Egypt are very safe for tourists. However, there are a few things you can do to make your trip to Egypt safer than ever. Let’s take a look at a few top tips:
- Only drink bottled water when you are in Egypt. Some of the better tour operators will even provide free bottles of water during your tours. Tap water is not safe to drink, even in upmarket hotels and Nile cruise ships. Bottled water is cheap and plentiful, so there is no reason why you and your family should take any unnecessary chances.
- As is the case in many large cities, we highly recommend that visitors, and especially female visitors, should avoid being out on foot in very quiet and dimly lit areas after the sun has gone down. Taxis in Egypt are quite cheap so it’s best to make use of taxes if you happen to be out and about after dark.
- Egypt has not experienced any unrest for a relatively long period of time. However, nobody can predict if or when this will change. With this in mind, we recommend that visitors should avoid mass gatherings, should they happen to come across any during their trip to Egypt.
Start Planning Your Dream Trip to the Land of the Pharaohs Today
At Egypt Tours Plus, we offer an exceptional range of high quality Egypt tour packages that showcase the best that this amazing country has to offer, allowing you to enjoy the ultimate family vacation in Egypt. Nearly all aspects of our Egypt tours can be customized in any number of ways. We can also work with you to create a custom tour that features only those attractions and activities that matter the most to you and your family.
If you are still wondering, is Egypt safe for family holiday travel, we can assure you that it is, and we will be happy to work with you to plan the ultimate family vacation in this amazing country.
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Last Updated on October 1, 2024