Health
Contrary to popular opinion, Egyptian tap water is perfectly safe to both wash in and drink. It does however taste awful, mainly due to the fact that it is heavily chlorinated. So too though is London tap water, which many people find equally horrible to drink. Fortunately mineral water is available almost everywhere, for around LE 4 a bottle. The best known brands are Nestle Pure Life, and Baraka, with Pure Life being considered supreme quality due to its lower level of sodium. Both are perfectly acceptable though. When buying water, take care to ensure the seal is intact.
Tourists are often advised to avoid salads, and fresh fruit and vegetables. As a vegetarian though, I really had little choice in the matter. In my opinion, wherever and whenever you travel in the world, eating meat has to be considered a far greater risk to health than eating fruit and vegetables. It is interesting that I was the only member of the group who at some point throughout the trip did not get a food related bug. Besides, all the good hotels and cruise ships wash produce thoroughly before cooking. At the end of the day though, if you are susceptible to stomach bugs, no amount of fanatical diet or hygiene will protect you. If it does strike it is likely to do so within the first few days of the trip, and usually passes within 24 hours. Take plenty of rehydration salts with you in case you need them, available from pharmacies. If you get 'Pharaohs revenge', as it is commonly called, an antibiotic called Entocid (a form of auromycin) seems to work wonders at rapidly eliminating the worst symptoms.
Public toilets in Egypt often have no soap or hand washing facilities. Wet wipes or a small tub of water free hand wash are therefore essential accessories to carry with you, as well as a supply of paper tissues.
The other problem worth mentioning is mosquitoes, which in the end were the only things that did cause me problems. Although Egypt is not considered to be a malaria risk, the bites I suffered nevertheless caused a nasty allergic response. I recommend that you take a good supply of anti-histamine tablets and insect repellent for such an eventuality. Neem oil seems to work particularly well, and is also non-toxic and smells nice.
At the time of writing several inoculations are recommended for British travellers to Egypt. Full details can be obtained from the Travellers health website. It is usually recommended that any series of inoculations is completed at least 6 weeks before departure. Further advice and information will be available from your GP.
Dress Code
Egypt is a predominantly Muslim country, and although no one expects tourists to dress in the traditional head scarf and cover themselves completely, nevertheless some common sense rules should be observed. The fact that Egypt is if anything, less conservative than many other Islamic states does not mean that these rules should be ignored, as the culture and way of life should be respected at all times.
Practically speaking, during the warmer months, loose cotton clothing is best. For women this means simple cropped or full length trousers or skirts, with sleeves that cover at least the shoulders. In Luxor you will see plenty of foreign women obviously flouting these rules by wearing shorts and sleeveless tops, and by and large they are not bothered by the local men. However it tends to reinforce the idea that foreign women are fair game, and can cause problems not just for themselves but for everyone else too, whether they are appropriately dressed or not. It may then be tempting to ignore this advice and dress in shorts anyway, and that of course is your choice, but dressing more appropriately also has other advantages - not least of all the sun protection it affords you. The locals after all have been dressing like this like for millennia and it seems to work for them - perhaps then we ought to take the hint.
One item which you will find essential is a large wide brimmed sun hat. Fortunately these are available at most tourist sites for very reasonable prices. As strong as the sun is in Egypt, it can also be quite chilly in the mornings and evenings. If you plan to get up early ensure that you have bought enough warm clothes - I took along a lightweight hooded fleece jacket, which I found to be ideal.
Comfortable shoes are also essential, as a visit to Egypt involves a fair amount of walking. Trainers are better than walking boots, as they are lighter, while still offering adequate support and breathability. If you run of out clean clothes, then most hotels and cruise ships offer a laundry service at very reasonable prices.
Weather
The temperature in Egypt varies considerably from north to south, with the north (Lower Egypt) being considerably cooler. Summers in Egypt (or even spring in the south) can be oppressively hot, with temperatures climbing up to 122 F (50 C) in June and July. The best and most popular times to visit are therefore spring and autumn, when by and large the temperatures are a lot more pleasant. Winter weather is however often colder than people anticipate, especially at sunrise and sunset. Temperatures can plummet rapidly after dark even during the spring and autumn months, so ensure that you have brought enough warm clothes. Sun protection is however the most important consideration for most travellers to Egypt, especially the fair skinned. Make sure you bring plenty with you, to suit your particular skin, as well as liberal amounts of aloe gel in case you get burnt. It goes without saying that adherence to the dress code mentioned above will automatically lessen the risk.
