Like Morocco, Egypt exists at the geographical and cultural intersection of overlapping regions and identities, which contribute to its complex socio-cultural make-up, which makes it an exciting adventure for everyone who wants to explore North Africa.
Where Morocco summarizes a rich wall carpet from Amazigh, Arabic, African and European influences, Egypt combines Arabic, African and Mediterranean elements and both countries are shaped by old stories and unique places.
Although these countries are 2,296 miles apart and are located on the opposite pages of North Africa, a visit to Egypt does not have to break the bank. From flights to activities to food, the Moroccan dirham can bring them far in the way Egypt And even further if you are strategic with your editions.
Capital in capital: Rabat to Cairo
Direct flights off Rabat to Cairo are rarely cheap, so make skyscanner.com your new best friend. This website creates the cheapest flight combinations and connections in all airlines and offers you a variety of options at various price points and travel times.
But don’t book your flight directly through Skyscanner. The trick is to use the website to find the best combination of flights and then book every single flight directly via the website of your respective airline. In this way you can avoid the service fees of third -party skyscaners from third -party providers.
The further you book in advance, the better the price – remember to plan ahead. Also choose a randomly selected seat to save a little money.
To save even more money, don’t pay to check a bag. Checkout This backpack – I use this on all trips to avoid additional luggage fees. If you travel with a friend, you should share a hand luggage or checking bag and share the costs.
As soon as you have landed at the Cairo International Airport (CAI), it can be up to 40 minutes to the capital. I recommend booking a car in advance or using Uber or Indrive – both are legal in Egypt.
Where are you: Hotels? Hostels? Rental?
If you travel alone, it can be cheaper to stay in a hostel or a rental house. Hotels can increase a variety of additional fees, but many are also benefited with a free breakfast.
Hostelworld shared dormitory for MAD 100 ($ 10) per night and Airbnb has something more expensive, private options for around MAD 500 ($ 50) per night.
While you may be tried to stay near the pyramids in Giza, it is important to take into account the security of this area. Areas with high tourist traffic are usually less safe and the prices are usually higher. It is better to stay closer to Kairo’s city center or New Cairo, the area around the Grand Egyptian Museum and the Nile.
What to do: activities and leaders
The pyramids
When traveling in Cairo, it is absolutely important to book a guide for certain activities. No matter how independent or confident you are, Cairo is a lively city that alone is difficult to navigate, especially if you don’t speak Maasri.
With perfect 5 stars and over 2,000 reviews on TripAdvisor, A1 Egypt tours Offers Arabic, English, French and Spanish tours for everyone in Cairo. Your prices are fair and offer all-inclusive packages that include a driver, lunch and water for your trip.
The average costs of an all -inclusive tour with this company are 60 (60 USD) per person. Although there are cheaper options, they do not offer the same accommodations.
The Grand Bazaar
Similar to the Medina Morocco, the Khan el-Khalili-Basar in Cairo is your one-stop shop for souvenirs, jewelry and clothing. If you do not speak the language and have been learned about the art of negotiations, it is also recommended to book a guide that leads you through the busy bazaar streets.
Most companies are calculated for this tour via MAD 400 ($ 40) per person, but A1 Egypt tours offered my group MAD 200 (20 US dollars) per person with an enclosed dinner. Our Guide Mo did for us and I never paid more than crazy 150 ($ 15 dollars) for an article. I went home with several beautiful jewelry, scarves and other souvenirs.
Mosques, churches and synagogues
Egypt is unique as an extremely intersectional country, which is apartments at a certain point in time in all three Abrahamic religions. Today Egypt’s mosques, churches and synagogues are well preserved and open to visitors.
A guide is not necessary for these visits, but makes transport and entry easier, especially if you do not speak the language. On Booking.com there are several options that offer Coptic Cairo tours for MAD 400 (40 US dollars).
Nil River Dinner Cruise
Another must in Egypt, which organizes Nil, houses numerous options for dinner cruises with which you can see the water at night. Getyourguide.com has affordable options for MAD 200 (20 US dollars), which include the trip to the boat, a two -hour cruise and an evening buffet.
Most cruises have entertainment on board, including traditional folk dancers, belly dancers and musicians. After eating, make your way to the upper deck of the boat to get a few great photo ops and beautiful views.
Grandgyptian museum
In Cairo there is the world’s largest archaeological museum, the Grand Egyptian Museum, with over 81,000 m2 the floor area and over 100,000 artifacts from ancient Egyptian civilization. It would be a crime to visit Cairo and not see this monumental attraction.
The entrance to the Grandgyptian Museum. Photo by Lizzie Jensen
Tickets are 1200 EGP ($ 23) for adults and 600 EGP ($ 11) for children and students.
When you enter, take the escalator at the top and work down to achieve the best experience in chronological order. You will find an overwhelming accumulation of old artifacts that are incomprehensible old, including König’s famous mask.
After you have made your way through the exhibits, take the remaining Egyptian pounds you have and buy some souvenirs. The museum’s gift shop is aimed at a wide range of price points and offers a machine that writes its name in Hieroglyphs.
Eat
If you are still not convinced to book the trip, let me introduce me to “Koshary”. If you eat one thing in Egypt, this national court must be.
Koshary perfectly embodies Egyptens multicultural make -up. As a mixture of the Middle East, Mediterranean and Italian cuisine, Koshary is typically made from rice, lentils, chickpeas and three types of pasta, which are served in three different types of sauce – tomatoes, spicy and garlic – and are crowned with fried onions.
The price of food is probably the best part of the trip to Egypt. You can easily find a delicious, high -quality food for under MAD 100 (10 US dollars).
If you have fallen in love with lively culture, rich history and breathtaking landscapes in Morocco, Egypt offers a natural next step for your travels. Like Morocco, Egypt is a country in which you mix with the lively city life, in which every corner tells a story and stand in hospitality and aromatic cuisine in the heart of everyday life.
From the lively markets from Cairo to the timeless beauty of the Nile, Egypt reflects a lot of what makes Morocco so fascinating and at the same time offers its unique and unforgettable experiences. The best thing about everything is that it is budget -friendly and it is the perfect goal for travelers who are looking for depth, beauty and adventure without extremely spending.
