1. Egypt - how to be a successful tourist.
The land of the pharaohs is the perfect place to go for
your future holiday. Egypt is a Middle Eastern country
with Arabic being the predominant language spoken.
Religionis a part of daily life for Egyptians; around
94% are Muslim and practice Islam.
Going somewhere different for the first time can be
daunting if you don’t know the culture. Luckily we
have got you covered with everything you need to
know about how to fit in whilst in the Valley of the
Kings.
Greetings and Personal space
During an initial first meeting you can simply nod a
hello to the person or extend to a handshake.
Personal space should be kept to an arm’s length at
least when you are meeting someone for the first time
and you should not touch them in public. You should
also avoid eye contact with members of the opposite
sex as Egyptian womenmay interpret this is
intimidating. If you are unsure in any situation it is
best to followthe lead of the Egyptian you are
meeting.
Dress
If you are going out to a public place, women should
avoid sleeveless tops and short skirts out of respect.
At the very least cover the upper arms and cover the
legs past the knee. It is also impolite to point the toe
or heel of your shoe at someone or show the sole of

2. your shoe. These points can be reserved for public
places, whereas if you are on your resort you are free
to dress and act as you wish.
Gestures
Egyptians are very emotive and use a lot of hand
gestures for different things. Shouting or banging
would be taken as anger in western society but most
use it merely to enforce a point they feel strongly
about. Instead of the usual ‘excuse me’ you would
here for someone calling you from a distance, you
should listen out for whistling, clapping or a ‘pssst’
sound. It could be to warn you of an oncoming car or
many use it call a waiter when in a restaurant.
Alcohol and Eating out
Devout Muslims do not drink alcohol,eat pork or use
drugs, but when you are eating out is not forbidden to
drink alcohol. Dining etiquette can be good
knowledge to have, if you are on a resort it would be
different to if you were invited to someone’s house. If
you are eating out you should tip the staff well as you
would on any other holiday. You should also avoid
eating with your left hand as it is used for personal
hygiene; Egyptians use the right hand for eating and
greeting.
A few tips
Buy bottled water for drinking and brushing your
teeth, never drink the tap water. Make friends with

3. other travellers in the place you’re staying, as they
can give you advice on excursions and restaurants.
Egyptians are some of the most warm and
accommodating people; nothing is too much for them.
So enjoy the culture and be considerate of this
wonderful country and their hosts.