*(View of the Pyramids of Giza from the desert.)*

Planning a trip to Egypt? Good. You should go.

Just understand… this isn’t just a vacation. It’s an experience, a negotiation, and occasionally, a full-contact sport.

I did my homework before this trip. Read the blogs, watched the videos, and mentally prepared myself for “a few challenges.”

Still wasn’t ready. And this is coming from someone who has spent time in neighborhoods run by drug cartels.

Egypt doesn’t ease you in. It throws you into the deep end, hands you a history book, and then tries to sell you a papyrus painting before you’ve had your first coffee.

The Internet Situation (or Lack Thereof)

Let’s start with something simple: WiFi. Or… the idea of WiFi.

During my almost two weeks in Cairo, Aswan, and on a riverboat cruising down the Nile River, I had access to WiFi everywhere. In theory. In practice? It worked about 1% of the time.

I had roaming data, which helped… until it didn’t. Half the time I was living that 3G life like it was 2008 and I was waiting for my MySpace page to load one pixel at a time.

If you need reliable internet, plan ahead. Download everything, screenshot everything, and emotionally prepare to disappear for a bit.

And really, some time offline might be good for you.

The Art of Saying “No” (Aggressively)

The markets - or souks - are something else.

Imagine walking through a place where every single person is deeply committed to selling you something… immediately… and with Olympic-level persistence.

Eye contact? Mistake. Smiling? Rookie error. Breathing in their general direction? Now you’re in a conversation.

The only strategy that works is one that will feel deeply uncomfortable at first: Ignore them. Not “polite ignore”, and not “Canadian ignore”. I’m talking full, emotionally unavailable, walk-like-you-have-a-destination-and-a-purpose ignore. You will feel like you are being rude, but sadly it’s the only way. Because the second you engage, you’ve entered a negotiation you didn’t agree to.

I never felt unsafe… but I was exhausted. It’s relentless, and in a twisted way impressive, but relentless. It makes an episode of “The Bear” look peaceful by comparison. (Great show if you haven’t seen it.)

The “Helpful” Stranger Situation

You will be offered help. A lot of help. Directions, photo spots, advice, guidance you didn’t ask for. Just know that it all comes with an expectation.

And sometimes, that expectation is coming from someone holding an assault rifle (as they may be a security guard or a police officer), which adds a certain… urgency to the interaction if you don’t tip them for their assistance.

Rule of thumb: If you didn’t ask for help, don’t accept it. Keep moving, be firm, and say no. Repeat as needed, and don’t be surprised if it takes a dozen repetitions. And do not stop walking, while you are saying no.

If you need a photo taken, ask another tourist. They’re just as confused as you are, but at least the price for their assistance is zero.

The Important Part (Because It Matters)

Here’s the thing. The Egyptian people, broadly speaking, are kind, warm, and incredibly generous.

The intensity you experience in tourist areas isn’t the full picture - it’s a symptom of an economy that relies heavily on tourism.

People are trying to make a living, sometimes aggressively, and while that doesn’t make it enjoyable, it does make it understandable.

*(King in Front of The Great Temple of Ramesses II in Abu Simbel.)*

Where Egypt Actually Opened Up

The best moments? They happened when I wandered away from the polished, tourist-heavy areas and into the local markets. No one chasing me, no one selling, and no one trying to guide me somewhere I didn’t ask to go. Just people living their lives.

Now… these places aren’t exactly welcoming at first glance. Uneven ground. Dirt paths. The occasional hole that looks like it could end your trip permanently, not exactly brochure material. But once you settle in, something shifts. It feels real, unfiltered, unpolished, and alive. The kind of place where you’re not being sold an experience… you’re just in it.

And that’s where Egypt starts to make sense.

Final Thoughts: Beautiful Chaos

People say traveling in Egypt is an extreme sport, they’re not wrong. It’s chaotic, it’s overwhelming, and it will test your patience in ways you didn’t know were possible.

And yet… Standing in front of the pyramids, drifting down The Nile, walking through thousands of years of history just casually existing around you… It’s unforgettable.

This isn’t the kind of trip where everything goes smoothly, it’s the kind where everything means something.

Go prepared, stay sharp, and keep your sense of humor.

When it gets a little chaotic - which it will - just remember: That’s part of the story you’ll be telling later.

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Looking for a place to stay during your travels?

I like to use Booking.com, Expedia, and Hotels.com as it allows me to search the widest options available.

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How to Avoid Trouble During Your Trip to Egypt