Egypt
Since one of Egypt’s most important and lucrative national industries is tourism, little is spared in making the visitor welcome. The infrastructure is well geared to tourism and the people are very hospitable. Many of Egypt’s attractions need no introduction: the pyramids at Giza, the Valley of the Kings and Tutankahmun’s tomb, the river Nile and the Oases. Medics Away Students will have the chance to be immersed in the Egyptian experience and will be particularly well placed to visit the temples at Philae and Abu Simbel, the mighty Aswan High Dam, and to explore the islands and upper reaches of the Nile that yield an incredibly rich archaeological landscape.
Egypt is one and a half times the size of the United Kingdom (at about 387, 000 square miles), and its population of 69.1million is equally distributed between the cities and hinterland, with the vast majority of Egyptians living within a few miles of the river Nile. This is not surprising since 95% of the land mass is desert. The Nile valley has been intensively cultivated for thousands of years and is home to the notorious date palms, lotus plant and papyrus that have become the countries national symbols.
Many people, before visiting Egypt, are concerned about safety while travelling. Although travel always and inevitably involves an element of risk, Egypt is considered safer than many European countries. Tourism and its importance in the national economy ensure that visitors are respected by locals and protected by government and security forces. Since 1997, there have been no significant security incidents involving foreigners. If any incentive were needed apart from their natural hospitality and good nature, Egyptians’ economic and political reliance on foreign donors further ensures that it is in their best interests to welcome travellers.
English is widely understood and spoken in the country, which useful for tourism, government and trade, although the official language is Arabic. Travellers will find little trouble communicating.The local currency is the Egyptian Pound, which breaks down into 100 Piasters. Generally, there are about 11 Egyptian Pounds to the UK Pound. This is particularly favourable to the traveller. A decent restaurant meal can be enjoyed for the equivalent of about £3GBP or $5USD and food in supermakets is very cheap. The climate in Upper Egypt gets very hot in the summer (up to 107F) but is comfortably warm in winter, from October through to May.
Medics Away Students will visit Luxor on the upper Nile where they will be accommodated with the option of taking some Arabic classes and sightseeing in the area before taking a cruise back to the the city of Aswan. The density of interesting sights in Luxor is so great it is known as the world’s largest open air museum. A few days are needed to begin to experience what it offers. During the day there are several bustling bazaars, gardens, two ancient temples, numerous restaurants and several museums (including the Museum of Mummification, which may be of particular interest to medical students). Digging deeper into the historic attractions, the visitor will encounter the Coptic basilica and the El-Mekashkesh Mosque. At night, a thriving variety of clubs and bars springs to life.
Aswan and its surroundings provide scope to explore some of the best culture, scenery and ancient history that Egypt has to offer. The area around Aswan is considered the most beautiful part of the Nile. It is wide with white cliffs, and strewn with little islands. It has been an important strategic point and garrison town since antiquity and this is reflected in the accumulation of historical points of interest.
The many ancient sites include the 137ft long “Unfinished Obelisk” abandoned in a quarry at Aswan when it developed a crack. Some islands, which can be reached by boat, hold further attractions. There are botanical gardens on Kitchener Island and the temples of Isis and Trajan’s Kiosk – examples of ancient Egyptian architecture can be found on others. Egypt’s most spectacular temple complex is close by at Abu Simbel. Aswan is also famous for a modern piece of architecture, the magnificent High Dam. This part of the upper Nile will prove a paradise for anyone with a taste for fresh fish, floating restaurants, local markets with bargains for the astute haggler, rich history and thriving local culture. Students may also take advantage of Aswan as a departure point for cruises on the Nile (the very best way to take in most of the famous sights) and visits to the Western Oases. Scuba diving at Agada and visiting the pyramids can also be arranged.
All of our electives are tailored for the individual, with different students spending different amounts of time in Eygpt and having different requirements. A typical elective of 8 weeks include hospital fee, accommodation, a 3 day Nile cruise or transfer to Aswan (dependent on time of year available), a medical kit, visa and vaccine advice, travel and indemnity insurance advice and a discovery trip costs Students need to be aware that the temperatures during the months of June to August are extremely high.
Medics Away electives can be arranged for any duration. Students need to tell us how long they want to go to Egypt for and how much of that time they wish to spend in the hospital or on independent travel. All students should have travel insurance and we only recommend the BMA Elective travel insurance which covers students for needle-stick injuries, HIV and in cases where a student fails their exams and can’t go on their elective. British, U.S., Canadian, Australian and New Zealand students will all require a visa and will be issued with a visa on arrival into the country. All students should have the relevant vaccines such as Hep B, Hep A, yellow fever, typhoid, tetanus and polio; more information can be found on the Travel Doctor website. Anti-malarial will also need to be taken. Further details of all prophylaxis is provided upon reservation. For more information about Egypt, our Egypt elective or anything elective related then please go to our Electives page, email us at or phone us on +44 (0) 1305 815231. We’re sure that you’re going to have a great elective and an amazing experience.