Lonely Planet Egypt (Paperback)

by Andrew Humphreys (Author), Siona Jenkins (Author), Gadi Farfour (Author), Anthony Sattin (Author), Joann Fletcher (Author) "Few countries are so dominated by their capital: for many people Cairo is Egypt and both are called by the same name, Masr..." (more)
Key Phrases: telephone centrale, baba ghanoug, resort strip, Red Sea, Getting There, Egyptian Museum (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
Lonely Planet guides are a must-pack” --Toronto Star, February 2006
--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Description
Music and sheesha smoke wafting from the open doorway of a Cairo coffeehouse, the rippling dunes and blinding white sand of the Western Desert, and the awe-inspiring temples of Abu Simbel and Karnak - our bestselling guide to the ancient land of the Pharaohs covers every corner of this inspiring country.

• TAKE A CRUISE with our dedicated Nile Cruises chapter - we'll give you the low-down on everything that floats, from local feluccas to luxurious cruise ships

• GET AROUND with our 128 detailed maps - including customized itineraries and a walking tour map to help you discover the medieval alleyways of Islamic Cairo

• GET THE BACKGROUND on everything from pyramids to papyrus with our special sections on Pharaonic Egypt and the Egyptian Museum

• DISCOVER THE OUTDOORS with our comprehensive coverage of Red Sea diving and desert safaris - we know every shipwreck and oasis!

• TALK THE TALK with the help of our Egyptian Arabic language chapter

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Product Details

• Paperback: 528 pages
• Publisher: Lonely Planet Publications; 7 edition (January 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1740594630
• ISBN-13: 978-1740594639
• Product Dimensions: 7.8 x 5.1 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.5 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (38 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #614,086 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

60 of 63 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars this one's a keeper, July 28, 2000

By	Dr. Susan Z. Swan (Dubai, United Arab Emirates) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Lonely Planet Egypt (Lonely Planet Egypt, 5th ed) (Paperback)

This book was recommended by the Egyptian agency which was helping us plan an independent tour. I quickly saw why. It is a concise, practical guide, giving down-to-earth accessible information. The general introduction to the history, geography, economy, and culture of Egypt, while only about 30 pages long, provides an appropriate starting point for a visitor along with a 3 page list of recommended readings for travelers who want or need more in-depth information (Susan Wilson's "Culture Shock! Egypt" would be a useful addition to the list). The brief overview of temple/tomb architecture and of the gods/goddesses (with handy line drawings) was especially helpful when fatigue led to information blur later in the trip. The "Facts for the Visitor" section was indispensible as it provided basic information on everything from visas to money to toilets. The metric conversion table inside the back cover was a blessing! The advice for women travelers and for traveling with children was especially helpful for us (a party of 2 women/2 young teens). The cautions perhaps encouraged us to be too guarded at first, but they also allowed us to gradually relax into our comfort zone with very few unpleasantries. The actual guide to places, sites, and activities suited our needs well. The maps provided were clear and helpful; the descriptions, histories, and commentaries of the various sites and locations interesting. The amount of information provided was quite appropriate (one, after all, has to be able to carry the book conveniently about). Where we felt we needed more information, we simply bought something more extensive on the spot or made a note to look for resources upon returning home. The information provided on Internet cafes was a godsend, if a bit fiddly to find; listing all the cafes in a single section or at least including a page number for each city in the table of contents or index would be most welcome. All in all, this was the most used guide that we took with us. It will definitely return with me next time.

26 of 27 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Just OK, May 30, 2005

By	TravelGirl (San Francisco) - See all my reviews

Spent 2+ weeks in Egypt in April 2005, touring all the major sites with my husband, including the Sinai Peninsula, without a tour group. While I am generally a huge fan of LP and use them extensively, this country's edition was a little disappointing. It was slim on the specifics of the sites/museums and if you only have this book, you will need to pay for guides at the sites/museums, since you won't understand what you are looking at. Get the Rough Guide instead.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great Guide!, May 9, 2005

By	Egypt Nicole (Nashville, TN USA) - See all my reviews

I knew nothing about Egypt before my recent trip to the country. So, I decided to pick up a Lonely Planet Guide on Egypt and I'm sure glad I did. The book filled me in on culture, money, religion, food, history, sites, language, travel and so much more. The history section was precise and just the right length. I especially liked the summary of the pharaohs and gods. It was a nice size to carry along. The summaries of the temples, burial sites, etc were really nice. There was information in the book on the sites that our guide did not tell us. The maps were also helpful. Others in my group were asking to see my guide book instead of reading their own non-lonely planet guide books throughout the trip. Overall, I was very pleased with this guidebook. If you are going to Egypt this book is a must. Or, if you want to learn about Egypt, this is also a great book.