Egypt and Camera Rules Update Post Trip

a1ex2001

a1ex2001

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I'm off to Egypt on holiday in a couple of weeks, we will be visiting Cairo to see the Pyramids then cruising down the nile to see the sights before finishing off with a quick trip to Abu Simbel.

My question is what are the rules like for taking cameras in and around the ancient sites like the pyramids, is my SLR going to see much action or will it have to spend most of it's time locked in a baggage cupboard?

Anyone with recent experience they'd like to share?
 
These trips are specifically laid on for tourists, so there'll be no dramas with cameras...there maybe some 'flash' restrictions inside the historic monuments to minimise damage, but other than that...
 
Hi Alex

I took my D300 when I went to Giza (Cairo) a couple of years ago - I didn't have any problems taking photo's. But don't take your eyes off your valuables for one minute. The so-called tourist police are not to be trusted either. Don't fall for the "let me take your photo" trick from anyone - you might end up not getting it back, or if you do you'll probably have to pay.
 
Arkady said:
These trips are specifically laid on for tourists, so there'll be no dramas with cameras...there maybe some 'flash' restrictions inside the historic monuments to minimise damage, but other than that...
Click to expand...

Thats what I'm hoping for but alot of places are starting to enforce maximum sizes for bags and things that can be taken into ancient monuments and museums. so compacts are no problem but an SLR and a bag of toys is.

I'd really like to hear from someone who has been on a similar trip recently and what they experienced.
 
a1ex2001 said:
Thats what I'm hoping for but alot of places are starting to enforce maximum sizes for bags and things that can be taken into ancient monuments and museums. so compacts are no problem but an SLR and a bag of toys is.

I'd really like to hear from someone who has been on a similar trip recently and what they experienced.
Click to expand...

Someone here did the Petra visit a short while back...hopefully they'll be around soon - took most of his toy-box with him as I recall...
 
I've been to Egypt, had no problems in Cairo, although there were a few restrictions in some rooms in the Cairo Museum (King Tuts for example). There were restrictions on using your cameras in the tombs in The Valley of The Kings, be careful the guys who stand by the entrances to the tombs say they'll let you take pictures if you pay them. Inside the tombs is bloody hot, when I came out of them 40c felt cool.

I had no problems with bags, although it was so hot I went light, leaving main gear on the coach with the armed guard

General tips, take single US Dollar bills as tips, this will get you a long way. The locals have problems changing coins at their banks, but notes are ok. Be careful handling local money, known to spread bugs around, take a bottle of hand sanitiser. Expect to get ill, it's quite likely!

Learn arabic for thank you ( shukran ) and no ( la ), it'll make things easier. (no thank you is said as " la, la, la, shukran "

It's a brilliant country to visit, my family and I can't wait to go back, enjoy.

PS: sorry if you already knew all this!
 
A great place to go. You should love every minute. Be careful inside the tombs/monuments. They have "caretakers" who watch your every move, and they are particularly hot on bags hanging from shoulders that scrape the walls. After all, that destroys the reason for the visit. Anyone who lets you take their photo, or shows you a good place to take a shot is looking for a tip. We eventually gave over refusing, and considering the exchange rate a few coppers to us was quite good for them. (And it did my social conscience good - all that re-distibution of wealth!)

Abu Simbel is just stunning. Hard to describe in words, you just have to experience it.

Watch everything you value. Never drink water that comes from a tap. Be careful buying bottled water - they have been known to refill empty bottles from a local tap, and resell!

Everyone on our trip had a day in bed with the lurgi. Take plenty of salt. It is so hot that your sweat dries before you become damp, and you don't realise that your body salts are being depleted.

Lastly learn to haggle. It soon comes naturally, and do it with a smile on your face. It's part of life over there - enjoy the banter.
 
I'd agree with learning some basic Arabic.

The locals will put themselves out a lot more if you make the effort.
 
Thanks everyone for the positive responses, really looking forward to it and just anted to be sure before we went!
 
Arkady said:
These trips are specifically laid on for tourists, so there'll be no dramas with cameras...there maybe some 'flash' restrictions inside the historic monuments to minimise damage, but other than that...
Click to expand...

I'm sorry to say, Rob, that this isn't exactly the case.

Taking photos inside the Pyramids (even without flash) is a no-no. If they so much as suspect you're guilty of this, they'll attempt to confiscate your camera.

Some of the other monuments are the same. They'll jerk you around at the very least if they think you've broken the rules and they'll force you to pay a fine to get your kit back. Outside shots are fair game but watch your stuff at all times as nobody is to be trusted over there.
 
zoom said:
I'm sorry to say, Rob, that this isn't exactly the case.

Taking photos inside the Pyramids (even without flash) is a no-no. If they so much as suspect you're guilty of this, they'll attempt to confiscate your camera.

Some of the other monuments are the same. They'll jerk you around at the very least if they think you've broken the rules and they'll force you to pay a fine to get your kit back. Outside shots are fair game but watch your stuff at all times as nobody is to be trusted over there.
Click to expand...

Quite right Zoom, I'd forgotten that, our tour guide recommended we leave our cameras with him before going inside the pyramid, just to stop any potential problems. There are also load of locals trying to sell you things, trying to push so called "free gifts" into your hands or worse your childrens hands, then expecting you to pay for them, ignore them! We saw one guy getting whipped with a cane by a policeman on a camel, unpleasant to say the least.
 
no photography was allowed in the valley of the kings tombs or inside abu simbel.. they were pretty hot on that but was ok in other places, as far as I can recall.. definately collect small notes as baksheesh is a must in return for a photo ;)

we are doing the same holiday in june.. didnt visit cairo then so cant wait to go back! - enjoy :D
 
Funny that, rules must have changed. Inside the Great Pyramid there is the empty stone sarcophagus of King Cheops. We spent some time taking shots of various members of our party actually lying inside the object. Guides had no trouble with that. If I can find them I'll post one up.
 
pauljs said:
I've been to Egypt, had no problems in Cairo, although there were a few restrictions in some rooms in the Cairo Museum (King Tuts for example). There were restrictions on using your cameras in the tombs in The Valley of The Kings, be careful the guys who stand by the entrances to the tombs say they'll let you take pictures if you pay them. Inside the tombs is bloody hot, when I came out of them 40c felt cool.

I had no problems with bags, although it was so hot I went light, leaving main gear on the coach with the armed guard

General tips, take single US Dollar bills as tips, this will get you a long way. The locals have problems changing coins at their banks, but notes are ok. Be careful handling local money, known to spread bugs around, take a bottle of hand sanitiser. Expect to get ill, it's quite likely!

Learn arabic for thank you ( shukran ) and no ( la ), it'll make things easier. (no thank you is said as " la, la, la, shukran "

It's a brilliant country to visit, my family and I can't wait to go back, enjoy.

PS: sorry if you already knew all this!
Click to expand...
A few more useful arabic phrases...

'Masalama' - good bye
'Assalamu alaikum' - friendly greeting (actually means 'peace be with you')

Page worth checking out here...

http://www.grapeshisha.com/common-Arabic-phrases.html

Trust me, it's worth making the effort to learn a few basic phrases as the Egyptians really appreciate it (you can literally see their faces light up!)
 
Defo no cameras allowed in Valley of Kings.

As pointed out. Watch for locals in these tourists sites who allow you to take pictures with them. They want tips in return.

Learn to haggle. And never accept the first price they offer!

I went on a Nile cruise (september 2009) with the weather reading 52 degrees and loved it!

I must confess I never had a problem with the bottled water in Egpyt. Bought it on the ship and also from traders near the ships docked.

Strange someone mentioned taking US dollars??
 
I stand corrected... But then i'm usually armed and so have very little problem with locals...lol
 
You will have to leave your camera at the reception area outside the Cairo Museum, very strict on photography in there. All bags etc are scanned to when you go in so no sneaking in your body and a nifty fifty for example.

All the other tips given above are good and make sense. It is one of the most fabulous places I have been and infact we returned 4 times in 2 years. You will love it
 
Egypt is probably one of the few places in the world I'd like to visit. I don't even have a passport! But after reading various illness stories it doesnt sound like the place for an emetaphobe :|
 
I went to egypt in 2008 and you can use your camera everywhere apart from in the Museum where you can't even take them in.

The sad thing is you can't get that many great shots because you will have people constantly harassing you all the time.

It is a great place to visit and we did get some nice shots but not as many as you could if you were left alone.
 
in some tombs no photography

if you backshish the custodian and no flash...no problem

i didnt have any problems in any of the tourist places

we took a teddy and wrapped it up in toilet roll to simulate a mummy
in one of the tombs we tried to put it in a little alcove and were stopped by the custodian
who immediately put it in a better spot
friendliness pays off
 
mickledore said:
Funny that, rules must have changed. Inside the Great Pyramid there is the empty stone sarcophagus of King Cheops. We spent some time taking shots of various members of our party actually lying inside the object. Guides had no trouble with that. If I can find them I'll post one up.
Click to expand...

THis certainly wasn't the case when we were there unfortunately!

Take note of all of the comments above & you will get a good idea of what it is like.
 
Thanks all!

One last slightly off topic question, anyone know if egypt is chip and pin yet? the chip on my post office credit card is getting a bit dodgy!
 
I agree with most of the above. Valley of the Kings - no photos in the tombs but okay outside. If you happen to hit a time when there are few people around and you politely ask (and tip) they let you take photos. If anyone even thinks that you have taken their picture they will ask a fee. Deleting the photo rarely satisfies as the understanding is now that you can undelete. Karnak and the other temples we had no issues whatsoever. A great place and the top tip is just to keep drinking water regularly.
 
Theres no chip and pin or cards accepted. You will have to withdraw cash from your hotel ATM and use that.
 
MarcusF said:
Egypt is probably one of the few places in the world I'd like to visit. I don't even have a passport! But after reading various illness stories it doesnt sound like the place for an emetaphobe :|
Click to expand...

That's me out too then!
 
Ref the illness stories my wife and I had no problems with that at all! I hotel's restaurants offered a massive variety and I tried pretty much everything without any issues at all.

I think for egypt its essential to go for a good 5 star hotel to get the best from the holiday.
 
ElegantSpoon said:
Theres no chip and pin or cards accepted. You will have to withdraw cash from your hotel ATM and use that.
Click to expand...

Was only planning on using it for settling hotel bills and the like and I'm sure they will be more than happy to take plastic!
 
I would recommend a trip in a hot air balloon. They are usually at dawn so if you like sunrise/sunset shots you'll love it. We done one in Luxor and got some brilliant aerial shots. This was in 2001 though so I only had a p&s.

Paul
 
Cool, I hope you really enjoy your visit. I worked and lived in Cairo for 2 years back in the 90's. We went back on holiday in 2008 and yes things had changed a little but mainly in regard to whats allowed and not allowed in relation to photographing the antiquities and monuments. The photographing of any Millitary installation is strictly forbidden.

Usually no flash photography in the Cairo Museum. No shot inside the Pyramids at Giza. There are camera's mounted inside the pyramids though i did manage to get some shots off inside the great pyramid once i was aware of were the cameras pointed.

Most people, even the police are game for making a little money, just dont get ripped off. Bottled water all the way and dont stray off the tourist trail when your carrying your kit. I must say, in 2 years (around the time of the Luxor attacks) I never felt threatened once whilst in Cairo.

Cairo is manic and dirty but the people are warm and friendly and there are some really great street photo opps, but be respectful and ask if need be.

The Pyramids are surrounded by the local scallys, remember to be firm but polite, it will go along way.
Enjoy..
 
Back from Egypt now and I thought I'd give everyone a quick update on the rules in place in the tourist sites in Egypt at the minute as they seem to change quite regularly.

Cairo
Pyramids - No Photography inside any of the pyramids in the Cairo region, No cameras in the Great Pyramid they must be left with the guards outside who seemed a little dodgy.

Egyptian Museum - No Photography inside, cameras left with guys in the gate house who get arsey about any sort of bag

Everywhere else including Mosques no problem and didn't feel threatened once.

Luxor
All the temples fine with photography, Valley of the kings a different matter no cameras even allowed into the valley anymore to prevent people photographing the ongoing excavations.

Aswan
Photography fine everywhere we went including temples etc

Abu Simbel
Photography only allowed outside the temples.

The holiday was brilliant and I have litterally hundreds of Photos to go through, I'd thorougly recomend it to anyone who is thinking about going, oh and here is a quick picture of the Red Pyramid at Dashur!

 
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