National Geographic Traveler: Egypt 2nd Edition

I received this book as a gift prior to a vacation in Egypt. Although it is laden with amazing National Geographic photos and some great background information, Lonely Planet does a much better job of actually guiding the reader through Egypt. LP has much more detailed hotel/restaurant/tour outfitter (ie snorkeling gear in the red sea, camel treks, felucca rentals) information and detailed maps. I'm glad my friends brough it along with them.

The National Geographic Traveler guide to Egypt is light on the practicalities. It does provide some info in the back of the book about customs, hotels, restaurants, and what to expect (such as the helpful suggestion to bring toilet paper everywhere!), but you will get more information from other guidebooks, probably.

Here is why you will need this book, though: when you go to the myriad tourist sights in Egypt, you will not find many signs or much information at all about what you are seeing. There is very little about the history, where things came from, or even what the object/ruin is about. This is true whether you are at the immense Egyptian Museum (which is notorious for bad signage) or at the Valley of the Kings. It is a shame that the Ministry of Tourism in Egypt can't get their act together on this point, but until then, at least you have the National Geographic guide, which does a great job of filling in the holes.

This guide also suggests some...Read more

Great pictures and great background info on egypt and it's ancient culture. Good guide in the ciaro museum as well. great compliment to my tour.