About Egypt

Modern Egyptian culture stems from 6000 years of history. Situated at the crossroads of Africa, Europe and Asia, the complexity of Egypt has been influenced by Christianity, then Islam without forgetting the exceptional heritage of the Pharaohs Era.

It is be impossible to describe the complexity of this culture in a few lines. We have therefore chosen to describe certain parts of daily life and provide you with some useful information to appreciate your voyage.

Bartering

More than an institution, bartering is a national sport! From a hotel room to a taxi trip, everything is open to negotiation and puts you directly into the swing of things. It is important to question local guides on prices generally charged, an important point, especially for taxi trips. Always clearly negotiate prices in advance to avoid being charged exorbitant amounts.

If you decide to buy something, judge for yourself a base price and begin the negotiation. We would ask you to remain respectful, both in respect to your interlocutor and your base price offered, taking into consideration the Egyptian standard of living. Please don't enter a negotiation if you have no real intention of buying the item.

Egyptian Food

The variety of Egyptian food reflects the mixture of cultures found in the country. The dishes, inspired by Greek, Turkish, Lebanese, Syrian and Israeli food, has been adapted depending on the budget, customs and taste of the Egyptians. Generally simple, the dishes consist of fruits, vegetables and spices.

Due to the water being non drinkable, it is highly recommended to only drink bottled water. Similarly we advise you to avoid salads and to systematically peel your own fruits.

The head chefs aboard our chartered vessels work under excellent hygiene conditions and are committed to prepare you delicious European or Eastern inspired dishes during your entire cruise.

Kochari, mixture of pasta, rice, brown lentils and fried onions, this dish is mixed with a homemade tomato sauce.
Tahini (Tehina ou Tahini): this is a dish prepared from sesame seeds, olive oil and garlic to obtain a soft paste. The Tahini is rich in calcium and phosphor and has a hazelnut taste. This condiment is regularly used in Eastern food, such as in salads, on meats, in sauces, breads and cakes.
Baba Ganoush, obtained from whole eggplants grilled by wood fire then emptied of their melting flesh. This is then mixed with fried onions and tahina. A true delicacy!
Falafel: onions and chick pee balls served with a yoghurt based sauce with citrus and cumin. This is accompanied by Pita bread.
Molokhia is a meat soup served with tomatoes, onions, garlic, coriander and molokhia leaves. Generalloy served with a plate of rice.
Baklava is a sweet cake made of filo pastry, honey, nuts, nutmeg and cinnamon.