
As summer approaches, Brits planning their holidays should be aware of warnings that there are numerous destinations worldwide where travel is not advised. Political unrest and the threat of terrorism could endanger UK tourists, and disregarding Foreign Office advice may invalidate travel insurance, leading to hefty costs in a medical crisis.
The Foreign Office has issued a stark warning about the “high threat of terrorist attacks globally affecting UK interests and British nationals”. It specifically notes that within Egypt’s borders, terrorists are “likely” to try to carry out an attack.
The guidance further states: “Terrorist attacks could be indiscriminate, including in places visited by foreign nationals. Stay aware of your surroundings, keep up to date with local media reports and follow the advice of local authorities. Be vigilant in crowds and large gatherings.”
All the areas in Egypt where you shouldn’t travel
A wide variety of areas in Egypt are warned against travelling to, with only a few exceptions being made for essential travel. This includes:
- Egypt-Libya border – all travel within 20km of the border, except for El Salloum for essential travel
- North Sinai
- Northern parts of South Sinai – except essential travel beyond the St Catherine-Nuweibaa road and South Sinai Governorate and coastal areas along the west and east of the peninsula
- Easten part of Ismailiyah Governorate – all but essential travel east of the Suez Canal
- Hala’ib Triangle and Bir Tawil Trapezoid – except essential travel
The FCDO also advises against all but essential travel to west of the the Nile Valley and Nile Delta region, except for the following exceptions:
- the coastal areas between the Nile Delta and Marsa Matruh
- the Faiyum Governorate
- the White Desert and Black Desert
- the oasis town of Siwa
- the oasis towns of Bahariya, Farafra, Dakhla (Mut) and Kharga
- Luxor, Qina, Aswan, Abu Simbel and the Valley of the Kings
- the Marsa Matruh-Siwa road
- the Giza Governorate north-east of the Bahariya Oasis
Official guidance also provides the exceptions for the following roads between the desert area and the Nile valley:
- the road between Kharga and Baris
- the road between Baris and Luxor
- the road between Farafra, Dakhla (Mut) and Kharga
- the road between Giza and Farafra and within 50km either side of this road (but FCDO advises against all but essential travel on the road between Bahariya and Siwa)