Egypt

G-unit10

Hi, I'm looking to do a trip around egypt (http://www.egypttopview.com/students_tours/egypt_4_backpackers.htm) its coming in around €300 plus flights (€450) for 8 nights in september so great value. Anyone ever done something similar in egypt i.e. guided tour, specifically an overnight felucca trip so as to give their experience (hopefully not bad) or any tips for cairo, luxor or aswan in general?

mel.b

That is great value. I did a trip with intrepid and would highly recommend it...

http://www.intrepidtravel.com/trips/XERA#overview

The day & night on the felucca is fun and so relaxing. My trip was at xmas and it was xmas morning when we woke up on the felucca to a magical sunrise...something i will never forget.

Cairo is a crazy place but i loved it. Aswan was really nice and kanuk temple in luxor was amazing ( i hadn't heard about this one before going so it was a real surprise and prob my favourite).

dodgylegs

Sounds good, just wondering where you found flights

Thanks

mel.b

I flew with Swiss when I went - DUB-ZRH-CAI.

I use ITA matrix to search for flights, but skyscanner, kayak or any of the flight search engines are your friend.

coylemj

If you're relatively independent you can get a visa when you arrive in Cairo airport, guided tours with older people tend to encourage their travellers to get the visa in advance through the local embassy before they go in order to streamline the passage through the airport but it's a relatively simple process if you leave it until you arrive.

Cairo is a big flat city with a serious air pollution problem because of the large number of old cars whizzing around, all secondhand imports from Germany and badly serviced. The air goes a shade of brown in the afternoons when viewed from a hotel balcony so I'd advise you not to spend too much time in the city, you can do the main sights in one day so don't spend more than two nights in Cairo. A trip in a Cairo taxi is an experience!

Luxor is a nice city, there are good hotels with pools and its a good place to hang out for a few days but you will be pestered everywhere you go by begging children.

The further south (up the Nile) you go from Cairo, the more conservative the people are. By the time you get to Aswan almost all of the women are wearing black Islamic dress. You need to be aware of this if you're female or if you'll be travelling with a female. There's no problem in Cairo where most women are dressed in western style but if a woman walks around Luxor or Aswan in a sleeveless top or short skirt, she will get serious harassment from the local men, especially if she has fair hair.

Pythia

coylemj wrote: »

if a woman walks around Luxor or Aswan in a sleeveless top or short skirt, she will get serious harassment from the local men, especially if she has fair hair.

I don't agree with this. I went to Luxor in a sleeveless top and shorts and I don't think anyone said anything to me. There are a lot of hotels with European tourists and lots more arrive for the day for the ruins so they are well used to it. I got more hassle in Cairo and at the airports.

coylemj

Pythia wrote: »

I don't agree with this. I went to Luxor in a sleeveless top and shorts and I don't think anyone said anything to me. There are a lot of hotels with European tourists and lots more arrive for the day for the ruins so they are well used to it. I got more hassle in Cairo and at the airports.

When I was in Luxor there was a woman and her daughter in the party, the daughter was about 17 and had blondish hair. The two of them went for a walk out of the hotel wearing what would be considered summer clothes in Ireland. They came back in tears about 20 minutes later, some local lads followed them down the street and gave them serious aggravation which they couldn't deal with.

DonnaDarko09

Hi there,
I am also thinking of doing a tour in Egypt in Sept. I've found a tour for 14 days for €350 plus flights for €440 so good deal I think? I'll probably be travelling solo (female) and just wondering what views were on safety at this time? DFA advising to avoid certain parts. Anyone been of late? Any advice for travelling these parts solo appreciated.
Thanks

mel.b

Hey Donna,

Where does your tour go? While i was with a group also, i flew into Cairo three days early so i could have some extra time to explore. I wandered around and had no difficulty as a single female. The normal hassle in the market but every tourist gets that. In Cairo take the metered (white cabs) to avoid being ripped off. Also i found it helpful to get the reception desk of where i was staying to write the place names or address of where i wanted to go so i could show it to the taxi driver. If you are respectful with your dress (tshirts fine, avoid singlet tops, short skirts/shorts/dresses) then you should be fine.

The main tour companies are pretty clued up with what is happening on the ground and will modify the tour if there are any problems. You can also check out websites like www.smartraveller.gov.au (there will be uk equiv of this too, just don't know the address) for the offical government info, but remember it is likely to be over cautious in its warnings.

DonnaDarko09

Mel.b thanks a million for advice..can't wait to go now...doing the usual tourist trail down to Aswan, incl overnight on sleeper and felucca ..I was wondering what sort if cash/other you carried with you.. Some websites suggest ti get Egyptian pound when there as usually better rates and also to take usd/sterling.. Not sure if euro accepted in most places as well?appreciate all the tips! Thank you

Pharaoh1

G-unit10 wrote: »

Hi, I'm looking to do a trip around egypt (http://www.egypttopview.com/students_tours/egypt_4_backpackers.htm) its coming in around €300 plus flights (€450) for 8 nights in september so great value. Anyone ever done something similar in egypt i.e. guided tour, specifically an overnight felucca trip so as to give their experience (hopefully not bad) or any tips for cairo, luxor or aswan in general?

That seems great value.
I went with these a few years back and it was brilliant.

http://www.imaginative-traveller.com/