Hi Jim,
In case I do not get enough time off work to do the Istanbul to Cairo trip, I'm thinking of doing my own, shorter, combination tour. I'd like to go on the Western Desert Oases and the Nile trip and the Desert Kingdoms trip. Alternately, I'd like to Western Desert Oases and the Nile and Cairo to Damascus.
From what I can see from the departure dates on the web site, it looks like both of these options are possible as combination trip. Am I right? Also, how difficult is it to travel from Aquaba to Cairo and how long does it take?
How popular is the Western Oases trip? Is there a time of the year when you consistantly get enough people registered so the is not cancelled? Right now I am thinking of going in May or June 2004.
Thanks.
Stephanie
Re: Aquaba to Cairo
Hi Stephanie
Thanks for your post.
If you're thinking of going in May or June, the best options that would tie in together are as follows:
Western Desert Oases and the Nile: 10th to 24th May.
Fly to Damascus
Desert Kingdoms: 25th May to 7th June.
or
Western Desert Oases and the Nile: 31st May to 14th June.
Cairo to Damascus: 14th June to 28th June.
However, if you want to finish off your trip in Egypt with the Western Desert Oases trip, the dates don't quite tie in as well. To travel from Aqaba to Cairo is very easy - it's a two hour ferry ride, followed by about an eight hour bus journey from Nuweiba (the port in Egypt) back to Cairo. As the ferry doesn't leave until around midday, you would usually arrive back into Cairo at around 10 or 11pm.
The Western Desert Oases trip is quite a popular tour. However, most people tend to go in the cooler months, when the desert sun isn't quite as fierce.
I hope that this information helps.