I'm wondering about some firsthand opinions on the Sinai Trek on this tour. The trip dossier mentions that the trek grade is Easy, but also mentions that it is a "tough walk" and that it involves around 6 hours a day of hiking.
I'm a weekend recreational hiker and consider myself in relatively good shape, but I'm imagining hiking through the desert for days on end and possibly not having too much fun!! ![[Razz]](tongue.gif)
I went on the Wild Turkey Adventure last year with Imtrav and that trek was graded Easy as well. They have since redesignated it as Moderate....I just want to know before I book what I'm getting myself into!!
Re: Beyond the Pyramids
Hi ms_bunnypenny
Thanks for your post.
All the info you need to know is on the trip dossier, which you can find on the downloads section of this website. I have copied it below for you aswell. Hope this helps!
Trekking
The mountains and valleys of the Sinai High Range offer spectacular scenery, clear air and the opportunity to meet the local people of the area.
The trek included in this trip is graded A - Easy and consists of a mixture of long and short walks, ranging from 4.5 to 6 hours walking per day. The trek will not take you to high altitudes (the maximum altitude will be 2,285m)and is lead throughout by Bedouin guides and an Imaginative Traveller Tour Leader.
Although no previous trekking experience is required for this trip and everyone can walk at his or her own pace, there are some steep ascents and descents ( espicially in the white Canyon), and long stretches of walking on soft sand which can be tough on your legs. Some people may also find the trek more difficult in the hotter summer months. Therefore you require a good level of fitness and the more physically fit you are, the more easily your body will adapt to hiking in the Sinai. We also recommend that you bring hiking boots with ankle support as footing can be treacherous. Please note that this trek must not be used as a way of getting fit - you must be fit before starting this trip.
Porters carry all camping equipment and personal luggage, with the aid of camels, leaving you only with a small daypack to carry. Our porters will also take care of all other necessary tasks, such as setting up the communal camp and cooking meals. Most food is fresh and we try to limit tinned or dehydrated food.
Our camping accommodation will be in large communal Bedouin-style tents. Basic equipment such as sleeping mats will be provided, but you will need to bring your own sleep-sheet and sleeping bag. As we are trekking through some of Egypt
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I did this trek while suffering a heavy cold and being only moderately fit (ie I am just about within the normal weight range for my height and I have a sedentary job with a half hour walk each way each working day).
To be honest the trek isn't all that difficult as long as you wear proper walking boots. We were advised that trainers would be OK but they weren't - they filled up with sand and made the walking very painful. Those who wore proper ankle boots were fine.
Personally I found the canyoning much easier than the trekking through sand - although the canyoning is more physically demanding it is more fun and more distracting. 3 hrs at a time walking on soft sand and stopping frequently to empty the trainers is not my idea of heaven!
It is possible to hire a camel for all or part of the trek and in retrospect I wished I had done this given that I was feeling unwell. But the key issues I think is the walking boots.
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Thanks Gin Fizzy! Your insights are great and I'll be thinking of you as sand *doesn't* fill my shoes!!![[Smile]](smile.gif)
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Just to elaborate on the official tour info, basically the bedouin camp is a ready made though remote tourist place, so the facilities are OK. There is a little toilet block with 2 separate lockable cabins, each with a squat style toilet and a sink with cold water. Not luxury but fine for one night. We were so knackered at the end of each day that we went straight to sleep after dinner so were quite unaware of the surroundings anyway!
Something amazing that I just remembered is the night sky - the stars are absolutely unbelievable and will totally take your mind off the rough and ready facilities if you pop out for a midnight wee and look up for a few minutes![[Smile]](smile.gif)
I seem to remember the food being quite good too, though after all that trekking I think we'd have been delighted by dog meat! It was good though with a sort of picnic style buffet of salad, bread and meat/cheese.
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My boyfriend and I are signed up for the September 27 departure for BTP and I cannot wait for the Sinai Trek portion of the tour! I like seeing other people's opinions and comments in advance. Anything to look out for in the desert? (critters?)
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I don't know what critters are but I got a few insect bites due to being ill and forgetting to use repellent spray before bed. Nothing serious though.
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Critters are any creatures. When I was in the Western desert I saw one small beetle and in the evening while we were having our meal, there were desert foxes just out side the fire light waiting for some treats. I imagine that the possibility exists to see the same in the Sinai.
Joanne