Hello everyone,
I have been dreaming of seeing Egypt for many years now and it looks like I will be able to go at the end of this year around Sept-Oct-Nov.
I have been doing a lot of research but am a little stuck on a few things. If anybody could help me it would be greatly appreciated. If you can only answer one or 2 of my questions your information would still be much appreciated. My queries are:
1. I have always been a bit concerned around the safety of travel in Egypt. I have read and heard stories about car crashes, robbery and obviously read the travel warnings about terrorist attacks. Have people who have travelled around Egypt experienced any safety concerns? Even small ones? One of my friends who is coming is female and she is concerned about safety of women in Egypt.
2. I am planning on doing The Nile and Beyond tour (this is a combination of Beyond the Pyramids and the Alexandria and Siwa Oasis tours). Has anybody been on these tours? How did you find it from the perspective of difficulty. The trekking through the desert seems like fun but how fit do you have to be to do it? How did you pack for the trip? How much did the trip really cost in the end excluding flights and gifts. Did the tour time itself such that you were able to get into the great pyramid?
3. Are there any issues with being Vegetarian in Egypt. Is it difficult to find vegetarian food and how do you get around it? I am specifically concerned about being able to eat during the Felucca ride.
4. How is the Felucca trip, is it worth doing? How do you find the use of bathrooms and toilets. I dont mind going without a shower etc for a few days but is it worth it and what exactly are the facilities? Did you get bored?
5. I normally wear contacts but am guessing that I will be confined to using glasses for this trip. Do you think this is the case? I was initially planning a semi-rough trip with some adventure activities but generally quite relaxed, im now moving to a more adventure style trip which is great but I am trying to figure out how to prepare for it. I have read the travel dossiers etc.
6. Is Dahab worth going to? I have read a few posts saying the place is very commercial and quite dirty with nothing to see? I was initially keen to go there to snorkel/dive. Is diving possible instead of snorkelling on this tour?
7. I have never dived before and was planning to learn how to before going and then diving somewhere out of Dahab. Is this the best way to go about diving in Egypt/Red Sea? Does the tour stop in Sharm-El-Sheikh? or is there no point going there if going to Dahab?
8. Is the Siwa Oasis worth seeing. The tour I am thinking of taking goes cycling around Siwa. Is this both safe and worthwhile?
9. Lastly in terms of Cairo and other large cities, what did you do at night after the days/tours activities were complete?
Thanks very much in advance. I realise I have a lot of questions posted, hopefully through everyones combined knowledge I can learn the answers to them all.
Kind Regards,
Re: Egypt Queries and the Nile and Beyond
Hello,
I can answer your questions regarding Dahab. I have been there for diving and I would recommend it to you. There is no big stuff (shark, etc...) but the diving is very easy as it always starts from the shore. You then starts in shallow water and can equalize your ears very easily.
Also I found Dahab much better than Sharm el Sheik. I was there in September and there were far less tourists than in Sharm. It also looks more authentic. For excursions I don't know as I was there only for diving...
By the way Dahab is about 1h30 from Sharm airport (or less depending on how fast they drive !)
Hope it helps
Regards,
Olivia
Re: Egypt Queries and the Nile and Beyond
Hello,
We just got back from Egypt - we did Nile Valley & Red Sea tour with IMTRAV. Egypt is safe. We never felt threatened. I was alone (with just a driver) @ Saqqara, Memphis & Dashur and felt fine as a lone female. The Egyptians know that tourism brings in a lot of $$.
I also wear contacts. I used bottled water to clean my gas perm lenses. For the longer / overnight trips I just wore my glasses. Sandstorms are a little tough but I survived the one we had @ Giza.
Egypt is amazing. The sites are spectacular. Abu Simbel was one of my highlights as well as Dendara. I was in a pyramid in Dashur 2 wks ago - and at one point I was alone in the pyramid! This site is less touristy then Giza and I am very glad to have gone there.
Have a great trip!
Re: Egypt Queries and the Nile and Beyond
Hi there,
In terms of safety I felt extremely safe nearly the whole time I was there, especially walking around cities and even at night.
The only bit I didn't like was at the pyramids as everyone there is constantly pestering you but in a friendly way as they know everyone is a tourist and my friend and I got taken on a impromptu camel ride! I would say the best thing is to refuse anything you don't want to do in a lighthearted way and just have a bit of fun with the locals. They won't force you to do anything just use great pester power and they love a good bit of banter.
I wouldn't be worried by safety at all.
I am also a vegetarian and found that I stuck to western food quite a bit just to be certain i.e. pizza etc if we were in an unknown restaurant. We were on the Melodie so it was easier to ask the chef what was in everything. I'm sure it will be the same on the felucca.
We went snorkelling at Dahab, although I did free swimming, and it was excellent so if you don't get the chance to learn to dive there is still a lot to experience.
Have a great trip.
Lyn
Re: Egypt Queries and the Nile and Beyond
heya,
i found egypt to be really safe. walking the streets was fine. in most of the tourist sites, there are heaps of tourist police around who will ensure tourists aren't hassled.
you do have to be careful of the traffic when crossing the roads though!![[Wink]](wink.gif)
i wear contacts too. i wore them the whole time on my trip. i brought a small bottle of contact lense cleaner with me and used that to clean them every day. no need to use water.
as for what to do at night in cairo...
you could check out a bellydancing show in one of the 5-star hotels. you will need to have a minimum spend of usually 100 egyptian pounds for entry, but having dinner and drinks there should cover that amount.
you could also head to one of the clubs in the 5-star hotels.
there is also tgif's along the corniche. it is a normal tgif's downstairs and upstairs it turns into a night club.
next to tgif's is a massive coffe shop where you can watch big screens (usually showing soccer/football), smoke sheesha, have drinks (alcoholic and non-alcoholic).
you could also go to the el-sawy cultural center in zamalek and see a cultural performance - egyptian, and they sometimes have performances from groups from other countries. this is in the mohandiseen end of 26th of july street in zamalek.
have heaps of fun in egypt!!![[Smile]](smile.gif)
Re: Egypt Queries and the Nile and Beyond
Hello there,
Thanks for your posting!
Firstly what a brilliant trip to choose! I think this one cover all bases, you will really feel like you have experienced Egypt on lots of different levels on this one, a lovely mixture of sights, activities and relaxation.
From a females perspective safety is definitely nothing to worry about, I felt very safe indeed in Egypt which surprised me. Yes you get hassled but as long as you take it with a pinch of salt and don
Re: Egypt Queries and the Nile and Beyond
hey,
i did this trip in Jan this year, brilliant trip.
dont worry about saftey, the Egyptians need our tourism, they depend on it, so they have many measures in place to help us (sometimes hinder.) who knows if you dont go, you may get mugged staying at home. i felt safe walking around by myself even at night, they will stare, but if you smile or say hello, you will get a polite "hello welcome".
i had an entire bus of women waving to me when we were stuck in traffic.
rememeber you can hire a camel for the desert trek if you are not up to it. i thought the trek was good, but not the easiest.
Siwa is a great place, and taking the bike ride was excellent, infact Siwa would be close to my favourite place on the whole tour. The mountain of the dead is excellent. also you can go on an optional jeep safari throught the desert ( great fun).
the felucca trip is also a highlight. dont fret about the toilet or facility situation, remember everyone is in the same boat! (punt intended).
as for getting bored, well i slept a fair amount as i was getting over a stomach bug and a fever, but the crew im sure will put on some bob marely for you. at night we played cards and the Nubian crew (great people) sang for us.
the trip is also broken up with a temple visit.
you dont stop off in Sharm, but one guy in our tour did diving in Dahab and enjoyed it. as for being comercial, not really, very laid back, my favourite time was meal time, so much choice and so laid back.
in cairo, the pyramid sound and light, and khan el khalili markets are good things to do at night.
most meals will be a dish of meat, one of vegitables (potatos mainly) a salad ( cucumber and tomato) and rice. so you can just skip the meat.
i also go to be alone in the pyramid at dashur, my driver spead past a bus of old japanese woman so i could get in first, i gave him a big tip soley for that.
you will have a blast.
sorry my post is so long.
ps. check out my photos in the pics section aswell.
Re: Egypt Queries and the Nile and Beyond
I felt safer walking around Egypt than any major US or European city. There are stiff penalties for theft. As far as terrorism goes, well, nobody can predict that. It's happened in New York, London, Washington DC, Madrid...yet most people would think twice about visiting those cities. You will get harrassed, but not because you are female. You will get harrassed because you are a tourist and tourism is how most Egyptians make money. They're going to want to sell you stuff. Just say no and keep walking. People will likely try to befriend you, show you around. They are doing this because they get a commission when they eventually take you to their bother's/uncle's/cousin's shop so you will buy something. Once again, say no, keep walking.
From what I understand, there are no facilities on the feluccas. They just pull over to shore and you find a bush. If you're worried about it, you might want to upgrade to a tour that has the cruise boat.
I wear contacts and wore them in Egypt...didn't have any problems.
At night our group would mostly go check out a temple or find a bar, or go out to dinner and stay there late. People in your group will likely want to hang out together, but it's optional if you want to go and do your own thing.
Re: Egypt Queries and the Nile and Beyond
I have done a number of tours in Egypt, all with Im Trav. I have always travelled on my own, hubby won't fly!! I have walked around parts of Egypt in the middle of the night on my own & felt safe.
Remember to wear sensible clothing, no plunging necklines, no bare shoulders or knees.....this goes for the guys too!
All the Im Trav tours I have travelled with have been very well organised, our tour leaders did everything possible to make our holidays enjoyable.
I have read somewhere that it's not a good idea to wear your contacts in Egypt, I always wore my glasses.
When travelling in taxi always sit in the back, try not to be drawn into the....my cousin owns a perfume/papyrus/jewellery....whatever shop!! It;s best to organise your side trips through the Hotel.
If I can help in any other way, please drop me a line.
The main thing is to remember to pack your sense of humour & an open heart & mind. Kindest regards.......Debbie