Sailtrek & Sinai VS Beyond the Pyramids

Re: Sailtrek & Sinai VS Beyond the Pyramids

Actually, and another question to add to that which is probably more important - are these tours likely to even go ahead?! I was looking at the trips that start on the 29th October (Sailtrek & Sinai) or 30th October (Beyond the Pyramids) as it won't be as hot at the time of year. Do these actually have people booked on them or have people been scared off by all the terrorist action?

Re: Sailtrek & Sinai VS Beyond the Pyramids

Hi Aimee,

Thanks for your questions.

I've actually taken part in the Sailtrek and Sinai tour myself so can comment first hand on what activities are available.

It is quite similar to Beyond the Pyramids other than the trek in the Sinai desert and the longer drive to Mt Sinai as opposed to taking the hydrofoil from Hurghada to Sharm El Sheikh (where, incidentally, you don't go in to Sharm El Sheikh, simply drive around it on the way to Dahab).

In both cases there's a relatively long drive back to Cairo from Dahab in a private bus of around 9-10 hours. This isn't too bad and I found the time passed quickly and there were regular stops, which there will also be on the drive from Hurghada to Mt. Sinai.

On Sailtrek and Sinai you have the opportunity to take a short camel ride into the desert upon arrival into Aswan, which lasts about an hour and leads you to a small coptic ruin in the middle of nowhere. You can also take a jeep excursion into the Sinai desert from Dahab if you like but the scuba-diving and general atmosphere in Dahab is so nice that most people make the most of their 3 days there.

I guess it really boils down to how much you want to do the trek on the Beyond the Pyramids tour. If you need any further assistance in making a decision just let me know. Incidentally, both tours have more than 4 people booked and are therefore scheduled to depart as normal. Both are about half full at the moment.

I hope this helps.

Re: Sailtrek & Sinai VS Beyond the Pyramids

Thanks Brendan, that's really helpful. I really am torn between the beautiful beach and the trek which does sound interesting.

Has anyone been on the trek on Beyond the Pyramids then? What sort of things do you see along the way? And did you find you still had enough time to enjoy Dahab?

I'm terrible at decision making..

Re: Sailtrek & Sinai VS Beyond the Pyramids

Hi Aimee,

Hopefully somebody who has done Beyond the Pyramids will be able to give you their perspective on the trip to help you decide. I'm sure you wouldn't be disappointed with either tour. Personally I preferred the idea of laying on the beach rather than trekking in the desert but the scenery is truly unique and beautiful in the Sinai so I can see the appeal. I don't suppose that helps you much though, right?!

Re: Sailtrek & Sinai VS Beyond the Pyramids

I don't know! I'm booked in to do the Nile and Beyond (which includes the Beyond the Pyramids... I think) and because I'm going in December, I miss out on the Trek, and that's one of the things that influenced me to do it . I think the trek would be amazing. While, probably not as relaxing as the beach, but remember you have all that time to relax before the trek on the nile... Tough choices we have to make!!
Can't wait to go on my trip though, even without the trek

Re: Sailtrek & Sinai VS Beyond the Pyramids

From my view point it's a no brainer. You can go on a beach virtually any weekend - unless you live in the middle of nowhere but how many chances will you have to visit a real desert. Having just done Western Desert etc I wouldn't even hesitate to 'do' the desert.

Re: Sailtrek & Sinai VS Beyond the Pyramids

Yeah you're right - I actually live a few minutes from the beach! But I have heard how beautiful they are there and so was worried I'd be disappointed with only getting a day there. It's not so much the relaxation, more just wanting to get a feel of Dahab. And avoid that 12 hour car journey to the trek..

Basically I'm just greedy and want to do everything!!

But looking at the itinerary of Beyond the Pyramids, it says on Day 13 we have a "short walk" and then a 2 hour drive to Dahab, so it sounds like we get a lot of Day 13 left at the beach? I'm leaning towards Beyond the Pyramids I think...

Thanks for everyones help and advice!

Re: Sailtrek & Sinai VS Beyond the Pyramids

It's a good point Ian and I think I would tend to go along with that way of thinking too when you put it like that.

If you live near a beach anyway and you are interested in the trek then perhaps Beyond the Pyramids is the right tour to choose.

We get very little negative feedback about the long journeys because most travellers appreciate that to see so much of a country in a short space of time is inevitably going to lead to some long journeys here and there. Most travellers just use these journeys as a good way of catching up on their sleep as there are a few early starts along the way before you reach Hurghada.

There's a real contrast in Dahab as on the one hand the beaches along the sea-front hardly resemble a beach as we know it and are rocky and coral-based with sandy patches and are a bit of a shock if you were expecting huge sandy beaches, BUT, and it's a big BUT, just a few minutes stroll down the coastline leads you to the popular snorkelling spots such as the '3 holes' and the beaches there, with the vast mountains and sinai desert in the background, very few people or land development, blue skies and white sand are absolutely spectacular and the snorkelling on offer around the coral is just the icing on the cake.

It's not a particularly big place though and you can walk around the whole town in the space of a few hours, with the desert and beach only a few minutes walk away from the hotel we use there. The nightlife is good too, with some excellent meals on offer at good prices and a kind of mixture of the diving culture, the western culture and the middle east all rolled into one.

Re: Sailtrek & Sinai VS Beyond the Pyramids

Thanks for everyones advice, I finally decided to go for the Beyond the Pyramids tour... and I can't get the time off work! I'm absolutely gutted. It seems the most I can do is a 12 day holiday.

Still thanks again, and maybe next year..

Re: Sailtrek & Sinai VS Beyond the Pyramids

It's always the way! We've got shorter trips in Egypt too if you fancy crusing along the Nile instead?

Re: Sailtrek & Sinai VS Beyond the Pyramids

You poor thing! I almost had the same problem, but booked my holiday over Christmas so they could hardly say no! Maybe try one at christmas time? Would be a shame not to go!

Re: Sailtrek & Sinai VS Beyond the Pyramids

Hi, me again!

Ok, I've been trying to work out if there is a way I can still do one of these tours without sacrificing too much.. I can now get 10 days off work - which is enough for the Salitrek and Sinai tour, but one short for the Beyond the Pyramids tour.

So my first question is, how hard would it be to arrange my own transport back from Dahab to Cairo a day early? Or ideally is there any sort of sleeper train I could get?

My second question - how easy is it to organise my own day trip from Cairo to Alexandria? Because if I did the Sailtrek and Sinai tour I would actually have a day spare, and so thought if I could see Alexandria it might make up for missing the trek...!

Re: Sailtrek & Sinai VS Beyond the Pyramids

Hello Aimee,

Getting back from Dahab can be done in a number of ways including public bus/transport, hydrofoil and private transfer which can be finalised at the time of booking.

A day trip to Alexandria is also straight forward from Cairo which we can arrange prior to travelling or is something you may like to bring up with your tour leader and they will be able to point you in the right direction.