Hi all. We're doing the Nile Valley and Red Sea trip in March and have three spare days in Cairo at the beginning. Does anyone have some good suggestions for things to do that we won't get a chance to do on the tour?
Two things I particularly wanted to know about were going inside the Great Pyramid and visiting the Mummy Room at the Egyptian Museum. Are we going to have time to do either of these things on the group visits to these places? Or would it be better for us to make visits on our own before to be sure that we don't miss out?
Many thanks for your help
Seb
Re: Spare time in Cairo
I'd suggest a visit to the Old Town which is the Coptic area of Cairo. Beautiful old churches, not to mention the oldest mosque in Egypt nearby which you can go inside (quite plain but very impressive with hundreds of pillars). Really easy to get there from downtown, just get the underground to Midan Girgis.
Something I didn't get to see when I was there, but which I've heard good things about is the Islamic Museum, which I think is in the area around the Citadel. Also, I think there's Sufi dancing in one of the mosques in this area on a Thursday if you're there then - a good investment would be to buy Lonely Planet, which I found to be the best guide for Cairo.
If your trip doesn't take you to Saqqara, I'd definitely recommend a visit. About 15 minutes out of Giza (by taxi) it's far more remote and rural. Next to the main pyramid, you'll find a beautiful tomb with decorated walls.
Other than that, you could probably spend days just wandering around the downtown area - checking out the old colonial style hotels which still exist and smoking shisha at the coffee shops. There's so much to see there I'm sure you'll have no problem filling your extra days. Have a great trip.
Re: Spare time in Cairo
Hi Seb,
Egypt is basically one enormous, attraction to us, as tourists. There is an abundance of things to see & do which will more than fill any spare time you have! That is one thing you really don't need to worry about!
With a population of about 18 million, Cairo is the largest city in Africa. It is a city that is constantly bustling with activity and noise, which should tickle the senses! You will have plenty of free time in Cairo to visit other sites outside the itinerary or you may wish to spend the time wandering through the bazaars in search of a bargain or souvenirs.
You'll find that, despite being very much a Middle Eastern city, Cairo is quite modern in many respects and has a wide range of shops and restaurants offering as wide a variety of cuisine as you would find in any major city.
You may like to go out to Giza and ride Arabian horses in the desert near the Pyramids or make the journey to Saqqara to see the Step Pyramid.
This tour does, you'll be pleased to know, take you to the Egyptian Museum. Located in Tahrir Square, in the heart of Cairo, it houses the world's greatest collection of ancient Egyptian artefacts. Here you will find most of the treasures discovered in the tombs of Pharaohs, including the gold funerary mask of the boy king Tutankhamun, and a large collection of 'Mummies!'
This part of the tour is on day 2 and our Egyptologist guide will take you through the museum, pointing out particular highlights and the information gained during this visit gives a useful introduction that will help you appreciate the sights you will see as you travel through Egypt.
On day 3 you will be taken to Great Pyramids and Sphinx at Giza as part of the 'itinerary'. There will be plenty of opportunity to go inside the Pyramid (hope you don't get too claustrophobic?)
In Aswan there will be time to take the optional Excursion to Abu Simbel as you have a full free day.
If you take a look at your pre-departure booklet (page 37) you will see a list with more optional excursions. You will have enough time to squeeze some of these in and they are not expensive!
Your tour leader is there, amongst other things, to provide you with information and advise on what to see & do in each area you visit.
I hope you have a great time :-)
Cheers
Online Consultant [/b]
[b]Ru Lea
Re: Spare time in Cairo
Hi Seb,
I did the Nile Valley/Red Sea in November and I'm sure you'll have a fantastic trip. As to the British Museum, we only had about half an hour to wander around on our own after the group tour but I did find time to visit the Mummy Room. It's not really very big, doesn't take long to see at all. You should be advised that it costs an extra 40 Egyptian pounds to visit that room and you cannot take your camera inside, you have to put it in a locker. If you want to have a longer time at the museum go in your spare time, the time during the tour really isn't long enough.
As to the Great Pyramid, we only had about half an hour to get in and out again once we got to it, luckily we had no lineup except inside waiting to climb through. But it was long enough to see it, there's really nothing inside the pyramid.
Have fun!
Laura
Have fun!
Laura
Re: Spare time in Cairo
Seb,
you should take a taxi and wonder around, its very funny how they drive and use their hornes, I think Cairo counts with only 4 traffic lights that generally don
Re: Spare time in Cairo
I spent a couple of days in Cairo last year after the Felucca Sailtrek.
If you want an "off the beaten track" highlight, go to the Manyal Palace. Built between 1901-29 as the home of Prince Muhammad Ali it has got to be the oddest museum I have ever seen.
In addition to the palace itself which is stunning, it was filled with gifts given to the royal family - antiquities and art objects. Dusty display case after display case was filled with precious stones, gold, silver, jewellery and utensils, porcelain, tapestries, manuscripts and paintings. The Hunting Hall holds the hunting trophies of King Faruq. Stuffed animals of all kinds displayed in little vignettes and curios made of different parts of animals. Morbid but fascinating at the same time.
It was cheap to get in and we were practically the only guests. I'd highly recommend it!