Egypt: worth the trek?

Worth the flight time, the heat, the early tour start-times, even the "cairo belly"!!

Did a 10 day organised tour a couple of years ago, Cairo, Luxor and a Nile cruise with visits to most of the famous sites. It was surreal to actually be beside the pyramids that I've watched on TV for years.
 
Depends on what tour Co. etc., went with Travel Department, satisfied with visits to sites, esp. Valley of the Kings, temples etc..thought they were more interesting than Pyramids. We wasted 3 days going to Red Sea Resort, long trek across desert to Holiday sun resort, also didn't like street traders chasing you and toilet attendants handing out toilet paper on way in, when one saw me smoking he asked for cigarettes instead of money, 1st time I ever paid to go to loo with cigarettes! Worth the hassle to see the historic sites but felt I would stay in Euroland in future.
 
johnno09 said:
What has peoples experiences of holidaying in Egypt been?
Click to expand...

Hot Hot Hot

and yes unless you are superhuman you will get a dose of the trots that will last a minimum 2 days..
But it is the most amazing place, the valley of the kings and the temple of karnac alone was worth it. Dont expect sand and sangria it is not that type of holiday
 
jerry2623 said:
Hot Hot Hot

and yes unless you are superhuman you will get a dose of the trots that will last a minimum 2 days..
But it is the most amazing place, the valley of the kings and the temple of karnac alone was worth it. Dont expect sand and sangria it is not that type of holiday
Click to expand...

Def worth the trip. Yes it is hot but it is dry heat and not humid and sweaty IMO. I never got any illness at all there and I am by no means superhuman.

lovely food, lovely people. I would def go again!
 
Egypt

Looking for a beach resort holiday in general but looking to do day trips to the main sights too. Maybe 4 days resort based, 3 day trips.
Which resort would you recommend for getting to the pyramids and a nile cruise for separate day trips. Also want to go snorkelling. ?
 
Hyatt Regency Sharm

We stayed for a week in Hyatt Regency in Sharm El Sheik and had the best time. We upgraded to a Regency Club room and had access to restricted pool, club house serving soft drinks and snacks all day and canapes before dinner in the evening.

The hotel was on the beach so we could go snorkeling whenever we wanted and the reef is only 10~50 meters from shore.

One of the best holidays we've had.
 
Johnno,

I'm not sure that day trips from Sharm El Sheik to the sights are really doable unless you fly because it's not near the main sights (pyramids, etc). I remember talking to someone who decided to do a day trip from Sharm to Cairo by coach to see the pyramids, it took around 5 hrs each way....they weren't fit for sightseeing by the time they got anywhere.

Maybe you should consider a two-centre holiday, based in Cairo for a number of days (you can visit the pyramids and the museum from there) and the sun resort for a few more.
 
+ 1 for hot, hot, hot!
We went in August two years ago and it was 40-45 degrees every day. Definately not a sun and sangria holiday-for all the day trips we did we were collected from our hotel between 5 and 6 in the morning and dropped back around noon so that you were done before the real heat. We stayed in Luxor for a week -I think it was called the Movenpick Jolie on Crocodile Island or something like that. It was fab, two pools (one where kids weren't allowed, one edge of which was just above the Nile), three or four different restaurants and the rooms were individual bungalows. The staff were great too, really attentive and helpful. We went to the Valley of the Kings and Queens and all the sights around Luxor. We also went to Cairo from here to see the Pyramids and the Sphinx and Cairo Museum. We went by bus and although it was a loooong day it was worth making it. We were collected from hotel at 1am and got back around 10pm that night. The tour guide was excellent. The three sights and a buffet lunch on a boat were included in the price which I remember was reasonable but can't remember how much. It is also possible to fly from Luxor to Cairo. We arranged all the trips through the hotel. There was a lot of attention from the street traders etc when we went into Luxor itself but none of it nasty, the guys were generally friendly if a little over zealous, but they're just trying to make a living. We also spent a week in Hurghada on the Red Sea for the second week of our holiday. I think it was called Sofitel. It was nice, but nowhere close to the other hotel. Also there was absolutely nothing outside the resort. We had to get a crazy Egyptian taxi to the nearest shops and restaurant which basically had a Hard Rock Cafe,and a couple of street traders and a bit of a building site. Although we did do a day trip from there which took us out on a boat for scuba diving over the reefs and then on to a beautiful island where we could snorkel, definately wouldn't recommend going there as other than that you could be in any hotel resort anywhere, you don't see any of Egypt.
 
Back in May 2007, spent a week on a tour around mainland Egypt (Cairo-Aswan-Luxor-Cairo) followed by a week (indepentantly) in Sharm El Sheikh where I learned how to Scuba dive.

It was a pretty standard tour that several tour companies offer and covers the main sights of Ancient Egypt; just be aware, that you can easily be "templed out" as you cram a lot in within the week.

Avoid the summer months at all costs unless you don't mind constant 40oC + weather
 
redchariot said:
Back in May 2007, spent a week on a tour around mainland Egypt (Cairo-Aswan-Luxor-Cairo) followed by a week (indepentantly) in Sharm El Sheikh where I learned how to Scuba dive.

It was a pretty standard tour that several tour companies offer and covers the main sights of Ancient Egypt; just be aware, that you can easily be "templed out" as you cram a lot in within the week.

Avoid the summer months at all costs unless you don't mind constant 40oC + weather
Click to expand...

I have been back to Sharm twice since then but only for Scuba diving (closest good warm water diving to Ireland). If I was only looking for a beach holiday, I wouldn't waste my money; you would get as good a holiday in the European resorts
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top