Egypt Tours - Pyramids Tour - Alexandria to Cairo Alexandria EgyptTravel-3-Days-2-Nights-Desert-Safaris-in-Egypt all-egypt-EgyptTravel-BAHARYIA-BLACK-Desert-Safaris-in-Egypt all-egypt-EgyptTravel-desert-9-days-8-nights-Desert-Safaris-in-Egypt EgyptTravel-Desert-Village-Desert EgyptTravel-oasis-baharya-and-white-desert EgyptTravel-oasis-siwa-and-martha-matrouhDesert-Safaris-in-Egypt EgyptTravel-safari-in-desert-8-days-7nights-egypttravel EgyptTravel-transfer-in-desert-6-days-5nights-Desert-Safaris-in-Egypt 3 Days 2 Nights First Day: After moving from Cairo and arriving to the hotel having lunch in the hotel then moving by jeep to visit the environmental museum [it represent the daily life in the old oasis ]-the lake-Dest and Magrafa[the place where the biggest two dinosaurs were found] -hot spring [Beer Elmatar –Beer El ghaba springs] then to English mountain the place of the ruler during the colonization then returning to the hotel and spend the night. Second Day: moving after the breakfast to visit the museum where You can see a lot of golden mummies –Banauti tomb –Alexander Temple –Helwa house–Elmeftela [roman water ] then to the white desert Black desert –Bedouin village [El haez ] beside a spring we have the Lunch then moving to visit crystal mountain –El akabat –flower stone -new white desert –make a camp in the new white desert to spend the night . Third day After having the breakfast we will visit the old desert to see Mushroom –El khiam valley –the old Akasia tree then back to the hotel . Day 1 - Cairo/Oasis of Baharya Early the morning departure for the Oasis of Baharya at the beginning of Cairo. Visit Gebel Aswid, the fabulous black mountain covered with volcanic rocks, then the old Roman hot sources. Dinner and Night in hotel. Day 2 – white desert/Farafra On the way of Farafra, you will visit the ruins of the oldest Christian Church in the oases of the west which dates from the 1st century. You will roll then through the white Desert and to admire the impressive formations of rocks limestones formed by erosion which make true natural work of art of it. Continuation towards Farafra. Visit the local Museum with the exposure of works of the local artists. Night in bivouac. Day 3 – Dakhla On the way for the oasis of Dakhla. Visit El Qasr, a traditional construction Musulmane, before seeing the Roman cemetery Mezawak. Night in hotel. Day 4 – Mut Visiting of the local museum with Mut with the explanation of the everyday life of its inhabitants. Then direction baalat, with the visit of a Pharaonic tomb of the 6th dynasty. Then visit of a village to the Pharaonic style with Bashandi. Road towards kharga. Night in hotel. Day 5 - El Kharga Visits Temple of Hibis with its remarkable mural reliefs. Then visit of the one of the first Christian cemeteries, Bakawat. The tombs and the first churches preserved some frescos still intact to date. Visit of Qasr El Ghueita and Qasr El Zayyan.night in bivouac. Day 6 - Luxor On the way for the oasis of Baris and then the oasis of Dush or you will visit the Temple of Isis before your departure for Luxor. Arrival to Luxor, transfer to the airport or the station for your departure. The price include - transport in the Jeep * private air-conditioned used during all your stay - A/R - 1 night in Hotel of Baharya, in double room with the breakfast and dinner - 1 night in Hotel of Dakhla, in double room with the breakfast and dinner - 1 night in Hotel of Drove, in double room with the breakfast and dinner - 2 nights in bivouac, cover ** and tries provided - the full board with water out of bottle lunch of day 1 to breakfast of day 3, - an individual English -speaking guide - All taxes and Expenses of Files The price does not include - international flights (NB: we do not make the international flights) - the visa (15 Euros per passport) - All the entrance fees with the sites (Price of the entries to the sites here) - the assistance and the insurances - drinks other than provided water, the phone calls, the personal laundry and all other expenditure - the tips are left to your guide and staff with your personal appreciation Hurghada Tours - Excursions, Trips & Sightseeing Packages in Hurghada agencevoyageegypte.com amazing-egypt.com amazingegypttravel.com cairoegypttravel.com cheapholidaysegypt.com cheaptravelegypt.com circuit-egypte.com egiptotour.com egypt-travel.org egyptevoyages.com egyptoverview.com egyptpackage.com egyptraveldeals.com egypttailormade.com egypttour.us egypttoursholidays.com egypttravel-tours.com egypttravelholiday.com egypttravelnow.com gateegypt.com gotraveltoegypt.com marvelousegypttours.com marvelousegypttravel.com merveilleuseegypte.net myegypttravel.com revedegypte.net travelforegypt.com travelstoegypt.com traveltouregypt.com viaggioegitto.net viajar-egipto.com voyageenegypte.net voyagesejouregypte.com cairo sightseeing tours, sharm el sheikh, cairo tours, cairo luxor tour, cairo egypt tours, cairo trips, sharm trips,cairo egypt, cairo pyramid tours, cairo day trips Useful-Info-Egypt-Holidays-Cheap-Holidays-To-Egypt Terms-and-Conditions-Egypt-Holidays-Cheap-Holidays-To-Egypt Pyramids-Tour-Alexandria-to-Cairo-Alexandria OSIRIS-Tour-Cairo-Egyptian-museum-Pyramids-sphinx-Luxor-Edfu-Kom-Ombo-Aswan Nile-Cruises-Egypt-Holidays-Cheap-Holidays-To-Egypt Hotels-in-Egypt-Egypt-Holidays-Cheap-Holidays-To-Egypt Golf-Tours-Egypt-Holidays-Cheap-Holidays-To-Egypt Golf-in-Egypt-Egypt-Holidays-Cheap-Holidays-To-Egypt EgyptTravel-transfer-in-desert-6-days-5nights-Desert-Safaris-in-Egypt Egypt-Travel-Tips-Egypt-Holidays-Cheap-Holidays-To-Egypt EgyptTravel-safari-in-desert-8-days-7nights-egypttravel EgyptTravel-oasis-siwa-and-martha-matrouhDesert-Safaris-in-Egypt EgyptTravel-oasis-baharya-and-white-desert Egypt-Travel-Destinations-Egypt-Holidays-Cheap-Holidays-To-Egypt EgyptTravel-Desert-Village-Desert EgyptTravel-desert-9-days-8-nights-Desert-Safaris-in-Egypt egypt-travel-cairo-hotels EgyptTravel-BAHARYIA-BLACK-Desert-Safaris-in-Egypt EgyptTravel-3-Days-2-Nights-Desert-Safaris-in-Egypt Egypt-Tours-Egypt-Holidays-Cheap-Holidays-To-Egypt Egypt-Nile-Cruises-Egypt-Holidays-Cheap-Holidays-To-Egypt Egypt-Hotels-Egypt-Holidays-Cheap-Holidays-To-Egypt Egypt-Excursions-Egypt-Holidays-Cheap-Holidays-To-Egypt Egypt-Entry-Visa-Egypt-Holidays-Cheap-Holidays-To-Egypt Desert-Safaris-Egypt-Holidays-Cheap-Holidays-To-Egypt Contact-Us-Egypt-Holidays-Cheap-Holidays-To-Egypt Cleopatra-Tour-egypt-travel Cheap-Holidays-to-Luxor_egypt-travel Cheap-Holidays-to-Hurghada_egypt-travel Cheap-Holidays-to-Cairo_egypt-travel cheap-holidays-Egypt-Holidays-Cheap-Holidays-To-Egypt Cairo-Stopover-tour-egypt-travel About-Egypt-Egypt-Holidays-Cheap-Holidays-To-Egypt On Your Own or Through a Travel Agent or Guide In view of substantial cultural differences and language barriers, Egypt may be a difficult place to attempt to navigate on one's own without prior experience and familiarity. Although the internet has facilitated one's ability to obtain information, a first-time trip to Egypt may be better organized through a private guide and/or a travel agent located in the country. However, before entrusting one's precious vacation and money in the hands of a local representative, it is best to research and obtain feedback on the quality of services offered. Tripadvisor offers some discussion of Egyptian agents and Egyptologists in its forums. Flying, in Egypt: Travelling across Egypt can be tricky without proper planning. Distances by road are long & it is important to choose the right mode of transport to get to a place, if you want to avoid tiring out. Egypt-air is the only airline available. Book all your tickets online, from home. Be sure, especially during peak seasons, to book well in advance…….flights can get booked out surprisingly soon! The website is efficient & easy to navigate. Make allowances in your itinerary, for flight re-scheduling. But, for each of these, you will receive email notifications from Egypt-air, much before you are due to travel. Re-booking is mostly hassle-free. If you receive any such notices during your trip, just walk into the local Egypt Air office & they will sort it for you. It is advised to check your e-mail from time to time, during your stay in Egypt too, to watch out for re-scheduling notifications. All flights are mostly on time & your luggage reaches you, more often than not. At the airports, make sure you are alert…..flight boarding announcements are poor and often announced by the ground staff, without any public announcement system. Check-in is smooth. Luggage limit is 20 kg per person for check-in. If you have a higher allowance while flying in from your country, please check Egypt Air’s policy about allowing the excess luggage without any charge, for internal flights. This will avoid last minute arguments during check-in. Security checks are not as tight as you would be used to, in some other countries. At immigration, they may not even verify details & just let you out! Flights typically do not serve meals, as the flying time is short. You will be offered water or juice. For children, the elderly & invalids, it is better to carry some food, for emergencies. All airports do have cafes or snack bars, where you can pick up something. Egypt by road: Travelling by road in Egypt is smooth. Most roads (say, Aswan to Luxor, Aswan to Abu Simbel, Sharm to Dahab, Dahab to Sinai, Cairo to Bahariya) are in good condition. You have to travel by the convoy from Aswan to Abu Simbel & Aswan to Luxor. There is no rash driving, as was mentioned in some posts…..guess it depends on your luck too. Though they drive at good speeds, the roads are empty & the entire convoy uses a good indicator system while overtaking or warning about bad/narrow roads ahead. Convoys do not stop for bathroom or food breaks, so be prepared. The drive to Abu Simbel is non-stop. The drive to Luxor has breaks at 2 sites – Kom Ombo & Edfu. Be warned though, even when not in a convoy, there are very few rest stops during road travel, for bathroom breaks. So, when you find one, use it…..there may be none available for a long time. Travelling in the desert is a different ball game altogether……no food or bathroom breaks, unless you arrive at an oasis / town. There are paved roads linking the oases together, but, if you travel into the desert, it has to be in a 4-wheel drive. They have to be driven fast, over bumpy surfaces, climbing over sand dunes if necessary, at odd angles. All in all, it feels like a long roller coaster ride. People easily prone to nausea are advised to take anti-nausea tablets before the drive. Carry some lemon juice, soda or mints…..it helps reduce the nausea. Travelling within towns / cities: Most towns / cities are absolutely safe….even when you are out late into the night. You can easily walk a lot & use public transport. Carry a good map / guide-book with you. Also carry your hotel address & phone number at all times. In fact, it is a good idea to ask your hotel staff to write down both these details for you, in Arabic, as it helps if you have to get directions from people who cannot read English. Pick up a local SIM card for your mobile as soon as you reach Egypt…..it helps to make calls to your hotel / guide, as there are no coin operated public phones available. You need to get a calling card for these phones, but, in any case, these phones are hard to come by. In places along the Nile, you have plenty of options to travel back & forth from the east to west banks……feluccas, motorboats, the public ferry (baladi). Haggle hard for felucca & motor-boat prices. They are moored in docks along the Corniche (road along the Nile). It is extremely hard to not come across one. The public ferry service in Luxor, particularly, was very efficient. They run till mid-night. You just ask for the public ferry dock on the Corniche….it’s a huge ferry & not a small motor-boat (which some boats- men would lead you to believe). You buy a ticket & hop on to the ferry. There’s one every 15 minutes or so. The ticket costs 1 LE per person, for 1 way. On road, you can use taxis or a Caleche (horse carriage). Both require haggling for prices. Obviously, locals pay considerably less than you do. Ask for what you feel is a fair price. If it does not work for them, they will refuse. You can always try the next cab. You can ask your hotel staff before leaving each morning, for approximate costs between some places......bargain based on that. Make sure to agree on a price before you get it, confirm if it is for both of you or per person, confirm if it is in Egyptian Pounds & not Dollars or Euros. Also, some Caleche drivers, especially in Aswan are notorious for deviating off course, to take you to ‘this great weekly market’ or this ‘shop having a sale today’. Refuse, firmly, but politely……it is nothing but tactics to get you to visit shops owned by family/friends, so that they can earn a commission. All said & done, it feels amazing, exploring these places on your own. Language & communication: Arabic is the official language. Most people, though, also understand English. It is easy to get by with English, but it is recommended to learn a few Arabic words. It acts as an ice-breaker & does elicit a smile from most Egyptians. This is not to say that Egyptians are unfriendly otherwise…..they are extremely friendly. Chat with everybody, from drivers, to hotel staff, to guides…….it gives you a lot of insight into Egyptian life & lifestyle. Arabic is also useful in small restaurants & while travelling off the tourist path, for buying essentials. If nothing works, try sign language or sketching on a piece of paper…..works! Learning to recognize Arabic numbers is another life saver. All hotels prepare bills in English. Almost all restaurants too, have English menus. But, again, off the beaten path, it’s in Arabic. Knowing the numbers will help you to read prices. Also, while shopping in supermarkets, buying essentials or buying munchies, it helps tremendously. Prices are marked up considerably for tourists & if you can read the Arabic price on the packing, it helps you to know how much they are over-charging you. More on this in ‘Food’ tips……….. Money: You can carry very little cash. It is sufficient to carry some Dollars/ Euros / Pounds to use at the airports during your flight to Egypt. Keep some more of these currencies as an emergency, to use when ATMs are not working. Also, try & get as much Egyptian Pounds (LE) as you can before you leave for Egypt. This can help you tide over the first couple of days. Many hotels charge for the room in Dollars or Euros. For this, you could carry the exact amounts in those currencies, which can be used to pay the hotel. Inform you bank that you are travelling to Egypt & will be using your debit & credit cards. Some people may face problems while in Egypt, as their banks view this sudden use of cards in a foreign country as possible fraud, & block further card usage. This can lead you to being stuck without money, till the matter is resolved. Also, informing your bank will make them alert to any misuse of your card back home. When you make a withdrawal at an ATM, make large withdrawals rather than many small withdrawals. Most banks levy a standard processing charge for overseas withdrawal, irrespective of the amount withdrawn. This can add up to quite a bit. It is advised to keep track of your bank balance while travelling, as sometimes, there are transaction errors. Carry at least 2 cards belonging to different banks. It will help you if you ace any problems with 1 bank. You can use Visa, Master & Maestro cards without any problems. A 4 digit ATM pin works in Egypt as well. Please check your pin usability before you leave. Debit cards linked to savings accounts worked well. Cards linked to current accounts may not work well, as most ATMs do not give you the option to choose ‘current account’ as the account type. Collect as much small change as possible, to give away as tips. Use the larger notes at restaurants & shops and then, save the change. Spend or convert all Egyptian pounds before you leave Egypt……Forex bureaus back home may not buy back LEs. Dollars / Euros work well at airports on the way back home, too. Tipping: Tipping is a very tricky & sensitive issue in Egypt. Be prepared for tipping so that it does not dent your budget. Tipping is expected, whether the service is good or not. People are usually not averse to tipping at all, but here, something as small as pointing out the obvious (say, Horus on a temple wall) may demand a tip. Learn fast…..when people come to you, offering help which you don’t need, politely, but firmly tell them “No, thanks”. A few times, people may demand more tips & get angry, but, you also have to realize that most people expect such huge tips, only because their livelihood depends on tourism. Speak to your hotel staff or guide to come up with a ready reckoner for tipping. As on December 2008, some handy figures are: Car driver – 30 min to 4 hours – 20 LE minimum. Car driver – 4 to 6 hrs (half day) – 25 to 30 LE Car driver – full day / driving between cities – 40 LE / depending on distances Guide – half day - 25 to 30 LE Guide – full day – 50 LE Egyptologist guide – maybe 75-100 LE for a full day? Felucca / motorboat captain – upto 3 hours - 30 LE Restaurant (not up-market) – minimum 5 LE or 10% of the bill, which-ever is more. For carrying luggage / room service – 5 LE Toilets / for minding shoes at mosques – 1 LE / 2 LE For good service – use your discretion It is nice to tip drivers at the end of the day, as you may get a different driver the next day. Guides can be tipped on the last day. At your hotel, where you would eat breakfast & maybe 1 other meal, you could tip every day, to ensure good service. At hotels, you can also leave a tip for the cleaning staff at the end of your stay. While in restaurants that have a service charge, it is still nice to tip the waiter separately, as the service charge is distributed only at the end of the month. Please tip in local currency. It is advised to keep all the change required for tipping in a separate pouch so that you don’t have to dig into a loaded wallet while tipping. Aswan, Luxor & Cairo is where tips are demanded & expected. In Bahariya & Dahab, people seem pleasantly surprised & there is no demanding. Clothing / Climate: Follow all the advice given in the forum & dressed sensibly - Full length bottoms or capris, with modest tops / t-shirts. Half sleeves are not a problem anywhere. In beaches / resorts, you can dress like you would in a beach anywhere else in the world. Sleeveless clothing is quite ok in Cairo….just remember to carry a scarf / stole to throw over your shoulders, for visits to mosques. All this minimises being stared at or lewd comments being passed. Despite this, you may be stared at, quite openly, everywhere, by both men & women! Don’t take offence……a lot of times, it is just general curiosity. Check the whether when you go. Even in December, it can be quite hot during the day & cool at night. During the day, use a lot of sun-block, goggles & a cap / hat. You can tan quite a bit despite this. It is cool at night in Aswan, Luxor & Dahab……take something light to cover up. Cairo gets cooler than these places. The desert is the coldest……with temperatures at night hovering around 5 degrees celcius. The wind makes it much colder than 5 degrees in the city. While climbing Mt.Sinai, layer your clothing. It is freezing at this time of the year, but, a few minutes of climbing & you start to warm up…..layers will allow you to take off warm clothes as you go up. Once you reach the summit, it becomes very cold again. For those planning to climb on a camel, you will feel much colder than the people climbing on foot, as you are not doing anything strenuous….bundle up accordingly. Sunset, in winter, is at 4.45 or 5 pm….it can be quite disorienting to have the darkness set in so early if you are not used to it. Food & drink: There's a separate topic about vegetarian food options in Egypt, below. Here, some general tips: Do not drink water from anywhere. Stick to bottled water. Do not eat raw food, be careful where you eat salads or drink fresh juice & as a rule, eat food that’s piping hot. This will allow you to travel with no signs of the ‘mummy tummy’. When you buy any food / munchies from bakeries, stores or supermarkets, beware of how much you are being charged. You may / may not face this problem. Tourists, generally don’t mind paying slightly marked-up prices…but, you may sometimes be asked for ridiculous sums, like 35 LE for a pack of Pringles / a can of cola or 20 LE for a candy bar (locals pay just 2 to 4 LE for things like this). As a result, every time you want to munch something, you may have to go to a restaurant, which has a printed menu. This is not even at temples & other sites……but, just in the city. This is when it is useful to read the actual price printed in Arabic. This problem is more in Aswan, Luxor and to a lesser extent, in Dahab. At Cairo & Bahariya, you can get most things for the printed price. To combat this, you can request your guide to buy something for you. Else, you could also ask you hotel staff to get you something & then tip them. Another way to beat this ridiculous pricing is to buy snacks or essentials at pharmacies (some pharmacies stock limited snacks) as opposed to supermarkets. Most of the pharmacies sell things at actual cost. When going to sites, avoid buying anything there unless you absolutely have to……prices are expensive there. Carry some food & water. But, on a long day of site hopping, it becomes impractical to lug so many things around….on such days, it is wiser to buy & eat at sites. As of December 2008, food was most expensive at Luxor & Dahab (50 LE per person per meal). Aswan, Bahariya & Cairo were the cheapest (25 LE per person per meal). Cairo has the most variety…..from cheap food (5 LE per person per meal !) to the most expensive options. Vegetarians in Egypt: Being vegetarian in Egypt is a slight disadvantage, especially for very long trips. After a few weeks, the lack of vegetarian options gets to you. One option is to self cater. The other, is to taste every vegetarian option in the book & rotate what you order, so that you don’t tire of anything. Here’s what’s available for vegetarians at all local restaurants: Salads, fresh fruit, fresh juice. Soup – Difficult for staunch vegetarians…..all soups contain chicken stock / meat stock, including tomato soup. The only meat-free option is lentil soup. Main course – Bread / rice eaten with Tagen (claypot) vegetables or fuul (faava beans in gravy). Other options are Spaghetti with tomato sauce or macaroni & cheese. Also, Pizza Margherita, potatoes in gravy, French fries! Moussaka & ratatouille too are available, although rarely. Dips – Tahini (sesame seed paste), Hummus (chick-pea paste) & Babaghanoush (Eggplant paste) Mezze – there are vegetables / vine leaves stuffed with rice and a lot of eggplant based options. Dessert - most have eggs – difficult if you don’t eat eggs! If you eat eggs, you can add omelets & crepes to your list of options. Cairo affords more options – falafel & kushari. Shopping: Shopping in Egypt, presents a mind-boggling range of choices. In Southern Egypt, you get Nubian handicrafts & gifts. In eastern & western Egypt, you can get Bedouin options. Of the 3 souqs (Aswan, Luxor & Cairo), Aswan can be rated the best. Though, Cairo’s Khan-Al-Khalili is the largest. Even the shops by the sea, at Dahab, have interesting buys. If you are looking for specialties like Nubian or Bedouin work, it is best to pick them up at the local souqs, rather than at Khan-Al-Khalili. Not only is the best variety available in the local souqs, the prices too are considerably cheaper than Cairo. If you plan to visit factories - perfume, alabaster, papyrus, carpets etc, remember not to be forced into buying anything. Visiting these factories can be good, as they explain how these products are made, but, there is a lot of hard-sell. If you are uncomfortable about it, make sure you let your guide know that you do not want to go….it is quite okay to do so. If you do visit them, but are not tempted to buy anything, you can leave a tip behind for the factory / the person who showed you the demonstration, as a gesture of appreciation. In the souqs, bargain hard. It can be particularly distressing for people not used to bargaining. Make your offer, of what you feel is a fair price. Remember to start a little below your final price, as you eventually have to step up your offer a bit. If it is not viable for the shopkeeper, he will refuse. Walk away, or say that you’ll think about his final offer & come back later…..most times, this does the trick & they call after you. If the shopkeeper had genuinely quoted his lowest price, he will not call you back….then, you can decide later if you want to go back or not. Do not feel guilty about haggling…..but remember – bargain politely & with a smile…..this allows for no hard feelings. Nobody will ever sell you anything below cost price, for a loss (contrary to what they may tell you while selling it). You can get most purchases for almost 1/4th the quoted price. Another trick to use is to ask your hotel staff for prices of some items like hats, t-shirts, carpets, keychains, jewellery etc. This way, you have an idea before-hand, and bargain accordingly. Toilets: Many toilets are of the squat type. Western WCs too are increasingly common, especially in larger towns & in cities. Do not expect very clean toilets. Keep lots of toilet paper handy, maybe even disinfectant wipes, for wiping toilet seats. If you know the trick to using a squat toilet, it is more hygienic, as you will not be sharing a seat with thousands of others. Carry some liquid / paper soap too, as it is non-existent in these toilets. In many toilets, it is expected that you pay a small charge – 50 piastres to 1 LE should suffice. Some toilet attendants dole out a small wad of toilet paper when you go in….but, you can never be sure. All toilets will have water, either a tap or a squirter, for washing. While travelling or going from site to site, make use of all toilet breaks. In remote locations, it may be a while before you come across the next toilet. A small request - a lot of toilets are choked, not because of lack of flushing, but, because tourists try to flush toilet paper, as they are probably used to, elsewhere. It does not work here……Egyptian plumbing lines are not designed to take the load of enormous quantities of toilet paper being flushed down. All toilets have a waste bin…..please dispose the paper in it. There are signs to this effect put up in a lot of places, but, many people pay no heed to it. Please do your bit to keep the toilets clean & working, for other people. Miscellaneous: Carry small locks to use on your suitcases / backpacks…that way, you can leave valuables / cash behind in your hotel room, in peace. Many hotels will also have a safe box in the room, or at the reception……make use of them & leave behind passports, jewellery & money. Crowded areas like souqs could have pick-pockets & it is not advisable to carry everything on you.Of course, many people may also prefer to carry documents with them, in a secure pouch strapped to the waist. Carry a photo-copy of your passport with you, at all times. Nobody ever asks you for it, it is just in case of emergencies. While travelling in convoys & climbing Mt.Sinai, you may be asked to carry original passports…..so check before you leave your hotel. To beat the heat, leave your hotel early in the morning, as early as 6 am. A lot of sites open early & are less crowded at that time. In the afternoons, relax on a felucca (the Nile is quite cool), go for a swim in your hotel pool, hang out in a café or get into one of the numerous museums. A lot of the museums are also open (Aswan & Luxor) till almost 10 pm…so, you can save them for then, after the other sites close for the day. Egypt Holidays - The History Libra holidays Offers to Egypt change daily to suit your every need. Five thousand years ago the chain of independent city-states lining the River Nile united to form one long, thin country ruled by one king, or pharaoh. Almost instantly a highly distinctive culture developed. For almost 30 centuries Egypt remained the foremost nation in the Mediterranean world. Then, in 332 BC, the arrival of Alexander the Great heralded the end of the Egyptian way of life.All ancient civilisations have contributed in some way to the development of modern society.The unique culture was quickly buried beneath successive layers of Greek, Roman and Arabic tradition, and all knowledge of Egypt's glorious past was lost. Only the decaying stone monuments, their hieroglyphic texts now unreadable, survived as silent witnesses to a long lost civilisation.Some 2,000 years on, however, the ancient hieroglyphs have been decoded and Egyptology - the study of ancient Egypt - is booming. At a time when Latin and ancient Greek are rapidly vanishing from the school curriculum, more and more people are choosing to read hieroglyphs in their spare time. And the Egyptian galleries of our museums are packed with visitors, while the galleries dedicated to other ancient cultures remain empty. Egypt Holidays - The Country Egypt holidays - Cairo is the largest city in EgyptEgypt is bounded on the north by the Mediterranean Sea, on the east by Israel and the Red Sea, on the south by Sudan, and on the west by Libya. Cairo is the capital and largest city in Egypt, and the most modern in the Middle East.Red Sea Diving HolidaysDiving The Red Sea - An underwater paradiseDiving holidays in the Red Sea have an excellent reputation and attract scuba divers and snorkellers from all over the world. One of the great attractions of diving the Red Sea is the quality and diversity of Red Sea hotels and resorts on the stunning Red Sea Riviera in Egypt, just a 5 hour flight from Britain. Diving the Red Sea opens up a vast area of amazing underwater scenery with coral gardens, deep blue canyons and famous wrecks like the Thistlegorm and the Dunraven. One look at the huge schools of fish and dramatic walls of the Ras Mohammed and Tiran Island dive sites near Sharm el Sheikh and you will see why diving the Red Sea has become so popular. Other famous Red Sea diving sites include Giftun Island in Hurghada and the amazing Canyon and Blue Hole near the romantic resort of Dahab. Diving the Red Sea is an attractive option from Marsa Alam and the southern Hamata region with its spectacular marine parks and pristine reefs. Other popular bases for diving the Red Sea include Nuweiba, El Gourna, El Quesir and Soma Bay. Diving the Red Sea from live-aboard cruises allows divers to explore distant practically untouched dive sites.Search for Egypt holidays to all resorts including holidays to aswanRed Sea Diving - First-class instruction and amazing dive sitesDiving the Red Sea owes its excellent worldwide reputation to the region's extraordinary bio-diversity, with over 1000 species of amazingly colourful fish, including turtles, sharks, manta rays and dolphins. The superb all-year-round climate, clear warm water and easily accessed shallow dive sites make Red Sea diving a very attractive option for beginners. Red Sea diving courses are typically between 2 to 5 days. Professional Red Sea diving centres offer PADI diving courses that include practice dives with direct supervision. Diving the Red Sea is well within the capabilities of any reasonably fit person and attracts all ages from children to the elderly. Red Sea diving schools also offer first class local information and daily excursions. Diving the Red Sea is also popular with experienced and expert divers. Red Sea diving centres offer refresher courses and advanced techniques for enjoying the more challenging sites.Red Sea Diving Holidays - Great beaches and desert adventureDiving the Red Sea need not occupy all your time, as easy access to offshore islands and dive sites makes even short half day dives a possibility. As well as diving, the Red Sea also offers tremendous windsurfing, kite surfing and waterskiing. Red Sea diving holidays could also include horse and camel riding, trekking, adventurous desert safaris and visits to the famous ancient sites of Egypt. Or just relax on the fabulous soft white sandy Red Sea beaches with their swaying palms and warm sparkling turquoise water. Egypt Holidays - The People Holidays to Egypt, the mystical land of the Pharaohs has amazing sights and very friendly and proud people who are also very proud of the famous antiquities, including the wonderful temples and Pyramids. As part of the Holy Land, holidays to Christian and other religious monuments are popular. Egypt holidays offer great scuba diving and even golf. Alternatively, holiday visitors can relax on Egypt's superb Red Sea beaches, or take in the high culture of Cairo, including opera, good restaurants and its busy nightlife. Egypt Holidays - Food and Drink In Egypt, dining out can range from stand-up sandwich bars to luxurious five-course meals. You can find small, inexpensive establishments that serve good Egyptian food for only a few pounds. If you're in a hurry, try the local snack bars. While the cubbyholes off the street (which probably have running water) are generally safe. The larger cities even have Western-style fast-food chains like McDonald's and Kentucky Fried Chicken, but they're relatively expensive. In cities both food and water are safe although the change in your diet may produce short-term gastrointestinal upsets. Egypt Holidays - Transport Travelling by road in Egypt is smooth. Most roads say, Aswan to Luxor, Aswan to Abu Simbel, Sharm to Dahab, Dahab to Sinai, Cairo to Bahariya are in good condition. You have to travel by the convoy from Aswan to Abu Simbel & Aswan to Luxor. There is no rash driving, as was mentioned in some posts, guess it depends on your luck too. Though they drive at good speeds, the roads are empty & the entire convoy uses a good indicator system while overtaking or warning about bad narrow roads ahead. Convoys do not stop for bathroom or food breaks, so be prepared. The drive to Abu Simbel is non-stop. The drive to Luxor has breaks at 2 sites Kom Ombo & Edfu. Egypt Holidays - In Summary... Think of Holidays to Egypt and a mythical land steeped in history and plentiful with ancient treasures immediately springs to mind. However there is also so much more to this diverse and exciting country. Just five hours flying time from the UK, Holidays to Egypt has everything; from its fantastic year round climate and abundance of ancient sites to explore, to the modern resorts on the Red Sea Riviera with their unbelievably clear blue waters which provide spectacular snorkelling and diving opportunities.From ancient sights, the ancient Pyramids. The Sphinx. Tutankhamun's burial treasures. The museum of Egyptian Antiquities. Just some of the sights that should not be missed by visitors to Cairo, the capital of Egypt and the largest city in Africa. Further south, at the other end of Nile Valley, lies Luxor, gateway to the legendary Valley of the Kings, ancient temples and the dramatic Aswan High Dam....to diving sitesThe resorts of the Red Sea provide the perfect blend of ingredients for anyone looking for a beach holiday, especially if watersports, snorkelling and scuba diving in particular are your favourite pastimes. Although each area has its own unique character, every one offers crystal clear waters, spectacular coral reefs teeming with marine life, a fantastic year-round climate and all the facilities you'd expect from modern holiday resorts. Libra holidays offers holidays in all three of the main resort areas of the Red Sea. Sharm el Sheikh on the southernmost tip of the Sinai Peninsular is probably the most developed in this region of Egypt, whilst over on the western shoreline, the Red Sea Resorts around Hurghada boast some of the best dive sites in the world. Add to this the emerging area of Marsa Alam with its peaceful, picturesque setting and you have everything under the sun. User-Agent: * Allow: / Meet & assist at Alexandria port. Two way transfers by A/C private bus Alexandria / Cairo / Alexandria. Entrance feeTwo way transfers by A/C private bus Alexandria / Cairo / Alexandria. Entrance fees & guidance for (Egyptian museum & Pyramids-sphinx). Two way transfers by A/C private bus Alexandria / Cairo / Alexandria. Entrance fees & guidance for (Egyptian museum & Pyramids-sphinx). s & guidance for (Egyptian museum & Pyramids-sphinx). Tour 01 (STDT01) : Museum & Citadel Tour 02 (STDT02) : Pyramids & Sphinx Tour 03 (STDT03) : Sound & Light Tour 04 (STDT04) : Memphis & Saqqara Tour 05 (STDT05) : Museum & Khan El Khalili Tour 06 (STDT06) : Nile Cruise Dinner Tour 07 (STDT07) : Cairo Tower & Manyal Palace Tour 08 (STDT08) : Coptic Museum, The Church Tour 09 (STDT09) : Islamic Museum& Mosque & Al-Azhar Tour 10 (STDT10) : The Pharonic village Tour 11 (STDT11) : Pyramids -Memphis -Saqqara Tour 12 (STDT12) : Museum -Citadel -Khan EL Khalili