No bucket list is complete without including Egypt
A cruise down the Nile and seeing the Pyramids has been on my Bucket List for well over 30 years but the terrorist attacks and then the Arab Spring in 2011 pushed it to the bottom as well as the poor quality of the boats that were available.
Whilst trawling through the travel sites I read a report on the Oberoi boat and the fact that prices were low at that moment caused a rethink so we were off on 14 night trip to celebrate my birthday in August 2018.
We stuck to the typical tourist trail of Cairo, Luxor, Aswan and back to Cairo which was just enough time to see the major sites. If you have longer then you can add Alexandria, the Western Desert and a Red Sea resort. I highly recommend the Nile Cruise, it is great way to see the country and get some relaxation but this was a very special boat and was the highlight of our trip.
It is possible to plan a trip yourself and just book tours in each place or use a local agent (prices are cheaper), I worked out both methods and decided to use an agent just for the convenience of airport transfers and having a back up if anything went wrong. We used Memphis Tours and in general they were very good, always on hand and dealt exceptionally well with the hassle of visas and immigration at the airports.
As you will be covering many thousands of years in history I would recommend watching some documentaries, the BBC do a number of good ones and for a laugh look at The History Channel’s Chasing Mummies with the well known Egyptologist, Zahi Hawass.
Weather wise the best time to go is from October to April but it will be busy over December and January. August was hot but not unbearable if you are used to heat and prices are cheaper with less tourists around.
Nearly every one spoke english so communication for us was not a problem.
I spent a lot of time checking out what the correct clothing should be which was loose fitting items and scarfs which is not me so I packed a lot of stretchy jeans, T-shirts/vests and blouses so my arms and legs would be covered. I also took trainers and boots, only one pair of flip flops and then 4 dresses for evening with 3 pairs of shoes as we were stopping in good hotels. I did not take any shorts or skirts.
This seems to cover both Istanbul (where we stopped on the way) and Egypt recommendations to dress conservatively and keep arms and legs covered. One thing you do definitely need is a hat and comfortable shoes/boots for sightseeing.
The reality is that you will see women in all types of clothing so shorts would not be out of place. During the day I was in jeans and t-shirts/vests and was very comfortable.
A visa on arrival is available for certain countries and although this can be done online, the process can be difficult and you are uncertain if you have the visa. There is also a false website so do be careful. Getting the visa at the airport is simple, there is a desk before immigration and you will need $25 per person, our agent did all this for us. If you do it yourself do check that you get the correct change if you do not have the exact amount with you.
Free import (irrespective of age):
- 200 cigarettes or 25 cigars or 200 grams of tobacco;
- 1 litre of alcoholic beverages;
- a reasonable quantity of perfume and 1 litre of Eau de Cologne;
- non-commercial articles with a total max. of USD 200.-;
- goods for personal use;
Prohibited:
- narcotics, drugs, cotton;
- all kinds of live, frozen or stuffed birds or any bird derived product.
Up to 48 hours after arrival, you can purchase another 3L alcohol plus up to US$200 in other duty-free articles at dedicated Egypt Free shops at the airport, in Cairo and at official tax-free shops in Hurghada, Sharm El Sheikh and elsewhere. (Touts in tourist areas may ask you to use your allotment to buy alcohol for them.)
All our transport was arranged by our agents, fairly new air conditioned cars with wifi and excellent drivers, water provided.
Transport from the airport can be booked online or taxis found outside the arrivals hall where you haggle the cost. Memphis Tours offer airport transfers from all airports in Egypt as will other agents.
Taxis in Cairo are in bad condition and you have to haggle. For Luxor and Aswan beware asking the hotel to call for you, prices are ridiculous.
Taxi Recommendations:
Luxor: Abdhul - 002 01061443449
Aswan: Ahmed 01141274028 - sits outside The Old Cataract Hotel
From a personal point of view - if you are visiting Egypt on a hope of discovering new and exquisite wines and beers... oh dear! There are two local beers, Sakara and Stella, home brands the first is dire but drinkable, the second is simply dire. The red wines available readily are also foul in the main. Your driver will also know where you can buy should you be truly desperate, Ahmed in Aswan was very helpful after trawling along the main coast road where the off licences were shut (because the day had a 'y' in it we think) finally directing us to an underground restaurant. In general stick to your hotel (or boat)... at least the beer will be cold!
Take USD for the visa and get the agent to get it for you. I have read reports that if you do it yourself you get shortchanged.
At the time of writing the e-visa service was available but there is a false website to watch out for. The consensus is that it is easier to get it on arrival.
I took USD cash and cards, cards were used at the hotels and we changed the dollars at the ATM, you feed in the note and get Egyptian Pounds back which you need for the tips, small shops and markets.
Make clear to your guide if you do not want to visit the tourist trap shops.
You can visit the Bazaars yourself, again the guides take you to commission shops which are generally poor quality.
Local Taxis are an experience and be aware that the price may change on your arrival.
Do watch some documentaries beforehand, it helps as there is so much history to process.
Avoid the included lunches on private tours!
