 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Egypt
Overview
I loved Egypt myself (and the people), although to see the true Egypt you must travel outside the main tourist spots and venture past the tourist strips at any location.
Safety
Although beware - Arabs will tell you what the believe you want to hear, even if they don’t know the correct answer, which can make finding something very difficult.
Hold onto your passport and watch your money as they are very fast with their hands!
Visas
3 month entry visas may be obtained from your local Egyptian consulate of you can obtain an entry visa at any of the Major Ports of Entry. 3 year and 5 year visas are also available.
Womens Issues
Travelling alone (without a male) can be very difficult and quite dangerous. Organising trips from inside Egypt is difficult so if you intend to go there- read up on dress codes and learn some basic Arabic and definitely book a tour to the Sinai.
Always travel with a friend and if you do not want to be followed everywhere - travel with a male companion and you will be left alone.
It's a fairly easy going county, but you will need to cover your arms, shoulders and heads whilst visiting temples & churches.
Sinai Desert
I've been to Sinai. I stayed in Southern Sinai near Sharm El Sheik and just flew up to Cairo. It’s really beautiful around the Red Sea coast and Ras Mohamed national park
I've met people who have done field work there, but no one who's just been through. However, some friends of mine stupidly decided to take a day trip out in the Sahara once, and got hopelessly lost for a couple of days - they were very lucky to be found, they travelling could easily have died out in that vast nothingness. In a temperate climate you can follow the water out, but in a desert or arid mountainous region, you're pretty much screwed if you get lost. So in those terms I'd recommend only going with a guide, if you want to get off the beaten track. Egypt could be different, but in Sudan and Eastern Africa, your best bet is to pick a guide once you get to the country - you get better prices and can arrange to see more remote areas that way. You can always check with local people which guides will be good to go with. There will probably be loads of people (relatively speaking) wanting to travel to Sinai to see some of the archaeological and Biblical cultural sites, so you may be able to hook up with one or two others - not really a group tour, but you'll have some other folks to share expenses and experiences with.
I'm not really one for traveling in a group but I think in that area in would be whole lot safer. It was 40C + most days and if you do wander off and get lost you are up shit creek without a boat never mind a paddle
If you stay in Sharm you can get guided trips out into the Desert and camp out in Beduin style tents + you have some of the best diving in the world
Sinai is cool...when you negotiate get a price for there AND back as often times they'll try to negotiate a second time to get back and then you're up a creek without a camel...unless you can pay.
I'm exaggerating a bit but I would go for sure...
I am sure you would enjoy a trip to the Sinai desert, although strongly advise that you do take an organised tour. Getting help in Egypt is not easy due to language and cultural differences.
Backpatters Experiences
A Shropshire Lad's Trip Report
Links
http://www.egypt.com/
Official Tourist Board
I loved Egypt myself (and the people), although to see the true Egypt you must travel outside the main tourist spots and venture past the tourist strips at any location.
Safety
Although beware - Arabs will tell you what the believe you want to hear, even if they don’t know the correct answer, which can make finding something very difficult.
Hold onto your passport and watch your money as they are very fast with their hands!
Visas
3 month entry visas may be obtained from your local Egyptian consulate of you can obtain an entry visa at any of the Major Ports of Entry. 3 year and 5 year visas are also available.
Womens Issues
Travelling alone (without a male) can be very difficult and quite dangerous. Organising trips from inside Egypt is difficult so if you intend to go there- read up on dress codes and learn some basic Arabic and definitely book a tour to the Sinai.
Always travel with a friend and if you do not want to be followed everywhere - travel with a male companion and you will be left alone.
It's a fairly easy going county, but you will need to cover your arms, shoulders and heads whilst visiting temples & churches.
Sinai Desert
I've been to Sinai. I stayed in Southern Sinai near Sharm El Sheik and just flew up to Cairo. It’s really beautiful around the Red Sea coast and Ras Mohamed national park
I've met people who have done field work there, but no one who's just been through. However, some friends of mine stupidly decided to take a day trip out in the Sahara once, and got hopelessly lost for a couple of days - they were very lucky to be found, they travelling could easily have died out in that vast nothingness. In a temperate climate you can follow the water out, but in a desert or arid mountainous region, you're pretty much screwed if you get lost. So in those terms I'd recommend only going with a guide, if you want to get off the beaten track. Egypt could be different, but in Sudan and Eastern Africa, your best bet is to pick a guide once you get to the country - you get better prices and can arrange to see more remote areas that way. You can always check with local people which guides will be good to go with. There will probably be loads of people (relatively speaking) wanting to travel to Sinai to see some of the archaeological and Biblical cultural sites, so you may be able to hook up with one or two others - not really a group tour, but you'll have some other folks to share expenses and experiences with.
I'm not really one for traveling in a group but I think in that area in would be whole lot safer. It was 40C + most days and if you do wander off and get lost you are up shit creek without a boat never mind a paddle
If you stay in Sharm you can get guided trips out into the Desert and camp out in Beduin style tents + you have some of the best diving in the world
Sinai is cool...when you negotiate get a price for there AND back as often times they'll try to negotiate a second time to get back and then you're up a creek without a camel...unless you can pay.
I'm exaggerating a bit but I would go for sure...
I am sure you would enjoy a trip to the Sinai desert, although strongly advise that you do take an organised tour. Getting help in Egypt is not easy due to language and cultural differences.
Backpatters Experiences
A Shropshire Lad's Trip Report
Links
http://www.egypt.com/
Official Tourist Board