Simon C

Specifically, Valley of the Kings, Karnak and Luxor, and maybe the temple island of Fili?

Looking at going next year, outside of their summer.

Any thoughts or opinions grately recieved.

rallyman2007

It's great but be careful with taxi drivers taking you to their brothers shop! And always ask the price before you get into the taxi! And always drink bottled water and make sure that the bottles that you buy are sealed!

Make sure you buy The Rough Guide to Egypt because it's perfect!

Visit this place if you visit no other: The Temple of Deir el Bahari

RussBoy

Certainly spectacular but as RallyMan says, be careful...we got extremely pi**ed off with the constant hassle and people trying to rip us off (and I'm used to it...I live in Spain!!) If your wife or girlfriend is blonde, you'll have even more hassle...though I did get offered quite a good deal on a camel and half a dozen rugs which I wish I'd accepted

Simon C

Going by myself! And I'm blonde, but male.

miss*scoobygav555*

we came back a few weeks ago and did all the tourist things both in Luxor and Cairo and would highly recommend doing both, we loved both trips. The constant hassle of people trying to get money off you or to buy things was very annoying and I got pi$$ed off many of times!!!! Even the police were asking for money!!

Gav got offered camels and an elephant for me and he was very tempted to take it but then again a guy offered me a load of money for Gav which was funny and I was tempted!! He crapped himself!!

orbix

I've been on a day trip to Egypt and have no intention of going back.

"You english?"..."Tally Ho"..."Lovely Jubby"...

miss*scoobygav555*

we got that all the time, was very annoying, as soon as you said you were english you were doomed!!!

mart360

Went back in 2000, did a nile cruise & a week in Luxor.

IF your going for longer than aw eek, i would reccomend, a day trip to Cairo to do the Pyramids & the museam.

The Luxor end is fantastic, with the valley of the kings, Karnack, Dendra etc being very good. Hapshetsuits temple is good too, take a panoramic lens for this place. (hopefully the upper floor is open now)

Yes you get hassled for Backseesh, but a simple no thank you will usually suffice..


Be prepared for a huge culture shock , and a totally different way of life..

Even if your bottle of water is sealed, check for clarity... i got duped that way... not to bad but had the squits for a few days


when are you going (month) and where are you staying?


Mart

Simon C

Looking at maybe Jan time when its cooler.

Its either this or maybe buying a flat! (which means I've grown up etc)

Only thing that really puts me off is its just me going. Strange, I can naff off to the woods with a rifle and kit and be quite happy. Somehow just my company seems off putting on this trip (maybe outside my comfort zone)

mart360

Go in June,

nice and hot, and the season hasnt really begun..
if your going solo, a nile cruise and a week in Luxor is about £600ish

take another couple of hundred for meals then some spending money

if you do a cruise, you will meet people and then the vist to the bazzar's are more fun..

everyone is very friendly, and you will enjoy it..

failing that, just stay by the pool in your hotel and enjoy the rays


Mart

Simon C

I hate heat! hence going when its cooler.


Hence the other place I want to go is the ice hotel

Shark Man

We did that. The Nile cruise does get you away from the hassel of the locals, plus that part of the holiday was fully guided and chaperoned so hassel was kept to a minimum.

But yes be preapred to be hasseled on the streets; its a way of life over there. One trick when they ask where your from is to say your Irish and put on the worst mock accent you can achieve...gets them well confused

If you want to shut the kids up, bring a box of cheap pens/pencils, but don't let them see you have a whole box...you'll start a riot!

You'll get the squits. Its comes as a bonus part of the trip, getting a tummy bug is optional. We were advised by the guide when you have a tummy upset is to use their own stuff (tablets) as they work far better; Which they did, as I had a brief bout of projectile vomiting off the side the boat (was sober too ) 24hours later and I was right as rain. Everyone on the trip barring an alcoholic with a hip flask glued to his right hand was affected, so the alternative is to get drunk and stay drunk

Anyhoo, ignoring all the above, this holiday is about the sights and history...it is absolsutely awesome.

mart360

Its not like british heat with 60% humidity

its dry heat with 0% humidity...

Midnight, and your still out in shorts and a T shirt supping beers on deck


Mart

Sosbanite

As Mart360 says go on a Nile Cruise and you'll not be on your own as you will make friends quickly, it's also a good way to see most of the Temples.

Alternatively try these guys singles holidays for single travellers - Solo's Holidays – holidays for single people
I used them to do the Inca trail a few years ago - had a good group of **** heads with me on that trip - totty was a bit though

Exodus.co.uk are also good if travelling on your own.

Make sure you get to Abu Simbel at sunrise - fantastic!!!

Sosbanite

Forgot to say two essential words for Egypt - La Shukran (sp) = No Thanks and make sure that you carry a bog roll with you all the time

Shark Man

I forgot to add, we took an internal flight to Abu Simbel. The memories of the rickety old 737 which brought back memories of early flights on these things when I was a small child.....as it bounced down the seemingly short runway on landing with overhead lockers spilling open

RobJenks

I work in Ras Shukier which is near El Gouna a resort on the Red Sea.
The heat is extreme down here ,but should begin to cool off once into October.
Why anybody would want to come here for a holiday puzzles me.
I believe diving is the main attraction, it certainly is not a pretty place.
Germans for some reason love the place?
Give it a miss and go to Thailand.

kingofturds

iTrader: (1)

Did you fly over from Cyprus? I was planning on going but came down with heat stroke. By the look of the couple next door to us that did go I had a lucky escape. They caught dysentery or something and came back a stone lighter and looking green.

Dr Hu

Its a stunning place - the history is breathtaking.

Cairo is an experience, but the souk is a fabulous place, as are the Pyramids & The Museum. We went in June and it was fricking hot, we had a few days in Cairo and a week cruise on the nile & a plane ride to abu simbel (unmissable), on the boat in was breezy down the river, it was like standing in front of a hairdryer, you could feel the wind sucking the moisture out of you by the second.

Anybody who goes in August must be crazy - we were up at 6 -7 am to get the tours in, break at 11 til 4ish then the next tour would be in the evening to avoid the heat.
If you do a cruise you get a fully guided tour which are very good.

We have young kids now & wouldn'[t take them yet, but definately plan to go back again when they are older.

RRH

I've spent an awful lot of time out there and agree 100% with most of the things said above.

On the whole, if you eyeball the locals while saying 'no' firmly they will back off. It's the eye contact thats important from experience.

Be real careful with blonde wives / girlfriends / children.

DCI Gene Hunt

Worked there for 3 years, had a apartment in downtown Cairo & a rather nifty car... everyday it was like "Wacky feckin Races" driving to the office!

I'm surprised no one's done the Pyramid light show! Can't remember what night its in English but to sit there (under the stars & a blanket) watching them light everything up was a major plus, especially for all the old Roger Moore / Bond fans

Don't eat tomatoes, they're grown down the Nile Delta and the locals fertilize them with human waste! and the usual avoid tap water and ICE (which is made from....... Tap water).