I Have Five Days In Egypt - What Do I Do?

[Sprucegoose]

Hi, I am trying out the venerated Al Safwa Lounge in DOH - then heading to Egypt. I have never been to Egypt before, and I would be interested in any advice for this first-time traveller. First night I will stay at the InterCon Semiramis in Cairo and open after that.

Thanks Spruce.

 

[N860CR]

I’m heading over later in the year. Doing a few days in Cairo (see the pyramids, Egyptian museum) then a 3 night Nile cruise which covers some of the tourist spots.

I’ve been to Cairo before and can’t say I’ve got anything partially nice to say about it… but you’ve got to see the pyramid complex.

Be prepared for a lot of harassment (pretty aggressive too). Be careful with food. I got horrifically sick.

 

[RooFlyer]

Pyramids and the new Grand Egyptian Museum one day (I assume that GEM is now open - it was delayed for years but I think it’s going now).

Fly down to Luxor for 2 days :Valley of the Kings and maybe also the Valley of the Queens for a day, Luxor general for a day

Take a private tour for a day to Saqqara pyramids area to the south of Cairo, as arranged through most hotels or via Viatour

A day in Cairo itself -there are many good locations. Have a look at my trip report Dipping my toe back in the Nile. Uber works okay in Cairo - very cheap but you gotta be careful with your pick up points as the roads are pretty maniacal.

Cairo is maniac crowded, rather grotty but absolutely fascinating.

Have a think about the above and get back to us with any further tips you might need. I’ve been to Cairo three times and could go again any time.

 

[Sprucegoose]

Pyramids and the new Grand Egyptian Museum one day (I assume that GEM is now open - it was delayed for years but I think it’s going now).

Value of the Kings and maybe also the Valley of the Queens for a day.

Take a private tour fora day to Saqqa pyramids area to the south of Cairo, as arranged through most hotels or via Viatour

A day in Caiiro itself -there are many good locations. Have a look at my trip report Dipping my toe back in the Nile. Uber works okay in Cairo - very cheap but you gotta be careful with your pick up points as the roads are pretty maniacal.

You could consider flying down to Luxor for a day or a day and a half.

Cairo is maniac crowded, rather grotty but absolutely fascinating.

Have a think about the above and get back to us with any further tips you might need. I’ve been to Cairo three times and could go again any time.

Thanks, Roo Flyer. I will look at your TR. Have you ever headed towards the Gulf of Suez or Ain Sukhna?

 

[RooFlyer]

Ain Sukhna

No ... did drive out the the Red Sea coast many years ago for work. Mentioned in another TR:

Thread 'A trip (report) down memory lane - Saudi Arabia and Egypt in the 90s!'

Apr 16, 2016

One of my most favourite trips was one for work to Saudi Arabia and Egypt in 1994. I've just gotten around to getting my 35mm slides scanned (hat tip to flyboyal) and I thought I'd share some of those memories here. It was certainly an unusual trip - actually two, which I'll combine into one here - and I guess Saudi isn't a country that's visited much. Then, and I think now, you can't visit as a tourist - you have to be invited by some organisation there and its not a trivial thing to do.

The reason I went (with a colleague) was that our mining company wanted to assess the middle east...

• RooFlyer
• Replies: 57
• Forum: Trip Reports

• 

 

[CaptJCool]

Hi, I am trying out the venerated Al Safwa Lounge in DOH - then heading to Egypt. I have never been to Egypt before, and I would be interested in any advice for this first-time traveller. First night I will stay at the InterCon Semiramis in Cairo and open after that.

Thanks Spruce.

Went for 5 days in June 2024

Post in thread 'LTG the pyramid scheme? Will QF LTG (Lift Their Game) ?? Europe 2024 for tipping over LIFE TIME GOLD'

Jun 21, 2024

Cairo Airport will be a stark shock after the grass at those airports!

Oh yes
That it was
And arrived Way LATE

• CaptJCool

• 

The museum in town is great
The metro awesome
The river cruise a must - if you like I’ll recommend a company - the guy picks you up from your hotel and returns you there

 

[Forg]

Ref. The Bangles …

 

[DC3]

Thanks, Roof Flyer. I will look at your TR. Have you ever headed towards the Gulf of Suez or Ain Sukhna?

Stay safe

Egypt

Australian Government travel advice for Egypt. Understand the risks, safety, laws and contacts.

www.smartraveller.gov.au

 

[offshore171]

Given it’s a short duration, I’d spend 2 days in Cairo and then pick one of either Aswan or Luxor for the rest. Fly down and back.

Both offer some great attractions.

Note: If you or any of your travel companions is female and under about 40, be prepared for some absolutely flagrant and relentless street/sexual harassment in Cairo.

 

[p--and--t]

Went in 2022. Organised before we went with tour company in Cairo for personal tour and cruise airport to airport after 3 previous aborted attempts due to Arab spring etc

Certainly a place not to miss the icons of architecture/monuments.

Definitely watch the food and personal safety. We organised to visit the Pyramids and museum before joining a cruise on the Nile.

A cruise with with 1/2 day trips to see the sites and back with a guide reduces to the likelihood of safety issues and on the cruise ship reduces tummy upset issues (although not all).

Scammers and rip off merchants everywhere. Traffic and driving habits certainly eye opening even if you have been to BKK a few times.

Not a place I will ever go back to.

 

[Pushka]

I'd go back to Egypt and Cairo in a heartbeat. The new Museum (GEM) is now open and a friend of ours was lucky enough to see it. Luxor is something not to be missed. I'd try get to Saqqara site if Luxor not an option. Check here from about page 9. We were on a cruise that touched Egypt in a few ports interspersed with others. So it jumps around a bit.

Thread 'A Magic Carpet, er Ship ride to Arabia.'

Apr 29, 2023

After several Covid cancellations it seems we might just get to see another bucket list trip to Egypt, Jordan and Israel. Originally planned as a Nile River cruise with extensions which would afford easier access to the Valley of the Kings and Queens, Petra and Israel, that cruise was Covid cancelled twice, then a replacement ocean cruise through the Suez was booked but when full payment was due Viking were still daily Covid testing and bumping positives off, so we rebooked for - May 3.

The cruise we are doing with Viking is called Passage to India, except we are doing Passage from India...

• Pushka
• Replies: 299
• Forum: Trip Reports

• 

 

[CaptJCool]

And avoid ice in drinks

oops

A week later in Athens still runny
The pharmacist gave me a weeks course of Nexium and it did the trick !

 

[RSD]

@Sprucegoose - RooFlyer just alerted me to this thread - first question is what time of year are you going? That will determine my recommendations based on how hot it will be.

 

[lovetravellingoz]

Pyramids and the new Grand Egyptian Museum one day (I assume that GEM is now open - it was delayed for years but I think it’s going now).

Fly down to Luxor for 2 days :Valley of the Kings and maybe also the Valley of the Queens for a day, Luxor general for a day

Take a private tour for a day to Saqqara pyramids area to the south of Cairo, as arranged through most hotels or via Viatour

A day in Cairo itself -there are many good locations. Have a look at my trip report Dipping my toe back in the Nile. Uber works okay in Cairo - very cheap but you gotta be careful with your pick up points as the roads are pretty maniacal.

Cairo is maniac crowded, rather grotty but absolutely fascinating.

Yes that pretty much nails it for such a short trip. Though if going to Saqqara, also deviate to the Bent Pyramids.

Five days is so short with so much that can been visited, or experienced, that your days will be overflowing.



In the previous fascinating though antiquated Cairo Museum, with dust abounding and faded labels typed on typewriters, there was just so much to see. The Mummy Room and The Gold Room were both our highlights. Though our then 5 year old daughter refused to go into the Mummy Room as she believed that like all the cartoons that the Mummies would wake up and chase her! The new GEM should be amazing.

I have not been back since the Christmas Period after 9/11 when along with my wife and 3 daughters (then aged 5, 8 and 11) we backpacked over 8 weeks through Egypt, Jordan and Israel. Everyone, bar the bored Taxi Drivers who pelted us with snowballs in Jerusalem, were amazingly warm and friendly.

Egypt in particular was bare of travellers/tourists. We had the Valley of the Kings to ourselves, no more than 20 other tourists when we visited the Pyramids of Giza and at the Bents Pyramids the Tourist Police had seen so few tourists that they gave our three daughters free rides on their camels.

PS We were in Cairo during Ramadan, and that added an extra layer of things to see. Some say to avoid Ramadan, but we were glad that we visited then.

 

[Pushka]

@Sprucegoose - RooFlyer just alerted me to this thread - first question is what time of year are you going? That will determine my recommendations based on how hot it will be.

We were there in May. It was hot. Always over 100f in the centre of Egypt (Luxor). Cairo was a bit cooler.

 

[RSD]

We were there in May. It was hot. Always over 100f in the centre of Egypt (Luxor). Cairo was a bit cooler.

Yep - that is why I am waiting for @Sprucegoose to reply with what time of year he is going - not even mad dogs and Englishmen are crazy enough to go to Luxor in August!

Egypt is a little bit like Australia or India - each area of the country has a time of the year when it is not a great time to visit or do certain activities.

 

[QF029]

And avoid ice in drinks

oops

A week later in Athens still runny
The pharmacist gave me a weeks course of Nexium and it did the trick !

Nexium or imodium?!

 

[Sprucegoose]

first question is what time of year are you going? That will determine my recommendations based on how hot it will be.

Oh, I do apologise, RSD; I have just seen this. I am going this Friday.

 

[RSD]

Oh, I do apologise, RSD; I have just seen this. I am going this Friday.

Right OK - well I don't think that heat is going to be a big issue then. Be warned that it may be colder than you had expected - believe it or not, snow in Egypt at this time of year is not unheard of. You could also see some rain and a fair bit of wind in the general Cairo area and the north coast. Will likely be very windy down the Red Sea.

Grand Egyptian Museum is now (mostly) open - 11 years later than planned but project timelines in Egypt are something that you just learn to laugh at once you have lived there for a while. I haven't been to the GEM yet - it only opened late last year, but from all accounts it is massive and you could probably spend the best part of a day there.

Pyramids/sphinx etc will be a one day tour.

The other must do in Cairo (in my opinion) is the Khan el-Khalili - Wikipedia - late afternoon and evenings is the best time. On the other side of the street is the Al-Azhar Mosque - Wikipedia - well worth a visit. If you have time then also in the same area is El Moez Street in Old Cairo: A Detailed Local’s Guide

I wouldn't go to Ain Sukhna - it is more a place for Egyptians to go to escape Cairo for a few days and relax - its not really a place that Western tourists go to. Gulf of Suez is mostly sand and water - there actually isn't a lot more to see than that.

So I would recommend heading to Luxor instead - fly down and back - spend a couple of days there - Valley of the Kings, Luxor Temple, Karnak etc etc.

As far as safety etc - frankly I feel safer walking around Cairo of an evening than walking around Melbourne.

Food wise - avoid shellfish, lobster, prawns etc - apart from that I just tuck in - as always - look for places that are popular with locals. The Patisseries in Cairo are well worth a visit too.

 

[RooFlyer]

Food wise - avoid shellfish, lobster, prawns etc - apart from that I just tuck in - as always - look for places that are popular with locals. The Patisseries in Cairo are well worth a visit too.

I remember sitting down at an outdoor restaurant in a laneway in Khan el Khalidi with our Egyptian geologist contact. He ordered for us. The laneway was full of pigeons, so guess what was on the menu?