Middle East

• Istanbul (Turkey) to Cairo (Fall 2005)

Egypt November/December 2005 Itinerary

This is a recent itinerary of a trip to the middle east from Istanbul to Egpyt. This is the Egypt segment.

Also, as a solo female traveller, I found the statement, " would you speak to an eygptian woman like this or would you say this to an egyptian woman", seemed to keep the men at bay. I was prepared to follow up, if they said yes, to ask them to speak to some women and point to the women I was referring to. I never had the chance. They said I am sorry and left.

Also, the 4 week visa is valid for 6 weeks without penalty. I went to get my extended and was told, I had 2 weeks free.

Five Week Egypt Itinerary—fall 2005

Budget Hotel Ratings
0 – do not recommend
5—Recommend highly
EP—egyptian pounds
BF--Breakfast

Prices for hotels are for single accommodation except where noted otherwise. All hotel room had bathrooms inside except where noted.

November 14
Aqaba (Jordan) to Nuweiba (Egypt) (fast ferry—1 hour—left after noon—40USD)
Visa at the border (15USD)
Mini bus to Dahab 15 EP
Dahab—Penguin Hotel (60EP—double room) (4.5)
Day trip to St katherines and Mt Sinai (50EP if the mini bus is full—booked trip with Penguin Hotel)—hike to top of Mt Sinai –sunrise or sunset option)
Nite bus to Luxor 110EP

Luxor—new bus station out of town—possible to get a minibus for 1 – 2 EP into the town center.
Nefertiti Hotel (40 EP with BF) (4)
Rented bicycle (15EP) to tour west bank.

Luxor to Aswan by Train (21EP)
McEleney Hotel (40 EP with BF) (4). Other hotel options are Hathor Hotel which has a small dipping pool on the roof and nice views of the Nile (40EP with BF)
Day trip to Abu Simbel, Philae, High Damn (50EP)

Felucca trip to Komo Ombo—2 nites—(JJ. Jamaica Family( 75EP Plus 20 EP for transport to Luxor from Komo Ombo)

Luxor—Neferti Hotel
Checked our Sherif Hotel. The asked 50EP for a dark room which was not clean. When I was leaving the price came down to 20EP.

Luxor –Kharga –Train from Luxor to Asyut—then bus to Kharga. The police will stop you in Asyut. I had to wait in the café until the bus was leaving. I was escorted to the bus station.
Dhar al Bayda Hotel (35 EP with Breakfast) (0). The bus station has moved. Also, the police will guard you and follow you everywhere. The museum is very nice and no one is in it. Not much to see in Kharga

Kharga – Dhakla (Mut). Mini buses from Kharga –best to catch in the morning.
Al Nugum Hotel (35EP with BF) (5). Lots to see in the surrounding villages, nice town. New Internet place on the street to Anwar Paradise Hotel –5 EP/hour.

Dhakla to Farafra. Take early bus as buses are not that frequent (20 EP)
Al Waha Hotel (35 EP) (0)
Not much in Farafra

Farafra to Bahariyya—Bus at 10am (15 EP)
New Oasis Hotel (35EP with BF) (4)—Near Al-Beshmo Lodge
Lots of hotels organize tours to the Black/white deserts. I did a 2 nite tour for 225EP. There were a total of 4 people (guide and driver)

Bahariyya—Cairo
Cairo—Happy Land Hotel (48 EP with BF—no AC/no TV) (4)

Cairo – Siwa—Hotel Al Kilany (50EP) –4
Stayed one nite at the Palm Trees Hotel (35 no BF). (0). It was very dirty. Nice garden.
Rented a bicyle (10 EP/day). Siwa is a wonderful place to wander. The dates are so good and so cheap.

Siwa – Cairo—Happyton Hotel
Also look at King Tut (45 EP no bathroom with BF).

Happyton Hotel is away from the central tourist area so no hassle. Lots of great local restaurants and markets and local internet for 3EP/hour near the Happyton.It is in the Lonley Planet

Taxi to airport 45EP arranged through hotel.