Egypt - where best to stay to see everything

comdw

I've been looking at cheap package deals to Egypt for Feb/Mar time. I want to keep the cost down but make sure we see all the sights while we're there (Pyramids, nile, sphinx, tombs, etc).

Most of the cheaper package deals I see are for Sharm El Sheik, which I understand is not exactly close to these sights. Does anyone know how much I would be likely to spend on sightseeing if I stayed here vs somewhere better located?

I understand a day trip flying to Cairo and then back from Luxor is the best way but sounds expensive. Any advice?

Steve_xx

To visit the Pyramids you need to be in Cairo. I like Cairo and would recommend that you stay there. It's not expensive and you can get the (like the underground) train to Giza station and then taxi to the Pyramids at a cost of about £1, then £2 to get into the Pyramid site. Or you can go on an organised tour and pay 10 times that amount each.

There's lots more to see in Cairo, it's a huge city. The Citadel is a must as is the Old Bazaar (market). Their underground system seems to have a single tariff of around 7p. So that's an indicator of how cheap it is.

Luxor and Sharm are OK, but are more touristy. Luxor is rather dusty and once you've been over the Nile to the Valley of the Kings there's not a lot left to do there. Sharm is typically touristy and is a long way from Cairo. Luxor to Cairo is an overnight affair on the train.

I went via Expedia and selected the Hotel Pyramisa in Cairo, which is well located, on a half board basis. We found it to be excellent and the food was good too.

hlhassall

I went to Sharm for a couple of weeks last year. Day trips to Cairo are about £120 and maybe a bit less to Luxor. That price is for flights, but I think it's still quite a long day though.

linbadd

Go to Cairo. It's wonderful. Lots to see and do and atmosphere like nowhere else.

The Sphinx, the Giza Pyramids ('son et lumiere' in the evening, the Sakarah step-pyramid, Memphis, the Cairo Museum, historic houses, boat trip/dinner cruise on the Nile, trip through the desert to Fayoum oasis, Khan al Khalili (the souk/market), mosques, the Coptic Christian quarter and church and lots, lots more.

Go in late March / early April for nice temperatures. Hot in the day, but can be chilly at night, so take a warm jumper or jacket.

An unforgettable experience. I've been 3 times - so far!

comdw

Thanks for the replies. I can't see any packages available for Cairo and it looks too expensive to get flights and hotel separately (my budget is under £300pp for flights and hotel). Might have to re-think this one.

livinginhope

Hi comdw,we went to Egypt a few years back and I,like you wanted to see everything :rolleyes: ,what I didn't realise was that the logistics are difficult,I would do it in two trips,I would recommend a nile cruise to see the temples and unforgetable sight of a lifetime Abu Simbel,also the valley of the kings,then I would do another trip to Cairo.
We went with Somak,VERY cheap cruise,old boat with little luxuries,but oozing charm,Somak do a week cruise,then another weeks holiday in Cairo,I would recommend them

ALWAYS_POOR

I did three nights in Cairo and visited all the sites on organised excursions which I would recommend rather than trying to do it yourself. It's also great to have a knowledgeable guide so that you can get the best out of the tours. I then flew to Luxor and picked up a boat to cruise the Nile for a week, fantastic although tiring and included a flight to Abu Simbel which is unmissable. Once again all the tours are guided and very informative.

This was followed by a coach trip across the desert from Luxor to Hurghada where I stayed for a week recovering from the exhausting visits. An alternative would be a week in Sharm el Sheikh from where you can take a tour through the Sinai Desert and visit St Catherine's Monastery (site of the burning bush and Mount Sinai). A fantastic experience. See the sun rise on Mount Sinai and experience amazing snorkeling in the Red Sea.

This is what I would recommend although it doesn't come cheap. But you see everything. I think the tour operator was Kuoni, second to none standard of organisation. Hint, go in the winter, otherwise the heat on the Nile is overpowering and exhausting.

Beckety

We stayed for a week in Sharm in December and took a day trip to Cairo which cost us £105 each (incl. flight) and when we go back in June we'll be doing the day trip to Luxor which is about the same price. Definitely worth going on guided tours as the guides are very informative.

monkeyspanner

If sights are your priority I'd say combine Cairo and Luxor with a Nile cruise. Try Kuoni, Voyages Jules Verne, Bales.

Tallymanjohn

Agree with monkeyspanner - Cairo is a dump, the Egyptians don't want to look after their capital city. Try for a twin centre visit - 4 days Luxor & 3 days Cairo - add a week's Nile cruise if you can. Balloon flights are a must in Luxor. In Cairo, once you've seen the Pyramids, Sphinx & Museum there's not a lot else. The Nile cruise will take you to Aswan & Abu Simbel which are both recommended. Valley of the Kings etc. comes with Luxor & is also a must-see. March/April is the best time to go.

Steve_xx

Tallymanjohn wrote:

Agree with monkeyspanner - Cairo is a dump, the Egyptians don't want to look after their capital city. Try for a twin centre visit - 4 days Luxor & 3 days Cairo - add a week's Nile cruise if you can. Balloon flights are a must in Luxor. In Cairo, once you've seen the Pyramids, Sphinx & Museum there's not a lot else. The Nile cruise will take you to Aswan & Abu Simbel which are both recommended. Valley of the Kings etc. comes with Luxor & is also a must-see. March/April is the best time to go.

I disagree with you when you say that Cairo is a dump. There are areas of it that are run down, that I grant you. But this is more than offset by the history associated with the country. And, it's not that the egyptians don't want to look after their cities; it's more a lack of cash that prevents them from doing so. There are many UK cities which are far more formidable places to be than Cairo.

The culture in Egypt is certainly different to that of the UK, and it's not to everyones liking. But there is a wealth of things to do and see in Cairo, but again this is largely dependent on individual interests. People who like hot beach type holidays are unlikely to choose Cairo as a holiday destination. But those who travel in order to immerse themselves in alternative cultures will be most happy in Cairo.