Just Back from Egypt: Thoughts

[Pakey]

Great advice and photos. After hearing your experiences with the heat I am glad that we booked the late December ABD Egypt tour instead of the June tour that we were considering.

Everyone, including me, checks the temperatures for Cairo. While we were there, Cairo was 20 degrees cooler than Luxor and Aswan. Our 4 days in Cairo were very nice; I was comfortable in khakis and a light shirt. But those 4 days in the middle of the trip where we went south, I was cooking. Our summer temps at home range from 100-110 but I don't ever stand outside in the full sun either. I felt bad for the women wearing makeup; I watched it run off their faces. December will be much nicer but check those temps for Luxor and Aswan, not just for Cairo, before you pack.

 

[beansf]

Those are awesome photos! Thanks for sharing your experience. Egypt looks like an incredible place to visit.

 

[Bobo912]

There is a Lindblad Egypt webinar coming up on Monday, Dec 6. If you attend the webinar and book within a specified period of time (they will tell you when during the webinar) you will receive a discount on the trip. I forget, but it was either $100 or $200 per person. Sorry I can't remember exactly. They are very informative, so even if anybody is interested in visiting Egypt at all, even if it's not with Lindblad, you might get some useful information. I think I'll sign up. I'm probably not going to be going to Egypt anytime soon, but Pakey's awesome photos makes me want to learn more about this trip.

If anybody is interested here is the link to register;
https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/965285666

 

[gd3]

How did you feel about pesonal safety while you were there? I am a little concerned about that element of the trip...and I know you have armed guards, but was wondering if you felt threatened at all during your visit...

 

[Pakey]

How did you feel about pesonal safety while you were there? I am a little concerned about that element of the trip...and I know you have armed guards, but was wondering if you felt threatened at all during your visit...

I have traveled quite a bit, mostly without being in a tour. I have never felt safer than I did in Egypt. The armed guards are not necessary IMO. Egypt wants to have them to protect their tourism industry (they are afraid if there were to be an incident involving a tourist, their economy would be in the toilet) and that's fine but I saw no need for it.

The armed guards were just on the bus or in the cars with us. They did not walk with us to/from the bus or in any of the monuments or anywhere else we were. A guard did ride with my husband and I from the hotel back to the airport and stayed with us until we cleared security.

I felt tons safer in Egypt than I've ever felt in Europe.

The citizens of Egypt are quite friendly and really love to talk to Americans and practice their English. Other than our plain clothed guard or the uniformed guards at the entrances to some of the monuments, I saw no other law enforcement/military presence anywhere.