Egypt Discussion Forum

Discussions regarding holidays in Egypt.
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Are you doing the flight day trip, or the bus overnighter/stopover...

I did the flight. You need comfortable close toe shoes. Its very stoney by the pyramids. Also your trip usually includes a mosque, so shoulders and knees should be covered. Apart from that there are lots of steps etc.

A long skirt or light trousers are ideal. I wore 3/4 sleeves. If you want to wear a smaller t shirt, take a cotton sarong with you to cover up. Sunglasses, hat and sunscreens are needed, as well as water. Keep smalln otes to hand for postcards, toilets. Take wet wipes or loo roll with you. I took a change of underwear and t shirt as its a long day. You fly about 6.30, but have to pick everyone else up and get back in resort 8.30-9.00 if flights are on time.

Make sure your shoes are comfy though, dont try out your barand new sandals.... they will get covered in dust and you might get blistrs if they are not worn in a bit.
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Thanks perfume, hoping to do a day flight from El Gouna. I don`t take proper shoes on holiday but do have walking sandals (did 120 miles round Florida in them so they are cumfy). Was only packing vest like tops because of the temps, so will put a proper tshirt in, or as you say could use sarong around my shoulders which might be better.

Thanks for the info,

Did you go inside the pyramid? if you did what was it like, is it claustrophobic?
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Hi Katiesmum,
Perfumes advice is spot-on; I would add the following:
It is not always possible to go inside the pyramids for several reasons. There is usually a limit on the amount of people allowed in each day, also the 'Great' pyramid (khufu's) is not always open but the next one (Khafre's) should be open instead. As to claustrophobic, well that is up to each individual, it is not like potholing if that is what you are are thinking. There will however be people in front and behind you as you file your way in and out, so if you are not comfortable being in that sort of environment you should not go in. It is also a low stoop for part of the way as you go in, a bad back or a bit overweight and it can be uncomfortable, have a look at this virtual tour and see for yourself.

http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/nova/pyramid/explore/khufuenter.html

If I were you I would make sure that I visited the Solar Boat Museum adjacent to the 'Great' pyramid it is something not to be missed. If you visit 'The Citadel' and the Mohammed Ali mosque, you ladies will be given a very fetching green cape to wear over your clothes. (My wife & sister in-law looked like Batman & Robin in theirs) Casual clothing is essential for your day out plus the comfy trainer's etc. There is nothing special required for your 'tourist' dress code but Perfumes point about having something to cover upper arms and longish shorts or slacks/long shirt or similar will fit the bill for any venue you may visit.
This may also be helpful regarding photography:

Giza Plateau, Pyramids & Sphinx is OK (Video & Camera)

Inside the Solar boat museum is OK (Video & Camera)

Citadel area, is OK (Video & Camera)

Inside of the Mohammed Ali mosque is OK (Video & Camera) be respectful if prayers are in progress.

The Egyptian Museum, No Photography allowed, no cameras or mobile phones are not allowed inside.

General sightseeing photography around Cairo is OK but avoid filming in any sensitive areas.
Tez
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Thanks Tez that info and link to the pyramid is brilliant.
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My pleasure.
Tez
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it may seem obvious, but no flashing of your navel, best wear a top that comes down onto your waistband..... there are ususally lots of egyptian visitors and tehy can give you you a hard stare!!!!
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hi
i wore cropped trousers & a strappy top for our cairo trip. the big mosque - mohammed ali mosque, does provide 'cover-ups' for women (&men) if you need something to cover your arms/shoulders. i just put my cotton jacket on before i went in.

at the pyramids there was tourists in all sorts of clothes from micro minis to teeny shorts & mega high heels, was quite funny watching these women tottering around the rocks & im sure none of them went inside the pyramids. we went inside a pyramid (sorry cant remember which one was open then as it was 3 yrs ago) but i couldnt go any further & made a quick sharp exit!!!! at the beginning its a very hot, pretty confined area with a steep slope with thin planks every couple of feet or so to help you get up. im a bit claustrophobic & i found it too much. my husb went up no problem.

i wouldnt wear a short skirt or shorts and as said keep belly covered as otherwise you will get stared at & in the souk/market it would be a real pain.
have a great trip we did & make sure you leave enough time to spend at the museum if your going there is just so much fantastic things to see, i could have spent all day just in the tutenkhamun room gazing at the mask & other amazing artifacts.
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can you fly from luxor to cario ,how much does it cost
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Thanks for all the info and advice, much appreciated. Just got to try and see if I can get trainers in hand luggage!!!! cases choca.

We want to try to fly from El Gouna and only got one price which was quite expensive as it was in euros (I was hoping for dollars) so will have to wait till we get there.
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Hi Maxinegill,
Yes you can and you can do it all in a (very busy) day
For the following itinerary:
 Collected from your hotel by private air conditioned mini bus, around 6.30 am.
 Taken to Luxor airport & escorted through to the departure lounge.
 Flights to Cairo by Egypt Air (very roomy seats) around a 1hour flight.
 Met at Cairo airport by private air conditioned mini bus around 9.00 am
 Collect personal guide en route (even if you know Egypt it helps in getting around the sites and Cairo).
 Visited = Giza Plateau, Pyramids, Great Sphinx, Solar Boat Museum (paid extra for boat museum ticket)
 Visited = Citadel & Mohammed Ali Mosque.
 Had lunch in a very nice restaurant.
 Visited = Egyptian Museum (paid extra for the Mummy Room)
 Enough spare time left for a little bit of shopping.
 Return to airport at 7.30 p.m. & check in
 Flights to Luxor by Egypt Air around a 1 hour flight. (Depart 9.00 p.m.)
 Arrive Luxor airport around 10.00 p.m. and met by original driver and vehicle.
 Returned to our hotel by 10.30 p.m.

Other than the additional entrance tickets as indicated above, everything including lunch was included within the following price £125.00 each (Sterling)
This was based upon based upon 4 adults travelling together. Your itinerary is as flexible as you want it to be within the time restraints.
If you want more info P.E. me for details.
Tez
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hi
we did the same trip as tez & cost about the same it was FANTASTIC!!!
we used carlton wagonlit travel near the old winter palace hotel.
we also did a 3 day trip down to aswan & abu simbel on our 2nd stay in luxor last january, we used the same local travel company & again very cheap & excellent :wink:
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I wore 3/4 crop trousers, comfy birkenstocks and a linen shirt.

We went inside the third pyramid. It was very steep down and up scooped down low but totally worth it imho.

Do the day trip by air!! I think the coach trip is nuts - you lose 2 days and one night out of your holiday for the sake of about £ 75. We were picked up from hotel about 5am, flight out at 7am, full day in Cairo, (Citadel, Egyptian Museum, Pyramids & Sphinx) and flight back at 7.30pm. Shattering yes but great to get it all in and only an hours flight.

ALso, make sure you ask how many people are in your group. We nearly booked a much cheaper option, but because of various factors we ended up booking Cosmos trip for about £160. Yes,a bit more expensive, BUT, there were only 4 people on the trip, and they apparently don't usually take more than about 8. I would say it's essential the group is small. We got so up close and personal to everything and practically had our own personal guide (which is needed in the Egyptian Museum!). Other groups had maybe 20 or 30 people in - and I have no doubt that the people near the back couldn't hear a thing. They had to follow their guide around who had to hold a walking stick high in the air so they could "follow my leader"

Lisa
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good advice lisamj........we could have got our cairo trip a little cheaper by going with a group ( it was going to be a small group) but we decided 'no' & it was just me & my husband in our own minibus all day with our personal guide so we could spend exactly what time we wanted at the different places and not go to other places - eg: alabaster shop,perfume 'factory' ( perfume factory is just a shop!!!)
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