Experience The Adventure

Cairo, Aswan, Luxor, Abu-Simbel, Kom Ombo, Luxor, back through Cairo, Dahab, Cairo.

Summary:

The tour may have only started a while ago, but it seems like ages. The tour, GoBus, had the best group of people you could ask for. Nobody was into drinking heavily, it was a young and active crowd who wanted to do everything.

My favorite place was Dahab. Relaxing, a really nice and really new hotel. Scuba diving, quad biking, climbing mount Sinai (and a scar from it) and lots of seafood.

Other highlights include:
-felucca sailing
-temples, monumnets, most in day, a couple at night
-riding dokeys, camels, and horse carriages
-sunsets and sunrises
-black dessert, white dessert, oasis, beaches
-Cairo chaos, corruption
-Nile River, the High dam
-the best tour group, great guides
-Bob Marley, Canada dry
-Arabic: Mashi Mashi, and Habibi

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The first impression on Cairo, is a city in complete and utter chaos. With 22 million people, this city is absolutely massive. The roads have no rules, you may find lines painted on the road for decoration. One unwritten rule is to honk at anything. If someone is in the road honk, if you see someone you know honk, if you want a street to move honk, if you’re happy and you know it, honk. There are random police officers standing by the side of the road, and occassionally, you may see one stop a car and check their liscence. There are no traffic lights, but police who act as traffic lights in some places. The city appears with the buildings and structures as if you would imagine a huge old abandoned town would appear, dirty, faded and old. It funny to watch random people sweeping the road. However, there are significant differences depending on where you are. The newest and best looking hotels are on the Nile and it resembles more of a civilized world there, with lights, cruise ships and parks.

The first part of the tour seemed quick. It was nice to see all the temples quickly. We started with dinner on a cruise ship, then pramids in Cairo and a few shops the next day before heading overnight on a train to aswan.
Philae Temple (in the middle of the lake) and the High Dam – which created the lake and left all the monuments under it that they couldn’t save.
Abu Simbel – some interesting monuments from a King who thought he was a god. The most interesting part was that the monument carved out of stone in the rock face, was done at such an agle where as the inside, where three gods and the kings statues were in the last room, received sunshine twice a year to illuminate two gods and the king, the remaining god of darkness is left without the sunshine for those two days.

There were three relaxing days on the felucca where we did nothing. Listened to music, read books, played cards, swam in the Nile, and just relaxed. We visited some temples after leaving the feluccas then headed on to Luxor.

From luxor we took donkeys to the valley of the kings in the morning. The hot blazing sun burned down upon us, and this was about 8am. We saw three tombs in the valley, some amazingly preserved as if it had just been painted a few days ago. Then on to Karnac temple and back to Luxor for the Luxor temple at night by horse drawn carriage. Overnight was a train back to Cairo.

In Cairo a few of our crew departed for those who only did the 9 day part of the tour. Most of the people took the 14 days, and we headed out early the next morning to drive to Dahab. On the way out, we stoped at the suez canal to take a look. Presumingly, the group headed out from the rest stop to go and take a look at the canal, with Moo our tour leader, running out and calling them back. Apparently its a military controlled area and you aren’t allowed to go look.

Dahab was the best place. We got a free upgrade to a hotel, a very nice hotel, the Oricana, with a large swimming pool and nice staff.

Dahab was quite small, very relaxed, and lots of sun and the red sea. Even the hasseling by the shop workers, taxis and restaurants was less. On the evening of the first day, we headed up to climb Mt Sinai and St Katherine’s Monastery, where moses received the 10 commandments, to watch the sunrise. There were hordes of people climbing in the dark, the string of people with flaslights in the middle of the night creaded a series of strings of lights bobbing up the mountain in snakelike lines. Occasionally someone who step out of the dark in front of you to ask, cammel? and that was startling at times. Not to worry though, not many people get robbed in Egypt, remember they are gentlemen, they don’t rob, only try to rip you off to your face.

The majority of my time in Dahab was spend on doing my open water cerficiation for scuba diving in the red sea. It took 3.5 days, first day the course work, then 3 dives, 2 dives, then 1 the sat morning before we left. In the evenings we would head out to eat at restaurants along the water, and seafood was the meals of choice. Few ordered lobster, but there was lots of fish, shrimp, and calimari. And the juice in Egypt is the best tasting fresh fruit juice anywhere, guava, strawbery, melon, mango, cantelope, orange, and more. Our last BBQ was at the hotel, where they kindly set up a giant dinner table outside by the pool where we ate b candlelight.

Some of us rented quad bikes in Dahab, super cheap! and they took us on a small tour that headed out to the desset mountains, and went to a small oasis for a drink. On the way back we stopped at the only sand beach in Dahab, in time to watch the sunset. There were a couple of bars that we visited, with people staying various lengths, and snorkling and horse or cammel riding for those who opted for that.

Back in Cairo, people said their goodbyes. I went with Tristen (from Cardiff) to the step pramid in Giza, and then Winnie joined us for the Cairo tower in the evening. It is now all wrapped up. Everyone has headed out, and I write this from the Canadian hostel by Sadat Metro.

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The Official Itenirary (modified)
itinerary : pyramids & beaches

day 1 – sunday

Cairo. Have a great time in Egypt with GoBus! Arrival at Cairo, where after you have attended to customs and immigration formalities, you will be met by a representative from GoBus. The prominent sign depicting our company logo easily identifies our representative. Cairo International Airport can appear to be a little chaotic to the uninitiated. This is normal! Our capable airport representative will streamline your arrival. You will then transferred to your hotel in central Cairo. Your Egyptian adventure will start from the moment you leave the airport! Dependent upon the hour of your arrival, Cairo traffic can be quite heavy and slow going. Roads can be crowded
with cars, trucks, motorbikes, bicycles, donkeys, horses and people. The cacophony of constantly sounding horns has to be heard to be believed! The later it is in the day, the smoother the traffic flow.

For those arriving a day or two earlier than Day One of the tour, one
of our GoBus staff will be on hand to advise on where best to enjoy
your extra time in Cairo in advance of the tour commencing. There
are plenty of attractions in Cairo. Our Cairo hotel is located near
attractions such as restaurants, shops and city attractions. Day One
is designed to be an arrival day for all passengers, so there are no
formal arrangements on this first day. Overnight – Cairo

day 2

Cairo – Aswan – breakfast. After a good nights rest, we have a day of
touring planned for today. You’ll need to have your bags packed as
we’ll be travelling down to Aswan in southern Egypt tonight.

After the briefing, we will visit the famous Egyptian Museum,
where a mind-boggling array of relics and antiquities from almost
every period of ancient Egyptian history are housed. Arguably the
most famous exhibit is the solid gold funerary mask and treasures
of King Tutankhamen. Opt also to see the Royal Mummy Room
which houses 11 royal mummies including Ramses II and his father Seti I. We then
travel out to Giza Plateau to view the world’s oldest man-made
tourist attractions – The Great Pyramids of Giza. Known as Cheops,
Chephren and Mycerinus, a highly skilled corps of mathematicians,
masons, surveyors and stonecutters undertook the job of building the
Pyramids. About 2.5 million limestone blocks, quarried locally and
weighing in excess of 6 million tonnes, were used in the construction
of Cheops. Giza Plateau. Camels can also be hired
.

Leaving the Pyramids of Giza, time-permitting,we’ll sometimes drop
into a Government supervised papyrus emporium. Here, you can
buy genuine papyrus at quite reasonable prices. Myriad designs are
available – all with elaborate ancient Egyptian designs. Later, we
travel south by train to Aswan. At the train station, there’ll be the
opportunity to buy more water and snacks for the trip ahead. Tickets
with allocated seat numbers will be given and we’ll then board. The
train offers comfortable recliner seats with legroom and headrests
and luggage can be stored overhead. Overnight – Train.

day 3

Aswan – breakfast. Arriving into Aswan late morning, we’re
transferred to our hotel and check in. After freshening up, we’ve

the whole day free to do as we please in Aswan, a pleasant Nile
frontier town and Egypt’s southernmost city, is a prosperous
marketplace at the crossroads of ancient caravan routes, and
more recently, a popular winter retreat. Its attractive riverfront
corniche and the best souq/bazaar outside of Cairo add to Aswan’s
appeal. optional excursion to Philae Temple and the High Dam . Dedicated to the goddess Isis, Philae Temple dates from 4th century BC but the Ptolomies and the Romans up to 3rd century AD built most of the existing structures. Lured to and revered by pilgrims for thousands of years, the complex of structures is a sight to behold. We reach the
temple by motorboat. Overnight- Aswan.

day 4

Aswan-Abu Simbel-Aswan then – Nile Felucca Cruise – all meals.
This morning, we journey south in combination with a government
convoy to a small settlement called Abu Simbel, which sits close to
the banks of Lake Nasser. Abu Simbel is famous for the Temple of
Abu Simbel – dedicated to the powerful pharaoh – King Ramses II.

Possibly the most awe-inspiring temple of all ancient Egypt, with
its gargantuan rock-cut façade, Abu Simbel was created to revere
the mighty pharaonic ruler King Ramses II. Guarding the entrance
to the temple, the four famous colossal statues of Ramses II sit
majestically, staring out across the desert, seemingly since time
began. Famously, the temple was re-located in a multi-million

dollar operation in 1972, further up from the shoreline of Lake
Nasser, which had threatened to erode the foundations of this
monolithic temple complex.

The other rock cut temple at Abu Simbel is the Temple of Hathor,
which is fronted by six massive standing statues. Four of them
represent King Ramses II, whilst the other two are of his beloved
wife-Queen Nefertari. Returning from Abu Simbel, we later depart
Aswan aboard our Nile felucca cruise.

THE NILE FELUCCA CRUISE:

Before boarding the felucca, it is important you prepare a small
day-type bag – taking care to pack the things you feel you’ll need
during the cruise, as due to deck space constraints, all main/large
luggage is stored below deck. If unable to swim, you must advise
your GoRep guide before boarding the felucca. We board our Nile
felucca cruise boat in the early afternoon, in time for an included
lunch, as the wind-powered craft commences the northbound
journey upstream to our eventual destination – Kom Ombo.

Felucca’s are simple sailboats based on a unique design and have
plied the mighty Nile since ancient times. Our feluccas are proudly
owned and crewed by friendly local sailors and they have been
adapted to comfortably carry our travellers. They are a wind-powered
craft with no motor, so are dependent upon the wind to propel forth.
The itinerary is not rigidly defined, for this reason. During our cruise,
some stops will be made. The felucca sails during the day, and prior
to sundown, the anchor is dropped and we moor at the riverside for
the night. The craft carries between 5-10 passengers comfortably and
the deck is strewn with soft colorful cushions and rugs and equipped
with a canopy that offers shade and protection from the elements.
Nothing beats the experience of sleeping under a blanket of stars,
though you’ll need to bring a sleeping bag/sleeping sheet and also
a towel with you. The crew, as well as being experienced sailors
are responsible for the preparation of the included meals, though
they welcome would-be helpers. Water, soft drinks and beer can be
purchased aboard at reasonable cost, a tally for which is kept. On the
last day, everybody pays his or her drinks bill. Taking in the colourful
sights of the Nile village life en route with various stops, planned or
impromptu, the peaceful routine of life aboard allows us to escape
the stress of everyday life! We dock at shoreline for dinner and later
sleep under the stars. Overnight – onboard felucca.

day 5

Nile Felucca Cruise – all meals. Another relaxing day aboard our
Nile Felucca, as we cruise northwards. Later, at Kom Ombo we dock
where we can visit the Temple of Kom Ombo, a unique riverside
temple. Overnight – onboard felucca.

day 6

Kom-Ombo – Luxor via Edfu – breakfast. Bidding farewell to the
felucca and crew, we travel to the Temple of Horus at Edfu. Having
the distinction of being the largest and most completely preserved
pharaonic, albeit Greek-built, temple in Egypt, it was one of the last
monumental temples built on a large scale. Continuing to Luxor, we
check into our hotel and enjoy a couple of hours of free time. Luxor,
at over 4,000 years old, is literally the world’s oldest museum. Known
as Thebes in ancient times, it was the most important capital of all
ancient Egypt. Today, we are left with a glorious legacy. Loads of
richly historical ruins, temples, tombs and antiquities. An optional
visit is available to Karnak Temple and Luxor Temple, on Luxor’s East
Bank (cost LE150 or GBP£15). Mode of transport to Luxor Temple will

be by traditional horse and carriage. More than a temple, Karnak
is a spectacular complex of sanctuaries, pylons, chapels, halls and
obelisks, all dedicated to the Theban gods and to the greater glory
of Egypt’s Middle and New Kingdom rulers. The Luxor Temple, a
strikingly graceful piece of architecture built by the New Kingdom
pharaoh Amenophis III, was originally joined to Karnak by an avenue
of sphinxes. Today, you can enter the temple from the Corniche, and
proceed through a striking array of great halls, courts and colonnades
decorated with colossal statues of great pharaohs including Ramses II
and splendid columns. For those not opting for the optional excursion,
there is time to relax, go have something to eat and perhaps further
independently explore Luxor. As we have an early start tomorrow,
you might want to retire early but if you have energy; there are
plenty of bars and restaurants in Luxor. Overnight – Luxor.

day 7

Luxor – Cairo -breakfast. Early morning wake-up call! After breakfast,
we travel to the mighty West Bank by motorboat launch. We then
travel on donkeys to the Valley of Kings. Even in the morning, the
temperatures start to increase at the Valley of the Kings. For this
reason we suggest that you take a large bottle of drinking water.
Stopping to buy tickets, we proceed to the Valley of the Kings. The
Valley of the Kings is studded with often highly decorated tombs,
constructed to once house the regal sarcophagi enclosed mummies of
the mighty pharaohs awaiting their passage into the after-life. Some
of the best known tombs are those of Ramses II, Seti I, Amenhotep
II and of course, the tomb of King Tutankhamen (an additional entry
charge, though the tomb itself is very unimpressive). Discovered
intact in 1922 by Howard Carter, it represented possibly one of the
most dazzling archaeological finds ever. King Tutankhamen’s solid
gold funerary mask and his priceless cache of treasures entombed
with him for his journey to the afterlife, are now on display at the
world famous Egyptian Museum in Cairo. In all, more than 60 tombs
have been excavated. We’ll also see Deir al- Bahri, otherwise
known as the famous Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, which rises out
of the desert plain, in a series of terraces partly rock-cut, partly
freestanding. It is one of Egypt’s finest and most photographed
monuments. You’ll also later see the imposing 18m-high Colossi of
Memnon, which represent the remains of the temple of the hedonistic
Amenophis III. We return to the east bank around midday, where we
can relax and enjoy a further chance to independently explore Luxor.
Note: Check out of hotel is 1200 NOON. Later this evening, we return
to Cairo by train. Do purchase some water and snacks for the journey
ahead of our departure to the railway station. Tickets with allocated
seat numbers will be given and we’ll then board. The train offers
comfortable recliner seats with legroom and headrests and luggage
can be stored overhead. Overnight – aboard train.

day 8

Cairo. Went to the main market, a oil/perfumerie on this day.
Overnight – Cairo.

days 9 – 14

Cairo – Dahab. (Breakfast – Cairo only). Today, we travel by bus
to Dahab on Egypt’s famous Red Sea coast. Check in to cabin-
style accommodation (with en suite bathroom facilities). Dahab
offers great diving, snorkelling, swimming and sun-worshipping
possibilities. An energetic optional excursion to the summit of Mt
Sinai and St Katherine’s Monastery is available (book locally – LE140
or GBP£14 with entrance fees). The climb commences in the early
hours of the morning and experiencing the magnificent sunrise atop
a mountain is a truly great experience. Dahab waterfront is dotted
with relaxed cafes, bars and shops, perfect for eating, drinking and
a little relaxing retail therapy. Overnight (5) – Dahab (no meals).

day 14
Dahab – Cairo. Today, we depart Dahab and travel back to
Cairo by bus. Overnight – Cairo.
day 15 – sunday

Cairo. After breakfast, tour ends. Remember to check the
airport departure transfer list in the hotel foyer to confirm
your pickup time. You’ll be transferred back to Cairo Airport
in time for your flight departure.

Tags: Travel

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