Planning a Trip to Egypt

Things to see in Giza - The Great Pyramids Sphinx Best time to visit - sunrise, sunset or evening when it's not so hot

best place for diving i have ever been till this time

The best is to be found under the water. The most fascinating fish and underwaterlife ever imagined! We dived 3 times a day and had excellent Arabian food on our boat. And the desert, it was breathtaking, we rided on camels and as soon as it got dark, the sky was full of the brightest stars ever, due to the complete lack of clouds.

The Valley of the Kings (VoK) is a must-visit. By now, you probably know what to expect here - pharaonic tombs to your heart's content. A few practical tips on visiting VoK: 1) Best time to visit would be early afternoon (around 1-2 pm) when most tourists wouldn't want to venture under soaring temps. Suicidal? Not really. That would be the time when tombs have least number of visitors, when you can have them all to yourself, like me. Don't fret, there are shaded areas and the tombs are well ventilated inside-actually felt cooler inside the tombs. 2) Take some time to view the 3D fiberglass model of the site at the entrance - this gives a feel of the lay of the land, as well as clues on what to expect, and help you plan which tombs would be most fun to view. 3) Rethink plan to see Tutankhamun's tomb - most of the artifacts had been moved to the Egyptian Museum, so the empty tomb may not justify the extra fees , which you pay on top of the standard EGP 70 fee (good for 3 tombs). 4) Don't miss Tuthmosis III's tomb - one the earliest to be built, it's the least accessible, and the most fun to visit-you climb a steep hill, cross a steep ravine to the entrance, from where you descend several meters below ground, crossing a deep shaft built to entrap ancient robbers. Sounds complicated? Try it yourself and you'll know what I mean. Warning: not for the faint of heart! 5) Forget what guidebooks say about bringing water - in this most tourism-corrupted town in the world, price of bottled water should be pretty much the same everywhere. Bringing water would not only be cumbersome, water would also be useless after being exposed to the sun. You can buy water at the stores located beside the main visitors' area at the entrance. 6) Respect regulations on taking photos - being alone inside the tombs, I could have switched to my shutter-happy mode, but chose not to (taking pictures inside is not allowed). The paintings are in a delicate condition and any measure to preserve them should be encouraged. Happy tomb viewing!

When travelling in Cairo and the more cultured parts of Egypt it is important to have your wits about you. I would suggest that women never travel alone and travel between cities/districts on transport that has an armed guard. It has been known that passengers on night buses have been held at gunpoint. People will also ask to see your passport when travelling between cities.
There are many beggars in Cairo, some of which have removed their own limbs to encourage donations, it is very sad but true unfortunately.
People will expect you to haggle with them. If you pay what is being asked, you have definitely been done!
The streets are lined with markets and bizarres, selling more or less anything you can think of. Market traders will pester you so much that you may become frustrated and annoyed. It is best to just ignore these people, rather than get stressed out. Its not worth the hassle!
The pyramids at Giza are an essential expedition when in Egypt. They are quite spectacular. Do not believe pessimists who suggest that they are not as good as they expected. These people obviously do not appreciate their glory. Make sure that you have guided tours where possible to gain an in-depth appreciation of these magnificent structures. There is access into 2 of the pyramids for a small charge. It is very claustrophobic inside and is not suitable for asthmatics or people with back problems. There is not a great deal to see inside, no tombs or hieroglyphics, however it is a very humbling feeling to be inside such a structure, having known its history.
The Egyptian Museum in Cairo is absolutely amazing. Take lots of time to have a good look round and if nothing else, pay the extra few pounds to see the 'Mummy Room'! The room contains several real mummies, preserved in glass cabinets. These remains are thousands of years old, some of which still have their hair, fingernails, and eyeballs.
There are floors in the museum dedicated to Tutankhamun . Anyone expecting his mummy to be here will be disappointed as his remains are at the Valley Of The Kings, South West Egypt. However, there is an extensive collection of his jewellery, headdresses etc and the numerous sarcophagases/tombs he was buried in to keep his body protected.
The Citadel is also a place to visit while in Eygpt. This is the most famous mosque in Islam as it contains the body of Mohammed the prophet. Visitors have to prepare themselves before entering the building. Shoes have to be removed and women need to cover any naked pieces of flesh with large sheet-like pieces of material. The building is made from alabaster which was taken from the Great Pyramid of Giza. The alabaster was used as a protective covering, yet was taken to build the mosque. The pyramid has a small tip of alabaster remaining, which looks like snow from a distance.
The best piece of advice I can give is to have a tour guide wherever possible, and sample as much culture in this city as you can possibly digest. Tour guides provide masses of information and take you to places you could not possibly find if travelling on your own. Cairo is the 3rd most populated city in the world (18 million citizens) and definitely deserves to be explored in detail.
Would I go back?????
At the drop of a hat!!!!!

Always carry a lot of coins and small bills, (the pound is the currency in Egypt), you will have to "tip" many times a day, for all kinds of reasons.  Ex:  I had to tip the guy at the entry of the washroom to get a few sheets of toilet paper.  

terrible place! dogmeat served at the roadside services and I shat my brains out on the "arab style" gutter they call a toilet! Lowest point of my life :o)

Go in the Egyptian winter.
Do not eat out of the hands of local shopkeepers.
Do not stray too far from the nearest toilet.
Enjoy.

Relaxing place to smoke pot and eat pan-cakes in southern Sinai. Loads of back-packers and wanna-be-hippies and kibbutz volunteers from Israel exploring Egypt. Cheap. Beware of the "curse of the pharaos", meaning a major stomach problems. Bring your own toilet paper rolls with you, if you don´t want to clean it like the Egyptians do and use your lefty ;)

When traveling make sure you carry tissues, wet wipes, etc. most toilets don't have any. This way you will definately be prepared!

Naama Bay is the main resort area of Sharm El Sheikh, and the centre for shopping, dining, drinking and entertainment - here you'll find a huge number of souvenir shops and bazaars, restaurants, cafés, bars, dive shops, tour operators, casinos, internet cafés - oh, and hotels, of course... ;o) Naama Bay is most definitely *very* touristy, you'll find basically everything a tourist needs - and more...:o) Know that the prices here are pretty high, you can get your desired souvenirs quite a bit cheaper elsewhere - there is such a huge number of tourists around in Naama Bay, and that makes the souvenir prices here among the highest in Egypt... :o) There are several pedestrian streets in Naama Bay - all pretty much deserted during the day, but very lively at night - this is the place to be if you want to lounge about on cushions while smoking shisha - or perhaps enjoy somewhat expensive cocktails in Hard Rock Café...

I’ve travelled a lot around the world – my country counter is now over 30. One thing I’ve noticed throughout my travels is that the quality of driving around the world varies considerably. I’ve devised my own award for the worst offenders – the Juan Manuel Fangio Award for Outstanding Defensive Driving . Let me explain. Case Study Number One: Italian Drivers I have a theory that the amount of religious paraphernalia on a car’s rear view mirror is a reliable indication of how crap the drivers are. The more crucifixes, rosary beads, or evil eyes wrapped around the mirror, the more dangerous the driving is. I first tested this theory in Italy . By heritage, I am half Sicilian (on my mother’s side) and half Northern Italian (my old man’s side). A recent visit to Italia was a home-coming of sorts for me, even though I had never been here before in a physical sense. However, my first encounter with my Italian heritage was to be – the traffic. The city of Rome was my first exposure to the chaotic Latino driving that was the bane of the Italian stereotype; however, there was no myth to bust – the drivers are completely bonkers. The roads are an extension of the Monza Formula One race track. Collisions result from a reckless apathy for general traffic laws and probably from gawking at gorgeous women walking down the street. Merging is a competition, not a mutual effort; road signs and traffic lights are merely ornamentation. Moped riders manoeuvre in ways that I would not attempt on a Play Station. Drivers will tailgate, wildly waving their hands as if to signify an emergency – as if there is always a pregnant woman about to deliver a baby that would spoil the immaculately-kept interior of the Fiat, that was probably about to fall apart from poor build quality. I thought maybe Italians were fearful of being late for the latest christening, hot date or lunch at mama and papas. I concluded that they simply enjoyed dicing with death for kicks. Italy ’s rating on the Crazy Driver Index (out of 10) – 7. Case Study Number Two: Egyptian Taxis Here is some great advice – one should refuse to enter a Cairo taxi, even if one really needs to. I learnt this fact the hard way within a day of arriving in Cairo . The essential activity of trying to see the city unfortunately necessitated the use of unregistered and barely-roadworthy vehicles to complete this task successfully. I’m not sure what side of the road these taxis drive on, because they use the ENTIRE road. From this harrowing experience, I have devised my own facts about Cairo taxis: My previous stated theory that high volumes of religious paraphernalia decorating a rear view mirror directly relates to the driver’s recklessness was indeed confirmed once again – Egyptian taxis seemed to have enough evil eyes and prayer beads to reduce the car’s centre of gravity below the potholed tarmac; A high number of car dents or bent panels is an indication that someone of a higher plane is looking after the taxi driver; It is a lineball decision to leave ones’ nose inside or outside of the taxi – your nose will be wiped out by either a collision with another taxi, or by the drivers’ nose hair-singing body odour; Seat belts are optional, unworkable or not available; Pedestrians must give way to taxis at all times and locations, even at zebra crossings and when the green-man light is on; and The seemingly trance-like and repetitive term of ‘Am-shallah’ (god willing) will suffice as an insurance policy. Egypt ’s rating on the Crazy Driver Index (out of 10) – 9.5. Case Study Number Three: Minibus Taxis in Southern Africa My favourite! Ever tried to work out the logic of waiting four hours for a minibus taxi ride until it's full, for it to blast onto a neglected highway system at 140 km/hour for an 11 hour journey to Johannesburg , South Africa , sitting next to a person with the biggest backside in the world? During a trip to Zimbabwe in 2002, I arrived at Bulawayo Train Station at eight o’clock on a Sunday morning after an overnight trip from Victoria Falls . I wandered around the grimy streets of Bulawayo asking for the presence of the bus station. After discovering that none of the bus offices were open that day, it frightfully dawned on me that there was only one option to return to South Africa that day – the dreaded mini-bus taxi. I had previously seen the mini-bus taxis everywhere in Africa , but never had the privilege of being transported within one. Mini-bus taxis in Africa seem to work on the principle of not leaving the car park until they are full, to maximise the income gained per seat per trip. This wait may last from four minutes to four hours, or possibly even four days - which is probably insignificant in African time terms. I proceeded to the local car park where the mini-bus taxis were collected, all neatly arranged like a miniature Matchbox collection. There were about 10 mini-buses herded into the car park, waiting for silly punters like myself willing to risk their lives for the sake of travelling from Point A to Point B, or maybe to Point Gravesite. I had heard all sorts of horror stories about these taxis in South Africa – the vast majority of them are clapped-out pieces of corrosion that would not pass a roadworthy at a demolition derby. The best story was one where a driver had replaced the aged and worn steering-wheel by attaching two plumbing wrenches on the steering column to ensure maximum manoeuvrability around the numerous potholes that probably almost matched the area of road. However, this was my (relatively) lucky day. After the driver had graciously accepted my money, I only had to wait for a grand total of four hours for the mini-bus to depart the Bulawayo bitumen. I hung around, taking the mandatory siesta and sometimes chewed on a non-descript snack from the nearby corner store that emblazoned a sign stating crazy Cairo was 3500 miles away from this point. A steady trickle of people would arrive at the driver’s side of the mini-bus to pay their money and use their luggage as a makeshift bed, like I did, while waiting for the signal to leave. At midday, the mini-bus had reached its quota (that is, three times the legal carrying capacity of the vehicle) and everyone piled their luggage in the trailer. The mini-bus left the car park and it was from this point that I was abruptly introduced to the rather absurd four/one forty rule – waiting four hours for the mini-bus to fill up in the car park, only for this lost time to be compensated by screaming along the woefully under-resourced Zimbabwean Highway system at the top speed of 140 kilometres per hour all the way back to South Africa. How the mini-bus managed this considering the dire fuel shortages and without falling apart, I will never know. I concluded that Africa does not need a Formula One Grand Prix as there is enough high speed action on its highways. My brain had selected an obscure Hoodoo Gurus song to play during the attempt to break the land speed record – called I Was a Kamikaze Pilot from one of my favourite Hoodoos albums, Stoneage Romeos. I was a, was a kamikaze pilot They gave me a plane – I couldn’t fly it home. Taught how to take off, I don’t know how to land. They say it doesn’t matter and I just cannot understand. I was a kamikaze pilot, They gave me a plane – I couldn’t fly it home. The mini-bus taxi may as well have been a suicidal Mitsubishi Zero, ready to honourably take out a pylon of a precisely targeted overpass. What had added to the mini-bus thrill theme ride was that I had miserably lost the dreadful game of mini-bus musical chairs – I had managed to pick the seat next to the person with the largest arse on the mini-bus, and possibly, southern Africa. She was a large, dark woman who wore a colourful headscarf and seemed friendly enough. She did not communicate with me in words – but instead with various facial expressions. She tried her best to make room for me from her window seat, but when combined with my arse, it was inevitable that one of my butt cheeks would pathetically lose out. My right butt cheek was not prepared to overhang the seat for the 11 hour trip back to South Africa . I still have the mental and physical scars of that trip - especially the one dissecting my right butt cheek. During this doomed trip, I had thought that Johannesburg was probably not the most ideal place to scramble for suitable accommodation at an estimated arrival time of midnight. At the Zimbabwe/South African border post at Beitbridge, I had arranged beds (note, plural) for myself and another minibus taxi journeyman, a Belgian man called Jan, at a Pretoria backpackers. This phone call was made after successfully dodging the swarms of aggressive peanut merchants loitering around the phone boxes. I noticed that my recently purchased South African phone card displayed the helpful advice of ‘Don’t Cut Your Lifeline’ complete with pictures of a public phone handset and a set of open bolt cutters. Since my lifeline was not yet broken, I received an assurance from the Backpackers that they would wait for us until we arrived. Once I had finished drinking a gut-rotting Coke out of an ingeniously marketed AfriCAN, it was time to brace myself for another supersonic test ride. However, after continuing his kamikaze mission for another few hours, the mini-bus driver probably had another mini-bus taxi car park that was more important than mine and had completely bypassed Pretoria and was on the way to Johannesburg . After informing the death wish pilot, he exited the freeway at the midway suburb of Centurion and we said our humble goodbyes at the nearby service station. This may have sounded uneventful, but I received an eerie feeling when I spotted the ‘Hijacking Hotspot’ advisory sign at the top of the exit ramp. In an unconvincingly reassuring voice, I said to Jan ‘It mustn’t be THAT bad – the Hijacking Hotspot sign hasn’t been hijacked yet!’ I only received a slight, uneasy smile from this corny joke – we were both tired from too many kilometres and hours on the road. We called a less suicidal taxi with some Rand shrapnel and managed to reach Pretoria without being hijacked, where we pleaded for the Backpackers to let us in at midnight. To our delight, a muddled voice answered on the intercom and a buzzer sounded to release the thick steel bar security gates. We were stuffed and there was only a queen bed available in the entire hostel. After 12 hours on the Victoria Falls train, four hours lounging on backpacks in a hot Bulawayo mini bus taxi car park, and 11 hours on the supersonic mini-bus, I did not give a rats. The queen bed was the most comfort I had encountered in days, and it didn’t matter who I shared it with. I was quite prepared to endure an unconscious man-hug from Jan at three o’clock in the morning if I had to, but I really needed to sleep. And so did Jan. After washing off the slimy African grime from the previous two days, we both crashed in an exhausted slump, grateful to still be alive. The minibus taxi rating on the Crazy Driver Index (out of 10) – 11. In conclusion, crazy drivers are one of the joys of travelling, and are part of the authentic travel experience. Just make sure your life insurance is up to date and of a considerable amount!

once you are in Cairo, Egypt - be ready to feel cheated in everything you do, BUT be sure that once first 2-3 days are over - you will feel like home. You will by then know the prices (more or less), will know that bargaining is a big fantastic show which you should never miss, that men are in no way dangerous, but yes - they are annoying! If you are not going to find a husband there, you will learn to ignore "Hey beautiful", "Your eyes are nice", "Marry me" and the like.
Cairo has a wonderfully chaotic transport, which you will learn to manage fast enough - to be able to survive!

Cairo has an amazing social life - it is no surprise to see families with small children going out to the cinemas or eat at midnight or even later.

English is not very widely used language, but sure there are enough people to help you out.

And - once you need help, do NEVER trust the guys (old, young, middle age) who see you lost and offer their help - you are an easy victim to them, to rip you off. If you need help - do ask anyone in thousands of small shops, telephone shops, anyone who is kind of dependent on their place and cannot just run away :)

Else, enjoy your stay and make the best out of you stay in Cairo.

The collection reflects the history and character of Nubia. Among other pieces the collection includes the statue of Ramses II, statute of Amenras, the head of the Shpatka, and the head of black granite of Tahraqa. The building of the museum is constructed in traditions of Nubian architecture. As it stands on a slope of a rock, its western part is one-storeyed, and eastern part is two-storeyed. The wide ladder conducts downwards from a lobby. Visitors are met with a breadboard model of a valley of the Nile on which tiny copies of the most interesting architectural monuments of Nubia are placed. The exposition is located by a historical principle. In essence, it is placed in the uniform hall divided into parts by partitions. Among exhibits sculptures and jewels, ceramics and frescos from walls of the flooded Christian temples, subjects of arts and crafts. In the right part of a hall - a breadboard model of the Nubian house with brightly painted facade, household stages with wax figures of inhabitants. You may see my VIDEO-Clip from my personal YouTube channel: 4 min 20 sec Egypt Aswan Nubian Museum 2007 You may watch my Nubia Museum high resolution photos on Google Earth in Aswan according to the following coordinates 24º 4' 46.69" N 32º 53' 18.36" E or on my Google Earth Panoramio Aswan Nubean Museum and Aswan Nubean Museum Inside.

Elephantine Island is the largest island in the Aswan area. It was the original centre of life here, with settlement dating back to 3000BC. We spent a couple of hours here, visiting one of the colourful Nubian villages. We walked around the village streets and had the chance to interact with some of the very friendly local children. We also got the chance to visit the home of a well respected resident who owns a fleet of feluccas. The photos do not do this place justice. It was really interesting to walk the maze of very narrow streets and learn a little bit about the Nubian way of life.

The Valley of the Kings (VoK) is a must-visit. By now, you probably know what to expect here - pharaonic tombs to your heart's content. A few practical tips on visiting VoK: 1) Best time to visit would be early afternoon (around 1-2 pm) when most tourists wouldn't want to venture under soaring temps. Suicidal? Not really. That would be the time when tombs have least number of visitors, when you can have them all to yourself, like me. Don't fret, there are shaded areas and the tombs are well ventilated inside-actually felt cooler inside the tombs. 2) Take some time to view the 3D fiberglass model of the site at the entrance - this gives a feel of the lay of the land, as well as clues on what to expect, and help you plan which tombs would be most fun to view. 3) Rethink plan to see Tutankhamun's tomb - most of the artifacts had been moved to the Egyptian Museum, so the empty tomb may not justify the extra fees , which you pay on top of the standard EGP 70 fee (good for 3 tombs). 4) Don't miss Tuthmosis III's tomb - one the earliest to be built, it's the least accessible, and the most fun to visit-you climb a steep hill, cross a steep ravine to the entrance, from where you descend several meters below ground, crossing a deep shaft built to entrap ancient robbers. Sounds complicated? Try it yourself and you'll know what I mean. Warning: not for the faint of heart! 5) Forget what guidebooks say about bringing water - in this most tourism-corrupted town in the world, price of bottled water should be pretty much the same everywhere. Bringing water would not only be cumbersome, water would also be useless after being exposed to the sun. You can buy water at the stores located beside the main visitors' area at the entrance. 6) Respect regulations on taking photos - being alone inside the tombs, I could have switched to my shutter-happy mode, but chose not to (taking pictures inside is not allowed). The paintings are in a delicate condition and any measure to preserve them should be encouraged. Happy tomb viewing!

The Colossi of Memnon are situated on the main road to the West Bank monument area. All tourist's groups have here stop for some minutes - so, you can take photos! These two gigantic statues (around 17m high) were cut from two massive granite blocks, brought from quarries near Cairo. And once they stood at the entrance gate of the mortuary temple of Amenhotep III. Nowadays almost nothing remains about this temple of Amenhotep III. Statues represents the pharaoh Amenhotep III (Dynasty XVIII). There are very interesting story - after an earthquake in 27 BC, part of the northern colossus collapsed and from then on each morning at sunrise, the statue produced a strange musical sound. Ancient :-) Greek and Roman tourists :-) came to hear this sound, and gave statue the name of "Memnon" - a Trojan hero, the son of Eos and Titan, who sang to his mother each morning at daybreak. It's a legend, but in reality the sun heating up the stone produced this strange sound. In the third century AD northern statue was repaired and the mysterious singing was never heard again. But as a result of the legend the statues of Amenhotep III became known as the Colossi of Memnon. There is no entrance charge or restrictions on photography.

The Luxor Museum is lilliputian when compared to the humongous Egyptian Museum in Cairo. But what is lacks in size, it easily makes up for it in presentation and quality. The exhibits are carefully and professionally done by the people behind New York's Brooklyn Museum - well-chosen, comprehensively labeled and meticulously arranged. Easily, the star attractions are the mummies of pharaohs Ahmose, founder of the New Kingdom, and of Ramses I. Bathed in soft lighting within darkened interiors, the mummies in their glass niches project an eerie but mysterious aura. Looking at Ramses I's mummy (have a pen light ready), one could still see his short, curly hair covering portions of his head. It's amazing to think this pharaoh pre-dates Jesus by nearly 1,300 years! Incredible. The other interesting exhibits include the section on Egyptian military technology which should make every military enthusiat's mouth water. I've always been fascinated by chariots and seeing a real one (Tutankhamun's hunting chariot) made my day. At first, I thought the fee of EGP 70 - more expensive than Egyptian Museum's EGP 50 - was too steep an entrance fee. Overall, it was worth it. I've learned so much from Luxor Museum than from the Egyptian Museum. Before proceeding to the main gallery, stop by the mini-theater at the entrance for a brief presentation on Thebes - it's a bit cheesy but it brings you into the right mood for what could lies ahead - a peek into the glory of ancient Egypt. During summer, the museum is open from 9am-1pm and from 4pm-10pm. Photos not allowed inside.

Culturally, Egypt is a Muslin country. Even in Cairo, a woman ought to have a male companion walking by her side when on the street. She should have shoulders and upper arms covered, closed neck top, skirt below the knees. Pants are ok, but ought to be loose. Modesty is the key word. WEAR A WEDDING BAND, even if you are not married. Avoid being harassed and being an "ugly American" by dressing properly, speaking deferentially, and making sure to engage in small talk before going into the business at hand. Please don't complain when you are not allowed into places or do activities because of your female gender. Do not insist on your "rights" or be aggressive. Ask for assistance. The men are protective of women and eager to help. It is a different culture, and their customs ought to be respected.
That doesn't mean you can't negotiate for a good price, but always very politely.
Do not go out at night alone.
Book your tour before arriving in Egypt.

Egypt Air needs education on customer servicew and flight connections but the wait and boredom at the airport is worth it.

spend an hour or two walking through the local Luxor souk. It's a museum of incredible anthropological interest. Likely, the lifestyle and traditions of these merchant farmers and their customers have not changed in millenia! Various foods are sold; from vegetables and onions to chickens and intestines, not to mention other animal body parts. Ropes, fabric, clothes and more; everything that is used in the daily lives of the average local Egyptian. You can watch bread being baked as it has been for centuries, and women carrying cabbage on their heads as they have for nearly as long, while others are choosing the live chicken to purchase. For photos of a day in the life of the Luxor local souk, check out my travelogues: "Just Another Day" and "All Your Basic Needs".

Cairo Airport: Cairo airport is located 22Km to the south east of the centre of Cairo. The trip to, or from, the airport should take around 30 - 45 Minutes. So dear traveller, make sure to leave your hotel at least three hours before your departure time! There are two Terminals at Cairo airport. All EgyptAir and domestic flights depart from Terminal one, while all other airlines depart from Terminal two. There is no departure tax levied - at the moment! However, starting from next October, a new tax will be implemented. You will not pay it directly as it will be included in the price of the ticket. If you fly with EgyptAir, or have connection flights, it is recommended that you confirm your flight, at least 48 hours before departure, it is very important to do that. If you are staying in a good hotel, the guest relation, or reception, should be able to do this for you if you wish. If you are an individual traveller and wish to confirm your flight, you can call EgyptAir directly. Use one of these numbers: EgyptAir at Cairo International Airport: Tel: 634 1460 / 418 3690 / 265 7222 /265 7244/ 265 7257/ 256 7255
Fax: 267 4555 / 418 2818 It is not allowed for visitors to bring more than 5000 LE in cash. You will find plenty of banks at the airport and several foreign currency exchange offices. Your duty free goods must be purchased within 48 hours after arrival. Customs at Cairo Airport: You are allowed to bring 250 grams of tobacco, two cartons of cigarettes, one litre of alcohol and personal stuff. If you are planning to bring your own pet, make sure you have a veterinary health certificate, which should include a valid rabies certificate.

It is cheap and easy to take (LONG!) daytrips from Dahab to Jerusalem and/or Petra in Jordan. Many hotels offer trips that leave late at night (midnight-ish), drive overnight, allow you to explore until the next evening, and then take another overnight bus back. I went to Jerusalem on such a trip and we got to stop and swim in the Dead Sea on the way there as well! They even helped with visas. Worth the $150!

Gizah, or Giza or however you want to spell it is one of the oldest tourist destinations in the world. Home of the Great Pyramids of Giza. When I visited, I went in the late afternoon (mostly because we couldn't get directions...no one seemed to know where the pyramids were and how to get to them), but the setting sun was amazing against the pyramids. Taxis are overflowing as are souvenir shops. They're selling exactly what you're looking for. Don't believe me? Just ask them and they'll tell you the same thing.

Some people think Alex doesn't live up to its past. No more pharos, tomb of Alexander, or even the multi-cultured feel the place had up until the 1950s. But, there is enough of the old Alex for the place to be relaxing and charming (especially compared to Cairo). The corniche area from the Fort to the new library is lovely to walk down. The Cecil hotel in the main square still has colonial charm and there are some lovely restaurants and cafes in this area. The Roman catacombs are also worth a visit.

The Famous House Of The Writer K.Kavafis Surely Worths A Visit.

A visit to Alexandria is not complete without a visit to the Catacombs of Kom Ash-Shuqqafa. Open from 9am to 4pm cost is about 12 Egyptian Pound. Well worth it. Booking is not required but more information can be obtained on 484 5800. Cameras are not permitted and bags need to be left at the ticket counter while you descend into the unknown.

Activities, to go see the Aswan Dam that has created the largest man-made lake in the world. It is easy to get to by taxi.