I'm going to Egypt with my family for Christmas. We are spending a week cruising up the Nile and 2 nights in Cairo and 5 nights in Luxor. We want to read up on all the history etc., before we go. Can anyone recommend a really good guide book?
2007-03-05 05:22:27 · 8 answers · asked by annemumborumbo 2 in Travel ➔ Africa & Middle East ➔ Egypt
You really should look as The Lonely Planet Guide to Egypt as an investment and an essential part of your" I need for Egypt" list and keep it handy all the time.
I still never go with out it in my bag.
If you are spending a while in Luxor Then I really couldn't suggest anything better than a relatively new handbook.That is superbly written and presented by world reknown Egyptologist Kent R. Weeks."The Illustrated Guide to Luxor".
A handy sized book that would serve the solo traveller as well as any hired guide.
It includes every tomb, temple and museum in the Luxor area.
Superbly illustrated and with easy to follow detailed maps.That allow you to easily locate all the major aspects of the tombs and temples.
It also gives detailed descriptions and information on the wall reliefs and other features.Including chronologies and the ancient history of the Luxor,Karnak The Valley of The Kings Dier el Bahri and surrounding significant areas
You would go a long way to find a better handbook written by a more respected contemporary authority.
In fact I am sure that a better handbook does not exist.
2007-03-05 23:48:59 · answer #1 · answered by sistablu...Maat 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
the lonely planet is an excellent book, but it will only give you a brief overview of the history, but it is superb at telling you what to visit and how to get there. In Cairo and luxor it is very easy to arrange your own trips out. Use a local taxi or a chauffeur car from your hotel, bargain for the price before you leave and make sure its in Egyptian pounds the taxi will take you to your destination and then wait for you to finish before he picks you up and takes you back to the hotel. So you will be bargaining for a day or morning this will not be expensive between £10 and £15 for the time in cairo.this allows you more time than you would get if you went with a tour group and far more freedom. i would reccomend it. the museum and pyramids of course are a must in cairo and if you have the time saqarra is a lovely day out. if you want to visit somewhere else after you get back to luxor go to the valley of the nobles and or the valley of the artisans neither of which are usually on the cruise itinerary. take a taxi from the east bank to the west, easy to do and cheap, buy your own tickets. if you need a guide one can usually be arranged by the driver or in a local agency but you may find after the cruise you feel you dont need a guide. Also dont miss the luxor museum. if you want more details on Egypt history before you go then i can honestly say try a children's book to start with, the history is so vast if you buy an adult book you may find it confusing and very heavy going. a guide to the Egyptian museum might also be a good idea so you know what to look for when you go. then if you want more, graduate to adult books, there are so many on the market i cannnot reccomend one over the other. do have fun ohh and buy your visas on entry to egypt much cheaper and not difficult take about £15 english for each visa cash. though it will probably cost only £10 if you queue, if you let your tour guide queue, you probably wont get your change
2007-03-05 06:01:21 · answer #2 · answered by sabrina 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I always use Lonely Planet and Rough Guides. Try you local library to see what they've got. You can always take it with you if you dont want to buy one. Also dont be afraid to go into a big bookshop and browse. I'm glad you've got more time in Luxor as I found it much more interesting than Cairo!
2007-03-05 05:36:05 · answer #3 · answered by hiddenmyname 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I recommend The Rough Guide to Egypt. Maps, history, basic information etc. Rough Guide is good for travelling. If you want to read more about the history of Egypt, a guide book is not enough. One of my favourites is Egypt-People, Gods, Pharaohs by Rose-Marie and Rainer Hagen.
2007-03-05 07:08:26 · answer #4 · answered by retuliini 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Lonely Planet is by far the best guide book I have come across. It succinctly provides the practical info you need to travel in an easy to read and accessible format. History of the country is also provided as and when you have time to read it.
2007-03-05 10:44:13 · answer #5 · answered by Penfold 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
A kit excursion is perfect for Egypt. I went many years in the past with my mom and we added a pair days extension onto the top of the kit excursion. What a nightmare!! The kit excursion became stunning besides the undeniable fact that the failings we tried to do on our own after, jointly with the inn and our go back flight, were undesirable. And my mom backpacked through Europe and Asia on her own for a year and a 1/2 after severe college and has taken many self planned journeys because then so it truly is unlike we were only being children about it. We went through flow ahead holidays. they have some truly large pricing and also you stay in truly marvelous places.
2016-12-05 06:48:43 · answer #6 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think you'll find the links below interesting. You have made a very good choices for your tour. Wish you a wonderful trip
2007-03-05 08:45:27 · answer #7 · answered by Wise Heart 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
lonely planet really informative and really good.
2007-03-05 21:45:28 · answer #8 · answered by angelinyourdreams99_us 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋