Egypt and the pyramids done right?

Question

I've been planning a trip to Egypt and especially the pyramids but not like the usual tourist. Most tours spend a couple of days in Cairo and the groups are ridden by Giza, and Saquara and then the leave for Luxor. I'd like to spend at least a week in Cairo and I want to see Giza, Abusir, Saqqara, Dahshu, El-Lisht, and Meidum, but I want to see them at my own pace. I wouldn't mind joining a usual tour for the rest of the sights but I feel that to go all the way to Egypt to just drive by these sights would be a waste. What would be the best way to arrange this sort of thing? Private car? Although I would want to drive over there. What about car and driver for a day. Is such a thing available for hire? If so how much should one expect to pay for this kind of service.

Correction I would prefer NOT to drive over there.

Answer 1

quick question where are you planning this trip from? the UK?

if so I would suggest that you book hotel and flights seperatly and then you can book day trips to these places from the hotels. I must make you aware that although Cairo and Luxor are lovely places they are quite dirty which is why people dont usually stay for more than a few days. Unless you know someone out there then you will only be able to get a taxi. A taxi for the day should be about £20.00

The flights to Cairo and Luxor get booked very quickly and if you are looking to do a 2 centre with internal flights then you need to book early.

In Cairo I would suggest you stay on the banks somewhere like the Sheraton, the Towers.

In Luxor you can stay almost anywhere and not worry unlike Cairo. A good hotel in Luxor is the Movenpick.

If you need any more information then please contact me on [e-mail]
amy

Answer 2

Follow the advice of the tourist agent as to prices and stuff but the best way to do it is by car. Renting a car is not cheap and can be a hassle since you do not speak Arabic and will have difficulty finding your way around. The best deal- and that's what my team and I do- is to hire a local taxi make a deal with him and he will take you anywhere you want. So study well what you would like to do. For about five hours driving around Cairo or the pyramids should not coast you more than 50 EL (1 euro is 7 EL). Longer trips different prices. Not more than 70 euros from Cairo to Alexandria and back. Have fun. and keep an open mind. Different culture different civilization. Different, not better or worse than yours.

Answer 3

we went with a company called Egypt we did all that you are asking about, nothing was any trouble with them if we wanted to stay somewhere for an extra hour or wanted to see something that was not on the itinerary, all we where told was you have 13 days paid, your holiday your money if its more than the original price they tell you, for instance, we wanted to go and eat at the Fridays fish market Restaurant,because some friends had been their . they said anything over 100le you pay for, no charge for the extra trip because it was our bus for the entire tour, by the end of our tour there where things to see that time would not allow, because we did the tour at our pace, so we fully recommend them, we are going back in November on another tour with them, 16 of us, now that's a recommendation,

Answer 4

I totally agree it is a shame to come all that way and get to be rushed here and there. Seeing a bit of this a bit of that so quickly that you end up not knowing, a scarab from a sarchophagus.
If you have done abit of research you dont need to waste money joining the normal tours, either here or at home.They all have the same timeframe and itineary.
Unless you go on a geographical/historical tour.
If you know what you want to see,and it sounds like you do, then be your own guide.
All you need is to find a 3or 4star room at a pretty central hotel and hire an airconditioned car or taxi for the day.
I will warn you straight up that the taxi although cheaper is less likely to have a/c or be in reliable repair than hiring a good car and driver car for 50L.E.per half day.
You will be best to make an early start to places such as the pyramids,citadel and the museum, if you are wise!Less crowds and less heat.
There is no way you can say,you have seen Cairo in less than 5 full days.
My best suggestion in your case, is to invest in a copy of the Lonely Planet guide to Egypt.
It has everything you will need to know and a bit more in it, and is a wise investment for anyone going to Egypt either on a tour or by themselves.
There are lots of good clean comfy hotels around without paying the earth,somewhere like Pharaohs, in Dokki is only a walk over the Nile from Downtown and The Cairo Museum.
It is also close to 2 Metro stations for going to places like Old Cairo and Islamic Cairo.
You can go almost anywhere on the Metro.
It is fast safe and clean plus user friendly,good signage.
Save the car hire for going to your sites that are out of Cairo,you will be glad of the airconditioning and it is just too complicated to get there any other way.
Pre-book your hotel through your travel agent and it will be cheaper by about a third!
There are many to choose from and the Lonely Planet Guide gives you a list of about 20 in the budget section, that are around $40-50 Aust.per night.
For that money you get a/c,(very important) ensuite bathroom, T.V., plus a fridge.
Ask for a front room wherever you stay, as that way you will see more that a concrete wall. As you will do in 90% of rooms in Cairo.
What else can you need if you are spending all day out seeing Cairo?
I would suggest doing an out of Cairo site in the morning and use the afternoons to see The Citadel,
The Museum,Khan el Khalili,Old Cairo and Islamic Cairo.
Don't try and push yourself too much as you will be worn out by the time you get to Luxor,the best part, or is it just different!
Remember to drink plenty of bottled water,it is so important.
You can get to Luxor by plane,train or bus. I would recommend train, unless you can afford the usual high domestic airfares.
You would be best to catch "The Sleeping Train",
that is its name!
For you dont want to experience the toilets on the normal train ,unless you are really hardy!Also, the seats are not too comfortable to try and sleep on them.
You have to book your ticket and pay for it in U.S. dollars,at least 24hrs before it leaves.
The sleeping compartments are small but clean and fairly comfy.
Also prebook you Luxor accomadation ahead from home.There are some good choices there. But it is hard to go by Tuthotel for being near the Nile ,the Luxor Temple and the shops resturants and bazaar.
It is also in the Lonely Planet guide,but its a little cheaper as is all the Luxor accomadation.
Another choice featured in the Lonely Planet Guide is to stay at a self contained flat on the West Bank.
There is a lady named Jane Akshar, who runs a Luxor blog on the Egyptian Government's tourism website w.w.w.touregypt.
She is known as Luxor Jane, as she is an authority on Luxor.There is not much she doesn't know about the culture or Luxor's Pharonic history.
Do yourself a favor and check out Jane's blog.
She can help you arrange accomadation on the west side and she is super trustworthy!
If you do take a day tours she can also arrange the best locally born guides for you plus a/c car for around 50LE.
You have nothing to loose by looking at the website.
There are many shady tourist dealers around Luxor, so do be careful.
Again, The Lonely Planet Guide, will help you with who they recommend, they have no vested interest.
A good rule is if its not recomended by them, don't take it.
A lot of the guides etc,have no real knowledge and this applies to Cairo as well.
I have overheard them telling tourists rubbish such as Napolean blasted of the Sphinx's nose, and that if you walk around the scarab by the sacred lake at Karnak 3 times (others say 7)your wish will come true,and so many more things there is no historical evidence to.A lot of "exciting facts" have been built in to cover a lack of actual historical knowledge.
If you do your homework and planning you will have exactly the trip you wanted.
Good luck with the planning and if you want to know any more interesting places to go etc,message me through Q&A.
Sorry, but I think a big question deserves a big answer

Answer 5

just read gremlins answer the only thing it did not say was it's fully inclusive price, and we had a fantastic time,
even named my user on yahoo as myegypt, because i felt it was myegypt and still talk about our tour, and we are taking the Felluca house boat for week in August with them,

Answer 6

ok i looked up the rick steves its the bottem link he has lots of starter ideas for you and the top one is different ideas travel tips ect..but my question iss can i go?? lol justr kidding,good luck hope this helps and happy hunting:)