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YourHub.com \\ Vero Beach \\ Stories \\ Travel \\ Trip Advice

IS EGYPT CALLING YOU?

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Contributed by: Susan Drew Cross-cultural travel columnist on 10/16/2006

I've led twelve trips to Egypt and passed through Cairo enroute to Africa endlessly. My passport has more $15 Egyptian visas than I can count. I always say that each trip will be my last, but it never seems to happen. So if Egypt is calling you, just accept it and go.

Travel there is safer than you might think and the cordial Egyptians always treat their guests with open arms...no matter the politics. October through March is the best time to go and then it's hot all summer. As a tour leader, I suggest group travel for greater enjoyment, safety and savings - but it's up to you.

Your trip begins when the plane touches down in Cairo and then everything immediately becomes intense. There's nothing subtle about the city - from the traffic and the crowds, to the sounds and the smells. One step inside Cairo and it's in your blood.

I immediately head through the city to Giza and the Mena House Hotel, right across from the pyramids. The view is fabulous, the hotel elegant and the area quiet since it touches the desert. From the hotel you can explore all the main sights of Giza, Cairo and beyond.

Your first day usually inludes a tour of the Giza Plateau. If you go early, you may get one of the few entrance passes into the Great Pyramid of Cheops. Be prepared to climb many stairs up to the famous King's Chamber. Then explore the pyramids of Chephren and Mycerinus, various smaller pyramids, mastabas (burial chambers) and the mysterious Sphinx itself.

Your guide will be a wellspring of information, but most importantly they'll keep those pesky souvenir "hawkers" away. Let them arrange a camel ride that won't cost you an arm and a leg and negotiate a desert horseback ride that's safe and affordable. Afterall, deal making in Egypt is an art and it takes a while to catch on...if you ever do.

Later you can visit various papyrus and perfume factories. It's interesting to see how things are made and then make some purchases. In the evening view the Giza "Sound and Light Show" or just relax with a swim and dinner at the hotel.

The next morning tour Memphis, the ancient capital of Egypt, and Sakkara. This step pyramid complex is the oldest in Egypt and my personal favorite. Make sure you visit the nearby mastaba, filled with colorful paintings and hieroglyphics. The surrounding desert is always beautiful, pristine and hard to leave. On your way back to Giza, shop in a rug factory and have lunch at an outdoor restaurant.

Later you can head into Cairo to see the Citadel Mosque, the Egyptian Museum and the hectic Khan al Khalili Bazaar. Remember to bargain for everything in Egypt because it's half the fun. Next head back to the hotel and pack your bags, since you'll be flying to Luxor the next day. Board a luxurious Nile Cruise boat and be wined and dined while exploring all the Egyptian temples along the river. But that's another story...for another day.

Susan Drew is the owner of Sangha Tours (Tibetan: sacred community). For more information or to be on her mailing list call (772) 567-6202 or E-mail her at sanghatours@peoplepc.com

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Submitted By: Keith Gordon

posted on 10/17/2006 @ 12:18:51 PM

Rated Story

I love her articles. It really makes you want to go on every trip with her.

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Susan Drew Cross-cultural travel columnist

Vero Beach

Susan Drew Cross-cultural travel columnist has posted 6 stories and 2 comments since joining on 8/25/2006. Susan Drew Cross-cultural travel columnist's average story rating is 5.

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