After spending the last year travelling, I've now finally had to submit to getting a full time job for a couple of years:(....which means short trips for the time being. However I'm not used to planning in this way, so I wondered if anyone had some ideas for a weeks visit to Egypt. I'm hoping to go in April. I would love to see the Sphinx, Valley of the Kings and maybe some snorkelling in the red sea. Is there anything I shouldn't miss that could be squeezed into a week??
What are the standards of youth hostels and hotels generally, and is there any kind of backpacker network, such as in Southern Africa??
Any ideas would be great!
xx

Linds

You won't see the Sphinx (it's near Cairo)but a Nile Cruise (Luxor to Aswan, booked from teletext (page 216, I think) can be surprisingly good value for money. As it's full board you'll only need extra cash for drinks, gifts and tips.

You'll see the Valley of the Kings, a variety of fine temples, including the beautiful Philae near Aswan and have a marvellous week on a fascinating river. A supplement will get you to Abu Simbel.

Offers on teletext often give extra weeks on the Red Sea or three nights in Cairo - for extra cash, of course.

Hi Linds,

i went to egypt in beginning of june and it was amazing! i had two weeks and stayed in cairo for 5 days (definately worth going if you have a chance to see the pyramids and sphinx - awesome), got overnight train down to aswan, stayed for two days then got train to luxor for three days. then flew to sharm el sheik for 3 days then bus back to cairo for the end. the transport was all pretty cheap and reliable, although more expensive if your a tourist and not egyptian. we managed to get really good deals on accomodation becasue it was off peak season. i recommend osiris tours company in cairo behind the british embassy, because although we didnt do any organised tours (too constricting) they organised some travel arrangements for us.

it was like having three different holidays in one - hope you enjoy yourself!

becca x