Cario & Beyond

One of the biggest disappointments on a Nile cruise is you don’t get to see the pyramids. You fly all the way to Egypt, see ancient monuments by the dozen, belly dancers, have your name written in hieroglyphics on a cartouche… but you don’t get to see a single pyramid. What’s with that? Well, there are a few options open to you… they are as follows:

PART I - A CRUISE & CAIRO?

PART 2 - THE PYRAMIDS & SPHINX

PART 3 - CARIO MUSEUM & OTHERS 

PART 4 - BEYOND CAIRO

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Forget it and fly back after a week where you repeat to everyone “No, I didn’t see the pyramids,” as they reply, “But you went to Egypt! They’re one of the Seven Wonders of the World!”

Book another week’s stay in Cairo.

Book another week, stay in Cairo for a couple of days and then go and stay at a resort by the Red Sea for the remainder.

Have a week by the Red Sea and fly to Cairo on a day excursion.

After a week on a Nile cruise you may well feel exhausted, feel that you’ve seen enough history to last you a lifetime or that a second week would break the budget. So you say to yourself, ‘there’s always next time…’

But if you shop around, there are some great deals to be had for a second week’s stay. In fact, many tour operators will offer you an absolute steal of a deal if you book as part of a Nile cruise package. Our recommendation would be to consider a Red Sea resort as your second week, with Cairo as an excursion.

The Red Sea offers relaxation to temper an exhausting cruise schedule, stunning scenery, sunshine and lazing by the pool. Or… if you can’t bare to simply relax, you could try a multitude of water sports. The Red Sea is of course famous for it’s spectacular coral reefs and if you go there, you absolutely must try a course of snorkeling or scuba diving.

But what about pyramids? Well, during your week at the Red Sea, you could take a day trip either by bus or plane, though I would highly recommend that you take the flight option. The flight is a mere 50 minutes with snack included, flying across unforgettable desert terrain to Cairo, where you’ll more than likely see a pyramid or two out of your window before you even set foot there.

When enjoyed as the second part of a Nile cruise holiday, you really feel like you’re having a well rounded Egyptian experience and you’ll realize just how knowledgeable you’ve become as you explore Cairo’s Egyptian Museum.

Can Cairo be done in a day though? We think so, but not having stayed in Cairo for any great length of time it’s difficult to say with any authority. Have a look in ‘Your Stories’ for advice from other travelers to Cairo, which may help you to decide the best alternative.

Cairo is an immense city of over 11 million people, crammed into an urban sprawl that stretches as far as the eye can see. When you first arrive there, it’s difficult to reconcile this modern goliath with the ancient wonders it is famous for.

To get anywhere in Cairo you will have to drive and you’ll often feel that your life is in mortal danger. Such is the madness of the roads system, I would strongly advise against any notion you have about hiring a car unless you possess a proficiency that would feel at home on an F1 circuit. It can be fun... if somebody else is driving. There appears to be a sophisticated language of road runner style beeps that pierce the hum of speeding cars; some beeps are friendly, some are instructional and some are pure unadulterated road rage. An experienced driver will happily toot away; make what seem like daredevil maneuvers and all without breaking a sweat. You may want to remember this fact when it comes to tipping your driver… call it hazard pay if you like.

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