Trip to RSDS in October

[BoltSnap]

Indeed. I did not had your other plans in mind while writing in the other thread.
If building up around RSDS - Luxor - Aswan - Cairo, what about USA - IST - HRG or RMF - RSDS as an incoming leg and leaving toward home from CAI. That would at least avoid the entry through CAI.

Leaving from CAI is less trouble than coming in BUT I'd caution to make sure the visa you get in Hurghada or marsa alam allows you to leave Egypt from a different airport than the arrival airport. I am not certain of this but in my part of the world it usually does matter and you have to depart from the arrival airport.

 

[dflaher]

As for your second week, Egypt is a bit of a nightmare as you have ascertained. You'll be nicely "dived-up", so personally, I'd book myself on a liveaboard.

I just figured that since I was traveling quite far to Egypt to dive, I would be remiss not to see the history and sights there, and hopping on a liveaboard wouldn't address this.

If you're determined to see the pyramids etc, I would book a tour. I suspect it's just not worth the hassle of doing it independently.

Thanks - I started to look at tour operators just recently, for this same reason. Not worth the hassle. Of course the tour operator probably won't escort us through CAI though

 

[MB NZ]

Thanks - I started to look at tour operators just recently, for this same reason. Not worth the hassle. Of course the tour operator probably won't escort us through CAI though

I'm sure any tour company would pick you up from the airport. If that doesn't work for you, then I'd look at a pre-arranged transfer.

 

[dflaher]

I'm sure any tour company would pick you up from the airport. If that doesn't work for you, then I'd look at a pre-arranged transfer.

But it seems like the issues with CAI are inside the airport (prior to pickup).

 

[mmatthias]

There's been some opinions about traveling through Cairo in another thread which I wanted to continue here. After diving at RSDS we wanted to do a cruise from Luxor to Aswan, then return to Cairo to see the pyramids and perhaps the museum. In order to avoid CAI I would need to either forgo the pyramids altogether, or somehow go back to HRG for the return to the US. Seems like a lot of workaround?

My husband and I have been traveling to Egypt 1-2 times each year to visit family for the past 15 years. Getting through the Cairo airport is easy-not sure why are you trying to avoid it? You can buy your visa online now. Lines aren’t usually long to get through customs. It’s not confusing or difficult.

I would catch the flight to Marsa Alam from CAI without leaving the airport even if there is quite a wait for the flight because leaving the airport and coming back is a huge hassle. There aren’t close-by airport hotels.

I would recommend a 3 or 4 night Nile Cruise after diving and then a couple days in Cairo to see the sights. You can do the cruise Aswan-Luxor or the other way around. It’s a one-way cruise. There are many cruise operators. The boats are pretty small. It is really wonderful. You will need to research whether you can fly to Aswan or Luxor from
Marsa Alam on your chosen date and choose your cruise depending on flight availability. There are 2 small carriers in addition to Egypt Air. We have flown both and they are fine.

Our favorite place in Cairo is Kahn El-Khalili. The ancient Islamic Market.

I would avoid driving in Cairo! It’s crazy. You could hire a driver to take you to the major sites. I don’t think you necessarily need a guide. Hopefully the new Museum- the GEM-Grand Egyptian Museum- will be open by then. We have driven by while under construction and it looks very impressive. Ot is out by the Pyramids. One new museum has already opened- The Museum Of Egyptian Civilization. It’s very good and has lots of mummies.

We are doing a week at RSDS in November. I am excited!

Hope you have a great trip. Feel free to ask me anything- happy to help if I can. I love Egypt!

 

[dflaher]

Hope you have a great trip. Feel free to ask me anything- happy to help if I can. I love Egypt!

Thanks for your post, @mmathias. I have a number of questions but am reluctant to ask them here on Scubaboard, as I don't want to turn this into a travel thread in a diving forum. On the other hand, other divers could greatly benefit from the dialogue.

 

[BoltSnap]

I don't want to turn this into a travel thread in a diving forum. On the other hand, other divers could greatly benefit from the dialogue.

Ask away, we will all benefit from the questions and the answers.

 

[MB NZ]

But it seems like the issues with CAI are inside the airport (prior to pickup).

I see what you mean. Good luck to both of us! mmathias' post is reassuring at least.

 

[dflaher]

My husband and I have been traveling to Egypt 1-2 times each year to visit family for the past 15 years. Getting through the Cairo airport is easy-not sure why are you trying to avoid it? You can buy your visa online now. Lines aren’t usually long to get through customs. It’s not confusing or difficult.

Thanks for the CAI reassurance. Getting to HRG or especially RMF from the US isn't as easy. What air route/airlines do you use to get to Egypt?

I would catch the flight to Marsa Alam from CAI without leaving the airport even if there is quite a wait for the flight because leaving the airport and coming back is a huge hassle. There aren’t close-by airport hotels.

Good tip. We were thinking of overnighting at a Cairo hotel and coming back the next morning, since the flight from Heathrow to CAI that we were looking at got in quite late. Also, we were planning to fly to Hurghada instead of Marsa Alam as the number of flights to Marsa Alam is limited (only 3x/week from CAI).

I would recommend a 3 or 4 night Nile Cruise after diving and then a couple days in Cairo to see the sights. You can do the cruise Aswan-Luxor or the other way around. It’s a one-way cruise. There are many cruise operators. The boats are pretty small. It is really wonderful. You will need to research whether you can fly to Aswan or Luxor from
Marsa Alam on your chosen date and choose your cruise depending on flight availability. There are 2 small carriers in addition to Egypt Air. We have flown both and they are fine.

From what I've seen there are two types of Nile cruise boats: the larger ones that appear to be three stories or so, and the smaller ones called Dahabiyas, which I think is the type you are referring to? I checked flights from Marsa Alam to both Luxor and Aswan and none are direct; all connect somewhere else. Thus I assumed I would need ground transportation once finished with diving in Shagra to get to board the cruise. Am I missing something?

I would avoid driving in Cairo! It’s crazy. You could hire a driver to take you to the major sites. I don’t think you necessarily need a guide. Hopefully the new Museum- the GEM-Grand Egyptian Museum- will be open by then. We have driven by while under construction and it looks very impressive. Ot is out by the Pyramids. One new museum has already opened- The Museum Of Egyptian Civilization. It’s very good and has lots of mummies.

No plan to drive in Cairo! Hoping the GEM is open as well. I think I may just do a day tour prior to flying back to the US. It's probably not long enough but I'll be wanting to get back to see my lovely wife who was kind enough to let me go on this trip. Any tips on hotels in Cairo to stay prior to flying out?

Thanks again for your input.

 

[RedSeaDiver2]

Thanks for the CAI reassurance. Getting to HRG or especially RMF from the US isn't as easy. What air route/airlines do you use to get to Egypt?

Good tip. We were thinking of overnighting at a Cairo hotel and coming back the next morning, since the flight from Heathrow to CAI that we were looking at got in quite late. Also, we were planning to fly to Hurghada instead of Marsa Alam as the number of flights to Marsa Alam is limited (only 3x/week from CAI).


From what I've seen there are two types of Nile cruise boats: the larger ones that appear to be three stories or so, and the smaller ones called Dahabiyas, which I think is the type you are referring to? I checked flights from Marsa Alam to both Luxor and Aswan and none are direct; all connect somewhere else. Thus I assumed I would need ground transportation once finished with diving in Shagra to get to board the cruise. Am I missing something?

No plan to drive in Cairo! Hoping the GEM is open as well. I think I may just do a day tour prior to flying back to the US. It's probably not long enough but I'll be wanting to get back to see my lovely wife who was kind enough to let me go on this trip. Any tips on hotels in Cairo to stay prior to flying out?

Thanks again for your input.

First question would be what time of year are you visiting Egypt?