Winter in Egypt - what to expect in the land of the pharaohs

Those looking for a cheap package holiday destination, but abhors the mass tourism that should spend the winter in Egypt, because, although there is persistent rumors indicate contrary, this year no bikini ban, not only have the Red Sea resorts have sufficient capacity available. No matter what attractions you want to visit in Egypt, they have been virtually alone for themselves.

Nile Cruise

There are places for a cruise on the Nile, for example, have enough. To sail on the longest river in the world around is considered a particularly romantic way to discover Egypt. Travel of this kind can, as the Egypt holiday deals from Thomas Cook book on short notice at a travel agency in Internet or even on site. The namesake of the second largest German tour operator, among others organized the first ever cruise on the Nile, is regarded as the inventor of the package.

Cairo

What he would think of a trip to Egypt in 2012? Not only in the center of Cairo Egyptian Museum missing visitors, which yes, the proximity to Tahrir Square would be more understandable. Finally, the name was linked from the outset with the uprisings against former dictator Hosni Mubarak. At the moment there is virtually unobstructed view of the pyramids. There, where a previously crowds blocked the way, now there is nothing but emptiness.

Even the White Desert and Alexandria seems to want to visit any more.

Alexandria

Here, the Mediterranean city was just on the point to follow up on their old feats. On the island of Pharos in the Bay of Alexandria once stood the lighthouse, it was expected to be the Seven Wonders. But almost more famous was the Library of Alexandria. In this haven of learning were formed Archimedes, Euclid and Eratosthenes. With 700,000 papyrus scrolls in ancient times it was the largest library in the world.

Since 2002 it again, the famous Library of Alexandria. Not far from the old location it was rebuilt. However, not only the facade is modern: it was created space for eight million books (in about 1.5 million have been around) and a backup copy of the Internet Archive, which includes about three petabytes.

The library, which is currently used primarily by students should also be a tourist attraction, but the largest with 2000 seats open reading room lures - like all other classic attractions - at barely more visitors.

What Thomas Cook would say probably it? He probably would advise Europeans in need of recuperation, not to be deterred by the uncertain political situation and to take an educational trip to Egypt. After all, he has done 1860.

@ http://www.noz.de/themenseite/reise-reporter/67433362/ein-winter-in-aegypten-was-sie-im-land-der-pharaonen-erwartet

Tourists feedback about Egypt after the Revolution - Egypt after revolution

Tourism in Alexandria After Arab Spring

WHEN the Arab Spring spread to Egypt on Jan. 25, culminating in the ouster of President Hosni Mubarak 17 days later, it brought an electrifying sense of achievement and — as travelers and tour operators know all too well — an unwelcome side effect: the crippling of Egypt’s tourism industry, the country’s major source of revenue and jobs.

A total of 14.8 million tourists came to Egypt last year, feeding $13 billion into the economy. But the number of visitors fell by 80 percent in the first month after the revolution, and the industry will probably finish this year down 25 percent, according to the tourism ministry. That is a loss of more than $3 billion.

“We canceled all of our departures for the spring,” said Tom Armstrong, the director of communications for Tauck Tours, which normally runs a dozen high-end trips to Egypt annually. Now, with the high season just beginning, “business is coming back, but it’s not back to what we’ve enjoyed historically,” he said.
“In the long term we’re optimistic,” he added, noting that the government’s “aggressive” promotion has helped restore a measure of confidence.
Those efforts have included TV advertising, news media junkets and a marketing push at tourist fairs in Europe, the United States and elsewhere. Mounir Fakhri Abdel Nour, the minister of tourism and former head of Egypt’s largest opposition party, said he spent much of last spring and summer “doing everything feasible to bring back the tourists,” including appearances throughout the Middle East and Europe to spread the word that the country is safe. A lobbying campaign succeeded in getting the southern Egyptian city of Aswan selected as the host last month of the World Tourism Day ceremony, an important industry event.
“Not a single tourist has been hurt, or had any problem since the 25th of January,” Mr. Abdel Nour said. In the midst of the revolution, banners in Tahrir Square, he said, “were asking tourists not to leave, and promising that they will be protected, which tells you to what extent Egyptians value tourism.”

In the United States, tour companies like Abercrombie & Kent say they are seeing an increase in interest, particularly among first timers taking advantage of low prices, politically aware travelers who wish to show support for Egyptian democracy and returnees interested in exploring newly accessible sites like the Avenue of the Sphinxes in Luxor, a 1.7-mile path linking the Temple of Luxor with the Temple of Karnak, scheduled to be fully renovated this fall.
Abercrombie & Kent ran all nine of its scheduled tours in Egypt in October. All were at close to their capacity of 20 to 24 people each, said Pamela Lassers, the company’s media-relations director. Dozens of tours scheduled through New Year’s 2012 are nearly full, she said, and the company has added two new departures next year for its family tour “Pyramids, Mummies and Temples.”
Tauck and Abercrombie & Kent have filled their Facebook pages with testimonials from recent visitors to Egypt, many of whom cite the absence of the usual crush at the Pyramids, the Sphinx and the Egyptian Museum; and the “optimistic spirit” and “good mood” of the people. “Right now is a great time

via travel.nytimes.com

Where do we dive in Egypt?



Sharm el Sheihk

Written by DN's travel editor

QUESTION:
We will travel to Egypt in the winter, mainly for diving. We are going to both Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheikh. Which dive sites you can recommend?
Krister

ANSWER:
Both Hurghada and Sharm el-Sheikh are charter cities with good service for divers. But their charm attracts different kinds of people, and experienced divers happy to tell you about their favorites.


Hurghada

Hurghada is composed of an enormous expansion of the extensive tourist facilities in the concrete in the north-south along the Red Sea coast. The resort was established precisely because diving in the area is so fantastically well, even if reefs in recent years is suffering from erosion and coral bleaching. In comparison to the more polished Sharm, so you know how old Hurghada is, and especially Russian families like instead.

Off the coast of Hurghada lies Giftun Islands, a few islands that you can go to the dive boat and divers suit with decent or great experience. They are surrounded by a number of spectacular reefs thronging with life, such as Hamden, Banana Reef, Sha'ab Sabrina, Erg Somaya and Sha'ab turf. Depths ranging from 5 to 30 meters which means that you are able to do really long dives.



Ras Mohammed

Sharm is shamelessly glittery and glamorous, with a growing number of world-class hotels that are crowded on the beach plots. Not unlike Las Vegas attracts so this desert oasis many wealthy tourists, but if you do your research and put some time looking around, so you can make a good deal.
The coast around Sharm include Ras Mohammed National Park, which could be the world's most spectacular coral reefs. There are over 100 different fish species, including hammerheads, manta rays, whale sharks and other species that divers often want to see, but rarely do. Not forgetting the Thistlegorm, a legendary wrecks from World War II that was discovered by Jacques Cousteau 1956th 

Dahab

If you have time, go up the coast from Sharm to Dahab, a Thailand-themed place with a number of backpacker hotels and restaurants. In addition to banana pancakes and apple-sheeshan (water pipe), so focus divers where the Blue Hole. This infamous divers is a gaping hole that leads straight down into a muddy pit and reaches down to 130 meters.

Be Shaken, Not Stirred With Hotels in Sharm

When most of us think of Sharm el Sheikh we picture white sandy beaches, and diving clubs, taking holidaymakers underwater with the coral reefs of the Red Sea. However, on dry land there are plenty of great bars and hotels in Sharm which can provide you with cocktails to die for, so get your glad rags on and prepare yourself for some fabulous themed cocktails.

Once you emerge from your hotels in Sharm el Sheikh, the first stop should be Soho Square. The hippest spot in the area for nightlife, you can take your pick of great bars and restaurants, clubs and boutiques. There is plenty here to do by day, and even has an ice rink if you’re in the mood for some skating. But it’s the evenings when it really comes alive, and you could spend the whole night just in this area if you wanted to.

The Mandarin is one of the chicest bars in the area. Offering Asian ambiance at its best, this is a very stylish spot to stop for a drink. The interior lighting changes throughout the evening to keep the mood fresh, and speaking of fresh, the food here is delicious. Try some tasty Asian appetisers while you decide which cocktail to try… although The Mandarin is famous for its incredible Mai Tais.

You might want to leave your summer clothing at your Sharm el Sheikh hotels if you plan on heading to the resort’s coolest of bars, the Ice Bar. Similar to its sister bars which can be found in many big cities, the temperature in the bar is set at -5C – cold weather clothing is available on request if required!

Inside, the whole interior is actually made of ice, from the chairs and tables, to the walls and bar. You won’t need any drinks on the rocks as even the glasses are made of ice. The only thing that’s not frozen is the alcohol, so try a shot of something strong to warm you up from the inside out. It’s an invigorating experience.

Claire Collins is a writer who loves to travel. She recently came back from a trip to Egypt where she stayed in some fantastic Sharm el Sheikh hotels.

http://eva-news.com/travel/travel/be-shaken-not-stirred-with-hotels-in-sharm/23867114/

It is important to plan your Nile cruise in advance

A Nile cruise is a wonderful activity if you are in Egypt. You will have a fantastic and memorable time having a River Nile cruise. The main benefit of having a Nile cruise is that you can have a look of almost all big cities because river Nile has cover almost all of them. So it is a mouth watering trip and regarded as journey of a lifetime.
Egypt is a wonderful country full of ancient heritage and culture. It is one of the best place to visit if you have to spend your holidays in looking for something mysterious and adventurous. You can have different deals for visiting different location in Egypt but if you don’t visit Nile and not having a Nile cruise it means you have missed best part of your journey.
Some people thought that Nile cruise is costly and expensive one and common man cannot afford such kind of activities. It is wrong because there a lot of Nile cruise packages available which can suit you. If you want to have Nile cruise and stay there for some time you will find best packages because they accommodate tourist accordingly.
Having a nile cruise not only gives you view of river but you can also see a lot of historical and ancient place when having a nile cruise because river nile is world’s biggest river and it cover almost all big cities of the country so you can have a look at all these cities as well. It is important to know some important things as well when you are going for a Nile cruise.
Make sure that you had travel insurance because sometimes it becomes a dangerous cruise anything happen to you or your luggage. Don’t try to do childish activities when you are on cruise. Make your journey a memorable one by having a fantastic time.
Orbital for your Nile Cruise you can be assured that your nile cruise holiday will meet your highest expectations. We visit all the Nile Cruisers regularly and insist that all aspects of travel egypt meet our very high standards.
http://eva-news.com/travel/travel/it-is-important-to-plan-your-nile-cruise-in-advance/23867032/

Thomas Cook trains Egyptians in animal welfare

Thomas Cook staff in Egypt have been training local Calesh drivers to look after their horses and donkeys.

The Edfu training day, in partnership with international animal welfare charity The Brooke, was to help the locals improve living standards for their animals.

The operator believes using caleshes, like a horse and cart, to take visitors from cruise ships to the temple at Edfu provides an authentic flavour of Egypt.
It also benefits the local community which is dependent on tourism to make their living.

Thomas Cook has been working with the charity to promote its 'Responsible Tourism for Animals' campaign over the last two years.

This has included distributing a 'Happy Horses Holiday Code' via its resort packs encouraging tourists to check horses are healthy and owners are paid a fair price.

http://www.travelmole.com/stories/1150002.php

A Woman's Guide To Visiting Egypt Now

Olivia Katrandjian 

Journalist and Travel Writer 

When I told my parents I was going to Egypt, they freaked out. My dad, who was sure I'd come home in a body bag, threatened to steal my passport. Such are the views of a conservative father with only one daughter. Even when that daughter is 24 years old.

I made it to Cairo, one week after the attack on the Israeli embassy there, and while I wasn't afraid of violence, I was worried -- well, curious -- about being a woman in Egypt, not to mention an American one. I looked for information on what to wear and watch out for as a female tourist in Egypt, but couldn't find a comprehensive guide. So, ladies, here's what you need to know.
While Egypt is a Muslim country, it is much more progressive than other Arab nations. Some women wear a niqab (a veil covering the face), others wear a hijab (a covering of the hair and neck but not the face) and still others do not cover their heads at all. Women are not required by law to follow a dress code, so as a tourist, you can wear whatever you'd like; some people do. But whatever comfort you might find in wearing minimal clothing in the heat will be cancelled out by the discomfort of having men stare and yell at you. Save the push-up bras and cleavage-bearing tops for your next trip to Brazil.

You do not need to cover your head in Egypt, but dress modestly. Wear pants or long skirts. Cairo is hot, so loose fitting pants are going to be more comfortable than a pair of skinny jeans. It is also dusty and dirty, so white clothing will appear soiled far more quickly than clothing of other colors.
Sunglasses are a must, not only because it's bright out but also because they make it easier to avoid making eye contact with men on the street. If you find yourself without shades, don't look men in the eye -- it's considered a form of flirtation.
Before my trip, I was warned that outside Egypt's major cities the locals are much more conservative and that you must dress accordingly. But I found the opposite to be true. I took a cruise down the Nile and stopped at major tourist sites like the Valley of the Kings and Luxor Temple. With the exception of a few souvenir dealers, everyone at these sites is a tourist, and they dress as such. Among tourists, you can wear what you want (within reason). There's no point in sweating it out in long pants and a long-sleeved shirt if everyone around you is in shorts.
While you don't need to wear a headscarf, it's not a bad idea to carry around a lightweight pashmina in case you go into a mosque and want to cover your head. In the more conservative mosques, if you're not completely covered, they will ask you to wear a bathrobe-type garment.

"Your conservative equals their slightly-less-scandalous, so skinny jeans need a long shirt, and even a high-neck shirt must either be loose or be layered with a loose sweater. There are many occasions where you can wear whatever you want at your destination, but the transportation and walking in between is the killer," said Alison, an American journalist who has been living in downtown Cairo for two years. So while a cocktail dress is perfectly acceptable attire at many parties, walking the streets in one is another matter altogether.

"Egyptians are very friendly and outgoing people," said Alison. "You can certainly socialize, but while in the US (or Lebanon for that matter) it's perfectly acceptable to talk to a stranger at a bar, be aware that this is not part of the Egyptian culture. When Egyptians go out at night, they do not interact with others outside their immediate group. So be yourself and enjoy the hospitality, but keep the rules of the locals in the back of your mind."
Expect harassment, ranging from harmless flirtation -- men will call you sukar (sugar), mozza (banana), butta (duck) and ask how many camels you cost -- to men staring at you, following you, grabbing your chest or butt and verbally harassing you. This is less common than flirtation, but nevertheless common. Avoid walking alone at night.

"It happens to all women in Cairo at some point, but do not be afraid of taking public transportation, like the metro, or going to certain areas, because there is no pattern of location," said Alison.
According to a report by the Egyptian Center for Women's Rights titled "Harassment: The Social Cancer," 98 percent of foreign female visitors to Egypt and 83 percent of Egyptian women experienced some degree of sexual harassment, and 62 percent of Egyptian men admitted to harassing women, both foreign and local.
Despite the potential for unwanted attention from men, with a little common sense and appropriate clothing, Egypt is an enjoyable destination with a rich history, an abundance of archeological sites, a delicious cuisine and a promising future.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/olivia-katrandjian/a-womans-guide-to-visitin_b_1063486.html