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A Journey Through Time Our Tour Egypt Visit to Egypt, Part VI by Jimmy Dunn

While many in our small tour to Egypt, all Tour Egypt colleges, family and friends, were probably becoming a bit homesick as we approached the last several days of our trip to Egypt, that would end in Cairo, I am always, no matter how long I have been in Egypt, saddened to leave the friends I have made there over the years. As we flew out of Sharm headed back to Cairo, this feeling was already setting in. We returned to the hectic traffic and noise of Cairo fairly early, giving everyone a chance to rest up. Hebba from the Hotel Longchamps arranged a dinner for us that evening, and I once again called some of my friends, hopping they could make this meeting. I headed down to the Hotel Longchamps, hopping to catch Hebba and planning to do a little shopping, particularly at the AUC Bookstore.

A Journey Through Time: Our Tour Egypt Visit to Egypt, Part I by Jimmy Dunn

I would like to begin by apologizing for the lack of updates on Tour Egypt over the past two weeks or so beginning after Thanksgiving, 2004, but I have been in Egypt on a rather unusual visit, at least for me. I have been, more or less, leading a tour for the first time. My trips to Egypt usually involve meeting with officials, tour operators and others in the tour industry, as well as gathering information for new articles on specific places and antiquity sites. Sometimes I travel along with tours to reach various points, but never before have I arranged and lead a tour. This was a valuable experience that I shall share with our readers, but it left little time for me to write during the tour. Nevertheless, I hope to point out some important observations in a series of articles that I believe travelers to Egypt will find very useful.

A Journey Through Time: Our Tour Egypt Visit to Egypt, Part II by Jimmy Dunn

When I was a bit younger and in somewhat better health, I would travel to Egypt straight through from Texas, which no matter what I did, ended up being a 24 hour trip including layovers. I just can't do that any more, so I lay over in New York for a night these days coming and going, and recommend that arrangement to anyone traveling from the US Midwest. The flight from New York to Cairo and visa versa, takes between ten and one half to eleven hours, which is actually not so bad in and of itself. But traveling for another five or ten hours, including layovers, is just too hard for many people. Most Europeans do not have this problem. So when I was asked to arrange a visit for some of Tour Egypt's personnel, I made similar arrangements.

A Journey Through Time: Our Tour Egypt Visit to Egypt, Part III by Jimmy Dunn

Tourism is rampant in Egypt just now. It's supposed to be a little slower just before the Christmas rush, but one would hardly believe it at five a.m. in the Cairo Airport as we get ready to move on to Aswan and our Nile Cruise aboard the Radamis I. Thankfully, while we must clear our way through security, Misr Travel handles what would have been a long line for boarding passes, getting us a block of seats on a jam- packed plane. We are scheduled to fly from Cairo, landing in Luxor and then on to Aswan, but the flight ends up being a direct one, and therefore a much shorter ride of only about forty-five minutes. The airport at Aswan is much better, and we and our guide Soha were met by the local office of Misr Travel just as arranged, soon to be whisked away to our Nile Cruise Boat.

A Journey Through Time Our Tour Egypt Visit to Egypt, Part IV by Jimmy Dunn

Were it not for it's substantial ancient Egyptian monuments, Luxor (ancient Thebes) would probably be little more than a small agricultural community, no different than many others along the Nile Valley. That is not the case. Indeed, Luxor contains some of the most important archaeological sites in Egypt, and therefore it is swollen both with tourists and those people, in one form or another, working in the tourism industry. Hence, most visitors to Luxor love the the ancient sites, but are not particularly fond of the tourist experience in Luxor. In some respects, Luxor is not unlike an old gold rush town, where Egyptians come to pan for gold. Some of them have made fortunes here, but the stream is crowded with prospectors, many of whom are not all together familiar with how to pan the gold.

A Journey Through Time Our Tour Egypt Visit to Egypt, Part V by Jimmy Dunn

As our small tour left Luxor for Sharm el-Sheikh, the airport in Luxor was not nearly as crowded as the one in Cairo, but still there was a considerable number of people at the counters. Again, Misr Travel obtained our boarding passes for us, as we cleared through security, making the flight a little less tedious. Its really a short flight to Sharm el Sheikh, and we left at five in the afternoon, after our early morning balloon ride. To me, that was really great timing, because my favorite part of visiting Sharm is the nightlife. I love the animations, the singers and various other shows going on up and down the boardwalk (promenade). The next day seemed to pass rapidly, even though most of us did nothing except hang out on the beach and suntan.

AETBI, What it is and How Does it Work: The Best Way to Travel to Egypt by Jimmy Dunn

I think that it might be important for our readers, particularly those planning on traveling to Egypt, to understand exactly what the AETBI is, as well as how it functions, because many people might be surprised. AETBI stands for the "Association of Egyptian Travel Businesses on the Internet", and our members include some of the largest, most respected travel companies, including the largest tour operators in Egypt, as well as many reputable tour organizers in other countries that deal with Egyptian tours specifically. They are all specialized in Egyptian travel, and regardless of their size, we charge each of these businesses a flat $300 per year membership to belong to the association.

All About Hotels in Egypt by Jimmy Dunn

Somewhere in Egypt, there is a man carrying around a magic book that explains how hotels are to be ranked. That is, how many stars they should be given.  Though we have often tried to track down this guy and his book, we have never managed to find him.  We've asked hotels and we have asked the Ministry of Tourism, and others, but this information seems to be very elusive. What we can say is that were we to construct a hotel using the finest fixtures with whirlpool baths, king size beds with silk sheets and and fine bedspreads, decorating the halls and rooms with original fine art, and serve cuisine created by a famous chef, we might achieve no more then a three star rating.

Baksheesh: Egyptian Tipping by Joyce Carta

In the West, we call it "tipping" or "service." But those words don't fully express the breadth of flexibility and purpose of the practice known as "baksheesh." Egypt appears to run on baksheesh and the protocol of the practice becomes evident quite quickly once in the country. Basically, there are three kinds of baksheesh

Birding in Egypt by Tearabel Terry

Historical travel represents a very old tradition in Egypt. People have been "touring" Egypt's historical sites actually since ancient times. However, there is another very traditional type of travel to Egypt. For certainly the past 150 years, people have been visiting Egypt to bird watch, and with Egypt's expanding national park system, it is likely that this activity will become even more popular. Today, a number of well known tour companies, such as Travel Egypt offer specific birding tours to Egypt. Birds have played an important role in Egypt history, especially their ancient religion where some of the earliest and most important gods, such as Horus, were thought to manifest themselves in various birds. 

Booking Trains, Buses and Ferries Independent of Tours by Jimmy Dunn

Most tour and travel operators will not book trains, busses and ferries independent of a tour. There is not much profit margin for simply booking these services along. However, after querying our tour and travel operators, we have found a few who will make such arrangements.

The Boozer's Guide to Egypt by Seif Kamel

Budget and Independent Travel to Egypt - Part 1 by Jimmy Dunn

We work to make a trip to Egypt a lifetime experience possible for everyone by pointing out how go as inexpensive as possible.  Find out all our secrets, our favorite budget establishments and much more. The first part covers travel to Egypt and your visit to Cairo.  Part two will cover the remainder of Egypt except for the Red Sea and Sinai, which will be presented in part three.

Budget and Independent Travel to Egypt - Part II by Jimmy Dunn

We work to make a trip to Egypt a lifetime experience possible for everyone by pointing out how go as inexpensive as possible.  Find out all our secrets, our favorite budget establishments and much more. The first part covers travel to Egypt and your visit to Cairo.  Part two cover the remainder of Egypt except for the Red Sea and Sinai, which will be presented in part three.

Budget and Independent Travel to Egypt - Part III by Jimmy Dunn

We work to make a trip to Egypt a lifetime experience possible for everyone by pointing out how go as inexpensive as possible.  Find out all our secrets, our favorite budget establishments and much more. The first part covers travel to Egypt and your visit to Cairo.  Part two cover the remainder of Egypt except for the Red Sea and Sinai, which is presented in part three.

Children on Tour in Egypt, Part I by Jimmy Dunn

Children on Tour in Egypt, Part II by Jimmy Dunn

A Classical Egyptian Tour Primer Part I: Background by Jimmy Dunn

To a large extent, Egyptian tours are not so very complicated, but it can seem that way because of the seemingly thousands of companies offering them. With regards to Egypt, classical tours are basically antiquities tours that visit various site in Egypt that have often been popular with tourists since classical times. Typical, classical tours almost all hit the same major spots, with with minor tourist attractions making up their largest variations. Originating in Cairo due to the international airport there, one usually spends a few days either at the beginning, at the end or split between the beginning and end exploring Cairo's heritage. From Cairo they go south, usually to Luxor or Aswan, but one way or the other visiting both cities. Sometimes they include a Nile Cruise in this arrangement. They will frequently visit a few of the other temples above Luxor, between Luxor and Aswan, and just below Aswan.

A Classical Egyptian Tour Primer Part II: Destinations by Jimmy Dunn

Almost all classical tours originate in Cairo, which is always an overnighter. In other words, even if one plans only to take a Nile Cruise and nothing else, the tour company will, with certainty, arrange for a night's stay in Cairo, assuming that is the first stop in Egypt. There are some other options. A few flights come into Luxor to begin cruises, but that is very unusual. Other tourists who come to Egypt primarily for beach vacations at Hurghada, El-Gouna or Sharm el-Sheikh often arrive by charter plane, and may add a classical tour of some nature to their beach vacation. But otherwise, for almost all classical tourists (tourists who come to Egypt to visit the antiquity sites), Cairo continues to be by far the most common landing point in Egypt.

A Classical Short Tour of Egypt by Jimmy Dunn

Sometimes it would seem that we present so much information that new travelers to Egypt, seeking a classical tour, may be overwhelmed. There are so many sites to see and things to do in Egypt that a relatively short trip may seem impossible. Our coverage of Egypt is extensive, but in this Special Edition, we will outline the hot spots of a classical tour, and why the areas are so important.

Cruising the Nile by Jimmy Dunn

A first time visitor to Egypt who wants a classical (pharaonic antiquities) experience would do well to book a Nile cruise. Of course modern airlines shuttle tourists to the southern region of Egypt, but historically the Nile cruise was really the only way to visit the temples and tombs located along this stretch of the river. It is still a popular means of visiting upper Egypt and has many advantages to other means of travel. 

Cruising To Egypt by Jimmy Dunn

One of the only practical ways to visit Egypt these days, outside of arriving by air, is on a cruise ship. Sure, there are land routes and other possibilities, but most of these for many visitors are not really much of an option. Many Mediterranean Cruises visit Egypt, though we can make a distinction to those that visit the country very casually, together with a number of other countries, as opposed to those that provide more in-depth tours. By casual, we mean cruises that stop in one or only a couple of Egyptian ports for usually very short durations of not more than a day or two, as opposed to those that include a more complete tour. For many of the casual tours, not much will be seen of Egypt's greatest wonders but there are more extensive cruises that include Egypt.

Egypt - Not Just a Vacation, It's the Trip of a Lifetime.  by Paul Groffie

Argument aside, there is a difference between a vacation and the trip of a lifetime. According to the Merriam Webster’s Collegiate Dictionary a vacation is defined as "a period spent away from home or business in travel or recreation." A trip is simply defined "to make a journey."

In my opinion, there is no greater journey that could be made than a trip to Egypt. ...

Egypt's Ancient Dahabeeyahs Sailing into Egypt's Victorian Past by Jimmy Dunn

Recently, there can be seen upon the Nile ghosts from a bygone time when Victorian travelers first began to explore this ancient land as tourists. Those were magical times when modern archaeological methods had yet to uncover many of Egypt's ancient mysteries. Today, Egyptian Nile cruisers have evolved into floating hotels with all the amenities, including swimming pools, hot tubs, in-room videos and even internet access. Many of these boats are exceptional and elegant, but they all have as their common ancestor the Dahabeeyah (Dahabia).

Feluccas, Egypt's Traditional Sailboats by Heba Fatteen Bizzari

Feluccas are the traditional sailboats of Egypt's Nile. Egyptians and foreigners alike enjoy a relaxing felucca ride, as they are perfect for catching the breeze on a hot summer night, for brisker sails the rest of the year and watching the sunset anytime. They are ideal for an impromptu party after work, a romantic evening, and for soothing the tots on the weekends. It is not unusual for friends to get together and rent a felucca for an hour or two for a small social gathering. Such gatherings may not do much sailing at all, but simply sit in a quiet cove where everyone can enjoy the lights on the banks and the river traffic.

First Descent of the Nile by Jane Akshar

There are not many ‘first’ left for the modern day explorer in this day and age so it was with great excitement that Luxor witnessed a ‘first’ on April 16th, 2004. This was an exploration team of modern day Indiana Jones making the First Descent of the Nile from source to sea. The team is headed by Pasquale Scaturro http://www.pvsnet.com/ and Gordan Brown http://www.gordonbrown.net/ and they have navigated the Nile from Ehtopia through Sudan and finally in to Egypt. They have faced many dangers along the way.

Getting to Egypt by Sea or Land by Jimmy Dunn

We frequently receive requests for information about ferry transportation to Egypt, and over the years, we have often attempted to find this sort of transportation, but to no avail. We did not confine our searches to the internet, but also talked to people in Alexandria and other ports. We were sometimes told that ferries from Europe and other origins did come to Egypt, but we could never get any details. Of course, maritime travel was at one time about the only way to get to Egypt, but today, due to the economy of airlines, available resources for sea travel to Egypt is limited. Still, there are those who would sometimes like to bring a vehicle to Egypt, which even with a ferry service can be daunting. Now, due to the Greek Olympics, which are expected to provide a boost to tourism in that country, we decided to look again.

Haggling is Part of the Fun in Egyptian Markets by Adel Murad

There are many tourists who are not used to the concept of negotiating deals or haggling over prices, but these skills are part of the fun of shopping in Egypt and may be useful in other places too.

Hantoor (Carriage) Rides by Heba Fatteen Bizzari

Some ancient methods of transportation seem to be infinite. They still enjoy their status and preference in the hearts of all Egyptians who enjoy the ride despite its ancient origins. The Hantoor (Plural: Hantoors) Rides or the Horse Carriage Rides can be easily spotted making their way down modern streets in Egypt, particularly in places like Luxor. They multiply extensively during the summertime when children, families and foreigners go out during their vacations to enjoy the light breeze at night. Despite the jamming of streets with the most fashionable cars, the Hantoor is found throughout Egypt, fully decorated with colored threads and their drivers, braiding the heavy traffic as they transport their customers from one part of the city to another.

Happy Mediums by Jimmy Dunn

Historical Hotels in Egypt - Part IV by Jimmy Dunn

This month we explore the history of another Sofitel Hotel, the Cecil in Alexandria, along with the exquisite El-Salamlek Palace Hotel, also in Alexandria.  This will finish up our series on Historical Hotels in Egypt.

Independent Travel to Egypt by Jimmy Dunn

An Israeli in Egypt by Gideon Bider

Newspaper headlines are screaming out the warnings: Don't travel to Turkey or Egypt on Passover. I don't mean to argue with these important people, but it seems only right to share with the public my impressions from a private visit I made three weeks ago to Egypt. My 25-year-old daughter completed her studies for a university degree and we decided to celebrate the event with a trip to Egypt. I was there over 20 years ago; my daughter was familiar only with the Sinai coast. We reserved tickets on a flight from Ben-Gurion Airport to Cairo, with a return flight a week later, and also reserved a three-star hotel in Cairo for the first two days.

Live From the Longchamps by Jimmy Dunn

Well, its off to Egypt for me. It's interesting how many people, upon finding out that I spend much of my time writing about Egypt, ask me if I have ever traveled there. Of course, the answer is, "more times than I can count", but after having experienced a serious illness last year, it has now been far too long since my last visit. I do love Egypt and particularly Cairo, so I am eagerly awaiting this trip. I have many friends there I need to catch up with, and of course, I will be exploring both archaeological and touristic sites for future Tour Egypt Articles.

First of all, sorry for the delay in what I hoped would be uninterrupted stories during my stay in Egypt. I had a few small internet problems along the way. Finally day one back in Cairo, live from the Longchamps. Well, ok, its not day one, for I arrived late yesterday, and I'm not too sure how well the term, "live" applies to me right now, even though I did get some sleep. I had also meant to file a story on Monday from New York, but unfortuately, the the hotel where I stayed had no real internet services.

Well, today I am completely alive, as well as being settled in at the Hotel Longchamps. I have the internet situated and I have retrieved my bag from the airport. Need I say what a hassle that was? But all is done now and tomorrow I will begin to do some of the antiquity and other research that was the part of the purpose of this trip. Mostly, I will be investigating sites that are a little less well know, particularly in and about Cairo. Very regrettably, I missed heading out to Saqqara with Egyptologist Stephen Harvey today for a visit to some of the new tombs, but I had intentions of doing that on my own anyway.

Today, a black smoke cloud shrouded the Cairo sun. It was almost as if Cairo itself was ablaze, but in reality it the fire was very contained and not nearly as large as it appeared to be. The day actually started out being a little chilly, and stayed that way. I awoke looking for trouble, deciding I would simply take a black and white taxi out to Saqqara to do the research I had in mind. Of course, taxis are no trouble, but they are not the easiest way to see the sites, and finding one back to Cairo can be a problem, and with no guide or Egyptian companion, I was bound to experience a few problems, but really, I do such things so that I can tell tourists what not to do. Unfortunately (or fortunately), there are too many good people in Cairo.

Past vegetable stands, carpet schools, sometimes strange and sometimes wonderful villas, I made my way to Saqqara today to do some research, take some pictures and pay some baksheesh. Its true, one can probably still climb the great pyramid if enough money is handed to the right person, and one can certainly take a few photos in tombs in the shadow great big signs saying 'no photos. The Mastaba of Niankhkhnum and Khnumhotep was discovered in 1964. I am told that this tomb is unique, being the burial of two men, who officially were brothers, and possibly twins. They were Prophets of Ra in the Sun Temple of Niuserre and Heads of the Manicurists of the Great House.

Who comes to Egypt just to sit in an office all day? What sort of fun is that? Unfortunately, I do, and very frequently. Today was spent like that, as will the better part of tomorrow. Luckily, I should soon finish this business and be back to exploring Egypt. Before I leave, it is very likely that I will find myself in several interesting locations that even I have not visited in the past. It has taken considerable work to get the products in our Virtual Khan el-Khalili all worked out and shipments the way we wish. The first problem is uniformity.

Unfortunately, I spend my seventh day in Cairo working in an office, but on the Eighth, I visited the Khan el-Khalili, a must for all new tourists to Egypt, but perhaps more of a necessary evil for me. Of course, for those unfamiliar with it, this is a famous bazaar in Cairo which is just about always on the itinerary of standard Egyptian tours. I have visited every corner of it in the past and really prefer to shop elsewhere these days, though there are always some interesting items to be found in the Khan. In fact, that is why I went today, to find new products for our on-line store.

I am going to begin this report with a few notations. First of all, I stated the other day that hotels could not take local currency for payment. This is not entirely true. They can take local currency provided that one can show a receipt from an official Egyptian bank for an exchange of currency from foreign to local. This is actually an old law that is just now being enforced. I suspect that this has a great deal to do with Egypt's removal from a list of countries where money laundering is a problem. Note that one may pay for hotels using most foreign currencies and by credit card. Note also that this applies both to the room charges, as well as to other subsidiary charges such as telephone bills.

Today, of course, is Sunday and therefore I decided to attend a church service. Many people traveling to Egypt take religious tours due to Egypt's biblical connections and the large number of ancient churches and monasteries. In fact, the Egyptian government has encouraged these types of tours by developing tourism around the route of the Holy Family in Egypt. Hence, it is also likely that many of these tourists might enjoy visiting a modern church service in Egypt and perhaps even visit with local Christians.

Live from the Hotel Longchamps Days Seventeen And Eighteen by Jimmy Dunn

Yesterday was my last full day in Egypt. As some of our regular readers may have figured out by now, calling this "Days Seventeen and Eighteen" is not exactly accurate. I've been in Egypt almost three weeks now, and somewhere along the way, some days were lost. That happens in Egypt. Perhaps because Egypt is rather timeless, it is easy to loose track of time and indeed, somewhere I seem to have lost a few days.

Live and Well and Back in the USA After My Three Weeks in Egypt by Jimmy Dunn

Arrived today after flying for two days. I think I am in Texas, as there is no chamber-maid service and it is a bit too quiet. Although I did not tell anyone that I am back, the guys from interoz are on the cell-phone and MK tracked me down from NY... Actually, Adel Murad wrote that for me on the BBS, anticipating my return. For those who are just now visiting Tour Egypt, I have been in Egypt for the last three weeks gathering new research and working on other business, and have just now returned home.

Strolling along on the western Nile side of Zamalek, near 26th of July, I happened upon RugArt. The carpets that caught my attention in the tasteful storefront windows where only a hint of the wonder world I found inside. Of course, carpets are a big business in the Middle East, sought after in the west, but frankly I have never been much of a fan of oriental carpets, which are usually a bit busy for my taste. However, these carpets were definitely not oriental in design. Some where square or rectangular, but others were freestyle designs.

It was not long ago that I was in Egypt, and it does not take long for me to miss her. I arrived back from Egypt only a couple of months ago after spending three weeks, mostly in Cairo at the Hotel Longchamps and unfortunately mostly working, but also having my spirit rejuvenated. Egypt does that for me, I think, because of its vitality and the friendliness and accommodating Egyptian people. To me, an American, after having visited Egypt more times than I can count, it still seems strange that my fellow countrymen often express concern about traveling to this lovely country, so old and yet so full of life.

Loading the Itinerary for an Egyptian Tour by Jimmy Dunn

In a country where medieval monuments are sometimes hardly even considered as ancient; where great monuments to civilization were built, and abandoned even while Old World cultures remained to be awakened; where Christianity first intermingled and then replaced paganism, it is not difficult to become overpowered by Egypt's possibilities. In fact, it is common for tourists to Egypt to overload themselves and their itineraries with virtually impossible expectations, given the length of their stay in the country. Even good, standard packaged tours to Egypt usually have crowded schedules and due to competition and the novice tourist's desire to get their money's worth, there is always some pressure to fill the visitor's plate beyond its capacity.

Love on the Nile by Mark Antoine

Most people go to Egypt for the Antiquities, but Egypt is a romantic setting, and it is no surprise that a number of famous lovers have cruised the Nile with less interest in the monuments than each other. Today Egypt remains a place which inspires love.

Mr. Mohamed Arabi: The "Bird Man" of Aswan by Dr. Susan L.Wilson

"Birders," nature lovers, and people looking for a unique photo op, take note. I found an absolute "must do" in Aswan. 

The Hotel Association has adopted a great new Hotel Ranking System bsed on international standards that tourists need to understand 

The Nile Bus by Seif Kamel

Nile Cruises by Jimmy Dunn

The Nile has always, and will probably always be a travel corridor for Northern Africa. While the River itself flows to the North, into the Mediterranean Sea, the prevailing winds along the Nile are to the South.  Therefore, for at least the last 5,000 years, the Nile has been a great route, with boats drifting North, and raising their sails for the return trip upriver. And unlike many other rivers, the population and building activities are all concentrated along the Nile, as the land quickly becomes inhospitable only a few miles east or west of it, for the most part. So dominant is the river that the two ancient sections of Egypt are, confusingly for most people, called Upper Egypt and Lower Egypt.  Upper Egypt is actually Southern Egypt, because it is "up river", while Northern Egypt is Lower because it is down river.

Nile Cruising on the Mirage by Jimmy Dunn 

A good Nile cruise is one of the best ways to visit the main antiquity sites in Egypt, and is especially attractive to first time visitors. These modern, floating hotels have a number of advantages, not the least of which is the concept of having your hotel go on the tour with you, thus avoiding packing and unpacking, hassling with airports or other transport, and being able to do the required traveling in complete comfort. Another advantage is that these ships are often more intimate then large hotels, allowing passengers to get to know each other. In fact, entertainment directors aboard work to accomplish that exactly.

On the Trail of the Exodus Adopted from A Travel Egypt Tour by Jimmy Dunn Originally Written by Terry McKandree

Exodus tours may take many forms, but as with most visits to Egypt, they usually begin in Cairo, simply because this is where most tourists enter the country.  Typically, the tour might begin in Old Cairo where one will see the famous churches and synagogues including.

Optimal Travel to Egypt by Jimmy Dunn

Most, or at least many people plan their vacation to Egypt well in advance. And this is an excellent time to talk a few close friends or family members into making the journey with you, thereby creating your own small group. By gathering a small group of 10 to 20 friends and relatives, a custom itinerary becomes much more viable.  Certainly there must be custom planning on the part of the tour operator, but guides, tour managers and transportation and even hotel arrangements can become a lot more reasonable. And, of course, what could be better then a close group of people sharing such a trip, not only while in Egypt, but after their return home.

Our Upcoming Tour of Egypt (November 2004) by Jimmy Dunn

Egypt calls, but that's nothing new. I always miss Egypt when I am back home in Texas, and there is only one way to fix that. Therefore, I will be returning at the end of November (2004). This, however, will be a very unusual trip. First of all, I am taking a small group of Tour Egypt employees and supporters who have never been to Egypt. They are all excited, which makes planning the tour more fun for me. Furthermore, I have never been to Egypt just for a vacation, but I mostly plan on enjoying this visit, including spending some time with my good friends who live there.

An Overview of Egyptian Tourism by Jimmy Dunn

This is an exciting time in Egyptian tourism, with many positive changes occurring that make the experience more pleasurable, while at the same time, providing new and adventurous choices. It has also proven to be perhaps the safest period for Egyptian tourism since the early 20th Century. It is also an excellent time to visit Egypt because of the current exchange rates, which are highly favorable at this point in time. So if you have ever wanted to take that vacation of a lifetime to one of the most exotic locations on earth, now is the time.

Religious Tours to Egypt by Jimmy Dunn

Tourists go to Egypt for many reasons. Obviously, there are the classical tours, which visit ancient sites, perhaps even including a few religious monuments. They also go to beaches, or even nature tours, for example. But many such visits, such as beach vacationing, require little planning and are not complex. Classical tours require more thought, as do purely religious tours. Religious tours actually take many different forms. However, we do not usually think of visits to ancient Egyptian temples as a religious tour, but rather classical. Religious tours usually involve visits to Christian, Jewish or Islamic sites.

A Survey of Egypt by Jimmy Dunn

I am heading back to Egypt in September, for what I hope to be one of my most ambitious expeditions ever.

One of my main interests in traveling to Egypt this time was to asses the issue of Safety for Western travelers. Find out what I learned.

Ramadan is a good time to visit Egypt, but it can present a few problems that can easily be gotten around with a little planning.

During our first actual day on the Road for the Survey, we traveled from Cairo to Wadi el-Natrun and then on to Tanta, a very enjoyable trip.

The second day on the road of our Survey we saw some magical countryside, several archaeological sites, including Buto and an important monastery.

Alexandria was once considered hardly worth visiting, but today the city is coming into its own with many new attractions

Today, there is more in Alexandria than one might expect. In fact, we could have easily used a few more days here on our survey.

The trip from Alexandria to Port Said was interesting, though not exactly what I expected, but still a good trip.

This was our final day in the Delta on this part of the Survey, and it was also my birthday! We would have one day to rest before heading to the Sinai.

This day, October 3rd, we set out early in the morning for the Sinai, and our first stop night that we would spend in El-Arish, a well known resort but with few foreign tourists.

Today on the Survey, we finally got back into some familiar territory, the resort region of the Sinai along the East Coast, and we also met up with some old friends.

Survey of Egypt, Part XI: Southern Sinai Interior by Jimmy Dunn

The Southern Sinai Interior is truly majestic, and really for the next several days, we will be exploring this area which seems surprisingly full of Christian and other monuments.

This would be a hard day, climbing Mount Sinai, and a long one too as we afterwards moved on to Sharm el-Sheikh, but of course that was a very pleasant way to end a long day.

One must be a bit more careful than I was in the Sinai wilderness on this particular day, as I succumbed to stupidity and almost paid the ultimate price.

Therapeutic Tourism to Egypt by The Egyptian Government 

Egypt's tourist products are now so diverse that it has become a year round destination from many countries. Besides archeological and religious tourism, there are sea resorts, international conferences and exhibitions, incentive travel, art, cultural, sport festival and shopping tourism. Therapeutic tourism is an obvious outcrop of the tourist product diversification policy. Egypt possesses a wide range of rich physical features, including many hot springs. According to scientific research, clay found in these springs has therapeutic properties that can cure numerous bone, skin, kidney, respiratory diseases and other problems. Also, the Red Sea water with its chemical composition and abundance of coral reefs helps to cure various forms of psoriasis.

Touring With the Young, and Not-So-Young by Jimmy Dunn

More and more, whole families are vacationing in Egypt, and that means bringing along children of all ages. So, I wanted to know a little more about how this works out, for both parents and kids. And the answer is...pretty well! Everyone came home happy, from a memorable and enjoyable trip. But we, as a family, made a few discoveries along the way.

Tours to the Pyramids of Egypt by Jimmy Dunn

There exists, for Egypt, very standard tours that are offered by practically every tour operator. These are the antiquity tours that last anywhere between about five and fourteen days, and make their way up and down the Nile River, visiting pyramids and other tombs, temples, museums and various other "standard" sites. They are the type of tour that most first time, classical tourists take when they visit Egypt. Depending on their length, they make their way to most of the important antiquity sites, but whether long or short, all of them include the Giza Plateau, which is understandable. It would be rare indeed for a first time tourist to Egypt who did not wish to see the Great Pyramids located on the Giza Plateau. After all, they are the most famous man made structures in the world, and have been for thousands of years.

The Egyptian Traveler's Survival Kit by Jimmy Dunn

Egypt is a sophisticated and modern country, and most anything that you need may be purchased in Egypt. But providing that you do not wish to purchase such things as shoes in Egypt, and that other items may be difficult to find, or very expensive, we have compiled a checklist of some of the more important items you may wish to carry with you. This list may seem rudimentary for the seasoned traveler, but for many making a first time trip to Egypt, it may prevent problems.

Traveling by Train in Egypt by Dr. Susan Wilson and Mr. Medhat A-Monem

Used to super fast bullet trains that hurtle you through the countryside at breakneck speeds? Slow down, live a little, experience the leisure of Egypt's trains! Escape the commercialism of tourist kiosks! Egyptian trains are safe, relaxing, comfortable, and an economical way to feel the sights, sounds, and smells of Egypt.

Types of Travel to Egypt by Jimmy Dunn

Jimmy Dunn explores they various reasons people go to Egypt, and the different types of travel. From classical tours to golf holidays, from scuba diving to exotic bird watching, there are many reasons people travel to Egypt and we eliminate much of the confusion about what to do and where to go.

Package Tours Vs. Independent Tours: Which is Best for You? By Jimmy Dunn

We at Tour Egypt have often promoted independent travel to Egypt, and we will continue to do so. Particularly for well-informed and experienced travelers, an independent trip to Egypt can be fun and fulfilling. But for many visitors, this is not the best way to visit Egypt, and for many more, it will certainly not be the least expensive way to view the country. For the first or second time visitor to Egypt, a guided package tour will work be much more satisfactory. There are several reasons for this.

We have just returned from a wonderful holiday to Egypt. We wanted something different, so after many hours on the internet and the Tour Egypt web site, I found in a tiny corner, Delta Tours, offering holidays with an Egyptian host family. We communicated by e-mail, sent a family photograph and paid a deposit. Through many e-mails, we knew before we left England that the family had three boys, much the same ages as our own children (Toby 17 and Megan 14). There was also no problem tweaking our 13 day itinerary so that we would be able to fit in all the things we wanted to see and do.

Sound and Light Shows throughout Egypt by Jimmy Dunn

One of the questions that often comes up on Tour Egypt concerns the Sound and Light shows, particularly at the Pyramids and Luxor. What many do not know is that their are also sound and light shows at Philae and Abu Simbel, and soon, there will also be Sound and Light shows at the Citadels both in Cairo and Taba (Sinai). 

Understanding Egypt Oriented Travel Companies by Jimmy Dunn 

It doesn't hurt for a prospective tourist to Egypt to have a little understanding about the various types of travel companies who work with Egyptian tourism. In fact, understanding these companies can prevent problems. For one thing, these companies have vastly different capabilities and experience.  Tourists who are selecting an organized tour to Egypt do so for a number of reasons, but it is important to realize that for almost all of them, they seek the safety and comfort of being lead through the process of their tour by someone who will take care of them throughout the trip. The tourist, after all, is going to what they often perceive as a strange and distant land. There are basically four types of travel companies in the United States that send tourists to Egypt, plus one other type which exists in a number of European markets. In addition, various tour companies may straddle one type or another. Each type of travel company has certain advantages, and the purpose of this article is not to elude to one type as being better then another.

Western Desert Adventures by Jimmy Dunn

The Yellow Cabs of Cairo by Sarah Corringham

While it may not seem significant to some, the new low pollution yellow cabs of Cairo are a welcome addition, with their meters and air conditioning

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