Egypt anyone?

[pdiaz]

Hi there,

My girlfriend and I are planning our next touring trip, we have 10 days in december and would like to go somewhere warm

We have this crazy idea of cycling along the Nile, starting in Cairo all the way down to Aswan. I've been reading and unfortunately it looks that is not that easy as they don't like foreigners going alone in that area (they are scared of terrorist attacks). Anyone can confirm this?

Another possibility would be to cycle the Sinai peninsula, has anyone done this? The scenery looks amazing but I'm not sure if we are "allowed" to cycle around without the police going crazy. Also I'm worried about the ride being a little bit dull (desert, desert and just desert all the way). Anybody here has done anything like this?

We are looking for a 1000km ride, with camping and the occasional cheap hotel when we are near civilization

Thanks a lot!

 

[yorkshiregoth]

I did Cairo to Hurghada and back last year over a period of 10 days. Brilliant experience, no problems at all from the locals, although I do speak the language which helps. The roads are not the best maintained and the traffic is a law unto itself, especially in Cairo. I will be going back in January for 3 weeks but will be staying in Cairo with day trips around Cairo on the bike this time round.

 

[pdiaz]

That's interesting, did you this on the Red Sea coast or following the Nile?

Thanks

I did Cairo to Hurghada and back last year over a period of 10 days. Brilliant experience, no problems at all from the locals, although I do speak the language which helps. The roads are not the best maintained and the traffic is a law unto itself, especially in Cairo. I will be going back in January for 3 weeks but will be staying in Cairo with day trips around Cairo on the bike this time round.

 

[jay clock]

Having been only to Cairo, I would say that cycling there would be ok. The roads are so snarled up that it never moves.

See here for someone who cycled there....

http://www.crazyguyonabike.com/doc/page/?o=3Tzut&page_id=69626&v=Wl

His story is worth reading from start to end

 

[yorkshiregoth]

It was along the coast for most of the ride.

 

[gratts]

Good grief, you brought up Egypt and didn't follow it later in the sentence with diving. I'm disappointed!

 

[pdiaz]

Thanks for the info! Unfortunately we couldn't book our flights (we found a good deal saturday morning, by afternoon it was gone and the cheapest alternative was double the price) so we are going to Morocco! The pyramids will last till next year, so no rush

 

[amaferanga]

Morocco will be way better for cycling anyway. Could be a bit cold and snowy in the Atlas (I went in March and the weather was perfect), but I'd definitely recommend you take to the lesser travelled roads if they're still passable.

 

[Kirstie]

I have read that in the south of egypt the authorities are so paranoid about terrorist attacks they are prepared to offer all tourist excursions etc an armed escort. Not sure of the implications of this for cycle tourists (4 guys with rifles following you around in a jeep?) but a good place to double check info is on the lonely planet forums.

 

[wafflycat]

WMnr did a couple of weeks on The Sinai Peninsula (conservation project) a couple of years ago, and his group had armed guards due to threat of terrorism. He really disliked Sharm El Sheikh due to place feeling as if it was overrun by touts hassling tourists in a less than friendly way. But he was only there to get on or off a plane. The rest of the time he was out at a national park base where Joe Public wasn't or out in the middle of the desert, based at a research station and then trekking off into the desert at night.

 

[Stan]

The armed escort provided to us didn't look as though they could fight their way out of a paper bag. Morroco (as previously suggested) or possibly Jordan are good alternatives.

 

[friedel]

Morocco is a great choice.

If we can help at all let us know, we have some info on our site but happy to answer any additional questions.

http://travellingtwo.com/resources/morocco