Extended (One Week +) Camel Trek?
Jan 24th, 2011, 10:10 PM
#1
Original Poster
Extended (One Week +) Camel Trek?
For her 60th birthday next year my wife wants to go on an extended desert camel trek, one of at least one week in length. Never mind if some of her friends and relatives think this is nuts.
She originally had Mongolia in mind but now we are considering Egypt for several reasons. An important one being that it seems February through April is a good time, and those are months we like to get out of Colorado.
A web search is turning up a number of companies and trips. The companies include Minamar Hotels and Travel, Egypt Adventures, Select Egypt, Tour Egypt, Camel Riding School Nuweiba, Badawiya Expeditions, Desert Eco Tours, among others.
Tour locations are either Sinai or the Western Desert / Great Sand Sea / White Desert. This is the extent of the brief research I've done so far. My questions:
1) Does anyone have familiarity with a trip like this? Comments?
2) Anyone used one of the above mentioned outfitters, or can recommend others?
3) Suggestions for Western Desert vs. Sinai?
If we do this it would be our first trip to Egypt. We would probably stay a total of 3 weeks which should be enough for the trek and to visit some of the more standard Nile Valley sights.
Thanks!
She originally had Mongolia in mind but now we are considering Egypt for several reasons. An important one being that it seems February through April is a good time, and those are months we like to get out of Colorado.
A web search is turning up a number of companies and trips. The companies include Minamar Hotels and Travel, Egypt Adventures, Select Egypt, Tour Egypt, Camel Riding School Nuweiba, Badawiya Expeditions, Desert Eco Tours, among others.
Tour locations are either Sinai or the Western Desert / Great Sand Sea / White Desert. This is the extent of the brief research I've done so far. My questions:
1) Does anyone have familiarity with a trip like this? Comments?
2) Anyone used one of the above mentioned outfitters, or can recommend others?
3) Suggestions for Western Desert vs. Sinai?
If we do this it would be our first trip to Egypt. We would probably stay a total of 3 weeks which should be enough for the trek and to visit some of the more standard Nile Valley sights.
Thanks!
Jan 25th, 2011, 02:32 PM
#2
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I sat on a camel and had enough after 10 minutes. I cannot imagine an "extended trek"! But each to their own. Good luck with your preparations.. thats half the fun.. the excitement and expectations!
Jan 25th, 2011, 06:11 PM
#4
Original Poster
Well as noted, some, or even most, of her acquaintances think this is nuts.
That said, this past fall we went on a three day wagon ride on the Oregon Trail from Sweetwater Station to South Pass in Wyoming. Neither of us ride horses, but she got on one and was totally comfortable. Rode the three days into a Wyoming head wind. (I have no idea how that compares to a camel in the desert).
I, on the other hand, elected to either ride in the wagon or walk briskly alongside. Both of us had a great time and the three days was not enough.
It's her birthday and she gets to choose the trip!
That said, this past fall we went on a three day wagon ride on the Oregon Trail from Sweetwater Station to South Pass in Wyoming. Neither of us ride horses, but she got on one and was totally comfortable. Rode the three days into a Wyoming head wind. (I have no idea how that compares to a camel in the desert).
I, on the other hand, elected to either ride in the wagon or walk briskly alongside. Both of us had a great time and the three days was not enough.
It's her birthday and she gets to choose the trip!
Jan 25th, 2011, 06:15 PM
#5
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Nelson - you are a good husband and a good sport!!! You're wife is one lucky lady!
If I mentioned this idea to my DH.....he would die of laughter. Even my "dream" of seeing Antarctica on my 50th (long gone) had him howling! Something about me being a delicate Southern belle....and boats.....and cold weather.......
In reality tho, riding a horse and riding a camel are just not the same thing. I hope Casual Cairo chimes in here, because from what I have heard (4 years in Egypt and I never got near a camel!) - it's not a really comfy ride!
If I mentioned this idea to my DH.....he would die of laughter. Even my "dream" of seeing Antarctica on my 50th (long gone) had him howling! Something about me being a delicate Southern belle....and boats.....and cold weather.......
In reality tho, riding a horse and riding a camel are just not the same thing. I hope Casual Cairo chimes in here, because from what I have heard (4 years in Egypt and I never got near a camel!) - it's not a really comfy ride!
Jan 25th, 2011, 06:20 PM
#8
Original Poster
Thanks Grc. That is a funny image of the Southern belle in Antarctica.
Most likely I'll contact of those companies, continuing asking around, and see how the vibes go.
She has done some crazy trips with me, by the way, like hiking for a week across the most remote part of Costa Rica, among others that most people would not consider fun...
Most likely I'll contact of those companies, continuing asking around, and see how the vibes go.
She has done some crazy trips with me, by the way, like hiking for a week across the most remote part of Costa Rica, among others that most people would not consider fun...
Jan 26th, 2011, 08:23 AM
#14
Original Poster
Too bad I did not record her last night, because she said it much better than I’ll paraphrase now, but the gist of it:
It will be unique, a way to connect with a slow pace of life unavailable where we live, remove us from our iPods and keyboards and devices stuck in our ears. It will get us in touch with the rhythms of nature that we have lost.
She did not mention a tushy massage.
Coincidentally, a friend of mine recently sent this quote, which, perhaps, captures her sentiment:
<i>Of the gladdest moments in human life, methinks, is the departure upon a distant journey into unknown lands. Shaking off with one mighty effort the fetters of Habit, the leaden weight of Routine, the cloak of many Cares and the slavery of Home, man feels once more happy. The blood flows with the fast circulation of childhood…...Afresh dawns the morn of life...</i>
Sir Richard Francis Burton, 1856
It will be unique, a way to connect with a slow pace of life unavailable where we live, remove us from our iPods and keyboards and devices stuck in our ears. It will get us in touch with the rhythms of nature that we have lost.
She did not mention a tushy massage.
Coincidentally, a friend of mine recently sent this quote, which, perhaps, captures her sentiment:
<i>Of the gladdest moments in human life, methinks, is the departure upon a distant journey into unknown lands. Shaking off with one mighty effort the fetters of Habit, the leaden weight of Routine, the cloak of many Cares and the slavery of Home, man feels once more happy. The blood flows with the fast circulation of childhood…...Afresh dawns the morn of life...</i>
Sir Richard Francis Burton, 1856
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