Cairo in late July - am I crazy?
 

Have to be in Cairo in late July for meetings starting Monday late afternoon or Tuesday morning. At the moment, am booked to fly out on Monday midmorning from Zurich, so far so good.

Now here's the dilemma: have never been to Egypt and don't know how soon I'll be back - am sorely tempted to fly out on Saturday already, in order to take in the Egyptian Museum and the pyramids, would have from Saturday evening to Monday at noon to do so. A no-brainer at any other time of the year, but in the middle of the summer??

Would you go for it and if so, how would you handle the logistics? I will probably be staying at the Conrad hotel or reasonably nearby.

Thanks in advance for your words of wisdom!

My first visit to Cairo was an August business trip, and frankly, while it was hot, it was not unbearably so. I took taxis, generally w/o a/c, but I didn't find the heat stifling. I even flew to Luxor on that trip, which is much hotter than Cairo, and it was packed with tourists. You won't be the only tourist in Cairo in July.

It's hot in the 90s or low 100s, but if that's the only time you have, then it is. The Conrad is well situated for the Museum and the Khan Khalili Bazaar. The Pyramids and Sphinx in Giza area are outdoors, so just be sure to have a hat, always have water with which is easily available and reasonably priced and SPF to protect any uncovered skin. You can arrange thru hotel a driver/guide to get you here.

Best to wear loose fitting clothing, no shorts for men or abbreviated clothing for women especially in Cairo proper.

Be aware that except for the Tut exhibit and the Mummy Rm, the Egyptian Museum is not air conditioned. Consider going early morning before the throngs of people and their body BTUs increase the already warm indoor temps. Enjoy!

We were there in late August last year, and while I wouldn't recommend that time of year, we too had no choice of dates. It was extremely hot, but only in Luxor did we find it somewhat brutal (I will recall our tour of Karnak Temple, actually my favorite of the "antiquities", for how hot it was -- maybe the hottest I've ever been in my life, and I've been in Palm Springs and in Phoenix in June!!). We drank a ton of water, wore loose clothing and hats, and survived! FWIW, there were loads of European and Japanese tourists (very few Americans) in Cairo when we were there.

Thanks for the replies!

Unfortunately, flying out on Saturday would have actually been significantly more expensive, so I've rule that out. However, it appears that our meetings will only start on Tuesday morning, so will try to get out to the pyramids on Monday evening - perhaps the sound and light show?

With a lot of luck, I can cram in the Egyptian Museum on Tuesday afternoon before my onward flight to the Red Sea - talk about going from the frying pan into the fire...

Sound and Light English showing on Monday night is at 8:30 pm

Be sure to take a car with you that will stay and wait for you, or sign up with AMEX or some such company for their tour of it so you aren't out there looking for a ride back into town when it is over. There will be taxis there ready to work, but they will take your first born for the ride back into town. They know you have few choices and will charge a lot.

Thanks for the tips, Casual_Cairo!

I have seen the Sound and Light shows at the Pyramids and Karnak, and they were, by very far, the two worst experiences I suffered in Egypt (but kids enjoyed them). If you are more than 12, I would skip it and have a nice dinner instead.

LOL thit_cho!

How late can one visit the pyramids in mid July before access becomes restricted or impractical due to darkness and/or the sound and light show?

I'm not sure if this is recommended, but the pyramids are unfenced and I was able to rent a horse and visit "after hours" -- around dusk when it was quiet. We went in "around the back" and it was great -- the local guides found me and suggested this. Even though I was disappointed in the Sound and Light, its the only show in town if you're in Giza -- but you really don't see the pyramids, just lasers tracing patterns on them. I've also rented a horse and gone in after hours on return trips. I'm sure this could raise problems, but it seemed simple.

Going in through the back fence by horse or camel used to be something you could do, but no more. The police have their cameras up and working and lights all up and down the fence and they must have threatened the guards with their life if they take backsheesh and let people in. It's a whole different ball game any more.

Andre - to answer your question - they will close at 5 in the summer. I think they will surely flush everyone out by 6.

Casual_Cairo, thanks for that update. I have snuck in since 2001 (and had also done so in 1997 and 1998). I had paid during the day, but wanted to visit around dusk when quieter. I'm not surprised they closed that route.