egyptwondering

Hi -
I was unable to get any feedback over at tripadvisor so thought I'd try this site. My family of 6 (3 children ages 8, 10 and 11) will be in Cairo in February. Before heading down to Luxor, we're thinking about a short desert safari. Any feedback for us if we only want to do 2 nites/1 day? Is the travel time worthwhile? The white desert looks amazing - if I hire a well equipped guide, will the children be able to sleep on the way? Is the road incredibly bumpy or well maintained? Any thoughts would be much appreciated -

sunshine007

The White esert is great. In February it can be quite cold in the desert--both at night and during the day. OR daytime can be quite warm/hot. So, you need to bring cold weather clothes.

Not sure why you want your children to sleep "on the way." Do you mean on the road from Cairo? It's paved. I don't remember it being bumpy. But your kids should look at the scenery. Once you're out of Cairo/Giza it's open country.

If "on the way" means from the main road to the White Desert, it's quite bumpy but your kids definitely won't want to sleep.

egyptwondering

Thanks for the response - I just have a feeling that the kids will be EXHAUSTED and I'm hoping to slip in some "down time" while traveling. Can you advise on a guide to work with?

sunshine007

I can recommend two desert guides: Magdi Hanna at: Adventuregypt.com and Hany Amir at: desertadventures.com. Run their names in the search box and you'll find some entries where I've written about them. I've been on two trips with Magdi & am about to take my third in December and I know Hany has many satisfied ex-pat customers. Both will be good with children.

huladolphin

All my my white desert safaris (2) have been one night/two days, and they were some of the most amazing weekend getaways I experienced while in Egypt. Go! The road from Cairo to Baharayia (the oasis where all of the safaris leave from) is very flat, dull, and paved, and so is the road from the oasis to the desert. Of course, once you begin off-roading, it gets bumpy ;-) The kids could definitely sleep on the paved stuff.

Just be sure to hire a car to bring you from Cairo to to Baharayia and don't take the public bus. It won't be very expensive and will be much more pleasant. I'm sure sunshine's recommendations are excellent; otherwise any travel book also lists various companies that should suffice. Should be fun!

Laura

sunshine007

Huladolphin returns!

huladolphin

lol huladolphin misses Egypt and wishes she were back. Spring break perhaps? She does miss those taxi rides...Which, btw, every tourist should attempt for a true 'Egyptian' experience. The taxis are the preferred method of travel for most Egyptians, crazy ex-pats, and uninformed foreigners.

Laura