Turkey and Egypt?
 

We have two weeks for Turkey and were considering a quick trip to see the pyramids. The only feedback we've had has been negative. "danger...travel is too involved...not worth it"
Seeing the pyramids is an event, but if it's too much...
thnx

I had a day trip to the pyramids about 5 years ago when I was on a cruise ship that stopped for a day in Egypt. I thought if only I could see the pyramids and sphinx I would be satisfied that I have seen Egypt. However, it just made me want to see the rest of Egypt, so I am planning a trip to Egypt for 2 weeks in Jan. 2006. I never felt unsafe there, in fact, I felt a lot more unsafe in Istanbul than Cairo.

How is it too involved? You can get your visa upon arrival at the airport for only $15. I'm not sure I understand that part of your question. In any case, you might also post this question in the Africa section if you have not done so already.

I really enjoyed Egypt, although there were some challenges in certain aspects -- mainly being a single Western woman. I understand from reading and from more recent visitors that it has gotten considerably more conservative religiously since I was there in the 1980s, also.

In any case -- the travel isn't involved, what do you mean? It might be to go some places, but the main pyramids are right on the edge of Cairo in Giza. In fact, I stayed in a nice hotel very near them, they were just down the road a bit -- the Hotel Oberoi was where I would have liked to stay if I could afford it and is very near them. Cairo is a large city and there is no problem visiting it in terms of accommodations and planning, that's for sure.

I haven't kept up on the latest travel warnings, so you'll have to read them yourself. But it is not involved or that difficult to go to Cairo and just visit there a couple days to see the pyramids, Sphinx, maybe the Egyptian Antiquities museum for main sites, there are many others (a mosque, Khan el Khalili bazaar, the Citadel,)-- and I would recommend a side trip just outside to see Memphis and Saqqara if one had the time.

If you only want a couple days there, stick to the basics in Cairo--pyramids, sphinx, museum. I was with a tour group, but there are probably local companies for day tours that a hotel can recommend, if you don't want to plan or figure out how to do these things on your own, or prefer a group. In Egypt, I did prefer to have a local guide handle arrangements and things for the main sites, and think it makes things easier and safer in some ways.

I certainly think these incredible historical sites were worth it.

I also suggest you go over to the Africa board for more info on Egypt.

Check out the Africa board as suggested. I long to go to Egypt and do check the board and others. There are a lot of people traveling to Egypt and they all report that they felt safe while there. I'm sure you'll get the answers you seek.

I just returned last Friday from 2 weeks in Egypt. I felt perfectly safe. Don't hesitate to go--you will miss an experience of a lifetime.

Hi, crefloors. If you long to go to Egypt, why not just go? I'm going in January 2006 with Imaginative Traveller. Can't wait!!

Felicia, did you go with a group or on your own? Please tell us more about your trip :-)

Thanks.

There are plenty of duirect non stop flights from Istanbul to Cairo, easy. Takes about 2 hrs. Can't imagine why anyone could say it's too involved!

Thanks for the responses. I think we'll wait to buy tickets when we arrive in Istanbul and go to Egypt for a few days.