time at the pyramids

[sleepyjoe]

we are of to the pyramids next April and have read on here you don't get a lot of time there,

can any member recommend a tour operator in Egypt other than Thompson that will meet us at the ship.

thanks Joe

[jodanuke]

Would not reccoment it at all. Its about a 2 hour drive each way.

 

For a tour in mainland Europe, with the place you want to visit a shorter drive from the ship then yes.

 

If the Thomson tour is late back for some reason, the ship will wait for you all to return. Or in the event of a major delay, take you to the next port.

 

If you make your own arrangements, and are late back, you can wave the ship bye bye as it sails off without you...

[jenny wren]

I would agree it is not worth attempting a private tour in Egypt.....for a start you would probably not save much money as Thomson tours are very reasonably priced....secondly for the security aspect...the drive to Cairo is a long one (look on a map) and the coaches travel in convoy (we were coach nr 25 on our last trip) with each coach having a security guard..and a police escort who stop all the traffic on the side roads so that the convoy can travel at speed. The security guards walk around with the group giving extra security.

 

We went in March and had plenty of time at the pyramids...we wandered around for quite a while taking lots of photos and were then taken to another area to take photos from a distance and buy souvenirs...there is really nothing else to do other than take pictures and buy souvenirs, and perhaps go inside one of the pyramids ....but we had more than enough time to do this...then we were taken down to the Sphinx area and had more time there. It was actually very., very hot there so after we'd taken our photos we returned to the coach for some air conditioning !!!!:)

[jodanuke]

Did your guard carry a gun?

 

On our coach he had one of those small Uzi machine gun/pistol things:eek:

[sleepyjoe]

i asked because my wife has COPD she can walk but at her own pace with a lot of stops she would not be able to keep up with a organised tour.

Joe

[jodanuke]

She will be fine. First to Cairo museum - walk round with the guide, or on your own - then back to the meeting place outside at pre arranged time.

 

Pyramids and Sphynx the same - coach stops right at the attraction, do what you want - then back to coach at pre arranged time.

[sleepyjoe]

thanks as long as she is not rushed she will be allright.

Joe

[mtt]

We had a guard with a gun, he said he would use it too if he needed to, he'd stayed with us all day, the tour guide stayed in cairo

[jenny wren]

Did your guard carry a gun?

 

On our coach he had one of those small Uzi machine gun/pistol things:eek:

 

 

Yes they all seem to .....

 

Sleepyjoe...I'm sure your wife will be fine...you could just briefly explain to your guide so he/she is aware...you go very much at your own pace and if you can't cope with steps or what ever they will either give you a different route or suggest you wait there. There will be people of all abilities in each group, young, old, fit or infirm so don't worry :)

[sleepyjoe]

thank you to all who replied.

i think it will be Thompson tour because of the danger of doing it alone.

i would still like to know has anyone been with a outside tour operator in Egypt if so how did you get on.

thanks Joe

[wiltonjam]

Hi Sleepyjoe, my other half suffers from copd also and we have found the easiest thing to do is take a wheelchair with us for tours as that way we are not holding the rest of the group up, unless there are lots of stairs! This may not be suitable for you but it is an option. We don't use it on board the ship as we can take our time and make stops to get breath back when necessary. Just one word of warning the kerbs are very high in Egypt with no ramps. Hope this helps and enjoy your trip.

[mtt]

In egypt the ship use the countrys biggest tour company, and there was a guy in a wheelchair on one of our trips, the guides were great pushing the wheelchair and helping his family

[dreamracer2005]

Also with cairo traffic can really get bad and it can take 1-2 hours extra to exit cairo it only takes a small accident. The road out is like a 5 lane road but everyone goes where they want and the tourist bus's are able sometimes to make more progress as they value tourism unlike other mods of transport, also a lot of the cars out there are old so realiability may be a problem. I did the step pryamid, mephisis etc and the pyramids and had a meal at a hotel which was nice. at the pyramids myself and another walk with another couple as one of them was unable to walk fast and they did get bothered a little more by the people/kids trying to sell stuff, but just be firm and say no and they will go, its a poor country and people need the money.

 

Have fun I love Egpyt - 9 visit this year (been twice this year already!)

[goonersue]

You were lucky Jenny wren. Our police escort did nothing like yours. They were a bunch of 'youngies', who seemed to be taking the ++++ out of us. They seemed to be on a go slow, as other traffic was speeding past us. As for stopping traffic, so we could carry on our journey without stopping, you must be joking. The coach driver complained to them, but all he got was a load of abuse. Needless to say, we were all late back at the ship!!

 

Sue

[jenny wren]

Keep in mind that the Thomson tours are very reasonably priced and use the same tour company as the other cruiselines (our guide was a very knowledgeable Egyptologist) ...ours was at least a third less that an equivalent trip with Royal Caribbean at around £80.00 including lunch and a snack box......this is why you may notice American passengers tend to go for a private trip because their ships trips cost more. :)

[sleepyjoe]

thanks for all your encouragement and advice.

have looked at the tours there are so many in Egypt,

what is the best one to do to get value for money,

read a few reports about Cairo not a lot of people like it as its to busy.

thanks Joe

[jenny wren]

In Alexandria this year we did the Greek and Roman Alexandria trip which we found very interesting a half day for £32 each ....on a previous trip we went to El Alamein also a half day at the same price which was very moving....especially so for me as both my parents served in the Army during the war in the desert....luckily they both lived to tell the tale...we visited the war graves and then the Military Museum where the tactics of the battles were explained.

 

From Port Said this year we went to Cairo to.... Pyramids, Memphis and the tombs of Cairo...this was a full day for £80...on a previous visit we went to Pyramids and the Museum for the same price. these are all trips with 'medium' activity level but as we have said earlier the guides do take account of people who are perhaps a bit slower on their feet!

 

Hope this helps a bit :)

[sleepyjoe]

thanks jenny

the pyramids Memphis and tombs sound a good trip for us.

Joe