In Singapore, the place I come from, “Annual Go away” (AL) is a treasured “commodity”.
Some individuals “promote it” (higher cash than day without work), others “burn it away” (too busy to take depart), however many people use it for holidays. In any case, Singaporeans are supposedly a few of the most traveled individuals on this a part of the world.
Nonetheless, “Annual Go away” is moderately restricted. A few of us have simply 7 days, others 14, 21, and I occur to be one of many lucky few with near 30 days of depart. So, every day of AL actually counts, and we actually wouldn’t waste it on simply anyplace.
Sure, I get it, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, or Thailand, are all nice locations for a brief get away.
However what about North East Africa? Particularly, Egypt; I’d say that makes an attention-grabbing trip proposition with 5 working days of depart. Add within the weekends, and assuming you fly off on a Friday evening, you must have a minimum of a full 7 days (per week) of trip time.
Egypt is just not overly unique, has sufficient “Instagram-able sights” to excite the everyday vacationer, and on an entire, presents a really totally different cultural expertise from the standard Japan, Thailand sort of holidays that many have been accustomed to.
With that, let’s check out how one can get began in your 7 day Egyptian Trip….
1. Take Your 5 days depart from Monday to Friday.
2. Your Flight Ought to Depart On A Friday Evening, Returning the next Saturday
3. Go to the Egyptian Embassy In Your Nation (there may be additionally Visa on Arrival) when you don’t thoughts the additional queue on the airport.
To get your Visa accepted, you’ll want
– S$65 Visa Price
– One Coloured Passport Photograph
– Photocopy & Unique Passport/NRIC (for Singaporeans)
– Flight TicketsHotel Reservations
– Visa Software Kind
It takes roughly 4-5 working days for the embassy to course of your Visa. And that’s it, you’re good to go!
And when you’re questioning, precisely the place in Egypt Can You Go to In Simply 7 days WITHOUT Dashing? Nicely, you’ll be able to go to the “Vacationer Route”
When you’ve extra days, you’ll be able to go to Alexandria (like a European Port Metropolis), Hughada and Sharm El Sheikh (Egypt’s Pink Beach/seaside city). For all of that, you’ll want 2 weeks. However when you’re wanting AL like most individuals are, this is a pattern itinerary you’ll be able to observe.
And there you go! An itinerary requiring 5 working days depart, totaling 8 days in Egypt, at a value of S$2,335.
By native journey company requirements, they’d be advertising and marketing this as a ten Day 7 Evening Egyptian Expertise!
– “Day 1, Assemble at Changi Airport and a start your vacation with a pleasing flight to Egypt! ”
– “Day 10, Arrival in Singapore. We hope you had an pleasant trip and sit up for deliver you to your subsequent vacation spot!”
Me? I will simply hold it easy and name it a visit made doable with simply 5 days of AL. So anyway, learn on for somewhat extra on how your journey will likely be like.
[Day 1, Cairo City & The Souks, & The Sleeper Train]
When you depart Singapore on a Friday evening, you’ll attain Cairo early Saturday morning at round 8am. That leaves you with a full day for sightseeing the “non Pyramid” sights earlier than you catch the in a single day sleeper practice to Aswan at round 7:45pm within the night.
For a lot of the day, you’ll wish to take a look at “Downtown Cairo”, a district of run down French buildings which gave the Cairo the nickname of “Paris of the East”. However earlier than that, there’s an attention-grabbing attraction to go to, the Cave Church buildings of “Rubbish Metropolis”. Or, you might go to the Egyptian museum (close to Downtown Cairo) to begin build up the anticipation of what you may be seeing over the following week.
Nonetheless, there’s no hurry to hurry by the whole lot in the present day, in any case, you’ll have a day and a half, nearly 2 days again in Cairo once more on the finish of your journey earlier than your flight again to Singapore leaves at round 8pm the next Saturday evening.
However bear in mind, earlier than you head for the railway station within the night, bear in mind to take a look at Cairo’s well-known evening market, the Souk’s of Khan El Khalili, one of many worlds nice purchasing experiences, and simply 10mins taxi journey away from the railway station.
Give your self say 2-3 hours right here so that you leisurely discover the souks the place you’ll be capable to put your bargaining expertise that you simply’ve acquired from numerous journeys to Bangkok to the check.
In addition to purchasing and sampling native Egyptian snacks, the souks are additionally a terrific place to unwind and “individuals watch” over tea and smoke. Sure, the shisha’s listed below are actually low-cost.
At round 7pm, you must begin to make your option to the close by Ramses Railway Station the place your sleeper practice awaits. It is best to get there early to take a look at Cairo’s principal railway station and cargo up some snacks in your in a single day practice journey.
“Rail Journey” in Egypt is an interesting expertise. Moving into an previous Egyptian practice is an expertise in itself. The musty odor of cigarette smoke (sure, Egyptians are large on smoking) hits your nostrils the second you step onboard.
Luckily, as a vacationer, you’ll be sleeping within the “First Class” Sleeper. It’s lots higher there (for non people who smoke), and also you’ll have a scorching meal, a cushty mattress, and a washbasin all to your self.
You may even pay for warm espresso and tea to clean your dinner down. And it’s right here on this practice, that it’ll lastly hit you; that your not on trip simply anyplace, however you’re in Egypt, and THIS, is the beginning of the “Egyptian expertise”.
Let simply say that in my ebook, the in a single day Egyptian Rail expertise is a key attraction, and I wouldn’t change it with some other type of transport to get to Aswan.
[Day 2, Aswan & The First Sightings of Archaeological Sites]
The sleeper practice pulls into Aswan earlier than 10am on Sunday.
Once more, that offers you just about a full day on this a part of Egypt. Relying on whether or not you want Aswan or Luxor, you’ll have minimally 2 nights in Aswan.
Aswan is a key a part of the everyday Egyptian vacationer path, and a big half is because of its proximity to the long-lasting Temples of Abu Simbel close to the Sudanese Border. It takes barely over 3 hours to get from Aswan to Abu Simbal, however extra on that later, let’s check out what you’ll be able to see & do in Aswan in your 2nd day in Egypt.
Philae Temple is undoubtedly Aswan’s key spotlight apart from Abu Simbel. I gained’t bore you with the historical past of the temple since you will get that off the web or examine it whenever you’re there.
After all, there are different smaller sights just like the “Unfinished Obelisk”, the Aswan Excessive Dam and the Nubian Museum, however how a lot of an attraction these are, is dependent upon how a lot you’re into Egyptian historical past. When you’re simply the everyday vacationer out for “instagram-able” backdrops, Philae Temple will curiosity you essentially the most.
The sights I’ve listed above will final you all the best way until the night the place when it’s time for a pleasant dinner or when you’d prefer to be pulled round in a horse carriage to benefit from the lights of Aswan. You’ll must have an early evening although, as a result of tomorrow, you’re going to be up early.
How early? 4.30am sort of early. Since you’re headed for a protracted drive to Sudanese border, in your manner towards the Temples of Abu Simbel, the largest attraction in all of Aswan.
[Day 3, Temple of Abu Simbel, Elephantine Island, The Nubian Village]
The time is 430am, and also you’re catching up on sleep in what must be a 3 hour bus journey to the Sudanese border.
That’s how far the Temples of Abu Simbel are. Nonetheless, it’s all going to be value it.
The Abu Simbel Temples are large rock temples sitting in shut proximity to Sudan, by the Western Financial institution of Lake Nasser.
The temples had been carved out of the mountainside throughout the reign of Pharaoh Ramesses II and are in the present day, essentially the most iconic attraction in Egypt after the Giza Pyramids.
Since you begin the day so early, the entire “day journey” is over by 1pm within the afternoon. 3 hours from Aswan to the temple, barely over 2 hours to discover, and one other 3 hours again.
You’ll have seen considered one of Egypt’s key sights and guess what? You continue to have the entire day in entrance of you.
In case you’re questioning, I’m not suggesting cramming the whole lot into sooner or later to avoid wasting time therefore the 430 am begin.
It’s as a result of 430 am (or earlier) is one of the best slot of visiting the temples due to how lengthy it takes to get backward and forward. And likewise, arriving within the afternoon will see you soften from the heatwave.
The place Monday’s are sometimes blue, they change into colourful when you’re on trip. Elephantine Island is a ten min ferry journey away from town of Aswan. The island is house to palm tree plantations, previous Egyptian villages, temples, ruins, and , the Egyptian stuff.
There’s a terrific place for lunch referred to as “Nubian Dream” (Above). It presents good and inexpensive meals with a pleasant view of the River Nile. And sure, it was so good that we really went again for dinner as properly. To high it off, they promote beer, which you don’t get in typical cafes and eating places.
Subsequent, you’ll be able to take a 15min boat journey all the way down to the Nubian Village, the place mud brick homes are painted in all types of colours. When you’ve visited Morocco’s well-known blue metropolis of Chefchaouen, you’ll get a roughly comparable vibe right here, simply that within the Nubian Village, it isn’t merely blue, it’s an explosion of colours.
The Nubian village sits just below a spread of sand dunes, and also you most likely guessed it, camels! I’ve had numerous camel rides in my earlier travels so this isn’t precisely a spotlight for me.
However when you’ve at all times needed to journey a camel in Egypt (which I’m certain all vacationers do), you will get your first camel ridding expertise amongst sand dunes right here beside the Nubian Village versus the rip off camel photograph taking vacationer lure beside the Pyramids of Giza.
[Day 4, The Old Cataract Hotel & Nile River Cruise]
An enormous a part of the Egyptian expertise is crusing down the River Nile.
When you’ve extra money, and time, I’d suggest taking a kind of enormous “River Cruises”, one thing like what you’d do in Vietnam’s Halong Bay. A correct cruise with eating and bedrooms, slowly snaking down the River Nile to Luxor, your subsequent vacation spot. That might take you say 3 days, and much more cash.
When you’d identical to to have a mini expertise of crusing alongside the River Nile however you’re quick of time and money although, you continue to can, simply go for a river cruise by way of Felucca (conventional sailboat). Drifting down the River Nile ranks among the many finest boating experiences I’ve had in all my travels. That claims lots, and it’s a should do.
The River Nile crusing a part of the journey you’ll be able to expertise in both Luxor or Aswan, so it’s just about your name.
I’d counsel doing it in Aswan although, as a result of that provides you with time to relax out for a beer and excessive tea on the “Outdated Cataract Lodge”, a 5 Star British Colonial Lodge by the banks of the River Nile. This lodge was made well-known by author Agatha Christie, whose Greatest Vendor, “Dying on the Nile” had parts of her ebook based mostly on it.
Trivia apart, the “Outdated Cataract Lodge” does provide one of the best views of the River Nile in all of Aswan and isn’t to be missed. Keep until the night for views of the solar setting over the river.
[Day 5 & 6, Luxor. Temples & Yet more Temples]
Sure, whenever you booked a visit to Egypt, you knew you’d be signing up for Temple overdose. Simply ebook a taxi for the day, inform the driving force precisely which temples you’d wish to go to, and he’ll drive you round for the entire day, entrance charges not included.
Whereas there are various temples in Luxor, the two nearest ones to the primary metropolis are Luxor Temple & The Temple of Karnak. There’s additionally a souk right here, nevertheless it’s no the place as spectacular as Cairo’s Khan El Khalili.
The particularly well-known sights of Luxor are Queen Hatshepsut’s Temple and The Valley of the Kings, principally the burial grounds of earlier Egyptian Kings.
I wasn’t impressed by the temples I noticed, however the Valley of the Kings was a watch opener.
It’s a surreal expertise to stroll among the many tombs the place historic kings lay. And as you stroll by them, you’ll be able to admire the colourful hieroglyphics inscribed on the partitions. The hieroglyphics listed below are maybe one of the best preserved in Egypt, and are a should see.
Sadly, I can’t inform you far more about Luxor as a result of a day after I arrived, Egypt was hit with large storms not seen in over a decade.
Sand was flying all over the place, making it not possible to really benefit from the sights. After getting sand in my eye for the umpteenth time, I gave up, spent my time exploring the unimpressive Luxor souks as an alternative earlier than lastly heading again to the lodge to hunt refuge within the bar with a pleasant chilly beer.
The storm was so dangerous, that the sleeper practice I used to be on the Cairo was closed as a result of there had been a practice collision. Cairo, the place I used to be headed subsequent was flooded, and Luxor the place I used to be at, was within the heart of large sandstorm.
As a result of this publish is extra on how one can plan a visit to Egypt, I gained’t go into full particulars how the storm threw up a number of curve-balls which I needed to take care of simply to get out of Luxor and again to Cairo and ultimately house. For that, you’ll need to learn this different publish (beneath) as an alternative.
[Day 7 Finally, the Pyramids]
Sandstorms apart, you must attain Cairo on the in a single day sleeper from Luxor early morning. With a flight at say 8pm out the following day, that depart’s you with just about 2 days to completely get pleasure from Cairo & the Giza Pyramids.
I counsel staying in a lodge in Giza, proper beside the Pyramids. Sure, actually beside the Pyramids, the doorway of it a minimum of. When you have a look at the image above, that’s simply how shut the resorts are to the final remaining “Historical Surprise of the World”. Another excuse to remain proper beside the Pyramids are additionally as a result of you’ll be able to catch the “Mild Present” from the terrace of your lodge. In order that’s another exercise you’ll get at evening free of charge.
Visiting the Giza Pyramids plus the compulsory “camel/vacationer image” would most likely be a half day occasion. The Giza Pyramids are essentially the most “well-known” pyramids, however they aren’t the one pyramids.
When you don’t thoughts a shot “pyramid overdose” because you’re most likely solely going to go to Egypt as soon as in your life, spend the opposite half of your day visiting the “Bent Pyramid & Step Pyramid”. They’re somewhat off the best way, and it’ll be a little bit of a squeeze, however nothing you’ll be able to’t clear up with a taxi and nonetheless get again in dinner time and the “Mild Present” at evening.
[Day 8. Enjoy “Pyramid-less Cairo”]
You don’t have to succeed in the airport until 6pm, so after breakfast, you’ll be able to spend the day visiting extra of Cairo’s “non pyramid sights”, an extension of “Day 1” of your journey.
There are a few attention-grabbing mosques to take a look at, in addition to “Outdated Cairo”. I imply, whenever you go to Europe, a part of the sights are a go to to a European “Outdated City”, why not do the identical in Cairo?
And when you’ve acquired any final minute purchasing, simply head again to the souks of Khan El Khalili to wrap up any purchases and get your final dose of the “Egyptian expertise”
With that, it’s lastly time to move to the airport in your flight house.
[Final Thoughts]
So, there you may have it; 5 working days depart scores your self a calming, unhurried 8 day trip to throughout variety of Egypt’s vacationer websites. Now you’ll have some place else to go moreover Japan in your subsequent journey.
After all, in case your concept of enjoyable is purchasing at Don Don Donki, reliving the anime’s you’ve been watching, and stuffing your self foolish with Sushi, don’t let me cease you. All I’m saying is, 5 days depart doesn’t need to spent within the standard areas. In any case, you’ll be able to get pleasure from cherry blossoms whenever you’re 60, however at that age, you won’t wish to be scrambling over piles of rock and archaeological websites.
So sure, plan your holidays proper.
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