I spent a couple of weeks in Egypt back in 2005. Lucky I didn't get sick, however, unlike my travel companions I followed a few basic rules:

1. Bottle water, make sure you check the seal to see that it hasn't just been simpy refilled and tighened. Don't have ice with your drinks either.

2. Do not buy icecreams or icecreams that are in a freezer. The power goes out quite often in Egypt and unlike in Western world were we chuck out produce out, some shop owners simply refreeze the stock

3. Try and avoid salads and uncooked vegetables.

If you do fall ill, drink plenty of fluids.

Egypt was a great country to see. Plenty of things to do. Start early if your going to see the sights as the heat can get quite oppressive at mid morning. We were stuck at the Valley of the Kings at 11 am at the temperature was up at 46 degrees celisus.

Have fun. Love to read your trip tales when you return.

Thanks so much for all the wonderful advice, I am taking note of all of it. What would we do without the Trafalgar forums?? Counting the days now

I've just returned from the wonders of egypt, the temperatures were 27-35 in Cairo and up to 40 in Aswan. I drank only bottled water and ate all the salads and I didn't get sick at all (I have a tough stomach and am used to the food) about 5-7 out 22 people on our trip got sick, washing your hands before eating or drinking and after touching money is wise. I felt quite safe walking around as a single female- just got sick of being hassled in Giza

jsum, I am currently researching Egypt tours. Wonders of Egypt has a 7 night Nile cruise, yes? How did you find the cruise portion as a single female? Did your group stay together for meals and excursions? I assume there are other groups on the ship.

quote:

Originally posted by Jeannie118:
jsum, I am currently researching Egypt tours. Wonders of Egypt has a 7 night Nile cruise, yes? How did you find the cruise portion as a single female? Did your group stay together for meals and excursions? I assume there are other groups on the ship.

I did the Nile cruise as a solo (female) and had a blast. No different than any other tour. You get adopted!

I was researching the Egypt tours recently as well and thought of taking the WoE but the 7 day cruise includes an entire day cruising back down the Nile at the end. Given my past experience on the cruise, I didn't think I wanted to use a valuable day just going back down. I was going to skip that for the shorter cruise and get that day used elsewhere, like a tour of Alexandria (Egyptian Voyager?).

..

Jeannie118,
There was a single female on our Nile/Egypt tour last May/June - a nice retired lady.

As a couple, we tended to stick with her a bit so she wasn't alone, but she was very organised and did well.

Groups stay together for set meals, such as those on the cruise boat. You might be spread over two or three tables but everyone sorts out who they'd prefer to mix with. Outside the cruise, it depends on whether members make arrangements to stick together for meals. This has much to do with looking after one-another in foreign lands and whether you like their company.

We had several single females on our C***** tour of Egypt this year. They mingled with everybody else for most of the day and all meals. Both our recent TT tours in Europe and the other into Egypt the groups bonded well. If the singles wanted company they only had to stand nearby and they were instantly included in whatever was happening.

We adopted a couple of very nice, polite, well manored (yes I know a bit of a social comment) young girls (sisters) from London on our Egypt tour. For the most part they did their own thing however when the dreaded "mummies tummy" visited we we there with the Antinal and also when the over enthusiastic vendors wouldn't let go we tended to step in.

Generally those on tour looked out for each other and anybody looking poorly, hasseled or frazzelled would quickly be gathered up by others within the groups, single or couples.

Basically, don't worry about it, you will enjoy yourself.

OK, thanks. I've done several coach tours solo and a river cruise last summer so no problem.

The cruise portion was great everyone mixed well. Our group were allocated tables, some of us changed our seats for different meals. There were 3 other groups on the cruise one other Trafalgar and two Insight tours all great people.

Hey Everyone....I'm back!!!

Words could never describe how wonderful this vacation was. I did the "Wonders of Ancient Egypt" Tour which included 7 nights on the Nile. It was definately the vacation of a lifetime. I expected to be wowed by the Pyramids but I never expected to spend my entire vacation in a state of awe.

I arrived in Cairo at 1:00am, a single female. I was a tad nervous but low and behold there was my Trafalgar rep. waiting to guide me through customs and transfer me to my hotel. I never touched my carry on or luggage until I arrived at my hotel room. The guide and the mini-van driver put me at ease. I felt safe and welcomed.

Our tour director, Mohamed Moustafa was incredible. Not only did he relay the normal historical information on the sites we visited, he took the time to educate us. He quizzed us very casually on what we heard and managed to link the stories, history and cultural nuances together so that we would truly remember and understand what we were seeing. We even roll played to "get" which God was related to whom and who married who etc. etc. Mohamed's dedication to detail and sincerity was greatly appreciated by the whole group. If anyone wasn't feeling well he attended to them as much as he could providing advice and would even run to the pharmacy for us. I never once got sick. I enjoyed everything that was offered to us on the cruise. The staff of the MS Giselle were fantastic and provided us with every comfort that they could.

I would recommend 7 nights on the Nile if possible. Sitting on the top deck of the ship you will see an 8 mile expanse of lush green fields being farmed by horse and donkey driven ploughs. The back drop was huge mountains of rock and desert sand. Occaisionally a caravan of camels could be seen against the mountain scenary. Goosebumps would rise every time I heard the call to prayer from the mosques that were on either side of the Nile.

I would go back in a minute if I could!

Susie Q

Hi Susie!

So happy to hear that it went great. How was the weather?

My one question would be on the 7 day cruise. What was that last day like. The itinerary looks like a full day of cruising with no stops. Was there enough to do? And did you go to Alexandria?

Thanks for all the great information on Egypt. I hope to be able to afford this trip as a Solo traveller some day.

Sounds like you had a marvellous time Susie Q! Your post makes me very excited about our Egyptian Voyager in April

Susie,

Welcome home! Egypt was a wonderous place, for me too. The slow cruise down the Nile (in my case) was a highlight I was looking forward too. I would agree with you, when you say that a 7 night cruise if possible, is a great idea.

I found the Giza Pyramids one of my other highlights. Also, on my tour, we went to Alexandria, which was an beautiful place when you look over the Mediterranean Sea.....so relaxing.

I have written a tour tale about my tour, and I look forward to reading yours, with great anticipation.

DustyT

Susie Q, that is the tour I'm thinking of taking. Will you be posting a tour report?