Wikitravel - Changes related to "Ras Abu Galum" [en]

Nuweiba

2013-05-21T21:58:22Z

‎North of Nuweiba:

Dahab

2013-05-21T09:07:28Z

‎Desert Excursions & Trekking:

Egypt

2013-05-17T18:51:16Z

‎See:

Egypt

2013-05-16T17:58:20Z

‎Respect:

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:58, 21 May 2013
(One intermediate revision by one user not shown)
Line 109:		Line 109:

	*<sleep name="Al Tarek" alt="" address="Beer Sweer" directions="10 km north of Nuweiba" phone="+20121081189" url="http://www.altarek-sinai.com/" checkin="" checkout="" price="From LE 40 per person per night" lat="" long="">In Al Tarek Camp you find roomy huts, fresh food, cold drinks,and a lot of love.</sleep>		*<sleep name="Al Tarek" alt="" address="Beer Sweer" directions="10 km north of Nuweiba" phone="+20121081189" url="http://www.altarek-sinai.com/" checkin="" checkout="" price="From LE 40 per person per night" lat="" long="">In Al Tarek Camp you find roomy huts, fresh food, cold drinks,and a lot of love.</sleep>
		+
		+	*<sleep name="Antika Beach" alt="" address="Beer Sweer" directions="30 km north of Nuweiba" phone="+201005080370" url="https://www.facebook.com/AntikaBeach" checkin="" checkout="" price="From LE 20 per person per night" lat="" long=""> Located in one of the best spots in Nuweiba, Antika beach has clear sandy beaches, a beautiful beach where you can swim without having to pass over the reefs, cheap food, drinks, and a very welcoming and friendly atmosphere by the owners.</sleep>

	==Stay safe==		==Stay safe==

← Older revision		Revision as of 09:07, 21 May 2013
Line 177:		Line 177:

	* '''Longer Desert Safaris & Treks:''' Although many of the small safari shops will offer these, if you really want to enjoy a deep desert experience you need to go directly to the Bedouin. For 2+ people (and ideally 3+ people to keep prices affordable), you can speak directly to your guide. A real Bedouin guide will take into account season & weather, your fitness & your ideas, and recommend a nice route. Most importantly, he will take you on a route he loves & knows well (not just a tourist trail). Please note that all safari businesses will have Bedouin guides and/or drivers on their desert trips. It is simply not possible to go into the desert without the knowledge and permission of these people of the desert. So, whichever company you chose, you will always have the opportunity to experience Bedouin culture in the desert.		* '''Longer Desert Safaris & Treks:''' Although many of the small safari shops will offer these, if you really want to enjoy a deep desert experience you need to go directly to the Bedouin. For 2+ people (and ideally 3+ people to keep prices affordable), you can speak directly to your guide. A real Bedouin guide will take into account season & weather, your fitness & your ideas, and recommend a nice route. Most importantly, he will take you on a route he loves & knows well (not just a tourist trail). Please note that all safari businesses will have Bedouin guides and/or drivers on their desert trips. It is simply not possible to go into the desert without the knowledge and permission of these people of the desert. So, whichever company you chose, you will always have the opportunity to experience Bedouin culture in the desert.
		+
		+	* '''[http://www.sinai-safari.com Sinai Safari]'''. A Bedouin owned and managed safari group offering authentic and ecological desert excursions from 1 to 14 days to anywhere in south Sinai. The guides are all from the deep desert and have been guiding travelers their whole life. They can arrange a tailor made trip to either the famous locations or off the beaten track to visit areas that are not known to the common safari operators. They are so confident of their service that they only charge a 25% deposit before departure. Sinai Safari are desert specialists and only offer desert trips in Sinai, nothing else and nowhere else making them the most highly recommended and ecological safari organisers in South Sinai.

	'''Popular sites:'''		'''Popular sites:'''

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:51, 17 May 2013
Line 235:		Line 235:

	[[Alexandria]], with several historical sights and the stunning new Bibliotheca Alexandrina, is the country's main summer attraction for Egyptians escaping the summer heat and looking for a place to spend the summer vacation. Tourist attractions include Roman and Greek monuments, Bibliotheca Alexandria, Qa'edbay's Castle, and Qasr El Montaza (El Montaza Palace).		[[Alexandria]], with several historical sights and the stunning new Bibliotheca Alexandrina, is the country's main summer attraction for Egyptians escaping the summer heat and looking for a place to spend the summer vacation. Tourist attractions include Roman and Greek monuments, Bibliotheca Alexandria, Qa'edbay's Castle, and Qasr El Montaza (El Montaza Palace).
		+
		+	'''North Coast'''
		+
		+	it's a very unknown beach to tourists that's close from Alexandria that very very few tourists visit simply because that's where all Egpytians actually go in the summer specially the younger generations and you can go if you have any friends in Egypt or make friends the coast is uslally refferred to as "sahel el shamally" it's pure white sands and you can be able to rent an apartment there, but strongly suggested that you go with Egyptian friends
		+	3 hours drive from Cairo
		+
		+	'''Ain Sokhna'''
		+
		+	a line of mountains and calm beautiful beaches for miles and a range of hotels to satisfy various budgets 90 min drive from Cairo for a relaxing exprience with a group of friends or couples to stay there is a must.

	'''Port Said''':		'''Port Said''':

@@ Line 21: / Line 21: @@
 ==Understand==
 ===History===
 The regularity and richness of the annual Nile River flood, coupled with semi-isolation provided by deserts to the east and west, allowed for the development of one of the world's great civilizations. A unified kingdom arose around 3200 B.C. and a series of dynasties ruled in Egypt for the next three millennia. The last native dynasty fell to the Persians in 341 B.C., who in turn were replaced by the Greeks, Romans, and Byzantines. It was the Arabs who introduced Islam and the Arabic language in the 7th century and who ruled for the next six centuries. A local military caste, the Mamluks, took control about 1250 and continued to govern after the conquest of Egypt by the Ottoman Turks in 1517. Following the completion of the Suez Canal in 1869, Egypt became an important world transportation hub, but also fell heavily into debt. Ostensibly to protect its investments, Britain seized control of Egypt's government in 1882, but nominal allegiance to the Ottoman Empire continued until 1914. Partially independent from the UK in 1922, Egypt acquired full sovereignty following World War II. The completion of the Aswan High Dam in 1971 and the resultant Lake Nasser have altered the time-honored place of the Nile River in agriculture and the ecology of Egypt. A rapidly growing population (the largest in the Arab world), limited arable land, and dependence on the Nile all continue to overtax resources and stress society. The government has struggled to prepare the economy for the new millennium through economic reform and massive investment in communications and physical infrastructure.
@@ Line 381: / Line 383: @@
 *'''Spices''' - can be bought at colourful stalls in most Egyptian markets. Dried herbs and spices are generally of a higher quality than that available in Western supermarkets and are up to 4 or 5 times cheaper, though the final price will depend on bargaining and local conditions.
-When shopping in markets or dealing with street vendors, remember to [[How to haggle|haggle]].
+When shopping in markets or dealing with street vendors, remember to [[How to haggle|haggle]].  Because of the downturn in tourism since the 2011 revolution, tourism is very low and you'll find shopkeepers very open to haggling and prices lower than in the past - even in places like Luxor/Aswan and not just in Cairo.
 You will also find many western brands all around. There are many malls in Egypt, the most common being ''Citystars Mall'', which is the largest entertainment center in the Middle East and Africa. You will find all the fast food restaurants you want such as Mcdonald's, KFC, Hardees, Pizza Hut, etc. Clothing brands such as Morgan, Calvin Klein, Levi's, Facconable, Givenchy, Esprit, and more.
@@ Line 477: / Line 479: @@
 {{infobox|Scams and hassle|Travelers often complain about being hassled and attempts at scamming while in Egypt. While irritating, most of this is pretty harmless stuff, like attempting to lure you into a local papyrus or perfume shop.<br>
 Typically, you will be approached by a person speaking fluent English who will strike up a conversation under social pretenses. He (and it will always be a he) will then attempt to get you to come along for a cup of tea or similar at his favourite (most-paying) souvenir shop. This could also happen outside museums etc. where the scammer will try to make you believe the "museum is closed" or similar.<br>
-Hassling, while rarely dangerous, could be annoying, especially in the main tourist areas. There is no way to avoid this, but a polite ''la shukran'' (no thanks) helps a lot. Apart from that, try to take hassling with a smile. If you let yourself be bugged by everyone trying to sell you something, your holiday won't be a very happy one.<br>
+Hassling, while rarely dangerous, could be annoying, especially in the main tourist areas. There is no way to avoid this, but a polite ''la shukran'' (no thanks) or ''halass'' (enough) helps a lot. Apart from that, try to take hassling with a smile. If you let yourself be bugged by everyone trying to sell you something, your holiday won't be a very happy one.<br>
 Potentially more annoying are taxi drivers or others getting a commission fee to lead you to their hotel of choice, of course paying commission fees for each guest they receive. Firmly stand your ground on this. If they insist, just ask to be dropped off at a street or landmark close to the place you are heading to. This scam is especially common among taxi drivers from the airport.|print=fullpage}}
-Egypt is generally a safe and friendly country to travel. Egyptians on the whole are very friendly - if you are in need of assistance they will generally try to help you as much as they are able.
+Egypt is generally a safe and friendly country to travel. Egyptians on the whole are very friendly - if you are in need of assistance they will generally try to help you as much as they are able.  Since the 2011 revolution, tourism has taken a major hit making touts even more aggressive and persistent than ever before.  Safety is not an issue, but do get ready for a lot of annoying drivers/salesmen.  If after 3 or 4 times of saying "No thank you / laa shukran", just ignore them and eventually they will go away.
-Egyptian men will make compliments to women; do not take offense if they do this to you. Men shouldn't be worried, either; if they do this to your partner/daughter, it will be nothing more than a compliment, and hopefully won't go any further than that.
+Egyptian men will make compliments to women; do not take offense if they do this to you. Men shouldn't be worried, either; if they do this to your partner/daughter, it will be nothing more than a compliment, and hopefully won't go any further than that.  If it does, don't be afraid to confront them sternly with the look of death at having insulted your wife/daughter.  Most will giggle and walk away rather than get into a fight (penalty for injuring a tourist is pretty astounding).
-If you are a woman traveling alone or with another woman, be warned that some men will touch you or grab you anywhere on the body, whether you are negotiating with them or simply walking down the street.  Dressing modestly will not deter them.  Getting upset at them for touching you will be met with amusement by them and any onlookers, both male and female.  The best way to avoid this is wear a wedding band and don't be too friendly.
+If you are a woman traveling alone or with another woman, be warned that some men will touch you or grab you anywhere on the body, whether you are negotiating with them or simply walking down the street.  Dressing modestly will not deter them.  Getting upset at them for touching you will be met with amusement by them and any onlookers, both male and female.  The best way to avoid this is wear a wedding band and don't be too friendly.  If a man grabs you inappropriately, do not be afraid to slap him and yell at him for his indecency/lack of shame.  The penalty for harming a tourist is quite severe.
 ===Terrorism===
@@ Line 498: / Line 502: @@
 Pickpocketing is a problem in Egypt's bigger cities, particularly Cairo.  Many locals opt not to carry wallets at all, instead keeping their money in a clip in their pocket, and tourists would be wise to adopt this as well.  On the upside, violent crime is rare, and you are highly unlikely to physically mugged or robbed. If, however, you do find yourself the victim of crime, you may get the support of local pedestrians by shouting "Harami" (Criminal) while chasing the person who robbed you.
 Overall, scams are the main concern in Egypt. Be aware that many Egyptians who starts a conversation with you in Cairo and Luxor want your money. There is a very insidious tactic used where they will "befriend" you, take you around, show you things, even bring you back to their place for dinner, and then they will demand money for it. Basically, if it seems too good to be true, it probably is. Demand prices for absolutely everything, because if you say "I thought it was free!" after the fact you are in for a vicious argument.
 ==Stay healthy==
@@ Line 529: / Line 535: @@
 Take great care if you choose to drink, especially if you're from countries where heavy drinking is accepted. Even if you are used to it, you can't estimate the effects of the climate, even at night. The impact drunk people have on Egyptians is quite large and very negative. The best plan is just to abstain or limit yourself to one drink per meal while in Egypt; it will be cheaper too.
 ===Dress===