Travelling in Egypt - Spring 2011

Last week (2 April 2011) I returned from my third trip to Egypt’s Valley in which I visited Luxor, Aswan and a number of temples in between. In many people’s minds Egypt is synonymous with history and the ancient Egyptians but cruising down the Nile made me realise that Egypt is a stunningly beautiful land too with the verdant green banks, pulsing with village life, palm trees and crop cultivation set against the yellow of the ever present hills and desert beyond.   

Having booked the trip prior to the political demonstrations and change of power I was unsure how the tour would be affected but I needn’t have worried. There was no sign of the problems of the previous weeks and the Egyptian people were very welcoming of the fewer than normal tourists in the country. The major historical sites of the Valley of the Kings and the Temples of Karnak which are normally busy were much quieter than on my previous visits giving us the chance to explore the wonderful historical monuments almost by ourselves.

Tourist numbers are increasing slowly but I feel this is an excellent time to visit this fascinating country to take advantage of the quieter sites and to help the country get back on its feet.  

David Phillips
Operations Manager