Just returned from an amazing 17 days in Egypt and Jordan. I cannot wait to go back again. I planned a trip for two of us based on itineraries gleaned from other travelers and then put it out to bid at a few travel agencies. I ended up choosing Bella Vista tours in Boston as they were listed on the Egyptian web-site as a trusted company. They were alright, not the best I have ever dealt with and as this was my first trip to the Middle East I had hoped for better advice. That said, it all turned out very well with very few hiccups. The guides in Egypt and Jordan, provided through NTS and Amani tours were wonderful and made us feel very welcome, although they did try and push the shopping on us. We actually refused to get out of the cars which greatly annoyed everyone at first.
We found, traveling as single women, that the more conservatively we dressed the better we were treated. If you don't wish to be bothered by the men wear a wedding ring.
Cairo is a city that has 22 million people there during the workday. It's almost impossible to describe the traffic on the ring road...cars, busses, camels, donkeys, people all following some set of incomprehensible rules that from outward appearances looks like everyone will be killed and accidents would abound, but amazingly it all keeps moving.
Trip to Egypt and Jordan
Recent Activity
View all Africa & the Middle East activity »
- 1
Tanzania Feb 2013 -- my first but not last safari!
- 2 Morocco - private tour operators
- 3 Most Romantic Places in Marrakech or Essaouira?
- 4 Questions re Gorillas in Rwanda and money in both Rwanda and Tanzania
- 5
Morocco . . . Rough Around the Edges
- 6 Kruger Park trip
- 7 First time in Zimbawbe, SA, Safari, etc. Really need your help.
- 8 Help with Zambia itinerary? Victoria's Fall, South Luwangha NP
- 9 Exclusie use vehicles at Mala Mala and Londolozi
- 10 Africa Safari
- 11 phone service
- 12 how to join a Kenya safari once in country
- 13 Qatar - Doha my photos
- 14 Yellow Fevor innoculation revisited
- 15 The Grace Hotel (Johannesburg) is closing
- 16 Kenya + Ngorongoro or Serengeti?
- 17 Ashdod to Jaffa and Tel Aviv
- 18 Haifa - Acre & the Baha'i Gardens
- 19 Marrakesh and Fez w/ side trip
- 20 What about Intrepid Travel as a tour company?
- 21
Amazing Safari Trip in Zimbabwe (Matopos-Hwange & Victoria Falls)
- 22 Experience with Journey Beyond Travel or Sahara Services in Morocco?
- 23 transfer from jnb and Durban airports
- 24
Trip Report - Honeymoon Safari in Tanzania - End of July/August 2012
- 25 ZAMBIA / ZIMBABWE SAFETY.
Here's a link to some of our pics.
http://picasaweb.google.com/lh/emailAlbum?uname=Murmist&aid=5342105490957847409&continue=http%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2FMurmist%2FEgyptAndJordan%23
The trip was amazing. There are certainly a lot of ways to travel more cheaply than a tour. Amman has an On-Off bus that stop at over 20 locations and you can get multi-day passes. Aesome way to see the city and spend as much or as little time as you wish.