Visiting and diving both sides of Egypt? Your thoughts, please

I'm looking for feedback on a trip planned for May 2009. A dear friend of mine (who was a serious Egyptophile) died last spring and left me some money to do a trip to Egypt to visit the Luxor area and to dive at Sharm. (This will be my third trip to Egypt: I first learned to dive at Sharm in 2000, but couldn't do Ras Mohammed because of lack of dives. Now I'm at 100+ dives and looking forward to seeing it!) I also visited Egypt in December 2004, when I toured all the major sites on the mainland and dove at El Gouna.

This time, I want to do a cruise again on the Nile and then visit a temple near Luxor. After, I want to go diving in Sharm. Here's my proposed itinerary:

Dates 1 – 17 May 2009

1 May: Fly Paris to Aswan (or Luxor, if necessary)

2- 4 May: Cruise on the Nile from Aswan to Luxor

5-7 May: Tourism in Luxor (must include a visit to the Temple of Hatshepsut)

8 May: Fly from Luxor to Sharm El Sheik

8-17 May: Diving in Sharm with Camel Dive Club

17 May: Fly from Sharm El Sheik to Paris

My problem is this: I'm not sure of the best way to set this all up. Because I'm out in Normandy, there aren't any travel agents who really know Egypt. I visited one in Paris, but was not impressed. I could do it via the internet and telephone, but would like some recommendations. If you know of a GOOD Egypt travel agent in the US, UK or France, please let me know!

And of course, your feedback on my proposed itinerary is also welcome! I'm afraid I haven't left enough time for the tourism things at the beginning, but I do so want to dive in Sharm. Oof!

Thanks in advance!

Tricia

Give Dan Lion a call/email at Longwood Holidays (Longwood Holidays: Independent specialists in Egypt, Jordan, Morocco and Israel), I've done several trips with him and they are one of the biggest dive-specialist tour ops going into the Middle East.

Other good companies are Aquatours, Tony Backhurst Scuba Travel, Dive Sportif, to name but a few.

Hope this helps!

Mark

+1 for Longwood - very professional

You can always book yourself on line. Egyptair have a good website and good prices for flights. We are just looking at doing a similar trip although we are based in Sharm. Nile cruises only operate on certain days of the week so you need to co-ordinate your flights with their departures.

Try Egypt Travel agency, Egypt tours, tourism Egypt travel packages, Vacations, Guide, Holiday and Egypt Hotel Reservation Centre, Egypt Hotels for Nile cruises - takes a bit of effort but worthwhile. Have just been quoted US$430 per person per night by an agent as opposed to about US$100 per person per night booking direct.

Hope this is useful.