Only 2 weeks for diving and sightseeing - recs please

My husband and I picked up business class seats in British Airways 50% off reward seat sale, so we're off to Egypt early next October. We arrive in Cairo (from NYC) late on Oct 1 and fly home early on Oct 14, so we have 13 days in Egypt not including travel days. This trip is only partly about the diving - my husband also wants to spend a fair bit of our trip sightseeing. He lived in Egypt about 15 years ago when he was stationed with the Multinational Force and Observers in the Sinai, and he's keen to revisit the sights.

So, I'm hoping for advice on what's a feasible itinerary keeping in mind the following factors (and preferences):

- We're only OW divers (currently about 35 and 50 dives each). My husband was certified in the Red Sea. We are thinking about shoehorning an AOW certification course into a Caribbean or Florida long weekend in the spring of 2009, especially if that would be useful for the Red Sea trip.

- We're more into fauna than wrecks and flora, in terms of diving interests. To date, we haven't been particularly interested in deep dives or technically challenging dives, but I know that my husband would really like to see large animals (especially sharks) if possible.

- We'll need to rent most (if not all of our gear), although this trip might give us some incentive to start investing in gear (e.g. BCDs).

- I think we can only spare 4 full dive days max (plus an arrival day check dive).

- I prefer to dive first and then do the land-based part of the holiday. So, I'm thinking that our itinerary will involve flying from Cairo to the Red Sea in the morning on day 1.

- In addition to the Red Sea, I imagine we'll want to spend at least 2 (maybe 3?) full days in Cairo, and a couple of days either in Luxor or Aswan (probably can't do both).

- So now the big issue is where should we dive if we also want to minimize travel time to other parts of Egypt? Sharm seems to get the best reviews (as compared with Hurghada, for example) but Hurghada and nearby areas seem much better situated as departure points for the rest of the holiday. What about El Gouna? Or maybe a short liveaboard (3 nights?)? We've never done a liveboard before - is this a good place to start? What's the best dive location for divers with our level of experience?

- While our budget isn't top-of-the-line luxury (e.g. Four Seasons), we can afford to budget a lot for the dive part of the trip - if that will translate into comfort (or even luxury), safety, extra service, etc.

Thanks for your advice

Hello,
2 weeks is fine to do both visiting and diving. Most tourist agencies should be able to organise this for you. I have done this a few years ago. We first did a cruise on the Nile for 5 days which allowed us to see a lot of the sites along the Nile (Luxor, Karnark, Aswan, etc...) It is less tiring than using a coach and changing hotels every day. Then we went to Hurghada (3 hours by coach under military escort across the desert). We spent the remaining week diving.
This is a quite "common" trip combination. The only regret that I have is that we did not go to Le Caire and therfore missed the Pyramids.
If I were you, I would rather finish with the diving when you can also relax. Visiting all the sites is a bit tiring (it is very hot, so you wake up VERY early), and you do a lot of walking around.

You could probably fly to Louxor on the same day that you arrive in Cairo, settle in your cruise ship and watch your first sunset on the Nile on the first day. Cruises can last from 3 to 5 days. After the cruise, you could go to Hurghada by coach. From Louxor, I think it would be a bit more complicated to go to Sharm. Then in Hurghada, spend as many days as you want and go back a couple of days before you have to go home, so you have time to see the Pyramids.

Regarding the differences between Sharm and Hurghada, I cannot tell you first hand since I have never been to Sharm. Diving around Hurghada is great however, lots of fish, great corals, good visibility. There are dives for all levels, and many of the less deep ones are also the more beautiful. Also all the dives are guided, so if you are not too experienced it is fine. I did my OW there and spent my first diving holidays in nearby Safaga, and enjoyed all my dives. I am not sure you can find a liveaboard for less than a week.

As I said you should find package that includes both a cruise on the Nile and then an Hotel in Hurghada. I have no name to give you since I did this from France, but I am sure you'll get other advice from your compatriots

Malene

Malene,

Thanks for this post! As I mentioned on another post, I'm trying to plan a similar trip next May. May I ask who you used in France? (I live in Le Havre and I'm having a hard time finding someone. I'm happy to work with a company in Paris, but need a recommendation. Thanks!

Kate: I did a similar trip in December 2004 with the Club Med (but their diving village is in El Gouna, near Hurghada, and I want to dive Sharm this time). But I can tell you that Malene is right: you should do the tourism first, then the diving. Some people on our trip got to the CM Village and rested for a day before starting diving because they were so tired from the tourism!

Pls keep us posted on what you decide to do!

Trish

Personally I would suggest either Sharm or Marsa Alam. More chance of seeing some big stuff than Hurghada. If you fancy a short liveaboard then try the Tornado group, Tony Backhirst or Emeror Divers. These do tend to do some wrecks but also offer the chance to dive the better sites before the day boats arrive. Liveaboards generally demand AOW and depending where you go 50 logged dives.

In respect of tourism then Cairo is a must. The Pyramids are a definite do and the reconsructed boat at the Pyramids is awesome. Don't miss the Coptic Museum which is not mentioned much and a visit to the old part of Cairo and the bazaar is worth seeing.

Nile cruises can be arranged from 3 nights upwards and we have just arranged one using Egyptian Reservations - www.egyptresevation.com - and the girl we are dealing with, Laila, has been super.

Consider getting from Cairo to Luxor/Aswan by overnight sleeper train, about US$60 per person including meals.

Flying in Egypt can be done cheaply by going on the Egyptair website - Sharm/Cairo return can cost as little as LE500 per person - less than US$100.

Hope this is useful and hope you enjoy your trip.

3 days in Cairo is a bit much time. 2 days are enough to see the pyramids and the Egyptian museum, along with some other tours like Khan El Khalili, the citadel, etc...

For a short period of diving, I recommend Sinai (Sharm and/or Dahab). Sharm is more busy while Dahab is more relaxed. Both offer world-class diving. Marsa Alam is too far for such a short vacation. Hurghada is not as beatiful as Sinai, IMHO.

Kate_W:

My husband and I picked up business class seats in British Airways 50% off reward seat sale, so we're off to Egypt early next October. We arrive in Cairo (from NYC) late on Oct 1 and fly home early on Oct 14, so we have 13 days in Egypt not including travel days.

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I am watching this thread with interest and amusement as I also booked business class seats on BA's 50% reward sale! Flying out of Calgary through Heathrow on Sep. 21 arriving in Cairo on the 23rd, back to London on Oct 11 and back to Calgary on the 14th.

I'm also leaning towards doing all the "touristy" Cairo/Pyramids/Nile Cruise stuff first then moving on to the dive part of the trip. Leaning towards Sharm/Dahab with maybe a short liveaboard.

Maybe I'll see you underwater Kate_W!

Hey,
Joining the recommendations for diving in sinai!! with one reservation, although the red sea is one of the best diving spots in the world, it is not the place to go if you are looking for the "big stuff", you don't get to see many sharks, if any, same for manta\devil rays...
So don't expect any palagic activity, sinai is maybe the best place in the world as far as reef life goes... if you'r fine with that, you are in for a treat...
I would go for a 3-4 day LOB from sharem, Can't recommend any operator, in particular, since its been a while since my last trip there...

Enjoy!