Budget and Safety tips on Solo Self-guided Traveling Egypt

fearless 4.5 days DIY eid season solo trip to Egypt

october 25-29, 2012 thursday to monday

biking the luxor's west bank

Walked like Egyptian probably was the most challenging and rewarding travel in 15 countries I have visited so far. Before I give some insights regarding this trip, let me show-off first my condition before and during the travel period. 

1. I almost considered this trip as cancelled due to my work as it is hard to file an exit permit as an expat government employee though it is holiday on the entire trip duration. This is the main reason why I did not somehow research for the missing links and just booked the plane tickets at most 3 weeks before the departure and walk-in train seats.

2. The entire travel period (Oct. 25-29, 2012) is a holiday celebration for a Muslim country, thus, a very very peak season.  Plane ticket price is almost thrice the regular, a really expensive trip.

3. My outbound flight fare is a gamble due to the risk it had. I have to wait at least 30 minutes before the departing time to make sure I have a sure seat.

4. Egypt just recently experienced revolution for ousting Mubarak and had the national election this year. Thus, peace and order is somehow at stake.

budget and itinerary print-outs

Train Travel from Cairo to Aswan

fearless 4.5 days DIY eid season solo trip to Egypt

october 25-29, 2012 thursday to monday

a dream come true on pyramids of giza

After finishing the major landmarks of Cairo, I went back to Ramsis Railway Station for an impromptu booking to Aswan, southern part of Egypt. I was told day before that sleeper trains are fully booked up to 1st week of November. If I really want to pursue my preferred schedule, just ride the train and find my luck there as chance passenger. Aswan train travel time from Cairo will took 14 hours, probably my longest train escapade since I've been to this kind of transportation.

It is important to book train ticket in advance, at most 2 weeks before the preferred date.
For train booking for ordinary passenger is via ....
https://enr.gov.eg/ticketing/public/smartSearch.jsf

For sleeper couch usually for tourist is via ....
http://www.wataniasleepingtrains.com/Watania/Price_list_%26_Schedule.html

Ramsis railway station has a lobby that looks like you are somewhere in France, with small pyramid in the center and inverted on the ceiling. Platforms that serve northern part (alexandria, etc) are on #1-7 which is on the left side of the lobby while for the southern part (luxor, aswan) is straight ahead, platforms #8-11. Ticketing office is on the side of platform #11, entering through underpass from platform #8.

ramsis railway station main lobby

A Dream Come True in Pyramids of Giza

fearless 4.5 days DIY eid season solo trip to Egypt

october 25-29, 2012 thursday to monday

sightseeing above the cairo tower at night

One of the most controversial landmark by early civilizations of all time, and the only man-made ancient wonder of the world that still standing... Pyramids of Giza has been always talk-about how it was done and why it was like that. Because of this curiosity and an avid fan of Ancient Aliens TV Series, a dream came true for me to witness, amaze and walk on the sands within its vicinity, unimaginable but reality as it is. I am very much thankful to our God Almighty for having this trip.

Photography is not allowed inside the pyramids, and strolling can be enough at 2 hours. 

how to go here;
Starting from Giza station of metro line 2 (1 EGP), go towards to the road crossing the metro. Since bus destination names are absolutely in Arabic even the numbers, Asking the locals is an important task. They told me that most of the bus cross the intersection to way to Pyramids. All I have to do is ask the driver first and request to drop-off (1 EGP). Upon drop-off, Pyramid of Khufu is already visible.

inside the Pyramids of Giza compound (Khufu)

Sightseeing above the Cairo Tower at Night

fearless 4.5 days DIY eid season solo trip to Egypt

october 25-29, 2012 thursday to monday

strolling the modern egyptian museum

From Modern Egyptian Museum, I just walked towards this tower for about more than a kilometer crossing the Nile river and seeing the Tahrir Square on my way.

How to go here;
Starting from Sadat station, just crossed the Tahrir Square going the Nile river. The tower is seen already while walking on the streets, follow its visibility. Entrance fee costs 70 EGP for adults and 35 EGP for students. Opens daily from 0900H to 0000H.

Photography is allowed on the viewing deck, and strolling can be enough at most 1 hour.

The Cairo Tower, also known as Borg Al-Qāhira, is a free-standing concrete tower located in Cairo, Egypt. At 187 m (614 ft), it has been the tallest structure in Egypt and North Africa for 50 years. It was the tallest structure in Africa for 10 years, until 1971 when it was surpassed by Hillbrow Tower in South Africa. One of Cairo's well-known landmarks, it stands in the Zamalek district on Gezira Island in the River Nile, close to Downtown Cairo.
source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cairo_Tower

sightseeing above the cairo tower at night

Strolling the Modern Egyptian Museum

fearless 4.5 days DIY eid season solo trip to Egypt

october 25-29, 2012 thursday to monday

go back to main post

Exactly beside the Egyptian museum is the burn-out building which was known as the main headquarters of Mubarak. It was burned by the Egyptian opposition protestors during last year's revolution. 

how to go here; 
Starting from mubarak metro station, where the ramsis train station is nearby located, for only 1 EGP going to Sadat metro station. Egyptian Museum has an entrance fee of 60 EGP for all adult and foreign tourist and 30 EGP for students. Opens daily from 0900H to 1800H. Egyptian museum is just around 50 meters away from Tahrir Square, this area is called also the Downtown Cairo.

Photography is not allowed inside and strolling can be enough at 2 hours.

The Museum of Egyptian Antiquities, known commonly as the Egyptian Museum, in Cairo, Egypt, is home to an extensive collection of ancient Egyptian antiquities. It has 120,000 items, with a representative amount on display, the remainder in storerooms. On the first floor there are artifacts from the final two dynasties of Egypt, including items from the tombs of the Pharaohs Thutmosis III, Thutmosis IV, Amenophis II, Hatshepsut, and the courtier Maiherpri, as well as many artifacts from the Valley of the Kings.
source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Egyptian_Museum

modern egyptian museum in cairo

5 Days EID Season DIY Solo Trip to Egypt

conquering the mankind's early accounted civilization

October 25-29, 2012 Thursday to Monday

"I am Osymandias, King of Kings. If anyone would know how great I am, let him surpass one of my works." - Ramesses

My 15th country on-hand, 20th solo backpacking trip, 2nd visa application for tourism on entire single page, 1st winter get-away this 2012, 1st country to visit in African continent and of course, usual budget do-it-yourself itinerary from arrival to departure.

Egypt is perhaps best known as the home of the ancient Egyptian civilization, with its temples, hieroglyphs, mummies, and - visible above all - its pyramids. Less well-known is Egypt's medieval heritage, courtesy of Coptic Christianity and Islam - ancient churches, monasteries and mosques punctuate the Egyptian landscape. As the ancient Greek historian Herodotus stated: "Egypt is the gift of the Nile", probably one of the most popular tourist destinations worldwide.

source: http://wikitravel.org/en/Egypt

Khufu pyramid with souvenirs bought inside