Je prépare mon départ pour nouveau voyage et comme toujours, je me tourne vers la communauté VF pour glaner des informations et retours d'expériences.
Lors de mon dernier voyage en Asie, j'ai rencontré un plongeur habitant Dahab avec sa famille qui m'a parlé de la magnificence de la région et de ses fonds marins ainsi que la grande quiétude qui régnait dans cet endroit. Ce dernier point, la sécurité des lieux clairement, a été une surprise pour moi, tant on se fait remplir la tête d'idées préconçues sur pas mal de choses.
En tout cas, c'est ma première question à ceux qui connaissent bien l'Egypte, est ce que c'est "safe" ?
Plus précisemment, y a-t-il des endroits à éviter ?
Comme dit plus haut, je voudrais aller à Dahad et sur la côte pour la plongée libre (snorkeling) mais je voudrais également visiter les grands sites historiques.
Ensuite, justement, avez vous des conseils sur les sites à ne pas manquer ?
Pour les sites historiques, je pense que je trouverais assez facilement des infos mais n'hésitez pas à donner vos avis.
Pour les sites de snorkeling, je sais que c'est très beau partout mais si je peux avoir des retours sur certaines expériences, certains spots, je prends.
Ce voyage n'aura pas de limite de temps sinon celui du visa donc si vous voulez me faire profiter de vos découvertes, je prends aussi😉
Voilà, c'est juste un début. infos sur les gens, l'argent, les logements, les visas ... tout quoi 🙂
Merci d'avance à tous ceux qui prendront le temps de faire partager leurs expériences.
Carpediem
pour répondre juste à cette phrase :
"Comme dit plus haut, je voudrais aller à Dahad et sur la côte pour la plongée libre (snorkeling) mais je voudrais également visiter les grands sites historiques."
tu devrais considérer ton voyage comme 2 en 1 car entre Dahab et les sites pharaoniques, tu as pour la plupart plusieurs centaines de kilometres, .... et une demi à une journée de transport par la route puis par les airs pour t'y rendre !
la meilleure option étant donc plutôt de consacrer une semaine aux cailloux puis une semaine aux poissons ...ou inversement pour optimiser ton séjour .
de plus les conditions météo étant particulièrement rudes en Egypte en été, si les 40 degrés a l'ombre conviennent encore pour un séjour balnéaire, cela est plus que pénible pour la visite des sites archéologiques !!
la période la plus opportune pour le cumul de visite seraitodnc plutôt l'automne = octobre / novembre
= plus trop chaud sur les sites, mais encore assez agréable sur les transats et la plage
et puis la mer rouge en octobre est super bonne car encore chaude, réchauffée du soleil de tout l'été (perso au printemps la baignade en mer rouge n'était pas ma tasse de thé car la mer trop froide dés qu'on plonge un peu sous les 3 mètres !)
J ai l'intention de rester en Egypte plus longtemps que 2 semaines. Donc, pas trop de soucis pour la distance.
C'est pas encore trés clair pour les visas mais les prolongations sur place ont l'air assez simples.
Pour les sites de "cailloux", j'ai envie de prendre le temps et si possible visiter des sites moins connus, en plus des incontournables. Donc si tu as des infos ou coups de coeur, hésite pas à faire partager.
Pour les sites de plongée, j'ai déjà ma petite idée mais comme dit précédemment, je suis ouvert 😉
Bonsoir ,
Penche toi deja sur les incontournables , tu en auras pour plusieurs semaines !
Ensuite , tu passeras peut etre parmi les sites moins connus ...
bonjour
j'étudie également la possibilité d'aller à Dahab cet automne. On m'en a aussi vanté les fonds :)
J'adore le snorkeling mais là ce serait pour enfin passer mon PADI.
As-tu avancé dans tes préparatifs (vols, visites, hôtels, ...)?
Et peux-tu partager les coordonnées de ton ami plongeur ?
Salut Lena, on se croisera peut être sur place si les plans ne changent pas d'ici là.
Pour mon ami plongeur, je n'ai pas son contact et vu son age (70+), il est plus en service 🙂.
Par contre, tu trouveras des excellents centres sur place donc pas de soucis à te faire.
Aucune destination en Egypte est "safe"... avec l'attaque des touristes au couteau vendredi dernier par un homme venu à la nage (2 morts, plusieurs blessées) à Hourghada, les terroristes cherchent à tout prix d'atteindre le tourisme en Egypte...
Pour le moment, à ce que j'en sais (corrigez-moi si je me trompe) on ne sait pas si ce sont des terroristes qui les ont tuées...
Et puis maintenant, où est-on vraiment en sécurité ? A Nice, Paris, Londres, Stockholm...??
Salut et merci à ceux qui répondent à mon message.
Terrible attaque effectivement qu elle soit terroriste ou pas. Bien d'accord sur le fait que cela peut arriver partout sur la planète, on va pas déconseiller aux étrangers de venir en France non plus et pourtant !!!
En ce qui concerne mon voyage, je suis en pleine indécision. Je contacte l'ambassade pour me faire un avis définitif mais globalement, je sais d'ores et déjà qu'une grande partie du pays est "fortement déconseillée" donc je dois à priori oublier le voyage sac à dos dans tout le pays.
J'ai traversé en 2012-2013 l'Égypte du Caire jusqu'à la frontière du Soudan (Abou Simbel) et remonter jusqu'à Hurghada pour ensuite traversé le Sinai jusqu'à la frontière Israélienne pour finalement traverser en Jordanie. Je ne vais pas plus loin dans mon expédition puisque sans intérêt dans ce post.
Cet expédition a été réalisé 6 mois après le printemps arabe. Le pays était encore chaud et la poussière politique localisé n'était pas encore redescendu. Les zones dangereuses étaient à l'époque entre le Caire et Abydos par la route et entre la frontière du Soudan et Assouan (corridor de trafiquant) et bien sur tout l'ouest du Sahara côtoyant la frontière Libyenne.
Depuis les entrées légales et illégales pour la bande de Gaza dans le nord du Sinaï ne se font que par l'Égypte. Le Hamas dispose de fonds suffisamment important pour acheter soldats et policiers sous payer afin que les marchandises entrées par le Soudan et la Libye leurs parviennent. L'avion russe de touristes abattu en 2015 par les combattants de l'état Islamique n'aidera pas la région du Sinai a être considéré ''safe'' non plus.
Ceci étant dit la zone archéologique d'Alexandria à Abou Simbel (axe totale nord-sud) se visite bien et se backpack bien. Les mesures de sécurité élémentaires sont de mises et il faut faire attention aux nouveaux amis (rabatteur) dans chaque ville. Généralement je me construit un réseau de contact d'hébergement en hébergement. Du 1ier hébergement je trouve le 2e ou un bon guide ou un bon taxi ou chauffeur et ainsi de suite.
Le Sinai, c'est devenu un ''no man's land''. Hurghada et Sharm el Cheik reste des villes atteignables à l'exception de Dahab qui est beaucoup plus petite et plus ''smooth''. Toutes excursions en dehors de la zone de plage de la mer rouge doit être considéré à haut risque puisque la zone entre la plage et la bande de Gaza n'est pas sous contrôle militaire. Tu y retrouve Daesh, Hamas, Tsahal, USA, CIA et des drones en patrouille.
En gros ta virée archéologique est très viables sur plusieurs semaines (pour bien apprécié) mais ton escapade à Dahab n'est pas sécuritaire (c'est d'y arrivé qui pause problème, pas une fois là-bas).
Je te conseil de te perde plusieurs jours dans le désert entre le Caire et Louxor par les oasis (voir mon carnet de voyage non complété la partie égyptienne oui)).
Bonne planification et essai d'éviter la zone de combat qu'est devenu le Sinai.
Il me semble que la zone déconseillée n'a pas changé récemment, en tous cas pas depuis mai. Nous sommes partis en mai et la carte était déjà comme ça.
A mon avis partir en sac à dos dans tout le pays n'est pas conseillé, il faut éviter les zones dangereuses et rester dans la zone de "vigilance renforcée "(cf carte du gouvernement français). Ce qui laisse tout de même pas mal d'endroits à voir ! 😉
Les conseils étaient les mêmes que quand vous avez prévu votre voyage et le faire avec sac à dos ou ... avec T O ne change rien, j'aurais même dit : au contraire .
Il va de soi que, comme dit dans les consignes sur ce site, mieux vaut éviter " le nord du Sinaï, le Désert occidental et les frontières avec la Libye et le Soudan " et " se tenir à distance des manifestations et attroupements " : le faire en sac à dos ne pose pas de problème particulier .
merci pour ta réponse détaillée ainsi qu'aux autres.
Les plans ont changé car le premier mois, je serais accompagné par ma famille (mon frère et ma mère) et nous partirons en novembre.
On devait passer cette partie là à Dahab pour profiter de la mer rouge, snorkeling .... mais apparemment, c'est plutôt déconseillé.
Qu'en est- il selon vous de sharm el sheikh ou hurghada ? ou autre ?
Je recherche parallèlement d'autres options plongée libre pour le mois de novembre. Possiblement l'Indonésie ou la Jordanie.
Si tu as quelques retours sur la Jordanie Elcanadiense et les autres, surtout au sujet de la plongée libre (snorkeling), merci à l'avance.
Je vais chercher un peu sur le forum et d'autres ... merci encore pour votre aide.
Hello, my husband and I will be in Egypt this coming November. Cairo seems more challenging to explore without a guide, and we’ll be there for 3 full days. Would anyone have the name of a guide?
Thanks!
Hi, we're looking for a guide to show us around Essaouira.
We're 11 adults and don't want to go through an agency. If you have a contact to help us discover this city, that would be great!
Thanks
I’m heading back to Egypt for the first time in 30 years this July. Last time, I was 20, and we spent two weeks traveling on a shoestring as backpackers.
I’m wondering about a "cruise" on a felucca from Aswan—mainly to avoid being stuck in an air-conditioned tourist bubble (we’re already spending our first week in that setting with our diving club). We’d like to explore the most interesting stretch of the Nile between Aswan and Luxor. Do you have any thoughts on this option, tips, or maybe some contacts?
I was wondering if it’s possible to join a group as a solo traveler with local agencies in Djanet for circuits like Tadrart, Essendilene, Sefar, or Tassili?
If you have any agencies to recommend, I’d love to hear about them.
I didn’t find any info on the forum.
Best,
Here’s a first draft for a 14-night itinerary during the Christmas break with two teens. We’re especially fond of hiking (nothing too extreme, though), which is why we’re drawn to the south.
- Marrakech (2 nights)
- Aït Ben Haddou (1 night)
- Dadès (3 nights, though we’re thinking of doing a day trip to the Todra Gorge on one of those days)
- M'hamid (1 night)
- Erg Chigaga (1 night)
- 4 nights to slot in
- Marrakech (2 nights)
Okay, I realize this involves a lot of driving, and we’re still debating the return route since we’d like to avoid the Tichka Pass in January, but going through Taroudant seems like it would add *a lot* of time. 😕
If you’ve got other suggestions for an itinerary with great hikes, I’m all ears!
Also, the 4 nights total in MRK isn’t really our preference, but since we’re arriving/departing super early from overseas, we’d like to be a bit rested before the long flight.
Another question:
For hikes (aside from the desert one), is it better to have a guide with us, or are the trails well-marked?
Hi everyone,
Our trip to Morocco will be from November 3 to 17, in the High Atlas.
Basically, our route would be:
Marrakech - Aït Benhaddou
Skoura - Tinghir - Merzouga
Merzouga via the N12 to Zagora
Zagora - Draa Valley - Marrakech
It seems to be the low season, so I’d love to travel without having to book accommodations in advance. In other countries, pre-booking has restricted us and kept us from visiting unplanned sites. Freedom is important to us, but I’d also like to avoid arriving somewhere and finding nothing available.
What do you recommend? Book ahead or not?
Your advice is always helpful, and thanks to anyone who can shed some light on this for me.
Roberto
First of all: a big thank you to everyone whose insightful, funny, lively, and exotic posts we’ve enjoyed. It’s a joy to find such lovely writers on this forum, who’ve given me tons of ideas and addresses to prepare our trip.
Our plan: to explore Morocco from November 2nd to December 4th. We’ll have our own vehicle (a 2011 Renault Grand Scenic, in great condition), shipped with us from Sète to Tanger Med. Returning from Nador.
Our profile: 75 and 62 years young, so old but happy to be, in very good health. Seasoned travelers—it’s practically our whole life. Lovers of beautiful landscapes, historic sites, fine craftsmanship, and road trips. This will be my 3rd trip to Morocco, but the first two were 20 and 17 years ago. I’ve never been north of the Essaouira-Marrakech line (though I’ve gone further south). As for my husband, a lifelong expat including in Muslim countries, it’s his first time in Morocco.
He’s the one driving. He’s very experienced, cautious, not necessarily fast, but used to driving in all conditions (and countries, including the most creative on the road). But I don’t want to tire him out, and he no longer drives at night (and we’ll be there in November).
I’ve decided to show him a bit of everything by taking a road trip along beautiful backroads, with daily distances averaging 180-200 km (except on highways, which will be rare), regularly broken up by rest days. I’m counting on a speed of 40-50 km/h, plus stops/visits along the way.
Since I’ve read so many posts, I’ve narrowed it down to some very specific questions.
1) Coming directly from Rabat via the highway, we’d prefer to skip Marrakech*. Still, we’ll need to sleep somewhere nearby. We’ll head toward Skoura the next day. Does anyone have a well-located address for this route, possibly east of Marrakech? Ideally, we’re looking for a small town, easy parking, clean accommodation (minimum) with average comfort (or better if available), a bit heated, and if possible, pretty and/or nice—but above all, a place to sleep well, wash with lukewarm (ideally hot) water, and have a decent dinner.
(*Explanation for the "no-go" in Marrakech: it’s a shame, because there are truly beautiful things in this city, but I think the vibe won’t suit us—it’s an understatement for "it’ll put us off" / "make us flee" / "traumatize us." Not because it’s too crowded and we want to stand out from tourists (we’re part of them), but because of forced henna on your hand, or spending 10 minutes every quarter-hour saying "no thank you" to a "guide" who’s as much a guide as I am a trapeze artist. Knowing us, it’ll wear us down. The country is vast and beautiful, and our time too short to waste our memories just days after arriving. And I don’t want to ruin things for my peaceful husband, or he’ll demand we turn back—and Sète in November isn’t exactly thrilling either.)
2) Which route to Skoura (in 2 days)? I see two options: either via the Tichka Pass, with a night in Telouet before reaching Skoura, or via the R307/N23 from Demnate, with a night near Megdaz before descending to Skoura. So: Tichka Pass or R307/N23? I have a slight (big) preference for the second option, even though I know the other route is very beautiful too. Of course, before deciding, we’ll check the weather and the current state of the R307/N23—does anyone know where to get info on the road conditions? But even assuming the road is "passable," is it a bit too tough in itself? In short, is it reasonable? If a kind soul could share their experience, a thousand thanks in advance.
That’s all I’ve written for now. I’ll save the other questions for later posts. Thanks again to those who had the patience to read this and to those who can respond. Happy Sunday to all!
I’m just a few days away from my trip to Marrakech—I’m leaving from November 13th to 20th and bringing my parents along! I’d love to plan my stay as best as I can, and I’m sure the forum crew can help. So, here are my questions:
- Where’s the best place to exchange money without getting ripped off? The owner of the riad where we’re staying told us to avoid doing it at the airport because it’s really expensive and to do it in the medina instead, near Jemaa el-Fna square.
- Which traditional hammams do you recommend that are reasonably priced? How much should we budget for one? That’ll help me plan my expenses.
- What are some nice restaurants in the medina?
- I’d also like to know roughly how much to expect for a tea, a meal, a taxi, a djellaba, and babouches. I don’t want to get overcharged and would like to know what to expect.
- What are the must-do activities and places to visit?
Hi, I’d like to head to Morocco next week with my car. I’ve looked online at all the different info about the ferry crossing to Tangier, but I’m finding it really expensive. Is there a way to buy tickets in Spain? Or another way to get the Algeciras–Tangier crossing cheaper? Thanks for any tips or info!
We found a guide who offers the trip from M'hamid to a camp (departure at 3 PM, tea, meal, camel ride, overnight stay, breakfast, and return to M'Hamid by 11 AM the next day via the sacred oasis). He quoted us a price of 380 € for April.
What do you think of this rate?
This might sound like a silly question, but is it common to negotiate the price for this kind of thing (we're booking from France)? It’s still a big part of our travel budget.
Hi there,
We're planning to visit Egypt between January 25 and February 15, 2027. I looked up the Ramadan dates and found some sites saying it starts on February 8, while others say February 18... Where's the mistake?
Thanks,
Christian
Hi there,
We’re a family of 4 with two boys aged 12 and 10 traveling to Egypt in February.
We’re spending 3 days in Cairo to take our time exploring the city and the sites before heading south.
-Is it necessary to have a guide to visit the GEM? Are audio guides available?
-Do you have any contacts for drivers to organize a few transfers (Giza, Saqqara, Airport)?
-Do you know a French-speaking guide who’s friendly, family-friendly, and good at making things exciting, with reasonable prices?
With our two teens, we’re heading to Morocco for two weeks at the end of December and beginning of January. It’ll be our first trip that’s more "off the beaten path," even though we’ve visited several countries before. Given the overwhelming amount of info, I’m feeling a bit swamped with the prep this trip requires, and I’ll admit I’m a little lost when it comes to figuring out what’s realistic to visit in two weeks 😕 So, all your tips, personal experiences, and suggestions are more than welcome!
- Which places should we prioritize during this time of year? (I’ve read that some spots are less accessible in winter?)
- What’s the best way to get around? (rental car, train, private transport, buses, etc.? — just a heads-up, we’ll have a few suitcases!)
- In terms of "safety," are there any areas to avoid?
- Any recommendations for reliable local tour companies (beyond the big names like "Get Your Guide") that offer excursions or private transport to help us explore the country?
- A doable 2-week itinerary that lets us enjoy the country’s diversity without having to change accommodations every two days?
I’m planning a trip to the High Atlas in Morocco and have a few questions for you:
- Why do so many people recommend avoiding international agencies for car rentals? Can anyone explain why?
- Is Booking.com reliable, and has anyone rented a vehicle through their service? There’s a pretty big price difference compared to local Moroccan agencies.
- Is there a detailed road map included in the rental car?
- Is Google Maps enough to get around the High Atlas? This will be my first trip there.
Thanks so much to anyone who can help with this destination I’ve been dreaming about for years.
Have a great evening,
Roberto
hi there, I’m heading to Tunisia 🙂 from April 27 to May 8 with my family. I’ve read through the various discussions about the country, but I’m still a bit unsure🤪: for currency exchange, I saw on the French Ministry of Foreign Affairs website that withdrawing currency with a bank card from ATMs is limited to 200 TND per week. There are four of us traveling by car, so that might be a bit tight! And it’s a hassle to carry a lot of cash, even if I’m not being paranoid! What do you all recommend?
Cheers,
Laurent.
We're planning a 2-week trip in late February/early March for a road trip in the High Atlas with a rental car, and we'd love to avoid booking our accommodations in advance. Is that doable, easily manageable, or risky (are accommodations available, expensive, or not great)? Thanks for your tips!
Annie
Hi,
This autumn, we’re planning to explore the Oriental region and we’re wondering where the best place to land would be. We’ll have three weeks ahead of us and we’ll be renting a car.
Any tips would be much appreciated. Thanks.
Is there an official website or list of certified Egyptologist guides in Egypt? And most importantly, what are the normal prices for a full day or half day? There’s so much scamming and crazy pricing—depending on who you contact, it can range from simple to quadruple!!!!
Thanks
Hello,
In September, my wife and I, along with another couple, will be traveling to Tunisia and staying at the Sheherasade Hotel near Sousse.
We’d love to hear your recommendations or tips on places to visit, as well as advice on taxis or other transportation options.
Thanks in advance!
This autumn’s trip should be in Morocco—barring any geopolitical issues between now and then.
After many trips to the south of Fès, I’m giving the north a try.
My plan is roughly to do a road trip loop from Rabat back to Rabat, passing through Asilah, Tangier, Tétouan, Chefchaouen, Akchour, Fès, Meknès, and Volubilis.
That’s a lot of cities.
Probably a bit too many for our taste—we usually prefer more isolated spots...
So I’m looking for tips on little backroads, secluded beaches, half-day hikes, and offbeat places.
If you’ve also got recommendations for accommodation... (We’re open to splurging over 100 € if it’s a real favorite.)
Feel free to think outside the box—this is an open-ended plan! !😉
Hello,
I’m looking for testimonials from Pieds-Noirs who have recently returned to Algeria.
There can’t be many left after 65 years of the country’s independence.
I’m planning to go back myself soon to reconnect with my roots... before I pass away...
I’ve started making a few pre-bookings for hotels and apartments to rent in Algiers. At first, I received friendly and welcoming responses. Then, when I mentioned I wanted to stay for two or three weeks—maybe even a month—explaining that my trip wouldn’t be strictly touristy but more of a pilgrimage to the places of my childhood, and that it would likely be a very emotional journey, I expected a positive and warm reaction to my approach. Instead, I suddenly stopped getting replies from the three or four people I’d contacted. So now I’m wondering about the reception former Pieds-Noirs can expect...
Anyone here who can share their experience of returning? I specified “recently” because it seems that right now, diplomatic relations between the two governments are extremely tense, not to say hostile... even if Macron claims otherwise...
Hello,
I’m traveling to Algeria from October 27 to November 16, 2026.
I’d love to hear from anyone who’s been through the process about the accommodation attestation required for the visa application:
- Does it need to cover the entire duration of the trip?
- Is this document mandatory for a hotel to rent a room?
- Is it checked during inspections?
- Is a hotel booking (e.g., via Booking.com) sufficient for the visa?
- If so, does it need to be paid in advance?
I plan to visit several cities and do one or more treks with a guide or agency.
If you have any contacts you’d recommend, I’d be grateful!
Also, I’d love to share this trip with a companion who’s already done some traveling.
We’d organize the journey together, of course.
Thanks for your feedback!
Safe travels to all,
Dom, Dijon, 64 years old
I’m leaving for Tunisia in five weeks for a full 15-day trip. I’ll be arriving in Monastir and departing from there as well.
I’d like to do a route that’s a bit different from my first stay, which was more focused on cities and culture (Tunis, Sousse, Kairouan, El Jem).
I’ll be getting around by public transport.
I’d like to head south toward Tozeur, and I saw that you can take a *louage* from Monastir to Sbeitla (2h30). I imagine it’s not too complicated to get to Tozeur from there afterward? The issue is the return trip to Monastir and safety in Sbeitla.
If this route seems too complicated, I might opt for Djerba instead, which looks simpler.
I’m heading to Morocco in September 2026, and part of my trip takes me through Merzouga. I’m looking for a 4x4 driver-guide to explore the area with my partner and me.
