Bonjour,
nous nous rendons en Egypte début mai (4 jours au Caire avant 6 jours détente, plongée et ... détente à Sharm el sheik).
Nous souhaiterions savoir quelles sont les visites à ne pas manquer au Caire.
Hello,
Tu peux visiter le Musée Egyptien situé sur "midan Tahrir", faire une ballade dans le quartier copte et il y a plein de marché pour faire des cadeaux.Le plus populaire des souk est Khan el Khalili mais attention aux arnaques.En Egypte les touristes sont des gros pigeons pour les commerçants!Cela dit ça serait dommage de pas ramener une petit shisha de labas (50 livres environ selon la taille)...Un truc sympa à faire aussi, c'est d'allé faire une petite balade en bateau sur le nil le soir.C est bonne ambiance!Et puis ça coute rien de se ballader dans la ville et s'y perdre.Perso j'adore faire ça.
Si tu as des questions n'esite pas j'essayerai d'y répondre.
Tchuss
Au Caire, ce que j'ai préféré, c'est flaner dans le quartier Islamique, sans trop savoir où j'allais, en me laissant porter par mes pas. Ce quartier est très sympa, hors des circuits touristiques classique (on n'a pas croisé d'autres européens quand on y était). Il y a des achats très sympa à faire, j'ai notamment découvert une petite boutique qui vend de très belles boites et autres objets nacrés.
La mosquée El Azhar qui se trouve dans ce quartier est la plus impressionnante que j'ai vue, et si tu vas à Bab Zwela (toujours ds ce quartier), tu découvriras l'ancien mur d'enceinte du Caire et l'une de ses portes fortifiées.
La citadelle est chouette, belle vue sur le Caire depuis ses hauteur.
Toujours au Caire, je te conseille le musée egyptien. Autant le musée du Louvre est impressionnant par la richesse de ses informations, autant le musée du Caire est surprenant par la beauté des objets présentés qui sont beaucoup plus impressionnants que ceux présentés au Louvre.
Le parc El Azhar est super agréable, oasis de verdure dans cette grande métropole. Et le soir, au coucher du soleil, magnifique vue sur la ville.
J'ai aussi fait une après midi pour aller voir les pyramides de Guizeh et le Sphinx, ça vaut le coup, meme si je préfère largement des coins moins touristiques. Il parait que les pyramides de Dahchour sont très chouette, et surtout moins touristiques.
Bonjour,
Pas mal de choses à voir au Caire, comme dit plus haut.
Bien sûr les pyramides avec le son et lumière qui est magnifique, c'est bien sûr mieux que les photos de mon sites.
Les photos jusqu' à Abou Simbel sont prises aux alentours du Caire, vous aurez une idée et en cliquant sur les liens rouges, plus de détails.
Bon voyage
A voir absolument, la mosquée Ibn el Thouloum
Les maisons Harawi et Al Sinnari deux vieilles maisons restaurées
Et les derviches tourneurs, le mercredi soir(il parrait qu'on peut les voir aussi le lundi et samedi) dans une salle située du coté de la mosquée El Azhar, le Wakal el Gouhry.
J'ai noté un site qui te donne les bonnes adresses à visiter, vraiment à conseiller!
http://www.vascomag.com/spip.php?article103
Je te souhaite un bon séjour, dans ce pays merveilleux, cher à mon coeur.
kris
"Si tu tues le coq au village, et la perdrix dans la forêt,
qui est-ce qui t'indiquera le lever du jour ?
Bonjour, il y a aussi Sakkarah à ne pas manquer si tu aimes l'histoire et les vieilles pierres bien entendu et le musée de memphis, tout dépend de tes goûts ! Il y a tellement de choses à voir et pourquoi pas le spectacle son et lumière de Gizeh ! Bon voyage
Lorsque j'en aurais assez d'aller voir au loin j'irai voir d'où je viens.
La Visite du Musée National Archéologique, abritant plus de 250.000 pièces dont le fabuleux trésor de Toutankhamon. C'est l'un des plus grands musées du monde. Il permet au visiteur de découvrir l'histoire de l'Egypte ancienne à travers 5 millénaires.
La visite de la mosquée de Muhammad Ali, ottomane et byzantine à la fois, si blanche qu'elle est surnommée "mosquée d'albâtre" et celle du Sultan Hassan aux stalactites de pierre.
Le shopping dans les souks de Khan El Khalili, bazar très coloré construit au 14ème siècle, qui est avec celui d'Istanbul, les deux souks les plus grands de tout le Moyen Orient.
La Visite du plateau de Guizeh, où se dresse la septième merveille du monde : les trois grandes pyramides de Kéops, Képhren et Mykérinos. A leurs pieds, veille le sphinx ; statue mythique à la tête de lion (70 m de long - 20 m de hauteur).
A faire absolument la ballade en dromadaire (notre guide nous a proposé cette excursion : 15 €/personne ; durée : 45 minutes autour des pyramides : c'était génial....) : prévoir lunettes de soleil, casquette et foulard (on a eu une tempête de sable chaud.....).
A l'est de la grande Pyramide, les immenses "reposoirs", barques solaires trouvées en 1954, en forme de poisson (entrée du musée payante).
Spectacle Sons et Lumières aux Pyramides (25 €/personne) : ça n'était pas si intéressant que cela : détails (vous êtes assis et vous écoutez l'histoire de l'Egypte alors que des images sont envoyées sur les trois pyramides).
Ne prenez surtout pas en excursion : visite du CAIRE la nuit en bus : les personnes qui l'ont choisie ont été très déçus.
A part ces sites indiqués ci-dessus, le CAIRE n'est pas attirant : ville polluée (le ciel vous le démontrera : toujours blanc gris le soleil n'apparait jamais malgré la chaleur intense).
Bon voyage.
Période recommandée pour visiter l'Egypte : FEVRIER, MARS ou AVRIL.
"A part ces sites indiqués ci-dessus, le CAIRE n'est pas attirant"
Vous dites cela car vous avez une vision très superficielle et très cosmétique de ce qui peut-être intéressant dans une ville....
Vous faites le pire : la mosquée la moins intéréssante de la ville, la zone la plus artificielle du souk, le dromadaire grotesque.....
J'ai aimé la Visite du plateau de Guizeh, où se dresse la septième merveille du monde : les trois grandes pyramides de Kéops, Képhren et Mykérinos. A leurs pieds, veille le sphinx ; statue mythique à la tête de lion (70 m de long - 20 m de hauteur).
A l'est de la grande Pyramide, les immenses "reposoirs", barques solaires trouvées en 1954, en forme de poisson (entrée du musée payante).
C'est sûr qu'il n'y a pas grand chose à voir, la visite à l'intérieur de KEOPS est payante mais est déconseillée aux personnes ayant des problèmes respiratoires et aux asthmatiques (d'ailleurs le prix est élevé : 100 € par personne) ; d'autre part il n'y a pas grand chose à voir, sinon un escalier exigu).
Mais c'est tout de même très impressionnant lorsque vous arrivez au CAIRE et apercevez de loin ces 3 pyramides.
Je vous conseille en option : la ballade en dromadaire pendant 45 mn autour des pyramides. C'est génial.
Prévoyez lunettes de soleil, casquette, foulard si tempête de sable autour des pyramides.
Le spectacle son et lumières aux pieds des pyramides : c'est cher et pas si bien que celà.
Aller en Egypte sans voir les Pyramides, c'est comme aller à Paris et ne pas aller voir la Tour Eiffel.
Vous avez l'air de bien connaître l'EGYPTE alors c'est bien continuez à nous donner des conseils de visite et pourquoi ne contactez vous pas toutes les AGENCES qui organisent des circuits en EGYPTE, puisque vous avez l'air de bien connaître ce payers, sachez que les visites que j'ai faites (allant pour la 1ère fois en EGYPTE) étaient celles prévues au programme des excursions proposées par mon AGENCE.
A la limite pourquoi n'organisez vous des visites (puisque les vôtres ont l'air plus appropriées ?????)
Je n'ai aucune envie de vendre des visites 😏... moi qui n'ai jamais eu recours à une agence....
Si vous prenez le temps de lire un peu ce forum, vous verrez que l'on recommande ici plein d'autres endroits au Caire, tout de même nettement plus authentiques.
Le Caire est une ville, dont vous semblez ignorer, de plus de 20 millions d'habitants, très grande ville qui regorge de sites aussi beaux les uns que les autres, et en 3 jours au Caire en voyage organisé on ne peut pas tout visiter, et le guide nous a fait visiter les sites les plus prestigieux : pyramides de Giseh, Mosquée la plus importante, Citadelle, souks les plus importants, quartier copte, etc...... Lors d'un prochain voyage, on pourra peut être visiter autre chose. C'est sûr, qu'en voyage organisé on est obligé de suivre....... et en 3 jours on ne peut pas aller de partout.
Je suis allé au Caire assez souvent pour savoir comment se présente la ville et combien d'habitants elle compte....
La mosquée "la plus importante" dont vous parlez n'est qu'une mosquée très secondaire, sans grande valeur architecturale, et atypique pour le pays - de style ottoman. Elle est sur la parcours des TO parce que très facile à aborder d'un point de vue matériel et pratique.
Les souks que vous avez vus ne sont en rien les plus importants ; ce sont juste ceux où des commerçants spécialisés dans le tourisme organisé vous attendent avec des produits à votre intention.
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.
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,
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.
Even though I come to Morocco four times a year, it’s been a long time since I’ve made the trip by car. I need to refresh my knowledge! I’ll be traveling in early October. I have a car that’s about 20 years old. The plan is to cross via Algeciras/Ceuta.
A few questions:
1) Does this crossing still exist? If so, do I need to buy the ticket in advance or on the spot? From whom? Any advice is welcome!
2) What documents are required for the car?
3) If anyone is making the trip around the same time, it could be fun to drive together 😊
Hi there,
I’m looking for some friendly recommendations for places to stay in Marrakech for 3 nights in June 2026.
In the meantime, have a great day, everyone! Thanks so much in advance.
Snorkeling in Hurghada
Off to explore Egypt!
Back in Tunisia (live account)
7 weeks and 150 years between us on a southern Morocco road trip
The Pearl of Africa - July-August 2026
A little piece of Sulawesi with the family: Rantepao and Selayar
Tanzania Classics (Safari & Zanzibar)
Getting Away to Ireland
