Je suis ravie de faire maintenant partie de ce forum de discussion 😉
Est-ce que quelqu'un a déjà voyagé en Egypte par lui même avec les moyens de transport locaux et sans passer par une agence ?
Avec mon ami, nous aimerions juste prendre le vol pour Le Caire et les 2 premières nuits puis faire notre voyage nous-même sur place pour combiner viste et plongées à notre rythme. Beaucoup nous le déconseille. Qu'en pensez-vous ??
Il y a des tas de gens qui voyagent seuls en Egypte, et j'ai bien du il aller 5 fois, sans jamais avoir recours à la moindre agence. C'est un pays très facile à visiter ainsi - parmis les plus faciles au monde...
Merci beaucoup pour ta réponse, c'est très rassurant et ton site est fantastique !
Je prendrais le temps de bien l'étudier et je te recontacterai en cas de question si tu le permets sinon je te raconterai mes impressions à mon retour !!
Je serais plus mitigé quant à la faisabilité de l'Egypte en Backpack ... C'est vrai qu'il est très facile de trouver un hôtel, un restau sympa, de prendre le bus ou le train, de louer un vélo ou une Felouque. Le problème du voyage "solo" en Egypte c'est ce harcèlement continuel dont les touristes font l'objet. Tu descends de ton hôtel des chauffeurs de taxi de tombent sur le coin de la gueule. Tu descends du bus, on t'arrache tes bagages pour que tu ailles dans tel ou tel hôtel. Tu passes devant un restau, on te hèle comme du bétail. Tu visites un site, des guides ne cessent de te proposer leurs services etc ... Je caricature, l'Egypte fort heureusement ce n'est pas que cet aspect, mais il vaut mieux te prévenir afin de te préparer à te faire solliciter fréquemment. Afin de fuir ce harcèlement, j'avais décidé de me rendre dans l'oasis de Baharyah ... c'était presque pareil ... descente du bus, harcèlement. Dans ton hôtel on venait te voir pour te proposer des safaris en jeep, à dos de chameau etc ...
En somme, c'est le pays que j'ai visité où la sollicitation du touriste était la plus forte 🤪🤪🤪
Je pense que tu exagères, mais il est vrai que sans être difficile, l'Egypte est fatiguante !
Si on descend dans un hotel simple, on n'est pas harcelé par les taxis ; quant au Hilton, vous dites "la la shoukran" et c'est bon....
Par contre, les oasis, effectivement, c'est pire ! Les endroits les pires sont : place Talaat Harb, l'aeroport, Luxor, devant la gare à Aswan et sur la corniche, et je suppose des coins du Sinai, et surtout les oasis, Bahareyya en particulier ! Mauvaise pioche, donc !
Je suis tout à fait d'accord avec toi cher Beub... Ils sont parfois si collant qu'ils peuvent bousiller les vacances... (enfin avis perso) La dernière fois, nous avons raccourci notre séjour en Egypte tellement on n'en pouvait plus et avons visité Petra en Jordanie, (waouh!!!:))
Je n'ai jamais voyagé en organisé, mais l'Egypte en solo, c'est pas toujours facile principalement à cause de ca.
Chouette ton site Tetra! Je ne connais pas l'hotel 'luna' au Caire, mais le Mayfair en effet est très bien. 🙂
(en plus de "la, la choukran", non non merci, je rajouterais "èmchi" va t'en, "minfedlek", s't'plaît 😉, enfin, ca marche pas toujours 🤪)
Fainéanter dans un monde neuf est la plus absorbante des occupations... (N.Bouvier)
Ce n'est pas tout à fait faut, mais c'est beaucoup moins violent comme harcèlement si on est en solo et discret que si on est engroupe ou en croisière, où là c'est effectivement insupportable, pour autant que j'ai pu l'observer à Aswan ou Luxor, ou les prix triplent à l'heure de le descente des croisièristes....
C'est bizzare, parce que pour ma part j'ai constaté le contraire. Les groupes semblent plus épargnés par le harcèlement. La masse semble dissuader les petits racoleurs. Un groupe de 20, 30 ou 50 personnes n'intéresse ni les chauffeurs de Taxis, ni les conducteurs de calèches, ni les racolleurs de restaus ou d'hôtels, ni les guides des sites touristiques (puisque ces groupes en ont déjà), ni les vendeurs à la sauvette qui se font dagager vite fait par les cadres de ces groupes, etc ... Les voyageurs en individuel sont justement la cible de ceux cités plus haut.
Je ne conseille jamais de voyager en organisé ... mais pour ce qui est de l'Egypte, c'est l'exception qui semblerait confirmer cette règle 🤪🤪🤪.
Pour être tranquille seul, il faut adopter un certain comporetement. Etre vêtu sobre aide : pantalon et chemise ; ni short ni bermuda ni appareil photo "toutou" ; avoir toujours l'air de savoir où on va, ne pas s'interrompre si on vous interpelle, tout en esquivant avec le sourire ; "la la shoukran", un geste de la main. Les lunettes de soleil, c'est aussi utile. Ne jamais ouvrir un guide, ne jamais die que l'on ne vient pas au moins pour la cinquième fois en Egypte.
Dire trois mots en arabe est un must.
On ne m'a jamais arraché de bagage des mains, et il est très rare que des vendeurs aient insisté ; pour les grandes occasions, et seulement sur les enfants, essayez "imshi".
J'ai remarqué que lutter contre ces désagréments était plus difficile en couple ; seul, pas de problème, selon mon expérience.
Les groupes que j'ai vus, personnellement, étaient assaillis de toutes parts, et surtout ne pouvaient absolument pas passer pour des expats, ce qui est quand même l'objectif pour avoir un peu la paix !
Je suis désolée Tatra, mais je suis encore d'accord avec Beub...
Suivant ton expérience, il est probable qu'un homme se fasse moins harceler qu'un couple...
Je suis partie en Egypte (en couple) un mois en 91 et en 93, puis j'y ai bossé un an et demi en 95-96, y suis encore retournée en 99(sharm), 00 et 03(sharm). Le voyage en 2000 fut le pire...
Sorry mais voilà le pourquoi de mon coup de gueule...
C'était le ramadan, j'étais accompagnée d'un homme ne ressemblant pas du tout à JCVdamme, je baragouine qques mots (plus que 3 ;)) d'égyptien, portais de larges pantalons de coton, et un gros pull large et long. Nous mangions et buvions la journée, discrètement à l'intérieur des restos ou hôtels. (ramadan)
L'homme qui m'accompagnait était quasi invisible à leurs yeux...
En demandant deux cafés en arabe, si je payais 2x le prix d'un égyptien nous nous faisions insulter, c'était l'engueulade avec le serveur qui voulait nous faire payer 5 x le prix! 😠
Si je m'étais habillée en short et dos nu, j'aurais été tellement détestable et irrespectueuse que j'aurais peut être eu la paix? Mais là, la peau toute couverte à part mon visage, mains et pieds, c'était "Hey Miss, I give you money to look" sic ! 😠😠😠au lieu des habituels "hey Miss, come have a look in my shop, free no money"🤪
Ceci dit, Gribouille, l'Egypte est grandiose, et est à voir absolument, mais par exemple pour visiter les pyramides, vas y donc à l'heure du midi, les groupes sont partis déjeuner, si toi et ton copain voulez être tranquille, acceptez qu'un égyptien vous colle, juste le temps de rêver et de papoter ;), le temps que vous voulez...
Essayez d'avoir une carte Isic d'étudiant, l'entrée des sites sera moitié moins cher.
A Luxor, un chouette moyen de visiter la vallée des rois et d'y aller par le temple d'Hatchepsout, une balade d'une heure et demie, en prenant son temps, sur les collines pierreuses, la vue est grandiose.
Sinon, tu peux aussi y aller à dos d'âne (au secours les fesses, plus jamais 😉), en vélo (au secours la chaleur, jusqu'au Ramseseum ça va ensuite re au secours, non merci) ou en taxi collectif. (bof)
Pour Abu Simbel, nous avions loué un taxi collectif avec d’autres touristes voyageurs de l’hôtel, mais je ne sais pas si c’est toujours/encore possible.
Se balader plusieurs jours en felouque entre Assouan et Edfu par exemple, est une expérience inoubliable (Beub, non, leur parle pas des toilettes 😄)
Lors de l’achat de billets de trains Assouan – Le Caire, nous avions demandé deux tickets en 2ème classe, avions payé la 2ème classe, et nos tickets indiquaient 1ère… Sans doute par sécurité, ils ne préféraient nous mettre en 1ère… 🙂
Donc à part les racoleurs harcèlants, c’est sans problèmes😉, et c'est un pays fascinant! J'espère que mon coup de gueule ne vous freine pas dans l'idée d'y aller...
Un super voyage à vous deux! 🙂
Fainéanter dans un monde neuf est la plus absorbante des occupations... (N.Bouvier)
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.
