I’ve got a bit of a dilemma about our return trip from Abu Simbel to Cairo.
On November 24th, we want to travel from Aswan to Abu Simbel during the day, arriving between 2 and 4 PM to check into our hotel and see the Sound and Light show at the temples. This transfer isn’t booked yet—I still need to find ground transportation for two.
We also want to visit the two temples early on November 25th, before the minibuses arrive.
That’s when things get tricky for the return to Cairo!
- **PLANE from Abu Simbel**: There’s an EgyptAir flight at 1:30 PM, but it stops in Aswan at 2:10 PM and doesn’t leave again until 8:20 PM, arriving in Cairo at 9:50 PM. Since it’s a combined flight, I assume our luggage will follow. We *could* wander around the airport area, but that doesn’t thrill me—plus, we’ll have already seen the Kalabsha Temple.
- **GROUND TRANSPORT back to Aswan** (with prior authorization, like on the way there).
- **PLANE from Aswan**: Take the same flight mentioned above, but from Aswan at 8:20 PM. But what do we do with our luggage while waiting for the flight?
- **TRAIN from Aswan at 9:05 PM**, arriving in Cairo—or even Alexandria—at 6:05 AM, since we need to go there too! This could be a fun experience if the conditions are decent. The only catch: we’d need to book the train 17 days in advance, meaning by November 8th, when we’ll be in Kharga (the last leg of our 5-day desert trip). Our French-speaking guide might be able to help reserve the tickets, though???
Which option seems the most enjoyable 😉, the least hassle 😕...
Hello everyone,
if I understood correctly, your return flight is from Cairo?? But you're going to the Al Kharga Oasis, west of Luxor?? Are you talking about a guide? Do you have a guide accompanying you???
If that's the case for the stops, for the Kharga Oasis, you'll need to leave from Luxor—it's not doable from Cairo. So that means extra trips, right??
So, why on November 24th? Either you take a private vehicle, but since you're likely staying overnight, you keep the taxi or send it back and find another one for the return to Aswan (a private car is much more expensive since there are two of you). Otherwise, I know it's always with the same driver we go to Abu Simbel.
Or, the cheapest option—and if you have at least 24 hours before your departure for Abu Simbel—is to go to the Aswan bus station (about 4.5 km north of the street facing Aswan train station; you can ask a taxi to take you there), buy your round-trip tickets, make sure to specify the return for the next day, and give them the time you want to come back. They'll tell you the closest departure time to your schedule. Once you arrive in Abu Simbel, find a taxi or tuk-tuk to take you to your hotel.
When you return to Aswan, the best thing to do as early as possible is to take the train to Luxor (you should have bought your tickets in advance), stay overnight, and the next day head to the Kharga Oasis. After your stay, return to Luxor to take the train to Cairo or possibly a flight.
I’ll ask if there’s still a bus line to Al Kharga (if that’s the right oasis) and see how many trips there are per week???
Thoutmosis
Oops, here’s my itinerary—this’ll make more sense than my explanations! When you're in the middle of planning, it’s hard to be clear.
To sum up, I don’t think I was very smooth ;-)
My question: how do we get back from Abu Simbel to Cairo (or possibly Alexandria, since we need to go there)?
A few scenarios:
1 – Fly to Cairo, BUT there’s a very long layover in Aswan, all afternoon until evening. What can we do during that time? We’ll be pretty "far" from the city.
2 – Return from Abu Simbel to Aswan: OK by shuttle, driver, or whatever you recommended before (like the owner of La Terrace in Aswan).
But then we’re stuck at the airport until evening—what do we do with our luggage?
3 – Return from Abu Simbel to Aswan (same as #2) but take the train. The catch? We’d need to book 17 days in advance, so by November 8th, when we’ll be in Kharga. We’d have to reserve from our hotel without being sure we’d get 2 tickets—apparently, they sell out fast?
YES, we’re doing a Cairo-deserts-Dakhla-Kharga (5-day) tour with a guide (already booked).
Given your itinerary, I understand better—you’re not heading to the desert after Aswan?
But normally, you don’t go to the Dahkla and Kharga oases from Cairo (nearly 8 hours by road when everything goes smoothly), but rather from Luxor (about 4.5 hours from Luxor). We were supposed to visit them in 2013 with a contact (who’s no longer around), but after a false attack alert, my wife panicked, and we didn’t go.
There must be a bus route—I’ve sent a message to my friends and am waiting for a reply.
So, until proven otherwise, check with your guide.
For Abu Simbel, either do as Mohammed suggested, but are you keeping the driver and vehicle for both days? Because you could leave on the 24th for Abu Simbel, check into your hotel, do the sound and light show in the evening, and then return to Aswan as soon as it’s over—if there’s an earlier flight, either to Cairo or why not straight to Alexandria?? Or go by bus (cheaper) and then return to Cairo for your flight. Just be careful with trains or buses (much cheaper).
So, if you’re heading straight to Alexandria after Aswan, that means you’d need to be there by the 25th and then go back to Cairo to finish your trip???
You mentioned the oases and guide are already booked—is it possible to change your dates? Something to look into??
Thanks so much for your reply—it’s tricky to explain in writing! ;-)
We’re traveling with a guide from Jimmy Egypt Tour (Muhammed Gamal), and it’s all booked:
Departure from Cairo
Bahariya Oasis (overnight)
Black Desert
White Desert (overnight)
Dakhla Oasis (overnight)
Al-Kharga Oasis (overnight)
Luxor
I’ve booked at the Terrace Hotel, and I need to sort out a round-trip with Mohammed for 2 days. Should I contact him now or wait until I’m there? I arrive in Aswan on November 20th and leave for Abu Simbel on the 24th.
All flights from Abu Simbel to Cairo have a really long layover in Aswan, and the only flight from Aswan to Cairo leaves at 8:20 PM.
I haven’t seen any flights to Alexandria—nothing at all—except going through the capitals of the Arabian Peninsula! ;-) Apparently, there’s no direct Cairo-Alexandria flight???
So, I was thinking of taking the train from Aswan for a different experience.
This all seems pretty complicated. I think I’ll just book a flight from Aswan to Cairo and call it a day—we’ll wait at the airport all afternoon for our evening flight. Then we’ll head to Alexandria for the last two days by taxi or train.
Hello everyone,
Now I understand—new info that wasn’t mentioned before (but no worries, we’ll figure it out ;) )—you’re also heading to Bahariya Oasis, so you’re leaving Cairo, passing through the oases, the White and Black Deserts, then heading to Luxor. It’s all clear now!
I’d seen the itinerary before, but some details were missing.
It’s never too early to get in touch with Mohammed—I always recommend him for anything: hotels, tours, etc. And remind him about your plans every now and then.
That way, you’ll be sure to have a room (single, double, triple, or even four beds). If not, ask him if it’s possible to stay with his parents, in-laws, or a cousin on the other side of the island facing the monastery—I’ve done all of those except the cousin.
No flight from Cairo to Alexandria, but if you’re okay with it, why not take the train? Maybe an overnight one to save time—either a sleeper (more expensive) or first-class seats (new train). Book at least 48 hours in advance.
But don’t forget it’s about a 15-hour trip to Cairo, or even all the way to Alexandria???
If you ask him before leaving for Abu Simbel, Mohammed could book your tickets for you—it’s up to you. Yeah, it’s a bummer about the return flight north (to Cairo), but if you take the risk of going into the city, it’s at least a 30-minute trip from Aswan Airport to Makani Restaurant on the corniche. You *could* do a quick visit, but the problem is the luggage…
Also, once your journey through the different oases is done and you reach Luxor then Aswan, will your guide still be with you?
Thoutmosis
Sorry Thoutmosis, I didn’t reply to your last message.
After 5 days in the desert, we’re on our own in Luxor for 8 days, then a 4-day, 4-night Nile cruise with Les Gréements du Nil. We’re not staying the 5th night on the boat because, apart from the departure evening (not our cup of tea) and the next day’s visit to Philae (which we’d rather do on our own), it doesn’t add anything for us.
Then 4 nights and 4 days in Aswan on our own, and we leave for 1 night in Abu Simbel. That’s where we’d need transport to go to Cairo and return to Aswan.
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.
