We went with nothing planned/set but the Cairo hotel and guides in CAI and LXR.
We bought ID 96 for $30 each way (that's the min) from CAI for both ASW and LXR (only used one LXR)--no commitment there!
We took Zed low AF for backup $94 each (sorry not 65) Used both. Then used DL home.
You can contact guide in LXR last minute. Hassany Moresy--his contact is in my Egypt stuff. You can refer to us or I can email him to introduce you.His guide was Abdou and he was excellent.
We decided the night before to book him fo Dendera and Abydos (3+ hrs outside LXR) Awesome day.
You need at least one full day in Valley of Kings
One full day hanging around Luxor--2 main temples there and the new museum is wonderful. Karnak Temple is a few hours to do it right.You cna pick a hotel with help of Tripadvisor (we stayed Sheraton w/points) There are Accor Hotels--The Pavillion is decent--good lcoation--great rates.
You can get transport w/Hassany to Aswan w/sight stops on the (not sure price)
Aswan for 2-3 nights if you include day trip to Abu Simbel on Lake Nasser
You can buy on sight or arrange in advance. We had small netbook (PS--internet is $$$$ at hotels) use cafes--local sim card is probably a good idea if you didn't already get one in Sharm.
The 2 wk (too much in my book) would likely include 7 night cruise (long!!) and a visit to Alexandria (not on my list) I've done the 8 day whirlwind and 11 day very relaxed. 8-9 days can cover almost every important place. first one was group (never again) and the second was mostly private.
Some aspects of Egypt are way below third-world. The people are quite nice in general.Vendors can be REAL pests--just completely ignore them.
I realize you have to be sooo burned out w/planning the wedding--what a chore that must have been.
You can do parts of Egypt like we did,m Cairo and Luxor--we have to go back for Aswan (my fave city) and Abu Simbel. I know now we can just land CAI, head south and book stuff when we arrive (maybe short dahabiya cruise in advance--sailboat to Luxor)
We are so fotrunate tobe able to fly for so little--it's worth breaking the trip up to make it less pressure. Once you have a grip on the way it all works there, it's easier to return knowing what you already know and what you want to do!
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