How's Hurgada?
Hi everyone,I'm planning a December trip to Egypt and one of our stop after Luxor is Hurgada. But I just read two posts saying that it's a horrendous place...Is it really so??
And does anyone know if arriving Aswan in the morning (8:30), there would be enough time to do a daily trip to Abu Simbel and then back? I heard that you have to join the 11am convoy and head back with the 4pm convyo, seems very little time for the site!
Thank you very much!
1
Welcome, Regarding Abu Simbel. You misunderstood the time schedule. The convey at 11am leaves Abu Simbel. The convoy to AS from Aswan leaves around 4am.If there is a convoy leaving to AS at 11am it is for the night light & sound show and you'd be there overnight.
No, you would not have time.
Good luck.
2
My post in another thread would have been one of the posts calling Hurghada "horrendous" or something of the sort. And I stick by that opinion. The city seems to exist for nothing other than a for ferry going to Sharm El Sheik. And for Egyptians to try to hassle, touch, and rip-off every tourist they ever see. (Even more than the rest of Egypt.) The city has a grand total of Zero sights. Don't go there unless you need to get that ferry, and even then try to minimise your time there and co-ordinate your arrival with the ferry leaving the very next morning.(If someone isn't going to get the ferry I do not know why they would go.)
3
There used to be two daily return convoys departing Aswan at 0400 and 1100 and returning from Abu Simbel at around 0930 and 1630 respectively. However, because of the downturn in tourist numbers the 1100 convoy wasn't operating when I was last there ten months ago. It may have been reinstated by now though - maybe someone has more recent knowledge ?You get just short of two hours at the site which I reckon is more than enough time. Or you can choose to stay overnight to catch the sound and light show and the sunrise at the temples, returning with the 0945 convoy.
If you're planning to arrive in Aswan on the same day as the convoy leaves, you'll have to arrange the trip in advance with a local operator and send them your passport details. These have to be passed to the tourist police the day before you travel.
5
I was offered the 11.00am convoy on a recent trip to Aswan, so I'm guessing it's back in action at least some days.
