backpacking is safe

hi AnasMohandes, in fact im in dahab right now and going to mount sinai and st catherines monastery tomorow. after that i will catch the ferry to aqaba for spend some days in Jordan. tks for your words

moroccotraveler, like i said if i didnt have a ticket flight and some stuff paid at the moment i left from Portugal i didnt come to egipt at this period. with us everything was fine, but if i had been in the area of the museum one day after than the day i visited it i would be in troubles since there was clashes in that area.

so looking to the past, maybe i would have done all the things again, but only because i just spent the money in this.

also, if some girl are considering to come to egipt alone i should advice that its not a good time to come. im with my girl and she is dressing conservately but some men approach us and touch her and say some not nice words. i dont know what could happen if she was alone.

if you really want to come to egypt right now just stay away from some areas in Cairo. we avoid the islamic quarters, tahrir square, because we are advised by many people to not go. so we didnt take the risk.

hope this can help and if anyone need some information i will be glad to help out.

...... thanks for the reply and advice invocator.

To shizzel, the original poster , have you changed your mind on "backpacking is safe" in Egypt?
Would you advice tourists to go to Egypt now, are you relieved to be out of it.

latest update about sudden changes that can happen because all of this political situation.

we have booked a tour to mt sinai ( sunset) almost 2months ago. today, the day before the tour, we received the news that the roads to mt sinai close from 7pm to 7 am wich disable us to make this.

also, because the lack of tourists the agencies are cancelling the tour because dont have enough people to go. or maybe you can go but pay a expensive and huge amount to go alone....

so as you can see everything can change really quick.

chasky,
which tour company have you booked a trip with? I would love to know did they also recommend that you take out travel insurance.
It would also be interesting to know IF you booked this directly with the travel company and the airline OR you have organised it through a travel agent.
You will not be covered by your travel insurance IF your Government has warned you to reconsider your need to travel (see the Australian Government warning at http://www.smartraveller.gov.au/zw-cgi/view/Advice/Egypt) you will have major issues trying to get a refund on your expenses IF your tour company cancels the trip.
Check your own Government's warning on travel to Egypt and discuss the refund options with the travel company and the airline if you have already paid in full and the tour and flight are cancelled.

Hi invocator,

good to hear that you had a great time! I only found cairo a bit unsafe. My girlfriend was dressed conservatively as well, and we only visited the pyriamids, wich were safe. Although I was a bit nervous at the time we drove from the airport to Giza, the people in the hotel en guides were very relaxed. At the time we were in Luxor and Aswan, the situation was quite stable in the south of egypt.
I agree, the prices were higher then in the lonely planet, but because of revolution we decided to stay in a bit more expensive hostels then we usually do. In Aswan I booked 2 nights with www.booking.com: Nubian holiday house aswan. great experience, good company with the grandpa of the house. chilling atmosphere.

@ maroccotraveler:
I advise unexperienced backpackers and single woman travellers not to go to Cairo and surroundings. But I'm not sure, if this is because of the revolution or just at all times. The city can be a mess and people can get obtrusive. I just ignore the sellers, but it's hard sometimes. The south is more safe and easy to travel. And the cruises are safe as well. There is always a guide and private car ready for you (we travelled with sonesta, moon goddes, 50% discount..). Of course the red sea coast is safe too, but that's not really egypt.

I advise the travellers who really want to go: just go.. be carefull. situations can change. sightseeing with guides in stead of going alone is a good option. The guides know when a sight or part of the city gets unsafe. And by the way, with this heat (45C) in egypt, I like to listen in stead of reading to small letters in the LP. ;)