Hi, I am planning a trip to Egypt in November, I am looking for a reliable local tour operator who can arrange private tours and transfers for our party of two. Appreciate if anyone could recommand any good and reliable tour operators for us.

This forum has always been so helpful in trip planning, so I try to do a trip report when I'm done in the hopes that it helps someone else in the future.

This was my first time solo backpacking in 12 years! I took public transit instead of renting a car, and spent the money I saved on accommodation. Ate street food at most meals.

I found Calakmul to be a disappointment - either because of my own expectations, or my experiences at many other ruins. I wonder if I should have gone to Rio Bec via ATV instead. Hindsight is 20/20, or thereabouts. Campeche and Izamal were both delightful.

Day 1 - Arrive Cancun, take the ADO to Playa del Carmen. (cash only OR pay via the app/web)

Day 2 - ADO to Bacalar - stayed at H0tel Maria Maria - not cheap, but very nice and quiet. Ate at Hau y su amigo el nomada. Terrific.

Day 3 - Bacalar boat tour. It was overcast and windy, so this was not that much of a delight.

Day 4 - Collectivo to the turnoff to Escarcega highway, dead easy. Waited for an hour for a collectivo headed west. Got one to Nicolas Bravo, and then got a taxi to take me to Dzibanche, Kohunlich and drop at Xpujil. This didn't leave me any time to go to Becan. If I could do it all over, I might have skipped those ruins, and instead seen Becan. WAY less driving. I couldn't get in touch with anyone at Yaax Che campground, and didn't want to go all the way there and have nowhere to stay. Checked in to H0tel Villa Calakmul, which was clean and comfortable. Met some Mexican tourists who were going to Volcan de Murcielagos and hitched a ride with them. It was neat.
NOTE: There is a 1pm direct bus from Bacalar leaves from across the street from the ADO. 983-102-32-33

Day 5 - booked a ride to Calakmul and drop off in Conhuas. NOTE: 3pm and 5pm bus from Conhuas in the direction of Escarcega. I didn't want to spend an hour driving back to Xpujil only to backtrack immediately afterwards. -- BUT -- Met a group of folks headed to Campeche and they were kind enough to bring me with them. This saved a LOT of time, and got me to Campeche at least a day ahead of schedule. Stayed at H0tel Lopez. Mediocre at best. Ate at Taquitos Jarocho - excellent.

Day 6 - moved to H0tel Socaire. An outstanding hotel, so charming, with an amazing pool. Wandered around town, and got lunch at the market, when I realized I was next to the collectivos heading to Edzna. Grabbed one. Nice, chill ruins. For some reason, made me think of Monte Alban. Ate street food recommended by folks who were eating. Super fun.

Day 7 - to Merida. Wandered around at night, so much activity! Stayed H0tel Merida. Good value, good location, no complaints.

Day 8 - Walked down the closed streets for a good long while. Went to the free contemporary art museum (where I'm 99% sure I've been before). It was great! Grabbed a collectivo to Izamal

Day 8-9-10 Hung out in Izamal and stayed H0tel Ya'ax Ich. This was the perfect, super-charming Mexican town and accommodation I was looking for to end my trip. Appreciate the suggestion from Wilderone2 and Peter826 so much. Grabbed a collectivo back to the edge of Merida, where I stopped for baked goods at Bodega Aurrera Quetzalcoatl - which were surprisingly good, then got a taxi to the airport. Worth noting that from entrance to gate it took under 15 minutes. I could have cut it much closer.

Hello. I'm planning a 6-12 month backpacking trip through East Africa starting near the beginning of 2020. I am 21 years old, and I am from the United States. I work online, and I intend to work while I travel. I plan to visit Egypt, Sudan, Ethiopia, Somaliland, Djibouti, Kenya, and then to finish off, maybe Madagascar. Egypt to Kenya would be overland if possible.

I know there are a lot of people who do Egypt to South Africa in 6 months. For me, that would just not be possible. I like to take my time when I travel. I will probably spend at least 1 month in each country (as much as the visas allow for). I intend to travel using only public transportation (buses, trains, shared taxis.)

So far, the only African countries I have visited have been Morocco and Mauritania. I understand that these two countries are quite different from the rest of the continent. I also have very little backpacking experience. For the past two years, my travel method has been to stay in each city for a few months at a time; I did try "backpacking" in Morocco (albeit with a suitcase, not a backpack) and I realized that it is really exhausting to constantly be on the move. Ideally, for this trip, I would like to spend at least a week or two in each city/town, not 1-3 days like most backpackers. This also makes it easier to work.

Anyway, here are my most burning East Africa-related questions:

1.) Internet: As I stated before, I work online about 20 hours a week. I have read that internet connection is pretty difficult to come by in the countries I have listed, and when it is found, it is usually very poor. Supposedly, mobile internet is the most reliable and is faster. My question is, what is the best way to connect to the internet in Africa if you work online? Would buying a local SIM card with data be enough, or should I buy a pocket wifi/mobile hotspot device? Is it naive to think I can work online while traveling in East Africa?

2.) Money: I understand that, with the exception of Egypt and maybe Kenya, ATMs are pretty sparse in this part of the world. My biggest concern is running out of cash. What do you do when there are no ATMs available? I have read that some people travel with thousands of dollars in cash to exchange, but I will only be starting my trip with about $2,500 in savings, and I really don't want to have to worry about money getting stolen. I thought traveler's checks would be a good alternative since there is no risk and you used to be able to cash them anywhere, but now it seems that they are nearly extinct, especially in Africa.

3.) Language: Should I bother learning words and phrases in the local languages of each country, or should I just try to get by in English? I am fluent in English and Spanish, so French isn't really that difficult for me. Most of the countries I have traveled in have had an abundance of Spanish or English speakers, so I'm a little nervous about not being able to communicate with people. I suppose for this trip the main languages would be Arabic, Amharic, Somali, French, English, and Swahili, but that seems like a lot of phrases to memorize...

4.) Budget: Through research, I have a pretty good idea of what things cost in these countries, but let me know what you all think. I am planning on spending, at most, $15-$25 a day, flights not included. Will it be easy to stick to this budget in East Africa? I am not planning on doing any pricey activities. When I travel, it's more about absorbing the culture and the atmosphere of a place, so really my expenses will mostly just be food, accommodation, and transportation.

5.) Is there anything I should know about backpacking in East Africa? As I said before, I am 21 years old and have only been traveling for two years (not two years straight, just in the span of two years). Am I ready for Africa, or would you suggest that I postpone this trip until I'm a little more experienced? Would Asia be better for someone with my travel experience?

I hope this post wasn't too long, and thanks in advance for taking the time to read it.

Hi

We will be arriving in Costa Rica in early May 2020 for 14 days and have the following itinerary planned.

There are two of us travelling on a mid range budget of roughly $50-$100 per day each.

Day 1: Arrive San Jose Airport at 3pm stay overnight in Alajuela

Day 2: Shuttle bus to La Fortuna in morning

Day 3 La Fortuna (Hot Springs, Volcano tour, Hanging Bridges, Waterfalls)

Day 4: 4x4-boat-4x4 to Moneteverde

Day 5: Monteverde (Zip lining, Tree house)

Day 6: Public bus to San Jose
or we could have a night in La Fortuna as the organised tour we will be on for the next 4 days also picks up from there.
We just thought it would be a good chance to see some of the Capital and break up the journey a bit?

Day 7: Organised 4 day trip Pacuare River & Tortuguero

Day 8: Pacuare River (overnight rafting)

Day 9: Tortuguero (Kayaking, wildlife, fishing)

Day 10: Tortuguero

Day 11-13: Peurto Viejo (beaches, relaxing, wildlife, fishing)

Day 14: San Jose Airport for 5pm return flight.

Does this sound like too much in 14 days?
Where is the best place for zip lining? i.e. where is it most extremne and scenic. La Fortuna or Monteverde?

It would be amazing if we could find a reasonably priced treehouse stay on our travels too if there are any suggestions?

I'm wondering if removing Monteverde completely would be an idea and spending an extra night in La Fortuna and on the coast?
Are there any destinations you would add or take away?

The only things set in stone on this itinerary are the flights.
So we are open to suggestions and tweaks.

I am planning a trip for this winter and Ethiopia is one place I am interested in seeing. (as an aside, the impression I have is that Morocco is not ideal in the winter due to chilly weather and rains...is winter (late December/January) not ideal for Morocco)

Anyway, as far as Ethiopia goes, I have done some preliminary research, and it seems to be quite different in terms of what I can do on my own than other countries I have visited (China, India, Myanmar). I am generally under the impression that unless I want to see something like Harar or Lalibela, independent travel is essentially impossible or not practical. So, if I want to see the Southern Omo valley, Rift Valley Lakes, Bale Mtns, Simien Mtns or the colorful depression desert (Danakii?) I will need a tour. Is this generally correct?

If I book a tour, or tours, what suggestion do you have for a touring company? I am OK to go without creature comforts, but want something which is friendly to photographers, the real purpose of my trip. I am looking for something inexpensive. Any suggestions for tour companies?

Are there any other places in Ethiopia which is practical to see independently? Also, should all tours be booked in advance, or is it OK to book while in the country? thanks.

This post is as a result of a question I asked on Thorn Tree of the possibility of organising independent travel to the Simien Mountains and specifically arranging treks from Debark. It seemed there was a lack of up to date information on the matter, and when we visited Ethiopia in late November 2019, there seemed to be few, if any, independent travellers heading to the mountains on their own. Most seemed to be on tours.

We had wanted to visit independently and arrange the details when we reached Ethiopia. Our plan was to go to Debark by local bus then spend two or three days at a hotel there and do day hikes in the mountains from there. Sounded simple…until we arrived in Gondar.

There we were approached on every street corner by fixers and hustlers offering trips to the mountains. Basically these are young men acting as unofficial agents for the tour companies who run trips to the mountains.
All these companies seem to offer the same. Either a one day trip from Gondar, or a multi day trip which involves camping.
Given that the journey from Gondar to the park is at least three hours we didn't feel that a day of 6 hours in a car and a few in the mountains sounded much fun.We also didn't want to camp. It had rained every night we were in Ethiopia to that point (late November) and was chilly at night. We spoke to some Israelis who had done a 4 night camping trek the week before and they described it as very tough. Sub zero temperatures at night and everyone wrapped up in double sleeping bags at 6pm.
We therefore explained that we would prefer to make our own way to Debark and arrange transport from there. 'Impossible' – we were told by everyone we asked. Debark is a very small town and no one there has transport to the park. You have to arrange a trip from Gondar.
I therefore emailed Ras Dejen hotel in Debark where we intended to stay, and asked if they had a contact who could drive us to and within the park. They sent me a number (+251 91 873 1570). I never got the person's name but they quoted me 125 dollars per day for the vehicle. I replied that this seemed hugely expensive especially if we only travelled to Buyit Ras which is only about 20 km from Debark. They replied and said they could do Buyit Ras for 70 dollars but any further would be 125 USD. On top of that we'd need to pay park fees and fees for a scout.
I'd put out feelers amongst a few tour guides and fixers and eventually was contacted by Gismu who runs Simiens Trek. (Number +251 93 548 0330). He also told me that it would be very difficult to arrange transport in Debark. However, he gave us another option besides the one day trip or multi day camping.
For 300 dollars, he would provide transport from Gondar to Debark then 4x4 vehicle for two days hiking in the park and we could stay in a hotel as planned. The price would include park fees, guide and scout. We could either travel back to Gondar with the car after the 2nd day walk or stay another night and get the bus back. Given the uncertainty about the situation in Debark we decided to take this option.
The trip itself was fine. The driver was safe, the mountains spectacular and we were happy with the level of hikes we did. The guide didn't speak great English but I guess Gismu had to arrange this literally the day before, so maybe we didn't get his 'A' team. Bear in mind that guide, driver and scout all need tipping so estimate adding 10% to the quoted trip cost. Overall we were very happy with the experience for the price paid, though it was a lot more than we anticipated.
With regards possibilities to organise hiking in the SMNP yourself in Debark-
First of all, Debark isn't the small village the touts in Gondar would have you believe. It’s a busy, sizeable mountain town of 48,000 people.
It IS possible to arrange transport in Debark. With little effort I met a man at the National Park office in town and he offered a vehicle for around $100 per day as far as Sankaber and $150 if going further. To that cost, as a minimum you would need to also pay a scout and park entrance fees. His name was Bogale Abebe. Bogale.stefan@yahoo.com +251 918 23 52 04
Having seen the road into the park, I would say a normal car would be okay as far as Buyit Ras but after that you would definitely need a 4x4. I guess that goes some way to explaining those cost though it does still seem hugely expensive for Ethiopia.
Other options? You can walk from Debark to the park entrance in around 4 hours cross country (scout needed from town to show the way). However, that only gets you to the gate, it's another 6km to Simien Lodge where you start to get to the mountains proper. Therefore walking from Debark and back in a day isn't really feasible without putting in a lot of miles.
You could take a bajaj/ tuk tuk from town. It's about 15 km by road to the park gate, so not sure how much they would charge. Tuk tuks can go further into the park but the road would be very rough after the gate. I'm told it takes two hours to Simien Lodge. I also had conflicting info on whether the park would allow tourists in via tuk tuk. My guess is they would as long as you had a scout with you.
Trucks and local buses also travel through the park. I'm told it's unlikely a foreigner would be allowed on one of the buses though. Trucks may be more likely but it would be a case of hiding in the crowd on the back and jumping off somewhere in the park. You would then have no scout or guide, so would have to find your own way completely. Personally not something I'd risk.
In summary. It is feasible to travel to Debark independently , stay in a hotel there and do day hikes. However, the cost of renting a vehicle there seems roughly the same as in Gondar. Adding in the cost of guides and scouts, you will probably find that using a tour company in Gondar is about the same price and saves the hassle of using local buses to get to Debark. Unfortunately, most of the companies in Gondar will try to persuade you that their day trips or camping treks are the only options. Tell them you already have a hotel booked in Debark and they may then offer you an alternative, as happened with us.
For a contact in Debark who isn’t associated to any travel company and who is from a village in the mountains, so understands the area, contact Adlew +251 933 181780. He speaks excellent English and can maybe help to research further info on the above points closer to the time you travel, as the situation can always change.
Hope this helps future travellers as I found accurate info very hard to come by.