going to egypt in midfeb 2008

Well, I just booked flights & everything, so I will be in Egypt from February 13-23rd. I actually arrive a day earlier than my trip starts (yes, we decided to go on a "small group adventure" rather than alone this time) - and I'm looking forward to exploring Coptic or Islamic Cairo on our free day.

I'm hoping to fill my nights with music and dance performances. I heard the Nile Maxim boat has a good dinner cruise with the best dancers. I want to figure out where I can see Dina (I think the Semiramis) because I just saw her last week in Montreal and she is beyond the best dancer I have ever seen. A cultural show with folkloric types of dancing would be good too if they have that sort of thing still. And if there is like an orchestra that does classical arabic music, I'd like to see that. I've got a list of nightclubs and the dancers and I guess I'll go from there. I'd like to see Randa and Fifi too.

Also, who thinks Abu Simbel is a must? I don't like crowds or long car rides so I was thinking..unless it's really really worth it, a relaxing afternoon in Aswan might be better. Is there anything particular interesting in Aswan, that someone might do if they didn't go to Abu Simbel? Basically the itinerary looks like a choice between seeing Aswan and seeing Abu Simbel.

I don't know - I guess because we're taking a tour this time, I don't have so many questions as usual but since I've always come to Thorntree about all my trips, I figured why not post again.

I'm going to Aswan tomorrow night so will confirm for you over the weekend, but from everyone I have spoken to, Abu Simbel is simply magnificent, perhaps surpassing even the Pyramids at Giza, while Aswan is an average Egyptian town with some nice views of the Nile. Your choice...

I haven't been to Abu Simbel, I guess a bit for the same reasons as you, but there's plenty to fill at least two days in Aswan so you'll be fine. Aswan is not an "average Egyptian town", it's a bit short on sights, but enough to fill some time and it's got a very relaxed atmosphere.

But I'm sure Abu Simbel is great, and if you're not coming back in the foreseeable future, I guess you should try to make it.

Abu Simbel is pretty cool and if you do a tour with flights out there (try the one on viator.com, I did this one and it was great) its only half a day so you still have time in Aswan. Aswan is a great city, much more relaxed than Cairo and Luxor and less touristy. It's really pretty and the people are so friendly.