I have a few extra days in Cairo before my tour begins (Nov 10-18). Wondering if anyone who has been on the Eqypt tour if there is any advice on things to see that won't be covered in the tour.

Thanks

I arrived the day before the tour started, and visited the pyramids and coptic cairo. I highly recommend spending an additional 1/2 day at the pyramids and 1/2 day at the egyptian museum. There is a lot to see and the tour I felt didn't spend enough time at both. Coptic Cairo was a bust, not very interesting. Others on the tour went to Alexandria for a day trip, said it was nice. A lot of tours also visit Sharm el Sheik/Sinai penninsula, but only the ultimate european contiki tour visits there.

how long did it take to do Alexandria could you make it there and back in one day?

Alexandria is a three hour drive from Cairo (approx) and there are lots of tour companies that do one day tours there. I'm going on one after my Contiki tour that leaves at 7am and returns 7pm, picking me up and dropping me off at my hotel. Just ask your travel agent about it because there are heaps of different tours.

Thanks Ladybug, what's the name of that company? Because that very first day i arrive i'm looking for something to do i would LOVE to see Alexandria.

Nick, you interested in doing that on the 9th? We meet everyone at 7pm so if that tours returns at 7 that's perfect.

Brandon, I get in on the 8th, so definitely up for doing the 9th if you want. The tour starts on the 10th evening, so do you want to do the 9th or the 10th?

Ed and Ladybug, thanks alot for the info.

Hey Brandon,

I'm not sure of the name of the company I'm going with because my travel agent did it for me. Pretty much every company that do tours in Egypt have a one day Alexandria trip. Just call a travel agent because they should know of a good one. Please let us know how the trip went when you get back!

i cant go until the 10th i get really early that morning. But, i'd definitely like to go. I just dont know what tour company. Since our tour company Contiki definitely doesnt do that. I'll have to look around online.

www.dosomethingdifferent.com has a one day Alexandria tour that is 10 hours daily. Its 59 pounds. That's about the only one i've found so far.

i found one more site for a Alexandria tour

http://www.oneworldtours.co.uk/egypt/tours/soetm1alex.htm

what do you think Nick and Pam if you're interested. This can be done in one day.

If there are a few people from the group going, it might be cheaper/easier to plan it through the hotel and have a private driver take you there for the day. I used the hotel's driver the first day there, and I think it was about $10 an hour (including tip). I believe that's what the people on my tour did when they went to alexandria.

I'm up for either way....Ed makes a good point that we may be able to get a better rate when we get to the hotel and bargain in a group. Here's two tour companies that do day tours:

http://www.memphistours.com/Sightseeing/Cairo.php

http://www.magicaljourneys.com/Egypt/egypt-travel.html

Lemme know what you think

well i wont be able to negotiate at the hotel since i get in the 10th at 2am . The first place sounds alright too. I wrote to the magical places and they wrote me back but i didnt have a good feeling about them. i could be wrong though. So I think either memphistours or oneworldtours

i like this one: http://www.oneworldtours.co.uk/egypt/tours/soetm1alex.htm

You have to do two people and they will leave at 7 am and they said they can have us back by the meeting at 7pm that night. Its 103.00 USD

they have a number too, i'll include all the numbers, in case anyone else wants to book too
UK Toll Free: 0800 047 0902
USA Toll Free: 1-800-961-6753
AUS Toll Free: 1-800-463-098

Nick or Pam, what do you think? are you interested in book this one?

Hey Brandon,
I'll be getting in on the 9th and would be up for taking the day trip to Alexandria on the 10th. Let me know if you decide to book this one.