Topdeck Travel Blog

17. Scuba dive in the Red Sea

Despite being one of the warmest bodies of saltwater in the world (averaging a bath-like temperature of 22°C!), the Red Sea is a cooling and refreshing oasis from the desert heat around it. It divides the north-east coast of Africa from the Middle East across the ocean, and the weight of history around the area is staggering. It was the Red Sea which Moses miraculously opened up and led his Jewish followers through while being chased by an angry Egyptian army. Pirates, invaders, and crusaders have sailed through the warm waters over the centuries, but on arrival in the gorgeous bohemian town of Dahab, Egypt, it’s all too easy to forget anything important.

In recent years Dahab has expanded beyond its humble origins as a fishing village, and now boasts a smooth fusion of hippy mellowness and resort chic. With its golden beaches and stunning mountain backdrop, Dahab has a long history of luring travellers and trapping them for days or weeks on end.

When you’re relaxed enough in Dahab above ground, why not pop under the sea to see what’s going on below?! The Scuba diving is world-class. Within metres of the shoreline there is a magical array of marine life, including beautiful angelfish, colourful coral reefs, slippery eels, and graceful seahorses. Scuba diving is the only time most people can say they’ve visited (quite literally) a different world. From complete novices to advanced divers, diving in the Red Sea is a completely relaxing and mind-blowing experience.

Be warned – after a few days of crystal-clear scuba diving, desert trekking, ocean-side dinners, and complete relaxation around the Red Sea coast, you will find it extremely difficult to leave and go back to reality.

Topdeck Top Tip: If all the relaxation in Dahab gets too much for you, take a day trip out to Mount Sinai - it’s said to be the mountain where Moses received the Ten Commandments. It’s much cooler at the summit (2,285 metres above sea level) so take a few layers with you.

Video 1 - Underwater video showing some of the amazing creatures you might encounter while Scuba diving in the Red Sea – www.youtube.com/watch?v=aP4OdBRtJvs

Video 2 - This short video shows some of the highlights of Dahab, including the local tradition of a Bedouin camel race! www.youtube.com/watch?v=8c-4tMz5Hpo

10. Discover the ancient city of Petra.

It seems entirely fitting that Petra in Jordan is the subject of one of the most evocative poems ever written. When John Burgon penned the immortal line “A rose-red city half as old as time”, he summarised this astonishing place perfectly.

This wondrous ancient city lies in a hidden valley in south Jordan, and is estimated to be over 3200 years old. Capital of the ancient Nabataean civilisation, it remained unknown to the Western world until it was introduced to Swiss explorer Johann Burckhardt in 1812.

How his jaw must have dropped when he first set eyes on it.

Hewn in to the red rock canyon walls are dozens of buildings, the most important of which display remarkable architecture and immaculate beauty. Columns, pediments, sculptures and decorations adorn the fronts of the the Monastery (Al Dier) and particularly the famous Treasury (Al Khazneh).

While such classical structures are impressive when seen in stone, or even the white marble of Ancient Greece, to see them carved from sheer red sandstone walls is something else entirely.

Anyone who has seen the classic film Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade will have a sense of what to expect. In the movie, Petra (specifically the Treasury) serves as the resting place of the Holy Grail.

Director Steven Spielberg picked an ideal location – an ancient site steeped in history, both beautiful and mysterious.

There’s a reason why Petra has made just about every travel list ever compiled – including this one! And if you needed any more motivation to visit, then just think; the sooner you journey to Petra, the longer you get to remember it for!

But while we at Topdeck dearly love Petra, no words of ours could compete with John Burgon’s prize-winning 1845 verse, so we’ll just let him do the talking from here:

It seems no work of Man’s creative hand,
by labour wrought as wavering fancy planned;
But from the rock as if by magic grown,
eternal, silent, beautiful, alone!
Not virgin-white like that old Doric shrine,
where erst Athena held her rites divine;
Not saintly-grey, like many a minster fane,
that crowns the hill and consecrates the plain;
But rose-red as if the blush of dawn,
that first beheld them were not yet withdrawn;
The hues of youth upon a brow of woe,
which Man deemed old two thousand years ago,
match me such marvel save in Eastern clime,
a rose-red city half as old as time.

Topdeck Top Tip: Petra is much bigger than most people think! It’ll involve a fair bit of walking, so wear comfy shoes and take plenty of water due to the heat and sun.

See a gallery of Petra photos here: http://www.sacred-destinations.com/jordan/petra-pictures/index.htm

25 mins of awesome HD Petra footage (skip to 3.40 for the Treasury): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j0Z6XkKryD4

2. Visit the Pyramids of Giza

The year is 1310 AD. Italian poet Dante has just completed The Divine Comedy. The University of Cambridge recently turned 100 years old. The Notre Dame cathedral in Paris is nearly finished, showcasing cutting-edge European architecture. But it’s not the tallest building in the world – not even close. So what is?

The Great Pyramid of Giza

For well over 3500 years the 146m high tomb of the ancient Egyptian Pharaoh Khufu held that title. It’s worth repeating – three thousand five hundred years! Think about it! Popes resign more frequently than that. It’s nearly as long as it feels like to sit through a Twilight movie.

This near-mythical structure is a bonafide jaw-dropper – of the Seven Ancient Wonders of the world, it is the only one which remains.

It sits on the Giza Plateau, adjacent to the Pyramids of Khafre and Menkaure and neighbouring Sphinx, while Cairo’s urban sprawl looms nearby creating a striking juxtaposition of ancient and modern Egypt.

The Pyramids are so vast that you can only discern their huge individual blocks up close – but even modern scholars have struggled to comprehend how the ancient Egyptians managed to build them given the technology at their disposal.

Theories and myths add a rich layer of intrigue to the Pyramids – did Napoleon Bonaparte have a vision of destiny in the King’s Chamber? Are they a reflection of the astronomical Belt of Orion? Were they built by aliens to cover a subterranean city of lizard creatures who will one day rise to become our reptilian overlords? Who knows…

What we do know is that the Great Pyramid and its illustrious siblings are among the most incredible sights in the world. Visit them, gaze at their majesty… and be sure get a photo of yourself ‘walking like an Egyptian’!

Topdeck Top Tip: To get the perfect photo of you kissing the Sphinx or placing a finger on top of a Pyramid, make sure you stay still and get your photographer to move until you’re lined up properly. It’s much easier!

Have you seen the Pyramids of Giza?
Share your favourite Pyramids of Giza or Egypt memories with us!

From riding camels and drinking tea with the locals in a Nubian village, Kara now uncovers the secrets of ancient Egypt with Topdeck Travel.

***

Our day began well before sunrise.

I won’t tell you how early for fear of scaring you off, but with strict visiting hours in place at Abu Simbel we had no choice but to stumble with heavy eyes onto the bus.

Great Temple of Ramesse II, Abu Simbel. Photo/K.Segedin

As soon as my bum hit my seat I was fast asleep. When I awoke we had arrived at our meeting point where dozens of coaches met to pick up their armed guards before joining the convoy to Abu Simbel near the Nubian boarder with Sudan.

After tucking into our packed breakfast boxes there was time for a little more beauty sleep before we arrived at our destination.

Abu Simbel is home to two of the most well-known ancient temples in Egypt. Built by Ramesses II to show the strength of his kingdom to the Nubian people, they are a must-see for any visitor to the country.

Walking down a curved path around the side of a steep hill, the Great Temple of Ramesse II gradually came into view.

Breathtaking is an expression used a lot in describing travel hotspots, but there really is no better word for it.

Four 20m high statues of the pharaoh decorate the outside of the temple towering over the flocks of people below.

Temple to Nefertari, Abu Simbel. Photo/K.Segedin

A short walk from the main temple is the smaller temple dedicated to the goddess Hathor and Ramesses II’s chief consort, Nefertari. Surrounding the entrance are six 10m high statues of the king and his queen.

You’re free to wander through the inside of the two temples (no photos though!) where you could easily spend hours taking in all the ornate wall paintings and carvings.

It was early morning and already the temperature was climbing well into the 20s. Thankfully a refreshing cool breeze blew in off the Aswan Dam.

The still blue waters of the dam are a reminder that today the temples are actually 65m above their original location.

In the 1960s, 50 countries worked tirelessly to dismantle then rebuild Abu Simbel piece by piece to make way for the new dam.

I don’t know how long we spent taking photos, but by the end of the visit we each had hundreds of pictures on our cameras.

After heading back to the boat we took a tour of the nearby Kom Ombo temple.

Detailed carvings at Kom Ombo temple. Photo/K.Segedin

Right on the banks of the Nile, Kom Ombo is unique in terms of Egyptian temples because it’s essential two separate ones stuck together. The southern half is dedicated to the crocodile god Sobek, god of fertility and creator of the world while the northern part to the falcon god Haroeris.

One wall that grabbed my attention was covered pictures and hieroglyphs describing ancient Egyptian medical practices including some rather detailed ones depicting childbirth in the ancient world – ouch!

By mid-afternoon we were back relaxing onboard and sailing up the Nile towards Edfu and Luxor – this is the life!

Brightly colour original paint still covers the temple at Kom Ombo. Photo/K.Segedin

After watching the sunset from the comforts of the ship deck, we settled in for a dip in the hot pool – perfect with the cool night breeze blowing from the Nile – and a couple of drinks with our group and Trip Leader.

This really is the best way to see Egypt!

Visit Egypt on one of Topdeck’s many trips including Budget and Nile Cruising options. Kara travelled on the 8 day Nile Discovery.

After two crazy days in Cairo, Kara’s Egyptian adventure with Topdeck Travel heads south to the city of Aswan.

***

I’m not going to lie. Our overnight journey by coach from Cairo to Aswan was a little rough.

Thanks to the reclining chairs and my neck pillow I managed to get a few hours of shut eye, but I would compare it trying to sleep on an aeroplane – you either can or you can’t.

We were woken up around 7am and rubbing our tired eyes we were greeted by a lush green landscape so far removed from the dusty city of Cairo.

The whole group looked a little jaded, but salvation came in the form of delicious, fresh, homemade falafels and pitas our Trip Leader Rafik arranged for our breakfast – I have never eaten a better, or more appreciated, falafel in my life!

Feeling much more refreshed, we were back on the coach making our way to our home for the next three nights – our 5 star cruise boat.

I really didn’t know what to expect.

Five star is one thing, but in Egypt it could mean something different all together – how wrong was I!

Relaxing poolside on our Nile Cruise

Our boat was modern, clean and comfortable complete with a deck-top pool and bar. Flopping down on the bed I knew I would sleep like a log that night.

After a few hours of relaxing and exploring the boat, those of us who signed up for the optional trip to Philae Temple headed out for our excursion.

It was hard to leave the oh-so comfy cabin after such an early morning, but it was definitely worth it.

We were greeted by our guide for the day, a jolly, enthusiastic chap by the name of Nubi. On the boat ride over to the island, Nubi gave us a concise and lively history of the site.

The island temple of Philae was built to the goddess Isis by the ruling Greeks as a way of winning over the Egyptian people.

Detailed carvings cover Philae Temple

In the 1960s, the temple was moved piece by piece from its original location to Agilkia Island to avoid rising waters after the construction of Aswan Dam.

Beautifully intact, its island location only makes the temple more appealing.

After our first taste of an ancient temple we meet up with the rest of our group for a felucca ride past the Elephantine and Kitchener Islands.

Now came one of the activities I was most wary of and excited about at the same time – the camel ride.

I’d heard varied reports of how scary, smelly and fast the camels were and I can say none of them were true. Okay, they may have been right about the smelly part.

Camel convoy ready to go

After learning the correct position for camel take-off (they stand up in the most seemingly unnatural way) it was an easy-going trot over sand and through villages.

We finished our ride in a Nubian Village where we visited the local school and learned about the Nubian language and culture before enjoying tea at the home of a Nubian family.

Inside a Nubian home

Nubians are the original inhabitants of a country called Nubia that is now divided between southern Egypt and northern Sudan

After the construction of the Aswan Dams the Nubian people were resettled on the western bank of the Nile and on Elephantine Island.

It was early evening when we finally made our way back to the cruise boat for a rather large dinner followed by drinks on deck.

There was no late night for us as day four would bring the earliest morning I’ve ever seen as we joined the convoy for Abu Simbel, but more on that next time!

Sunset on the River Nile

Visit Egypt on one of Topdeck’s many trips including Budget and Nile Cruising options. Kara travelled on the 8 day Nile Discovery.

by Kara Segedin

It’s hard to say just when the culture shock set in.

It could have been coming into land at Cairo Airport watching the desert below turn into the biggest, most sprawling city I’ve ever seen.

View from the roof of our hotel - wow!

Or maybe it was the chaotic roads where you’re as likely to see horse drawn carts and people walking on motorways as cars and you really can say a lot with flashing lights and beeping horns.

Whether it was the farm animals, the hawkers, the security checks, or simply the incredible sights and welcoming people Egypt is a destination like no other!

Before we’d even made it to passport control we were greeted by our Topdeck Representative.

An energetic young local, he helped us buy our landing visas (approximately $10 US dollars each) and walked us through to luggage claim where we met a few of our fellow travellers – two bubbly Brits, a Canadian, a Columbian and a group of Antipodean travellers.

From there we were whisked to the waiting Topdeck van and driven to our hotels.

My first journey to a non-English speaking or European country, there was no doubt in my mind that this trip to Egypt was going to be a real eye opener.

We approached our hotel to find inner city streets lined with goats, cows and the occasional horse.

The animals seemed oblivious to the vehicles whizzing past and swerving to miss them.

We soon learned we were in town on the eve of the Muslim feast Eid al-Adha and the animals roaming outside our hotel would shortly find themselves on family dinner tables!

Once settled into our hotel it was time for the meet and greet with our Trip Leader Rafik.

A native of Cairo, from here on in Rafik was going to take care of everything including buying tickets, meal times, accommodation and transport leaving us to sit back, relax and enjoy our holiday.

Me & my amazing Topdeck trip mates!

We were up bright and early for the first day of our trip – Egyptian Museum here we come!

It soon became obvious we were a novelty to the locals with many surprised stares and cries of “Welcome to Egypt!” whenever we were out and about.

One thing that’s certain – Egyptians are very proud of their homeland.

Since the revolution in January 2011 there has been a lot of upheaval in the country, but the Egyptian people are enthusiastic and optimistic about their country’s future.

The museum holds an impressive collection of over 120,000 ancient artefacts and our guide for the day, Medo, gave us a quick run through of the key exhibits before leaving us to explore on our own.

Thanks to my love of all things morbid and creepy I had only one destination in mind - the Royal Mummy Room! The room contains nine royal mummies including Ramses II and III and Queen Hatshepsut and for 100 Egyptian Pounds (approximately £10) it’s well worth the extra charge.

After our little history lesson it was time to get out into the field as we made our way to one of the World’s Seven Wonders - the Great Pyramid of Giza.

Conquering the Pyramid

Words can’t describe the first time you lay eyes on these magnificent ancient tombs. You’ve seen them all your life in books, on TV, in films and suddenly here they are right in front of you!

Putting our explorer hats on several of us headed deep into the heart of the second pyramid, Khafre (25 Egyptian Pounds). The passage to the burial chamber gets pretty tight at points and there was plenty of ducking involved, but despite being hot and sweaty after our journey nothing beats being able to say you’ve actually been inside one of the Great Pyramids!

We weren’t finished at Giza just yet as we joined the crowds at the Great Sphinx. Again, I really struggle to describe how it feels to see these majestic sights up close.

Me & the Great Sphinx

I thought I had an idea of what Cairo would be like, but my expectations didn’t even come close to reality!

It’s louder, busier, more colourful, vibrant and full of history than I ever imagined.

And this was only the start of my Egyptian adventure.

Visit Egypt on one of Topdeck’s many trips including Budget and Nile Cruising options. Kara travelled on the 8 day Nile Discovery. Follow the adventure to Aswan and Nubia.

Guest travel blogger Emma Flynn shares her recent journey to Egypt with Topdeck.

I’ve been so excited about visiting Egypt for a very long time. In fact its been about 11 years or so of dreaming! Finally, At the beginning of May, after three false starts over the past 11 years, I finally realised my dreams and travelled to this amazing country.

We’ve all seen the news reports on Egypt and the revolution. I had followed the news intently, praying everything would settle down so I could travel. It did and at the beginning of April, Topdeck started operating in Egypt again after a 2 month break. I was so happy. I figured that if Topdeck were operating their trips, it was safe to travel again.

We arrived a couple of days before our tour started, and on our first day we ventured out into Cairo by ourselves. It was certainly a culture shock. Jumping into a taxi and out into the Cairo rush hour traffic was an eye opening (or tightly closed!) experience in itself. As we wandered around in the controlled chaos of Cairo, nervousness and apprehension soon melted away as we came across numerous friendly people in the street, and even walked through Tahrir Square (the scene of the January revolution), which was full of people going about their daily lives.

Our next day we were up early (the first of what would become a recurring theme!) to take the Topdeck optional excursion to Alexandria. On arrival we met our passionately Egyptian guide, Jimmy, who showed us the key sites, including the site of the famous lighthouse, the catacombs, and the new library.

Having met our trip leader the night before after returning from Alexandria, the tour began. The Egyptian museum in Cairo gave us our first taste of the ancient civilization. Most of the relics found in King Tutankhamun’s tomb are now here in the museum. It was amazing to see the jewels and possessions of the boy king. Things range from his leather shoes, jewellery, beds, under ware and even and ancient form of contraception so only his royal wife would bare him a child! The other highlight was the mummy room. In my opinion, it was well worth the additional 100 LE just to see 3000 year old people still with hair, teeth, eyelashes and fingernails!

After the museum we headed out to the last remaining wonder of the Ancient world, the Giza pyramids. We were lucky enough to be able to go inside the small pyramid. This experience alone was worth going to Egypt for!

From Cairo we headed south to Aswan to meet our boat to cruise to Luxor.

Egypt wasn’t all about the tombs and temples however. In Aswan we did get to relax by taking a felucca down the Nile, sailing past Elephantine and Kitchener islands on our way to a Nubian Village, including a stop for a dip in the Nile! We didn’t sail straight to the village, but stopped about 20-30 minutes away to climb on to a camel to take us in the rest of the way. Being on the Nile was so peaceful and relaxing, and we got to spend 3 nights aboard a 4-star cruiser. So in between all the sites we could take a dip in the pool on the sun deck, or if we were still feeling energetic, a game of ping pong.

There were a few early mornings… We were up early to visit Abu Simbel, up early to take a hot air balloon over the Valley of the Kings, up early to miss the heat of the sun! So many early mornings, but so very worth it!

My favourite day was probably also the busiest day! We visited the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut’s Mortuary Temple, Karnak and Luxor temples. We were very lucky to have visited at a time when there were not many other tourists around. It felt sometimes like we were the only people in the temple. Our Egyptologist for the day was a local called Sam. Sam seemed to have an undying love for the Ancient Egyptians. While most of us melted in the 40 something degree heat, Sam scribbled away on his clip board explaining to us the meaning of the Heiroglyphs we were looking at and drawing us a family tree of the Pharaoh’s, so we knew who’s tombs we were looking at.

Egypt was mind blowing. Never had I been on a holiday where everything was bigger and better than I had imagined. We visited (almost) every major tomb and temple across the country, but for me there were some places that stood out more than others, however the experiences will stay with me forever.

Topdeck’s Liana Szwajlyk describes the sights and delights of Egypt.

Being an employee of Topdeck does mean a deep passion for travel – but unfortunately the work doesn’t get done by itself. There comes a point when we have to put down our backpacks and chain ourselves to the desk, to get the job done. Though, that doesn’t mean we don’t dream of travel….every-single-day! So, as I sit here reminiscing about warmer weather and my summer travels, (READ: my new form of procrastination) I thought I’d share with you a particular highlight - my recent journey throughout Egypt.

With me, the fascination with Egypt started at a very early age. Well, what child isn’t intrigued with mummies, pyramids and the mysteries tied to this ancient civilization? So I was understandably thrilled when I had the chance to explore all that this captivating country has to offer, on Topdeck’s 21 Day Ultimate Egypt tour.

My adventure began in the country’s capital, Cairo, which proved to be quite an overwhelming experience and understandably so: Cairo is Africa’s largest city and home to more than 16 million people. It’s chaotic, exotic, smelly, dusty and also….beautiful! It won’t take long before you acclimatise and get drawn in by the charm of this pulsating metropolis.

Cairo… The Egyptian Museum in the centre of town is a must-see, with its countless ancient Egyptian artefacts, including treasures from Tutankhamun’s tomb. Similarly, I highly recommend shopping at the Khan al-Khalili Bazaar, where you can practice the age-old art of haggling for trinkets, spices and perfume in one of the world’s largest markets. Here you might find yourself highly entertained by the shopkeepers’ commentary, just as I was. These men yell just about anything to get your attention and then beckon you to look at their stalls. A few favourites of mine were: “How many camel for you to marry me?”, “Look! Shakira, Shakira” and strangely enough “Welcome to Alaska?!”.

Continuing on, no trip to Cairo would be complete without a visit to the pyramids - the only surviving Ancient Wonder of the World. In front of the pyramids lies the Sphinx, an enormous cat-like sculpture that continues to mesmerize millions of visitors.

Beyond Cairo… If a bustling metropolis isn’t your dream destination, there is certainly more to Egypt than just Cairo. The real allure lies somewhere between the desert landscapes and dry, rugged mountains, the peaceful towns full of exotic smells and sights and the tucked away treasures known to few.

Egypt has something for every traveller!

Aswan…Let your cares melt away while drifting down the Nile on a traditional felucca sailboat in Aswan. Spend time sipping mint tea or puffing leisurely on a shisha and watch the world whirl past as it has for eons.

Luxor… Step back in time at the magnificent pharaonic tombs, temples and palaces found in Luxor. Wander wide-eyed amid the hugely impressive Luxor temple and the equal grandeur of Karnak temple. Visit Tutankhamun’s final resting place in the hot, hidden Valley of the Kings and Queens.

Hurghada… Head to Hurghada for spectacular diving, stunning crystal waters and beautiful sandy beaches of the Red Sea. Test your skills with a myriad of watersports or simply bask in the glistening sun.

Dahab… Get back to nomadic life on a unique a desert experience in Dahab. Jump on a Jeep safari to the inner oases or trek up the stunning Mount Sinai. Follow this up with a well-deserved feast of freshly caught seafood, in one of the town’s tranquil ocean-side cafes.

These are just some of the exotic attractions that await you. Don’t just take my word for it, discover the essence of Egypt for yourself!

Explore the major sights and hidden treasures of Egypt on Topdeck’s Ultimate Egypt trip, currently on sale from: £549pp

Topdeck offers a wide range of trips to Egypt, Morocco and the Middle East from 3 to 21 days.

Seeking sun in these cold winter days? With the temperature in the minus figures in the UK, the idea of a sunshine break is more appealing than ever.  So Topdeck Travel have come up with some fantastic winter sun deals to tempt you away.

Spend 10 days, with other like-minded 18 to 30 somethings, exploring Egypt, including a 4* cruise on the Nile, from £409*.  Uncover the magic of Morocco with a tour of this fascinating country from £395*, or if you’re feeling adventurous sleep under the stars in a Bedouin tent on a visit to Jordan and Israel from £549*.

All transport, accommodation, most of your meals and tours are included and there’s plenty of free time to explore on your own.

Plus right now some trips to Egypt have 10% off, so warm up this winter and check out these hot holiday offers from Topdeck!

*plus local payment

We know that you need a lot of useful info before travelling. So, we have created this blog for you. If you are travelling in Europe, Egypt, Morocco or Africa you will find plenty of information and unbelievable offers here.