Egypt: Should you Go?

That was the title of an article in the travel section of yesterday’s Sunday Times.

The subtitle was: “You can see the ancient wonders without the crowds“.

The article written by Anthony Sattin, a writer and traveller suggested that:

“Despite the problems, the arguments FOR visiting Egypt are now compelling“.

He went on to say: “Tourist numbers have plummeted since the Arab Spring, so it’s gloriously quiet at the moments and the sights. The other reasons to go are perennial – stunning antiquities, beautiful landscapes, friendly people, the Nile, Tutankhamun’s treasures  – oh, and sun”

He then described the situation in Luxor, where Nile cruises start and finish:

“Being almost entirely dependent on tourism, Luxor has been particularly hard hit, with visitor numbers between a half and a quarter of what they would normally be. In the first days of the revolution, guards mounted a 24-hour watch on Karnak Temple to stop it being looted – but, since then, the city has been as quiet as a tomb. There have been no incidents on the Nile and Aswan is as sleepy as ever.

The tourism downturn has had one desirable effect. It has encouraged the new governor of Luxor, Ezzat Saad, to open more monuments. The Temple of Khonso at Karnak is to be opened after an American-backed renovation, and part of the Avenue of Sphinxes is due to be opened officially this week”.

We travelled to Luxor last April as the flights resumed and had a wonderful time cruising the Nile on the superb Royal Viking. Since then we have had scores of clients enjoy their Nile cruises and stays in Luxor, Cairo and the Red Sea resort of El Gouna and many of them took the time to let us know on their return what a wonderful time they had.

Hopefully Anthony Sattin’s excellent article will encourage even more people to take the opportunity to take a Nile cruise or visit Luxor or Cairo and take advantage of the quiet time to see and enjoy the wonders of Ancient Egypt.