Weekend Getaways near Dumyat

When I plan my trip I always look for some extraordinary places I can visit when I am on my vacations. Always look for more than just “things to visit” locations and you might end up making your own country just as I did. Avoiding touristy cliche and talking more with locals and always eating local food always help me to know a culture more. A simple hack is to find locals through social media and that’s what I always do. I love reading stories on Tripoto and it helps in finding unique places I can visit that others just can never get to.I remember how it all started with my Bir Tawil trip. I was looking at Google Maps for the places I can visit after my conference and I saw Bir Tawil. I learned about Bir Tawil 6-7 years ago and it sounded fascinating. I talked to 3-4 local friends I met online and from work to gather more information. When I was in Egypt, my friend Esraa became my local guide and took me pyramids and nearby. I love to explore local cultures, finding differences and similarities with my community. 2. Find your photographic spots before visiting.We love clicking pictures. I travel with my drone, GoPro, DSLR and 3 different lenses because I love to click pictures when I travel. You can find some of my photos here: https://www.instagram.com/suyashdixitphotography/I always look for photographs on Unsplash, Flicker, Pinterest, and 500px before I visit any place. This helps me in making my mind for the kind of pictures I can click and get inspired from other photographers. I always look for spots on street maps. I remember before going to Nigeria Falls I checked almost every picture on Flicker to find few sweet photogenic spots.My trip to Bir Tawil required some great preparation with my brother Suyog. Our plan sounded crazy and dangerous but if your travel bucket-list doesn't give you goosebumps then it is not worth doing.3. Timing is the key

Splendid mosques, glorious avenues, 19th-century palaces and the pyramids of Giza, await you in Cairo. A city inhabited by more than 22 million people may feel overwhelming, but the residents make up for it with their charm and humour. Cairo has centuries of character and it reflects in every corner of the city. Egyptians call it 'Umm ad-Dunya', the Mother of the World, and this city loves exactly like a mother – unconditionally. The dusty streets and polluted air may be underwhelming but the vibe of this city makes up for almost all its drawbacks. Where else can you see an ancient wonder of the world, still standing tall and proud, but in Cairo? And visiting in November is the best because it is right before the swarm of crowds pour in and you can have all the sights to yourself for clicking those perfect Instagram pictures.Top things to see and do: Be amazed by the Pyramids of Giza; see the half-human, half-lion Sphinx; visit Al-Azhar Mosque, home to the world's oldest university; learn about the history of not only Egypt but the entire ancient world at the Egyptian Museum, the place that has the most important collection of ancient artefacts; understand ancient Egypt with a trip to the Pharaonic Village; shop till you drop at the local souks in Khan al-Khalili.Flight cost: Round-trip economy fare from Delhi to Cairo in November start from ₹21,006.Daily budget: Daily budget can be anywhere between 200 to 1200 EP, Egyptian Pound (₹750 to ₹4,500) inclusive of stay, local transport, sightseeing and meals.Where to stay: Le Meridien Pyramids Hotel & Spa; The Oasis Hotel Pyramids. Here are some other options for you to pick from. 

Splendid mosques, glorious avenues, 19th-century palaces and the pyramids of Giza, awaits you in Cairo. A city inhabited by more than 22 million people may feel overwhelming, but the residents make up for it with their charm and humour. Cairo has centuries of character and it reflects in every corner of the city. Egyptians call it 'Umm ad-Dunya', the Mother of the World, and this city loves exactly like a mother – unconditionally. The dusty streets and polluted air may be underwhelming but the vibe of this city makes up for almost all its drawbacks. Where else can you see an ancient wonder of the world, still standing tall and proud, but in Cairo?

  DAY 1 // CairoCairo was dirty, unkept, unstable and chaotic like most of Bangkok, although far worse – and I loved it, but hated it all the same. I was expecting this as this is what Cairo is, especially with the daily and sometimes fatal protests that were going on at Tahrir Square which was literally a walk away from my accommodation, Brothers Hostel. Most people probably think downtown Cairo is physically ugly, and I agree somewhat. I see it as ugly-beautiful. The almost uniform color shades of yellow and yellowish grey of the architecture where nearly all buildings are falling apart has a certain character to it, something I have never seen in a big city. Even as a native New Yorker that has travelled to 16 countries , it took me some getting used to. The next day I visited the Egyptian Museum.

After the initial shock of ‘bounds, byramids and sibinx’ (Pounds, Pyramids and Sphinx) I concluded that if I could ignore the mix up of consonants and the constant badgering of taxi drivers and self-appointed guides offering to show me their heritage for a ‘good price’ with promises of a Nice-Time Afterwards (NTAs), I could actually enjoy the numerous free teas and gifts the locals insisted on pressing upon me because, ‘I Like Indian – Amitabh Bachchan.’So I did just that. Enjoyed free tea in the chaotic streets of Cairo and escaped with my wallet intact! The trick was to show enough interest in the wares to coax the tea into making an appearance and stay just long enough to consume it and leave immediately after.For if you are backpacking in Egypt and are a single female to boot, it helps if you are armed with loads of attitude, humour, selective hearing and good running shoes. Frequently the situation might demand the application of all three.

Egypt brings together the vibrancy of its cultural aromas and bazaars with the shadows of its enchanting past. From beaches to museums to monuments to deserts and even cruises, that too on the Nile. 'Tours around Egypt' offers you all this and even more! It's a land that houses the best Coptic, Pharaonic and Islāmic sites! And what better place to find all these elements coming together other than at Cairo- the capital of the "Two Lands" -as the Egyptians call this territory around the Nile. Egypt Private Tours, thus brings to you, half/full day tours encompassing the many facets that make the Land of the Pharaohs an enigma to the entire world.

On the local bus in Cairo one day, I struck up a conversation with a lovely young Egyptian woman. Her English was nearly perfect and, after the typical pleasantries about where we were from, her next question was, “What do you think about the people here?”I thought for a second, and I told her I had met some people who acted extremely aggressive towards me, but that I had also met some of the kindest, most genuine people of all.She nodded slowly in thought, and then, after a few moments, she looked back at me and said, “Good. Many don’t get to see both sides. That’s the real Egypt.”The Reality Of Travelling To EgyptEgypt is not the first place most people think of when they’re preparing for a holiday. And to be honest, there’s good reason for it. Not only is it a bizarre place, far from the reaches of understanding for most Westerners, but tourism in Egypt has dwindled to almost nothing after becoming a conflict zone in recent years.It’s true that there is terrorist activity in Egypt. Our bus was checked for bombs. Officials questioned every foreign passenger. Men with large guns and riot gear stood guard behind personal barricades on the side of the road. Giant police shields with bullet holes lay on the ground next to them.In Dahab, I watched as a drunk Arabic man was beaten by police for causing a scene in public.

D. Hop onto a Felluca for a cruise on the Nile: Drive your way back into Cairo before getting on a traditional boat called Felluca for a surreal cruise into the placid Nile. Egypt is sincerely a Gift of the Nile and the emotion can be best experienced riding the waters of the bewitching river. The three day cruise shall take you to Abu Simbel, Aswan and Luxor. These land pit stops are a splendid way to absorb in some local architectural marvels such as the Ramses statues and the Valley of the Pharaohs. The big point to remember here is not to miss out the Esna lock at Edfu where numerous beautiful vessels queue in to sail out of the canal.

  A Fly into Cairo: The sojourn begins at Cairo International. Strongly recommended that you switch off all the electronics on yourself and deep dive into the ineffable mysteries of Arabia… cute sheikhs with their uber cool Keffiyeh, double hump camels, Aladdin's treasures, magic rugs and Belly dancing swirls! 

The train will arrive in Cairo in the morning and we'll transfer to the Egyptian Museum. Here, escorted by a professional Egyptologist guide, you'll find the greatest Collections of Egyptian antiquities in the world, which is also home to King Tutankhamen's treasures. Lunch will be done at an authentic traditional restaurant, whilst overlooking the Nile. Post lunch, there will be a visit to the historic and old city of Cairo, where you'll visit the hanging church and Ben Azer Synagogue. The following evening will be spent at Khan El-khalili bazaar, amidst the spice and gold souks of Egyptian traders and beautifully chaotic market spaces. You'll stay overnight at the hotel. The next morning, post breakfast, you'll be transferred to the airport for your final departure.