Excursion from Alexandria to The Pyramids on Queen Victoria in November

[bh99mh]

Has anyone done the excursion from Alexandria to the Pyramids? Any info ref toilet facilities on the bus? Buffet lunch in Cairo hotel? Length of time at the pyramids? Any information would be much appreciated. :)

[Lanky Lad]

Has anyone done the excursion from Alexandria to the Pyramids? Any info ref toilet facilities on the bus? Buffet lunch in Cairo hotel? Length of time at the pyramids? Any information would be much appreciated. :)

 

I did it in 2005 on QE2 but expect this will still be much the same.

 

It's a long day and wet got a packed lunch to eat on the day (from the Sherton Hotel). Takes about 3 hours to get there, took us past first to a car park so we could get all 3 in one shot, then to the pyramids and then to a shop. After that a buffet at a hotel and then back to the ship.

 

Sorry can't remember if there were facilities on the bus.

[balf]

Agreed it is a long hot day with most of the time spent on the bus. Can't remember there being any toilets on the bus, though things may have changed in the last couple of years.

 

David

[missfrankiecat]

I did it this Spring on QE. The tour was slightly changed to cut out the Museum of Cairo, due to the demonstrations/political uncertainty. It was a long bus ride (about 3 hours) in convoy but we had excellent guides (who had also been with us a few days before at Carnak), and both Alexandria (faded imperial glory) and the outskirts of Cairo are interesting to see from the bus. There was a toilet on board which I didn't use. We went to visit the site at Sakkara (about 45 minutes) before an ok buffet lunch at a reasonable hotel (an hour) and then the better known pyramids at Giza after lunch. You will probably know that, in reality, they look a lot less impressive than the photos we are used to seeing as Cairo has encroached on them dramatically but you will be taken to a vantage point where you can photograph from an angle which still makes them look deserted and dramatic (20 mins) and then close up for about 20 mins to walk round. It is a long day. I found Valley of the Kings and Carnak way more interesting but at the end of the day they are a wonder of the world and worth seeing once in a lifetime! In April, despite it being a public holiday, there were virtually no foreign tourists in Egypt apart from Cunard's 19 buses!

[castlewood]

I did the pyramids excursion from the QV in November 2010. There was a toilet on the bus (didn't use). The Cairo Museum was packed wall-to-wall. Used the restrooms -- beyond gross (WARNING: Bring your own toilet paper!!!!) The buffet lunch at the Cairo hotel was nice, and the restrooms there were beautiful and spotless. We were at the pyramids for about an hour. It's amazing when you first catch sight of them, but when you're right there, you're battling mobs of peddlers coming at you from every direction. The pyramids themselves were surrounded by armed police. It was nevertheless an incredible experience, and afterwards, the bus brought us to a beautiful overlook where you can view the pyramids much like you see them in pictures. We also saw the Sphinx, which is right by the pyramids, and then we went to a special souvenir shop. It's a long day (I think we left the ship at 5:30 in the morning, got back maybe 15 hours later) but certainly a once-in-a-lifetime experience. From the bus, you see the Suez Canal and a lot of interesting facets of Egyptian everyday life.

[figgy1978]

We did the tour from in November 2011. It was a 3 or 4 hour drive down to Cairo. The coach did have a toilet in it but there was no light in there so very dark. We drove direct to the pyramids. Paid something like £5 extra to go into one of the pyramids. We went to a few locations to see the pyramids then down to the sphinx. After that we went for the buffet lunch at one of the hotels. Very clean, lots of choice and lovely food. We then went to a Papyrus shop before driving back. Long day but worth it. Alexandria was dirty and glad we didn't stay there. Most people couldn't venture out of the port area as they were hasselled at the port gates.

[bh99mh]

Many thanks for all your very helpful information and comments. They are much appreciated and we can now look forward to our trip. :)