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Backpacking trips

Backpacking trips

Visiting the Pyramids of Egypt and more

Egypt has a lot to offer, from the pyramids and ancient statues to snorkeling above the corals reefs in the red sea. The only way to see everything in Egypt is by backpacking.

Cairo

Obviously the first thing that you would want to visit is the pyramids of Egypt. The great pyramid of Giza and the great Sphinx of Giza are the most iconic places to see. Since you probably will be landing in Cairo, it’s a good idea to stay in Cairo and visit the pyramids in the morning. They are located just outside the city and are easy to reach. In Cairo is also where the great Egyptian museum can be found. Here you’ll find all antiquities and they can be viewed here. The Khan el-Khalili is a major bazaar where you can buy souvenirs and handmade crafts. Camel riding is extremely popular here and can be done in most of the cities in Egypt.

Luxor

Another great city to visit is Luxor. To get to Luxor from Cairo can be done with an overnight train. What more can you want as a backpacker? The train drives next to the Nile river. A day train or bus can also be used to travel to Luxor. In Luxor you will find the largest open-air museums in the world. Luxor is home to a lot of ancient temples and tombs that can be visited.

Dahab

If you want to go snorkeling or diving, it can be done in Luxor as well as Dahab, but Dahab is more popular among divers. No matter which location you choose, you will have a great experience. With the beautiful coral reefs and clear waters is easy to see why it’s so popular. In Dahab you can also visit the St Catherine monastery and if you don’t like camel riding, you can go on a horse riding expedition in Dahab.

Train, bus and metros

The public transport system works well and they have buses, trains and metros. There are also taxi’s, but are not needed that much. The roads are not very safe and people drive very recklessly. Egypt has the highest number of incidents per mile driven in the world. Therefore you should be careful when walking in the streets and also try to find a good taxi driver if you might need one.

Don’t underestimate the heat

Do not forget that Egypt is a desert. Therefore it is extremely hot. During the summer times temperatures can rise to 45 degrees Celsius. In the winter months it’s colder, but still fairly hot. In the evenings the temperature drops significantly and in the winter it can even get 0 degrees.

How much does it cost to sleep ?

If you are just looking for a dorm room that might have AC, you’d be paying $6 at most per night. For a decent hotel you would be paying about $20 per night. Either way, it is not too expensive.

The Egyptian diet

Their diet consists of a lot of legumes, vegetables and sometimes fruit, but a lot of spices. Kushari is a dish that simply must be tried when visiting Egypt. It is a mixture of rice and pasta filled with a variety of vegetables and topped with thick tomato paste. Alexandrian liver and sausage is a classic street food that can be bought here. It is a bit spicy as they are both the liver and sausage are topped with spicy pepper and both are served with a pickle. But a great serving of kebab can be found everywhere for the meat lovers.

Egypt offers a lot more than just the pyramids and should therefore be visited. This is the ideal country for an unforgettable backpacking experience.

Looking for more backpacking trips? Be sure to visit the Fijian Islands. If you want to visit more in Africa, be sure to visit Cape Town, South Africa.

Backpacking trips

Travel to the Fiji Islands

The friendliness of the people and crystal clear water with golden beaches. The Fiji islands are the most perfect backpack destinations that offers a lot. Located in Oceania located in the South Pacific Ocean, makes it the perfect country to just get away from it all.

To Do

You can do a lot in Fiji and its tropical beauty. The best way to spend your time, however is on the beaches. You can bask in the sun and forget about your troubles, but don’t forget your sunscreen. While you’re there, you can snorkel between the beautiful coral reefs and witness the colorful ocean life. For the surfers there is the island of Tavarua that offers one of the best surf spots called cloudbreak and more spots for people that are not yet that advanced.

When you are tired of the oceans, you can take a hike through the jungle with a group or alone. You can witness the beautiful wildlife and wide range of exotic birds. It’s also a great opportunity to visit one of the local villages and take part in one of their many traditional ceremonies.

Where to stay

In most of the cities you can find a hostel or camping site very easily and inexpensive. It also is not a rare for people to go and live with a Fijian family in a village. There are several volunteer expeditions that you can contact and join to have a true Fijian experience.

Weather

The best months to visit are between May and October. These are the so called winter months, but with temperatures still rising to about 28 degrees, I would not complain. During the summer months, you go into the raining season and you might get caught in the tropical storms and cyclones.

Transport

Travelling through Fiji islands is not difficult or expensive. The public transport works well and you’ll be able to get around the island with buses. To get to the neighboring islands you can make use of a short boat trip. There are also taxis that are easy to find, but you will have to pay more.

Food

The food in Fiji is typical island food. Everything is fresh, healthy and a lot. They traditionally eat with their hands and they enjoy sitting on the floor while doing so. The most popular meals consist of fish or chicken, sweet potato, rice, coconuts and cassava. Cassava is a natural root that is prepared as a side for most meals.

The people

If you are thinking of staying for an extended period of time, you will have to link up with the locals. At least that is the easiest thing that you would have to do during your trip. Fijians are extremely friendly, open minded and stress free. They’ll help you whenever they can, but don’t expect them to be on time if you set a time to meet up with someone…

Fiji is a paradise and you’ll see how calm and laid back life can be, just be careful not to fall too in love , otherwise you’ll never want to leave.

To visit another destination with nice weather and great beaches, check out Cartagena, Colombia