Korean Job Discussion Forums

[cfedora]

Hey folks!
On the way home to Canada, I am gonna make a bunch of stopovers. Everywhere in southeast Asia for sure, and then before I hit Europe, I am stopping in Egypt and Jordan. Has anyone had any experience there? I am gonna take about a week there. Any tips anyone can give would be really appreciated.
Cheers

[the saint]

Lived in Jordan many many years ago. It's got some secret gems. The capital has some good archaeology but the best sites are out of town a bit.

I have NO idea about how to travel in that country by you absolutely must visit Jerash (north of Amman) and Petra (waaaay south of Amman) which are both stunning, specially the latter. While you're down in Petra, if you can get to Wadi Rum, hopefully to camp or hike, you will be in for a treat too.

Aqaba is a tiny bit of sand, a tiny bit of sea and loads of hotels. Not worth the trip all the way down, especially if you plan to visit an Egyptian Sinai resort.

I loved the archaelogical sites, varied landscape and scenery of Jordan and considered it one of the ME's best kept secrets.

Enjoy...

[bucheon bum]

[kangnam mafioso]

for that short a trip, you might want to just do egypt as the visa is quite expensive ($50 just for jordan several years ago for americans). for egypt, you might need a visa ahead of time and so be sure to check.

in egypt, check out cairo and giza for sure and then head down to sinai on a bus ... spend a few days in sharm-el-shek and dahab for chilling out and snorkelling/diving in the red sea. enjoy and keep in mind that cairo is a very stressful place.

i only spent a couple of days in jordan .... you can travel overland from dahab (via taxi or bus) and take a water taxi to aquaba, get the visa and take another taxi up to petra (wadi musa).

alakuum assalam

[bucheon bum]

Visa for jordan is 10 JD (12-13 USD) but free if you enter via Aqaba. Cairo visa is 15 USD, and they only accept hard currency. Both are available on arrival at any port of entry (minus the Allenby Bridge if you're crossing from Israel/West Bank, which I really doubt you will).

[Muffin]

You don't say exactly when your trip is but when visiting Jordan (I haven't been to Egypt) you should take enough warm clothing. I went a few years ago in April and was frozen in Amman. The hotels often have badly fitting windows and lots of marble brrrrr. Also it rains quite a bit in spring.

I missed Jerash because I had no warm clothes and headed down to Aqaba to warm up! The Wadi Rum is scenic and Petra of course is worth a visit (you will need 2 days to do Petra justice).

Transport is easy with shared taxis and mini buses.

It was an easy place to backpack by myself (I am female).

[Slep]

When you go to Cairo, be sure to stay at Petra Hostel. It's on Talat Harb street and it was only a couple bucks a day.

Definetly spend a day in the market in Islamic Cairo and then at night be sure to check out the Suffi Dances.

I can't stress, bring some sort of anti-diaharia pill, don't touch the water, even to wash your toothbrush.

Keep toilet paper in your pocket as very few places offer it

Do the pyramids and sphinx in the same day but don't waste your time on a tour. It's overpriced and you can just cab/hitch a ride and save a lot of money.

I spent a week in Cairo and a week in Sinai. Had i more time, i would have headed to Alexandria.