To go where no travel agent has gone before...
From
May 10 thru May 21, 2007 Ya’lla Tours, USA provided the opportunity for
two Rocky Mountain APTA chapter members to embark on a FAM trip unlike
any other and Lucille Carroll and David Lyons where the lucky travelers
from the Chapter. Our indefatigable escort was none other than Howie
Perlin, National Sales & Marketing Manager for Ya'lla.
Egypt was the destination, but unlike the usual itinerary of Cairo and
the Nile valley cities and archeological sites we were to venture west
into the desert. Never has a group of agents ventured into this area of
the country.
Upon our arrival in Cairo we spent two days touring the obligatory sites. Even for the non first time traveler to Egypt the wonders of seeing the Pyramids, Sphinx, Sakara , Dashhour and Memphis never fail to amaze. The Meridien Pyramids hotel provided lodging while in the Cairo/Giza area. Pyramid views from all the rooms as well as the pool.
Next we traveled overland to Alexandria and a quick visit to the Roman catacombs, the Montazah palace (former home to the royal family) and the new Alexandria Library. Accommodations provided by the Renaissance hotel.
The road distance from Alexandria to Siwa being 550Km made for a very long day of travel but fortunately a comfortable one. Visiting Siwa was like stepping back in time several hundred years. The donkey carts used for family transport, taxis, and agricultural work outnumber motorized vehicles 2-3 to one. The men, almost without exception, all dress in traditional galabiyas and what women were to be seen were totally covered in black burka. The village itself boasts of having one of the most beautiful landscapes in all of Egypt with approximately 1000 springs and moderate temperatures spring and autumn. It lies on the edge of the Great Sand Sea and is some 60 feet below sea level. All the villagers we had contact with were very surprised to discover we were Americans since so few have visited before us but all were friendly and welcoming . Our accommodations were provided by the Siwa Safari Paradise, a quaint hotel built among date palms with individual bungalows. Certainly nothing fancy but with all the comforts one could expect in such a remote location.
As a caravan we departed Siwa early morning for our 11 hour expedition. To my surprise, the desert, for the most part, is not the Sahara of movie fame. There are certainly gigantic flowing sand dunes but the majority of Egypt’s western desert is a kaleidoscope of bizarre rock and sand formations with an occasional salt water lake.
Every mile of the journey was a new sight to behold. Never was the landscape stagnant. It was hot (100-110°F) and dusty and after 11 hours very hard on the back side. But to have the experience that few westerners (or anyone) will ever have certainly made up for the lack of comfort. We ended our day’s ordeal at the Palm Village hotel in Baharia which provided us with a much needed shower and overnight accommodations. Not nearly as scenic nor pretty as Siwa, Baharia is however the gateway to the Black and White deserts as well a home to a myriad of hot and cold springs.
This is an itinerary that is not for everyone. Having traveled to more than 40 countries, many of them 3rd world, I found this trip to be perhaps the most grueling of all. I would not, however, trade this experience for any I’ve taken in the past. If you or your clients are looking for adventure and a culture to be found nowhere else in the world, this may be the trip. Contact Ya’lla Tours USA if this is of interest as they are the only tour company to offer this unique opportunity.
--Dave Lyons
Howie Perlin, Ya'lla National Sales & Marketing Manager in local garb