Okay, danke Ursula, irgendwie dachte ich mir das schon, so muss ich nicht nen Landsmann auf Englisch anschreiben...

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Dear all,

Great to read some positive news about Egypt!

My brother and I are doing the same trip with our 4x4 only the other way around. We were suppose to take the boat from Aqaba to Port Sudan but suddenly the regulations have changed. This means that we need a letter of permission of the Sudan government. Currently we are stuck in Aqaba and nothing has changed yet. We have tried a lot of things so now we are waiting for good news from our fixer. Without that letter our car cannot go on a boat to Sudan. Our entry visa for Sudan expires on the 3rd of July so we are quite in a rush. Therefor we cannot waste any time and we have to think of a Plan B.

Does anybody know if it is possible to cross the border at Taba and if they allow a 4x4 car (not a pick up) into the Sinai. Even more important, is it safe to travel through Egypt?
We are now thinking of crossing at Taba, through the Sinai to Suez and from Suez to Hurghada, Aswan and then cross the border at Wadi Halfa.
How does it work with a Police convoy?
We have a Carnet but do they force you to get another insurance as well in Egypt?

Does anyone has a number of a fixer in Sinai who can help us out?

Thanks a lot for all the tips! All information is welcome

Best regards,
Daan & Lotte

Try this Egyptian-Dutch couple that run a tourist agency: ADVENTURESAFARI

Mexican tourists killed by Egyptian security forces - BBC News

No precise information given, but "el Wahat" should refer to the Bahariya region, anything further south would be "al Wadi Gedid".

I have long maintained the biggest threat in the Egyptian deserts are the incompetent Egyptian security forces...

Edit (from another source, unverified but overall details sound credible):

The incident took place in Bahariya Oasis about 250 miles south west of Cairo.
Amr Imam, a relative of Awad Fathi, 37, manager of one of an eco hotel in the Western desert and the tour guide of the trip, who was killed, said that the incident took place on Sunday at 4pm but the security had tried to cover it up until he posted on twitter what happened. He said that the convoy consisted of French and Mexicans tourists and eight members of the tour company. The statement of the Ministry of Interior said that the convoy had parked in restricted zone, but Mr Imam claimed that they had parked the SUV cars on the main road and walked about 500 metres into the desert to have lunch, when they were targeted. "The area, they were camping in, was not a restricted zone."

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Happy Travels, András
http://www.fjexpeditions.com

Why would you walk 500m off the road to have lunch?

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1990 Landcruiser H60. Full rebuild completed 2014

there is still a lot of conflicting information coming out, including nationalities, number of casualties, time of the incident etc.

What is clear however is that they stopped on the way to Bahariya and ventured into the desert, to the WEST of the main road. They had approval from police/army for the trip to the White desert which is further South. Apparently this particular place where they stopped is a known entry/exit point for smugglers. It is also well known that entry into the Western part of the desert is not allowed without permit and that there is a lot of illegal activity happening. The guides must have known this because permits for this area have been required since many years (and all trips accompanied by army people). Normally it isn't a problem because the desert is large and you generally do not meet other people. In this particular case however, the convoy was seen by Airforce helicopters/fighter jets (not clear which) and they opened fire indiscriminately with very tragic result.

As I have posted before, visitors wanting to go to the White desert should inform themselves thoroughly with local sources before going and use reliable guides. The White desert is still open for visits with the proper paperwork.

„The Ministry of Tourism has decided to resume safaris in the White Desert east of Wahat Road
beginning 22 October, although camping in these areas will be prohibited and
tourists must stay in hotels overnight, according to an Egyptian Travel Agents Association
(ETAA) official at a company that conducts desert safaris.“

http://www.dailynewsegypt.com/2014/10/13/safaris-return-white-desert-next-week-remain-suspended-southern-areas-etaa-official/


http://www.thecairopost.com/news/171...urity-measures

Hi Ursula, the article from the Daily News is dated 2014 ... Situation in de white desert is still not clear. People wanting the latest news should contact someone who has first hand knowledge. The police and military are constantly changing what is allowed and what is not. The same applies for the Sinai.

'Travel agency to blame' for Egyptian airstrikes that killed Mexican tourists - Guardian

Hi

Can any one recommend great places to see in Egypt as I'm driving down to South Africa. Done Sharm El Sheikh and Dahab. would like places off the beaten track .

Thanks

About 40km south of Cario at Dahshur are other interesting pyramids. Hardly any people around it is quite remarkable by comparison with Giza.
All the stuff at Luxor is just staggering.
And we liked Aswan .. nicely relaxed.

howdy all!

Im heading out mid march 2016 from Cairo city to Luxor then to Aswan and then to Abu Simbel. Im finding it hard to get info on what times i can leave, who to notify of my trip and If i can go at all? I will be on two wheels and is the best route flat out to the left of the Nile on the highway, or do you take the right side through the towns on the way?
So much conflicting info out there. I am aware of the risks and the also security, and tense political situation in the area at the moment, but still keen to give it a go.
dags

dagssuperstar@gmail.com

Hi dags
this thread (title now changed) is more about the little visited desert far to the west of the Nile.
For the route to Aswan you will find this sticky thread useful:
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/hub...pt-index-63126

As far as I know the run down along the Nile is fairly straightforward; there may be escorts and checkpoints. Left or right, up to you. Then in Aswan you need to join the dawn convoy to Abu Simbel.

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Hi PaulGeert, how did you enter Egypt and with what car? You say that you have done Sharm and Dahab, curious to know how you did that and when. Places that I would recommend to visit other than the obvious ones: Siwa (but now off limits for 4x4), the monastery of Wadi el Natrun, monasteries on the Red Sea (Saint Anthony, Saint Paul), el Quseir (red sea), Wadi Lahami.

Also very nice is the new museum in Wadi el Hitan (whalebone valley in Fayoum). This is also the best place for dune driving at the moment.

Send me a message if you want more info.

Bas

Hi Bas

I'm planning a trip with my Land cruiser end of the year going through Africa. Previously I visited Dahab and Sharm el Sheike. But as I gather is that is a lot of hassle getting in and out with a vehicle. So might have to rethink my route.funmeterno.gif