Roads In Egypt
 

I'm interested in renting a motorcycle in Egypt in the late Fall/early Winter and touring on my own around Egypt for several weeks.

I realize that Cairo is quite congested --although it can't be any worse than Mysore, India-- but for the bulk of my trip I'd prefer to ride on relatively quiet secondary roads or is this impossible in Egypt ? And I don't suppose that anybody would have any idea where I could rent a motorcycle in or around Cairo ?

Thanks very much!

Hi there.
I've been to Egypt 4 times by bike. 2 by 4x4.
1)There are 3 main touring zones.
a)Cairo and south, the Delta down to Luksor escorted by the Nile. the roads are good but very crowded. it is an agricultural area. and most of the trafic goes slow. there are also the main roades which are boring. b)-The western (deset) starting from Marsa Matrouch to Siwa, and south east. from Marsa to Siwa its exellent road, from Siwa to Baharia -dirt. Then to Farafra and Dahla. good. traffic: 2 cars an hour. c)-Sinai. the roads are wonderful. go to Sharem al sheick and the Red sea area. (you can fly direct from Europe).
Hiring bikes: No, in wstern zone. Maybe, in the Delta (try any car renting agency in Cairo. they know more). Yes, for sure in the Saini peninsula, all sizes and modls. but only in tourist areas (Sharem).
Riding or driving in Egypt is quite an experience. Cairo is more serviving than reaching from A to B. Riding the deserts needs special prepare. All of Egypt is covered by miletary and police posts. they say that it is done to protect you from teror. it is needed in the Delta ara (where the islamic fundamentalists have a strong hold)the police are very polite and will give you an escort to anywhere.

enjoy it's a wonderful place
Yoni

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From our notes in 1997 - we were dumb enough to go to Sharm el Sheikh in late June - not recommended!

"The trip up the Sinai was very hot. Although about two thirds of the trip is along the Gulf of Suez, the other third goes inland, and the temperature is about 10 C hotter when you get away from the coast. We cope by driving an hour, then taking 1/2 hour break, pouring water all over our heads and down our shirts (the locals think this is hilarious, almost as funny as the fact that we're dumb enough to be driving in 45 C+ weather through the Sinai). Then we drank a litre of cold water each while resting. The 5 hours of driving thus translated into an 8 hour trip, but at least we survived!"

If you're a diver, though, Sharm is worth the drive - see further notes on the site below.
http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/joh...#SharmelSheikh

Cheers
Susan

[This message has been edited by Susan (edited 04 May 2001).]

HI
Its not really what your looking for but I would recomend it. In Hurgade, the Benidorm of Egypt you can rent Quad bikes for a day and go on a guided tour into the surrounding hills. Excellent fun if youve never ridden these things before. At 50 us for half a day its expensive. Several places do this on the main street between the hotels and whats left of the old town.
Have a good one,Andy