Egypt

I really had no idea what to expect when I set out to travel solo in Egypt.

Prior to my recent my trip on their Nile Cruise Premium tour, sponsored by Exodus Travels, I had never been on a cruise. Now, I can see why it appeals to so many. It’s a very comfortable and easy way to travel. What’s not to like about having all your meals prepared for you and living in a floating hotel? It was also a nice way to see the different sides of Egypt’s landscapes as one moment you might be sailing through more desert-like settings, the next, lush agricultural lands, or even both at the same time on opposite sides of the river.

I Didn’t Know Towels Could Do That
I’m a big fan of towel art, and I was certainly given a masterclass on it during this cruise. Sure, there were the traditional cranes and swans that one might get in any hotel, but during the cruise I was also greeted by towel crocodiles, monkeys, hippos, and even a life-sized effigy of me (which was a strange flex). I’ve never seen that anywhere else, so let me know if these are common in the towel art world.

Are We Being Attacked by Pirates on the Nile?
One of the most exciting moments came when we approached and passed through the Esna Lock just south of Luxor. I’d never been through a lock before, so I was interested to experience this, but something unexpected happened as we neared the lock. As I mentioned in a previous article about this trip, vendors in Egypt are an aggressive and persistent bunch, but that didn’t prepare me for when smaller boats pulled up alongside our riverboat and threw grappling hooks onto our vessel. At first, I thought they might be river pirates, but they turned out to be merchants who work really hard to make a sale If you’re wondering how one shops with the river vendors, the negotiations are done verbally, but the merchandise is thrown at you like a football. You decide what you want and throw the rest back down at them along with payment for anything you want to keep. They drive a tough bargain, so if you encounter them when you travel solo in Egypt, make sure you negotiate well. It really is a fun and unique experience if you get the chance to engage with these river pirates—I mean, vendors—while sailing down the Nile.