Viator Travel Blog

More than two years have passed since Egypt’s 2011 Revolution, and the country is still feeling the effects. Images shown around the world of the violence in Cairo’s Tahrir Square both during the uprising and after have had a profoundly negative impact on the country’s reputation, causing people worldwide to believe that the entire country is dangerous now. This is not true. Egypt is approximately 385,000 square miles in size. The majority of the violence which still sporadically occurs is in an approximately one-square-mile area in downtown Cairo. The rest of Cairo remains perfectly safe as does the rest of the country, from the Mediterranean city of Alexandria to the tombs and temples of Luxor and Aswan, from the Red Sea beaches of the Sinai to the pyramids which give the country its signature skyline.

Forget dropping down on one knee at a glitzy restaurant; these days popping the question requires a little more thought. From drifting along the Venice canal ways on a romantic gondola ride to camping out under the Egyptian stars, or even from the top of the Empire State Building, here are 25 ideas for mind-blowingly romantic proposals.

Welcome to the 2012 Viator Travel Awards: Africa and Middle East Edition! Rather than make this a list of specific tours, as we’ve done in the past, we decided this year to make a list of 25 of the most fun and interesting things to do in Africa and the Middle East – with a few specific tours as options in each destination.

They call it commencement for a reason. It’s the end of your college years, but the beginning of a different phase of your life. You will be setting out into the world, into the workforce, and your school days are now to be relegated as flashes in your fond memory banks.

But stepping right out of school and into the workforce doesn’t sound like the bag of fun we expect after all this trouble. Not by any means. We want to celebrate, take our first full-fledged steps out into freedom. So let’s take off! Be it partying or adventure travel, vacation looms large on the horizon. And if you’re just graduating, here a list of the top places to go after university.

“It seems like I am a tourist in a place that I have never visited before, not a tour guide in Egypt” says Ahmed, who lives and works in Cairo as a tour guide. From people smiling, saying hello and happy day, to welcoming all foreigners and tourists, the new Egypt is welcoming all to witness its renewed freedom. Find out more about the dawn of new Egypt in the complete article This is not my country! The Dawn of a new Egypt! from Ahmed Mosalam.

Experience the transformation of the new Egypt first hand and be a part of modern history as you explore ancient Egyptian history. Raising anew, Egypt is a mix of new hopes and opportunities while still being the symbol of past treasures – from the Pyramids, Abu Simbel and more, Egypt is the place for memories of a lifetime.

Find out more about the raise of this new Egypt in the complete article Welcome back to the New Egypt from Adel Taha.

No doubt, like us here at Viator, you’ve been watching the protests in Egypt unfold with a mix of hope and fear. Hope that the situation is resolved peacefully, and quickly. Fear, that it does not turn violent (and the news over the past 48 hours has been increasingly worrying on this front).

Viator is proud to introduce some of our new local experts. This network of licensed tour guides covers most every destination you can imagine, so check ‘em out the next time you’re looking for a private tour – or simply looking to explore a destination from a local’s perspective. In this tenth installment we meet Adel Taha, one of Viator’s local experts in Cairo (and a highly rated licensed tour guide in Egypt).

***Editor’s Note: The contest is now closed and we have a winner! Congratulations to Degs!***Experience the wonders of ancient Egypt on an all expenses paid 5-day Nile River journey. Cruise down Egypt’s famous river as you learn and discover the mysteries behind this ancient civilization. Viator is giving away one pair of tickets for a 5-Day Nile River Cruise from Luxor to Aswan.

I traveled to Egypt for the first time and enjoyed it a lot. I did not know what to expect and arrived in Cairo with some trepidation about a culture, religion and way of life I didn’t understand. I admit arriving with a touch of ignorance and a small tinge of fear. Before leaving I found it hard to find good information about what to expect so I thought I’d share a couple of the things that I would have liked to know before I got there.