Cairo to Istanbul: Overland with Intrepid
March 3rd 2009 01:35
Intrepid are a great low-impact small group adventure operator. There are a maximum of 12 people in each group, with an experienced tour guide and emphasis on interacting with the locals and getting a real feel for the culture. This was my first experience with a tour company and I was pleasantly surprised. I don't like the idea of touring, it seems to me as though you are just putting yet another artificial layer between you and the country you are visiting, like looking at it through plexi-glass or something. I guess Intrepid is the kind of company that attracts like-minded (non tour group type) open minded people who really want to experience travel rather than observe a country from a distance, so it was great. We had a fab time.
The Routing
The value for money on this tour was SO great. I have to admit that - plexiglass aside - I love my upscale hotels at the end of the day (four or five stars, thanks!) but had to compromise on this tour. Intrepid's philosophy is to support local businesses so the accommodations were dated and basic but clean; no chain hotels, some were simply servicable while others could even be described as charming. There was really only one night where I thought "I don't want to sleep on that bed" but even then it was the best hotel in that particular town (Palmyra), so what are you going to do? You have to adjust your expectations and ease up if you want to see these remote places the way they should be seen.
I'll post a blow-by-blow, day-by-day account of our amazing trip over the next few days: Cairo to Istanbul. Fasten your seatbelt, here we go!
The Routing
The value for money on this tour was SO great. I have to admit that - plexiglass aside - I love my upscale hotels at the end of the day (four or five stars, thanks!) but had to compromise on this tour. Intrepid's philosophy is to support local businesses so the accommodations were dated and basic but clean; no chain hotels, some were simply servicable while others could even be described as charming. There was really only one night where I thought "I don't want to sleep on that bed" but even then it was the best hotel in that particular town (Palmyra), so what are you going to do? You have to adjust your expectations and ease up if you want to see these remote places the way they should be seen.
I'll post a blow-by-blow, day-by-day account of our amazing trip over the next few days: Cairo to Istanbul. Fasten your seatbelt, here we go!
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