Tips About Gay Vacations To Egypt

In many ways, Egypt is one big museum featuring numerous sites of religious, cultural and historical importance. Gay travel to Egypt can include everything from browsing open-air souks, cruising down the Nile, visiting old-world temples, exploring ancient cities, trekking across the desert on a camel and standing in awe of the Great Pyramids of Giza, to shopping in modern, cosmopolitan cities and lounging on white sand beaches. From the burial tombs at Valley of Kings or exploring the Temple at Edfu, to shopping for textiles in the Khan al Khalili Bazaar or touring the treasures of King Tutankhamun in the Egyptian Museum in Cairo, there is truly no end to all that Egypt has to offer. For those looking for a gay vacation to Africa, Egypt is an excellent choice that is sure to please anyone looking for an exciting destination for gay travel.

While Egypt is a great destination for gay vacations, there are some points of interest to members of the LGBT community. The Egyptian government has become more aggressive in its efforts to arrest and imprison gay men in recent years, including a very public trial of over 50 men arrested on a boat hosting a night club in 2001 and several undercover sting operations in gathering spots, online chat rooms and other venues, which have led to arrests and imprisonment.

Most of these efforts have been aimed at arresting Egyptian men; however, in some instances women and tourists have also been included. One of the most publicized cases of a sting operation that led to numerous arrests and imprisonment was the 2001 raid of the Queen Boat, which resulted in the arrest of over 50 men.

With that said, this is not to imply that Egypt should be avoided during gay travel, or that travelers will feel unwelcome amongst the locals. Most visitors find locals throughout the country to be very warm and welcoming and have reported no problems with the government or police during gay vacation trips. Of course, this ongoing persecution does mean that it is difficult, if not impossible to find any visible LGBT communities; however, there are popular gathering spots in Cairo, Aswan, Dahab, Alexandria, Luxor and other metropolitan areas. It is important to note that while these hangouts do exist, discretion should be used, because the police are also well aware of locations frequented by the LGBT community.

Egypt is an intriguing country that is home to many must-see cultural and historical attractions. To help ensure a safe excursion and make sure that you do not miss out on some of Egypt\’s best offerings, anyone planning gay vacations to Egypt may want to look into partaking in a tour specifically focused on planning gay travel adventures. Alternatively, folks planning gay vacations to Egypt should definitely go through a travel agent well-versed in the specific needs and concerns of the LGBT community.

Spread composed by Howie Holben on Egypt. Spirit Journeys produces a gay guide and will provide great gay travel ideas.