Holiday FAQs

---

My wife and I are residents of Cairo and we would like to take a trip to Siwa, but the length of the journey by car is rather daunting and makes it difficult to contemplate spending anything less than five days on the trip. We have been told that this is the minimum amount of time needed for adequate time in the oasis, so that the drive can be broken up in both directions. However, our leave days are precious, and I am subject to car-sickness, so I fear that we might never make the trip.

I wonder, however, if there is a solution. Do you know of any way to make the trip by air, either by chartering a small aircraft or by helicopter? And would such a transportation option, if it exists, be prohibitively expensive? If it is only a splurge, perhaps my wife and I could consider it for one of the many three-day weekends public holidays will make possible for us this.

Sincerely,

Jeffrey Hobbs
Maadi, Cairo

A solution does exist, prohibitive as you may find it -- Petroleum Air Service rents helicopters that could convey you to Siwa, but the aircraft will have to travel from the Red Sea where the company is based to pick you up from Cairo, and stop twice in Alexandria and Marsa Matrouh, all of which adds to the cost. For more information about the price contact Captain Wasfi Beshara at Petroleum Air Services: +202 403 2180-6, fax +202 402 4449.

Write to "Holiday FAQs", Travel, Al-Ahram Weekly, Galaa St, Cairo, Egypt, or e-mail wtfaq@ahram.org.eg.