| Gay Destinations: Egypt |
| Written by Howie Holben | |
| Sunday, 11 April 2010 | |
|
In many ways, Egypt is one big museum featuring numerous sites of religious, cultural and historical importance. Gay tours 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.
In many ways, Egypt is one big museum featuring numerous sites of religious, cultural and historical importance. Gay tours 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 gay vacations to Egypt can be safe and very fulfilling travel experiences, there are some things that LGBT travelers should know. The government of Egypt has increased efforts to persecute and imprison members of the LGBT community in recent years, which includes undercover sting operations at local gathering places, setting men up for arrest through meetings arranged in online chat rooms and some well-publicized trials and imprisonments, such as the Queen Boat raid where over 50 men were arrested in 2001. While Egyptian men are usually the focus of these raids and online undercover operations, local women and male and female tourists have also been arrested. There are no laws that specifically ban same-sex sexual activity conducted in private between consenting adults; however, laws against debauchery, contempt for religion and other similar behaviors have been used in recent years to persecute members of the LGBT community in Egypt. That being said, this does not at all mean that Egypt should be avoided when it comes to gay vacation travel, or that visitors will be confronted with constant homophobia from locals. In contrast, most travelers who have taken Egyptian gay vacations have found the locals to be welcoming and warm, and have reported no issues with the police or government during their stay. While there is no real, visible LGBT community in most parts of the country, there are well-known gathering places in Luxor, Alexandria, Dahab, Aswan, Cairo and other larger cities. Of course, discretion is important when visiting local hotspots, since the police force is also aware of these hangouts. Egypt is an amazing country with a vast array of must-see attractions of both cultural and historical value. Folks who are interested in gay vacations to Egypt may want to consider a gay travel tour, which will help to ensure that you do not miss Egypt's best offerings and that the journey will be a safe one. If you prefer solo gay vacations, it is still advisable to at least go through a travel agent that is aware of the concerns and needs of members of the LGBT community when planning gay vacations to ensure a trip full of lasting memories and great experiences. The Article Author: Holidays to Egypt pointers by Howie Holben. His company, Spirit Journeys, is a gay spiritual enterprise. Spirit Journeys makes available spiritual gay tantra yoga all over the world. |
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