Cairo to Abha Turkish Airlines Flights

  About Cairo

Egypt's capital and one of the largest cities in Africa, Cairo, is a favourite among tourists. The country of Egypt, with its deserts, might not attract a lot of tourists. However, the rich backstory and culture of Cairo ensure to keep the tourism industry thriving. Some of the famous and finest attractions of Egypt, such as the Great Sphinx and Giza Pyramids, are all located in Cairo. This automatically brings tourists to the capital city. While the city has some exquisite highlights, it suffers from the perils of pollution caused by excess population. It is one of the busiest cities in Egypt as it caters to the financial, economic and cultural sectors. Throughout the city, Cairo invites tourists to visit their beautiful city and drown in its serenity.

Despite all the chaos of the city and its culture, a traveller can find solace in some of its quaint cafes. Finding these cafes and restaurants would be a task as the city is always bustling with barely any corners to hide for tranquillity. The city streets are always bombarded with tourists and street vendors keeping the vibe as vibrant as possible. The city is surrounded by desert but has a rich history which intrigues many travellers. In fact, Cairo also has gorgeous bars and restaurants that could get a tourist's attention.

Best time to visit Cairo

As a desert, it is essential to know the months when the temperatures would be inviting for a tourist. In Cairo, March and April are a great time to visit the archaic city. The winter clouds start to evaporate while the city is blessed with springtime. The temperatures are also quite decent between 23 degree Celsius to 28 degree Celsius. With such temperatures, the winter breeze continues to traverse within the city, adding more charm to the trip. Although the hotel prices don't drop while the temperatures rise in the city, you can still afford them. As long as you book your hotel rooms in Cairo, three to four weeks in advance, you will be able to get some nice deals on hotels. The same goes for flight tickets to Cairo as well. The city does witness a good number of tourists during springtime because of some of the festivals that are held in the city. From the Ismailia International Film Festival to Cairo Fashion Week, these events are significant tourist attractions.

Another good stretch of months that you can opt for is the fall, between October and November. The weather goes through an interesting transition where the summer heat starts to cower while the cold winter atmosphere starts to take over. The desert city is wonderful during this time, and it also hosts more festivals that would appeal to the likes of tourists. Events namely, Cairo International Film Festival and 100 Kilometer Pharaonic Race, are some highlights that the city witnesses. This is definitely one of the ideal times to visit Cairo as everything about the city would be appealing to you.

Between December and February, the city engages more tourists within the city. The weather is ideal for those who wish to experience the desert weather. The days are hot, while the nights are cool. Due to these months being peak season, some of Cairo's tourist attractions see long queues and surge in the hotel prices. Best way to deal with this and the exorbitant hotel prices would be to make hotel reservations to Cairo in advance. A month or two in advance would be ideal as the chances of availability are high.

Place to visit in Cairo

At Cairo, the two tourist attractions that take the cake are Pyramids of Giza and the Great Sphinx. However, don't limit yourself to just two of those monuments. The city is literally a treasure trove of archaeological sites, ruins and relics. You will not be bored by any of their highlights as they all have some really intriguing tales. Sites such as Dahshur, Saqqara and Memphis are a few that you can explore, maybe not excavate. There are many religious sites too that add more charm to the city's archaic vibe. Coptic Cairo or Old City is one such neighbourhood that will pique your interest. As will Islamic Cairo, again a neighbourhood with a labyrinth of twisted alleyways and jaw-dropping architecture. The Egyptian Museum will actually be a good place for you to start before exploring the rest of Cairo. Much of the country's history and cultural insights are all locked up in the museum, which will further help you understand their monuments better. Saqqara is also an interesting site where you will get to see the Step Pyramid of Djoser, known to be the oldest pyramid made of stone.

Things to do in Cairo

Stepping away from all the historical sites, you can take a day off and relax at Al Azhar Park. It's quite the oasis of Cairo with lush green grasses and a beautiful sight of the city. The best thing you can do in Cairo is to learn more about their history. Camel safaris and relishing good food are also some of the other things that you can do. While the city is noisy and crowded, you should still opt to take a stroll around it. You will be surprised by the beautiful architecture and quaint segments. The Bazaar is another place you should hang out at for souvenirs, spices, artefacts and more. It will be quite an experience to make way through the bustling marketplace.

Food and restaurants in Cairo

As the city centre, Cairo does cater to various franchises of the world, including Pizza Hut, Burger King and McDonald's. The city also offers some of the finest cuisines from around the world such as Thai food, European and Mediterranean and Japanese, to name a few. However, they also have their own cuisine to boast. The Egyptian cuisine is very similar to the Middle East, comprising of bread, rice, vegetables and meat. However, thanks to the Nile River, they also indulge in adding fish in their cuisine. Typical restaurants in Cairo that follow the Egyptian cuisine have dishes such as aish baladi (pita bread ft. Egypt), hamam mahshi (pigeon stuffed with rice or wheat), mouloukhiya (rabbit stew or chicken stew with flavours of garlic and mallow), kushari (a wholesome mix of rice, macaroni, vermicelli, spaghetti, black lentils topped with tomato, garlic and chilli sauce), etc. Wholesome is the word to describe their meals as they do make you feel happy and satiated. While you're in the city, do not miss Ta'meya, which is basically Egyptian falafel made from fava beans.

To experience the best of Egyptian food, you should head to Abou El Sid, Sequoia, Felfela, Sabya and more. Al Khal Egyptian restaurant, Osmanly, Bab Al Qasr are also some restaurants in the city where you will find flavours of Egyptian culture. Since the city also has popular cuisine from around the world, you won't have to gorge down Egyptian meals. Even in Egypt, thanks to the river Nile, you can get the best of Japanese sushi at Shogun or Thai delicacies at Birdcage. As the city also has Turkish and Mediterranean cuisine to offer, overall, the food culture is quite impressive. You certainly wouldn't be bored with the food here as they cater to much of your moods.

How to reach Cairo (Transportation)

By Air

From India, the best way to reach Egypt would be to fly to Cairo. Major cities in India, such as Mumbai, Delhi, Kolkata and Chennai, have flights to Cairo. There are two international airports in Egypt, in Cairo as well as Luxor. Before making your Egypt trip, it is essential for you to first list out your itinerary. Once you know what your trip's going to look like, accordingly, you can book your round trip flight tickets to Cairo or Luxor. In terms of flight deals to Cairo, it would be best to book round trips as that would give you a plethora of cheap flight ticket options. International airlines such as Lufthansa, Swiss, Singapore Airlines, Etihad and more are available and fly from India.

From the metro cities in India, there are regular flights to Cairo. However, for nonstop flights to Cairo without layovers or connecting flights, you should travel from Mumbai. There are three dedicated nonstop flights flying to Cairo from Mumbai. The flight duration to Cairo from Mumbai is comparatively less too, making travelling convenient. While you are finding the best international routes to Cairo from India, you should also take a peek at the accommodations. Since there are some lavish settings and basic but decent hotels in Cairo, you should book a room in Cairo while booking your flights.

By Road

Although there are road routes connecting Cairo and India, they come with some political concerns. The international route to Cairo from India passes through Pakistan, Iran, Iraq, parts of Jordan and Israel to reach Egypt eventually. While a road trip is possible, passing through these countries would be next to impossible. Hence, this is not a viable or recommended way to reach Cairo. Instead, flying to Cairo is ideal and comes with fewer concerns.

  About Abha

Located in the Aseer Province is the lush green city of Abha in Saudi Arabia. The city's proximity to the Red Sea and other intriguing geographical features give it a canvas, unlike the rest of Saudi Arabia. The city's Aseer National Park is famously known for being home to some of the exotic birds. It also houses dense juniper forests. The city is famed for its mild temperatures and is hence, a prominent tourist destination in Saudi Arabia.

Best time to visit Abha

Unlike some parts of Saudi Arabia, Abha actually enjoys some pleasant weather with equal summers and winters. In fact, it is one of the colder parts of Saudi, which enjoys a mild climate all year long. The temperatures go as high as 34 degree Celsius during summers and are surprisingly quite low during winters. In fact, there was a time when the recorded temperature crossed the negatives. While this might have happened in the past, the temperatures don't cross negatives anymore. However, it is one of the pleasant cities in Saudi Arabia with a lovely weather that makes travelling ideal for every season. The winter season in Abha is from December to February. During these months, the temperature could touch a staggering low, and you might need to carry enough parkas to ensure that you don't have trouble breathing. The city's rough climate does make it unfavourable to travel and engage in touristy activities. The season does see a drop in the hotel prices as well. If you are okay with the excessively cold winters in Abha, then you should book your tickets and hotels too.

June to September is considered to be the best season for a tourist excursion in Abha. The summers are quite decent as the temperatures don't touch beyond 34 degree Celsius. While it might seem too much for some people, it is actually quite convenient as there is less humidity in the air during this time. The hot and dry summers are tolerable as long as you carry proper bottles of water and hydrate yourself at all times. Out of the summer months, August is recognised as the best month to visit Abha. The city has perfect temperatures and doesn't require you to go beyond your limits to enjoy the vibe. The hotel prices in Abha during the peak season does see a surge though. Since many folks from around Saudi Arabia also flock over to Abha for a summer vacation, it could be a little crowded with a spike in the hotel prices. You might want to make prior bookings of flights and hotels in Abha if you want to evade the tourist crowd. Or you can avoid the tourist crowd altogether by visiting the city during spring, which is from March to May.

Places to visit in Abha

Abha's pride comes from the exquisite Green Mountain, which is located at the heart of the city. It is basically a mountain that has been lined up with green lights to complement the name. Abha Dam is another place that you should visit. The water body is surrounded by lovely land on all sides. There are many restaurants too around the dam that would add to the quaint vibe of the place. Do not miss the Art Street in Abha. It is more of a park laced with well-maintained streets and has shrubs on either side of the track. The place is beautiful, and you will have a good time hanging out here. You should also visit the Aseer National Park. Connected to the Jabal mountains, the coastal park has many cold spots. You would find the best air and vibe in the national park. Al Sahab Park is another such place that would keep you engaged. You will have to rent a car out and drive up to the amusement park. It is actually one of the first amusement parks that were constructed in Abha. The park is second to the Al Saudah Park, which is about 15 km away.

Things to do in Abha

Do not be surprised by the greenery that you will find in the desert city of Abha. As part of your excursion in Abha, you can visit Jabal Sawda by trekking up the peak. Aside from the Sawda, you should also trek up the trails of Jabal Ferwa. The two Saudi Arabian mountains would be cold, so make sure to carry a light jacket and lots of water. If trekking is not your thing, then you should visit Abu Kheyal Park. It is relaxing and has lovely floral trees lined up that adds to the beauty of the place. As the city has many parks and green spaces, you should also check out the Andalus Park. This place is especially perfect if you are travelling with kids. They can have fun on the slides while you can relax and enjoy the breeze while lying on the grass. As the city is surrounded by many parks and mountains, you will always be up for something to do.

Food and restaurants in Abha

Jalamah is a famous dish that you will find in the city. It is a traditional Saudi Arabian dish which is made from lamb. The meat is blended perfectly with Arabic spices consisting of cinnamon, black pepper, cinnamon, cardamom and coriander. The aromatic stew certainly brings a lot of flavour on the plate that you would enjoy. Saleeg is another famous dish of the Saudis which is basically rice porridge topped with a marinated and roasted piece of meat. It could be lamb or chicken or any meat of your choice. The lovely dish is comforting and would be a nice indulgence. Another dish that you would find in Abha, a common Saudi meal is the Martabak. A roti-like bread is stuffed with ground meat, garlic, eggs, curry, peppers and onions. It is basically a Saudi version of a paratha. You can actually eat this when you are not in the mood to eat excessively. Do leave some room for dessert as the famous Saudi savour Ma'amoul is a must-have. It is basically a dome-shaped tasty sweet made with fillings of fruits, walnuts, dates and more.

The options of indulgence in Abha is minimal. The city does not have a plethora of food joints with international or fusion cuisine. The place is humble and serves most of Saudi-inspired menu at their restaurants. Most of their restaurants are for a family setting. You can find some tasty Saudi dishes along with plates of mezze meals. Some of the main restaurants include Al-Tahy, N Lounge, Maharaj Indian Restaurant, to name a few. The Green Mountain Restaurant is actually a good place for you to hang out with your family or friends. The place is perched atop a lovely hill and illuminates the scintillating lights of the city. The breath-taking view interspersed with tasty food is definitely unmissable. You can also get coffee and cake as the establishment serves a lot of things.

How to reach Abha (Transportation)

The flight connectivity to Abha is quite decent. Although there are no direct flights to Abha from Indian cities, there are flights connecting to the Saudi city. The most popular route to Abha is from Jeddah and Riyadh. Both the cities are located in Saudi Arabia, and this domestic route to Abha is perfect and well-connected. Airlines such as Air Arabia, Flynas, Saudia, flydubai, Emirates, Etihad Airways, to name a few, have immaculate flight connectivity to Abha. A majority of these flights have layovers in Sharjah, Jeddah, Riyadh and Dubai. These cities offer enough options to reach Abha and hence, are more popular. It is imperative that you get a transit visa as it is required in Saudi cities. Interestingly, Jeddah and Riyadh are the only cities where you will need a transit visa. You can either get it from the embassy, or you can apply for the same online. Saudi Arabia's embassy website has the form that you need to fill out to apply for the transit visa. The flight duration to Abha ranges from 11 hours to 13 hours approximately.

The domestic route from Jeddah is considered to reach Abha. Since flight connectivity to Jeddah is much better than Abha, it is often a better way to reach the Saudi city. The flight tickets to Abha are quite reasonable. The ticket price to Abha ranges from INR 19,000 to INR 25,000. You can actually get tickets to Abha for cheap, provided you spend time on the internet and get hold of some flight deals. A little snooping around on the internet will help you find the best flight deals to Abha online. Along with the flight tickets, you can also book your hotel in Abha. This will actually enable you to receive more discounts and offers. You will have to check for peak season as the flight tickets will be expensive during this time.

  About Turkish Airlines

Turkish Airlines is the national flag carrier to the country of Turkey. The airline has excellent scheduled services to destinations across Europe, North and South American, Asia and Africa. It is one of the largest mainline carriers in the world with respect to passenger destinations. Turkish Airlines is also recognised as one of the only airlines to serve non-stop flights to a plethora of destinations from a single airport. It flies to about 126 countries directly, which is more than any other airline prevalent in the world. The airport also has an operational fleet of 24 cargo aircraft. Turkish Airlines' corporate headquarters is located at the Turkish Airlines General Management Building, which is on the grounds of Istanbul Atatürk Airport in Ye?ilköy, Bak?rköy, Istanbul. The Istanbul Airport in Arnavutkoy is Turkish Airlines' main hub base. The second hubs for the airline are Ankara Esenbo?a Airport and ?zmir Adnan Menderes Airport. In 2008, the airline also became part of the Star Alliance airline carrier network.

Founded in 1933, the airline was originally called as Turkish State Airlines and worked under the Ministry of National Defence. The airline underwent tremendous issues in the 1980s and 90s and even received a reputation for extremely poor customer service and flight delays. There are hijackings and other such concerns that took over, including the 1974 crash of the Turkish Airlines Flight 981 when the aircraft's flaw in design led to a massive accident that resulted in deaths of passengers. However, the airline's officials worked on fixing all the problems one after the other. While the necessary flight-related concerns were being fixed, Turkish Airlines continued to extend its international reach by attracting codeshare agreements with airlines such as American Airlines, LOT Polish Airlines. Asiana Airlines, Malaysia Airlines, Cathay Pacific and Czech Airlines. Turkey's economic crisis also led to a reduction in the domestic route airline passenger traffic. Further, a war in Iraq in 2003 affected the closing of some international routes.

Turkish Airlines has grown phenomenally despite all the trials and tribulations. After much political dissonance and other complications witnessed by Turkish Airlines, the airline also recovered from its financial losses in 2017. The profitability witnessed a 35 per cent increase in turnover. Turkish Airlines has managed to find its glorious reputation of being one of the top airlines in the world yet again. Several miles and frequent-flyer programs have also been introduced by Turkish Airlines. The airline has been an official carrier to several football clubs including Manchester United, FC Barcelona, Borussia Dortmund, Aston Villa and FK Sarajevo, to name a few. Renowned athletes like Lionel Messi, Kobe Bryant, Wayne Rooney, Kevin Costner and Didier Drogba have been roped in for sponsorship and promotions deals by the airlines. Turkish Airline has been recognised with several accolades by Skytrax. Some of the titles received by the airline include Europe's Best Airline, World's Best Premium Economy Class Airline Seat and Southern Europe's Best Airline for consecutive years.

Fleet size of Turkish Airlines

Turkish Airlines' fleet size stands at 353 aircraft. The airline only has aircraft variants from the Airbus and Boeing family. Some of the aircrafts namely Airbus A319-100s, Airbus A321-200, Airbus A330-300s, Boeing 737-800s, Boeing 777-300ERs, Airbus A321neo and more are part of the fleet. In 2016, the airline announced that it was delaying the delivery of about 39 Boeing and Airbus aircraft due to a drop in the air traffic. Turkish Airlines was originally supposed to bring in a committed 167 aircraft including 92 Airbus A321neos, 65 Boeing 737 MAX 8 and 10 Boeing 737 MAX 9s. Additionally, the airline was also slated to receive about 10-32 aircraft in 2018. However, the orders have been pushed through 2023 as the airline's outstanding orders are yet to be received. In 2019, the airline did receive its first-ever Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner, which was ordered back in March 2018. The airline has shown keen interest in acquiring Airbus A220 and Embraer E190/E195 to serve new destinations.

Baggage Allowance

The checked baggage allowance on Turkish Airlines is 32 kg. The passengers are allowed to carry 32 kg weighed baggage for free. The weight is applicable to single baggage that a passenger can carry. Beyond the stated baggage allowance, Turkish Airlines will not accept more. It is recommended that the passenger avoid carrying unnecessary and restricted items in their baggage. This might turn into a concern if you are travelling within a new city. Additionally, the passenger is also entitled to carry a piece of baggage that weighs not more than 23 kg. The luggage cannot exceed the weight stated by the airline. Similarly, the airline has also put forth a dimension for the baggage that needs to be followed. The dimension of the bags cannot exceed a total of 115 cm. The cabin baggage that is allowed by the airline is also cannot be more than 8 kg. As long as the piece of baggage's measurements falls under the dimension of 23x40x55 cm, the airline will accommodate the same. Along with the hand baggage, Turkish Airline also allows a small bag such as a handbag or a laptop bag that can be rested under the seat.

Passengers are allowed to carry musical instruments, sports equipment and other fragile items along with them on board. However, there are certain restrictions and rules that need to be followed by the traveller to ensure that no problem crops up. In case passengers are flying with infants, Turkish Airlines also has reservations to cater to the needs of the travellers. The airline provides spaces for strollers and other equipment too, which can be availed by passengers. Similarly, passengers who have physical disability and mobility issues can carry crutches and equipment to help them move around.

In-flight services

Turkish Airlines' in-flight services promise comfort and luxury. The seating is exquisite as the reclining chairs have a capacity to add to the comfort of the passenger. Further, the business class and economy class also offer legroom and adjustable footrest that can add to the luxury of the traveller. The seats are also capable of turning into comfortable beds with a lift-up seat design. Following the exquisite seating arrangement, the airline also offers phenomenal in-flight services. There are entertainment systems that are personalised and cater to individual passengers. The seats also come with power plug systems to help with the charging of portable electronic gadgets. For medium and long haul flights, the airline has in-flight meals too. They are complementary and can be requested to the airline ahead of the journey.

Much of the dishes that can be found in meals served in the economy class of Turkish Airlines include Turkish dishes. There are hot and cold beverages as well as snack services also available onboard. Interestingly, the airline also offers amenity kit as part of their ticket. The kit includes a sleep mask, toothbrush, toothpaste, socks, earplugs and lip balm. The airline has reserved entertainment content for kids travelling with parents. The in-flight entertainment systems have in-built games, films, music and a range of TV channels for children. The airline also has toy sets that can be requested on board.

Popular routes and top cities for Turkish Airlines

Turkish Airlines is known to have an immaculate domestic route and international route connectivity. The airline flies to more than 50 domestic cities and 244 international destinations that have been spread across 123 countries. Turkish Airlines has flights reserved for about 108 cities in Turkey and Europe. As for other continents, the airline connects to 64 Asian cities and 19 cities in the Americas. Outside of Turkey, Turkish Airlines sees a large number of flights serving Germany, Russia, Italy, the United States, France, Saudi Arabia, Ukraine, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Spain and the United Kingdom. These countries see the maximum number of flights being chartered by the airline. The airline also provides carrier services to Indian cities such as Mumbai, Delhi, Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai and Ahmedabad.

Why travel by Turkish Airlines?

Turkish Airlines has built a reputation for its excellent domestic route and international route connections. With flights catering to over 315 destinations worldwide, the airline has become one of the most sought-after options. Despite several complications and concerns that have cropped up over the years, Turkish Airlines has seen tremendous growth. It has upgraded its passenger fleet and even enhanced the facilities that make it more accessible for travellers. You can find and even book a Turkish Airlines flight on the airline's official website. Simultaneously, you will be able to find out more about the flight details such as flight status on the site. Often passengers even get their web check-in done on the official website. If you download the airline's app from Play Store, you can further get hold of details on Turkish Airlines' flight schedule. The in-flight services of Turkish Airlines also add to the world-class facilities that can be availed at the airport and the flight. The airline has dedicated first and business class lounges installed at the airports.