High Tea at the Cataract.

If you can't (or don't want to) afford to stay at the magnificent Old Cataract Hotel in Aswan but still want to enjoy a slice of its grand splendour, reserve the afternoon and come for high tea instead. It's served on their famous veranda overlooking the Nile so you get to enjoy one of the highlights of this very special place at a fraction of the cost of what you would have to fork out for a room. Plus, there's delicious tea and tasty treats galore to go with the view. Watch the feluccas sail by before a backdrop of glistening water, lush greenery and the desert in the not-too-far distance while you munch on cucumber sandwiches and scones with clotted cream. And when the evening arrives with a fresh breeze that mingles with the clinking of fine china and silver cutlery and the background music, you might as well stay for a couple of drinks or even dinner before you head down to your modest abode in one of the less ritzy establishments in town. Sweet dreams.

http://www.sofitel.com/gb/hotel-1666-sofitel-legend-old-cataract-aswan/index.shtml

Al Tarfa Desert Sanctuary.

If secret gardens to stroll around and lounging in shaded, breezy spots with a cold drink are your thing, we suggest a trip to Al Tarfa in the beautiful Dakhla Oasis asap. At the fringes of this lush, bucolic island in the dessert, with donkey carts rumbling past on sandy tracks and cows grazing in the fields, this special lodge combines rustic country life with the small luxurious of an up-market eco retreat. From breakfast by the pool to lunch in the garden next to a gurgling stream to dinner under the stars, it's the meals that structure your day here rather than your watch. In between, the friendly and helpful but pleasantly unobtrusive team will arrange trips for you to some of the magnificent sights in the area, such as the amazing old town of Al Qasr with its intricate labyrinth of mud-brick houses. Our favourite spot, however, is the extremely comfy couch under a pair of lanterns from which the view goes out towards the caramel-coloured mountains in the distance, which provide a stark contrast to the lush greenery of the oasis below.

http://altarfa.net

Gianaclis Winery Tour.

It took us a while to find the right contact and manage to arrange for a tour, but manage we did and we're glad we gave it the required amount of extra effort. A winery tour to Gianaclis, one of only two estates in Egypt, is definitely one of the best day trips from Cairo you can possibly imagine. Early in the morning at 8am we were picked up by a luxurious mini-bus in Zamalek and ferried off to somewhere so deep in the Nile delta we probably wouldn't find the way ourselves if we tried to. Behind high and nondescript walls we were suddenly greeted by a state-of-the-art wine production facility, a charming tasting room with breezy outside terrace, and winemaker Sebastien and his team who welcomed us with a broad smile and a small breakfast to start the day. We then went on to a tour of the production process including a vast array of gleaming stainless steel containers as well as their special cellar with French oak barrels for special edition wines. Afterwards, the tasting started with a sip of pink bubbly for an aperitif and continued with a light white to accompany a selection of fresh salads. The BBQ delicacies to follow were matched by two different red wines, including their Ayam Special Edition in generous amounts. Accordingly, after four hours of tour and tasting we were all merrily exhausted from all the good wine and food and not few of us fell asleep almost instantaneously on the way back to Cairo.

To book your tour, inquire with Carmen at carmen.anis[at]alahrambeverages.com

http://gianacliswines.com

TBS - The Bakery Shop.

Bread-and-patisserie start-up The Bakery Shop reached nationwide acclaim for their »Got Ink?« campaign to promote participation in Egypt's parliamentary elections, during which they offered free products for everyone who could prove they voted as indicated by their inked index finger. In normal life the folks at TBS, as their artisan bakery is known, simply produce Egypt's best croissants that come in a large variety from plain to almond but always with plenty of greasy goodness. They also do wonderful sandwiches, donuts and fancy bread, but for us it's really all about the flaky French indulgence they are so famous for, though according to TBS the croissant is not of French provenance at all. Be it as it may, make sure you don't miss out on the their sweet (and savoury) treats whenever you happen to be near one of the TBS branches, of which we definitely want more in future, also outside the expected upper class haunts of Zamalek and Maadi. We'll start a campaign for a downtown outlet soon!

http://www.tbsfresh.com

Left Bank.

It shares the same great location with its sister establishment Sequoia around the corner, but rates are much more affordable, there is no stupid minimum charge and the whole atmosphere is much less pretentious. For us that's enough reason to pop in to Left Bank for a quick coffee and croissant or a light dinner whenever we are in the neighbourhood. They have great pizzas and salads and moreish desserts to end a good meal. Their tiramisu is especially divine. Add to this the eclectic mix of chandeliers made from old enamel bowls and salt shakers, good music playing in the background and a dash of mid-century Scandinavian design and you know why this is Zamalek's hipster hangout spot number one. It's part bohemian coffee house, part design hotel lobby and that makes it the perfect spot for some late afternoon people watching. If only the temperatures were less arctic...

www.facebook.com/leftbankonline

Diwan Bookstore.

How would we survive without the wonderful bookstore chain Diwan! At several locations around Cairo and Egypt, Diwan provides a sanctuary of peace and quiet amidst all the hustle and bustle. It's a definite fixture in our weekend excursions around Zamalek and we always find a good read or beautiful cookery book and of course the latest issue of the Guardian Weekly. It's mostly Arabic and English titles but Diwan also has a decent French section and the occasional German read. Plus, the stationery department is great if you need a last-minute gift (think sketch books, cards, folders and coasters with Arabesque patterns) when invited for dinner around the corner. They also serve good coffee, cake and some snacks in case you don't feel like returning to the real world just yet.

www.diwanegypt.com

Upper Egypt by Sleeper Train.

What better way to start a weekend get-away with a leisurely ride on the train rather than a rush-hour tour by car? Take the metro to Giza station, walk a few metres to the platform for long-distance trains and wait for the evening service to Aswan. We were shocked at first about the condition of trains passing through the station and never sure which one would be ours. Fortunately, the rail staff were super friendly and prevented us from boarding one of the overcrowded trains, which many travellers found their way into trough the window. The actual sleeper train, however, was rather comfy and almost on time. We hoisted our luggage into our private compartment, closed the door and felt blissfully insulated from the brouhaha outside. After a dinner of carbohydrates of different sorts (lentils, rice, potatoes... well, you might want to bring your own) we soon fell asleep in beds equipped with fresh linen and fluffy pillows. Then, after a good night's rest, came the best part of the journey: walking up in the morning to a panorama of green fields dotted with donkeys and birds, palm trees full of dates and the occasional village to match. We immediately knew we were in for some peace and quiet and relaxation far from the hustle and bustle of Cairo.

Tickets are US$60 per person one way (incl. dinner and breakfast) can be booked online at

http://e7gezly.com/sleepingtrains/