Reviews

Most Inspirational Moment

Seeing the Valley of the Kings. Having an idea of what it would be like, and still not really being ready for the scale of the landscape, the tombs, the timeline and history. Seeing Tutankhamum's mummy just centimetres away was truly humbling.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Tefa was an absolute legend. Organised, generous, thoughtful, cheeky, funny, and very knowledgable. The guy was built for this job.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Read read read the trip notes and other reviews. They are honest and helpful. Found trip notes on money and costs helpful for working out what you'd need for extra excursions and in particular photography passes if you want to take photos or video at some of these amazing locations. Was helpful to work out tips too. As many have said, there will be early mornings, and the place is seriously hot (hence the need to get out and about early), but your afternoons are largely free, and by the time you're waiting for sunset by the pool, you're remembering the mindblowing sites you saw more than the alarm, the sweaty seats, or the late-night call to prayer keeping you awake (we were there during Ramadan). This is a travel experience, more than a holiday, but it's one I'll never forget.

Most Inspirational Moment

The whole tour was special. Visiting the sites of Ancient Egypt. None to be missed.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader 'Tefa' was brilliant. His knowledge as a guide was superb. He was reliable, patient and helpful.

Advice for Potential Travellers

It was very hot in may/june 46c. plus so my advise would be to go at a cooler time if possible. Keep well covered up. Have upset tummy medication with you just in case. Take at least suncream 50. Its easy to change your money when you are there rather than before you go. Have a great time.

Suggestions

Understand that tourists are targeted to buy from the locals so you will be hassled, please don't mind or be offended as they need to make a living. Say 'no thank you' if you don't want to buy.

Most Inspirational Moment

The whole tour was special. Visiting the sites of Ancient Egypt. None to be missed.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our group leader 'Tefa' was brilliant. His knowledge as a guide was superb. He was reliable, patient and helpful.

Advice for Potential Travellers

It was very hot in may/june 46c. plus so my advise would be to go at a cooler time if possible. Keep well covered up. Have upset tummy medication with you just in case. Take at least suncream 50. Its easy to change your money when you are there rather than before you go. Have a great time.

Suggestions

Understand that tourists are targeted to buy from the locals so you will be hassled, please don't mind or be offended as they need to make a living. Say 'no thank you' if you don't want to buy.

Most Inspirational Moment

Abu Simbel Temple was the highlight of the trip for me, incredible.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Ahmed was full of knowledge and was a great tour leader, you could tell he loved his job and Egypt and it made every day more interesting and enjoyable.

Advice for Potential Travellers

If you take the optional tour to the Monastery of St. Simeon, be careful when walking into one of the bedrooms, its full of bats!

Suggestions

I always felt safe in Egypt so don't let this deter you from visiting this amazing country.

Most Inspirational Moment

We saw so many wonderful things but the highlight for me was seeing the Tutankhamun exhibition at the Cairo Museum, and the optional visit to the Nubian village in Aswan. It's difficult to pick out specific moments as there were many.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Ahmed our group leader couldn't have been better, he looked after us from the minute we arrived until the minute we left. He was knowledgeable, fun, efficient and generally a nice guy and was always available. He helped to make our trip a memorable one. Additionally the other guides and coach drivers we met couldn't have been more obliging. Customer service was paramount.

Advice for Potential Travellers

The market sellers, taxi drivers and carriage drivers can be the most persistent and aggressive sellers I have ever come across, and I have visited lots of countries with this culture. At times they were quite unpleasant, so be prepared. Stand firm and accept nothing, If you do want to buy, barter and then walk away they soon drop the price!

Suggestions

As vegetarians who worry about animal welfare we were a little upset to discover that one of the trips involved using a horse and carriage. Many of the horses do look well cared for but unfortunately many don't! Ahmed listened to our concerns, along with some other members of our group, and quickly organised us Tuctucs. Had we known about this trip earlier we could have given him more notice. As with all trips there are extras such as the "tipping fund" and optional excursions, it would be really useful to know the approximate costs of these extras to help with budgeting, and to ensure you have sufficient currency with you when required.

Most Inspirational Moment

Valley of the kings.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Fantastic. Very knowledgeable. Great fun. Looked after every member of the group.

Most Inspirational Moment

Where to start? The Pyramids & Egyptian museum, Karnak, Hatshepsut etc Temple, Valley of the Kings tombs, Abu Simbel….

Thoughts on Group Leader

Ahmed was an expert Egyptologist teaching us much about Egyptian culture and history as well as doing a splendid job as our tour guide. The organisation and itinerary was first class.

Advice for Potential Travellers

The trip is graded as leisurely because there are no difficult walks involved. But it is really full on with starts of 4am or earlier on 3 of the days to catch internal flights or the coach to Abu Simbel. Very high security at airports – we had hand sanitiser confiscated! No need to get E£ or US$ before you go - ATMs are good and plentiful and generally don’t charge fees. Get lots of small notes (5 E£, about 25p) as soon as possible for tips at toilets etc. – our guide managed to get supplies of these.

Suggestions

Optional visits Hatshepsut, Abu Simbel, Philae Temple are must-sees and should probably be included as standard. We also really enjoyed the Nubian Village trip. Egyptair was good with tasty meals and better legroom than UK airlines!

Most Inspirational Moment

Honestly all of the sights, a lifetime of reading about these ancient wonders only to find yourself actually there, walking into the Chambers of a Pyramid, through tombs in the valley of the Kings, even Tomb of King Tut and seeing his mummified remains, wondering around various temples including Karnak, Edfu, Hatshepsut's etc, the workers village trip is a must, and the simply breathtaking Abu Simbel.

Thoughts on Group Leader

We had Sayed, his knowledge and passion for all things Egyptian is mind blowing, if you want to learn along the way Sayed is your guide. But he also finds a balance between giving you lots of info but free time to explore as well, nothing was too much trouble and we never felt rushed.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Only down side to this tour is Exodus are still supporting a couple of areas less than positive where animal welfare is concerned, when visiting the temple please do not support the horse and carriage rides this is a barbaric practice and sadly avoidable as for every horse and carriage their is a man trying to earn a living with a Tut Tut, speak to your guide and tell him you want a Tut Tut only, the more of us that do this the less horses will suffer in this practice. Also be aware that if doing the Nubian Village tour which I do recommend request that you only visit a house that does not have a caged Croc, we visited Fifi and her family and had a lovely time, a very confident and spirited young lady with a very clean and welcoming home.

Suggestions

If you have always wanted to immerse yourself in the real ancient side of Egypt then do consider booking this trip, you won't be disappointed

Most Inspirational Moment

Seeing Abu Simble

Thoughts on Group Leader

Fantastic and quirky

Advice for Potential Travellers

Make sure to take sanitizer

Suggestions

Worth going

Most Inspirational Moment

Sunsets.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Tito was excellent; indefatigable. Always smiling and ready to share his bottomless store of knowledge, both ancient and modern, which he imparted in a lively and engaging manner. In particular, he looked after the group completely but always had an eye to the needs of individuals and small groups. He is a great ambassador for Egypt. - and a really nice bloke!

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be prepared for early starts on some days - e.g. flight from Cairo to Luxor, Abu Simnel option. But they are worth it. Otherwise, just read the notes. I did do a little background reading on Egyptian history, ancient to modern, beforehand. I'm glad I did this because it gave some perspective to what I was seeing. It made more sense.

Suggestions

It seems that most of the Nile cruisers sail on the same days following similar itineraries. And there are a lot of them.This means that occasionally, when a number of boats hits a temple at the same time, it gets very busy. I couldn't understand why the cruisers don't stagger their sailing dates - it would be better for all concerned, including the desperate stallholders who get hit by surges of tourists. At night the boats moor up side by side, so your cabin window looks onto another boat. It was not a big deal, but it would make more sense to me.