Egypt: Alexandria to Aswan

Most Inspirational Moment

Of course, climbing to the heart of the great pyramid was a sweaty thrill, and seeing so many bucket list sites was great, and contemplating a civilisation that makes European history seem like fleeting trivia, actually my favourite moment of all was a leisurely delicious lunch on the Felucca at Aswan…

Thoughts on Group Leader

Naiel was super friendly, funny and knowledgeable, not just about Pharonic history but about contemporary Egyptian politics which made his company a truly enriching experience.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Be prepared for early starts (which you will appreciate as it helps you to avoid the heat of the day). If you’re interested in attending a sound and light show, avoid the one at Karnak which is terribly dated and frankly a bit dull. I’ve heard that the one at Philae is much better. I was really glad that we booked the Red Sea extension as it gave us a couple of days of much needed relaxation before coming home. If you do go to Hurghada the Marriott hotel offers an excellent full day’s snorkelling trip not listed as an optional activity by exodus. At €45 it’s incredibly good value. Lastly, take plenty of Imodium.

Most Inspirational Moment

so many - Abu Simbel and all the sights; and the activity on the streets

Thoughts on Group Leader

Excellent, well organised, knowledgeable and fun.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Stomach disorders are a fact of life for travel in countries like Egypt, no matter how careful you are. Take medication with you. Also, look carefully at airline prices to get to Egypt from UK and then subsequent taxi airport to hotel. British Airways are half the price of Egyptair; local taxi agencies compare favorably with Exodus quoted prices: $18 against $142!

Most Inspirational Moment

Deir el Medina (the workers' tombs) and Haibu temple. We did these as an alternative to Valley of the Queens because the tomb of Nefertari was closed. Much quieter than the major sites, and still vibrant colours. They are well worth seeing.

Thoughts on Group Leader

As mentioned before, the tour leader always seemed in a hurry to get through the visits. Some of his explanations were rather perfunctory, and I sometimes felt he would rather have been somewhere else. I appreciate that he was fasting for Ramadan and needed breaks for prayers and to eat at sunset, which we were happy to accommodate.

Advice for Potential Travellers

ATMs are readily available, but if you draw a large amount at one time you are likely to get it in 200 pound notes that are quite difficult to get change from - that was certainly my experience with the ATM at the first hotel. You need 10s and 5s for toilet stops. Pack essentials in your day bag for the train journey, as the luggage is stored above the top bunk making it awkward to get at.

Most Inspirational Moment

Karnak

Thoughts on Group Leader

Generally alright but always in a rush to shorten trips. In Cairo to return to the hotel by 16:00h so he could go home and the rest of the time to finish early because of Ramadan

Advice for Potential Travellers

Avoid peak times

Most Inspirational Moment

It is hard to pick just one. My favourites were probably the tomb of Seti in the Valley of the Kings and going inside the pyramid of Cheops (note that these were both optional extras but there were many inspiring moments in the standard itinerary)

Thoughts on Group Leader

Ahmed/Saleem was very good and clearly passionate about Egypt and it's wonderful history. He took very good care of the group overall . Despite his best efforts, I sometimes found it difficult to follow his explanations, and it is hard to know whether it was more him or the itinerary to blame for an issue at some sites when he would rush us around too quickly to take everything in, discouraging many photo's at that point, and then give free time to go back over a large area with insufficient time to take as many photo's as we might wish. He was not very well for several days but tried to ensure that this did not detract from our enjoyment, and he went out of his way to help when anyone had a problem.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Despite the likelihood that you might find some parts of the trip exasperating/exhausting, do not miss it! There are a lot of additional extras - optional extra trips, tips, meals which are not included etc came to around £400 each for us. Abu Simbel is well worth the effort - though there is no reason we could see for it to require the very early morning set off - we think the itinerary could be changed to allow an afternoon visit Despite the group leader (thankfully) dealing with most tips, there is still a need for tips virtually every time you go to the toilet and some difficulty keeping enough small change for this.

Most Inspirational Moment

Karnak

Thoughts on Group Leader

Excellent, but the representatives of Sinai Travel, the in-country travel company, were pretty useless.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Do not change currency before coming to Egypt. Bring small denomination bills - USD and £ sterling.

Most Inspirational Moment

Karnak and Luxor temples at night

Thoughts on Group Leader

Very good. Naiel had extensive knowledge of Egyptology - I still don't know how he remembers all of those dynasties. He was friendly and helpful throughout.

Advice for Potential Travellers

MONEY ATMs are readily available including in hotels. You can only withdraw Egyptian pounds (EGP), but get some (I needed about 80 GBP worth) for minor purchases, meals, drinks – and toilets, where you will be asked for a tip of 10 EGP (about 27p), so a wad of small notes is useful. US dollars (USD) are the most useful currency for the tip kitty, meals, hotel bills, optional trips and major purchases. They are acceptable almost everywhere, including street sellers, but there is no coinage in circulation and the price might be rounded up generously. You are likely to pay rather more than if you use EGP. Change, if required, will be in EGP. I got through around 350 USD. Sterling and Euros are not so useful. They may be acceptable in hotels and major tourist shops, but not generally elsewhere. Credit cards are fine for optional trips, hotels and major purchases.

Most Inspirational Moment

At the end of my Egypt trip I leave with these, among many other lasting memories: - Best modern wonder - The National Library at Alexandria, - Cairo is outstanding for its diversity, and vibrant culture despite huge social deprivation and awful urban infrastructure. - Worse tourist experience - Abu Simbel, although a fabulous archeological site preservered through one of the worlds most successful engineering projects, impossible to view properly. - Best archaeological site - Temple of Horus at Edfu. - Dancing with Nubian musicians at an evening barbecue on the banks of the Nile. - An impromptu performance by young music students at the multi faith House of Arts and Culture in Cairo. - Most poignant memory - the shared tombstone of two unknown comrades from New Zealand, “ Known to their God”, in the Al Alamein war graves cemetery.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Our tour leader Sayed Mansour was knowledgeable, caring, helpful and compassionate. He went far beyond the usual tour leader duties to give us a real experience of his country which I could tell he has a passionate love of. This tour visits Mosques, Catholic Monestries and multi faith war graves. As a Muslim Sayed gave me an insight to his own faith and its relationship with other faiths in Egypt current and historical that will remain with me/

Advice for Potential Travellers

As others have repeatedly commented this is not a leisurely trip: it’s full on from start to finish. Even if you don’t take up the optional excursions there are lots of very early starts: if you are aware of this they don’t spoil the holiday. This trip with its' extra time in Cairo and Alexandra is in my opinion far superior to the shorter options as the extra time in both cities is well rewarded. Alexandra would be worth a visit to Egypt in itself just to see the New Library . Three days in Cairo was a real experience to sample its vibrant culture, and have plenty of time to view the National Egyptian Museum and the Pyramid complex. Sadly the New Egyptian museum hadn’t opened, but our hotel was close enough for us to enjoy views of its remarkable architecture. The only disappointment in Cairo was the food tour, which was just a lunch at a cafe and a takeaway for tea, not the informative hands on cooking demonstration I’d hoped for. Our visit in March was in the middle of the peak tourist season. I asked our Leader Sayed if there was any time when sites might be even a little less crowded and apart form August which is too hot for most people, he suggested November at the start of the tourist season.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Andrew was very good.

Most Inspirational Moment

The People and the organisation,all perfect.

Thoughts on Group Leader

First Class

Advice for Potential Travellers

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