Reviewed 04 Jan 2012 by Robert Hall
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
Definitely the tombs of the Valley of the Kings but the sailing on the Felucca
was great fun.
2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Be aware of the temps at night if they are going in winter and take a good
sleeping bag.
3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Yes, all family run local hotels, transport etc.
4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
A great way to get under the skin of Egypt and mix with the local people, good
mix of organised and free time although some long tiring days of traveling.
Reviewed 05 Dec 2011 by Anne Robson
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
All of the vacation was memorable but highlights were the Valley of the Kings, the Nile at sunset and climbing Mount Sinai.
2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Be prepared for some early morning starts and some long journeys, but all well worth it.
3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Yes, lots of interaction with local people, used local guides.
4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
Excellent.
Reviewed 09 Nov 2010 by Julie Milne
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
We had a number of local guides showing us around places such as Elephantine Island as well as several stays with local families which were fantastic - so different from the over-crowded tourist spots of the ancient ruins. The falucca ride down the Nile was such a nice quiet break from the crowded cities.
2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Steel yourself for the noise and crowds and never-ending hassle of the vendors and people asking for backsheesh. Take sheets for the falucca and home stays over night, as well as the Red Sea beach huts. Water and money are easily obtainable along the route.
3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
The vacation benefited local people in both the way the operator used local guides, as well as all the backsheesh that is handed out to the locals. The operator was very "environmentally aware" - Egypt is NOT!
4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
The variety of activities and the frequent changes in mode (from urban to rural) as well as the variety of travel modes (camel, donkey, falucca, train, bus, motorboat), also the interaction with the locals made this an exceptional vacation.
Reviewed 20 Nov 2010 by Helen Peak
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
That's hard to choose, but Luxor temple at sunset was brilliant. Also diving in the Red Sea and the Felucca trip.
2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Don't expect any sleep. Nothing to do with the tour operator, but Egypt is very noisy with all the car horns. Take ear plugs if you can wear them (mine kept falling out). If you're going to give anything a miss, make it St Katherine's Monastery. That's one for the religious people only I think.
3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Yes I think so. If nothing else we helped tire out the Nubian kids.
4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
I loved the tour, but I won't be going back to Egypt. It's too noisy and there's too much hassle. But that is not something the tour operator can help :) Your organisation and the variety of activities were very well done. The only thing they could improve is making sure Daniela village get mosquito nets in all the rooms.
Reviewed 28 Oct 2008 by Margaret Gordon
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your vacation?
So many memorable aspects of the vacation. My favourites would have to be the 2 night stay in a bamboo hut on the beach at the red sea - Sawa Camp. Brilliant. Overnight stay on a felucca on the Nile. Overnight stay in Wadi Rum in Bedouin Camp.
2. What tips would you give other travelers booking this vacation?
Peel all fruit before eating - quite a few people suffered after-effects from salads/fruit.
3. Did you feel that your vacation benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Lots of the overnights were facilitated by local people, who had the opportunity to share information about their lives with us. I've no doubt that local people also learn a lot from visitors who are engaging and respectful. Visitors also had many opportunities to purchase items produced and sold by locals who take pride in their work and who benefitted from the opportunities to sell to their visitors.
4. Finally, how would you rate your vacation overall?
Vacation was great overall - facilitated by guides that were supportive, engaging, knowledgeable about local customs and who shared lots of pieces of information that the average package vacation maker would not have access to.
