Simple stays with essential amenities. Typically guesthouses, hostels or hotels rated below 3 stars — clean, no-frills, and great for value-conscious travelers.
Comfortable and reliable 3-star stays. Expect private rooms, en-suite bathrooms, and solid amenities — a great balance between comfort and cost.
Upscale 4-5 star hotels and lodges. Enjoy high-end service, refined comfort, and premium locations — ideal for travelers seeking extra indulgence.
Great trip. Beautiful archeological sites and cities included in the itinerary. Would have been helpful for many travelers to know that for the two nights at Machu Picchu you will need an overnight bag for the train ride and hotel stay as your luggage is likely too large for the train to Machu Picchu. Cusco was a great city to walk around and sample a lot of good restaurants.
The tour takes you to the highlights of Morocco. My favorite memories are the Medina in Fes and the Sunset excursion to the Sahara Desert.
Our guide was very informative.
One downside of trip was all the traveling although there were breaks. There really was no time to enjoy the hotel amenities.
Food was plentiful.Moroccan wine lacks complexity.
Have enough small change coins for bathroom breaks
The only thing I would change is that the first day - coming right after most people had taken trans-oceanic flights and still had jet lag - was too demanding (flying to Luxor, touring Karnak before checking into ship). It would have been better to have a lighter Day One to allow for rest and time zone adjustment, and do Karnak on the way back.
The all-women's tour group and the Tour Director were outstanding and hugely enhanced the experience.
Tipping became a constant irritant and would be better if Tour Director handled tips and Insight appropriately raised the package cost, to alleviate that daily chore (ensuring correct currency & denominations, ATM visits, etc.). PS - bring American dollars in small bills.
Overall, a fascinating country, knowledgeable and constantly helpful Tour Director, and a good balance of historic and current experiences. Aswan (and the Cataract Hotel) was a definite highlight, and don't pass on Abu Simbel. It is worth the cost; as is the Aswan boat tour of the Nile (two options worth doing).
This is a fabulous tour. The itinerary hits almost every location of interest in beautiful Portugal. It is well thought out, local guides provide expert background information. There is a combination of walking tours, major historical sites with trips to vineyards, shopping opportunites, and even a cork factory. The days are broken up with a variety of activities so that it is exciting and fresh all day long.
The boat cruise on the river was a great way to see Porto. The small number of women-only travellers was a big hit. At least six of us were solo travelers but we were surrounded by new friends the whole time. Never once did I feel lonely or left out. The bus was spacious and very comfortable. The tour guide was professional, personable and on point. This is my very favorite group tour ever.
Adventure
Tour Type
Group Tour
Accommodation
Hotel, Resort
Age Range
5-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Lisbon, Douro Valley, Algarve, E
Lisbon, Douro Valley, Algarve, Evora, Tomar, Pinhao, Porto