This was my first tour bus and I found the guide extremely knowledgeable and the drive very comfortable with experience driver. The whole journey was delightful and very organized. I will definitely recommend it and try another trip very soon
Step into the land of Pharaohs, Gods and Goddesses on this captivating journey through Egypt’s ancient wonders. From the bustling streets of Cairo to the timeless temples of Luxor, history unfolds at every turn. Discover epic tales of power, tribute, and awe as you walk in the footsteps of ancient civilizations. Egypt’s rich heritage is yours to explore—your way.
We saw 16 cities that had a lot of history and beauty. Loved the archeological sites of Ephesus and the fairy chimneys of Cappadocia. Our tour director had outstanding knowledge of Turkey and provided continuous commentary over 2 weeks. I would highly recommend this vacation.
The “second day” the flight is SUPER early and you have to leave the hotel at 4 am.
That was not communicated anywhere and we didn’t arrive at the hotel u til after 11 pm the night before. It made the morning very difficult!
Also, it would be helpful if there was a place by the day noting if women needed to cover shoulders/knees or men knees. When I was packing and googling, it said that at Kom Ombo (and most of the temples) it was recommended to have shoulder and knees covered, but when we got there I was told we didn’t need it. I had a lot more pants packed then I needed and that would have been helpful to know when I actually needed to wear more conservative clothing or having my hair covered.
Overall the itinerary was good. We saw a lot and had a great guide!
We were on the Steinberger cruise ship - I would not recommend that one again. Very limited. We were on Thai ship with another group from Trafalgar that paid less for the tour and we had no extras. We allowed one drink at dinner and one bottle of water.. anything more we had to pay for. They didn’t have coffee/tea available throughout the day for free. It seemed like they were nickel and diming the guests. I have been on other River cruises and unlimited water, beverages at dinner, and feee coffee/tea throughout the day in the lounge was accessible.
The trip was well planned out and so very relaxing and enjoyable. The hotels and especially the food were awesome. Would absolutely take another trip like this.
For an Aussie, it's a step back into the past. I was enriched just to see the decorated buildings and the statues, each signifying memories. The
natural beauty of the countryside was also worth seeing. I really loved understanding the influence of different religions and peoples over the centuries - especially the evidence we saw that at times they accepted each other instead of trying to destroy.
It was great traveling with other women. I felt some days were too busy, especially the miles we went one day for 45 minutes at a spare. Really enjoyed the meals.
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).
Our tour director was phenomenal! Without her we would have never been able to experience all that we did. She knew the insights of Greece and Turkey so well and made it so easy to navigate these places. The tour was great. Santorini and Mykonos took my breath away. We also loved swimming on the hotels rooftop pool while glancing at the Parthenon in the distance. Seeing the monastery up in the mountains was extraordinary, the local guides were incredibly knowledgeable and so welcome and to top it off the food was delicious! We also enjoyed the cruise. The cabin was beautiful and the boat had a ton of activities to enjoy. Best trip ever and very budget friendly.