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.
You really do need two weeks to cicumnavigate Sicily and see things properly. Any shorter and you'll get just a couple highlights or get very rushed from place to place. This tour had good pace, gave sufficient time in major sites (Syracuse, Agrigento, Palermo, Villa del Casale) and included gems like Morgantina, Mozia Island, and Enna.
Antonio is an exceptional wealth of information, its obvious he has a professional background in Sicilian history. The level of historical, cultural and architectural background information was tremendous, helped greatly to put things in context and understand the flow and changes absorbed by this island that resulted in what we were seeing.
Cultural, religious and historic sites
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel, Villa, Resort
Age Range
16-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Syracuse, Sicily, Palermo, Giard
Syracuse, Sicily, Palermo, Giardini Naxos, Catania, Taormina, Piazza Amerina, Piazza Armerina, Agrigento, Marsala, Mozia Island
What can I say...this tour was amazing. Never thought I'd see the sights I saw on this trip, never thought any of this would be possible in my lifetime. Egypt seemed too far, too exotic, too expensive. As soon as I saw the listing for this tour, it suddenly seemed like it might be possible.
We had reservations about going for sure. We have kids, 10 and 13. There's a war in Israel. It's summer in a very hot part of the world. Do we need Yellow Fever vaccines? Will the food make us sick? Americans kept telling us it would be too dangerous to go.
None of that turned out to be a problem. Egypt was very very safe. There are police and military personnel on the streets and at cultural sites. I saw no crime, no people sleeping on the streets. No people panhandling. Going to ATMs to get cash was very safe and easy. We went everywhere from big tourist sites to small neighborhoods. Food was great and we never got sick. We didn't drink the tap water, but bottled water and soft drinks are everywhere. It was hot, but air conditioning, pools, and headscarves manage this.
I'll say this again, because I have heard a lot about this:
Egypt is safe.
It's kind.
It's welcoming.
People are excited that you're visiting from America.
The food is great, and safe.
The hotels were amazing:
Steigenberger in Giza is clean, beautiful, has a nice restaurant with free breakfast, and has a view of the pyramids, which is pretty wild.
Movenpick in Aswan is spectacular, taking up a large portion of an island in the middle of the Nile, with pools and sustainable farms on-site.
The Jaz cruise up the Nile was really nice, with good food and comfortable quarters.
The Continental hotel in Hurghada was seriously ridiculously lavish, with a private beach on the Red Sea, giant pool, a dozen restaurants, and a shopping corridor.
And the Ramses Hilton in Cairo is clean, elegant, and right in the middle of the action of downtown Cairo.
We saw a million places from ancient Egypt I never thought we'd see. I can't overstate how incredible it is to stand in front of the Sphinx, the pyramids of Giza, Luxor temple, Kom Ombo, and especially the incredible monuments at Abu Simbel...this is an optional extra tour, and a bit expensive, as it's a whole day trip, but my goodness, it's worth the long drive. Incredible.
Overall, this trip had probably the most OMG moments I've had on a trip. And I've been to some pretty spectacular places, including India, Australia, New Zealand, Hawaii, Costa Rica, Puerto Rico, Peru (Machu Picchu), the UK, and more.
Please trust me and take the trip. Ignore the warnings. It's so worth it.
The Barcelona to London Quest is an 18-day city sightseeing adventure that connects the Mediterranean’s warmth with Northern Europe’s urban energy. Ideal for young adults, this group trip starts in vibrant Barcelona, weaves through Florence, Prague, Amsterdam, and more, and culminates in cosmopolitan London. Each leg offers a new blend of seaside relaxation and city buzz, balancing famous landmarks with lesser-known gems. With accommodation, transport, meals, and a sociable group dynamic included, this tour is designed for those who crave variety and spontaneity. The special highlight? The perfect fusion of coastal charm and urban exploration, ensuring every traveler finds their perfect European moment.
Venture into the heart of the Balkans with the Kosovo, Albania & Macedonia Explorer—an off-the-beaten-path 15-day sightseeing tour. From Tirana’s lively streets to the serene shores of Lake Ohrid and the historic mosques of Prizren, this trip showcases the region’s rugged mountains, green valleys, and centuries-old monasteries.
Travelers will encounter a side of Europe untouched by mass tourism, where shepherds still roam the hills and Byzantine churches dot the landscape. With easy activity and a relaxed pace, the tour invites you to discover the Balkans’ enduring spirit and rich cultural tapestry.
The USP is clear: rare access to authentic Balkan life and landscapes, perfect for explorers seeking new stories and unexplored destinations in one comprehensive tour package.
Sightseeing Tours
Tour Type
Small Group TourSmall group tours usually have 8-12 participants and maximum up to 18 travelers
Accommodation
Hotel, Guest House
Age Range
15-99 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Tirana, Skopje, Lake Ohrid, Shko
Tirana, Skopje, Lake Ohrid, Shkoder, Valbone, Pec, Prizren
This trip is perfect if you want to really smash out Europe, safely experience Egypt and if you haven’t travelled much. We got to see so many amazing places and now I have a great idea of where I would go back to. Yes it is very fast paced and you wont do everything you want to but you do 95% of the main attractions of each place and you have people to share the experiences with. You will 100% make friends on these trips if you solo traveler :)
Cultural, religious and historic sites
Tour Type
Group Tour
Accommodation
Hotel, Hostel, Resort, Guest House
Age Range
18-35 yrs
Operated in
english
Destinations
Paris, London, Amsterdam, French
Paris, London, Amsterdam, French Riviera, Venice, Florence, Rome, Athens, Ios, Santorini, Kavala, Eceabat, Istanbul, Swiss Alps, Black Sea Region, Bucharest, Transylvania, Budapest, Salzburg, Tyrol, Munich, Prague, Berlin, Beaujolais, Barcelona
This tour was Iconic as It is, I would like to tell you the whole experience.
The transportation was so comfortable and cozy. Everything was so organized and flexible, this package was enough to cover all the wonderful spots and more.
All the tours was more than I imagined.
I am so grateful that I choose your company to have an Iconic trip.
Our tour in Cairo was really an unforgettable trip that was fully consistent with the tours advertisement. Everything was very well organized and for this I address all thanks to the efficient work of this company. The airport representative Tarek and the guide Dalia showed such care and hospitality which deserves my greatest thanks to her. her competence and knowledge, kindness, and patience made my days in Egypt. I highly recommend this tour
Tour was wonderful. Enjoyed the evening of local folk dancing, pastry making and demo of clay making. The museums were excellent. I also enjoyed the sail boat ride to several Greek Islands. The only negative was the hotel in Naxos. Moldy bathroom and too far from town. Tour manager was very knowledgeable and did an excellent job of showing us all aspect of Greece.