Ready to explore every facet of Egypts thrilling history? On this hand-crafted tour, we have taken care to include every aspect of the archeological finds, the temples, the statues and the pyramids that make ancient Egypt one of the most intriguing spectacles in the world. Sail, fly and drive with us through 5,000 years of fascinating history.You will start off the trip in Cairo, exploring the wonder of the great pyramids and majestic sphinx before visiting arguably the greatest museum in the world. We then fly you down to Luxor to explore Karnak before boarding your five-star, four-night Nile cruise.While on-board you will visit the Valley of the Kings, Kom Ombo and Aswan where you will access the Temple of Isis by small motorboats. After spending time on the majestic Nile, both in your cruiser and on local felucca boats, you will get back on dry land with visits to Cairo, Luxor, Aswan and Alexandria, all rich with incredibly preserved history.Every step of the way you will be accompanied by an expert Egyptologist, who will bring the stories of these wonderful locations to life, painting the picture of a time where Egypt’s might was all-encompassing.
My spouse and I wanted to go on a second honeymoon, which we humorously called our "honeymoon in old age." Along the way, we met wonderful, kind-hearted people, saw beautiful places, and enjoyed delicious meals. The hotels were always comfortable and cozy. We were just as happy and excited on the last day of the tour as we were on the first. Thank you so much for everything!
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.