Sands of Egypt: Mysteries of the Desert to Relaxing Beaches

If there was a 6-star review this Egypt Tour Company would surely get it. Our travel planner and his people on the ground in Cairo, Aswan, Luxor and Hurghada made this trip seamless. Even with the speed bumps that Covid-19 laid in front of us our trip was super easy. We started planning this adventure a year ago. I can't imagine doing it without the expertise that our travel planner brought to the table. We felt 100% safe the entire journey. We visited 20+ world-class archeological sites, many were World Heritage Sites. The tickets, private transportation and a trained Egyptologist were provided by our travel company the entire trip. The hotels were fantastic. The experience was incredible.

Our travel planner customized our trip so we could scuba dive a few days in the Red Sea at the end of the tour. His man in Hurghada took care of getting us the necessary documents for our Covid test required to get back into the US. Our departure flight left Cairo at 2AM and his man on the ground was with us to make sure we breezed through customs and everything was in order. You just can't appreciate that kind of service until you see it in action. Special thanks to our guides in Cairo and in Luxor & Aswan. And our guide who met us at the beginning of our adventure and was there at the end (2AM) in the Cairo airport. You made this trip absolutely incredible. Thank you!

Certain experiences leave an indelible imprint on our memories, and our 17-day private tour through Jordan and Egypt is poised to be one such experience. Our journey, meticulously crafted by our travel agency, a Cairo-based tour operator we found via Zicasso, unfolded into an exciting adventure that transcended temporal boundaries. This journey gave us the liberty to delve into the ancient lands, their rich civilizations, and grand dynasties at our leisure, allowing us to fully immerse ourselves in every mesmerizing moment. Our venture to Jordan and the land of the pharaohs was nothing short of a truly wonderful experience.

If Petra, the mesmerizing ancient city carved into the rose-red cliffs, left us awe-struck, then Karak Castle, the crusader fortress with its dungeons and secret passages, evoked a sense of timeless intrigue. The castle’s rugged stone walls whispered tales of a storied past, while bathing in the salty waters of the Dead Sea was an epic experience.

Cairo is the dominant center of lower Egypt. It is a city with over 1,000 years of history that is an enigmatic metropolis where the past and present coexist, creating a captivating tapestry of culture and heritage. Lose yourself in the labyrinthine alleys of the 700-year-old Khan El-Khalili Bazaar and ascend to the Saladin Citadel, where you’ll marvel at the magnificent Muhammad Ali Mosque, an architectural mastery, with its alabaster domes reaching towards the sky. Alternatively, embark on an evening cruise along the majestic Nile River, where you’ll discover a skyline full of 20th-century skyscrapers juxtaposed against timeless minarets. And if you venture just a few miles southwest of the city, against the backdrop of the desert, you’ll come face to face with the 4,500-year-old Giza pyramids, guardians of the pharaohs’ mysteries.

Upper Egypt is also steeped in beauty, history, and ancient wonders. From the southern reaches of the country to Luxor and beyond, majestic temples and relics of the pharaohs and ancient Egyptian civilization adorn the banks of the Nile River. These monuments stand sentinel along the river and their weathered stones tell stories of grandeur, rituals, and the eternal quest for immortality. That is why you cannot visit Egypt and not see Upper Egypt. You cannot visit Upper Egypt without seeing the temples of Abu Simbel, Kom Ombo, Edfu, or Philae. Each one of these temples has its mythical origin and unique bond with the divine.

Luxor remains the apex of our Egypt trip. It is an archeological treasure trove where temples, tombs, and monuments reveal the art, rituals, and beliefs of ancient Egypt. If you are visiting Luxor and desire to see its glorious past, you should plan to visit at least the following sites: the Valley of the Kings, where the pharaohs’ tombs are decorated with beautiful hieroglyphs that tell stories of transition to the afterlife; the temple of Hatshepsut, a breathtaking monument with its magnificent terraces and towering columns that stands as a testament to the ingenuity of ancient Egypt; or the majestic and enduring two-mile-long avenue of the sphinxes that connects two of the most iconic temples in Luxor and probably all of Egypt – the graceful and grand Temple of Luxor and the colossal architectural marvel of the great Temple of Karnak.

If you are interested in learning more about what made our journey extraordinarily delightful and unforgettable, read the testimonial below. These instances exemplify the exceptional service provided by our tour operators and reaffirm our decision to engage them on our next adventure in this part of the world.

Tour Co-ordinator: During the planning phase of our trip, we were fortunate to collaborate with our tour co-ordinator. He proved to be a true asset. Attentive to our preferences, he tailored itineraries and guaranteed our comfort at every stage of the journey. His commitment to our satisfaction was so profound that he made adjustments while we were in Egypt, ensuring our experience was thoroughly enjoyable.

Seamless Organization: While Cairo’s traffic may resemble “organized chaos”, our travel agents operate with the precision of a finely tuned machine. Everything proceeded without a hitch, from the instant we touched down in Amman or Cairo. They had every minutia thoughtfully orchestrated. Transfers, visas, and logistics were executed flawlessly, enabling us to concentrate solely on relishing our vacation. The journey was hassle-free, affording us abundant time and energy to immerse ourselves in the profound history and awe-inspiring landscapes.

Hotels: Our accommodations were in iconic hotels that epitomized luxury. These hotels were strategically located either along the banks of the majestic Nile River or, as in Aswan, on Elephantine Island, nestled in the heart of the Nile. Each location offered us a breathtaking view of the enchanting Nile River, often including the sunrise or sunset, and serving as delightful reminders of our truly magical vacation. After days of exploration, our hotels felt like tranquil oases of comfort.

Tour Guides: Throughout our journey, our agents consistently delivered exceptional service. Each day, we enjoyed the comfort of a spacious air-conditioned vehicle, including an experienced driver and an Egyptologist or a historian. Whether we were exploring the ancient wonders of Petra, standing in awe on the iconic Giza Plateau in Cairo, immersing ourselves in the vibrant city of Alexandria, or traversing the mystical landscapes of Upper Egypt, our drivers maintained impeccable vehicle cleanliness.

Our guides in Jordan, Lower Egypt, and Upper Egypt were more than courteous and engaging professionals; they were true storytellers. With a great sense of humor and a deep understanding of history, they masterfully wove together historical facts and gripping narratives about the Nabataean civilization, Ancient Egypt, and the pharaohs’ dynasties. Their fascinating storytelling made our trip informative and enjoyable.

We just completed a 10-day trip to Egypt (Cairo and Luxor) and Jordan (Petra, Wadi Rum, and the Dead Sea). Our group consisted of six people ranging from eight to 80 years old. Everyone in the group had an amazing time!

The tour guides in Cairo and Jordan were incredibly knowledgeable and accommodating. They were able to keep things fun and instructive for everyone. The tour operator did a great job of designing a trip with varied exposure to the different sites so it did not feel like we were having the same experience repeatedly.

Before our trip, we were a little anxious about traveling to an area so close to the Gaza conflict, but we had absolutely no concerns about safety the entire time.

The only hiccup we had was that the person meeting us at the airport upon arrival in Cairo was very late. It wasn't a good first impression, after a long flight, to feel stranded at the airport in a new country. Our flight did arrive earlier than the scheduled time, but that was not in our control, and flight times should have been monitored. Other than that, the rest of the trip went perfectly.

There are many different tour operators that offer similar itineraries. The reason we chose Zicasso’s was because they offered the same experience as others, but provided a discount for our two children, aged 11 and eight. This discount was not part of the packages of other tour operators and resulted in substantial savings.

Our entire family highly recommends traveling to Egypt and Jordan!

My overall comments on our trip are uniformly and enthusiastically positive. We wanted to do a two-week tour of Egypt focusing on the antiquities in Cairo and Upper Egypt. The tour that was organized for us included all of the sites we wished to see (Cairo, Giza/Saqqara/Dahshur, Aswan, Abu Simbel, the Nile, and Luxor). These sites were spectacular and endlessly interesting, blowing away any expectations we may have had. I recommend this or a similar itinerary to anyone interested in an overview of Egypt.

My overall comments on Zicasso's travel company are also enthusiastically positive. Before we looked into booking the trip, we looked into commercially available tours (including Nile cruise programs) and had a general sense of what we wanted to see. When we were put in contact with our travel agency, the first thing they did was ask a series of questions to determine what kind of travelers we were and what kinds of things we wanted to do. Then, they listened to the answers and proposed an itinerary that matched up perfectly.

We were interested in historical and cultural sites, but not so interested in adventure travel (bikes, balloons, camels, etc). The best suggestion had to do with spending time on the Nile. I assumed we could book a three-night passage on a river cruise ship. They suggested we book a cabin on a dahabiya (a sailing vessel with six cabins, of the sort used prior to steamships.) This was the highlight of a trip filled with highlights. In addition to the fun of being on a 45-meter sailing vessel, that boat could tie up at sites not accessible to larger boats, so we got to see sites at Gebel el Silsila and Al-Kab, at which we were the only visitors.

When we took the trip, the value added by our tour operator became very evident. First, we were, at all times, in the hands of thoroughly professional (and thoroughly pleasant) guides, drivers, and transfer agents. We were met each day, and at each airport (or dock) or our hotel, by a qualified Egyptologist and driver. All were superb, both knowledgeable and ready to respond to our questions.

We were booked at iconic hotels with rooms that were the best in terms of accommodations and views (the Great Pyramid out of our window, the Nile at Elephantine Island, and the beautiful garden at the Winter Palace).

Through Zicasso’s travel company and its agent, my husband and I had a wonderful experience in Egypt and Jordan. 

While we loved all the sites, the most unexpected visit was to the gorgeous Wadi Rum in Jordan. We were glad we missed the flash flood at Petra by a few hours, so we were still able to enjoy the ancient city and lovely natural canyon. And we were only minimally touched in Luxor by the sandstorm in Cairo! 

The whole experience was five-star, especially in terms of the sites visited, guides provided, hotels, and kindness of the people.

Thank you for arranging such a memorable and enlightening trip! We strongly recommend traveling to Egypt and Jordan through our travel agent and his team "on the ground”.