Traditions & Temples of the Nile: A Pharaoh’s Journey on a Dahabiya

    Ahmed of this travel company was wonderful. He spent a great deal of time setting up a very customized tour of Cairo, Luxor, Aswan and Abu Simbel. The sightseeing and the coordination of the activities was well conceived and well executed. I have mobility difficulties, and the wheelchair assistant made a huge difference in being able see and navigate the various tombs and monuments. I was able to experience many things that may not have been possible without such planning and teamwork.  Ahmed was very flexible and helpful in creating the itinerary that best suited my interests and my mobility limitations. The hotels were good and the hotel in Luxor was particularly special.    I did have difficulty with the guide in Aswan and Luxor. He gave information about the tombs, and even helped with photos and the wheelchair, but he gave very little information on the cities we we’re visiting. He seemed to try to cut out items in the itinerary.Several examples:   I specifically requested shopping in Aswan Nubian art. He said that I would not be able to tolerate the shopping area in Aswan because of my wheelchair. I said if that is true, what about a crafts center or store? He said that there was none in Aswan, the place to go for that was Luxor. When we got to Luxor, he wanted to take me Alabaster store. I told him I was not interested in that. I said I wanted to see Nubian and other Egyptian crafts, and he said that is not available in Luxor. I said I wanted to go to a Crafts center, and he said that they are all the same, and that I refused the one he wanted to take me to. Needless to say I never got to see any Crafts centers in Luxor.  When I was in Aswan, and the guide advised against the shopping area, I said I wanted to replace it some other activity. He said how about “downtown Aswan”? I said fine. Five minutes later, he announced that there was nothing to see downtown. He said we will drive near the Nile. We drive north of Aswan for 5 minutes, and then returned to the hotel. It was extremely frustrating!  My last example,….. Edfu was on my itinerary. When we were nearing Edfu, the guide announced that Edfu was not very interesting. I had wished that he gave me some warning so I could possibly do some research on what else we could have substituted if we did not visit Edfu. I said that I definitely wanted to replace another site with Edfu if we not stop there. He did eventually offer to substitute a visit to Habu the next day. (Which was a nice stop). It seemed like the guide wanted to shorten my itinerary, and usually with no advance warning. 

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 truly had the most magnificent Jordan and Egypt 12-day vacation thanks to this travel agency. Mr. Mahmoud’s attention to detail in the organization of our custom itinerary made for a very enjoyable holiday for my parents, myself, and my daughter. Throughout our travels, everything ran seamlessly and everybody involved, from the airport representatives to drivers, security, and historical guides were all wonderful, expert, and friendly individuals.

In Jordan, our driver was amazing – his suggestion to stop at Lebanese House Restaurant between Jerash and Petra was great, probably one of our best meals throughout the trip. Our guide at Petra was wonderful. He was knowledgeable, flexible, and went out of his way to make the tour interesting to all our in or group.

In Egypt, our travel coordinator and his services (including drivers, and security personnel) were outstanding! We felt safe and well-cared for at all times. On the few occasions when I had to contact our travel coordinator, he was always available, very pleasant and helpful, and ready to resolve any issues. We were highly impressed by his professionalism.

Our guide who accompanied us during all of our Egypt tours, was also exceptional. I feel having the same guide throughout the whole trip was superb, as it helped us know what to expect. He is kind, friendly, punctual, extremely knowledgeable and passionate about Egyptian history, flexible, and paid attention to the most minute details at all times. Moreover, our guide went above and beyond his duties as a tour guide to make us experience the many things Egypt has to offer. Giza and Saqqara, and the Nile cruise including Abu Simbel, Edfu, Aswan High Dam, Kom Ombo, Luxor, Karnak, Hatshepsut Temple, Valley of the Kings, and Valley of the Queens, are all a must. Other activities such as the sunset camel ride, the Felucca on the Nile, and in particular the hot air balloon ride over Luxor are unforgettable. Throughout it all, our guide was invaluable in assisting my parents who are older so that they too could enjoy the sights. Most importantly he went out of his way to genuinely treat both my parents as if they were his own parents, which was invaluable. And throughout, he even found ways in which to keep my 17 yo daughter engaged too! Incomparable!

Thank you for an unforgettable vacation! Highly recommend!

My husband and I just returned from an anniversary trip to Egypt that we booked with our matched travel specialist. Mahmoud was so easy to work with throughout the planning process. He responded almost instantly to all of our emails and requests to discuss things over the phone, and he planned an amazing 9-day trip for us. He was also completely flexible when we wanted to push our trip back by two months (we thought the Covid situation may be better, turns out it wasn't). We started in Cairo with our guide Sultan, who was great! He showed us around the pyramids, Saqqara, and downtown Cairo. He shared a lot of information with us at each site!

We then traveled to Aswan and Luxor where we had Essam "Sam" as our guide for 5 days before flying back to Cairo. Sam was incredible! He had such a fun personality and shared many stories and so much interesting information about the temples and tombs that we visited. We loved his positive energy! 

While in Aswan with Sam we visited Philae Temple, sailed on the Nile to a Nubian village, and took a day trip to Abu Simbel. Then we visited Kom Ombo Temple and Edfu Temple on our way to Luxor. In Luxor, we visited the Valley of the Kings and Valley of the Queens (these spots were some of our absolute favorites!) as well as Queen Hatshepsut's Temple, Karnak Temple, and Luxor Temple at night! We took a day trip to visit Abydos Temple and Dendera Temple as well. We really lucked out at all of our sites-we essentially had each place to ourselves. 

After our time with Sam, we flew back to Cairo to spend one more day with Sultan touring the Egyptian Museum, the Citadel, and the Bazaar. We had such an amazing time on our trip, and our travel specialist made sure everything was perfect. They also added some special touches for our anniversary, which we really appreciated! We absolutely recommend this travel company. If you are hoping to travel to Egypt, this travel company is who you want planning it for you!