Egypt Reviews
Review 1
What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Felucca definitely! So relaxing tacking down the Nile from Aswan and our daily swim was a highlight.
What did you think of your tour leader?
Mohammed was great! Very informative and made us all feel very at home in Egypt. Nothing was too much trouble and he helped us gel as a group. Can't imagine a better tour leader.
What advice would you give to other travellers?
Don't worry about the political situation in Egypt at the moment - take advice from the Foreign Office site, but we didn't experience any disruption at all and saw nothing of the riots in Cairo. Egypt has so much to offer tourists, it's a fantastic destination and the people are just lovely.
Reviewed by Amanda Beard who travelled in December 2011 on the Felucca Safari trip
Review 2
What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Travelling on the Nile and visiting Abu Simbel.
What did you think of your tour leader?
Both tour leaders both in Egypt and Jordan( Khaled and Majdi ) were excellent and went the extra mile to make the holiday such a memorable one.
What advice would you give to other travellers?
Be prepared for an hectic ,tiring schedule.If going to Jordan bring a warm jacket for the cold evenings.
Reviewed by David Nuttall who travelled in November 2011 on the Egypt & Jordan Caravan trip
Review 3
What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
There were so many highlights, actually not a day went by without something wonderful, but Cairo Museum, Abu Simbel, camels, donkeys, Toyotas, wild desert camping with a visit from many Fennec (little desert foxes), felucca full moon, meeting Egyptians, fun with the Beduins, nice mixed group
What did you think of your tour leader?
Khaled was fantastic, he was efficient, he was flexible, he had the right balance between watchfulness and giving us independence. He was great at introducing us to the many and varied Egyptian families we met, and seemed to delight in exposing us to the different cultures in his country. Even though he must have done the trip frequently, he managed to maintain his freshness and enthusiasm.
What advice would you give to other travellers?
Your trip notes said that we should hand over $300 U.S. for the tipping kitty, in fact it was less that 300LE, so that was a much smaller sum, which Khaled managed well. Advice to other travellers: We were in a road block and the country is a bit unsettled, but it feels more like the excitement of possibility than any aggression towards tourists, and they need visitors badly.
Reviewed by Margaret Pawley who travelled in October 2011 on the Backroads of Egypt trip
Review 4
What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The Nile Cruise was for sure the most memorable part of the holiday, closely followed by the evening in the Nubian village.
What did you think of your tour leader?
Our tour leader was excellent. He was always around and was always up for a laugh!
What advice would you give to other travellers?
Be extremely careful with the tap water, even the smallest amount too much can lead to problems.
Reviewed by Alex Carling who travelled in July 2011 on the Nile Adventure trip
Review 5
What did you think of your tour leader?
Very good, particularly Ahmed Badr in Egypt.
Do you feel your holiday benefited local people?
The Egyptians in partincluar seemed happy to see tourists back after the lack of visitors due to the January Revolution.
Do you feel that you got under the skin of a country?
Not really, but the Nubian village visit at Aswan was an interesting experience and Ahmed gave us an insight into the Revolution from the perspective of someone who lived through it.
What advice would you give to other travellers?
Have an open mind and enjoy yourself. Further comment - the tipping kitty in Jordan was 30USD which was twice the amount (3USD per day) mentioned in your trip notes, so this could do with updating.
Reviewed by Anna Hobbs who travelled in April 2011 on the Egypt & Jordan Caravan trip
Review 6
What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Amazing sights and the enthusiasm of the people - for the return of the tourists and for the future of their country
What did you think of your tour leader?
Excellent
Do you feel your holiday benefited local people?
Yes, clearly.
What advice would you give to other travellers?
Be prepared to wear long sleeves and trousers for most of the trip - whatever the heat. Be prepared for very unpleasant loos on the night train. Stay with the group when running the gauntlet of hawkers - especially at the pyramids. Several individuals were 'picked off' and had unwanted photos on camels, side trips around the back of the pyramids, etc.
Reviewed by Robert Murray-Smith who travelled in April 2011 on the Treasures of the Nile trip
Review 7
What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Amazing sights and the enthusiasm of the people - for the return of the tourists and for the future of their country
What did you think of your tour leader?
Excellent
Do you feel your holiday benefited local people?
Yes, clearly.
What advice would you give to other travellers?
Be prepared to wear long sleeves and trousers for most of the trip - whatever the heat. Be prepared for very unpleasant loos on the night train. Stay with the group when running the gauntlet of hawkers - especially at the pyramids. Several individuals were 'picked off' and had unwanted photos on camels, side trips around the back of the pyramids, etc.
Reviewed by Robert Murray-Smith who travelled in April 2011 on the Treasures of the Nile trip
Review 8
What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Amazing sights and the enthusiasm of the people - for the return of the tourists and for the future of their country
What did you think of your tour leader?
Excellent
Do you feel your holiday benefited local people?
Yes, clearly.
What advice would you give to other travellers?
Be prepared to wear long sleeves and trousers for most of the trip - whatever the heat. Be prepared for very unpleasant loos on the night train. Stay with the group when running the gauntlet of hawkers - especially at the pyramids. Several individuals were 'picked off' and had unwanted photos on camels, side trips around the back of the pyramids, etc.
Reviewed by Robert Murray-Smith who travelled in April 2011 on the Treasures of the Nile trip
Review 9
What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Nile Cruise and Abu Simbel
What did you think of your tour leader?
excellent!
Do you feel your holiday benefited local people?
Yes - used lots of local companies/people to get around etc
Do you feel that you got under the skin of a country?
Yes - we saw a lot in the 9 days we were on the tour!
What advice would you give to other travellers?
definitely go with imaginative!! Great tour you see a lot of the country without the hassle of organising it yourself! There is a good choice of tours so you should get to see everything you want!
Reviewed by Claire England who travelled in September 2010 on the Nile Escape trip
Review 10
What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Undoubtedly seeing the pyramids for the first time as they loomed up unexpectedly above the streets of Cairo. I had no idea they were so close to the city and it truly was an awe-inspiring sight.
What did you think of your tour leader?
Ahmed was very thorough and conscientious but also fun and easy to talk to. A good combination of qualities for a tour leader and I enjoyed his company over the week.
Do you feel your holiday benefited local people?
Yes - especially people like minibus drivers, felucca owners and local restauranteurs.
Do you feel that you got under the skin of a country?
To some extent - it was only a short trip but I certainly feel I got to see Egypt warts and all through experiences like the overnight trains!
What advice would you give to other travellers?
Be prepared for quite a punishing itinerary with some very early starts and not much sleep. Those seeking home comforts will not enjoy the overnight trains or the felucca and visiting Egypt also requires a fair amount of patience as you will be confronted by people trying to sell you things and rip you off at every turn.
Reviewed by Christopher White who travelled in November 2010 on the Felucca Trails trip
Review 11
What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
apart from the amazing natural and manmade landscapes that were unfolding before us, for me it was the group dynamic that made the tour so memorable. It was small but everyone was friendly, considerate and sociable and we really felt looked after by the tour leader and egyptology experts supplied.
What did you think of your tour leader?
He was professional but added the necessary personal touch to make our group feel special, despite the fact that he must have seen those sights and answered the same questions many times.
Do you feel your holiday benefited local people?
The only sense of benefitting local people was being taken to shops and market stalls recommended by the tour leader and an indication as to the culture of tipping. Help on a wider scale wasn't touched on as an issue. If, for example, a local charity endorsed by the Imagnative traveller, was offered for pre-departure donations, I would have happily donated some leftover cash. I didn't expect to see kids raking through rubbish as we went through cairo.
Do you feel that you got under the skin of a country?
It was a whirlwind tour, which I felt touched on the surface of a very interesting culture but, the nature of the constant location changes and speed at which we experienced so many things, made it naturally difficult to trully immerse yourself in it. This didn't bother me so much as I had deliberately chosen a tour that would encompass many things in a short space of time.
What advice would you give to other travellers?
Stock up on sleep before you go, to cope with all those early wake up calls!
Reviewed by Sarah Higgs who travelled in November 2010 on the River & Reef trip
Review 12
What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
apart from the amazing natural and manmade landscapes that were unfolding before us, for me it was the group dynamic that made the tour so memorable. It was small but everyone was friendly, considerate and sociable and we really felt looked after by the tour leader and egyptology experts supplied.
What did you think of your tour leader?
He was professional but added the necessary personal touch to make our group feel special, despite the fact that he must have seen those sights and answered the same questions many times.
Do you feel your holiday benefited local people?
The only sense of benefitting local people was being taken to shops and market stalls recommended by the tour leader and an indication as to the culture of tipping. Help on a wider scale wasn't touched on as an issue. If, for example, a local charity endorsed by the Imagnative traveller, was offered for pre-departure donations, I would have happily donated some leftover cash. I didn't expect to see kids raking through rubbish as we went through cairo.
Do you feel that you got under the skin of a country?
It was a whirlwind tour, which I felt touched on the surface of a very interesting culture but, the nature of the constant location changes and speed at which we experienced so many things, made it naturally difficult to trully immerse yourself in it. This didn't bother me so much as I had deliberately chosen a tour that would encompass many things in a short space of time.
What advice would you give to other travellers?
Stock up on sleep before you go, to cope with all those early wake up calls!
Reviewed by Sarah Higgs who travelled in November 2010 on the River & Reef trip
Review 13
What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
apart from the amazing natural and manmade landscapes that were unfolding before us, for me it was the group dynamic that made the tour so memorable. It was small but everyone was friendly, considerate and sociable and we really felt looked after by the tour leader and egyptology experts supplied.
What did you think of your tour leader?
He was professional but added the necessary personal touch to make our group feel special, despite the fact that he must have seen those sights and answered the same questions many times.
Do you feel your holiday benefited local people?
The only sense of benefitting local people was being taken to shops and market stalls recommended by the tour leader and an indication as to the culture of tipping. Help on a wider scale wasn't touched on as an issue. If, for example, a local charity endorsed by the Imagnative traveller, was offered for pre-departure donations, I would have happily donated some leftover cash. I didn't expect to see kids raking through rubbish as we went through cairo.
Do you feel that you got under the skin of a country?
It was a whirlwind tour, which I felt touched on the surface of a very interesting culture but, the nature of the constant location changes and speed at which we experienced so many things, made it naturally difficult to trully immerse yourself in it. This didn't bother me so much as I had deliberately chosen a tour that would encompass many things in a short space of time.
What advice would you give to other travellers?
Stock up on sleep before you go, to cope with all those early wake up calls!
Reviewed by Sarah Higgs who travelled in November 2010 on the River & reef january 1st trip
Review 14
What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Wadi Rum, Petra
What did you think of your tour leader?
Egypt: very good Jordan: good, but he should keep the group better together.
Do you feel your holiday benefited local people?
Yes, I do
Do you feel that you got under the skin of a country?
Yes, I think
What advice would you give to other travellers?
In Egypt the peaple will try to sell you every fakes for a lot of money. You should be ready to bargain everything and as a tourist to pay more for the same thing ( it's also ok the price is not exaggerated.
Reviewed by Andrea Bunea who travelled in November 2010 on the Egypt & Jordan Caravan trip
Review 15
What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Ohhh... all of it has it own special memory but I guess if I had to choose it would be The Great Pyramids, Karnak Temple, the donkey ride and Abu Simble.
What did you think of your tour leader?
Fantastic, Mohamed is a brilliant tour leader. So much local knowledge and very passionate about his country
Do you feel your holiday benefited local people?
Yes, they rely heavily on tourism as this is the only income for some families
Do you feel that you got under the skin of a country?
Absolutely.
What advice would you give to other travellers?
Pack light long sleeves tops and 3/4 length trousers, drink plenty, hats are a must. As is hand sanitizer & carry your loo rolls!!!! And most importantly enjoy and soak up the atmosphere of this wonderful country.
Reviewed by Amanda Jones who travelled in October 2010 on the Nile Safari trip
Review 16
What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Ohhh... all of it has it own special memory but I guess if I had to choose it would be The Great Pyramids, Karnak Temple, the donkey ride and Abu Simble.
What did you think of your tour leader?
Fantastic, Mohamed is a brilliant tour leader. So much local knowledge and very passionate about his country
Do you feel your holiday benefited local people?
Yes, they rely heavily on tourism as this is the only income for some families
Do you feel that you got under the skin of a country?
Absolutely.
What advice would you give to other travellers?
Pack light long sleeves tops and 3/4 length trousers, drink plenty, hats are a must. As is hand sanitizer & carry your loo rolls!!!! And most importantly enjoy and soak up the atmosphere of this wonderful country.
Reviewed by Amanda Jones who travelled in October 2010 on the Nile Safari trip
Review 17
What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
I would have to say cruising the calm blue waters of the Nile, in a Felukka and on the "Melodie" Nile boat. I could do that for weeks and weeks, I think.
What did you think of your tour leader?
Just simply wonderfully excellent! Kind, funny, well-organised and very concerned with the well-being of every group member. Mido is the best!
Do you feel your holiday benefited local people?
Only as in that we spend our money in local restaurants and bazaars. In my view, the direct contact with the locals could be improved, f.e. by visiting a school or orphanage.
Do you feel that you got under the skin of a country?
Yes, very much. Mido taught us some very useful words and told us many things about the local life-style and ideas. Waking up at home this morning I actually missed the calling from the mosque at 4:30 in the morning! :-)
What advice would you give to other travellers?
Dive in, eat local foods, go explore the streets on your own, talk to the locals, don't be "scared" by the hustling and bustling and the chaos (even not as a woman, they are more respectful than I ever thought!), take it with lightness and you will see the charming side of it.
Reviewed by Claire Brenn who travelled in October 2010 on the River & Reef trip
Review 18
What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
I would have to say cruising the calm blue waters of the Nile, in a Felukka and on the "Melodie" Nile boat. I could do that for weeks and weeks, I think.
What did you think of your tour leader?
Just simply wonderfully excellent! Kind, funny, well-organised and very concerned with the well-being of every group member. Mido is the best!
Do you feel your holiday benefited local people?
Only as in that we spend our money in local restaurants and bazaars. In my view, the direct contact with the locals could be improved, f.e. by visiting a school or orphanage.
Do you feel that you got under the skin of a country?
Yes, very much. Mido taught us some very useful words and told us many things about the local life-style and ideas. Waking up at home this morning I actually missed the calling from the mosque at 4:30 in the morning! :-)
What advice would you give to other travellers?
Dive in, eat local foods, go explore the streets on your own, talk to the locals, don't be "scared" by the hustling and bustling and the chaos (even not as a woman, they are more respectful than I ever thought!), take it with lightness and you will see the charming side of it.
Reviewed by Claire Brenn who travelled in October 2010 on the River & Reef trip
Review 19
What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
I would have to say cruising the calm blue waters of the Nile, in a Felukka and on the "Melodie" Nile boat. I could do that for weeks and weeks, I think.
What did you think of your tour leader?
Just simply wonderfully excellent! Kind, funny, well-organised and very concerned with the well-being of every group member. Mido is the best!
Do you feel your holiday benefited local people?
Only as in that we spend our money in local restaurants and bazaars. In my view, the direct contact with the locals could be improved, f.e. by visiting a school or orphanage.
Do you feel that you got under the skin of a country?
Yes, very much. Mido taught us some very useful words and told us many things about the local life-style and ideas. Waking up at home this morning I actually missed the calling from the mosque at 4:30 in the morning! :-)
What advice would you give to other travellers?
Dive in, eat local foods, go explore the streets on your own, talk to the locals, don't be "scared" by the hustling and bustling and the chaos (even not as a woman, they are more respectful than I ever thought!), take it with lightness and you will see the charming side of it.
Reviewed by Claire Brenn who travelled in October 2010 on the River & reef january 1st trip
Review 20
What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The whole experience of egypt was amazing but seeing abu simbel was probably the highlight. Seeing something so massive and detailed that is so old and still in amazing detail even after being moved.
What did you think of your tour leader?
I would like to make a special mention of our tour leader Ahmed Badr. He was well organised, made everyone feel welcome and sorted out any problems we had with the hotels (which we're only minor and a couple). He made the trip very enjoyable and is a credit to your company.
Do you feel your holiday benefited local people?
yes, we visited local restaurants and used local transport.
Do you feel that you got under the skin of a country?
yes, going to the local bazzars and visiting the local restaurants and being among the locals was a very important and enjoyable part of the trip
What advice would you give to other travellers?
Do this trip, it is a must and is amazing
Reviewed by Christopher Campbell who travelled in September 2010 on the Felucca Trails trip
Review 21
What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
I couldn't single out just one part! The whole trip was absolutely amazing.
What did you think of your tour leader?
The Egyptian Tour Leader was brilliant, really looked after us. The Jordanian Tour Leader was good but didn't 'go that extra mile' like the Egyptian one. Both of them were very 'preachy' though about Islam which was a bit uncomfortable.
Do you feel your holiday benefited local people?
Not sure - I guess through tourist money ...
Do you feel that you got under the skin of a country?
Only touched the surface!
What advice would you give to other travellers?
The trip is very full on and active - it is not restful, there is to much to do, so be prepared for that.
Reviewed by Karen Fisher who travelled in September 2010 on the Egypt & Jordan Experience trip
Review 22
What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The boat down the Nile
What did you think of your tour leader?
excellent
What advice would you give to other travellers?
dont get stressed by the hassle
Reviewed by Callum Patterson who travelled in August 2010 on the The Nile, Alexandria & El Alamein trip
Review 23
What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Syria (Damascus, Palmyra), but all good. Petra also very good. Sinai, Giza and Luxor. All good.
What did you think of your tour leader?
All good.
Do you feel your holiday benefited local people?
Yes, I think so.
Do you feel that you got under the skin of a country?
Sort of.
What advice would you give to other travellers?
Enjoy.
Reviewed by David Graham who travelled in June 2010 on the Middle East Highlights trip
Review 24
What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Syria (Damascus, Palmyra), but all good. Petra also very good. Sinai, Giza and Luxor. All good.
What did you think of your tour leader?
All good.
Do you feel your holiday benefited local people?
Yes, I think so.
Do you feel that you got under the skin of a country?
Sort of.
What advice would you give to other travellers?
Enjoy.
Reviewed by David Graham who travelled in June 2010 on the Middle East Highlights trip
Review 25
What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Snorkelling in the Blue Hole, it was like living in the Nemo film :o)
What did you think of your tour leader?
Excellent, friendly and knowledgeable but still gave you your own space.
Do you feel your holiday benefited local people?
Yes, we had camel rides with locals in Dahab and went to local restaurants. I would have preferred to pay the locals direct though rather than pay the guide who paid them, I do feel a bit of the profit may have taken, not by the guide but by the intermediate
Do you feel that you got under the skin of a country?
Definitely more than just going to Sharm El Sheik, it was a short trip but got to see some of the 'real Egypt' in Dahab, where we even got invited to drink tea with local Bedhouins after going on a camel ride
What advice would you give to other travellers?
Be aware that you have to pay 18 dollars per person for a visa to get into the country, we didn't know about that. You get a better rate of exchange for your money once in Egypt rather than exchanging it in Britain, but be careful with the rate you're given, we ended up getting paid the rate for Euros when we were exchanging pounds, you really do need to watch your money more and learn to say no, politely but firmly. Finally it's easy to be a vegetarian in Egypt! People are basically very friendly and good hearted but do beware that you have to remain a bit careful to some less ingenous individuals, life in Egypt is hard particularly in Cairo I think, and unfair money will be made if you don't keep you're wits about you!
Reviewed by Helen Mas who travelled in June 2010 on the Sphinx & Sea trip
Review 26
What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Snorkelling in the Blue Hole, it was like living in the Nemo film :o)
What did you think of your tour leader?
Excellent, friendly and knowledgeable but still gave you your own space.
Do you feel your holiday benefited local people?
Yes, we had camel rides with locals in Dahab and went to local restaurants. I would have preferred to pay the locals direct though rather than pay the guide who paid them, I do feel a bit of the profit may have taken, not by the guide but by the intermediate
Do you feel that you got under the skin of a country?
Definitely more than just going to Sharm El Sheik, it was a short trip but got to see some of the 'real Egypt' in Dahab, where we even got invited to drink tea with local Bedhouins after going on a camel ride
What advice would you give to other travellers?
Be aware that you have to pay 18 dollars per person for a visa to get into the country, we didn't know about that. You get a better rate of exchange for your money once in Egypt rather than exchanging it in Britain, but be careful with the rate you're given, we ended up getting paid the rate for Euros when we were exchanging pounds, you really do need to watch your money more and learn to say no, politely but firmly. Finally it's easy to be a vegetarian in Egypt! People are basically very friendly and good hearted but do beware that you have to remain a bit careful to some less ingenous individuals, life in Egypt is hard particularly in Cairo I think, and unfair money will be made if you don't keep you're wits about you!
Reviewed by Helen Mas who travelled in June 2010 on the Sphinx & Sea trip
Review 27
What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The whole thing but mostly sharing the time/trip with my brother & his wife
What did you think of your tour leader?
9 out 10 only because nobody is perfect
Do you feel your holiday benefited local people?
I hope so. But yes most of the time
Do you feel that you got under the skin of a country?
only a little bit but gave me a great taster and I now know where to go back to in the future
What advice would you give to other travellers?
1st class does not mean the same thing in very country, but you only live once so give it a go.
Reviewed by Rosetta Neal who travelled in May 2010 on the Egypt & Jordan Caravan trip
Review 28
What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The night on the felucca and dinner at the Nubian village. Also the trip to Abu Simbel.
What did you think of your tour leader?
Mohammed was the best tour leader of any trip I have ever been on. I got stuck in Cairo because of the volcanic ash, and he made sure that both myself and another stranded person were ok, staying in touch through the week we were there. He always made sure that the trip ran to plan, and helped us to experience more than I thought that we would.
Do you feel that you got under the skin of a country?
definately
What advice would you give to other travellers?
take insect repellant on the felucca!
Reviewed by Ruth Testa who travelled in April 2010 on the Nubian Sailtrek trip
Review 29
What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The night on the felucca and dinner at the Nubian village. Also the trip to Abu Simbel.
What did you think of your tour leader?
Mohammed was the best tour leader of any trip I have ever been on. I got stuck in Cairo because of the volcanic ash, and he made sure that both myself and another stranded person were ok, staying in touch through the week we were there. He always made sure that the trip ran to plan, and helped us to experience more than I thought that we would.
Do you feel that you got under the skin of a country?
definately
What advice would you give to other travellers?
take insect repellant on the felucca!
Reviewed by Ruth Testa who travelled in April 2010 on the Nubian Sailtrek trip
Review 30
What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The night on the felucca and dinner at the Nubian village. Also the trip to Abu Simbel.
What did you think of your tour leader?
Mohammed was the best tour leader of any trip I have ever been on. I got stuck in Cairo because of the volcanic ash, and he made sure that both myself and another stranded person were ok, staying in touch through the week we were there. He always made sure that the trip ran to plan, and helped us to experience more than I thought that we would.
Do you feel that you got under the skin of a country?
definately
What advice would you give to other travellers?
take insect repellant on the felucca!
Reviewed by Ruth Testa who travelled in April 2010 on the Nubian Sailtrek trip
Review 31
What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Pyramids/Valley of the Kings
Do you feel your holiday benefited local people?
Somewhat, but not especially
Do you feel that you got under the skin of a country?
Somewhat
What advice would you give to other travellers?
Egypt's mean travel age is a lot older than I expected. Hurghada is pretty horrible
Reviewed by Joseph Gannon who travelled in September 2009 on the Felucca Journey trip
Review 32
What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Pyramids/Valley of the Kings
Do you feel your holiday benefited local people?
Somewhat, but not especially
Do you feel that you got under the skin of a country?
Somewhat
What advice would you give to other travellers?
Egypt's mean travel age is a lot older than I expected. Hurghada is pretty horrible
Reviewed by Joseph Gannon who travelled in September 2009 on the Felucca Journey trip
Review 33
What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Abu simbel, the sunset horse ride at the pyramids and the overnight on the felucca!
What did you think of your tour leader?
Excellent! Waleed was truely a fun and imformative guide. He did everything to make the trip a full success!
Do you feel your holiday benefited local people?
I believe it did.
What advice would you give to other travellers?
Give Imaginative a go. I had an excellent time!
Reviewed by John Wutzer who travelled in October 2009 on the Nubian Sailtrek trip
Review 34
What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Abu simbel, the sunset horse ride at the pyramids and the overnight on the felucca!
What did you think of your tour leader?
Excellent! Waleed was truely a fun and imformative guide. He did everything to make the trip a full success!
Do you feel your holiday benefited local people?
I believe it did.
What advice would you give to other travellers?
Give Imaginative a go. I had an excellent time!
Reviewed by John Wutzer who travelled in October 2009 on the Nubian Sailtrek trip
Review 35
What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Abu simbel, the sunset horse ride at the pyramids and the overnight on the felucca!
What did you think of your tour leader?
Excellent! Waleed was truely a fun and imformative guide. He did everything to make the trip a full success!
Do you feel your holiday benefited local people?
I believe it did.
What advice would you give to other travellers?
Give Imaginative a go. I had an excellent time!
Reviewed by John Wutzer who travelled in October 2009 on the Nubian Sailtrek trip
Review 36
What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
In random order... The pyramids at Giza, Abu Simbel, Felucca ride on the Nile in Aswan, Karnak, tombs in valley of the kings.
What did you think of your tour leader?
Very good, knowledgeable, and easy to get along with.
Do you feel your holiday benefited local people?
The local guides and drivers for sure. And in the few occasions we had meals at local restaurants. Hard to gauge if overall it's more or different from other tours.
Do you feel that you got under the skin of a country?
No I did not. The trip the way it was organized was focused on seeing the sights of Egypt, not to meet it's people and get immersed in the culture. But I knew that before going...
What advice would you give to other travellers?
Egypt is great and safe although not always easy to get around or figure out.
Reviewed by Mats Liljedahl who travelled in September 2009 on the Egypt in Style trip
Review 37
What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Trip to Abu Simbel and Karnak temple. Although, Abu Simbel was optional on our trip we are very glad to have been there. That place is amazing. However, we should been given more time than just an hour in Abu Simbel to explore and enjoy the beauty of the place.
What did you think of your tour leader?
Tour Leader Ola Samir was fantastic. She is such a lovely and friendly person. Everybody within the group enjoyed her company. Very knowledgeable and provided us with great advice.
Do you feel your holiday benefited local people?
I think it did. Well having a holiday in today's financial climate itself is a boon for local people.
Do you feel that you got under the skin of a country?
I think we did. Being in Nubian village and tasting their local food just added that extra tinge to our Egypt experience.
What advice would you give to other travellers?
For anything and everything people in Egypt expect baksheesh (tips). Always haggle for the everything (even soft drinks in the railway station). Otherwise, its daylight robbery.
Reviewed by Sumanth Dhananjaya Kengeri who travelled in December 2009 on the Classical Egypt trip
Review 38
What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Riding donkeys through the countryside to the valley of the kings, it was the best fun i'd had in ages.
What did you think of your tour leader?
Excellent, enthusiastic, knowledgeable, always cheerful and friendly.
Do you feel your holiday benefited local people?
We used a lot of local guides and businesses so yes I think it did.
Do you feel that you got under the skin of a country?
definately, we met a lot of local people, ate local food when possible and used public transport.
What advice would you give to other travellers?
Consider your money carefully, visa was not widely used in Egypt and many of the cash machines don't accept it, also a number of people could only get a small daily amount out which meant a lot of trips to cash machines each day. So take cash and just keep it safe.
Reviewed by Catherine Lax who travelled in October 2009 on the Nile Rover trip
Review 39
What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Riding donkeys through the countryside to the valley of the kings, it was the best fun i'd had in ages.
What did you think of your tour leader?
Excellent, enthusiastic, knowledgeable, always cheerful and friendly.
Do you feel your holiday benefited local people?
We used a lot of local guides and businesses so yes I think it did.
Do you feel that you got under the skin of a country?
definately, we met a lot of local people, ate local food when possible and used public transport.
What advice would you give to other travellers?
Consider your money carefully, visa was not widely used in Egypt and many of the cash machines don't accept it, also a number of people could only get a small daily amount out which meant a lot of trips to cash machines each day. So take cash and just keep it safe.
Reviewed by Catherine Lax who travelled in October 2009 on the Nile Rover - Aug 28th trip
Review 40
What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Riding donkeys through the countryside to the valley of the kings, it was the best fun i'd had in ages.
What did you think of your tour leader?
Excellent, enthusiastic, knowledgeable, always cheerful and friendly.
Do you feel your holiday benefited local people?
We used a lot of local guides and businesses so yes I think it did.
Do you feel that you got under the skin of a country?
definately, we met a lot of local people, ate local food when possible and used public transport.
What advice would you give to other travellers?
Consider your money carefully, visa was not widely used in Egypt and many of the cash machines don't accept it, also a number of people could only get a small daily amount out which meant a lot of trips to cash machines each day. So take cash and just keep it safe.
Reviewed by Catherine Lax who travelled in October 2009 on the Nile Rover trip
Review 41
What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
It was such a varied and wonderful itinerary that it is difficult to pick a single favourite part. Some of the more memorable parts of the tour were: wandering around the old city of Damascus at night, exploring Islamic Cairo at night, the Giza Pyramids, Abu Simbel, and looking at the Treasury for the first time at the end of the Siq in Petra.
What did you think of your tour leader?
Turkey - Extremely friendly and knowledgeable. Willing to do anything to ensure we had a great time. Syria - Fantastic; went the extra mile every day and ensured we had a great time. Jordan - Friendly and somewhat knowledgeable. Overall satisfactory. Egypt - Extremely friendly and knowledgeable. Went out of his way to ensure we had a great time.
Do you feel your holiday benefited local people?
In Turkey, Syria, and Egypt I would definitely say that the holiday did. Although we did stay in a Bedouin Camp in Jordan, overall I would say the contributions and/or benefits from our tour were significantly less.
Do you feel that you got under the skin of a country?
Participating in an 'adventurer' definitely allowed us to see more of the local life in a country. Staying in smaller hotels in the downtown areas definitely contributed to this feeling. The immersion varied from country to country but overall I would say yes.
What advice would you give to other travellers?
Keep an open mind and participate in every optional activity you can afford to.
Reviewed by Jonathan Coons who travelled in June 2009 on the Istanbul to Cairo trip
Review 42
What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
It was such a varied and wonderful itinerary that it is difficult to pick a single favourite part. Some of the more memorable parts of the tour were: wandering around the old city of Damascus at night, exploring Islamic Cairo at night, the Giza Pyramids, Abu Simbel, and looking at the Treasury for the first time at the end of the Siq in Petra.
What did you think of your tour leader?
Turkey - Extremely friendly and knowledgeable. Willing to do anything to ensure we had a great time. Syria - Fantastic; went the extra mile every day and ensured we had a great time. Jordan - Friendly and somewhat knowledgeable. Overall satisfactory. Egypt - Extremely friendly and knowledgeable. Went out of his way to ensure we had a great time.
Do you feel your holiday benefited local people?
In Turkey, Syria, and Egypt I would definitely say that the holiday did. Although we did stay in a Bedouin Camp in Jordan, overall I would say the contributions and/or benefits from our tour were significantly less.
Do you feel that you got under the skin of a country?
Participating in an 'adventurer' definitely allowed us to see more of the local life in a country. Staying in smaller hotels in the downtown areas definitely contributed to this feeling. The immersion varied from country to country but overall I would say yes.
What advice would you give to other travellers?
Keep an open mind and participate in every optional activity you can afford to.
Reviewed by Jonathan Coons who travelled in June 2009 on the Istanbul to Cairo trip
Review 43
What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The 4 days cruising the Nile on the MS Melodie! It was so relaxing and informal and the staff on the cruise ship were amazing. All the sights we saw along the way were brilliant as well.
What did you think of your tour leader?
We had a great Egyptian tour leader called Mohammed who was so informative and proud of his country, but in a really interesting way. He was excellent!
Do you feel your holiday benefited local people?
Only in the fact that we were spending money in local bazaars and restaurants.
Do you feel that you got under the skin of a country?
By meeting locals and visiting local restaurants, I got to understand a little more about what makes Egypt tick and what the Egyptian people are all about.
What advice would you give to other travellers?
Take a little time before the tour to read up a little bit about Egypt - and make sure you sample the Shisha!
Reviewed by Russell Morling who travelled in March 2009 on the River & Reef trip
Review 44
What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The 4 days cruising the Nile on the MS Melodie! It was so relaxing and informal and the staff on the cruise ship were amazing. All the sights we saw along the way were brilliant as well.
What did you think of your tour leader?
We had a great Egyptian tour leader called Mohammed who was so informative and proud of his country, but in a really interesting way. He was excellent!
Do you feel your holiday benefited local people?
Only in the fact that we were spending money in local bazaars and restaurants.
Do you feel that you got under the skin of a country?
By meeting locals and visiting local restaurants, I got to understand a little more about what makes Egypt tick and what the Egyptian people are all about.
What advice would you give to other travellers?
Take a little time before the tour to read up a little bit about Egypt - and make sure you sample the Shisha!
Reviewed by Russell Morling who travelled in March 2009 on the River & Reef trip
Review 45
What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The 4 days cruising the Nile on the MS Melodie! It was so relaxing and informal and the staff on the cruise ship were amazing. All the sights we saw along the way were brilliant as well.
What did you think of your tour leader?
We had a great Egyptian tour leader called Mohammed who was so informative and proud of his country, but in a really interesting way. He was excellent!
Do you feel your holiday benefited local people?
Only in the fact that we were spending money in local bazaars and restaurants.
Do you feel that you got under the skin of a country?
By meeting locals and visiting local restaurants, I got to understand a little more about what makes Egypt tick and what the Egyptian people are all about.
What advice would you give to other travellers?
Take a little time before the tour to read up a little bit about Egypt - and make sure you sample the Shisha!
Reviewed by Russell Morling who travelled in March 2009 on the River & reef january 1st trip
Review 46
What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
There were too many to single one out. Spotting the pyramids for the first time, Valley of the Kings. breakfast after climbing Mount Sinai. Dune jumping with the 12 year old jeep driver in Wadi Rum (well he only looked 12). Tutankamen's mask, Mummies in the museum, Abu Simbel, Soldiers tombs at Petra.... and so on
What did you think of your tour leader?
Siobhan Neverling was great.
Do you feel your holiday benefited local people?
Probably.
Do you feel that you got under the skin of a country?
As much as can be expected and more than would expect on large company tours
What advice would you give to other travellers?
book now. take food, drink and warm clothes to Mt Sinai. Ignore any locals who tell you to do something you don't want to do e.g get off the hydrofoil to Jordan even though we had tickets....
Reviewed by Anne Mayho who travelled in March 2008 on the Pharaohs and Feluccas trip
Review 47
What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
There were too many to single one out. Spotting the pyramids for the first time, Valley of the Kings. breakfast after climbing Mount Sinai. Dune jumping with the 12 year old jeep driver in Wadi Rum (well he only looked 12). Tutankamen's mask, Mummies in the museum, Abu Simbel, Soldiers tombs at Petra.... and so on
What did you think of your tour leader?
Siobhan Neverling was great.
Do you feel your holiday benefited local people?
Probably.
Do you feel that you got under the skin of a country?
As much as can be expected and more than would expect on large company tours
What advice would you give to other travellers?
book now. take food, drink and warm clothes to Mt Sinai. Ignore any locals who tell you to do something you don't want to do e.g get off the hydrofoil to Jordan even though we had tickets....
Reviewed by Anne Mayho who travelled in March 2008 on the Hazem trip
Review 48
What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Desert canyons
What did you think of your tour leader?
fantastic. Dave Hardy. Very protective of his group. Informative and easy to get on with.
Do you feel that you got under the skin of a country?
Yes. Although it wasnt necessarily any more out of the ordinary than any other 'adventure tour provider'
Reviewed by Alex Hodgson who travelled in October 2008 on the Bedouin Trails trip
Review 49
What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Abu Simbel and the Valley of the Kings. You have to see them to believe them.
What did you think of your tour leader?
Very good. Full of enthusiasm. Always happy to help organise other trips etc.
Do you feel your holiday benefited local people?
We used local guides and visited the local bazaars. We often eat in local restaurants.
Do you feel that you got under the skin of a country?
As a tourist it is very difficult to get under the skin of any country, but by staying in the more 'local' areas you do get some flavour of what their life can be like.
What advice would you give to other travellers?
Do it. Dont be afraid of haggling of being firm and saying no if you really dont want the item. Relax and enjoy meeting the people. The boat is an ideal size to meet people and get to know new friends.
Reviewed by Barrie Greenhalgh who travelled in September 2008 on the Jewels of Egypt trip
Review 50
What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Abu Simbel and the Valley of the Kings. You have to see them to believe them.
What did you think of your tour leader?
Very good. Full of enthusiasm. Always happy to help organise other trips etc.
Do you feel your holiday benefited local people?
We used local guides and visited the local bazaars. We often eat in local restaurants.
Do you feel that you got under the skin of a country?
As a tourist it is very difficult to get under the skin of any country, but by staying in the more 'local' areas you do get some flavour of what their life can be like.
What advice would you give to other travellers?
Do it. Dont be afraid of haggling of being firm and saying no if you really dont want the item. Relax and enjoy meeting the people. The boat is an ideal size to meet people and get to know new friends.
Reviewed by Barrie Greenhalgh who travelled in September 2008 on the Jewels of Egypt Dec 7/08 trip
Review 51
What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Abu Simbel and the Valley of the Kings. You have to see them to believe them.
What did you think of your tour leader?
Very good. Full of enthusiasm. Always happy to help organise other trips etc.
Do you feel your holiday benefited local people?
We used local guides and visited the local bazaars. We often eat in local restaurants.
Do you feel that you got under the skin of a country?
As a tourist it is very difficult to get under the skin of any country, but by staying in the more 'local' areas you do get some flavour of what their life can be like.
What advice would you give to other travellers?
Do it. Dont be afraid of haggling of being firm and saying no if you really dont want the item. Relax and enjoy meeting the people. The boat is an ideal size to meet people and get to know new friends.
Reviewed by Barrie Greenhalgh who travelled in September 2008 on the Jewels of Egypt - Guaranteed Depart trip
Review 52
What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Abu Simbel and the Valley of the Kings. You have to see them to believe them.
What did you think of your tour leader?
Very good. Full of enthusiasm. Always happy to help organise other trips etc.
Do you feel your holiday benefited local people?
We used local guides and visited the local bazaars. We often eat in local restaurants.
Do you feel that you got under the skin of a country?
As a tourist it is very difficult to get under the skin of any country, but by staying in the more 'local' areas you do get some flavour of what their life can be like.
What advice would you give to other travellers?
Do it. Dont be afraid of haggling of being firm and saying no if you really dont want the item. Relax and enjoy meeting the people. The boat is an ideal size to meet people and get to know new friends.
Reviewed by Barrie Greenhalgh who travelled in September 2008 on the Jewels of Egypt - Dep 15th March trip
Review 53
What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Too many to name really! Abu Simbel was very impressive.
What did you think of your tour leader?
Dave was brilliant - couldn't fault him on anything. Really added to the experience.
What advice would you give to other travellers?
Stock up on hand sanitiser, tissues & antinal pills
Reviewed by Karen McDougall who travelled in March 2008 on the Nile Safari trip
Review 54
What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Too many to name really! Abu Simbel was very impressive.
What did you think of your tour leader?
Dave was brilliant - couldn't fault him on anything. Really added to the experience.
What advice would you give to other travellers?
Stock up on hand sanitiser, tissues & antinal pills
Reviewed by Karen McDougall who travelled in March 2008 on the Nile Safari trip
Review 55
What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Camel and donkey rides. Valley of the Kings. Excellent quality hotels.
What did you think of your tour leader?
Excellent. Charming, knowledgeable and equally charming to all members of the trip.
Do you feel your holiday benefited local people?
Yes by way of what we spent. They had little chance to interface with us by way of discussion or communication.
Do you feel that you got under the skin of a country?
Fairly well. But as expected given that we had knowingly not particularly chosen a holiday designed to achieve this.
What advice would you give to other travellers?
Go for it!
Reviewed by Mel Goddard who travelled in March 2008 on the Magical Egypt trip
Review 56
What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The Nile Cruise... somehow it zipped by.
What did you think of your tour leader?
excellent - professinoal, flexible, fun and easy to talk with.
Do you feel that you got under the skin of a country?
No - but it was a 10 day excursion... what would I expect?
What advice would you give to other travellers?
Pack less seriously... the Melodie is quite comfortable and they even had laundry service, etc. It's not a roughing it holiday at all.
Reviewed by April Fain who travelled in November 2007 on the Nile Rover trip
Review 57
What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The Nile Cruise... somehow it zipped by.
What did you think of your tour leader?
excellent - professinoal, flexible, fun and easy to talk with.
Do you feel that you got under the skin of a country?
No - but it was a 10 day excursion... what would I expect?
What advice would you give to other travellers?
Pack less seriously... the Melodie is quite comfortable and they even had laundry service, etc. It's not a roughing it holiday at all.
Reviewed by April Fain who travelled in November 2007 on the Nile Rover - Aug 28th trip
Review 58
What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The Nile Cruise... somehow it zipped by.
What did you think of your tour leader?
excellent - professinoal, flexible, fun and easy to talk with.
Do you feel that you got under the skin of a country?
No - but it was a 10 day excursion... what would I expect?
What advice would you give to other travellers?
Pack less seriously... the Melodie is quite comfortable and they even had laundry service, etc. It's not a roughing it holiday at all.
Reviewed by April Fain who travelled in November 2007 on the Nile Rover trip
Review 59
What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
seeing the historical sites in real life
What did you think of your tour leader?
our tour leader was amazing, very efficient and always with a smile on her face
Do you feel your holiday benefited local people?
local people were used throughout the stay so yes
Do you feel that you got under the skin of a country?
as much as is possible in a week
What advice would you give to other travellers?
be prepared for possible tummy upsets
Reviewed by Gregory Paul Dean who travelled in February 2008 on the Nile Safari trip
Review 60
What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Seeing all the sites was incredible, we packed so much in. I found making the connection between the mummy of Rameses II in Cairo and Abu Simbel and the other temples on the Nile that he actually built was amazing. But in the end it was the smaller things that really made the holiday - the fantastic group we had, our excellent leader, the people we met along the way. Non-cultural highlights included the fun of shopping for outfits for the party night on the Melodie, the donkey ride to (and even better, back from) the Valley of the Kings, just cruising along the Nile watching the world go by, the felucca/boat trip to the Nile beach and having coffee in the little shop/cafe there, wandering around the back-streets of Cairo on the last day, seeing the day to day life of the ordinary people.
What did you think of your tour leader?
Jaime was excellent. She was happy for us to do things as a group or separately, gave us plenty of local information to make the most of our time in the different places, organised us exceptionally well when required, and generally was great fun to be with.
Do you feel your holiday benefited local people?
It certainly seemed that staff on the Melodie and the guides we used were well looked after and happy to work for ImTrav. It was good to use local hotels, restaurants, guides, etc, so I do feel our money did go to local people.
Do you feel that you got under the skin of a country?
Very difficult in 10 days, but I think we certainly got a glimpse of the real Egypt. Another time I would like to get away from the Nile Valley and see the desert oases, etc.
What advice would you give to other travellers?
Relax, have fun, go with the flow. Do everything that is offered as far as possible, take all the opportunities to explore the back streets and markets.
Reviewed by Joanna Boraston who travelled in March 2008 on the River & Reef trip
Review 61
What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Seeing all the sites was incredible, we packed so much in. I found making the connection between the mummy of Rameses II in Cairo and Abu Simbel and the other temples on the Nile that he actually built was amazing. But in the end it was the smaller things that really made the holiday - the fantastic group we had, our excellent leader, the people we met along the way. Non-cultural highlights included the fun of shopping for outfits for the party night on the Melodie, the donkey ride to (and even better, back from) the Valley of the Kings, just cruising along the Nile watching the world go by, the felucca/boat trip to the Nile beach and having coffee in the little shop/cafe there, wandering around the back-streets of Cairo on the last day, seeing the day to day life of the ordinary people.
What did you think of your tour leader?
Jaime was excellent. She was happy for us to do things as a group or separately, gave us plenty of local information to make the most of our time in the different places, organised us exceptionally well when required, and generally was great fun to be with.
Do you feel your holiday benefited local people?
It certainly seemed that staff on the Melodie and the guides we used were well looked after and happy to work for ImTrav. It was good to use local hotels, restaurants, guides, etc, so I do feel our money did go to local people.
Do you feel that you got under the skin of a country?
Very difficult in 10 days, but I think we certainly got a glimpse of the real Egypt. Another time I would like to get away from the Nile Valley and see the desert oases, etc.
What advice would you give to other travellers?
Relax, have fun, go with the flow. Do everything that is offered as far as possible, take all the opportunities to explore the back streets and markets.
Reviewed by Joanna Boraston who travelled in March 2008 on the River & Reef trip
Review 62
What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Seeing all the sites was incredible, we packed so much in. I found making the connection between the mummy of Rameses II in Cairo and Abu Simbel and the other temples on the Nile that he actually built was amazing. But in the end it was the smaller things that really made the holiday - the fantastic group we had, our excellent leader, the people we met along the way. Non-cultural highlights included the fun of shopping for outfits for the party night on the Melodie, the donkey ride to (and even better, back from) the Valley of the Kings, just cruising along the Nile watching the world go by, the felucca/boat trip to the Nile beach and having coffee in the little shop/cafe there, wandering around the back-streets of Cairo on the last day, seeing the day to day life of the ordinary people.
What did you think of your tour leader?
Jaime was excellent. She was happy for us to do things as a group or separately, gave us plenty of local information to make the most of our time in the different places, organised us exceptionally well when required, and generally was great fun to be with.
Do you feel your holiday benefited local people?
It certainly seemed that staff on the Melodie and the guides we used were well looked after and happy to work for ImTrav. It was good to use local hotels, restaurants, guides, etc, so I do feel our money did go to local people.
Do you feel that you got under the skin of a country?
Very difficult in 10 days, but I think we certainly got a glimpse of the real Egypt. Another time I would like to get away from the Nile Valley and see the desert oases, etc.
What advice would you give to other travellers?
Relax, have fun, go with the flow. Do everything that is offered as far as possible, take all the opportunities to explore the back streets and markets.
Reviewed by Joanna Boraston who travelled in March 2008 on the River & reef january 1st trip
Review 63
What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Very hard to pick just one, but riding donkeys to the Valley of the Kings was just wonderful, for adults and children alike. Also relaxing on the felucca whilst meandering down the Nile was something I know none of us will forget.
What did you think of your tour leader?
Hatem our Tour Leader was wonderful. The children all loved him, and he kept their interest throughout the holiday which made it all the more easy for the adults to relax and enjoy themselves.
Do you feel your holiday benefited local people?
Yes, the visit to the nubian village particularly seemed to be respectful of their traditions.
Do you feel that you got under the skin of a country?
Yes, I was particularly worried about touring around Egypt, from a safety point of view, but almost from the word go I felt we were welcomed and would love to go back.
What advice would you give to other travellers?
Don't hesitate to book with Imaginative Traveller, as a family we all agree that it was our best holiday ever, and we are considering booking again next year.
Reviewed by Nicola Underwood who travelled in April 2007 on the Pharaohs and Feluccas trip
Review 64
What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Very hard to pick just one, but riding donkeys to the Valley of the Kings was just wonderful, for adults and children alike. Also relaxing on the felucca whilst meandering down the Nile was something I know none of us will forget.
What did you think of your tour leader?
Hatem our Tour Leader was wonderful. The children all loved him, and he kept their interest throughout the holiday which made it all the more easy for the adults to relax and enjoy themselves.
Do you feel your holiday benefited local people?
Yes, the visit to the nubian village particularly seemed to be respectful of their traditions.
Do you feel that you got under the skin of a country?
Yes, I was particularly worried about touring around Egypt, from a safety point of view, but almost from the word go I felt we were welcomed and would love to go back.
What advice would you give to other travellers?
Don't hesitate to book with Imaginative Traveller, as a family we all agree that it was our best holiday ever, and we are considering booking again next year.
Reviewed by Nicola Underwood who travelled in April 2007 on the Hazem trip
Review 65
What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
the camel ride around the pyramids at sunset after all the tourists had left. magical!
What did you think of your tour leader?
turkey- Excellent, knew loads about what we were visiting and was more than happy to take us out at night and show us round. syria- ok, knew about the country. jordan and egypt- excellent, again more than happy to show us round, knew loads and gave us loads of extra info about what we were seeing.
Do you feel that you got under the skin of a country?
definately, its much better to stay in local downtown hotels then in something expensive where you dont get the real atmosphere of the country.
What advice would you give to other travellers?
make sure you do every excursion on offer- you may never go back to visit again.
Reviewed by Amanda Hough who travelled in April 2007 on the Istanbul to Cairo trip
Review 66
What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
the people---the fellow travellers and the locals...and Petra
What did you think of your tour leader?
excellent...he was attentive, fair and fun...
Do you feel your holiday benefited local people?
yes especially the local guides and the hotel people
Do you feel that you got under the skin of a country?
yes..especially when we have good local guides..we can ask many questions about their culture and places
What advice would you give to other travellers?
participate as much as you can and just talk to people and enjoy everything
Reviewed by kakai marr who travelled in February 2008 on the Petra to the Pyramids trip
Review 67
What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The Felucca trip was fantastic - being on the boat and relaxing!
What did you think of your tour leader?
Our tour leader Moutaz was fantastic. He was very informative, helpful and fun
Do you feel your holiday benefited local people?
Yes - a lot of local people were used as guides etc
What advice would you give to other travellers?
Bring lots of suncream and don't be put off by the haggling of the locals!
Reviewed by Caroline Dottridge who travelled in March 2008 on the Felucca Journey trip
Review 68
What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The Felucca trip was fantastic - being on the boat and relaxing!
What did you think of your tour leader?
Our tour leader Moutaz was fantastic. He was very informative, helpful and fun
Do you feel your holiday benefited local people?
Yes - a lot of local people were used as guides etc
What advice would you give to other travellers?
Bring lots of suncream and don't be put off by the haggling of the locals!
Reviewed by Caroline Dottridge who travelled in March 2008 on the Felucca Journey trip
Review 69
What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The entire tour was fantastic, arriving in Cairo and seeing the pyramids, museum, sphinx and being in the hustle and bustle of the city. I still cannot believe how people get to work on time or how people dont get squashed in the traffic with the amount of cars. The sound of Cairo to me is car horns considering most of the time this is the only part that works on the car!! The memories I have of Cairo are too numerous to count but here goes: My first ever Camel ride at the pyramids, my first taste of an apple shisha, the peace and quiet of the Mosque, being squashed in the amount of people going in the pyramid, a sunset horse ride with the pyramids as a backdrop and almost being sold by my husband to a small child who wanted to buy me at the bazaar!! It was also bizarre getting used to placing used toilet roll in a bin rather than down the toilet itself. The sleeper train was another great experience and I must admit the different modes of transport used was partly what convinced me to go on this tour and I was not disappointed. The best part of the tour was crusing the nile on the awesome Melodie with the friendliest crew imaginable. The boat was so comfortable, warm and inviting that if I could buy it I would. Seeing all the temples on the nile was awe inspiring and I wore out my camera trying to capture the beauty of egypt. I must admit that the donkey ride to the valley of the kings sticks most in my mind especially as they are so comical and do not care that you are on their back - if they can fit through a gap you best lift your legs!!
What did you think of your tour leader?
Our tour leader - Andy was so enthusiastic that he made you smile even in the very early mornings. All the tour leaders I met had vast amounts of knowledge of the history and current events of Egypt and seemed to thoroughly enjoy their jobs. They tried to make sure you saw all of the different sides of the country and looked after the welfare of all those on the tour. I cannot find fault with them.
Do you feel your holiday benefited local people?
I think the holiday did benefit local people as their businesses were used by the imaginative traveller. Tourism is a huge earner for a lot of people.
Do you feel that you got under the skin of a country?
I cannot believe how much of the country I saw and i dont just mean the temples. Hiring bikes was a fabulous way of touring the 'back streets' and getting a feel of the area and at no time did I feel in danger.
What advice would you give to other travellers?
Take plenty of toilet roll!! seriously as most places will only give you one piece if you are lucky. Also take the antibacterial hand gel which dries almost instantly as the toilets dont provide soap. Basically dont expect the sanitation to be like at home.
Reviewed by Barbara McKenna who travelled in May 2006 on the Nile Valley & Red Sea trip
Review 70
What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The entire tour was fantastic, arriving in Cairo and seeing the pyramids, museum, sphinx and being in the hustle and bustle of the city. I still cannot believe how people get to work on time or how people dont get squashed in the traffic with the amount of cars. The sound of Cairo to me is car horns considering most of the time this is the only part that works on the car!! The memories I have of Cairo are too numerous to count but here goes: My first ever Camel ride at the pyramids, my first taste of an apple shisha, the peace and quiet of the Mosque, being squashed in the amount of people going in the pyramid, a sunset horse ride with the pyramids as a backdrop and almost being sold by my husband to a small child who wanted to buy me at the bazaar!! It was also bizarre getting used to placing used toilet roll in a bin rather than down the toilet itself. The sleeper train was another great experience and I must admit the different modes of transport used was partly what convinced me to go on this tour and I was not disappointed. The best part of the tour was crusing the nile on the awesome Melodie with the friendliest crew imaginable. The boat was so comfortable, warm and inviting that if I could buy it I would. Seeing all the temples on the nile was awe inspiring and I wore out my camera trying to capture the beauty of egypt. I must admit that the donkey ride to the valley of the kings sticks most in my mind especially as they are so comical and do not care that you are on their back - if they can fit through a gap you best lift your legs!!
What did you think of your tour leader?
Our tour leader - Andy was so enthusiastic that he made you smile even in the very early mornings. All the tour leaders I met had vast amounts of knowledge of the history and current events of Egypt and seemed to thoroughly enjoy their jobs. They tried to make sure you saw all of the different sides of the country and looked after the welfare of all those on the tour. I cannot find fault with them.
Do you feel your holiday benefited local people?
I think the holiday did benefit local people as their businesses were used by the imaginative traveller. Tourism is a huge earner for a lot of people.
Do you feel that you got under the skin of a country?
I cannot believe how much of the country I saw and i dont just mean the temples. Hiring bikes was a fabulous way of touring the 'back streets' and getting a feel of the area and at no time did I feel in danger.
What advice would you give to other travellers?
Take plenty of toilet roll!! seriously as most places will only give you one piece if you are lucky. Also take the antibacterial hand gel which dries almost instantly as the toilets dont provide soap. Basically dont expect the sanitation to be like at home.
Reviewed by Barbara McKenna who travelled in May 2006 on the Nile Valley and Red Sea Sept 28th trip
Review 71
What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
the friendliness of the people, made me feel very special, well 99.9%
What did you think of your tour leader?
She was fantastic
What advice would you give to other travellers?
take lots of photos
Reviewed by Kay Boulton who travelled in December 2007 on the Nile Safari trip
Review 72
What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The Nile cruise...being on a small boat (at one point there was just our group on board) made it a real personal experience. The crew work SO hard to make life enjoyable whilst you're there. Just brilliant....especially the soft furnighing sculptures!!!
What did you think of your tour leader?
Our tour guide Jona was absolutely brilliant.....a walking encyclopedia about Egypt, organised, friendly...just what you hope your tour guide will be.
Do you feel your holiday benefited local people?
A little...it's amazing though how few people get off their cruise boats and experience local life.
Do you feel that you got under the skin of a country?
As much as you can on such an established tourist route as the one we did. It certainly got under mine!!!
What advice would you give to other travellers?
Just go, you can't fail to love it!!!
Reviewed by Nicola Hardy who travelled in March 2008 on the Jewels of Egypt trip
Review 73
What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The Nile cruise...being on a small boat (at one point there was just our group on board) made it a real personal experience. The crew work SO hard to make life enjoyable whilst you're there. Just brilliant....especially the soft furnighing sculptures!!!
What did you think of your tour leader?
Our tour guide Jona was absolutely brilliant.....a walking encyclopedia about Egypt, organised, friendly...just what you hope your tour guide will be.
Do you feel your holiday benefited local people?
A little...it's amazing though how few people get off their cruise boats and experience local life.
Do you feel that you got under the skin of a country?
As much as you can on such an established tourist route as the one we did. It certainly got under mine!!!
What advice would you give to other travellers?
Just go, you can't fail to love it!!!
Reviewed by Nicola Hardy who travelled in March 2008 on the Jewels of Egypt Dec 7/08 trip
Review 74
What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The Nile cruise...being on a small boat (at one point there was just our group on board) made it a real personal experience. The crew work SO hard to make life enjoyable whilst you're there. Just brilliant....especially the soft furnighing sculptures!!!
What did you think of your tour leader?
Our tour guide Jona was absolutely brilliant.....a walking encyclopedia about Egypt, organised, friendly...just what you hope your tour guide will be.
Do you feel your holiday benefited local people?
A little...it's amazing though how few people get off their cruise boats and experience local life.
Do you feel that you got under the skin of a country?
As much as you can on such an established tourist route as the one we did. It certainly got under mine!!!
What advice would you give to other travellers?
Just go, you can't fail to love it!!!
Reviewed by Nicola Hardy who travelled in March 2008 on the Jewels of Egypt - Guaranteed Depart trip
Review 75
What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
The Nile cruise...being on a small boat (at one point there was just our group on board) made it a real personal experience. The crew work SO hard to make life enjoyable whilst you're there. Just brilliant....especially the soft furnighing sculptures!!!
What did you think of your tour leader?
Our tour guide Jona was absolutely brilliant.....a walking encyclopedia about Egypt, organised, friendly...just what you hope your tour guide will be.
Do you feel your holiday benefited local people?
A little...it's amazing though how few people get off their cruise boats and experience local life.
Do you feel that you got under the skin of a country?
As much as you can on such an established tourist route as the one we did. It certainly got under mine!!!
What advice would you give to other travellers?
Just go, you can't fail to love it!!!
Reviewed by Nicola Hardy who travelled in March 2008 on the Jewels of Egypt - Dep 15th March trip
Review 76
What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
seeing the historical sites in real life
What did you think of your tour leader?
our tour leader was amazing, very efficient and always with a smile on her face
Do you feel your holiday benefited local people?
local people were used throughout the stay so yes
Do you feel that you got under the skin of a country?
as much as is possible in a week
What advice would you give to other travellers?
be prepared for possible tummy upsets
Reviewed by Gregory Paul Dean who travelled in February 2008 on the Nile Safari trip
Review 77
What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
the camel ride around the pyramids at sunset after all the tourists had left. magical!
What did you think of your tour leader?
turkey- Excellent, knew loads about what we were visiting and was more than happy to take us out at night and show us round. syria- ok, knew about the country. jordan and egypt- excellent, again more than happy to show us round, knew loads and gave us loads of extra info about what we were seeing.
Do you feel that you got under the skin of a country?
definately, its much better to stay in local downtown hotels then in something expensive where you dont get the real atmosphere of the country.
What advice would you give to other travellers?
make sure you do every excursion on offer- you may never go back to visit again.
Reviewed by Amanda Hough who travelled in April 2007 on the Istanbul to Cairo trip
Review 78
What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
the friendliness of the people, made me feel very special, well 99.9%
What did you think of your tour leader?
She was fantastic
What advice would you give to other travellers?
take lots of photos
Reviewed by Kay Boulton who travelled in December 2007 on the Nile Safari trip
Egypt Forum Feedback
jewel of Egypt on may 17th
Hi, Here we go! I reserved for the trip JEWEL OF EGYPT on may 17th.I'm from Montréal, (Québec) and I was wondering if anybody will travel on this trip, it will be nice to talk with an other traveller before the departure because I will travel alone on this tour. I would like to know if somebody has information about the apropriate way to dress in Egypt? Thanks Mélanie
Egypt Jordan Caravan March-April 2009
Hi, We are going on this trip from 29th March to 13th April. We were wondering how cold the weather might get when climbing Mt Sinai - just want to make sure we have the right clothing. Many thanks
Jewels of Egypt - Dep 15th March
Hiya Everyone... My partner & I have booked this tour that commences 15th March (ironically we'll be departing NZ on Friday 13th & returning April Fools...) Anyways we were just interested in getting to know some of our potential travellers before hand... P.S Our condolences go out to those injured in the recent unforeseen attack in Cairo xxoo Kaileigh & Patrick Auckland, New Zealand
egypt unveiled / alex and siwa oasis
hi im booked on the egypt unveiled tour leaving sat 23 may and was wondering if it is guaranteed. im also booked on the alexandria and siwa oasis tour starting 6 june also?
Egypt & Jordan Caravan 15 Feb-2 Mar 2009
I'm arriving Cairo early on 15 Feb. I am travelling solo and wondering if there is anyone who would like to join me to do some sightseeing that day.
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