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Classical Egypt tour

COUNTRY:
Egypt
LOCATION:
Luxor, Pyramids
HOLIDAY TYPE:
A small group adventure
DEPARTURES:
Departs most Fridays throughout the year
PRICE:
From £995 (10 days) excluding flights. We can arrange flights from the UK
VOUCHERS:
Gift vouchers can be used with this holiday
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Classical Egypt tour

Classical Egypt tour

Small group adventure holiday
Typically you will be sharing your experiences with between 4-20 like minded travellers (depending on the trip, operator and how many others are booked on the trip) and you'll have a group leader with you. Whether you are travelling alone or with friends its good value, and a great way to meet new people! While itineraries are pre-planned there is some flexibility and you'll have plenty of privacy. This trip will appeal to travellers of all ages who enjoy meeting new people as well as seeing new places.

How this holiday makes a difference

See Egypt through the eyes of a local, as your Egyptian tour leader gives you a first-hand insight into the exotic and historically rich tapestry that makes up this amazing country. Discovering archaeological sites, seeking out Pharaonic tombs, exploring ancient temples, wandering around vibrant bazaars and sailing down the Nile - all experiences that impart to travellers an awareness of these valuable natural and historical gems and the importance of them being preserved and protected, so that they can be enjoyed and appreciated by future generations.

The Egyptians, ancient and modern, have rich and enduring cultures, which are unveiled on this trip. Equally important, your local tour leaders help you to understand the traditions of these proud people, ensuring you don’t commit any cultural ‘faux pas’. To support tour programs in this part of the world we are training our tour leaders on a variety of issues, from environmental awareness to First Aid. This not only assists in the conduct of a tour but also provides leaders with important life skills. By only employing tour leaders born and bred in the regions they visit, we are supporting local economies.

We prefer to give our patronage to small owner-managed hotels rather than those from international chains, as we feel these places offer quality and character and also directly benefit local people. We also have a long-standing relationship with Omar and his family of Nubian sailors, who operate all their felucca sailing trips around Aswan. Through offering employment and steady revenue, tourism can ultimately make a real positive difference to local communities.

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Classical Egypt tour

Reviewed 16 Apr 2008 by Helen Organ3 star rating

1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?


The whole Abu Simbel experience....being awoken at 3.00am in our cabin on board our ship on the Nile to be taken to the airport where we made our way in sleepy silence through an empty airport onto an antiquated plane for our 20 minute flight; alighting and arriving on the shores of Lake Nasser before dawn to watch the spectacular sunrise with Ramesses II in 4 stages of his life at our backs.

2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?


I would suggest only one night on a train. I found the trip from Cairo to Luxor the most interesting. Have plenty of small notes ready for tips. It’s a fact of life that nothing is done for nothing. Just asking directions from a friendly local will cost you.
Be prepared to experience a lot of pollution - plastic floating around everywhere and very polluted air around the major cities and from burning off sugarcane. Also, be prepared for the busloads/shiploads of tourists. Apart from the very hottest months, it's normal.

3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?


This is difficult to say. There's no doubt that there are benefits to some, but the most would go to the big operators. As far as the environment is concerned, there should be more done by the government in ploughing back tourism revenue (being Egypt's second biggest revenue raiser after the Suez Canal) into cleaning up the pollution - particularly some form of recycling for plastic. It's everywhere in the form of bottles and bags.

4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?


Our tour leader was good, our local guides knowledgeable and the sites we were taken to very interesting. Any negatives were beyond the control of the operators - eg delayed trains, air pollution.

Read the operator's response here:

Great to hear you enjoyed your holiday with us. I am with you on the whole Abu Simbel experience - definitely the jewel in the crown as far as Egypt is concerned. I agree also that litter is a problem in Egypt, especially in the form of plastic bottles along the shores of the Nile. In the past we have operated "Clean Up the Nile" holidays, ran as non-profit trips giving clients the opportunity to do something directly about the litter problem. While being well intentioned this is of course no long term solution and ideally the Egyptian government should take action to address the situation before a critical point is reached. If you feel inclined (and I hope you do!) can I suggest you write to the Egypt State Tourist Office about your experiences in Egypt and your concern for the apparent disregard to recycling and general refuse management. I have included their address below - thanks for taking the time to give us your feedback.

Egypt State Tourist Office
Egypt House
170 Piccadilly
London
W1J 9EJ
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