Holiday Reviews
We invite every traveller who books a holiday via us to send in a review. Because we don't run the holidays they're completely independent and unedited... remember to read between the lines though, as two people on the same trip can have different views!
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Sinai Camel & Dive Safari holiday, independent reviews
 Reviewed 13 Sep 2009 by Yleana Acevedo-Whitehouse |  |
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Scuba diving the beautifully unspoiled reefs of Ras Abu Galum, stargazing at night while sipping Bedouin tea, loving the wonderful camels and letting your mind remain silent while taking in the beautifully stark and wild scenery of South Sinai.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Bring many candies, paper notebooks or pens for the local children, they will really appreciate this!!!
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Yes, the income is for the local people and they are careful not to leave any waste behind and to care for the reefs.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Wonderful, inspiring, my mind was finally still!
| Reviewed 26 Apr 2006 by Rashila Tong | |
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Really, the whole trip was amazing and truly memorable from the great people in Dahab, the fantastic diving, the camel trek, and the stay with the Bedouin people. It was all fantastic, and no one experience stands out as better than the others.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Feel free to ask all your questions prior to your trip. Everything went very smoothly. The operator was great answering all our questions and helping us get organized for the trip. The information packet was extremely helpful. Thanks to Chayya and Louise. Once we arrived at Sharm El Sheikh, a representative met us at the airport and transferred us to the coral coast. the hotel was great - comfortable rooms and friendly staff. Cecile at Embah was a great resource to answer questions once we arrived at Dahab. The fantasea dive shop was professional and great to dive with. The staff were very helpful and were great to dive with. Overall, everyone was very helpful and we truly had a fantastic time
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
The Bedouin definitely benefited as a result of our visit.
4. Any other comments?
Absolutely the best vacation we've had. Loved Dahab completely. The people were extremely friendly and were great to hang out with after a "rough" day of diving. We felt we had the opportunity to get to know Egyptian people and share information/experiences. The camel safari was truly a unique experience and allowed us to experience the Sinai in a very memorable way. Can't say enough good things about this trip. Am looking forward to returning to Dahab, it is a truly amazing place with amazing people.
| Reviewed 4 Nov 2008 by Nalini Ambiavagar | |
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
Visiting deserted oasis on back of a camel and sleeping under the stars. Fantastic!
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Take plenty of small change as baksheesh is expected for everything! Be prepared for Dahab which is one of the most littered places I've seen. The whole town appears to be a rubbish dump against a spectacular backdrop of mountain scenery! Fortunately, the reef is generally OK and the waters still very clear. Around the lighthouse reef, many of the colourful sights we saw turned out to beer cans and plastic! The further out of Dahab, the better the diving.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
I felt it did benefit local people because we were spending money and the hotel was mainly run by locals, but also that we made a bit of an impact on the local environment. There was no where to recycle plastic and there were bottles and bags everywhere. By the nature of where we were, we had to buy lots of bottles of water and I felt guilty because I wasn't sure if the empties were then going into the waste ground down the road. I did like the fact that we were doing shore dives so there were no boat trips using petrol and also we only had 2 drives to dive sites -the rest of the time we walked.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
The hotel was lovely, probably the nicest in Dahab! The diving was very good, especially in Ras abu galam. We were lucky to have a very good dive master and also a good guide. The camel safari was probably a highlight as it gave us an insight into how hard life is for the bedouins and how precious water is -I won't be complaining about the rain again! A most interesting holiday!
| Reviewed 15 Mar 2008 by Anon | |
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
There were two - the first was a camel dive safari (one day) - I went with an Egyptian Dive Instructor and one other tourist, there were two Bedouin camel guides, and we were cooked a meal my the Bedouins in between the two dives. The camel ride was along the coast, with the mountains on the other side of us - it took about 1 1/2 hours each way - it was lovely. We were the only divers at our destination - an exciting, vigorous and at times restful day! I arranged this through the tour operators dive connection.
The other highlight was the Jeep Safari, which included some walking in the dessert, climbing through two canyons, a rest and meal in an oasis. It was expensive, as I was the only tourist (with an Egyptian guide, and a Bedouin driver) it was arranged through the tour operators connection, and as I went early in the season, no one else booked the day - but it was good not being with other tourists. I did not meet another tourist in the dessert, and saw a group of 4 in the oasis - there was a brief overlap of their lunch break and mine. It was a wilderness experience. I had some enjoyable wordless interaction with a Bedouin family.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
If going in March, really do take warm clothes for the evening - the restaurants are all outdoors, and it can get very windy.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Yes, especially the safaris, as they seem to have good contracts with the Bedouins. The staff at the hotel were all Egyptian. The Dive Centre, while good, was mainly staffed by expatriates, so I was pleased to have an Egyptian Instructor for the Dive safari.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Excellent - It was the first holiday I had taken entirely on my own (no travelling companions, no group to join) and it was exciting, yet felt safe as woman in her 50's travelling alone. I have been to Egypt before (Cairo, and a Nile cruise) and in Dahab local people seem to have got a really good relationship with tourists, while there is some competition for selling goods and services, I did not feel hassled to buy, which made me more likely to spend my money. I have never been anywhere which seemed to get the balance better between the local people, the environment and tourism.
| Reviewed 20 Feb 2008 by Brian Green | |
1. What was the most memorable or exciting part of your holiday?
This has to be diving the beautiful coral reefs. We were really amazed at the variety of fish and coral. Closely followed by the friendliness of our hosts and the local people.
2. What tips would you give other travellers booking this holiday?
Take spare pens and little gifts or sweets (I took wine gums) for the Bedouin children at Ras Abu Galum. In February the afternoon winds can be chilly when you've been diving so take a windproof and a woolly hat. Also I did need the 3 layers when out in the desert at night. Plus whilst the guide can provide blankets, it is better to take your own sleeping bag in a stuff bag.
3. Did you feel that your holiday benefited local people, and minimized impacts on the environment?
Yes. We genuinely felt that we benefited local people as we ate at local Bedouin restaurants, made use of local facilities i.e. barbers.
4. Finally, how would you rate your holiday overall?
Really enjoyable. Impressed at the smooth organisation of the trip. We felt that we were well looked after but not smothered. Left to our own devices when appropriate.