Egypt & Jordan Jewel with 5* Nile Boat Cruise

Customer Reviews

• DC

  David

  · November 20th, 2023
  Tour was well organized! The guide for the Egypt portion was very experienced The guide for Jordan was just ok. There were many occasions when he could be more organized. He didn’t explain what to expect what the plans were for the next day. Much confusion resulted from that. Many things look disorganized The boat cruise was terrible. Frequent problems with steady water supply , Not one day was without problems. The boat was not well maintained. The highlights of the tour were the pyramids, Abu Simbel. The hot air ballooning was a highlight despite reservations from the tour organizers
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  Expat Explore Travel commented on this review

  Thank you for taking the time to provide feedback on your recent tour. We're delighted to hear that you had a great time on the Egypt part of your tour. However, we sincerely apologize for any inconvenience caused during the Jordan leg. We appreciate... Show more
  Trip date: October 2023
• 

  Marion

  · April 24th, 2023
  Egypt was excellent, Nabil was very organised and informative,but it is a shame when you ask for creamer for your coffee in the room only to be told they have run out and I was disappointed with the cruise boat, it was smelly in the bathroom and when I asked to have the bath cleaned they did not do it. I also had to chase my clothes twice when they were sent out to be washed and once when I got them back they were still wet at 9 pm when I finally got them. The Jordan tour was disappointing,our group was split up into two hotels when the other group Timeless could have been put into the other hotel as it was a smaller group and our group could have stayed together, another hotel,3 people were moved and at the Wadi Rum camp we all had different accommodations some better than others,we all pay the same so we should all get the same standard of accommodation. On both trips we had a slow bus which means we get less time to spend at the attractions, the timeless group left at the same time as us but arrived a couple of hours before us, and when we were in the convoy in Egypt we were in the middle and ended up last with no other busses in sight. The sights I saw were amazing and all in all had a great time.
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  Trip date: April 2023
• DL

  David Leslie

  · April 15th, 2023
  This is a very fast paced tour with early mornings and long bus rides to get to the next destination. It includes bucket list sites i.e. the pyramids, the Great Sphinx, temples, a Nile cruise, Valley of the Kings, Petra, Wadi Rum and more. Our group in Egypt agreed we would rather pay the admission and optional tour costs when the final payment is made or have it included as part of the tour price. This is the first tour I have been on where admission prices have not been included. The guides in both Egypt and Jordan were a wealth of knowledge regarding the history and significance of places visited and the customs and culture of the people. They were amazing,,, friendly, fun and readily accommodated the group. We were met upon our arrival in Egypt and assisted with obtaining Visas and getting through customs,then driven to the hotel. There was a meet and greet in the evening to meet our guide and our fellow travelmates. We were a group of 34. Our guide Nabil gave us an overview of the tour and other pertinent information i.e. drinking water, safety, currencies used etc. Jamal was our guide in Jordan for the group of 16. I did not give this 5 stars because there were some hotel and itinerary changes in both Egypt and Jordan. The original itinerary for Egypt stated 2 intra Egypt flights (i.e. between Cairo and Aswan). Instead, we had a long 7 hour bus ride back to Cairo. The Monte Carlo ship for the Nile Cruise in not a 5 star luxury ship. It is an old ship that needs painting and refurbishing in the rooms. One of the engines overheated causing fumes to permeate into some rooms. The engine was shut down and we were late arriving at our disembarkation port. Arrival in Amman was good but we were driven to the Misk Hotel (another change) and just dropped off. We were told to meet our guide at 8am but were given no information about what we could do eg. museums, shopping etc, or how to get there eg. what taxis to use, how far it was to the town centre etc. There was nothing around the hotel to do or look at. The rooms were very small for 2 people with suitcases but the food was good. The accommodations in Wadi Rum were also changed. The original camp had ensuite bathrooms. The camp we were put up in was a tent with 2 cots. There was sand in the bed. Many slept with their clothes on because they didn't know how clean the sheets were. There was a communal bathroom with 2 showers. It was not very clean...the mirrors were covered in water spots, one needed to remember to bring toilet paper because most times there was none, the shower heads were missing in the men's showers. The camp was not well lit at night for using the facilities. The food at dinner was adequate but at breakfast there were only a few boiled eggs, some stale pita and jam. The so called jeeps were not jeeps. They were beat up old pick up trucks with wooden planks for seats and some drivers were not at all pleasant. There were not enough vehicles for all of us and our luggage so we had to pay for another vehicle. In Egypt we were in a comfortable touring bus where luggage was stowed below. In Jordan, we were crammed into a small Toyota tour van where luggage was piled up behind the last seat. There was no place for backpacks (they were kept on our laps) and no leg room. It was very uncomfortable travelling for 5 hours in this bus. The stop at the Dead Sea was at O Beach. There were 150 unsafe stairs down to the water. Many of the steps were broken pieces of board with metal sticking up. The washrooms were dirty, had no paper at all and the flush handles were broken. Most of us think the tour in Jordan should be 5 days instead of 4 to spread out the driving. All in all, we saw everything we wanted to see in Egypt and Jordan. We were in awe of the sites and extremely pleased with our wonderful guides. We were disappointed though with the itinerary and hotel changes that were not the quality as originally provided when we booked the tour.
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  Trip date: March 2023
• BR

  Barbara Mary

  · April 11th, 2023
  The Egypt portion was outstanding. Our guide, Nabil, was fabulous. However, the Jordan portion of the tour, was poorly organized, with jammed tiny tour busses, and a horrible experience at the Bedouin camp. Shared dirty washrooms, sand on the sheets, and running out of food and coffee at breakfast. Our guide did the best he could, with what he was given. I feel that ExPat and Tpur Radar
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  Trip date: March 2023
• 

  LESLEY

  · October 24th, 2022
  Excellent guide. Full programme of sightseeing....and frequent early starts...but such were needed to avoid midday heat. Well chosen hotels and Nile River boat. Overall memorable experience with safe drivers, good travel companions and congenial atmosphere in the group. Would travel with Expat Explore again.
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  Trip date: October 2022
• BB

  Brian

  · May 15th, 2022
  This tour had it all…exotic sites, beautiful weather, and a good group. And then it had some downsides. A number of our group were confused by the online brochure that led to a misunderstanding that the tour price included entrance fees to sites, and that some of the “optional” were actually features of the regular tour order. There were a few who missed the suggestion they procure a Jordan Pass, which covered the admissions to the major sites, like Petra, and one’s substantial visa fee. The tour organization was also confusing. There were a number of company tours running concurrently, allowing the more efficient combining of groups for this or that site or option for this or that portion of the tour. As a result communications were sometimes confused. Sometimes there are too many moving parts. Here are the pros and cons – PRO: The tour itself offered a wonderful itinerary. While it was hectic, almost exhausting, it took you where you needed to go. A previous tour with another company was no different. So much to see and so little time. The buses were standard issue. (None offered frills. Even the toilets were decommissioned.) We arrived in Cairo two days early and the company arranged for us to be met and taken to our hotel. The rep (Muhammad) was invaluable when our luggage failed to arrive from our connection in Istanbul. We also arranged a tour with the company to Saqqara and Memphis. Our overnights were all acceptable, if not the Ritz. The Nile cruise ship was nice. The resort at Hurghada provided a much-needed break, and the rooms the best on the trip. Our guide Ramez was terrific. He kept the cats herded and informed. Things happened as per the itinerary. We were all happy. The highlights of Jordan were Petra, our desert “glamping” overnight, Mt. Nebo and the Dead Sea. Petra and the Dead Sea need no explanation. Mt. Nebo, where Moses saw the Promised Land, provided a spectacular view over the historic Jordan Valley. The desert overnight was beautiful, with the Wadi Rum quite the backdrop. Our host was a fine fellow, too. CON: Our guide, Zena, on the Jordan portion was a problem. We arrived at Amman and were taken to our hotel. The company rep there essentially met us and dropped us. No guide. Zena arrived at the hotel and spent the time on her phone, something she did continually. On tour, she had a habit of snapping fingers to attract attention and gather the group. It did not sit well with many, harking back to grade school days. One couple was without their luggage after flight from Cairo to Amman, and it became a growing sore point when, after being found, delivery became a problem. Zena did not appear effective or empathetic. Finally, at Wadi Rum, the dam broke and her disorganization and apparent “attitude” caused a breakdown with some. After a heated parking lot “discussion” she threatened a tourist with the police and then quit the tour. It was out of hand. Our bus driver essentially took calming control at that point – thank goodness. The company replaced Zena with Nobile, and things took an immediate turn for the better! He spoke to each of us to understand the situation, laid out the itinerary, and kept us informed. Frankly, he saved the tour. (Later, in conversation, he said he thought we were all good people, and couldn’t understand the previous guide’s problems.) Final Thoughts: Several among our tour noted that the need for a Jordan Pass was not sufficiently noted in the company’s materials. Some purchased on tour with the help of Ramez. Some, who joined us from another tour, ended up paying out of pocket at each Jordanian site and a visa fee. Many felt nickel-and-dimed by the separation of admission to sites and a tips pool surprised that they were not included in the tour price. Ramez handled all that well at our orientation meeting. Hotels were adequate. Something tour companies need to understand is that ‘net access is very important in today’s world, particularly to keep in touch with home. Several hotels offered sketchy connections. (Also recognize the infrastructure shortcomings in some places.) At least these should be noted in the itinerary details. Overall, the tour grades a “B”. We enjoyed ourselves while seeing a new part of the world and experiencing “bucket list” places and activities. Would we use Ex-Pat again? Several on the tour were long-time customers, saying they’d never experienced anything like our trip before. The answer is a firm “maybe”. It would depend on the itinerary and value. My advice is to read the itinerary closely, understanding that some of the sites you’ll see are not included in the price, and look for the extra charges unmentioned elsewhere. It all adds up.
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  Trip date: April 2022
• PK

  Pamela

  · April 12th, 2022
  It was one the best trips I have been on. Peter was our guide for Egypt and he was wonderful and very knowledgeable. I had a really good time and would recommend this trip to see some spectacular sites.
  Trip date: March 2022
• LC

  Leon

  · April 11th, 2022
  Great itinerary where we visited most of the ancient sites in Egypt and Jordan. Very knowledgeable, helpful and friendly guides who adjusted the itinerary to accommodate the needs of the guests. Excellent value for money.
  Trip date: March 2022
• 

  Gustavo

  · October 18th, 2021
  The trip was very good organized, some things need some polishing but overall it was very good.
  Trip date: October 2021