Nile Cruise

Our Clients’ Reviews

Here at Exodus we thrive on feedback from our customers. It's the only way we can ensure our trips continue to be the best they can be. So, for the real tales, twists and turns of the trip you're interested in, look no further than the reviews from our previous travellers. Any feedback collected (Good or bad) from Exodus clients is posted straight onto our website - totally unedited. Read more...

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• 

  Deirdre Neswman

  NILE CRUISE

  

  Written April 2010

  A really good sight-seeing holiday with some time to relax and enjoy the scenery as well. You learn a lot about Egytian history on this holiday and see lots of awe-inspiring sights. 

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  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  All the temples and monuments you see are wonderful but my particular favourites were the hieroglyphs in the tombs in the Valley of the Kings (wonderfully preserved) and the temple at Abu Simbel which was breath-taking and in a stunning location. We also had an optional excursion to visit a Nubian village near Aswan where we were welcomed into the house of a local family for dinner. This was really interesting and enjoyable and was made all the more memorable when the motor boat taking us home broke down and for about 1/2 hour  we had visions of spending the night drifting along the Nile in our little boat! Also, even though by the time you visit the pyramids and Sphinx on the last day of the holiday, you feel you have seen the best of what Egypt has to offer already, they are still an amazing sight to behold.

  What did you think of your group leader?

  Mohammid was very good. He was extremely knowledgeable about the history of Egypt and really involved the group when he was recounting the history, myths and legends of the country. He was fun and had a great sense of humour  and his command of English was excellent. He also happily talked about modern day Egypt  and gave us a great insight into the lifes of Egyptian people today. We were lucky to have him as our guide and he certainly helped to make the trip all the more enjoyable and memorable.

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  Be prepared for not much sleep on the train as it is noisy and rattles a lot and the heating was turned off on one of the journeys which meant it was cold as well. The cabins are very cramped so be prepared for limited space to move and the food isn't very good on it so eat beforehand or take something to eat with you. However, inspite of all the negatives about it, it was still an experience which added to the sense of the adventure, and mingling with the locals at the stations was interesting.

  If you have $1 dollar notes take them with you as they are invaluable for tipping which is a way of life in Egypt particulary at the start of the holiday when you may not have much small Egyptian change. Porters at the hotels will wait at the doors of rooms for their tips (and in Cairo, one porter showed you to your room and then another porter brought you your case).

  Take mosquito repellant even if travelling out of summer months as I have bitten quite a bit on the last night while sitting at the outdoor restaurant in the hotel in Cairo and that was in March

  Be very aware of the guys leading the camels if you take a ride on them at the Pyramids. One girl on our group got money taken from her purse when the guy got on the camel with her and sat between her and where he has placed her handbag.

  Is there anything else you would like to add?

  While there are 2 options for travelling to Abu Simbel (flying or by coach), if the majority of the group opt for one means then the group leader does prefer that everyone travels the same way as he cannot acoompany both parties if they travelling by different means. I was not keen on the long journey there and back by coach but as everyone else in our group wanted to go by coach I agreed to do so also. However, it wasn't as bad as I had anticipated. We had a really comfortable coach and watching the sun rise over the desert was wonderful so don't be put off by the journey it is not that bad.

   
• 

  Mark Farmer

  NILE CRUISE

  

  Written April 2010

  Stayed at really nice hotels where ever we went,nile cruise was a real luxury boat. 

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  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  Well really enjoyed the train trip.The pyramids and spinx was breathtaking.But i think the museum was my favirate of all.Really learned lots of the history of egypt.

  What did you think of your group leader?

  Well orginized but some places we went was really over prized,example can of coke was 25-30 egypt pounds,,where its 1-5egypt pounds the rest of the time.He could of helped us more in the markets and give us a idea of what prices should be.

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  Yeah please fill up at duty free with booze if u like to have lots to drink.the quality is not that good and prices are just too expensive if you areex-pat.

   
• 

  Robert Batty

  NILE CRUISE

  

  Written March 2010

  Khaled was an excellent guide, who made the temples, tombs and pyramids of ancient Egypt come alive; and the boat and hotels were also top class - the soup of the day on the boat was always a winner. 

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  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  going out into the desert to the Valley of the Kings

  What did you think of your group leader?

  could not be better; knowledgeable, friendly, amusing and a good teacher as well as good company

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  just soak it up.

  Is there anything else you would like to add?

  The location of the hotel in the outskirts of Cairo/Giza was a bit of a disappointment.  The Hotel itself was fine. But not having any programmed activities on the first morning, or in the morning of the day of departure, the inability of getting anywhere except by taxi (and then the centre of Cairo was some way off) meant that we were 'forced' to just do nothing.  I understand that there is concern about noise in the centre of Cairo, or maybe atmospheric pollution; or maybe centre hotels are not so spacious or are more expensive same for same, but for me/us at least it would have been nice to have been able to just walk out of the hotel when we had free time and wander in the streets of Cairo, and experience the atmosphere. we did not get much feel for modern Egypt as a contrast to our learning about ancient Egypt.

  Exodus Response

  Hi,

  Thank you for your response and i am glad that you enjoyed the trip. I'm sorry to read of your comments about the Pyramid Parks Hotel in Giza. As i have been there myself I am aware of the excellent standard of the rooms, service and facilities of the hotel. Our groups have been staying at the Pyramids Park for a number of years now and we have received many positive reviews. I understand that it is located in Giza, close to the Pyramids and not in central Cairo. We give the name and details of the hotel in our trip notes so clients are aware of where they are staying before they travel. Our operator is able to arrange transfers into the centre of Cairo should clients wish to visit areas that are not part of our itinerary.

  We would also like to find a more centrally located hotel however no hotel at present is able to offer the guaranteed rooms and good rates like the Pyramid Parks, which we require to run successful trips.

  Hope this helps.

  All the best, Andy

  
  

  - Exodus Staff

   
• 

  Angela Coates

  NILE CRUISE

  

  Written January 2010

  This has to be the most fun I have ever had on holiday.  I cannot recomend it highly enough.  A great blend of ancient history, breath-taking monuments, fun evenings full of laughter and the best guide in all of Egypt. 

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  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  Every day brought something new:

   

  • The Tutankhamun relics in the Egyptian Museum were mesmerizing, exceptional and more impressive that I could have imagined.
  • The colours and sense of magic of the Valley of the Kings have to be experienced.
  • Sunrise over Karnak temple was out of this world.
  • Singing, drenched in moonlight chugging down the Nile was very special and I will never forget it.

  But the most inspirational part of the trip was the knowledge and life that our guide Mohamed brought to all we saw. 

  What did you think of your group leader?

  As you might already gather I believe we were lucky enough to have the best guide in all Egypt.

   

  Mohamed.

   

  He was patient, funny, knowledgable and made us feel so welcome that I didn't ever want to leave.  He encouraged us to learn more about ancient Egypt, so much so I am now stocked up on books to read up further whilst it is still bright in my memory.

   

  But not only did he teach us about Pharohs, God and Godesses - he talked about modern Egypt with great passion. I will be returning to Egypt because of the great time I was lucky to experience.

   

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  This trip is listed as leisurely - but you should be aware that there are many early starts.  You do not have much time to just kick back and relax.

   

  This suited me perfectly - and you don't have to take all the additional trips that we did - but if you have travelled all the way, why not take full advantage of what the country has to offer.

   

  Is there anything else you would like to add?

  If you have ever thought - "you know I quite fancy a trip to Egypt" then I say do not wait another moment, book this trip immediately. 

   

  It is the prefect blend of ancient sites, fun, history, laugher, gods, adventure, excellent shopping and the most friendly people I have ever met.

   

  Don't delay...I promise you won't regret it, I didn't.

   
• 

  Karen Marshall

  NILE CRUISE

  

  Written January 2010

  This was the first time I had been on holiday on my own and everything about the holiday was wonderful, surpassing all my hopes and expectations. I joined a group of 8, which was a really good number. We all got on so well and had lots of laughs! Mohamed our Egyptologist was great. The sites we saw were wonderful and the Nile cruise was lovely and relaxing. 

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  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  The visits to the Valley of the Kings and seeing some of the Tombs were amazing. But then the same can be said for the visits to the Temples and the Pyramids. On these visits the information from Mohamed, our Egyptologist was brilliant. He gave us lots of interesting information. Through Mohamed we learnt so much about the sites. I especially enjoyed seeing the tomb of Rameses V/VI and going down inside a pyramid at Saqqara. It is awesome to see sites that date back thousands of years BC!  
  The visits to the bazaars in Cairo and Aswan were also entertaining, hearing the comments that are supposed to draw you in e.g. “lovely jubbly”, “I don’t know what you want but I have it in my shop”, “have a butchers at this”……
  

  What did you think of your group leader?

  Mohamed our Egyptologist and our group leader was excellent. He had so much knowledge to impart and he made it fun and interesting. He tried to teach us to read hieroglyphics. Also he was happy to talk about Egyptian life and culture. He organised meals for us and we were never disappointed with his choice. One evening he organised a visit to a Nubian village where we were invited to a meal at the home of one of the villagers. This was really interesting and we appreciated their hospitality. We all held a pet crocodile too! It was only little!
  I really valued Mohamed’s input, he helped in making it a great holiday experience!

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  The overnight rail journey is a bit of a culture shock, but exodus do warn you in the trip notes. It is first class in Egypt but not in England. The cabins were very small. The bunk beds were surprisingly comfortable but it was hard to sleep because of the noise of the train and the swaying of the carriage. Plus the food is best described as like airport food.
  But it is well worth the effort to get to Luxor and board the cruise boat.
  Be aware there will be early starts, but again well worth the effort.

  Is there anything else you would like to add?

  I thought the organisation on the whole holiday was first class.
  The accommodation at the hotels and on the cruise boat was very good.
  Party night on the boat when we all had to dress up in Traditional Egyptian clothes was fun!
  I had a really great holiday and can’t wait to try another exodus experience!

   
• 

  Richard Chester

  FUN ON THE NILE

  

  Written September 2009

  What can I say? Our first Exodus experience was a truly memorable trip to a fabulous country, shared with a lovely group of people and a personable, patient and knowledgeable leader. A good mix of sightseeing and relaxation; yes, there were some early starts, but it was a necessary evil to avoid the extreme midday temperatures and didn’t affect our enjoyment. Superb.  

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  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  Too many to mention. Aswan was stunning. Entering the magnificent tombs in the Valley of the Kings was a particular highlight, but so too were the colossal Karnak, Kom Ombo at dusk, picturesque Philae, Abu Simbel, the Pyramids of Giza and watching the sun set on a tranquil felucca trip.

  What did you think of your group leader?

  Mohamed was terrific; always friendly and informative despite having to contend with the demands of Ramadan in sweltering temperatures. He was always on hand to answer any questions, sort out any aggressive traders and was a reassuring, protective presence throughout, quickly bonding with the group and sharing in our experiences.

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  Be prepared for a few early starts (we were up at 5.15 for Valley of the Kings, 4.15 for Abu Simbel). These did not detract from the experience in any way, however, as these early starts only served to thoroughly extend the days of a seemingly over-too-quick holiday. 

   

  Taking along squirty antiseptic hand gel was a good call after a day of handling threadbare Egyptian pound notes. Talking of cash, get some small change as soon as you can at the airport for immediate hotel porter baksheesh! Take some sleeping pills for the sleeper train! Quite a rickety ride at times and only got about 20 minutes sleep on the way to Luxor.

   

  Be realistic in your expectations. From reading some (rather snooty) reviews/blogs beforehand I was expecting the hotels to be run down etc but everywhere we stayed was great. Yes, there’s the odd sign of wear and tear (a wonky socket here, a chipped tile there, and basic, beige-tastic train cabins with the odd faulty sink latch) but there was a good standard of cleanliness overall, and the rickety train was just part of the fun. It ain’t The Ritz. Get over it.

   

  Be prepared for a bit of chopping and changing of the schedule. Abu Simbel was a day earlier than expected, and Valley of the Kings had to be moved back a day because of a bit of a sleeper train delay. Dahshur and Saqqara (not on the original trip notes) was also surprisingly offered as an optional extra.

   

  Shop in the bazaar at Aswan rather than Cairo if you prefer a friendlier, more relaxed, less hassle experience.

   

  Be prepared for mad internal flights to and from Abu Simbel. Quite an experience for a nervous flier!

   

  Don’t be put off going during Ramadan. It was never a problem getting food and drink or seeing sights and only enhanced the experience.

  Is there anything else you would like to add?

  The buffets were good, but some of the set meals/train meals provided were a little repetitive, if understandable in catering for the masses. I’ve never eaten as much rice or bread! 

   

  A very well-organised and highly enjoyable trip which exceeded expectations. For our first group holiday experience we were blessed with a great bunch of people who bonded well with each other and with Mohamed, our trip leader. As an introduction to an historic and evocative country I’d highly recommend this trip. Just enough of a sense of adventure but mixed in with plenty of pool and sunbathing time! Wonderful.

   
• 

  peter jenkins

  NILE CRUISE

  

  Written March 2009

  An interesting and worthwhile trip which met our expectations. Not an entirely relaxing holiday due to the regular wake-up calls and some transport delays; however we expected this to be the case and it didn't detract from the holiday. 

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  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  The Pyramids, without a doubt.

  What did you think of your group leader?

  Ahmad was an excellent guide; knowledgable about Egyptology, but also very good at describing modern life in the country.

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  Watch what you eat at the Hotel Basma in Aswan! 13 out of 19 in our group suffered from diahorrea, vomiting and fainting whilst staying there.

  Also, be prepared to book the optional excursions on the first morning! We were presented with the list after breakfast, and given not much time to decide. We weren't quite ready for this, so had to frantically read up in our guide book. Payment for the trips wasn't easy either.

  Is there anything else you would like to add?

  We will definately use Exodus again in the future, and have recommended it to others already.

  Exodus Response

  Thanks for your review!

  Great to hear you had an enjoyable trip - Egypt is a truly fascinating country with an immense history and impressive monuments.

  This trip has a busy itinerary with visits to three important cities with a wealth of sites to take in. There is time in Aswan and on the Nile cruise to relax but you are right, there are often quite a few early starts as early morning is the preferred time to start or day so at least some of the sighseeing is out of the heat of the day.

  Thanks for the information on fellow travellers being ill. Our guides always recommend clients avoid consuming local water and eating salads as our bodies just don't get on with these things. Our local partner only recommends restaurants locally that have been inspected by them and meet required standards, however we have noted that many client were ill on your trip and have dealt with the hotel and local partner wioth regard to this.

  We are happy that you will use Exodus again and if you need any help in the future, please do not hesitate to contact us!

  Best regards - Lesley

  
  

  - Exodus Staff

   

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