SINAI TREK

Our Clients’ Reviews

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  Anne Dugdale

  SINAI TREK

  

  Written November 2011

  Lovely place, lovely people, lovely time. Less walking than the moderate/challenging rating suggests, but hey its supposed to be a holiday, so its OK to relax! 

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  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  Staying at our chef's home camp in the foothills of Mount Moses was a real privilege.  Rising at 1am to walk up Mount Moses in the dark was something I wouldn't never have done on my own, and then at the peak itself to see the desert emerge before us at dawn was one of those 'pinch yourself' moments.

  What did you think of your group leader?

  We had two leaders Mohammed and Ahwad (sorry if the spelling is wrong).  I thought they were a great double act, really complementing each other's strengths.  Mohammed was the expert on history and culture; Ahwad the mountain goat!  Both of them were gentlemen, ensuring we were safe, well cared for at all times and having fun.  I was the only vegetarian in the group, but they always made sure I was very well catered for.

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  Expect to spend a couple of days in a mini bus crossing Egypt, which I found interesting, but other's might not, and expect to spend a couple of days travelling in 4x4s across the desert.  So overall its less walking than the moderate/challenging rating perhaps suggests.  That said the final push up the steps to the top of Mount Moses is challenging.  If you are feeling fit then definately do the optional long walk after Mount Moses (great views). Expect rough camping, compost toilets etc, and in return you'll find yourself away from the crowds, enjoying wonderful mountain landscapes and Egyptian hospitality.

   
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  Becky Mattes

  SINAI TREK

  

  Written April 2011

  A great trip and small group (7). Basil our guide was incredibly attentive and met our needs. We were not shy to ask, which was a good thing. The only uncomfortable part was some very long 4wheel driving that had to be done. The jeep was a bit cramped as we 7 + guide + 2 Bedouins. Basil improved it by securing another truck. But for anyone contemplating this, be prepared for hot and dusty when you are not trekking!  

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  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  Taking in the scenery every step of the way.

  What did you think of your group leader?

  Basil was fabulous, probably one of the best I've had so far with many trips under my belt.

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  3 season sleeping bag is a must. There are loads of mosquitos and ants, so I took with me a bugliner for my bag which was the bomb. I was the only one that didn't get bit to pieces. 1 pole is plenty; half the group used 1 pole and others used none. All the locations are fixed camps with toilets and showers. We had hot water every place we went. Mats were also provided at each location, so no need to take your own.

  Is there anything else you would like to add?

  For the first time on an Exodus trip the Trip Notes were spot on. It seems that they had been revised about 1 week before the trip and everything was accurate, including the detailed itinerary. If you've never been to Egypt before, I highly recommend arriving a few days early or leaving a few days after the group. The hotel is comfortable and a short trip to Giza or North Saqqara. One can also easily do the sites of Cairo (Citadel, Old Cairo, museum) in a day. The hotel did a great job contacting a driver who I hired for 2 full days. And to anyone worried about 'unrest' don't be!! Western media tend to blow everything out of proportion. If anything, it's safer as the military are running the country instead of a corrupt police force. Go For It!!!

   
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  Jonathan Newby

  SINAI TREK

  

  Written April 2011

  The Sinai Trek is a perfect trip to get a feel and see the what this dessert has to offer.  It has a nice and relaxed atmosphere, and I would class the walking more as Moderate than Challenging as the routes can be tailored to peoples ability.   

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  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  Seeing the sunrise from the top of Mount Sinai and interacting with the locals when we headed off the beaten track.

  What did you think of your group leader?

  The group leader was excellent making sure every one was taken care for and got what they wanted from the holiday.

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  Just come with an open flexible mind. The Egyptians are a really friendly and honest people. It is just the touts around the tourist sites that give you hassle, but don't let the few tarnish the rest of the population.

  Is there anything else you would like to add?

  This was a spur of the moment trip and I haven't visited Egypt before. I never expected there to be so much life and activity going on in the dessert!

   
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  Mary Wood

  SINAI TREK

  

  Written October 2010

  A great trip with superb guides. The itinarary was different to the trip notes, which do need to be revised; St Catherine's Monastery is not open on a Friday.  The camp sites were varied and not quite as basic as Exodus suggested.  We had toilets and showers in almost all and usually hot water as well.  I would suggest that Exodus give some thought to changing flights to Sharm rather than Cairo to reduce travel time between Cairo and Sinai.  

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  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  Hathor's Temple, St Catherine's Monastery, Mount Sinai and the varied treks.

  What did you think of your group leader?

  Mohamed and Aourd, our guides, were thoughtful, attentive and informative.  They complemented each other in the way they led and interacted with the group. 

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  I followed the advice of a previous traveller and took dry shampoo with me - not needed.  I also followed the advice of the trip notes and took a thermarest - not needed.  The advice of a previous traveller to take a head torch was a very good one.

   
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  David Anderson

  SINAI TREK

  

  Written March 2010

  A very enjoyable trip with a good group - all 14 of us travelling under single status - which meant healthy interchange and banter.  Age range from 26 to 63 - most in 30s & 40s.  Good value for money.  There was a rawness and remoteness to the trip which gave it a much more solitary feel than the treks to Everest Basecamp, Kilimanjaro or the Inca Trail have which may be more challenging but are nevertheless processional because of numbers. 

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  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  Alone in the desert mountains of Sinai trekking along the rocky Beduoin trails - living with the Beduoin, seeing how they live and trying to improve life in a harsh environment - and sleeping under the stars in non-polluted air.  Loved it.

  What did you think of your group leader?

  Having been on around 20 such trips, local tour leaders are a variable feast and are a matter of luck and a product of the culture of the country they come from.  Those from Nepal, Vietnam, Brazil, Tanzania were truly excellent; Agentina, China, Myanmar, India were good to OK; and some are either overly familiar (Costa Rica), symptoms of Jack the Lad (a different Egypt trip, Cambodia), or even arrogant (Peru, Jordan).  Basil, our tour guide was honest, diligent, professional and humble (a very rare Egyptian tourist industry trait) - but not the best organised when it came to pre-planning or advanced notice.  He was a good leader -I'd give him seven out of ten though.  

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  You need to be fit and able to manage to trek for 6 to 8 hours averaging 3 miles per hour over rocky terrain - if you can't then the main group [we were 14 in total] will be held back and the envisaged itinerary will be compromised and changed downwards to accommodate trekkers unable to match this standard.  This happend on this trip - not to overly serious detriment - but I wanted to be stretched by doing the whole itinerary and this did not happen [I am a fit 61 year old].

  Is there anything else you would like to add?

  The trip needs fall back measures for those who fall seriously off the pace - to allow the more able to complete the whole intended itinerary.  12 out of the 14 were ill to some extent - but this is probably par for the course in Egypt [I ate well and was OK]. This does not detract however from a very enjoyable trip.

   
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  Rebecca Shaw

  SINAI TREK

  

  Written November 2009

  An excellent trip with superb guides. Although the trip notes were revised (following previous customer feedback) they bore little resemblence to the far superior schedule we enjoyed. Our two guides (Mahmoud & Awad) were thoughtful, attentive and constantly made sure that all walking was at the appropriate level for the group and that everything was to our satisfaction wherever possible. I would suggest that Exodus give some thought to changing flights to Sharm rather than Cairo to reduce travel time between Cairo and Sinai and further enhance the holiday. 

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  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  For the unitiated such as myself, it would have been helpful for recommendations from exodus to pack items such as a blow up mattress, dry shampoo, a bladder and a head torch rather than just specifying "torch"

  Is there anything else you would like to add?

  Exodus need to re-write their trip notes so that they truly reflect the holiday which was far superior than they suggested. Their UK staff also need to be better informed about all aspects of the holiday.

   
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  Anne Andrews

  SINAI TREK

  

  Written March 2009

  This fell sadly short of Exodus' usual standard.  The local company was not supervised and let them down badly. 

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  What was the most inspirational moment of your trip?

  Beauty of early morning sun on the mountains

  What did you think of your group leader?

  A well intentioned very young man who had been dropped into a task he was completely ill eaquipped to fulfill

  Do you have any advice for potential travellers?

  Check very carefully that this trip has been reassessed and reorganised and will be carefuly supervised before signing on. Its a stunning area well worth a visit

  Is there anything else you would like to add?

  Some Exodus trips are excellent. Such a pity they do not seem to be concerned to maintain a consistent standard.

  Exodus Response

  Thank you for the feedback on your recent trip. I agree that the impressive Sinai landscape in the morning sun is a beautiful sight!

  Unfortunately there was a change in local tourist police travel advice shortly before this trip departed which meant that the trip itinerary had to be changed. Although the amended itinerary was well planned, a number of the trekking days were more difficult than those included in the original itinerary. We have been working with our local partner in Egypt for over 15 years and the local guides are very experienced and know the area well. We were therefore sorry to hear that a number of days were more difficult than detailed. On feedback forms the group all commented that Mahmud, the main tour leader (not the assistant) was excellent, but he should have taken control of the group, especially when it became apparent that some people were finding it difficult, and we regret that he did not.

  We have written to all clients acknowleging that there were areas for improvement on this particular trip and vouchers have been sent to everyone. 

  The local travel restrictions have now been lifted and future trips can revert back to include treks in Sarabit El Khadem and across the Forest of Pillars.

  I would like to thank you again for all your feedback and assure you that futrure treks will operate to the usual Exodus standard. This is a beautiful area and well worth a visit as you say!

  
  

  - Exodus Staff