I just got back from Egypt a few months ago and must say it was perhaps my favorite trip ever (tied with Kenya), and I've been to 30 countries. I think the most important thing to know is that this is not going to be some posh and pampered experience like most ocean cruises. The beauty of this trip is stepping back in time and letting your imagination wander. We spent $6000 USD for two on a "5 star" river cruise that included most of what is talked about in this video. We did luck out and got a cabin at the front of the ship. As far as safety goes, I had real concerns before going but we had no trouble at all. As with most countries, you just need to know how to say no. I am very glad I went to Egypt and would highly recommend it. Just keep in mind that it is not going to be a luxury cruise.
Wow, as an enthusiast for history I was considering taking a week long Nile cruise for $900 (flying from Europe to Hurghada or Marsa Alam and starting from there). If a cruise for $3000 per person was not luxurious experience I am hesitant what to expect from my offer.. even though I have been to Egypt!
@@leoprg5330 I suppose everyone's idea of "luxury" is different. If you are looking for true 5-star luxury, like you might find in a major modern city, then maybe you should skip the Nile cruise thing. For me, Egypt was not so much about "luxury" as it was seeing real history and experiencing one of Earth's treasures first-hand. And I'm sure we paid the "rich American" price.
Most of the boats are very similar in amenities and features. The price only seems to make a difference in quality of food, guides, things like flights to Abu Simbel vs a drive. Otherwise, you see the same things and do the same things (given the same length of time). Other differences that make a huge difference in price are flights from Cairo and back and private tours in Cairo. @@leoprg5330
We took pretty much the same trip with Viking in March and it was the experience of a lifetime. While we found the pace to be quit hurried a times and we did not get to spend as much time cruising on the Nile as I would have liked, we never would have been able to savor all those wonderful sights if we had not hustled a bit so it was all worth it in the end. Our trip was on Viking Osiris and for some reason our vessel was never tied up next to any other boats so we managed to get a good night's sleep after our long days. We limited our consumption of food and drink to what was offered on the ship and in the selected hotels and lunch spots so we managed to avoid any problems with the food. The high levels of security at our hotels, in airports and on the roads is disquieting but made me content to be traveling in a 'bubble'. Remember to be careful about what you photograph.
I also traveled in March 2023 with Viking on the RA which has a maximum passenger count of 52, so you become acquainted all of your fellow passengers. Our cabins were spacious suites. We were split into two coaches and remained with the same group and guide through all of the included tours only mixing groups for some of the additional tours we chose. We had a similar experience as @mikinnyc8559 and I have to stress that it was a wonderful experience and I would highly recommend taking the Viking River Cruise. Our guides were fabulous, fun, caring and extremely knowledgeable Egyptologists. In addition to the highlights Gary mentioned in the video, 2 of my favorites were the hot air balloon ride at sunrise at Luxor and the light show at the Philae Temple. Also the visit to a Nubian village home was a treat. Following our cruise we chose the post cruise excursion to Jordan which was also a great choice.
Nice video. Let me add some other serious problems: 1. Many kids who just finish college celebrate their achievement by taking a Nile cruise. Some cruises are therefore "age restricted" in order to allow people to sleep. I learned that the hard way, as my neighbors spent the whole night singing, listening to loud music and talking aloud. Worse, cuise management did nearly nothing about it. 2. Many Egyptians DO NOT speak English well, or even at all, including those who work in turistic areas or resorts. Even in a 5-star resort I had this problem. Not only that, quality of service to tourists is often found lacking. 3. Egyptians call nearly anything a 5-star accomodation or cruise ship, so forget this star-rating while in Egypt. Always trust previous customers' reviews instead.
I literally just came back from Egypt after doing almost the identical tour and cruise that you did. I am telling my friends that it is an absolute cultural punch in the face ....in an amazing way. I too had wanted to see the pyramids from the time I first saw them on television as a little girl. Although I was thrilled to see them, there were so many other sights that I absolutely loved...it is a wonderful place and I can honestly say it is probably my most favourite place next to China. I agree with your comments on the way they tether the boats...it was disappointing. My favourite activity was sitting on the sundeck when we were sailing..watching the activity on the banks of the river. I was at the top and back of the boat, and I had the oily smell from the engines coming into my cabin.....oh well, it was a minor annoyance overall.
Hello Sir: Our family of 4 is planning same 3 night/ 4day Nile cruise from Aswan to Luxor. How much tip are you excepted to pay ? How much do they charge extra for sites like (Abu simbel/ Luxor Temple / Edfu ? Should we buy own site tickets or cruise operator will ?
I ve been to Egypt last March. I used hand sanitizer & bottled water, no ice, just whole fruits, no fruit salad. I had no problems at all, I ate in many different places and tasted delicious food, including deep fried ones. Just go & enjoy 🤩
Been fortunate enough to cruise the Nile twice, Luxor to Aswan & Aswan across Lake Nasser. Loved them both. We had a drink at the Old Cataract hotel & sitting at the next table was Omar Sharif who was filming nearby.
I'm basically a homebody. I have never been a big traveler and don't like crowds. I find the same enjoyment from watching videos or looking at pictures. But I do appreciate your videos and advice, although I'll never have any practical use for it, I still find it interesting.
This review makes me want to go back, but also makes me so, so glad I went to Egypt when I did. In spring of 2013, there were very few tourists. At one point, my friend and I ended up in the Great Pyramid alone!
In 2000 I visited friends who were living in Cairo. I did a Nile cruise and loved it. The sites we visited were not crowded at all and there were many guards around to keep tourists safe. On New Year’s Eve, my friends and I sailed on a falucca on the Nile. It was quite chilly. I loved Egypt and the people there and am so glad I visited when I did.
I did a trip on a Dahabiya last year that was definitely very different to this one - far fewer sights and a much slower pace. I absolutely loved it and it had most (if not all) of the upsides in this video, and none of the downsides. I think because the boats are so much smaller they can take different routes so it's not so busy on water or at the sights, but you're still in a bubble, albeit a much smaller one (there were only 16 on our boat). Definitely recommend to anyone watching this that wants to go but would prefer a quieter trip or slower place.
I definitely wouldn't recommend going to Egypt outside of a tour scenario. The police and security are incredibly heavy handed and can be extremely intimidating. We were just taking pictures in a food market and some plain clothed police came and put my wife and me in a van. They took us to the police station and questioned us aggressively for an hour. They confiscated my camera and kept our passports for 48 hours. My wife was in tears and they just kept shouting at us. We met some other tourists that were going through the same experience. Been travelling for 35 years and our time in Egypt was pretty much the worst. Wish we had gone on a tour like this. Like Gary said, the bubble will protect you from this.
That's too bad you feel that way. I just came back from a 4 night cruise on the Nile. We had no issue with noise and I'm an extremely light sleeper. It was beautiful cruising down the Nile at a nice pace. A couple of times we did see lots of other cruise ships but it was a chance to check them out. We weren't racing and many passed us by. When we were docked the boats were 4 or 5 deep. In the evening up on top of the boat it was quiet despite this. When we had to walk through the lobbies of 4 or 5 other boats to get to land it was an opportunity to see the lobbies, and themes, of other boats. Not one of the 6 of us got sick. We too were very careful about the water and salad. The food of the ship we were on was great and always lots of choices. I totally agree about the aggressiveness of the vendors and he described perfectly how to deal with them. The sites we were able to see and experience was incredible and I really can't say enough good things about cruising the Nile, the tour guides and the sites. I didn't remember it being very busy but I guess it was at some points, but who cares, YOU'RE IN EGYPT!!!!
@@teriallen4835 Its strange to hear completely difference experiences between your trip and his. Could you take a guess as to why your experience were so different? Different cruise line? Different travel dates? I'm especially interested in knowing more on why you did not hear any noises (even though you are a light sleeper), and he had to barracade himself in the bathroom to diminish the noise, while wearing ear plugs.
@@CosmicCleric It was a different boat but this style is all pretty much the same. Perhaps it was where our room was. We were #15, I forget which floor. We were on the boat for 4 nights at the beginning of May.
We did a 5 nights Nile cruise this summer, as part of our 16 days tour in Egypt and we loved it. We enjoyed it so much that I think it was probably the best part of our trip and clearly one of the best trip in my life. We traveled with our 7 yo son and the staff on the cruise was amazing with him, everyone was very caring and trying to make him laugh. Our son really enjoyed the pool and all the excursions. The only issue we had was the extreme heat, but we managed to survive and enjoy everything. In the summer, there were almost no one on the cruise and not many ships around.
Hi Amelia! We are planning a trip to Egypt also with our seven year old boy! We are thinking of doing a cruise while there. Can I ask what Cruise Line or Cruise Ship you used? Thank you. Ron
Gary... I've traveled the world, but only been to Africa once. I'm amazed that you enjoyed the trip, because to me, the whole experience looked like a nightmare on steroids. The nights sleeping on the bathroom floor would have caused me to get off the boat..... poor sleep due to noise, fumes and sewer gas are no way to enjoy a vacation. Then the crowds.... I've done Europe in August and know what long line are like, but the crowds you filmed were so horrendous that there's no way you can appreciate the experience. I thought that taking the family to the Louvre in August was bad, but the Valley of the Kings looked like the crush of a New York city subway. Then there's the "in your face" street merchants that are everywhere. In Morocco, I was often surrounded by 3, 4 or more men hawking everything from fake jewelry, rugs, drugs, sex... Yes, the sights are spectacular, but the trip you filmed totally turned me off to a trip to Egypt and a river cruise in particular. I was shocked the first time I watched the video, so I re-watched it two more times, and still have the same opinion. I'll probably do a small family tour with a private guide. My Dept of the Army colleagues have all visited Egypt that way and seem to have avoided many of the issues that surfaced during your excursion. By the way, I love your videos and watch all of them more than once, because they are so well done and educational. Thank you, Luke an Army doctor, now living in Arizona.
I went and the Egyptian people are really nice but the merchants, stay away from them! One guy tried to steal my son's diving watch under the guise of "trading".
Did a similar trip way back in 1988 and it sounds like nothing has changed in terms of the perils and concerns in all of that time except that the number of boats has increased 10 fold. There are plenty of issues but it is a true lifetime experience and if you are properly prepared and people follow your advice there is nowhere on earth like it. Such a rewarding experience that still often creeps back into my consciousness thirty five years later. Thanks Gary for reminding me of a brilliant trip. My tip, learn Welsh or Gallic! Confuses the hell out of the traders.
My in laws just got back from a Nile River cruise and it went pretty poorly over all. My FIL was targeted (unsuccessfully) by pickpockets multiple times, which is always a thrill. At one point the entirety of the crew and passengers had food poisoning, my MIL, while sick, held it together for several days until the flight home where she had to be met at the airplane by the paramedics and wound up in the hospital. Both in laws are used to being harassed by vendors but said the level of harassment was of an unprecedented scale and really soured the experience. I’ll still go on a Nile cruise but not at the bottom end like my in laws chose
Aw, that's awful. There is nothing worse than food poisoning it can totally wipe a person out and on holiday to top it off. Hope they're doing better. Those bloody touts , the Egyptian government should do something to stop the harassment. Surely they can see it affects the country's image overseas?
I took a Dahabia on the same route. I'd HIGHLY recommend that option, even though it costs a bit more. It's a far smaller boat, < 20 passengers and luxurious cabins. We got to know every other passenger on the boat over meals, which were delicious, 5-stars. Dahabia are able to completely avoid the cruise ship crowds by arriving at the sites at off-times. Dahabia also took us to locations cruise ships can't land at.
This was a most informative video and certainly opened my eyes beyond the brochures to the reality of river cruising on the Nile. You comments were excellent, well balance and very informative! Thank you for taking the time to record and post your video. I am still sitting on the fence to take the trip but the fence certainly has a more realistic look
Thank you for these two videos, Gary. Lovely to see the shot of you in front of Abu Simbel. The point about the importance of the Egyptologist is so true, and it was very useful to learn about the state of the ships and the noise. I agree such a shame that the actual cruising is so short...
I would love to cruise the Nile someday! It's great to have some real practical tips. We brought a really great little water filter with us when we were traveling in an area with risk of getting stomach illness from the water. We could pump tap water through it and refill water bottles to carry with us, it ended up being one of the smartest things we packed for that trip!
I did the Nile cruise in 2003 and didn't experience the crowds like in this video. I think I would have hated to go now. There were not as many cruisers on the river so we didn't have to walk through other boats to get to land. It seems terribly overcrowded and over-polluted now and I'm so glad I went at the time I did! It was a real pleasurable experience with no issues whatsoever. I also did a hot air balloon ride and it was fab!
@@jaredolson6189😮😮😮 What line were you on? Sounds too good to be true. Did you have it “all inclusive” as he mentioned? And did all of your excursions have the same Egyptologist? How in the world did you find such a deal?! 🎉
Thank you for posting this honest review. There is no way that I would ever cruise that route with any line, even as nice as AmaWaterways looked. Spending $10,000 on a bucket list trip like that, only to have that horrible experience is just crazy.
the cruise inkl. flights in egypt costs about 1200USD. Add cairo Hotel and flight to from US 1500USD. Thats it. From Europe the package from Frankfurt inkl cruise and a week in 5* Hotel at the red sea is under 1000€ in midseason. its one of the cheapest cruises you can get.
Gary I was exactly like you on my first trip to Egypt - militantly OCD about what I ate, cleaning my hands and not drinking local water, juices etc. I also was 1 of 5 out of 21 who didn't get sick. I bought myself the tour back in 2008 as a birthday gift to myself so I wasn't going to waste a min being sick 🤣 I love Egypt and can't wait to one day go back.
I was there for 25 days from April 2-26. I did and saw almost everything. Such an amazing trip! I spent 13K on the trip, but I also included Bahrain and UAE which extended to 45 days. The vendors are the biggest annoyance as well as the tipping culture which was just all so draining on you emotionally, psychologically, and financially.
We went on an 11 day tour very similar to yours a few years ago by Audley Tours. It was life changing. I recommend researching the weather for your time of year. Parts of the year are comfortable, others beastly hot. Neither my wife nor I got any stomach issues. You could eat anything on the actual cruise. Everything was fresh and the water was filtered. We drank sealed bottled water on the go. The few on our tour that got ill ate under cooked stall food at the markets. I gave $1 to a baker in a market and pointed around his stall. He filled a heaping plate with cookies and treats. They were very good. Bring lots of $1 bills. Look at the current exchange rate. This is a lot of money for the locals. They will cover most any small tip. The Nile river is amazingly calm. We adjusted to the security. At one point in Edfu, my wife got overheated. The locals sprang up and helped us both selflessly. Learn Yes / No / Please and Thank you. Those few words go very far. In the valley of the kings, buy the photo pass.
My husband and I have visited Egypt (specifically Luxor) 20 times between 1993 and 2011. A single visit might be fun, but you do miss several wonderful sites - Ramsess III temple, Ramasseum, Valley of the Nobles, the Workers' Village. Travel to other parts of the country whilst there is simple, using the railway. By-the-way, the best place in the Cataract Hotel to have afternoon tea is on the balcony.
For $9-12k, I would expect President Sisi to come on down and greet me at some point. LOL. While cruising is indeed a great thing, sometime a personalized, all inclusive land tour is better as you can see more things and then do a two day deluxe Nile cruise for the experience. A deluxe land tour with personal driver and a one or two night cruise will come out to about $6k and it is more flexible so you can avoid the crowds most of the time. The sleeping on the bathroom floor and the air pollution from all the ship generators and engines is also a bad deal when you are paying $9-12k for this river cruise.
we did this tour last November, absolutely amazing and most of all the weather was cooler than in the summer month, totally safe the vendors were a real pain, our ship was very quiet and the food including salads were exellent. something you must see and do
Remember one of my first visits (Pre the First Gulf War) Stayed in the Semiramis Intercontinental in Cairo for 3 nights then sailed from Cairo to Aswan. Only the ships with the smallest drafts could do the full length trip due to the water levels. And just about 30 passengers on board. It was almost two weeks cruising the Nile, stopping anywhere at night, just dropping the gangplank and a guard at the bottom. Saw sights you don't normally see. Travelling to Tel el -Amarna on a cart pulled by a tractor was "interesting". Loved it so much I did the reverse trip the following year. Fantastic Country, Fantastic people & something everyone should experience at least once in their lives.
Actually I’m in shock😮This is not Egypt anymore as it was 45 years ago when i sailed this open air museum 3 times .It seems that money doesn’t make the world go round but tears it down .Grateful for your report,I rather stay home with a beautiful book, out of the noise and the heat of the tourist business.😊🌈🙏🏼
I visited Egypt in 2009 with Tauck Tours. Things were different then. It was before the Arab Spring. I also was on a Nile Cruise but not as many days as your trip. Mine was 4 days the other days were land based. I got into Cairo a couple days early. Though I had some help from Tauck to get me to the hotel which was The Mena House overlooking the Pyramids. I remember this crazy highway leaving the airport. I don't believe there were painted lanes. If there were no one stayed in them. There were also people on the side of the highway. Not in cars but walking on it. A car passed us so close that he knocked off the side mirror. Meanwhile the driver was saying no worries. Like this is a normal occurrence. I was happy to get to the hotel in one piece. My next adventure was going to the Egyptian Museum by taxi from the Mena House. The driver had his windows open which was suffocating me from the exhaust. Rule number one about Egypt smog control. There are no rules for Egypt smog control. Catalytic converters aren't installed in any cars in Egypt. Basically a taxi ride is like smoking a carton of cigarettes. If you think it is scary from Cairo International Airport to your hotel then you have never been in a taxi in Cairo. Just don't look outside the cab because you will think you will be involved in a massive car collision. Just like on the highway you are inches away from a crash. It's every vehicle for itself. Also crossing the street at Tahir Square requires agility and quickness. There are no lights for pedestrians to cross at least that's the way it was in 2009 One of the reasons I got to Cairo a couple of days early is I wanted to go to the Egyptian Museum on my own as our tour was only going to spend a 1/2 day there and I wanted to leisurely look at it on my own pace. You couldn't bring a camera into the museum then even with a fee. I had a camera phone. It certainly wasn't up to the great quality camera in the iPhones made now. I wish I could have taken photos in the museum but they were very strict in 2009. You couldn't sneak one in and if you did you certainly would have been thrown out. Obviously if you were connected or making some kind of documentary they would let you take photos or film in the museum. After going to the museum. I ate at a restaurant near Tahir Square that was recommended from the guide book I had. I knew I was taking a chance for stomach issues. More about that later. From watching the video I can't believe the amount of tourists in Egypt now. It certainly wasn't like that in 2009. Though I did take the trip in October of that year. I remember how hot it was. It was very uncomfortable. Most people visit Egypt in late Fall and Winter when it isn't as hot. Our Egyptologist was talking in front of one of the temples. I just couldn't stand there and listen to him because it felt like 48 degrees C or 120 degrees F. Where did all those Nile Cruise ships come from. I know we had to walk through several ships like you did but there are so many more ships now. Maybe one of the factors was not as many people visited Egypt because of the terrorism. Hard to believe but only 12 years before I visited was murder of 70 at the Temple of Hatshepsut. 60 of those murdered were foreign tourists. Even as recently as 2019 an IED was detonated outside the Egyptian Museum. There was also an incident in 2018 by the Giza pyramids. I think now they have really stepped up security as they suffered with no tourists during the COVID pandemic. With the new museum opening at Giza it is a top priority of the Egyptian government to keep people safe. Don't let fear keep you away. I ate everything aboard the Nile cruise even the the salads. I also ate everything at the hotel buffets they had set up for our tour group. I did feel very queasy at times. I would say about 1/2 our group maybe more came down with issues. Some so bad that they couldn't leave the ship for excursions. Look the problem is no matter what you eat at some point the animal or vegetable absorbed the water from the Nile. The Nile is not only a river. It is also a bathroom for many who live along it putting it nicely. That is also the case where anything is grown or farmed. There are many organisms in the water that our body has no way of dealing with. If you were born or raised in Cairo or Luxor you have the advantage of thousands of years of being able to combat those organisms. If you are coming from Europe, USA or Australia you do not. A couple of other things. On your trip you were able to visit so many more tombs than we did. And you visited some of the best at Valley of the Kings. We went into King Tut's tomb and I think one else. I wish we could have gone into more of them. They were very restrictive because they said the oxygen that we exhaled would damage the walls of tomb. They were also more expensive. Today going into Seti 1 only costs $40 USD. Why are they all cheaper now. Simply because they need the tourists dollars. Nefertari's tomb is $60 USD and that is the most expensive in VK. Finally I should add I eventually had stomach problems myself. It was the worst time to have them. At the airport on the day I was leaving. I visited the Royal Throne many times. I didn't fell well on the plane either. If you have a chance to go to Egypt take it. It is simply an amazing place. I have traveled many places in the world. You will simply be astounded what a civilization created 4500-5000 years ago.
In January 2020 we went to Egypt with Tauck. It was Tauck’s first tour to Egypt since Arab Spring. We had four nights on the Nile with land base before and after the Nile cruise. My husband and I never felt sick. We were assured that the food was safe and that the kitchens had been checked. On the ship we were never tendered at night or during the day. Valley of the Kings was after hours, so it was just our tour group and we were split into two groups. It was sad that covid hit when it did. It looks like tourism has returned.
I hitch-hiked through Europe for 3 months when I was 17. By myself. That was 50+ years ago. Have had many, many world-wide adventures since and have always wanted to see the Pyramids but these days am perfectly happy to travel via RU-vid vids from the comfort of my living room. Crowds, pollution, heat, tummy bugs, not to mention paying through the nose for the privilege … nahh.
Hi Gary, Thank you so much for a great video on Egypt and Cruising the Nile. This is one of our bucket list trips so hearing the good, bad and ugly really allows us to make the right decision for us. 😍💝
Wow. I couldn't get over the crowds of tourists. I went to Egypt in 1976 and there were hardly any tourists back then. Cairo has spread so much. When we went to the pyramids, it was quite a long drive from the city and now it's so close! It was just the two of us going into the great pyramid with a guide. The night train from Luxor to Cairo back then was very, very basic and not very clean. How things have changed.
I went to Egypt around the same time as you and it was fantastic. Very basic, but no crowds. Looking at the crowds in these pictures I don't think I shall return. Sad.
Excellent video!! I must cruise to Egypt and the Nile. My mother visited Egypt 40 years ago and she literally never stopped talking about the fabulous time she had. Thank you for sharing great tips as well.
First, thank you for sharing. Your report definitely give me my final verdict..not to travel there. Now my doubts about not doing a nile cruise and visting the ancient sites are answered. I am missing travelling in the 70s 80s and early 90s..where travelling in such destinations are less crowded and you feel great having a nice adventure. Now overcrowding, troubles over troubles everywhere and in every situations. It is not a great world anymore..it is more like pandora's box has been opened!
Thanks Gary. Your vlog just answered several questions for me!!! Had no idea there were so many boats sailing the Nile, but then I imagine the vast majority of tourists are doing a river cruise rather than a road trip. Your comments about the toilets will most likely turn my partner off the trip unfortunately and I can't not tell her!!!!
We did the Nile cruise from Luxor to Aswan and visited Abu Simbel in 2002 and a few years later we did a road trip, cairo to el amarna, ( including Memphis and Sakkara ) , it didn’t seem to be so crowded as in this video, and the guides were good at chasing away the street vendors and beggars! They were some of the best holidays I’ve ever had, a childhood dream come true! If you are interested in history ( and Egypt ) then go for it !
Egypt is one of my favorite countries. I have been there three times, and hopefully this winter will be the fourth one. I traveled all over Egypt on my own and never had any problem. Granted the salesmen are pushy, but otherwise, everything has been great.
i spent 3 weeks in egypt in june 2021, one of my most memorable trips ever. i was very lucky as there were few people, i was able to be alone in the kings chamber. will never forget that. i don't do travel groups. i plan based on my interests, and almost always use a local guide. one of the most memorable parts was that i hired a car to take me from Luxor to Hurghada, with a stopover in Dendera, my driver was a local of Dendera and was fascinating to get his perspective.
I’m planning on visiting Cairo with my 21 year old son in January. Did you use a local guide there and if so, I would be grateful for their details. Many thanks, Kandy
@@kandykiedaisch5136 i mostly relied on the consigliere at the hotels i stayed in. they recommended me the various guides i used. i'm sorry i don't remember the name of the hotel where i stayed in cairo it was quite small but was literally right across the street from the entrance to the pyramids. in luxor i stayed at the sofitel winter palace, they made the arrangement for a private car for me to hurghada. one last piece of advice, DO NOT take a drone, it will be confiscated at the airport and likely not returned. i chose june because it is off season (quite hot), january will likely be very crowded
We are doing the Viking Nile River trip in February of 2024. These tips are perfect to know. Viking has armed guards for security, and they do a wonderful job of looking after you on exertions.
@@jessicap.9611 the crowds were intense as there was some kind of holiday at that time. While warm, it was not that bad. The biggest hassle is the merchants who are in your face wants you to buy items.
I went in September on AmaDahlia, my room was towards the back. It was quiet, never docked more than 3 ship deep and crowds were small. Security was very evident everywhere. Taking pictures of police or army is pretty much frowned upon most countries. The “bubble” was important. You need to be in shape for this trip to experience it fully.
Aww, what a great civilisation, fabulous monuments & amazing statues 😍 I love Egypt 🇪🇬 I’ve been travelling for work all over the world & this country took my heart ♥️ delicious food & so sweet people. I believe all the challenges you’ve mentioned in your video is not a big issue for a trip like this. I remember when I was in London walking around Oxford street. Then at 9:30pm I started looking for the nearest underground or subway to go back to my hotel where the last train should be at 10pm. Anyway, for my bad luck there was a crime & someone was killed inside the the nearest station to me. Police officers surrounded 3 or 4 other stations around the area so I was running with other people like crazy in the street for 20 minutes to reach the one station the police officers told us we can use. Thankfully, I got the last train at 9:55pm. I will never forget that day ever in my life. Well, I said to my self what if I was inside t the station when the shooting crime happened?? I could’ve been killed now 😅. So, just remember everywhere in the world there is good & bad. There is no perfect place on earth. This is only in heaven 😂😂
Went 40 years ago with Kuoni. 3 days in Cairo then flew to Aswan. 10 day cruise back to within a hours drive of Cairo. We went in August, very hot but no humidity and more importantly no other tourists just the 70 on our boat. Absolutely fantastic. A must see is the Son et Lumiere in Karnak. Wanted to do the trip again in 2020 but obviously couldn't - huge disappointment.
Just returned from a Nile cruise with Titan. Boat was adults only Egyptologist and tour guide were brilliant. Boat noise not bad, but I always take earplugs. Food in hotel and boat very good. Didn't notice 'racing boats', in fact spent time just enjoying watching the Nile. Boats pass occasionally. Probably best to avoid peak time, same as anywhere. Overall I accepted any shortcomings, as this was a very special place to visit, and loved it.
One thing that should be mentioned: when the ships are tethered together noise isn’t the biggest problem. We had the thickest exhaust fumes coming into our cabin all night long. It was like sitting behind the exhaust pipe of a running diesel motor. Very, very unpleasant.
This video reminds me of my time backpacking through India--the persistent vendors, the pollution, the dodgy water. Still, Egypt is a bucket list item for me, so I'll go eventually, but with a guided tour, not a river cruise.
We did a very similar itinerary some years back, cruising on the Oberoi Philae - which was absolutely fantastic. The boat, the food, the PRIVATE docks ( huge advantage ), the excursions - everything was top top notch. Only 6 people to each guide, and not a smidge of the shits the whole time. In Cairo, we stayed at The Four Seasons The Residence, which I highly recommend. Wasn't cheap but then you only get what you pay for...............
I'm so happy I found this video! I did this trip in 2001, just before 9-11. We went with Trafalgar and it was surprisingly similar. In fact, I think most of the difference were time related. I loved you mentioning the places along with your video. I have so many pictures, and did my best to note on them where they were taken, but this was before digital pictures and I was 21, so I have so many I just wasnt sure of; but recognized them in your videos. Such a great trip. TY for triggering my memories. I think I'll go dig out that photo album and rewatch a few times and update some pictures!
Excellent Vlog , those crowds & congestion are a big turn off . Your video quality is first rate considering the tough conditions and heat. Thanks. Those historic areas when shown on documentaries are always clear of tourists !
Yes the crowds are a huge turnoff. I went twice to Egypt after they'd had major political upsets. The historic sites were almost entirely empty. I guess I won't have that opportunity again. After seeing this I have to say that a Nile cruise doesn't interest me that much. The cost of Gary's tour was really high and awfully touristy.
Interesting. Our Nile cruise couldn't have been more different. The actual cruising part went off without a hitch (and we were managing 31 schoolchildren!) and we enjoyed the cruise part enormously. Your piece seemed to concentrate on off-ship experiences with all the hassles entailed with that. Whatever alternative there is, is still going to have all of these, and more! That IS what Egypt is.
I enjoyed watching this, it's yet another recent RU-vid video that has put me off ever visiting Egypt. I am happy to make do looking at other people's photos 😅
Gary, I think this is one of your best videos as I liked the honest good, and bad review format. We have traveled on AmaWaterways four times in the past and this is on our bucket list. Thank you
Did this trip over 20 years ago with a river cruise ship and it was super cheap combined with a one-week-stay in a hotel in Hurghada. Wouldn't repeat it nowadays: even 20 years ago, the vendors were 'too much' and , even being with my then boyfriend, I got harassed immensely, always felt 'a hand on my bum' when we did a stroll. Last but not least, we ended up with a horrible diarrhea which didn't leave us for weeks after the trip. Could have been from the hotel in Hurghada. Anyway, Kom Ombo and Edfu were super magic, esp. with less people than nowadays
Hubby and I are booked on our Egypt and Jordan holiday for February 2024. I already knew about the concerns involved in Egypt travel and was looking for the best and safest option. I’m thrilled with what I have booked, a presidents tour hosted by the president of the small tour company we are travelling with….I’m positive this will work well in our favour. Pricey…yup, but worth it. It’s about 10,000 Canadian dollars each, includes flights, hotels, river cruise and all tours (including Abu Simmel) , internal flights and a trip to Jordan (Dead Sea, Petra, Wadirum). Very excited. Really appreciate your insights.
Great video and summary of the ups and downs of a trip like this to Egypt. My wife and I have done the Nile trip to Aswan and onwards to Abu Simbel. We have also spent a lot winters in Luxor. We did the trip again from Luxor to Aswan in a real 5 star boat and it was exceptional so worth researching in detail the boat. On our second trip we got a shared taxi back from Aswan to Luxor. A few things that you might have mentioned. When was your trip? In my opinion January or February is best because of the heat. Its really too hot to go later. People with mobility issues should note this sort of trip visiting sites can be tough going if not impossible. Concerning aggressive vendors this is a big negative and something the Egyptian tourist authorities should try to get to grips with as it is counter productive to tourism - best advice rather than "La, la shokran" is simply do not engage with them - avoid eye contact. You don't mention the issue with sexual harassment of women in particular. This can be a significant issue and I totally agree with your comments about staying vigilant and within your tour bubble. Finally the wonderful Egyptologists who can add such a lot to a trip. On one of our journeys at the end of a week long trip an English lady in our party refused to give a few dollars as a tip to our guides. I felt ashamed as they had given there all and made the trip so memorable for us.
My Mother and Father in law did this when they had the shooting there. 1997 Luckily for them their itinerary was swapped around just before they left UK. In the right place at the right time.
If you decide to go again, I'd recommend trying out a cruise on a Dahabiya. It might be interesting to compare and contrast it with the experience you had on this trip. A point in its favor, it's quiet at night.
@@binky2301 Yes. I'm not knocking the floating hotel; it's not to my taste but I do understand the appeal to people that are used to cruising and like the familiar atmosphere. I did feel bad for him a few times in the video though when he was talking about things like the engine noise, the crowds, having to walk through other ships and having those ships blocking the views. Then there were things in his follow up video, like when he mentions the entertainment having the fake touristy vibe to it. None of these were an issue on the Dahabiya. The whole experience felt cozy, peaceful, and authentic. Also addressing his follow up video; the food for the entire trip was all Egyptian, top-notch quality prepared fresh on the ship. We had an Egyptologist with us as well who was extremely knowledgeable and interesting. As a bonus, we even got to dock at a few extra sites and have them all to ourselves because they are too small to accommodate the larger boats.
we went around 10 years ago and it was fabulous. Our boat wasn't as nice as his and the food on his looked better. And we never experienced crowds of boats, not even in Luxor. I got sick one day and had anti-biotics with me. The crowds were not bad at all. We slept well every night, no noise. The only negatives were we left Cairo around 3am and we were in Luxor until 10 pm waiting for our bus. We flew down the Nile to pick up the boat in the middle of nowhere. But we had a great guide and that made the difference. Do it.
Sorry you were unable to sleep well Gary that can seriously affect a trip and your health. We would be uneasy about safety visiting Egypt but good to learn the cruse and sights had security. What an amazing location truly once in a lifetime visit.
I ve been to Egypt and saw zero reason to worry about safety, really. I had already learned that from Egyptian friends. U can go calmly and be no more vigilant than we are anywhere else.
I had the honor to visit Egypt almost 20 years ago, and it is nice to see that the general itinerary is largely unchanged. We went in early May, and luckily it was incredibly not crowded with tourists in all of the sites. Seeing the very crowded scenes in your video is so unsettling. We were on the Sonesta Sun Goddess for the Nile River Cruise, and we had a lovely time. The side-by-side stacking of the ships at dock was a little odd, but I had read about it prior in a book guide (this was well before online resources were really any that good), so we were prepared. My favorite place in all of Egypt is also Deir el-Bahri (the mortuary temple of Hatshepsut), and I wish we could have spent more time there. I agree that good Egyptologist local guides can make the journey amazing. All of ours were top level.
Thank you so much. The visuals I. This video were spectacular ultra. The tombs and temples and pyramids. Wo you really outdid yourself on this one.. it's now my favorite of all your vids. Thank you, again.
Was there just last December for the same trip. While Egypt is extremely beautiful, I decided to never go back again. The vendors, ppl at the ship, non stop harassment just because I’m a solo female traveler- that made me decide that I’m never going back to this country!! Phew!
Gary, this is very helpful. We are going on a Viking Egypt, Jordan and Israel trip early next year. I appreciate the food/water safety information. We just got back from Kenya and Tanzania and dealt with food issues there.
Great videos Gary. I had not realised just how spectacular those sites are. Really incredible! I will never get there now so really appreciated the glimpses through your eyes. Thank you.
I visited about 5 years ago. Prior to going,I did my homework.. What to eat/not eat or drink and what to wear/not wear. The information I found proved very useful.. No tummy troubles and no pushy vendor problems (walk like a camel). The "open carry" was a bit unsettling,but I'm from an open carry state,so that was an easy adjustment
We went there 10-12 years ago and it was amazing. It was mid Oct, very hot, crowded, but as crowded as this video shows. The best part was the river cruise and the ports we docked were not crowded. The most crowded was Luxor but less than a dozen boats. The food was ok and we were paranoid about produce, I got sick for 2 days. We walked allover Cairo, no problems. The airport wasn't so good, the bathrooms were filthy and primitive. Take toilet paper, wipes, lotsa Purell. The day we left Cairo the air was so foul our eyes were tearing all the way to the airport. And beware of the cabs and drivers at the airport, they will cheat you.
I haven’t heard or watched many videos or podcasters really recommending vacationing in Egypt. So far nobody has a lot of great things about their experience. the good didn’t outweigh the bad.
As a CTC, MCC, DS travel agent since 1990, It's not just the education and experience of the guides for Egypt that make the difference, it's important whenever and wherever you travel unless YOU are an expert on the destination it's history, culture, customs etc. AMA Waterways is exceptional for what they include, provide as choices and how they show concern and provide service at all levels in all destinations. Today's most challenging part of travel is the vast number of people and the ways many governments have allowed far to many people at any one time in any specific location. Crowds detract from the experience and it's important to be aware that mass market travel providers are usually "hit and run" meaning it's not the quality of the experience, it's how many can they get into any destination to increase their bottom line.
