helloworld Travel Westgate - Recent staff trips

I can only describe Cairo as organised chaos......cars, car horns, traffic congestion, people and more people. Then you have the Nile, Giza Pyramids, history, camels, hawkers, heat (nice temperature in mid-October, late 20s), security checks and scanned bags at each of the tourist locations to ensure your site visits are safe and then tour guides directing tourists and parting their knowledge to educate you in the wonders of Egypt.  The tour company to take care of you and all your needs is Insight Vacations.  Our particular tour guide was Hazem. He took our group for the 6 nights / 7 days from Cairo to Abdul Simbel and the major historical sites in between at Luxor, Edfu and Aswan.  Being an Egyptologist he is a wealth of knowledge and he has a warm and caring personality to match that turns the week of sightseeing, activities and travel into an art form.  His story telling into all the sites (around Pharaohs, God’s and Kings plus an occasional Queen) makes it easy to get immersed into the Egyptian history.  You end up wanting to hear more and more on how the stories all end up and how they intertwine with other aspects of the Egyptian and World history.  

My tour started with your first two nights in Cairo at the Cairo Marriott (a former Palace) with visits to the sites of The Giza Pyramids and The Museum of Egyptian Antiquities.   Then you fly down to Luxor to start your 4 night Cruise on the Nile to Aswan (we travelled on the MS Medea (or similar).  In Luxor you visit, on the East bank, Karnak Temple in the morning and Luxor Temple in the late afternoon.  Here you will get some amazing photos of the sunset.   The next day you visit The Valley of the Kings and The Temple of (Queen) Hatshepsut on the West bank.  In the afternoon you relax while cruising down the Nile taking in the surrounds on life on the Nile!  As night falls you go through the Esna lock (yes a lock on the Nile!) then on to Edfu for the night. On day three you visit the Temple of Horus then sail to Kom Ombo to visit the only temple dedicated to two gods.  In the evening you have a fun night dressed in Egyptian attire and experience an Egyptian dinner and party.  The next day from Aswan you travel by small boat to the Island Philae and visit the temple of Isis.   Then on your last day you have an opportunity to take an optional excursion (at an additional cost) to fly down to Abul Simbel to visit the two reconstructed Temples of Ramses II and Nefertari.  You then fly back to Cairo and return to the Cairo Marriott to relax for your last night before departing the next morning after breakfast.

Each of the Temples are unique in their own way.  Plus through your travel you also get to visit an Egyptian family making bread, sail on a Felucca on the Nile and have High Tea at the famous hotel of Cataract in Aswan all of which are truly memorable.  The photos that you take are memories that you will keep forever. 

My overall impression of Egypt is an absolute rewarding and enriching one.  Egypt is a destination that you have to visit once in your life time.  The history is incredible and the sites you see and visit are thousands of years old.  Just realising those who have walked on the same piece of ground as you makes the experience very special.  Yes there is chaos in the streets of Cairo with cars and the hustle and bustle of the people but that is what Cairo is all about.  Yes there is the continual security checks but that is to make it safe for the tourists.  All my time travelling around Egypt I felt safe.  Please remember that you are being expertly look after by an amazing tour company in Insight Vacations with their expert tour directors and support network to make your trip and truly memorable experience!

Travel tips:  Make sure to book your tour to Egypt early (12 months if possible) with Insight Vacations to ensure you get the tour dates you want; at least 6 months in advance refer with your Doctor as some inoculations maybe necessary; take Egyptian pounds with USD as back up.  Keep small, 5 Egyptian pounds for any public toilet stops and take a small pack of tissues, just in case; hand sanitiser;  small sun umbrella , sun screen and insect repellent. Travel in mid-October and you should experience late 20s in Cairo up to mid-30s in Abu Simbel. 

Please if you wish to make this trip of a lifetime I would be more than happy to look into prices and availability for you.  Getting the actual tour dates you want is your first priority so booking early is essential.

Regards……..Neil – 09 4161799, neil.harkin@travel.helloworld.co.nz 

*Please note that this tour differs slightly form the Wonders of Egypt tour that Insight Vacations promote in their brochure.