Destinations

This trip was about the same price as competitors but Encounters included the transfers and many meals. Some people may prefer to travel in local buses and stay in small hotels, but Encounters offers a more luxurious experience. On long hot days, the air con on the coach kept me going and I was delighted to take a swim in the hotel pool. The guide was brilliant, funny and engaging and managed to squeeze in some bonus excursions too.
Turkey was much greener and more modern than I expected. The historic sites were impressive and the tour went at the right pace. The hotels were all good quality, in good locations and had some impressive buffets. Of course there are plenty of ancient ruins, but each tells a different story so there were plenty of wow factors. My only regret was not giving myself more time in Istanbul.

Good communication, questions answered promptly, documents in order. Very helpful.
Wonderful trip. Quality accommodation especially given the lower cost of the adventure. Well paced, very well taken care of by all staff. Amazing tour leader, Waleed Khamouna, PhD in Egyptology ... couldn't ask for more. Felt very secure the entire trip.

Was pleasantly surprised at how organised the tour was. There was only one occasion where the hotel was changed and was not completely satisfactory. All communication was promptly answered and dealt with in a competent manner.
Loved the tour and thought we experienced the best Turkey had to offer. At times would have liked just a little bit more time to explore at our own leisure. Particularly would have like to have stayed closer into the township of Cannakkale .

I probably think about parts of this trip everyday. It was well organized and planned by Encounters, and the guides and staff in Egypt are amazing human beings. Go on every extra side trip and mini adventure you can. We went in the pyramids and the camels ride behind the pyramids, went to Ramses II tomb, on a hot air balloon ride over Luxor, and to Alexandria, in addition to the amazing things to do on the trip. It was well worth the money. It was absolutely amazing everyday. Tips: Don't expect customer service to directly answer your questions. Mariska only sends generic emails. At least 4 people on our tour experienced this. The other staff and their amazing customer service makes up for this. Bring toilet paper, small 1 Egyptian pounds for the bathrooms, and expect to tip everyone. Also, its good to bring Imodium, heartburn, and allergy meds just in case i would go on this trip again...
With all we did and the amount of travel, I was shocked at how cost effective the tour company made it. You get your money's worth after you think about busses, felucca sailboat, overnight train, hotel rooms, and the amazing tour guide.

Great tour and good help and quick response from the office. .
It was really good and loved the trip to the village where no other tourists go. The tour guide gave us a real Morrocan flavour. A map of Marrakech and also of the tour route would be a great welcome touch.