Destinations

We were very lucky there was only one other couple who were very nice and our guide was excellent. His name was Phuong. He had a lot of knowledge, put it over very well and was very concerned that we were all happy and always went out of his way to help and did 'the extra mile'. He really made the holiday so good
We thought it was a good tour but did not particularly enjoy the two full days at the seaside. It could have been cut back to one. We did enjoy the snorkeling and swimming. We would have also liked an extra day at Hulong Bay as it is a long journey each way and we barely had 24 hours there. Everyone was very pleasant and helpful in the tours and hotels

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.

Response to emails and phone calls was a little delayed and some of the information relayed turned out to be incorrect when I arrive in South Africa. Thankfully my tour guide Gertrude was amazing and figured everything out for us.
Gertrude and Martin was wonderful. They both took such great care of us. There were only 13 people on the tour which was perfect. Too many more and it would have been impossible for the group to come to consensus.

We had an amazing trip! Mariska was super helpful in accommodating our requests to upgrade our itinerary and providing all our pre-tour information and details. Hani, our tour guide, was spectacular, and every detail was carefully attended to by the Encounters team in Egypt. We felt safe and relaxed as tours and transportation took place flawlessly and enjoyed every minute we were there.
This tour is incredible - we saw all the major sights in Cairo, Aswan, and Luxor, and enjoyed several days at the Jaz Makadi Resort in Hurghada. The tour is arranged more or less chronologically and you have the same guide the entire time, so you really get a great experience following the cultural/religious/political development of ancient Egypt over several thousand years.

Waleed our tour guide was beyond fabulous and catered for everyone's needs, nothing was too much for him. The service and information provided prior to the holiday was of an excellent standard and set the scene for the holiday. Being met at the airport upon arrival calmed everyone's nerves and set the standard of support for the remainder of the holiday.
A little rough and ready in places, overnight train and sleeping on the felucca, but still these and others are experiences that I would never have normally opted for but I am glad I did as I completely enjoyed them. The optional balloon ride, even if you are frightened of heights, like me, is a must.