Overnight Tour to Luxor from Cairo by Flight

We booked the Luxor 2 day overnight tour with Ancient Egypt Tours through Viator. I was very excited for this tour and was hopeful for this trip. However, I was informed the day before the trip that we would be picked up at 11:30am instead of 4:30am, to "avoid the heat", which I thought was strange because the mornings are usually cooler than the afternoons. We were picked up by our guide who had introduced himself via text as Mohammed Ali but when the car came, his name was suddenly Akmed. We drove to the Karnak temple and luckily had brought the waters with us from the flight, because it was 108F and no water was provided or offered. I asked questions while at the site and he told me he doesn’t like to talk about religion. I had asked what a building was and apparently it was an Ancient Egyptian temple. We then went to lunch and had been informed that we had missed the buffet and were given an option of beef, chicken, or fish. After eating, our guide took us to an empty perfume store where we had to sit through a long sales pitch. My partner bought an oil and I had to repeatedly say I wasn't interested. We then went to Luxor temple, which was beautifully lit up in the dark. We often had to tell our guide that we wanted to stop and take pictures because he walked very quickly and ahead of us through all of the sites. He did not help us to keep away touts and beggars and did not walk with us. We were then taken to the Sofitel St George's hotel after a sales pitch for hot air balloon rides and for a cartuche, which we declined. The hotel was beautiful and the provided breakfast was okay. We met our guide at 6am the next morning to go to The Valley of The Kings. He told us what three tombs to visit, we weren't given a choice, and that he would be waiting in the Cafe. There was very little information shared about the tombs and no guidance. When we asked about visiting Seti I's tomb, he told us that people only visit it because they think it depicts aliens and dissuadedus from visitng other tombs. On the way to the Mortuary Temple of Hapshepsut, our guide tried to sell us on visiting another site for more money or going to a crocodile island. We declined both. He took us to an alabaster "workshop" when again we were alone, given a sales pitch, and expected to buy souvenirs. He then offered us to go on a Nile boat ride, which was $5 per person and $5 per person to dock. We agreed as it was still early and we werent sure what else we would do with our day. I had to remind our guide that we wanted to see the Colossi of Memnon as is advertised on the site, which he reluctantly agreed to, and waited in the car while we visited. There was very little history shared from our guide. We then went for the boat ride, which was "crocodile" or Banana island. There was a horrifying zoo with small unkempt cages and a crocodile, an emu, monkeys, and pigeons. We sat down and were offered mangos and bananas before departing. On the way off of the boat, two children begged us for money and our guide did not turn around or aid at all despite our earlier conversation about trying to avoid this. We went for lunch at a very hot café and did not enjoy the food. Then our guide took us to the airport three hours early. He told us we had to pay the driver and that he doesn't get a salary. This was extremely uncomfortable and we had very little cash on us to offer. We waited for a long time at the airport, eager to leave. When we arrived in Cairo, our ride wasn't there and we had to wait about 40 minutes to leave. Giving this a 3/5 because we felt safe and the hotel and sites were beautiful. We would not do this tour again. We did not appreciate being shaken down for money the entire trip.

It was very nice holida y ..with pleasure .all the steps of trip were arranged, the flight, the transportation,residence in boat. the tour guide was friendly and popular in conversation and highly educated.

Mohamed Ali is an excellent guide. Very knowledgeable and he spoke English very well. From the time of pick up to our very last day Mohamed made every moment memorable. He was very attentive to our needs and very personable. He even caught my husband’s personal bag when he forgot it on the security belt! That was a godsend since all of our money, credit cards and travel documents was in that bag. There were so many highlights of this trip! Mohamed filled our first day, that evening and the whole next day with amazing memories and experiences. My husband highlights the historical sites like the Valley of the Kings, King Tut’s Tomb. I like Queen Hapshepsut. I want to learn more about her. I highlight the cultural experiences, like seeing Luxor City by horses and buggy and sitting at a local shop in New Valley, having Egyptian Tea and watching their winning team play Egyptian football. Cruising on a boat ride down the Nile to Al Aqaleta where we saw the countryside of Luxor, the school children on a field trip, sat and ate bananas and drank sugarcane juice. And taking us to a shop and getting a cartouche made for my husband and I. Experiences like this makes it more than a trip it makes it a memory. Thank you Mohamed for a wonderful and memorable time in Luxor! Blal was our driver. He was very skilled and he did very well maneuvering in the Egyptian traffic. Driving in Egypt is nothing like driving in America! Thank you Ancient Egypt Tours!!

Our Guide was Excellent, very knowledgeable about everything and great with history. Easy 5 Stars. Thank you!!!