Private Full Day Tour: To Aswan From Luxor

We booked a tour to Aswan with Reflections. The tour itself was really nice, but there were some misunderstandings in the organization, and the information provided by the company was not always clear. For example, the tour was supposed to be private, but there were two cars, and one guide had to switch between them. Despite this, the day went well in the end, and everything planned was completed. What truly made the experience great was our guide, Hassan Maghripy, and our driver, Ahmed. Ahmed was an excellent driver, and we felt safe and comfortable throughout the entire journey. Hassan was very knowledgeable, kind, and always patient. He went out of his way to make sure we had the full experience despite the company’s organizational challenges, and his attitude made a big difference in how the day turned out. Thanks to Hassan and Ahmed, the Aswan program was successful, and the trip ended on an excellent note.

Booked private tour to Aswan 1. Not private, we were with another couple who although lovely this was not as booked. 2. Guide didn’t have a clue of our itinerary and we had to hand him a list. 3. No water was provided (as stated) and the guide told us he wasn’t giving us any as he didn’t get paid enough 4. Guide said felucca trip couldn’t be done as he wasn’t paying. In the end he called the operator and they agreed to do it. 5. The guide took us to both temples (great), the Aswan dam and unfinished obelisk without a break for water. At this time 8 1/2 hours after being picked up we had to actually beg for us to have water. We happily paid for water as we felt so ill - after all over 8 hours in 30c heat is very dangerous. 6. He then said Do you want food here or back in Luxor! We received our food at 16.30 not in the middle of the day as advertised. All through the day the guide moaned about the amount he was paid and the first think he said to us was we need a tip - he even suggested $20 dollars per person for both him and the driver. We normally tip at the end of a trip but he kept pestering and even said on the boat trip - give me my tip now as I can’t pay the boat! His English was so bad we gave just couldn’t understand him at all, in fact the drivers English was much better. After the lunch at 4.30 we were supposed to go on the felucca but we’d both had enough and asked just to be taken back to Luxor. We then had to pay another 500EGP to be taken back a faster way. After paying £230 for the not private trip, having to beg for what was supposedly included, we think this extra to get home was a bit extreme. The guide Hussain I would rate as 0, hard to understand apart from his constant requests for money off us. The driver Ahmed was the only good part of the trip and according to Hussain he received no pay!!!!! Sadly if we had a good guide who knew what we’d paid for, could speak English, had the actual private tour we’d paid for, had water! and had lunch mid trip not as an afterthought then things may have been better. Worst trip we’ve ever been on and we’re really experienced travellers.

Everything went smoothly and as advertised. We only had to pay 500egp (for both of us) for tolls, otherwise the excursion would have taken 5+ hours drive more through the free roads. Considering the price of the excursion, this should have been included. Otherwise only tipping should be considered when budgeting for this, and also if you will want drinks with your lunch since we didn't get water either (we spent 300+400egp on drinks in our breaks). It sounded like the communication between the tour company and the driver/both guides was lacking, they were constantly asking us where we were going and what had we already paid for. I recommend printing the receipt with the full itinerary and inclusions, you will need to show them. On the plus side, Edfu and Philae were outstanding. The driver and the car were both phenomenal. We are happy.

What an experience! Our guide Barry and our driver (sorry, I forget his name) kept us well informed, feeling safe, and laughing most of the trip. The boat ride and tour of Philai temple was awesome and totally worth the trip from Luxor. And seeing the High Dam and Unfinished Obelisk were added bonuses.

+6

It's a long journey to visit the philae temple and aswan high dam. I feel like the experience is not worth the travel time

An excellent experience our tour guide Barry took us on a great tour of Aswan. His knowledge of the local ecological sites and ancient Egyptian history was excellent and he was very friendly and accommodating. Our driver was also great and looked after us very well throughout the whole day.

+1

Great Experience, driver and guide were excellent. We visited a lot of places and we had lunch at old cataract hotel, 100 percent recommended

This is a good tour, but there are constraints on the pickup and drop times as travel periods for foreigners are restricted to daylight hours. Better options of restaurant could have been possible, the restaurant we were taken to could only serve chicken and salad

They driver skipped the major destination, The Temple of Horus in Edfu. We didn't find out until we arrived in Aswan. It wasn't his fault because no one from the tour company told him that he was supposed to stop. We were insistent on seeing Edfu so the guide arranged for us to go back early. We got less than two hours in Aswan, no lunch, and then sat in the car 3 hours to make it to the Temple before it closed. The day was wasted and for what it cost my friend & I are both upset. They refunded us $15 which is honestly more insulting than no refund at all.

The tour was excellent!! My tour guide Barry and driver did an outstanding job and really made the Aswan’s history come alive! This is definitely a history buff’s tour with the Aswan dam and other site. It’s a long drive from Luxor, but a nice change of pace from the city