Unforgettable Egypt and Jordan Adventure – Highly Recommend!
Bottom Line: DO IT! This was an incredible trip with fantastic guides and drivers, excellent communication, and generally top-tier accommodations. I strongly recommend Egypt Tours Portal for anyone planning a trip to Egypt and Jordan.
· *Overview:**
We embarked on a 14-day tour of Egypt and Jordan, including 11 days in Egypt and 3 days in Jordan. Our itinerary combined private and small group experiences, covering the top attractions in both countries.
· *Pricing:**
The package included hotels, a 3-day Nile Cruise, at least two meals daily (three meals daily on the cruise and in Hurghada), guides and drivers, in-country flights, attraction admissions, meet-and-greet services, and airport transfers. Not included were the Egypt visa (Jordan visa was provided), airfare between Egypt and Jordan, tips, additional meals, incidental costs, and optional excursions. We felt the pricing offered excellent value for the high-quality services provided.
· *Planning and Execution:**
After thorough research, I found Egypt Tours Portal. Ms. Marehan was instrumental in helping us select our itinerary and personalize it to fit our needs, even accommodating last-minute changes due to regional politics. Communication was seamless through email and WhatsApp. The tour itself was briskly paced but included breaks for relaxation. Be prepared for some long, activity-packed days.
· *Our Itinerary:**
In Egypt, we started in Cairo with visits to the Grand Egyptian Museum, the Pyramids, the Sphinx, and a Nile dinner cruise. The new museum is absolutely spectacular—think Smithsonian or Louvre scale. Next, a flight took us to Aswan to begin a 3+ day Nile Cruise on the MS Royal Amira Princess, with stops at renowned landmarks including Philae, Abu Simbel, Karnak, Luxor, and the Valley of the Kings.
In Hurghada, we enjoyed two days at a resort but unfortunately missed a planned snorkeling excursion due to weather conditions. Back in Cairo, we explored the National Egyptian Museum, toured Cairo’s Citadel, and shopped in the bustling bazaar.
In Jordan, the tour began in Amman with stops at St. George’s Church in Madaba, Mt. Nebo, and the Dead Sea en route to Petra. A guided tour of Petra included an optional donkey ride up to the Monastery (worth it for older travelers). After Petra, we visited Wadi Rum, staying overnight at a camp with activities like a 4x4 tour and camel ride. We concluded our time with Egypt Tours Portal in Amman.
Egypt Tours Portal handled everything impeccably, subcontracting the Jordan portion to Jordan Horizons Tours. Group Nile Cruise tours included 16 participants, with private tours for the remainder of the trip. Shopping stops were integrated into the itinerary, offering unique opportunities for quality purchases (my wife loved the dates!).
· *Guides and Drivers:**
The guides and drivers were phenomenal—absolute professionals who truly elevated the experience. In Cairo, Ahmed Elgohary ensured that our tour was tailored to our interests, brought us to excellent local restaurants, and made us feel like family. On the cruise, Nour Atef expertly handled a diverse group and provided valuable insights at each stop, offering tips to maximize our time. In Jordan, Sammy from Jordan Horizons was a knowledgeable and personable guide, especially at Petra, ensuring we saw unique spots.
Our drivers, Mohammed in Cairo and Murad in Jordan, were outstanding—great conversationalists and exceptionally safety-conscious. Across the board, we were fortunate to have these fantastic professionals.
· *Accommodations:**
Egypt Tours Portal provided a list of 5-star options during planning, and the finalized selections were excellent. We stayed at the Triumph Luxury Hotel in Cairo (our favorite), Jolie Ville Island Resort in Luxor, and Swiss Inn Resort in Hurghada. All were well-maintained, with attentive staff, great housekeeping, and bountiful breakfast buffets.
The Nile Cruise aboard MS Royal Amira Princess exceeded expectations with wonderful staff, comfortable cabins, and surprisingly tasty food. Alcohol was available at reasonable rates. In Jordan, we stayed at Landmark Hotel in Amman (under renovation), Petra Old Village (charming and quaint), and Mazayen Luxury Camp in Wadi Rum (not true luxury but provided the best home-cooked meal of our trip).
· *Food:**
Meals provided on the tour were plentiful, diverse, and delicious. Drinks, including water, often required additional purchase. Hotel dining was reasonably priced, and local food options like shawarma and kebabs were exceptionally affordable—around $5 per meal.
· *Final Thoughts:**
No regrets! Egypt Tours Portal delivered a perfectly balanced itinerary with a mix of private and small group tours. Pricing was fair, and optional excursions allowed additional flexibility. This company gets my highest recommendation for trip planning and execution in Egypt and Jordan. If you're considering a visit, they’re the ones to go with.