A pleasant experience marred by different issues
The Hapi V cruise itself was fine. Staff were pleasant, food was plentiful if not remarkable, the packed breakfasts were just different breads and some fruit, rooms weren’t the cleanest, bedsheets felt very cheap, tips for the staff were collected by our guide in an organized manner which, while still strange for me as someone who comes from a country where tipping doesn’t happen, was at least convenient since I didn’t have to fork out money all the time. The masseuse was a bit too persistent for me and became genuinely annoying after a while.
I was unhappy with our guide and his communication however. When we arrived around 11 am, Mina (the guide) asked us if we wanted to go to the Nubian village as an additional tour for 30 USD per person. I can comfortably say that this tour is overpriced. It’s just a slow boat ride, you don’t really get off anywhere, and while the village itself was nice and guide the managed all the tips, this was still an underwhelming experience. I’d find it more reasonable if this was around 10-15 USD instead. For the trip to Aswan, the van had such bad AC that we were sweating throughout the entire trip. If we didn’t complain about it, I’m concerned that we would’ve been on that awful van for the rest of the trip too. Also we never really saw a proper view of the high dam itself as we were just on top of it.
There were quite a few occasions where Mina was saying things that were patently false that you could easily check online. He wasn’t also very transparent in his communication. The most egregious example was when other people in our tour who didn’t take the hot air balloon package was interested in it on the day before and he said with a straight face that it was 60 USD per person even though our package was just 20 USD and so many agents were offering it on TripAdvisor for 30 USD. While I certainly understand that it made sense for mine to be cheaper since I got the package a few months before, I was disappointed that he wasn’t being honest and open about the pricing. When I shared what deals I found on TripAdvisor, he started dodging the issue by saying that his agency offered insurance and was way safer than the 30 USD ones which was something impossible to verify in the moment. Also, since the cruise was charging five times more for everything (including the bottles of water), we asked Mina to take us to a supermarket so we could resupply. He was very hesitant about this and kept bringing us to small vendors and he even warned me that the bottled water there might be fake which felt mean spirited and petty. In the end, we had to insist they take us to a proper supermarket. I understand he’s on the side of the cruise but the fact he was being evasive and wouldn’t at least point a supermarket out for us was very poor behavior for me. Some of the tourists in our group were more critical of his behavior and he’d pay so much attention to them so as to placate them but then would turn to me and start complaining about them. Ultimately, his attitude wasn’t causing any real issues and the tour was smooth enough but I was just tired dealing with him and wondering about what ulterior motives he might have.
Saikhnaa A · aug 2025 · via Tripadvisor
Great experience!
The guide Mich was very good, the attitude of the entire team was very good, the food was good, and the itinerary went as planned.
eduardogm16 · aug 2025 · via Tripadvisor
Nile tour on a budget
Was looking for a medium priced Nile tour. There were numerous offerings at different price points. I could not work out what the differences were based on so booked an inexpensive tour. had a great time. Sights were great touring was great food was good. You always have to be a bit careful in Egypt. There is a pecking order with Nile cruises. The more luxurious and expensive boats moor along the riverbank with the less luxurious boats moored alongside and so on. We were the fifth boat of five from the riverbank so we clambered though four other boats receptions to get to the wharf, that was fun in itself. Really great value and loads of fun. Had to get an amended pickup which was no problem for the tour operator. Scammers wait on the river bank claiming to know you as they "work" on the boat as a chef. Took a ride with a scammer and worked out what was going on and bought the cheapest scam item we could find to avoid confrontation. For $20 I got a good story. Would do a Nile cruise again if in the area.
Robert_C · aug 2025 · via Viator
Talaat is an incredible guide. Extremely knowledgeable, and goes above and beyond to make your experience a great one.
I’ve been on many guided tours in my life, and I can say, without a doubt, Talaat Abdo is one of the best guides I’ve ever had. He is incredibly knowledgeable, the vast knowledge he carries of Egyptian history and the areas we visited were incredible. Not only that, but he is incredibly friendly. You can talk to him about anything and everything, related or not to your trip. He is helpful and will go above and beyond for you. If you plan a trip to Egypt, make sure it is with Tallat. Thank you for making Egypt a great experience.
Quest23621626004 · jul 2025 · via Tripadvisor
Beautiful and knowledgeable experience
The best experience of my life, exelent guide very patient and knowledge of everything about our trip. The best trip of me
reynaldor827 · jul 2025 · via Tripadvisor
The experience was great looking at all of the amazing ruins and beautiful views.
Talaat Abdo is the greatest guide I have ever had. He is informative and very helpful in any situation. He is also a very funny guy.
19gianmarcor · jul 2025 · via Tripadvisor
Awesome trip
Talaat Abdo our great guide was amazing. Patient, kind and knowledgeable of everything. Thank you for giving us an unforgettable family memories . We love u.
Georgina R · jul 2025 · via Tripadvisor
Amazing Nile cruise experience
Talaat Abdo
We had a fantastic time cruising the Nile, thanks to our amazing tour guide. He was friendly, knowledgeable, and made every stop—from Aswan to Abu Simbel to Luxor—so memorable. His passion for Egyptian history and attention to detail truly enhanced our trip. Highly recommended!
maria n · jul 2025 · via Tripadvisor
Cruising on the Nile and enjoying the Temples
What a brilliant tour! The ship was incredibly relaxing, complete with an ever-attentive crew, and watching the Nile flow by was a truly calming experience.
Our tour guide, Mina, was exceptional. He was very knowledgeable, bringing the history of the ancient Egyptian temples to life. Beyond his professional duties, Mina went above and beyond when he helped me retrieve my lost phone and even paid for my flight back to Cairo. I can't speak highly enough of him.
Dominic H · jul 2025 · via Tripadvisor
You can trust Talaat!
Talaat is the man! Kind, funny, with great amount of knowledge and will get you to all the right places! Accurate timelines, we followed the program and we managed to see everything efficiently!
Z7069YI_ · jul 2025 · via Tripadvisor
