Horrible experience
The tour on its own was good and we have enjoyed, but after reviewing, I felt cheated by the guide and the representative of the tour operator GoTour Egypt. Reason: When I booked, in the voucher it was stated that excursions were included, just entrance fees needed to be paid by myself - ok When the tour started, the guide asked for 90 USD for entrance fees. He said that they would buy them for the whole group so no one needs to queue - ok, makes sense When I was asked to pay, the 90 USD were converted in Egyptian Pounds (EGP) and the EGP value was charged to my credit card. The entrance fee itself in Egypt is always paid in EGP - the value in EGP is also written on the entrance ticket that we received (I already paid entrance fees by myself for other attractions before - it is the same ticket and the same value as announced at the entrance). So where is the cheat: I was charged 3150 EGP per person for entrance fee. After the tour I added the EGP value on all tickets and the total was just 2040 EGP. That means that using the official bank rate at that time per person we are talking about 35 USD. So for me, my wife and my son this is more than 100 USD. Apart of that, he converted the 90 USD with an exchange rate between the official and the black market rate. (35 instead of 31). As all is to be paid in EGP this is just another cheat. What makes me most sad of all is that the value he "extracted" per person is the same value as we were asked to give as tip for the whole boat crew, who was very friendly and helpful during the whole trip. I just would like to know if this is official company policy or the individual behavior of the persons leading the tour.
Nomad13718525990 · dec 2023 · via Tripadvisor
Disappointing Experience with GoTour Egypt - Beware of Unethical Practices
I recently took a 4-day cruise with GoTour Egypt, and while the cruise itself was acceptable, the experience with our tour guide, Mina, was deeply troubling. Unfortunately, I have to report several instances of unethical behavior.
Firstly, Mina insisted on a "mandatory" $40 tip per person, supposedly to tip the boat's workers. However, with 12 people in our group, it's hard to believe that this substantial amount was fully passed on as tips.
Moreover, Mina's guidance on shopping was highly suspect. He discouraged purchases in Aswan, claiming Luxor was better and cheaper. Yet, he led us to shops run by his acquaintances, where we felt pressured to spend significantly. It seemed more like a scheme for personal benefit rather than genuine advice.
The most disappointing aspect was the overall attitude towards us. There was a constant expectation of money, under various pretexts. Even the tour bus driver demanded payment for parking fees, a cost that should have been included in the tour package.
Overall, this tour felt more like a series of schemes to extract money from tourists rather than a genuine cultural experience. While the other group members were pleasant, the conduct of Mina and certain others involved in the tour was unacceptable. I advise against using GoTour Egypt, especially if you wish to avoid feeling exploited and disrespected during your travels.
gitih2023 · nov 2023 · via Tripadvisor
Disappointing Experience with GoTour Egypt
I recently participated in a 4-day cruise with GoTour Egypt, and unfortunately, my experience was far from satisfactory. The main issue was with our tour guide, Mina, whose conduct raised serious concerns.
Firstly, there was an enforced "mandatory tip" of $40 per person, supposedly for the boat workers. However, with 12 people in our group, the total amount collected seemed excessive and lacked transparency, leading to doubts about its actual distribution.
Moreover, our guide's advice on shopping seemed more self-serving than helpful. Mina discouraged us from shopping in Aswan, suggesting Luxor instead. However, it became apparent that he was steering us towards specific vendors, likely his acquaintances, where we felt pressured to make expensive purchases.
Another distressing aspect was the overall attitude towards our group. There was an underlying assumption that, being from America, we were more susceptible to being overcharged or treated unfairly. This culminated in an unpleasant incident with the tour bus driver, who demanded additional payment for parking—a cost that should have been covered by the tour package. His behavior escalated to the point of rudeness and unprofessionalism, significantly impacting our experience.
While the cruise itself was acceptable, the conduct of the tour guide and other staff was not. This experience felt like a series of attempts to exploit us financially, rather than provide a memorable and enjoyable tour. The saving grace of the trip was the camaraderie within our travel group, but overall, I cannot recommend GoTour Egypt. Prospective travelers should be wary of potential hidden costs and unethical practices.
811ardeshirk · nov 2023 · via Tripadvisor
4 day Nile Cruise
Really enjoyed the experience. Our guide Mina was excellent and so knowledgeable. He always went above and beyond to make our time more enjoyable.
K7555ZPjohno · nov 2023 · via Tripadvisor
Nile Cruise
Overall the tour was excellent with Mina proving to be a very knowledgeable guide. I would recommend the tour to anyone.
Initially I booked our trip to start on 19 November and booked flights and hotels around that date. The date was changed by the company 20 November which has cost $35 US as one hotel had a no cancellation clause. Personally I would have preferred the carriage ride to Kom Ombo but we used a bus.
Got dropped off near a ferry and used a Tuk tuk to get to our hotel - not the drop off as advertised.
We thoroughly enjoyed the visits to the ancient Egyptian sites where we could have had more time if the shopping stops were curtailed.
Getaway698606 · nov 2023 · via Tripadvisor
Recommend tour
Generally is a very good tour and arranged. Tour guide and drivers are friendly, and provided detailed information on the sites. But wish could have more free time to explore.
W7964IXchrisl · nov 2023 · via Tripadvisor
Awesome cruise
The cruise was fantastic and the food was amazing the tour guide mr Mina was speaking English very clearly and he gave us a lot of information. Everything was very organized
Anonymous · nov 2023 · via Viator
King Mina is the BEST OF THE BEST
I was very happy with the Tour, especially with MINA. Mina is very knowledgeable and he kept me engaged throughout his presentation. Very professional, He actually raises the Bar in terms of a guide.
W7130URsandyc · nov 2023 · via Tripadvisor
Just do it
The experience was amazing, the cruise is comfortable, the food is delicious, the people are friendly, the balloon is really magic and our guide “king Mina” is fantastic, he’s the best guide of Egypt!
DalcioJr · nov 2023 · via Tripadvisor
Aswan to Luxor Cruise
This was our first time on a Nile Cruise. We could not have chosen a better company and guide - King Mina. Everything was great. The days were packed with interesting visits to the main sites. The balloon ride was breathtaking. King Mina could not have been more accommodating to the groups needs. We felt safe, well looked after and could not have asked for more. We would highly recommend King Mina for his knowledge and patience.
Nikki4552 · nov 2023 · via Tripadvisor
