Fabulous day out
We had a wondeful day out with Ahmad the driver and Said in the tour guide. Ahmad has picked us up right on the agreed time. The vehicle was clean, comfortable and nicely decorated - it even had little pillows which made huge difference for napping! Ahmad was offering drinks and snacks throughout the trip. He seemed like a very experienced and safe driver and got us to Luxor quickly.
Said was incredibly knowledgeable guide throughout the temple and tomb visits, answering every question and fuelling our curiosity as we went. I highly recommend taking the 40 minute boat trip and experiencing Luxor from the middle of the Nile. It was definitely one of the highlights of the day
This trip is also a great way to authentic Egyptian life outside of hotels safely. Myself and my friend (2 females) had our concerns about venturing out by ourselves, however having the driver and the tour guide with us made us feel very safe and avoid unwanted attention
Aurelia C · март 2023 г. · через Tripadvisor
Good tour with a busy schedule
Overall, good experience during a busy day. The guide (Said) was fine and you have enough time at each of the stops. Good value for money, but there are a couple of things that make us give a lower rating:
- In the trip description, the boat trip on the Nile for 40 minutes (optional) should cost 10€/person extra. In our case the guide said that as a small group (4 people) we should pay 15€/person. We had the feeling that they were lying to us and the guide wanted an extra. If this information is true, it would be good if it were included in the trip description.
- The driver (Ahmed) was speeding to get there before other tourists in the morning, but also on the way back. In the city of Luxor, with traffic, speed and overtaking, it can be a little overwhelming compared to driving in Europe.
-Several places to try to sell things to you during the tour, such as the alabaster factory, the papyrus factory and the guide (Said) who tried to sell us some necklaces.
Departure47917981045 · март 2023 г. · через Tripadvisor · Переведено
Just do it !
OMG - Egyptian roads !!! Let’s get one thing clear from the start - if you are a nervous back seat passenger, or, like me, horribly prone to travel sickness and not keen on early starts , this may not be for you . Hotel pick up for us was 4.40am , and even earlier for others . It’s a four hour trip there, and another four back , so consider yourself warned !
That said, it is not for nothing that the ancient Egyptian temples at Karnak and Luxor etc, and The Valley of the Kings just across the Nile from them, are UNESCO World Heritage sites - they are utterly mind boggling !! I still struggle to get my mind around the concept - the astonishing complexity, effort, and artisanship that went particularly into constructing the tombs, with the intention at the outset that very few would ever even know of their existence - let-alone witness their beauty - and that almost from the moment they were completed, they would be sealed up and hidden away for eternity, never be viewed by another living sole…“Ye Gods !”still doesn’t quite cover it !
Our transport for the day was a very modern and clean Toyota Hiace van. Ramashka Tours made a considerable effort to get us to Luxor ahead of the larger Coaches, and specifically the hordes from Hurghada and Sharm El Sheikh they would contain. This meant we got to Karnak before the crowds made unobstructed viewing difficult. Ramashka Tours also included a comfort stop halfway across the Eastern desert (in both directions) for the usual necessities. Again - be warned - you should expect to pay as much as £10 EGP (but usually £5) to use the loos in Egypt - very few are free.
Our English speaking guide for the day was Said, he was very knowledgeable and easy to understand. Travelling in a small group as we were meant he was always available to answer questions or engage in any light chat, which helped make the day feel more bespoke. He also arranged for a Nile cruise upstream as far as the Temple of Luxor (a small extra fee) and optional visits to view papyrus and (genuine) alabaster craftsmen at work. If you wanted to buy that quality souvenir, this was your opportunity, but we didn’t feel under any pressure to do so, and we certainly were not harassed by salesmen.
Lunch was in a clean and pleasant restaurant on the banks of the Nile, and while the choice of dishes was modest, it was nevertheless delicious, and we only had to pay for the beverages that we consumed (£60 EGP for a large fresh squeezed glass of orange juice).
Included in the cost of the tour are of course entrance fees to all of the temples etc, but the authorities have decided that to keep crowds visiting the Valley of the Kings at a manageable level, tickets would only include entrance to three tombs. Said made a point of saying Tutankhamen’s was a waste of time as there is nothing in it and very little decoration - so we went with his top three recommendations instead, and I have to say I didn’t feel as thought we had somehow “missed out”. It was always going to be a long day, and quality - not quantity - was the key to making the trip worthwhile.
I perhaps would have given this review five stars were it not for the fact that from a European perspective, the road trip itself from Hurghada cannot really be described as pleasant, nor particularly “safe”. That is not a criticism of RAMASHKA TOURS at all - it’s a long way and they certainly tried their best.
In summary - if you are holidaying in Hurghada and Luxor is on your bucket list, this trip is pretty much essential.
Gregory P · март 2023 г. · через Tripadvisor
Excursion à recommander 😉
Superbe excursion, guide vraiment trés gentil. Les visites étaient toutes trés intéressantes. Merci à Ahmed et Saïd 😉
Angelita_R · март 2023 г. · через Viator
Wonderful experience
Well what a day !!!! From the moment we were picked up from our hotel Tropitel Sahl Hasheish it was a roller coaster. We experienced the wonders of Egypt through Ahmed the tour operator and Said the tour guide. We sampled eating/sucking sugar cane to seeing the Temples, Valley of the Kings and more. We had lunch on the Nile followed by a boat trip on the Nile. Ahmed was a fast driver who we nicknamed Shumacher but was very safe. Brilliant day although long but worth ever penny. Thank you Ahmed TOP MAN.
Safari573884 · март 2023 г. · через Tripadvisor
The driver was very unprofessional
The guide was very professional and knowledgeable and did a very good job. The driver was rude, drove very recklessly and aggressive. The drive demanded a good review before being dropped off. He complained bitterly we didn't make a review in the bus while we where being shaked like a cocktail due to his reckless driving. Everything mentioned in the tour brochure was done. The lunch was good. The driver had plenty of water and soda with potato chips. Everything was on time. We saw all the advertisemented sites. The guide knew his material and did a great job
Brian_P · март 2023 г. · через Viator
Luxor is truly amazing, a must see
what an amazing trip, Luxor is truly a must see. Said our tour guide was perfect, he was so knowledgeable and gave us time for everything we needed, top top top service for him. We had lunch by the Nile which was a buffet and was pretty good, then we paid extra for the Nile boat trip, which was good but didn’t have to do it unless you really wanted to do it. A full 15/16 hour day with drinks and snacks in the van for free was really nice, they even stopped to get us sugar cane juice which was great. I would recommend this trip to anyone.
There was only one downside however… at the end of our journey we was hassled to write a review and was told we had hours to do it in the bus (even though I slept) and felt a bit like we were being told off. After that, we were then shouted at for not giving a tip to the driver (which we should have) but I gave the rest of my Egyptian pounds to the tour guide as a tip. The driver even threw rubbish out of the van at our hotel and shouted something!
This though does not put me off reviewing this as a 5 star trip which says a lot of how good it was! Said was an honestly amazing host. Just bring more money to tip both 😂
jamie_c · март 2023 г. · через Viator
Luxor and Valley of Kings
Amazing trip to Luxor and Valley of the Kings. Picked up on time by Ahamed and arrived at 8.30 before the crowds. Said, our guide, was so knowledgeable and made the whole experience perfect. Very nice lunch and then a 40 minute cruise on the Nile before the Temple of Hapsetshut. The only criticism of the tour was constant haranguing to put a 5 star review on TripAdvisor which became quite unpleasant on the trip back. Ahamed was verging on aggressive and made us all feel uncomfortable. A 5 star review is my choice to make as a result of good customer service.
Please don't let this put you off the trip because it was amazing!
ruthriches · март 2023 г. · через Tripadvisor
Great value for money !
We started early in the morning. But this also has the advantage that you can watch a beautiful sunrise.
The tour was well planned, we were offered the option to shorten the first break so that we arrived at each attraction earlier than other touri groups. There were no problems with passport controls and we arrived at the respective spots great.
The bus was well equipped (air conditioning, wifi, TV, etc.) and our driver always told us with good humor about the respective places and customs. In addition, we were offered cold drinks throughout the day, which was very good at 40 degrees (in the shade).
There were also small snacks in the small breaks.
Our guide accompanied us from the first sight. Due to the rather manageable group of 4 people (of which 2 speak German and 2 English) we have received an exclusive tour. In addition to the almost unbearable temperatures we have received a lot of historical input (sometimes too much... at a certain point it is difficult for us to follow or understand what we are told). She has a very great knowledge of the history of Ancient Egypt, any question could have been answered. We were given a lot of information about the daily routine, but it was decided over our heads whether and how much tip should be distributed during the Nile trip. We were only given a price (we still don't know how this was composed)... An explanation would have been nice here.
Around noon it got even warmer, so I had to deal with health problems. However, I was well taken care of... I was offered drinks again and again, as well as tips on how best to deal with the heat.
Also at the respective sight the people took care of me. I was offered a place to sit again and again and I am still very grateful about it today!
Unfortunately, one must also mention the negative aspects at the respective sights. No organisation can do anything for this and this does not affect everyone, but be aware that criminals may be on the move. Cell phones and other valuables should be kept a close eye on... also intrusive and rude is asked for tips or is this already demanded rather.
The tour has been really great and especially educational!
Sleep well before you start the tour, because it is a lot of input and also physically demanding... but it is worth it!
We are definitely very happy to have taken part in this tour and would recommend it to anyone who takes a trip to Egypt:)
Perhaps as a small addition: we are happy to give reviews, only unfortunately this was requested by us throughout (by the driver and the guide)... after such a busy day it should not be the requirement to leave the bus by giving a positive review.
An evaluation should always be written voluntarily and not imposed!
5 stars are well deserved and you get them with the good Service also so;)
Julia Sophia S · март 2023 г. · через Tripadvisor · Переведено
Great day trip to Luxor
Great day out from Hurghada to Luxor to see Karnak Temple, Valley of the Kings and more. Ahmed (driver) and Said (guide) treated us really well, nice air conditioned luxury 12 seater, plenty of snacks and drinks on route. Picked up exactly as stated and Ahmed wasted no time getting us there quickly before it got really busy. Said guided us well through the temples and tombs, nice lunch and also enjoyed the Nile boat trip. A special experience with loads of spectacular photos to remember it by. Thanks Ahmed and Said
andrewcX1791ZT · март 2023 г. · через Tripadvisor
