Beyond the Pyraminds tour in May

Re: Beyond the Pyraminds tour in May

Hi Adventurebound,

Thanks for your post - this looks like a great tour. I've done my best to reply to all your questions below!

Re insurance - you would need to check this with your travel agent or a local insurance company in the USA. The travel insurance we sell in the UK is primarily for travellers from the UK. While it is possible to sell it to USA travellers, you are likely to get a better deal buying from a USA insurance company.

May is a good time to go to Egypt. It will be starting to get quite hot, but should not be so hot that you cannot enjoy yourself. It will be warm and sunny.

The only trekking option we have in that area is the same Sinai trek as included in your tour.

You do not have much time in Hurghada on this tour, however you would have time in Dahab to go diving. You can arrange this locally and your tour leader would be able to advise you. Remember to take your diving certificate with you. Introductory dives can also be arranged if you are not qualified.

It's easy to arrange vegetarian options in Egypt. Lots of people who come on tour with us are vegetarian, and the tour leader will be able to point out good places to eat, and good meal options.

The road trip to Abu Simbel is USD25, plus the entrance fee of USD10 approx. This needs to be booked locally with the tour leader at the start of the tour, and can be paid in Egyptian currency. If you want to book flights to Abu Simbel this can be done through us in advance for approx USD78, plus booking fee of $40 and USD10 entrance fee (and a taxi to and from Aswan airport). It can also be booked locally but this is subject to availability. Both options include a guide at the site.

The trek up Mt Sinai is optional. If you don't want to do it you can wait at the base for everyone else to come down (or get a few extra hours' sleep!).

It isn't possible to upgrade the train. As this is booked part of a tour as a package it's not possible to change it. It would also mean the tour leader would be trying to look after people in different parts of the train and not able to devote the same amount of time to everyone.

I hope this helps! Let us know if you have any further questions.

Re: Beyond the Pyraminds tour in May

Thanks, Kelly for the quick response!

I have never taken out an insurance policy before for any of my travels. So I am still a bit unsure as to what this policy is supposed to cover, etc.

What are the hotels we'll be staying at on this trip?

Re: Beyond the Pyraminds tour in May

Hello again Adventurebound,

Pleased to be of help!

While we do not tell you where you have to buy your insurance policy from, we do have a few guidelines for what it should cover.

A suitable insurance policy should provide adequate cover for medical expenses arising through illness or accident prior to or during the holiday and loss of holiday monies through cancellation or curtailment of the holiday for insurable reasons. If you are making your own insurance arrangements you should ensure that there are no exclusion clauses limiting protection for the type of activities in your tour. The travel insurance cover automatically provided with credit card purchases does not provide adequate cover as standard. Proof of adequate insurance will be requested at the start of your tour, and if you cannot provide this it may result in being prevented from joining the tour.

We are not able to tell you all the hotels you will be staying at on the tour. We can tell you the start and end point hotels only (downloadable from [url=http://www.imaginative-traveller.com/downloads)]www.imaginative-traveller.com/downloads)[/url] . The hotels that we use often aren't finalised until quite close to departure, and so it's not practical to give out a list of accommodation which might change.

I hope this helps, let us know if you need any more information.

Re: Beyond the Pyraminds tour in May

Thanks for the response.

One of my friends who took the same tour last year recommended Imaginative Traveller to me. He said that they purchased a travel insurance from the UK. Would we be able to do the same thing even though we are based in the US?

Also, he said that for the Beyonds the Pyramids tour, the guide asked the people on the tour at the cairo train station, whether they wanted to opt for normal class or first class, and accordingly, went ahead and got the tickets then and there. Maybe you meant not being able to upgrade to sleeper class, but it's possible to upgrade to first class in the seater train?

Thanks!

Re: Beyond the Pyraminds tour in May

Hi Adventurebound,

If you are booking with us directly online then we would be able to sell you travel insurance. If you choose to book through a travel agent they will be able to recommend the best deal for you.

If you specifically wanted to upgrade to a different class on the train you would need to speak to the tour leader to see if this was an option. I had assumed you were talking about sleeper compartments (which is not possible), but just moving to a different seated area may be possible.

Thanks,

Re: Beyond the Pyraminds tour in May

Yes, if we decide to go ahead, we would definetly book it online through this website. Hence my interest in finding out the $ for insurance. Please send me the $ details when convenient.

Thanks for all your prompt answers!

Re: Beyond the Pyraminds tour in May

Hi Adventurebound,

If you would like to go into the details of our insurance it would be best to drop us a line on info@imaginative-traveller.com . We will be happy to quote for you!

Many thanks,

Re: Beyond the Pyraminds tour in May

Thanks, Kelly. will do.