Jewels of Egypt (JOE) - Dep.Sept. 30, 2007

Re: Jewels of Egypt (JOE) - Dep.Sept. 30, 2007

Hello Marta and Harold,

We currently have two other people travelling with you on the Jewels of Egypt (ETJW) tour.
I can't advise as to whether these people are arriving early. It is probably best to arrange your extra site visits for just the two of you locally, upon arrival or ask your tour leader at the arrival meeting.

The donkey ride is around 1 hour long.It is possible to go by bus to the Valley of the Kings, rather than donkey, again just advise your tour leader.

I hope that this helps, have alovely holiday!
Kate

Re: Jewels of Egypt (JOE) - Dep.Sept. 30, 2007

Dear Kate,

Thank you for the infomation it is very usefull.

I have few other questions....
1.What kind of transportation we will have if only 4 person in our tour.
2.What changes it will bring to our tour, if only few people in it.
3.Will we have a tour leader? If you know who is our tour leader, is he/she speaks arabic?
4.Will we have local tour guides?

Preveiously (India and China) we always went with a full group and we very much enjoyed it. I'm concerned of the small size of this tour. Can you give us information on that.

Maybe other travellers can tel us their experience if they travelled in the small group.

Thanks again
Look forward to hear from you

Marta

Re: Jewels of Egypt (JOE) - Dep.Sept. 30, 2007

Hello,

All of the details included in the itinerary will remain the same, using the same transport.

The tour itself will have a more intimate feel, you will still have a tour leader and the use of Egyptologists at some sites.

The tour leader will speak English, they live and work in the area so have excellent local knowledge.

It is certainly not a disadvantage being part of a small group, most of our past travellers often prefer it.

Hope this helps.
Kate

Re: Jewels of Egypt (JOE) - Dep.Sept. 30, 2007

Hi Harold,

Don't worry about the small numbers in the tour group - I have done two tours in Egypt - Western Desert and Nile, there were only 3 of us on this tour and Alexandria and Siwa Oasis, there were only 7 of us on this tour. Both tours were great. Sometimes it is an advantage to have a smaller group as you get more time with the Egyptologist (can ask questions one on one) and its sometime easier to arrange extras because the numbers are so small.

When I did the Western Desert our guide was Egyptian and spoke Arabic, on the Alexandria and Siwa Oasis our guide was from Britain and spoke some Arabic but we also had a local fellow travelling with us who took care of all of the logistics.

Don't worry, you are going to have a great time - It's Egypt.

Joanne

Re: Jewels of Egypt (JOE) - Dep.Sept. 30, 2007

I can certainly reassure you with regard to the "small group" concern, though I've not yet traveled with Imaginative Traveller.

My wife and I toured Turkey with Pacha Tours last year. Pacha is a budget tour operator--just low end, not adventure tour--and they have this great option of allowing you to break tours in the middle, take a week off, and then rejoin the next week's edition of the same tour. Last year, the second half of our tour only had one other couple on it. So it was the 4 of us, a guide, and a driver.

But nothing was cut out. In fact, we had a lot of flexibility that we would not have had with the larger group. The other couple were great and if any one of us wanted to stay longer for something, we did. I only think it could turn out poorly if the other couple were people you would *not* want to spend a week or two alone with. But that was not our experience at all. We had a great time.

Re: Jewels of Egypt (JOE) - Dep.Sept. 30, 2007

I also meant to add that I, too, am a bit concerned about the donkey ride. My wife and I are both well over the weight limit to take donkeys in the Grand Canyon, but that's a treacherous ride that I would not take anyway. This seems to be nothing like that. I think we will wait and see if the donkeys look like they can handle us, and if we feel like we can handle the ride. It looks like fun to take the donkeys, but it's good to know there is a backup alternative.

Re: Jewels of Egypt (JOE) - Dep.Sept. 30, 2007

Hello Warren,

I can understand your concern about the donkey ride. But first let me reassure you that these donkeys carry enormous loads on a daily basis. Egypt still uses donkeys as regular "work horses", you will be amazed at the sight of what these little animals can & do carry, every day!

I have only ridden a donkey to the Valley of the Kings once, have travelled in Egypt many times now. I too was concerned about riding a donkey, as Im not that small either! But I did enjoy the ride & it was a wonderful experience.

One vivid memory is of the donkey handler who rode along side us. As we were bouncing along near the front of Hatshepsut's Temple a very large bus approached.

Our donkey handler yelled out......."watch the bloody bus mate"..........in the best aussie accent I had heard in ages!!!! I nearly fell off my doonkey laughing!!!!

Then there is the wonderful view as you walk along the top of Hatsheput's Temple.......it is breath taking....remember to take your camera!!!

If you decide not to ride, then you can organise a taxi, which is easy to do.

So try not to worry too much, it will all fall into place.

Hope you have a wonderful time. All the best..........Debbie

Re: Jewels of Egypt (JOE) - Dep.Sept. 30, 2007

Reading your posts is one of the best thing about browsing the forum. It's impossible not to look forward to the trip after reading them.

Re: Jewels of Egypt (JOE) - Dep.Sept. 30, 2007

Hello Warren,

You just made my day ! I love to share my experiences in Egypt, but its so nice to hear that others are getting something out of my input!!

Hope you have a wonderful holiday, as always, I wish I were going too!! All the best.......Debbie