My husband and I are planning a trip to Egypt in October or November of this year (our first trip to Egypt), and want to use a tour company that is reputable with small groups (less than 25) and 5* hotels & Nile cruise ship. I've researched the tour companies and recommendations so much I'm on overload! Some questions:

1) Is a 4 night cruise okay, or is a 7-night better? We're planning on an 11-day trip.

2) Based on the huge number of cruisers who dock next to each other, is it worth using a company that uses their own dock (i.e: A & K)?

3) Has anyone ever used Robinson Crusoe Tours? If so, how was it?

4) I've looked at Tauck, Abercrombie & Kent, Robinson Crusoe, General Tours, African Travel, iExplore, Viking, Insight, Amadeus, International Expeditions, Smithsonian, National Geographic, Grand European, ...the list goes on)...any favorites?

5) Do the tour companies like Tauck and A & K make spending the extra money for their tour justified?

Many thanks for any and all suggestions.

Theresa -

You posted this previously or similar. To find early thread and keep all info re this trip together, just click on your name and original thread will appear.

Are you wedded to a tour? My husband and I leave in 10 days for Egypt and Jordan - we're independent travelers but had assumed we would take a tour in Egypt.

But after doing some research I determined we could do the trip independently (with private guides) for a good price.

Re your questions - we're taking a 4 night cruise - even then the boat is docked for 2 nights in Aswan - I think it's sufficient.

The boat we're on also has its own docks (Oberoi Philae) and that was a bonus for me - but not a requirement.

I think doing an independent tour with private guides is the best. It gives you more flexibility with what you want to see. I just returned from Egypt and Jordan and a 4 night cruise is good - it gives you time to check out Abu Simbel, Cairo on your own.

Sandi:

Ooops!!! This was meant for tripadvisor.com; I inadvertantly cut & pasted it to fodors.com. Sorry for the mistake...

The only company who makes private or small groups tours is Travelegyptnow .i have done my tur individual then i joined group small (not more than 15 ) in Luxor and Aswan.

Hi Theresa63

this is good trip and you choose the correct timing to visit Egypt

i send to you the following trip details and this may help you in planning your trip .

day01 arrival
day02 cairo tour full day pyramids of giza ,Egyptian Museum, Sakkara
night train to Aswan
the sleeping train price 60$usd per person with two meals

day03 Aswan-nile cruise
Aswan visits

day04 Abu simble-sailing to KomOmbo

day05 Nile cruise visit Edfu

day06 Nile cruise Luxor visits
valley of Kings
valley of queens
queen hatshepsut temple
colossi of memnon

Luxor temple
Karnak temple

train to Cairo

Day07 Cairo arrival
old islamic Cairo visits
sound and light show

day08 Alexandria Overday
visit to
catacombs of Kom El Shokafa
pompai`s pillar
quitbay fort
roman amphitheatre
montazah palace royal garden

day09 cairo visit
old coptic cairo
Dahshur pyramids

day10 cairo departure

the 4stars hotels prices in Egypt
starts from 30$usd per person in a night with breakfast

the 5stars hotels prices in Egypt
starts from 40$usd per person in a night with breakfast

the 4stars Cruises prices in Egypt
starts from 40$usd per person in a night with breakfast+lunch+dinner

the 5stars Cruises prices in Egypt
starts from 48$usd per person in a night with breakfast+lunch+dinner

the 5stars deluxe Cruises prices in Egypt
starts from 55$usd per person in a night with breakfast+lunch+dinner

if you like to fly from Cairo to Aswan to save time and effort as the train trip duration is 12 hours then the flight tickets starts from 50$usd .

i hope my info could help you

good luck
larry