Aswan Travel Forum

We are planning a trip to Egypt for either November 07or January 08.
We are hoping for a few days in Cairo with a guide and a few days in Luxor with a guide. We also plan to take a short cruise to some of the other archaeological and historic sites along the Nile. I have looked on-line for cruises and just can't seam to find a cruise without it being associated with a tour group. Can anyone recommend and provide a contact for booking directly with a Nile cruise boat. I would like to find a boat that is 50 to 60 cabins in size, has good guides, is clean and has good safe food and water. I would greatly appreciate hearing your experience with such a boat.

Hello! I , too was looking for an addition of a Nile Cruise to my individual trip, not associated with a tour group. I had success, and I think you will too. I went to http://www.nilecruising.com/. I booked a cruise on the St. George, which is one of the higher-end ones, but they have descriptions of many with a clear idea of cost and pictures. I dealt with Terry at the Georgia, USA office via e-mail. He is very knowledgable and efficient. I also added private tours in Cairo through him. They were very reasonable (full day, fully guided tours of Giza, Museum, Saqqara, Memphis and Dashour--all private for about $100 pp/per day--there are only 2 of us). However, you do not have to book anything else through them if you don't want. Check out the whole site at www.travelegypt.com. Find a cruise that suits what you want and then e-mail him. Tell him that the annoying control-freak, Jill Bardwell, just booked through him and recommended him! :)

Do cairo without a guide. Very interesting.

You may wish to try Travco, one of the biggest cruise companies in Egypt. I booked directly with them (contact details are in their website www.travcotels.com) so you don't have to deal with any tour operators. Their ships are safe, modern and clean and tastefully done (this is a matter of taste of course). I took the 3-night cruise from Aswan to Luxor aboard Crown Jubilee, one of their more luxurious vessels. Since I was traveling solo, I was assigned my own guide (English-speaking, of course) - which suited me perfectly well since I abhor organized tours (this was my first one). This also gave me flexibility when it comes to amount of time spent on the sights, and the full freedom to ask even the most rubbish of questions :)

It was a bit more expensive - US$ 160/night/person inclusive of all buffet meals and entrance fees to the monuments - but well worth it. I suppose it would be cheaper if you're traveling with a companion or as a group.

Enjoy your trip!

I did a Nile cruise 4 times.
The first time within a tour group; not to be recommended!!!! For various reasons: company, unwilling stops at perfume shops, alabaster factories, carpet factories etc.

The next three times I asked my friend in Egypt to organise our trip to our likings and that included the cruises. He always did it perfect!

Our last cruise trip included a cruise from Aswan to Abu Simbel and a Cruise from Aswan to Luxor. The entire trip was 17 days and included the cruises, 5 days in Cairo and 4 days in Dahab. We were with 4 persons and paid 450 Euro's per person. That included the cruises, hotel overnights, entrance fees, all transportation and our own private guide during the entire trip.

Give your itinerary to local travelagents and wait for their prices. Compare!!!!

You can do an Internet request on www.touregypt.net. I did that the first time I planned my own trip to Egypt. I ended up with the young man that since than organised every trip I take to Egypt:

m.bahaa2@usa.net
bahaa94@hotmail.com