I just completed the first leg of my African voyage a few days ago with EZ Tour Egypt. And I must say I was truly impressed. Initially, I was hesitant because I had received lower quotes for tour packages prior to my arrival. I was only seeking transportation to my hotel when I met Mark. He greeted me after passing thru customs so we talked. We arranged a full day trip in Egypt (7 hours) and a full day in Luxor 9.5 hours) I used one day to explore on my own. (My hotel was only 15 meters away from the Egyptian museum. A must visit before all of the pieces are moved to its new location in Giza in 2020.)
My Giza tour guide was magnificent. We visited both of the popular pyramid sites. He even offered to take me to locations that provided oils and perfumes & a private tour via horse/camel back to the pyramids and Sphinx) Now these tours are not part of the EZ tour cost so be cautious. They can become costly. Be prepared to negotiate and plan accordingly. You can avoid walking around this massive valley for hours if you book a camel or horse. Plus they are knowledgeable of the best places to take photos! We later visited an authentic papyrus store who housed some great artwork. Afterward s, we had a great lunch and they returned me to my hotel.
My tour to Luxor was even better. In my opinion, there is more history in Luxor then in Cairo. (Many of the artifacts in the Museum in Cairo came from Luxor). The company arranged for my transportation to the airport early that morning. Upon arriving in Luxor, my driver and tour guide were waiting for me as I walked thru baggage claim. Tamer, my tour guide, is very knowledgeable of the history, culture, and was able to convey to me the truths and myths around Early Egyptian History. We visited every site listed on the tour. We even stopped along the way to some local shops for some authentic jewelry and art. (Not the souvenir shops you find around the temple). I enjoyed a solo tour so much better than the group tour. I find them to be more informative. I’m a history buff and I wanted to know EVERYTHING he learned in one day! He did a masterful job feeding me pieces at a time and then allowing me the time to digest and explore as I liked. He even provided me some cool videos and pics from his phone for my usage later when I document my voyage. I had a wonderful lunch and spent the last hour of my day at a cafe” across from Luxor taking in a mini festival.
All in all, I really enjoyed myself. Again plan according-most of the people of Egypt earn their living thru tips and commissions. The tour guides, drivers, animal handlers, and everyone in between. So be prepared to constantly feel this part throughout your stay. Don’t allow anyone to pressure you into tipping them. But do expect to tip often. Finally, traffic is organized chaos! It appears dysfunctional to tourist - but to the natives it’s normal. Don’t let it bother you.
