Wildlife Tours in Middle East

We joined the tour from February 8 to 21. I chose this program because of the 14-day itinerary, which I believe is very well designed and offers a wonderful overview of what Egypt has to offer — from the historic pyramids and desert adventures to a Nile cruise and the Red Sea beach lifestyle. In terms of itinerary design, I would give it 5 stars. However, when it comes to execution, I would rate it only 2 to 3 stars. The biggest issue was communication. Our itinerary was shifted away from the original plan to accommodate combined groups, and we were often informed of pickup times and what to bring at the last minute. This created unnecessary stress and made it harder to fully enjoy what Egypt has to offer. Another concern was the time wasted purchasing entrance tickets at various sites. Since entrance fees were not included in the package, we had to buy tickets on site. Given that the tour and guide had already planned visits to these historical sites and museums, tickets could have been purchased in advance, with travelers reimbursing the guide, or the fees could simply have been included in the package. This would have made visits far more efficient and allowed us to spend more meaningful time at each site rather than rushing through after waiting in line. We understand that travelers can join the tour on different days and that groups are eventually combined, which likely explains the itinerary adjustments for operational efficiency. That is understandable from a business perspective. However, with clearer and more timely communication, the overall experience would have been much better. On a positive note, we did enjoy meeting other travelers along the journey. Regarding the guides, we had three in total. Fortunately, the experience improved with each one. Unfortunately, our first guide, Kareem Basha, did not meet expectations. He collected USD 34 from each traveler, stating that USD 30 was for a 30 minutes camel ride and USD 4 was for tips to the camel owners. Later, we learned that the average cost of a one-hour camel ride at Giza is around USD 6–10. In the afternoon, we visited the Grand Egyptian Museum. It took nearly 40 minutes for everyone to pay 1,450 EGP in cash to a third party for tickets. There was also no clear communication about what items were allowed inside the museum, which caused inconvenience; one traveler even lost an item because she was not properly informed about the locker arrangements. The first official touring day was supposed to include lunch, yet we were not offered a meal until 6:30 p.m., and it consisted of overcooked chicken and French fries. This did not match the description of “savoring an authentic Egyptian meal at a local restaurant handpicked by your guide.” The guide did not stay with the group until the end and asked the driver to take us back to the hotel after the meal. We do not mind tipping, but we felt uncomfortable about the camel ride pricing, which may explain why he left before tips were given. Fortunately, we only had him for one day. Our other two guides, Sheriff and Iman, were both wonderful and provided much better experiences. Our only suggestion for improvement remains the advance handling of entrance tickets. The accommodation in Cairo was also below expectations. The fixtures did not meet a four-star standard. Additionally, although the booking clearly indicated three adults sharing a room, we had to wait 30–40 minutes after midnight for a third bed to be set up. Arriving exhausted and having to wait further for the room to be prepared was disappointing and reflects operational shortcomings. In summary, this tour has a beautifully designed itinerary that offers a rich and varied experience of Egypt. The highlight for us was definitely the White Desert trip Ahmed took such good care of us — truly magical and an unforgettable experience that will stay with us for a long time.

On the day of our arrival, the crisis in the Arab region broke out. Golden Egypt, and in particular the managing director Eyad, immediately took care of us. Due to the current situation, it was not possible to travel to Jordan as planned. Eyad promptly arranged a new program, taking all our wishes into account. The entire Golden Egypt team made it possible for us to have a wonderful holiday. They were always reachable and did everything they could to accommodate all our needs.

We absolutely loved Peter he was amazing throughout our trip !