2 Week Ancient Wonders Tours & Trips

Reviews of 2 week Ancient Wonders Tours

• LyndallTraveled in October

  4.3

  Our guide Kenta was excellent. He was cheerful, helpful and attentive. It was a busy itinerary with some ‘free’ days which were much needed for an older couple. My main concern with the tour was that the group had 29 people so we really needed headsets or the group to be split into 2 groups. It was very difficult to hear information if you were at the back of the walking group or even halfway back. This was a constant and annoying problem. It was disappointing to miss so much. The hotels and transport were fine and the Itinerary gave a very good coverage of Japan. We chose this specific tour because it included Hiroshima. Most tours did not. Overall, an enjoyable tour.

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  14 Days Japan Panoramic(Private 3 Star Hotels)
• DebTraveled in October

  5

  Sixteen delightful days exploring India, and we are leaving with wonderful memories, very happy hearts and perhaps slightly less room in our waistbands! We booked through TourRadar with Swastik India Journeys, and we are so thankful we did. Karni has been wonderful to deal with, always very prompt with communication and quick to respond to any concerns. Having local guides in each destination while keeping the same driver throughout gave us both local insight and the comfort of a familiar face. The biggest thank-you belongs to our driver, Suraj, who became so much more than our driver. We started calling him our “Indian Brother” because he looked after us as though we were family. Always mindful, respectful and thoughtful, he showed such care for our safety and comfort. His kindness made our trip incredibly special, and we will really miss him. A special mention to Sunny, our guide in Jodhpur, who went out of his way to find us a wonderful samosa—a small gesture that became such a lovely memory! And to Armit in Agra, whose stories about the royal families brought the history of the fort and, of course, the magnificent Taj Mahal to life. Pushkar was another memorable stop. We stayed for one night, and although the accommodation was okay rather than amazing, the area itself was fascinating. The market was incredible, and we saw more Westerners there than we had seen during our entire trip. Many seemed to have stepped away from mainstream life and embraced their hippy side, creating a wonderfully unique atmosphere. We also had a camel safari in Pushkar, although, to be honest, we were disappointed with it. It felt very touristy and took place in an area of sand rather than being the safari experience we had imagined. There was also a gondola that would have been lovely to include in the itinerary. However, Suraj once again made a beautiful gesture by organising a local yoga session for me. As a yogi, I will treasure that experience forever. The view from the studio was stunning, and taking part in a traditional Indian yoga session was incredibly special to me. Thank you for this, Suraj. Unfortunately, our local guide initially tried to charge me double the price for the experience, but once we discovered this, it was quickly corrected. He also gave us a ride back to our hotel on the back of his motorcycle, which was a wonderful experience. One of the absolute highlights was our stay at Sardargarh Fort. To stay somewhere with so much history was remarkable, but it was the welcome that made it unforgettable. Akhi Singh, whose historic family home this is, generously showed me the family areas and behind the scenes—even introducing me to the family dogs. Those personal touches made us feel so welcome. It was one of the most impressive and memorable places we stayed. Our accommodation in Agra was also absolutely lovely and modern. Unfortunately, our first accommodation in Delhi was a disappointing start and did not meet the four-star standard we had understood we were booking. However, we appreciated the tour company responding to our concerns and arranging different accommodation for our final night before departure. The food throughout our journey has been exceptional. We have loved exploring the spices and flavours of India, and we will certainly miss our breakfasts! The dosas and omelettes, with all their delicious accompaniments, were particular favourites. Sixteen days has been delightful, although our waistlines might be thankful we are heading home! Ranthambore gave us another unforgettable highlight: two safari visits and two tiger sightings. How lucky were we! Experiencing the park at sunrise and again in the late afternoon was wonderful. One suggestion would be to include Ranthambore Fort in the itinerary. We arranged to visit during a free afternoon after our safari and were so thankful we did. Suraj organised a local jeep to take us through the national park to reach the fort, then accompanied us up the many stairs and explained its origins along the way. The spectacular views and fascinating history made this an experience we would have been very sorry to miss. There have been so many extraordinary sights, but it is also the people, their kindness and those unexpected personal moments that we will remember. Thank you to Karni, our guides, our hosts and especially our Indian Brother, Suraj, for helping make these sixteen days so special. We are taking home far more than photographs. Thank you so very much Deb New Zealand

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  Taj Mahal & Rajasthan with Royal Stay at Castles
• PandoraTraveled in March

  4

  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.

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  Golden Egypt tour: 14 Day luxury (Cairo GEM & Alexandria & White desert & Nile cruise & Hurghada)