Claire
·
January 11th, 2026
My family and I recently returned from the Pharoahs Nile Cruise Adventure with Beyond the Nile Tours. On a scale of 1-5, this organization is a stellar 10. I travel A LOT and I have never before experienced this level of customer service.
I was nervous leading up to the trip. Egypt has always been my number one bucket list destination, but I was concerned about safety. My son found this tour during a Tour Radar sale and we spontaneously booked it. But I stayed anxious. This was a budget tour. Was I skimping on my family’s safety? Whenever I got anxious I would pore over their thousands of five star reviews to reassure myself. I will add my voice to those thousands of five star reviews.
Our Friday night flight from New York was cancelled for weather after we sat on the tarmac, in the plane, for 4.5 hours. By the time we deplaned, retrieved our luggage, and took the train to a friend’s house, it was 6:30 Saturday morning. I kept Beyond the Nile Tours updated as to the late flight and then the cancellation. They always replied promptly: keep us informed.
My adult son arrived separately from the rest of us and there was a miscommunication that he was on the cancelled flight, but as soon as the miscommunication was realized, the tour people sprang into action. He made it to the hotel and got into his room with a minimum of fuss.
With JFK shut down for fourteen hours, re-booking was a nightmare. We could not get on a flight until Sunday afternoon, getting us to Cairo Monday morning. By that time we had missed the tours of the Pyramids in Giza and GEM, and the rest of the tour had taken the flight to Luxor. But this is when we met Mohamed.
He found us replacement flights to Luxor in the afternoon and arranged a place for us to rest for the interval between our arrival and the flight to Luxor. When I asked that instead of resting, could we please see the Pyramids, he made it happen. He picked us up at the airport, grabbed a tour guide on the way, and got us to the Pyramids. We had about 2.5 hours, but we saw them; we wandered around; we got the information; rode the camels; took iconic family photos; and then were bundled into a van and brought back to the airport in time for our flight. It was a whirlwind, but it was spectacular. He kept us moving, but I never felt rushed. I just felt chills looking at the Pyramids for the first time. The dream of a lifetime.
We were met at the Luxor airport and whisked off to the Sonesta Nile Goddess. We had missed the tours of Luxor and Karnak, but we arrived in time for the Karnak Sound and Light Show. I pre-booked the Sound and Light Show even though all of the reviews said it was bad and cheesy, but it is also the only way to get into the Temple at night. The reviews were correct: the show was terrible, but it got us inside the Temple, which was spectacular lit up at night.
The Sonesta Nile Goddess was great. Our stateroom had a living room, bedroom, bathroom, and balcony. All spotlessly clean. My sons each had a single room, which were also very nice and spotlessly clean. The steward was lovely and really leaned into the towel creations: the mummy and the zombie were my favorites. The rest of the staff was equally kind and courteous. The waiters and bar staff were on top of things: Dirty plates whisked away; water brought promptly. The food was plentiful and good. I would have liked a couple of child-friendly options at the buffet for lunch and dinner; a little more white meat chicken; but my more adventurous family chowed down. Tea at 4 pm on the upper deck was lovely. After only one day of ordering my tea at the bar, it was thereafter delivered to my table, with a “Your tea, Miss Claire.” Table service was not part of tea, the bar staff just did it. It was a lovely touch.
Many of the reviews, even the five star ones, mentioned feeling rushed on the cruise. We took the five day cruise and the pace was perfect: up early to see another bucket list temple, back to the ship for lunch, afternoon on the upper deck playing cards or reading, with tea and snacks at 4 pm; back to another bucket list temple for the early evening; followed by dinner at 8. We were all relaxed and happy.
Although there are complaints online about the early morning start for Abu Simbel, I would advocate for leaving one hour earlier. We were able to get into the main temple, but the line was too long and the sun too strong for us to attempt the smaller temple. The earlier you arrive, the smaller the crowds. And the sun is relentless.
Ahmed, our tour guide on the ship ensured that everyone knew where to be when we needed to be there and generally kept us all in line with efficiency and humor. He gave us the right amount of information and then let us have some free time in the various locations. My only quibble with the tour portion was the time spent at the perfume place. I understand it was thematically appropriate, but I, and I think many others, would have greatly preferred a stop at a fair trade souvenir shop.
We, and many others in the group, pre-booked extra days in Cairo for the Saqqara and Old Cairo tours. I strongly urge these tours. The Saqqara Tour in particular was incredible: Standing before the Step Pyramid is chills-inducing. Entering the Bent Pyramid was a highlight of the trip for my sons.
The Old Cairo tour was a tad problematic in that all involved thought there would be a stop at the Cairo market, which was not on the program. Mohamed helped sort this out via Whatsapp and we ended up walking through the market, stopping to browse, and finished with coffee at the Khan el Khalili Coffeehouse - totally touristy and a highlight of the day.
Mohamed was a running theme throughout the trip. Whether he was there in person or via Whatsapp, issues disappeared, wrinkles were smoothed, and people smiled. For the Cairo portion of the trip, it seemed that Mohamed never went home. He was always in the hotel lobby, keeping the various tours and airport pickups running smoothly, solving problems before they occurred. He was endlessly patient, endlessly kind, and the real driver of the success of this trip. He is a treasure and I hope the tour company appropriately values him.
We missed the GEM tour included with the trip, so we went on our own after the Old Cairo tour, taking an Uber from the hotel. We arrived at 18:30 and the museum closed at 21:00, but it was perfect. The museum was empty. We walked right up to Tut’s mask and there were only five or six other people at the Solar Barque. The museum was magical lit up at night with no crowds.
I would also urge buying the supplemental tickets at the Valley of the Kings. The Tomb of Seti I is not just remarkable, but it is also not crowded, allowing one to actually see and appreciate the artwork.
I heartily recommend this tour and am sincerely grateful to Beyond the Nile Tours, Nourbelle Tours, and Mohamed for making it happen, against all odds. My family will forever remember the Pyramids, the temples, playing cards on the upper deck as the Nile flowed by, climbing through the Bent Pyramid feeling like Indiana Jones, the clatter of the markets, and the kindness of the people. Take the trip.
Show more
Kamal
·
January 11th, 2026
Overall Experience
The tour was excellent and truly memorable. Egypt as a country exceeded our expectations—we loved the history, food, shopping, and overall experience.
Highlights
• The Egyptologists/archaeologists assigned to our tour, Mr. Ashraf and Mr. Abdul, were outstanding. Their knowledge, passion, and storytelling rekindled our love for Egypt and made the trip truly special.
• Hotels were very good, and breakfast at each location was consistently enjoyable.
• The Nile Cruise experience itself was great.
• Optional tours such as the hot air balloon ride, felucca/lunch rides, and the Nubian village were amazing.
• Iconic sites like the Pyramids and the Sphinx were unforgettable.
Areas for Improvement
• Nile Cruise room size: The triple-occupancy room was extremely tight with very little space to move. If we had known this in advance, we would have opted for a single supplement. Clear upfront guidance on room size and comfort would be helpful.
• Unexpected charges: Some charges were communicated only after arrival, particularly tips for crew and drivers. While tipping is understood, collecting it upfront without prior clarity was unexpected.
• Entrance fees: Although it was mentioned that entrance fees would be extra, there was no indication of approximate costs. The total amount came as a surprise.
• Optional tour sales experience: The person handling optional tours could be more customer-friendly. At times, the interactions felt abrupt and rude, which negatively affected the experience.
Specific Feedback on Abu Simbel
The Abu Simbel visit was not worth the long travel time. It involved several hours of travel, standing in line briefly, and then returning, which made the experience disappointing compared to other highlights of the trip.
Overall Rating
• Tour: Excellent
• Egyptologists (Mr. Ashraf & Mr. Abdul): Amazing
Despite a few areas that need better communication and customer handling, this was a fantastic trip overall, largely thanks to the incredible guides and the richness of Egypt itself.
Show more
