April 19, 2023: Just returned from Petra to Pyramids
This was our 4th Tauck trip and as usual we had great experiences. Yes, you’re often up very early in order to beat the crowds at certain temples and tombs but well worth it. The in-flight tours were handled efficiently without a hitch. Excellent TD and local guides. However, 4 nights on the Nile cruise was too long and only 1 night at the beautiful Cataract Hotel in Aswan was, in my view, not enough. This part of the itinerary should definitely be tweaked. Instead, many in our group would have preferred 3 nights on the boat and 2 at the Cataract. In hindsight I would have also liked to have visited the capital of Jordan, Amman for half day. The itinerary should include such an important city after all. Otherwise, the sites, the people, the food and overall experiences made for a great trip.
Comments
Antonio,
What are your thoughts on the Petra leg of your trip?
Thank you.
We enjoyed the Petra leg as well. Lunch at Petra was a bit chaotic since other tour groups were at the buffet lunch as well. Unfortunately, weather prohibited the dinner at the Bedouin tents that evening but the Bedouins brought the show to the hotel dining room and a fine time was had by all.
As far as we could see when we went to Amman, there was nothing of note to see.
I believe only small group departures spend 4 nights on the boat and one at the Old Cataract. We personally thought our cabin on Philea was nicer than the room at the Old Cataract which I personally thought was nothing special. It had great views however! The service and food at the 1902 were meh!
If there was time, there are certainly more things to see in and around Aswan- Elephantine Island, ancient quarry of the unfinished obelisk, tombs of the nobles, etc. Earlier in the tour I informed our TD of our desire to see the obelisk, so she and our local guide arranged for a taxis to take us to the ancient quarry of the Unfinished Obelisk. Had it not cracked and been abandoned it would have been a third larger than the next largest obelisk built back in its day. The quarry was amazing; many projects (smaller obelisks, granite sarcophagi, etc.) in different stages of completion. It really puts context into the structures you will see during the remainder of the tour. It is only 1.5 mi. by taxi and less than a mile on foot, from the hotel (our taxi waited, but we were prepared to walk). Some TD's plan for it and automatically help arrange taxis. It worked out perfectly.
As you could see from your window there are a lot of ruins and a Nilometer on Elephantine Island. While interesting, I found the Monastery at San Simeon less interesting than other sites, especially in view of the long, boring drive (featureless dessert and high-tension towers and wires)- it took awhile for the bus to get there, but after you arrive you realize you are not far, only a mile as the crow flies, from the hotel! It is just north of the hilltop mausoleum of Aga Khan on the west bank.
But, Tauck has to balance things- not try to fit too much, wear everyone out, and fit it all into Oberoi's sailing schedule. Some folks thought Kom Ombo and Edfu were redundant, some wanted more of the same. There is just no convenient way to get from Aswan to Luxor (via Kom Ombo and Edfu) other than via Nile river cruiser. There are sailing restrictions on nighttime navigate and lock schedules to coordinate, as well.
My wife still puts K&T #1 but for me J&E is my new #1.
Yikes Alan, you look sunburnt there!
I used to be a blond and I turn red but rarely burn to the point where it hurts.
Alan - Your's is explanation #1 for the redness. Explanation #2 is that you had just finished two bottles of wine. 😂
I never drank much to begin with. After college, I stopped drinking all but rare sweet drinks (Margarita and random on-tour tasting, etc. but now, no beer, wine, or hard liquor). More recently, following doctor's orders, I no longer drink alcohol. So, I'm sticking with explanation #1.
Alan - Did they put you in the janitor's closet at the Old Cataract? My room (suite) was fabulous and massive. IIRC, there were 5 rooms in it.
Our tour group stayed in a separate high-rise. It was on the left (south) as you face west towards the hotel from town (as we exited the lobby we turned left onto a walk and walked under an arbor to the building which had a plain ground floor lobby. The room was normal size for Tauck, though the bath, with freestanding tub and separate shower was large. I know others, like mil stayed in large suites on their tour, but this was totally acceptable, especially for one night.
You got robbed
Alan - We were in the same building as you, but as BKMD said, we had a massive suite. Our TD was so excited because even she was going to get a suite at the Old Cataract.
When I look at your picture it looks like you aren’t showing the whole room. Our suite looked similar to yours, but there was an entire sitting room between the bedroom area and the door, and in the bathroom area there was an additional room as well.
Our room on the boat was nice, but didn’t compare to the Old Cataract. I couldn’t even stand up in the boat’s shower without hitting my head on the ceiling. I’m 6’6” but come on.
Thank you Alan for the pictures. Always interested to see how people were dressed.
Sam, we had a sitting "area," too, but I think there was only a half-wall between it and the bed. The bathroom was huge, but I don't remember another space, just a very large shower and maybe a walk-in closet. The only photo above that is mine is the arbor- all others came from the Old Cataract website. It was nice, but not over-the-top and we only slept there one short night. The next morning we were up early for the flight to Abu Simbel. When we returned it was directly to the Philea. (our bags were transferred to Philea while at Abu Simbel)
I made good use of my safari clothes.