Camels?
Hi everyone. We have gone on several tours before and I just booked the Egypt tour, large group, for next Christmas time. I see from googling online that the trip no longer includes camel rides due to animal cruelty concerns. However, I’ve always dreamed of riding on a camel in Egypt. Can anyone who has been on the trip advise me as to whether a quick camel ride is something I could accomplish in this itinerary as an extra feature, or if it could be added to the end of the trip? Also, did any of you find the pace of the strip to be really overwhelming? My family and I went on the Japan trip and it was pretty jampacked with activities… still, very excited!
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I did this tour in 2022. I skipped the camel ride on this tour, as I'd done it before. I think you should have time in the pyramid area, unless they rush you through.
There's plenty of down time when your on the boat on the Nile. Travel logistics were less than optimal on some days with very early starts, then free afternoons. For example, waking up at 3 AM for the day trip to Abu Simbel, then having most of the afternoon free.
AmyHCA I was on the December 2021 Petra to the Pyramids tour. There were opportunities to ride camels in Jordan and Egypt. If you are rushed at the pyramids during the tour, just ask the TD to arrange an escorted taxi back to the site. The Mena House hotel is very near the pyramids. I wanted additional photos of the pyramids. The TD arranged for the driver to take me back to the site. I didn't have a desire to ride the camel again; however, the driver knew the camel folks and could have easily arranged that activity. Hopefully you'll have the advantage of seeing the GEM...Inshallah
Both my husband and I have been on camels twice with Tauck, we don’t enjoy it. Last year we were on a tour with another company and skipped the camel ride in the Sahara and took the jeep ride over the dunes, it was awesome.
I went on this tour in 2007 and rode a camel, I found it fun, I again rode a camel on another trip this time for much longer, incredibly it cured my sciatica
I rode a camel a couple of times. It was good to experience it.
I don't think riding a camel is any more cruel than riding a horse. Camels have been used for riding and carrying goods for thousands of years. As with horses, the owner has an incentive to treat the camel well. Just like horses, camels are expensive.
Some owners of either horses or camels may treat their animals poorly but I expect they are a minority.
On our camel ride in Jordan, the guy behind the camel constantly hit the camel with a stick, perhaps that is what is meant by cruelty
If you Google camel cruelty in Egypt, you will see what may have led tor the decision to cease including the camel photo opportunity.
So this is part of what I found
Transportation changes: The Egyptian Ministry of Tourism and Antiquities announced plans to replace animal rides at the Giza pyramids with electric vehicles. As of April 2025, a PETA-approved electric bus system was reportedly launched at the site.
Is Tauck still offering camel rides on their Morocco tours?
Mary Margaret McClure I was on the November 2024 Morocco tour. The camel ride in Morocco is merely a camel stroll through a parking lot. In my opinion it was just a photo op! There s down-time. There were opportunities to arrange for a camel ride in Marrakech
Thank you!