AlanS
but did you drive a bit further south to neighboring Dahshur and get close to any of the pyramids
there (Bent Pyramid, Red Pyramid, Black Pyramid, etc.) or did you just view them from afar?
They intended to, but those sites were infested with the killer scorpions so they had to keep their distance!!
Lotusgirl
Thank you so much for this trip review. Im scheduled for the March 2022 trip and have been checking this forum regularly for info from past travelers. This trip is a little out of my comfort zone so hearing your report was so helpful. A question - at any time did you feel uncomfortable or a little unsafe? Thanks.
LisaTravels - I never felt that my personal safety was at risk. There is a guard on the bus for all of the tours, although it probably is not necessary.
The security in the Egyptian airports was very tight. As soon as you walk in, you and your carryon and luggage go through a metal detector and everyone is frisked. The women are frisked by a female, and she barely touches you. Be sure to have everything out of your pockets, and take your watch off ahead of time. After checking in, there is a similar security check (with frisking), but this time you also had to take your shoes off. The third screening consisted of checking your ticket.
Toward the end of the trip, as we were encountering more people at temples and the Egyptian museum, everyone became more diligent about wearing masks in enclosed spaces, walking past vendors and near other people. I always wore a mask on the tour bus. The staff in the hotels and the boat wore masks and I wore a mask inside those venues unless at the table in the dining room or cocktail area.
What a fantastic report LotusGirl. You just helped me make up my mind! Now that the GEM opening has been moved back-back-back we would have missed it on my October tour. I would have been so disappointed to have missed it. I've just moved it to February 2023. SURELY it will be opened by then and all the grand opening quirks will be worked out.
Since they are only offering 1 day at the GEM, we are going in 4 days early to have a full day on our own there. Touring 1 day in Alexandria, and a night dinner cruise on the Nile.
AustinGirl I'm certain the GEM will be open for your tour and I am truly looking forward to hearing all about it - so please report back on this sight upon your return.
That said, I considered delaying my trip for the chance to experience the GEM. I am so glad I did not as there are so many incredible sights in Egypt. Although I missed seeing the Solar Boat, I can honestly say I have no regrets on not seeing the contents on display in the GEM. The main artifacts of King Tut were still on display in the Old Egyptian Museum. I'm sure your tour will be SPECTACULAR!
AustinGirl
3:27PM
. . . . . SURELY it will be opened by then and all the grand opening quirks will be worked out.
. . . . . Since they are only offering 1 day at the GEM, we are going in 4 days early to have a full day on our own there. Touring 1 day in Alexandria, and a night dinner cruise on the Nile.
Each year starting in 2020 I said something similar about the GEM! How many times have they proven me wrong!?!? Maybe I'll get to see it in my next life!
Where did you see they are only "offering 1 day at the GEM?" I didn't see the GEM mentioned at all in any of the 2023 regular or small group J&E or Jewels itineraries?
After reviewing this older trip post - do any more recent Egypt: Jewels of the Nile travelers know if the group still visits Hatshepsut's Temple? Its not referenced in the itinerary but not everything is...
I believe both Jewels and Petra to the Pyramids tours only do a drive-by or quick photo stop at Hatshepsut's Temple (during the drive from Nefartari's tomb in the VOQ to the VOK.) We were on PtoP and just stopped briefly for photos, slightly less time than at the Colossi of Memnon. FYI pay attention or ask driver or guide to point it out but not long after leaving Nefartari's tomb on the way to Hatshepsut's Temple you'll pass right by the recently excavated Golden City of Aten. You can't see much from the bus window, but the serpentine walls are clearly visible. You also pass right by the Ramesseum and other temples which your guide may or may not point out. It is best to study a map of the west bank/Luxor Necropolis/VOK, etc. There is so much there to see!!!
When we finally did Petra to the Pyramids after COVID, I added a post stay and hired a private guide to take us to Meidom (first pyramid by King Sneferu who also built Red and Bent Pyramids and head of pyramid-building dynasty- was father of Khufu, grandfather of Khafre, and great grandfather of Menkaure, builders of the Giza pyramids) which my wife and I both entered, and see more of Saqqara for a closer look at the step pyramid, temple causeway, and truly incredible Serrapeum (not to be missed!). We also went to nearby Dahshur where I explored the interior passages and burial chambers of the Bent Pyramid. I had wanted to see the interior of the Djoser's Step Pyramid which are even more impressive but we ran out of time. I also found a little time when we first arrived in Aswan to visit the nearby quarry with its unfinished obelisk. It is only about a mile from the Old Cataract. Our TD and local guide helped us arrange for a taxi. Once there we asked for a site guide who spoke English- the one we got could only point and say "Obeliska, obeliska" :'( It was still impressive- It was about 2/3 or more complete and if it hadn't cracked and subsequently abandoned, would have been the largest Egyptian obelisk ever!!
Don't be disappointed if they change your boat and you cruise on the Philae instead of the more modern "looking" Zahra. While the exterior looks like most of the old Nile cruisers, Oberoi completely reworked the Philae, reduced the cabins by half and enlarged them. It is a totally new, modern, and fabulous boat on the inside!!
Unfinished Obelisk in Aswan
Philae
Zahra (parked behind us when we visited Kom Ombo and Crocodile Museum)
Meidum pyramid (70 mi. south of Cairo on desert highway- good road)
Typical photo I took during brief stop at Temple of Hatshepsut
Interior of one of the two burial chambers in the Bent Pyramid
Comments
They intended to, but those sites were infested with the killer scorpions so they had to keep their distance!!
The ones I was talking about are in Saqqara/Dahshur.
Lotusgirl
Thank you so much for this trip review. Im scheduled for the March 2022 trip and have been checking this forum regularly for info from past travelers. This trip is a little out of my comfort zone so hearing your report was so helpful. A question - at any time did you feel uncomfortable or a little unsafe? Thanks.
LisaTravels - I never felt that my personal safety was at risk. There is a guard on the bus for all of the tours, although it probably is not necessary.
The security in the Egyptian airports was very tight. As soon as you walk in, you and your carryon and luggage go through a metal detector and everyone is frisked. The women are frisked by a female, and she barely touches you. Be sure to have everything out of your pockets, and take your watch off ahead of time. After checking in, there is a similar security check (with frisking), but this time you also had to take your shoes off. The third screening consisted of checking your ticket.
Toward the end of the trip, as we were encountering more people at temples and the Egyptian museum, everyone became more diligent about wearing masks in enclosed spaces, walking past vendors and near other people. I always wore a mask on the tour bus. The staff in the hotels and the boat wore masks and I wore a mask inside those venues unless at the table in the dining room or cocktail area.
What a fantastic report LotusGirl. You just helped me make up my mind! Now that the GEM opening has been moved back-back-back we would have missed it on my October tour. I would have been so disappointed to have missed it. I've just moved it to February 2023. SURELY it will be opened by then and all the grand opening quirks will be worked out.
Since they are only offering 1 day at the GEM, we are going in 4 days early to have a full day on our own there. Touring 1 day in Alexandria, and a night dinner cruise on the Nile.
Now I have to find another tour for 2022!! YEAH!
AustinGirl I'm certain the GEM will be open for your tour and I am truly looking forward to hearing all about it - so please report back on this sight upon your return.
That said, I considered delaying my trip for the chance to experience the GEM. I am so glad I did not as there are so many incredible sights in Egypt. Although I missed seeing the Solar Boat, I can honestly say I have no regrets on not seeing the contents on display in the GEM. The main artifacts of King Tut were still on display in the Old Egyptian Museum. I'm sure your tour will be SPECTACULAR!
Each year starting in 2020 I said something similar about the GEM!
How many times have they proven me wrong!?!? Maybe I'll get to see it in my next life!
Where did you see they are only "offering 1 day at the GEM?" I didn't see the GEM mentioned at all in any of the 2023 regular or small group J&E or Jewels itineraries?
After reviewing this older trip post - do any more recent Egypt: Jewels of the Nile travelers know if the group still visits Hatshepsut's Temple? Its not referenced in the itinerary but not everything is...
Jane - on our 2021 tour, we did not actually visit the temple - we had a photo stop only.
Thx, Lotusgirl
I believe both Jewels and Petra to the Pyramids tours only do a drive-by or quick photo stop at Hatshepsut's Temple (during the drive from Nefartari's tomb in the VOQ to the VOK.) We were on PtoP and just stopped briefly for photos, slightly less time than at the Colossi of Memnon. FYI pay attention or ask driver or guide to point it out but not long after leaving Nefartari's tomb on the way to Hatshepsut's Temple you'll pass right by the recently excavated Golden City of Aten. You can't see much from the bus window, but the serpentine walls are clearly visible. You also pass right by the Ramesseum and other temples which your guide may or may not point out. It is best to study a map of the west bank/Luxor Necropolis/VOK, etc. There is so much there to see!!!
When we finally did Petra to the Pyramids after COVID, I added a post stay and hired a private guide to take us to Meidom (first pyramid by King Sneferu who also built Red and Bent Pyramids and head of pyramid-building dynasty- was father of Khufu, grandfather of Khafre, and great grandfather of Menkaure, builders of the Giza pyramids) which my wife and I both entered, and see more of Saqqara for a closer look at the step pyramid, temple causeway, and truly incredible Serrapeum (not to be missed!). We also went to nearby Dahshur where I explored the interior passages and burial chambers of the Bent Pyramid. I had wanted to see the interior of the Djoser's Step Pyramid which are even more impressive but we ran out of time. I also found a little time when we first arrived in Aswan to visit the nearby quarry with its unfinished obelisk. It is only about a mile from the Old Cataract. Our TD and local guide helped us arrange for a taxi. Once there we asked for a site guide who spoke English- the one we got could only point and say "Obeliska, obeliska"
:'( It was still impressive- It was about 2/3 or more complete and if it hadn't cracked and subsequently abandoned, would have been the largest Egyptian obelisk ever!!
Don't be disappointed if they change your boat and you cruise on the Philae instead of the more modern "looking" Zahra. While the exterior looks like most of the old Nile cruisers, Oberoi completely reworked the Philae, reduced the cabins by half and enlarged them. It is a totally new, modern, and fabulous boat on the inside!!
Unfinished Obelisk in Aswan
Philae
Zahra (parked behind us when we visited Kom Ombo and Crocodile Museum)
Meidum pyramid (70 mi. south of Cairo on desert highway- good road)
Typical photo I took during brief stop at Temple of Hatshepsut
Interior of one of the two burial chambers in the Bent Pyramid