Reviews

Most Inspirational Moment

There were so many sights and moments to choose from in this trip! Jordan: Wadi Rum: sunset, traditional Bedouin dinner and stargazing. Petra: aside from the famous treasury, Mikhled’s alternative walk up through the royal tombs with panoramic views and the climb up to the monastery to dinner with a Bedouin family. Egypt: The temple and the ecolodge at Abu Simbel. Visiting Luxor temple by night, rather than the following morning as per the itinerary. The felucca ride on the Nile.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Jordan: Mikhled was our tour leader in Jordan and was absolutely fantastic. From the very first day we felt welcomed. He had great people skills and was very personable, looking out for everyone. Since we were only an intimate group of 4 people, he took us to small local family restaurants, had dinner with a Bedouin family and he tried to introduce us to the everyday life of the people. He was very enthusiastic, knowledgeable and engaging, and we learnt so much about the sights, culture, history as well as daily life of the Jordanians in our short time there. On travelling from Petra to the airport for the flight to Cairo, Mikhled suddenly stopped the van and disappeared, only returning to have bought us a bag of falafel to eat whilst we waited at the airport! He also WhatsApp'd us the day after we had flown to Egypt to check up on us and make sure we had arrived safely, which was very thoughtful. We would, without a doubt, highly recommend him as a tour leader for anyone looking to visit Jordan. Egypt: Our tour leader in Egypt was Yousef and he was excellent as a teacher and educator in the hieroglyphs and history of ancient Egypt and we really enjoyed his explanations and how he brought the hieroglyphs to life.

Advice for Potential Travellers

This trip certainly covers a lot in the two weeks, and could be very tiring for some, especially in Egypt where the itinerary is more demanding with lots of travelling to get to more remote sights. Meal times in Egypt were quite irregular, so wise to have a supply of snacks. Bring ear plugs if you are a light sleeper!

Most Inspirational Moment

Luxor temple by night

Thoughts on Group Leader

Well organised but more concerned to keep to the itinerary than to allow time to appreciate the sites

Advice for Potential Travellers

This itinerary was demanding in terms of travelling to reach all the sites but well worth the effort involved

Most Inspirational Moment

Sunset at Wadi Rum, and walking through Petra

Thoughts on Group Leader

Excellent, enthusiastic and considerate. Went the extra mile

Advice for Potential Travellers

I would recommend this trip to Jordan wholeheartedly. A very welcoming country with amazing Natean, Roman, Byzantine and Bedouin sites to appreciate.

Most Inspirational Moment

In Jordan our day in Petra where we discovered there was so much more to see than the heavily advertised Treasury and Monastery. The massive area the site covered, variety of buildings and civilisations evidenced by the ruins was spectacular. The Bedouin experience at Wadi Rum was just as impressive. A completely different landscape to that I’m used to, the taste of food cooked in an underground oven, a moonlit night ride to stargazing, a magnificent sunrise and a 4 X 4 tour of the local area, taking in stark rock formations, ancient writing, soap plant hand washing, an endurance run and rock climbers turning up to scale a cliff. In Egypt the vast scale of the great pyramids, that there were still many questions unanswered regarding the dates and methods of construction and the incredible belief system that must have been in place for the investment of time and economic effort of subjects for the benefit of their pharaoh. Also, our Nubian experience, which included desert regeneration, rescued and reconstructed temples and a Nubian lodge at Abu Simbel. The lodge and surroundings were quite spacious and peaceful compared to Cairo and Luxor. The felucca sailing experience on the Nile was special too.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Both Ahmed in Jordan and Yousef in Egypt were very knowledgeable, came with a wealth of experience, were great ambassadors for their countries, making us feel welcome and valued. They were happy to answer our questions, and both had a great sense of humour. In Egypt there was also a senior Exodus representative with us, Sara, who fed back the benefit of her many years of experience to the local operator. Her being there was a positive experience for the group and I’m sure will see positive tweaks to the itinerary, I also thought it shows that Exodus is committed to continuous improvement.

Advice for Potential Travellers

Customs officials in Egypt didn’t like us bringing in optical equipment (monocular) and cameras were singled out and then wiped with chemicals as part of explosive testing.

Most Inspirational Moment

Petra

Most Inspirational Moment

If I have to chose, for Jordan the day in Petra and the time in Wadi Rum. For Egypt the pyramids, our time in the Nubian lodge and Abu Simbel temple. Also the couple of hours tacking North up the Nile on the sail boat. That was so peaceful. Also Luxor Temple by night was special. Experiencing the shear size of the monuments and sites helps understand the magnificent achievements of builders and engineers in their construction

Thoughts on Group Leader

Both leaders had a very good sense of humour

Most Inspirational Moment

Trip to wadi rum and trip into desert. Walk upto monastery in Petra.

Thoughts on Group Leader

None

Most Inspirational Moment

If I have to chose, for Jordan the day in Petra and the time in Wadi Rum. For Egypt the pyramids, our time in the Nubian lodge and Abu Simbel temple. Also a couple of hours tacking North up the Nile on the sail boat. That was so peaceful. Also Luxor Temple by night was special. Experiencing the shear size of the monuments and sites helps understand the magnificent achievements of builders and engineers in their construction

Thoughts on Group Leader

Both leaders had a very good sense of humour

Most Inspirational Moment

Trip to wadi rum and trip into desert. Walk up to monastery in Petra.

Thoughts on Group Leader

Guides were very knowledgeable and willing to help.