Private Group Tour to Egypt
We had an exceptional, bespoke experience across Cairo, Luxor, Aswan and Sharm El Sheikh, and so much of that was thanks to our dedicated tour guide and the highly accommodating agency.
Our tour guide, Mahmoud Farah, was approachable, friendly and well-informed. His passion for Egyptian history made every stop—from the Valley of the Kings to the temples and pyramid tombs—deeply educational. In many moments, he truly made history come alive. Despite the heavy crowds at the Valley of the Kings, he navigated the situation with ease, choosing the shortest lines so we could maximise our time inside the tombs without feeling rushed. Moments like these made us appreciate just how much he was looking out for us.
Mahmoud was proactive and obliging, often handling logistics behind the scenes that we weren’t even aware of. He adapted quickly to our preferences, whether it was arranging a change of restaurant, adjusting timings for Abu Simbel, minimising traffic delays or coordinating surprises with the cruise operator for our fellow travellers. He also helped with dinner arrangements to the best of his ability and accommodated special meal requests—including arranging a quail dish when we discovered it was a local delicacy.
Although the start of the trip felt a little rushed, he quickly read the group dynamic and adjusted his pace accordingly. His sense of humour, warmth and willingness to go the extra mile made each day enjoyable and comfortable. We genuinely appreciated how consistently proactive he was.
While Mahmoud clearly knew his facts well, the experience could be further enhanced with the use of handheld mics and more “show and tell” moments. He could also refine pacing and itinerary choices to suit the group’s composition—for example, those who enjoy shopping, require wheelchairs or have varying interests. He handled ticketing smoothly in Luxor, though coordination in Cairo could have been better. Still, his friendliness and dedication made the trip memorable—so much so that we invited him to several meals to thank him and our driver.
Overall, he provided a high-quality experience: flexible, passionate and always willing to go above and beyond.
The agency impressed us time and again. We were genuinely surprised—in the best way—by the beautiful suites on the Nile cruise. Throughout the trip, Hatem was accommodating, thoughtful and quick to respond, especially when things didn’t go as planned.
When our flight was delayed and we missed our connection, they immediately activated a Plan B: a driver and a bus so we could continue our journey. Sleeping on the bus wasn’t ideal, but we were grateful they ensured we kept moving. They also secured our land transfer to Sharm El Sheikh, which helped us get back on track.
Crossing the Suez Canal was an unexpected highlight, even though the security checks were frequent and intense. Hesham, the agency’s meet-and-greet support at the airport and the guides and drivers at various stops were also smooth and attentive.
However, booking connecting flights upfront would have made baggage handling much easier. It also would have been helpful to receive a clear tipping guide before the trip to set expectations and avoid misunderstandings. These were minor issues compared to everything they executed so well.
In the end, our trip felt truly personalised—seeing King Tut’s treasures, walking through ancient tombs and temples, riding on camels, floating in a hot-air balloon, and visiting the new Grand Egyptian Museum. Every experience felt thoughtfully curated.
Overall, we would highly recommend Egypt Joy and Mahmoud for their flexibility, proactive service and genuine desire to make our trip special. A strong 9/10.