Osiris ToursReviews of osiristours.com

Jolene and I have traveled all over the world. Egypt had been in our bucket list for a long time. Fortunately this spring we connected with Mahmoud Gebril of Osiris Tours. After patiently listening to our wishes and offering a variety of options we settled on an itinerary with Mahmoud. We had read his previous reviews and were very comfortable after talking with him. Now for the arrangements and our trip. Simply perfect for both. Mahmoud had arranged for us to be met at the airport in Cairo. His airport manager walked us though Immigration in just a few minutes. Hassan, the Cairo coordinator, met us outside the airport and escorted us to the Four Seasons Hotel. The next morning Hassan returned to introduce us to Sam who would b our expert Egyptologist for the new 5 days. Sam escorted us to the Egypt museum in Cairo. The following day Sam was waiting with Mahmoud's Luxor airport manager to escort us to the Temple of Karnac and Luxor Temple. Amazing. On the following days we Valley of the Kings where we felt like Howard Carter when we entered King Tut's tomb. After three days touring the extraordinary sights at Luxor with Sam, we flew back to Cairo. Before we left Egypt we would visit the Great Pyramids with Sam. The trip was a short drive from the Mena House hotel Mahmoud had booked for us. You should see the grin I had as Jo and I mounted our camels to visit the pyramids. A dream come true. I cannot speak highly enough about the arrangements Osiris Tours provided. From the airport staffs, Hassan and the other city managers, Sam our guide, and the highly professional and fearless drivers, all arrangements were simply impeccable. Thank you Mahmoud, Hassan, Sam and all the Osiris personnel.

This was the trip of a lifetime for me. I’ve always dreamed of going to Egypt as a child and this holiday exceeded my expectations! After explaining our list of things we wanted to do and see, Mahmoud put together the perfect tailor-made trip for my husband and me. We also scored the most incredible guide in Egypt, Sayed. Sayed is super cool, lots of fun and an all around great guy. He knows what he’s doing and makes sure everything is taken care of so you can enjoy every moment of the adventure. The timing and detail of each journey couldn’t have been more perfectly executed. Sayed gave us an intimate peek into his beautiful country and shared his extensive knowledge of ancient Egyptian history with us. We went on a carriage ride through Luxor, to local coffee shops in Aswan and Edfu and even had the honor of sharing a lovely Iftar meal during Ramadan on our last night. By the end of the trip, Sayed had become a good friend. It’s special touches like these that make Osiris Tours the only way to go, in my opinion. If you’ve ever thought about going to Egypt, do it! It’s safe and one of the most awe-inspiring countries on the planet!

Osiris Tours should be the only tour company anyone uses when planning a trip to Egypt. All I had to do was tell Mahmoud how many days and what we wanted to see and he put together an amazing itinerary. From the start to finish of the tour there was someone with us helping along the way and their main concern was our utmost happiness. Our onsite tour guide, Khalaf, was incredible. He was not only well versed in history but he also had an enthusiastic and charming personality that instantly connected us to him as if he were part of our family. The whole team at Osiris Tours gave our family priceless memories that we will cherish forever!

My husband and I love to travel and in the past we’ve always planned and booked every aspect of trips on our own. When we deiced that our next adventure would be to Egypt after research we decided to book this trip with a tour company instead of booking on our own. The culture, customs and driving in Egypt are unlike anything we’ve ever experienced so we thought this would make it easier. After researching private tour companies in Egypt we decided to book with Osiris Tours and are so thankful and grateful we did! Mahmoud’s response time, attention to detail and coordination is unrivaled. Osiris Tours made every aspect of our trip such Egyptian domestic flights, pick-ups, drop-offs, transfers, and check-in flawless and more importantly stress free. Mahmoud listened to what was important to us about our trip and made recommendations to make our trip even more memorable. Once we arrived in Egypt our amazing guide was Ahmed Fathy. You can tell how much Ahmed loved his job and truly enjoyed teaching us about the history and culture of Egypt. Ahmed always went the extra mile to take pictures for us, answer questions and enhance our experience. We highly recommend him for a guide. Things to know before you go… - Egypt is safe! We never felt unsafe or endangered in anyway during our 11 day trip. We’ve felt more endanger in San Francisco or at home in Houston. Tourism is down in Egypt which means low prices which makes it the perfect time to go! We didn’t wait in any lines and we hardly have any other tourist in our pictures. There were times in our hotels we felt like the only people there. Keep in mind we went during the summer which is there down time so it was even less occupied then normal. - We did not change over any money we only had dollars and it worked out great. - Mahmoud told us about the tipping culture in Egypt but you literally tip everyone all day long. Just be prepared and bring an abundance of $1’s. It’s part of the culture in Egypt. Its important to note that while we tipped all those who directly worked with Osiris Tours, they are not the ones we had an issue with. Everyone directly related to Osiris was courteous and never asked for a tip. They acted extremely grateful when we did tip and it didn’t seem to be expected. It was the other locals that we will get into more below. - Your guide can’t go into all the tombs with you. The local tomb staff who checks your tickets will enter the tomb with you and offer to take pictures for you, let you into restricted areas and even take photos in tombs where photos are not allowed on an unsolicited basis. They do this of course with the expectation of tipping. The first couple of times we were caught off guard by this and by the end of the trip it was at a minimum slightly annoying. At one point it was even hard to enjoy the tomb because they were pestering us so much. We politely said we were not interested but they wouldn’t stop. When Ahmed was with us he could prevent this from happening but the tombs that he couldn’t enter with us like clockwork they came a coming. Mahmoud said before we left and Ahmed reiterated during our visit, that we were not obligated to tip these people. It was just a bit hard to say no when they are literally asking for tips. They also aren’t shy about letting you know what you give was not enough for their expectations. We can’t stress enough, these people are in no way associated with Osiris and we didn’t have to give them but thought it was worth a mention. Just an FYI. - Oils: If you purchase any aromatherapy oils in Aswan the bottles are not labeled with the measurement. We had an overnight layover in London and the Security in London wouldn’t allow the bottles to be carried on due to the volume not being properly labeled. We had to check one of our backpacks in order to bring the oils home even thought they were an approved carry-on size. If you have a checked bag this isn’t an issue but just a heads up for backpackers. - Recommended Trip Enhances: Abu Simbel is incredible! We took the private car options vs the flight option and the ride/roads was not bad at all. If you want to save some money driving is not a bad option. The camel ride at sunset with dinner was awesome! It wasn’t exactly what we had in mind but it was something we’ll never forget. If you can you have to climb inside the Great Pyramid. You can’t take pictures inside plus it’s hot and hard to breath but it’s a MUST DO if you can. There is an extra cost to see Queen Nefertiti’s Tomb but it’s beautiful. The colors are incredible. We would also, recommend paying extra to see Ramesses Tomb it’s huge and the colors make it well worth the extra money. We also, paid extra for the sunrise Hot Air Balloon Ride in Luxor if you choice to do this just know it’s not a private ride. We lucked out and only had 3 other people in the balloon with us but the balloon next to us had around 15 people. We left the hotel at 4am (we knew we had to get us early for this before we booked it) and the ride was about 50 minutes long but the car ride back to the hotel was horrible. The roads were not in good shape so if you get carsick I would bring medicine with you just in case. - Food and Beverages: Egyptian food has lots of Mediterranean influences and it delicious. The cuisine definitely exceeded our expectations. Beverage recommendations Schweppes Pomegranate is delicious! It’s very different from what we have in the US. Also, Hibiscus tea is a popular welcome drink and you should say YES every time! Your taste buds will thank you. - Hotel Recommendations: Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at The First Residence is amazing and the pool area is lovely! The Spa books up quick so make a reservation as soon as you arrive if you’re interested in a spa service. Great free breakfast selection and the restaurant by the pool is delicious. The Old Cataract Hotel in Aswan is absolutely lovely. We had dinner at the Oriental Restaurant and it was the best meal we had the entire trip! Not only was the view and meal amazing but we had the entire restaurant to ourselves and our own string band AMAZING! If you choose Egypt for your next adventure book with Osiris Tours, you won’t regret it!

Thanks so much to Osiris Tours USA for a fabulous holiday. We did a 12 day Egypt and Jordan tour which included a 3 day Nile Cruise on the “Farah Nile”, which was a special treat. The accommodation option we requested was 5 star and the choice of hotels made for us by Osiris was excellent. Every detail of the trip was arranged to perfection. The only thing we had to do was sit back and enjoy ourselves and that we did. When our daughter, who was joining us for the Jordan leg of the trip, had her flight changed by the airline at the last minute, I contacted Mahmoud at Osiris and all the revised arrangements just happened effortlessly. All the drivers, airport representatives and tour guides were professional and went out of their way to do everything to make our experience unforgettable. A special mention to our Cairo driver Esmet who effortlessly navigated the chaos that is Cairo traffic. We can’t thank Yousef Farhan Aljuhmani enough for all the kindness and special attention he gave to our family as he drove us to all the wonderful sites we experienced in Jordan like the Dead Sea, Wadi Rum and the amazing Petra. I’d also like to make special mention of our guide in Egypt, Ahmed Fathy. His knowledge as a qualified Egyptologist made the Pyramids, temples and museums come alive with amazing facts about ancient Egypt. Ahmed’s generosity and friendly demeanour made it hard to say goodbye when it came time for us to leave him in Luxor for our flight to Amman. We truly enjoyed Ahmed’s company and he taught us so much about Egypt. We were not at all concerned about our safety during the tour. It’s a shame that so many people are reluctant to visit Egypt and Jordan and all that these countries have to offer because of fear that they are not safe places to travel. Tourists are missing out on so much enjoyment and wonder that these ancient lands have to offer. The people we met during our travels in Egypt and Jordan were extremely helpful and very friendly. We walked through bazaars, city streets and the many tourist attractions and never felt uneasy or that we weren’t welcome. We were transported everywhere in safe and comfortable vehicles with excellent drivers You will still need to do plenty of walking so bring comfortable shoes, a hat and sunscreen. Don’t forget the camera as the photo opportunities are endless and not to be missed. I cannot say enough positive things about Osiris Tours. We will definitely be taking other adventures with Osiris. If you want any further information about our experience I am only too happy for you to contact me.

Outstanding customer service, attention to detail and prompt follow-up to any questions was a great start before we even arrived in Egypt. Mahmoud's 5 star service before we left the US was amazing. I feel very lucky that when researching a vacation to Egypt I found Mahmoud. I don't think I could have asked for anything else. My family of 4 spent 9 days in Egypt. Cairo, Luxor and Aswan. My kids are 14 and 12 turning 13 on our trip and my daughter has type 1 diabetes. We were greeted in Cairo by Mohammed Salah who was a wonder in the airport at getting our visa etc. He helped us 4 times during our trip which was very reassuring. Sam Hamed was our guide for our entire trip and he really made the trip a huge success with his energy, knowledge and enthusiasm. We really saw the sites of Egypt in a way that not many get to experience. Traveling with Sam our trip was personalized and away from the crowds, catered to our family's needs and attention span. We feel like we really lucked out. I'm glad we spent a few days in Cairo before moving on to Luxor as we had originally talked about doing. Staying at the Mena House with a view of the pyramids was incredible for a first day. The Egyptian Museum is a must-see and it is incomprehensible the amount of artifacts it houses. We enjoyed eating at local restaurants and this is one of the reasons we decided not to do a Nile River boat cruise from Luxor to Aswan. We loved driving and seeing all the towns and people and we did not want to eat cruise food from the same kitchen for days. Plus we are able to stay at some outstanding hotels right on the Nile with gorgeous gardens and amazing pools for the kids. We felt safe the entire trip. I think a highlight for us in Luxor was entering Queen Nefertari's tomb. Definitely worth the extra money. If it is open you can not say no to this. It is like the walls were painted yesterday. AMAZING. And we were the only ones in it. Flying over Luxor in a hot air ballon at sun-rise was an incredible way to see the Nile and the contrast between green and desert. Landing in a farmers field was just as interesting (you never know where the wind with take you) and we were able to see up close the traditional farming methods still used today. We went to Luxor Temple at night. IMPRESSIVE. I would recommend going to one temple for a light show. They are so beautiful at night. In Aswan we stayed at the Old Cataract Hotel and you could not beat the setting right on the Nile. You can watch the action of the Feluccas sailing the Nile or watch actual excavation taking place on the other side of the Nile. You have to pinch yourself that it is real. Philea Temple was interesting to approach by boat and see how it had been successfully moved when the damn was built. We all enjoyed swimming in the Nile which is clear and surprisingly VERY VERY cold in Aswan. I'm glad we went to the Nubian village and Sam avoided the real tourist traps of everyone riding a camel to the village. We had an outstanding meal off the beaten path. I really don't think we would change a thing. So many temples and tombs and cultural experiences. I was a bit worried that it would be too much for the kids but they enjoyed it as much was we did thanks to Sam. Really Sam Hamed made the trip. His attention to detail was incredible and he even picked up on the fact the we give my daughter her insulin 20 minutes before a meal. He would tell us when we would be eating without us asking. It was so nice how he kept us away from the crowds by talking to the other local tour guides at night and found out what their plan was and we would do the opposite or at different times. Sam is so passionate about Egypt, and so knowledgable, he can read hieroglyphics like it is nothing and was so fun with the kids. Lucky us! He was flexible and we did make a few changes to our itinerary. Mahmoud was checking in every day to make sure our trip was going smoothly and spoiled our daughter with birthday celebrations that we will never be able to replicate. She will remember turning 13 in Egypt forever.

My husband and I are frequent world travelers and I cannot say enough about this travel company - their service, itinerary and overall assistance was the best we have ever experienced. If you are thinking about going to Egypt, stop thinking and go! The pre-planning was great - our agent was informative, helpful and added extra and creative ideas along the way. The service in the country was above and beyond expectations. Every driver was prompt, our guide was fantastic - to the point of becoming a friend by the end of the trip. My husband's comments are "This was the trip of a lifetime. We are world travelers and have been many places. Being able to visit Egypt and Jordan feeling completely safe each and every moment was fantastic. If this destination is on your "bucket list" - GO NOW! There are very few crowds and it is the perfect time to go. Every detail was handled - the trip was seamless. Everyone was on time, there was never any confusion. I particularly liked the attention to detail going in and out of airports which can often be challenging when flying internationally. I really enjoyed going to local places to eat lunch, the food was fantastic and it enhanced out appreciation of Egyptian culture. All this was taken care of by this travel company. There's really no way to put into words how terrific the itinerary was - the sites, temples and monuments were everything I hoped for and more." It was the trip of a lifetime, thanks to this company!

We had the great pleasure of traveling to Egypt for 14 days from mid to late March 2018. We were accompanied by an outstanding guide, Ahmed, from Osiris tours. The entire trip was built with the help of Osiris tours founder, Mahmoud Gebril. We worked with Mahmoud several months in advance of our departure to figure out a trip that would allow us to see many spectacular sights from Cairo to Alexandria to ask one and Luxor. My husband and I were traveling with my 83-year-old mother. This was a trip of a lifetime for all three of us. Our guide made sure that we paced ourselves comfortably, while seeing everything that was on our travel itinerary. he was always on the ready with cold water, chewing gum and Kleenex! In addition to being a highly knowledgeable guide and expert Egyptologist, Ahmed possessed wonderful sense of humor and was a delightful travel companion during our two weeks in Egypt. In Addition to leading us to breathtaking archaeological sites such as the valley of the kings and queens and the temples of Karnak, Dendra, and Komombo, he also led us to several wonderful shopping spots including an aromatherapy establishment in Luxor, a Galabia shop in Cairo, and several high quality jewelry stores in every city we visited. We even went to store in Luxor which created hand carved alabaster pieces. We would highly recommend Ahmed no matter what the length of your trip is. Among our many trip highlights was taking a three day cruise up the Nile on the lovely Sonesta St George from Aswan to Luxor. The boat was small, the food was delicious, accommodations were lovely and service was outstanding. We were invited to attend a Galabia party and to watch a Nubian dance. We also visited a Nubian village and market which possessed every spice one could imagine! Osiris tours attended to every detail and made travel from start to finish a breeze.. Overall, our trip was exactly what we had hoped for and we would recommend Osiris tours without any reservation.