I recently booked my Egypt vacation through this travel agency, and overall, I was quite satisfied with the services provided. I visited three cities—Cairo, Aswan, and Luxor—and I’ll share my experience for each separately.
To start on an honest note, one aspect that disappointed me was the lack of transparency. Before confirming the trip, I specifically asked whether the same travel agency would be handling our itinerary across all three cities, and I was told yes. However, upon arriving in Egypt, I discovered that they only managed our Cairo itinerary. The other two cities were handled by a different firm (whose name I will not mention, as all payments were made to the original agency). This created a breach of trust and was not what I expected based on our initial conversations.
Cairo
We were warmly received at the Cairo airport by an agent holding a name board with my name on it. He assisted us smoothly through immigration and introduced us to our guide, Mr. Faris. Mr. Faris was truly a consummate professional—extremely knowledgeable and passionate about Egyptian history. From the Great Pyramids to the Civilization Museum, he explained everything in great detail. I was especially impressed by his use of a laser pointer, which he used to highlight specific areas of monuments and museum displays while explaining their significance. This level of detail made the tour both engaging and educational.
Aswan
Unfortunately, the experience in Aswan was quite the opposite. The guide, Ms. Asma, was arranged by the local partner agency—not by Nature Travels. To be honest, she was a complete disappointment. A visit to ancient monuments can easily feel monotonous if the guide isn’t enthusiastic or well-prepared, and that was exactly the case here. While she seemed to know some of the symbolism and drawings in the temples, her reluctance to guide us properly was evident. She lacked the passion and depth needed for such a historic tour.
What’s worse, she did not give any historical background before entering the sites, which is usually the most engaging part of a temple tour. To add to the frustration, although the agency was supposed to cover the guide’s meals and beverages, she ordered a juice and then asked us to pay the bill. I went ahead and paid, simply to avoid any confrontation. Overall, Aswan was a disappointing part of our trip, primarily due to the unprofessional guide.
Luxor
Luxor turned things around completely. Our guide here, Ms. Amera Demo, was outstanding—possibly the best guide I’ve ever had. From the moment she met us in the hotel lobby, her warm, proactive, and friendly demeanor made a lasting impression. As soon as we got into the van, she pulled out paper and pen to sketch how the pyramids were originally built and explained why the Pharaohs transitioned from pyramids to tombs in Luxor.
She shared crisp, fascinating facts about Egyptian history and dynasties in a way that was both informative and entertaining. Ms. Amera also made personal connections, chatting about her children and their dreams, which made us feel like we were touring with a family friend rather than just a guide. Her depth of historical knowledge and genuine enthusiasm made our Luxor visit truly memorable.
Final Thoughts
Despite the initial trust issue and the unpleasant experience in Aswan, the professionalism in Cairo and the excellence in Luxor balanced things out. Any concerns I raised were addressed promptly and professionally by the agency, which I truly appreciated.
On the whole, I would rate this experience a 7 out of 10—mostly due to the Aswan segment—but I’d still recommend this agency, especially for their Cairo and Luxor arrangements.