Egypt January 2, 2024 trip report

[TXAKDisneyFan]

We arrived in Cairo today. As soon as we disembarked the plane, a representative was waiting to greet us. We were whisked through an exit door that was clearly not for regular passengers to exit. From there we were picked up by a car and whisked a short distance away and into lounge. We handed over our passports and luggage receipts. A little over an hour later, the representative came to get us. We now had visas in our passports and our luggage had been picked up. I couldn’t describe the inside of the Cairo airport because we practically didn’t see it.

Our driver and local guide handling transfers to ABD took us to the hotel. We are at the Nile Ritz Carlton. Mohammed, the local logistics guide took care of our check in process with our passports while we waited chit chatting with friends who are also on the trip with us. There was a form to sign and we received the welcome letter and our key cards. Upon entering the room, I thought we were put in a smoking room by mistake. We went back down to request a non smoking room since I have asthma which would be triggered in no time. Apparently it was a non smoking room. I’m guessing a previous guest decided to smoke. We were placed in another room which was perfectly fine.

We decided to go to dinner at the on site Italian restaurant, Vivo. The seafood risotto and osso buco were both good!

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Kind of a weird question, but what are the bathrooms (shower and toilet specifically) like?

 

[calypso726]

Kind of a weird question, but what are the bathrooms (shower and toilet specifically) like?

Here you go

 

[calypso726]

This morning we had a welcome breakfast at the hotel and officially met the group and our Egyptologist. Afterwards we were bussed to the Mohamed Ali Mosque and Citadel. At this mosque we only needed shoulders and knees covered. We were not required to remove our shoes but we were given shoe covers prior to entering the mosque. It was quite lovely. Afterwards we were bussed to have a group lunch and then off to the Cairo museum.

 

[calypso726]

 

[newfamilyman]

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If the Cairo museum was open to the public during your visit, then that is a major negative in comparison to Nat Geo. Seeing it after hours at night also heightened our experience.

 

[calypso726]

If the Cairo museum was open to the public during your visit, then that is a major negative in comparison to Nat Geo. Seeing it after hours at night also heightened our experience.

I just read your TR on Egypt. I’m sorry your experience was like that. This is our 12th ABD. The only NatGeo I have done was their collaboration with Lindblad for the Antarctica trip. That was amazing!

Yes, a private after hours visit of the Cairo museum is definitely nice. That must be a NatGeo exclusive I am guessing. ABD also has some exclusive opportunities as well. I believe we will be experiencing one of those tomorrow. I will share the experience here since we already have a thread asking about what the exclusives are that ABD offers. Plus it has been mentioned before.

Our guides Mike from Boston, our local guide is Karim and our Egyptologist are all fantastic! They mingle with everyone, are super friendly and approachable and everything we have come to expect from ABD.

 

[sayhello]

I just read your TR on Egypt. I’m sorry your experience was like that. This is our 12th ABD. The only NatGeo I have done was their collaboration with Lindblad for the Antarctica trip. That was amazing!

Yes, a private after hours visit of the Cairo museum is definitely nice. That must be a NatGeo exclusive I am guessing. ABD also has some exclusive opportunities as well. I believe we will be experiencing one of those tomorrow. I will share the experience here since we already have a thread asking about what the exclusives are that ABD offers. Plus it has been mentioned before.

Our guides Mike from Boston, our local guide is Karim and our Egyptologist are all fantastic! They mingle with everyone, are super friendly and approachable and everything we have come to expect from ABD.

Mike T from Boston is great! He was one of the Guides on my New England ABD! Gotta love the accent!

Sayhello

 

[DisneyMimiUSMC]

Absolutely amazing!

 

[calypso726]

Mike T from Boston is great! He was one of the Guides on my New England ABD! Gotta love the accent!

Sayhello

Mike says Hi!

Absolutely amazing!

We are loving this trip so far!

 

[chuff88]

Is Kira not one of the guides on this trip? I've been seeing her Instagram posts from Egypt so I assumed she'd be one of your guides.

 

[calypso726]

Last night at dinner our guides gave us a lesson on haggling and what final reasonable prices were. This morning they gave each of us 300 Egyptian pounds, about $10 and our mission was to purchase a white elephant gift.

Afterwards, we had lunch at Naguib Mahfouz restaurant. The food was really good! Egyptian falafel is different and we also ate pigeon! The rice stuffing was really good as was everything they served.

Later on we went to see the pyramids in Giza and then the Sphinx. The exclusive access to the Sphinx was amazing. ABD was the only group that was allowed past the barrier and right in between the paws when we went.

We went back to the pyramids and were able to go inside to the King and Queen’s rooms after hours. The ABD group were the only ones doing that activity.

We ended with a buffet dinner at Mena House.

 

[calypso726]

Is Kira not one of the guides on this trip? I've been seeing her Instagram posts from Egypt so I assumed she'd be one of your guides.

No we have Mike from Boston, Karim is our local guide and our Egyptologist Nerrmeen. They have been outstanding!!

 

[abdgeek]

Is Kira not one of the guides on this trip? I've been seeing her Instagram posts from Egypt so I assumed she'd be one of your guides.

Kira was one of the guides on the Dec. 19th trip with Karim.

 

[softballpooh]

Last night at dinner our guides gave us a lesson on haggling and what final reasonable prices were. This morning they gave each of us 300 Egyptian pounds, about $10 and our mission was to purchase a white elephant gift.

Afterwards, we had lunch at Naguib Mahfouz restaurant. The food was really good! Egyptian falafel is different and we also ate pigeon! The rice stuffing was really good as was everything they served.

Later on we went to see the pyramids in Giza and then the Sphinx. The exclusive access to the Sphinx was amazing. ABD was the only group that was allowed past the barrier and right in between the paws when we went.

We went back to the pyramids and were able to go inside to the King and Queen’s rooms after hours. The ABD group were the only ones doing that activity.

We ended with a buffet dinner at Mena House.

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#travelgoals

I will find a way to do this one day with my girl! DH will fund ALL the trips as long as he gets to stay home and my girl loves to travel just like her mama! So far I’ve copied all of your trip itineraries in my bucket list. Thank you for always sharing your tips and tricks! Especially now that you saved me from plans B-E so I know to choose plan A

 

[sayhello]

Is Kira not one of the guides on this trip? I've been seeing her Instagram posts from Egypt so I assumed she'd be one of your guides.

I asked Kira if she was doing this tour, since I knew people who were going to be on it, and she said she was heading home after her December trip.

Last night at dinner our guides gave us a lesson on haggling and what final reasonable prices were. This morning they gave each of us 300 Egyptian pounds, about $10 and our mission was to purchase a white elephant gift.

Afterwards, we had lunch at Naguib Mahfouz restaurant. The food was really good! Egyptian falafel is different and we also ate pigeon! The rice stuffing was really good as was everything they served.

Later on we went to see the pyramids in Giza and then the Sphinx. The exclusive access to the Sphinx was amazing. ABD was the only group that was allowed past the barrier and right in between the paws when we went.

We went back to the pyramids and were able to go inside to the King and Queen’s rooms after hours. The ABD group were the only ones doing that activity.

We ended with a buffet dinner at Mena House.

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That's some seriously amazing exclusive ABD access!

Sayhello

 

[newfamilyman]

Last night at dinner our guides gave us a lesson on haggling and what final reasonable prices were. This morning they gave each of us 300 Egyptian pounds, about $10 and our mission was to purchase a white elephant gift.

Afterwards, we had lunch at Naguib Mahfouz restaurant. The food was really good! Egyptian falafel is different and we also ate pigeon! The rice stuffing was really good as was everything they served.

Later on we went to see the pyramids in Giza and then the Sphinx. The exclusive access to the Sphinx was amazing. ABD was the only group that was allowed past the barrier and right in between the paws when we went.

We went back to the pyramids and were able to go inside to the King and Queen’s rooms after hours. The ABD group were the only ones doing that activity.

We ended with a buffet dinner at Mena House.

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Did you mean private access to the Valley of the Kings and the Valley of the Queens? I don't recall any Kings or Queens rooms at the pyramids. I hope your meal at the Mena House went better than ours, which is where all but one of the men got sick.

 

[calypso726]

#travelgoals

I will find a way to do this one day with my girl! DH will fund ALL the trips as long as he gets to stay home and my girl loves to travel just like her mama! So far I’ve copied all of your trip itineraries in my bucket list. Thank you for always sharing your tips and tricks! Especially now that you saved me from plans B-E so I know to choose plan A

Glad the tips and tricks help! This is truly an amazing trip!

I asked Kira if she was doing this tour, since I knew people who were going to be on it, and she said she was heading home after her December trip.

That's some seriously amazing exclusive ABD access!

Sayhello

That’s what I was thinking. I felt like yesterday alone made the trip for me. Everything else is a bonus

Did you mean private access to the Valley of the Kings and the Valley of the Queens? I don't recall any Kings or Queens rooms at the pyramids. I hope your meal at the Mena House went better than ours, which is where all but one of the men got sick.

No we haven’t reached Luxor yet. This was the pyramids in Giza, I believe we were in the pyramid of Khufu. I said King and Queen’s room but I suppose the proper term is burial chamber. Here are some pics. I am only 5 feet tall and that is how far I had to bend to get through some of the tunnels. Some of climbing is steep. Some folks wound up turning back and some only made it to one chamber and some folks opted out. It was quite warm inside the chambers and the weather is cool out. I broke a sweat and was slightly winded but I am also not work out girl, I’m read a book girl. Our guide Mike reminded me to bring my inhaler just in case. I love that he was looking out. I tend to forget brining it with me on physical activities. Fortunately though I didn’t need to use it.

 

[calypso726]

So this morning we got a bonus experience. We went to visit the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization. It was a very cool experience. We were allowed to take pictures except for the mummy room. The museum and mummy room are well laid out. Our Egyptologist explained everything we were seeing. However guides are not allowed in the mummy room.

Chariot



Leather work and sarcophagus


Actual ancient bread

 

[sayhello]

That’s what I was thinking. I felt like yesterday alone made the trip for me. Everything else is a bonus

I can only imagine!!

Our guide Mike reminded me to bring my inhaler just in case. I love that he was looking out. I tend to forget brining it with me on physical activities. Fortunately though I didn’t need to use it.

Yep, that so sounds like Mike!

I probably would have *tried* the chambers, but I'm not too sure how far I'd've gotten!

Sayhello

 

[AquaDame]

Pretty sure I stubbornly would make it to the end one way or another..! I do run 2-3 miles a 3x times a week, but no core strength for all that crouching! Were the 6’+ folk able to make it..? My husband is 6’1.