Solid choice, great guides, but a little dishonesty with agency - I booked a 3-night Nile cruise from Aswan to Luxor with Fayrouz Travel, which included guided tours of many temples along the way. The tour guides were all kind, respectful,... read more and communicated clearly about pickup and drop-off times. We felt very safe throughout the trip—thank you for that. Several guides went out of their way to be kind to my kids, adjusting the pace of the tours to match their attention spans, which I really appreciated.
The temples were fascinating, although a bit repetitive by the end. Still, we learned so much, and I’ll never forget sailing down the Nile, riding in a hot air balloon, and visiting Egypt’s iconic historical sites. The boat we were on—Magic 2—was beautiful and provided good service. While not as luxurious as some of the other ships we saw, it was a solid experience and fair for what we paid.
Now for the downsides: While the tour description states that everything is included except entrance fees—which is technically true—be prepared for significantly higher out-of-pocket costs. There are a lot of temples, each with its own entrance fee (ranging from a few dollars to over $20), which adds up quickly, especially for families. Additionally, tipping is expected at almost every turn: drivers, balloon operators, boat captains, carriage drivers, even people who simply open a door or hand you something you didn’t ask for. You may even be asked for more after tipping. While this isn’t unique to Fayrouz Travel, the tipping culture in Egypt is extremely aggressive, so it’s something to be aware of in advance.
One major issue we had was on Day 2, when the agency tried to charge us an extra $60, claiming that because our flight out of Luxor on Day 3 was at 4:30 PM, we would need to switch to a private tour after the balloon ride. However, I had specifically confirmed with the agency before booking our flight that the tour would be done by 1:00 PM. After over an hour of back-and-forth via WhatsApp, they finally dropped the extra charge. In the end, our “group tour” turned out to be just the three of us—clearly, they knew all along that no one else was joining and simply tried to upsell us. I found this dishonest and frustrating.
Overall, we had a beautiful experience and made unforgettable memories, but I recommend going in with clear expectations about additional costs and being firm if the agency tries to change the terms after booking.
Incredible cruise + hot air balloon - watching the sunrise over the Nile Valley from a hot air balloon was absolutely magical and something I’ll never forget. The cruise itself exceeded expectations—comfortable cabins, great food, and guides... read more 
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