The whole trip was amazing and our guide Fami was absolutely wonderful, fun and caring as I was with my daughter. Highly recommend this trip, as you will be taken care so well. Thank you all!
Passport24050967611
05 Apr 2025
My partner and I recently took a full-day excursion from Hurghada to Cairo and Giza, and we were thoroughly impressed by how well-organised the entire experience was. From the early morning hotel pickup to the late evening return, every detail had been carefully considered, and we felt looked after throughout.
It was an early start… we were picked up from our hotel at around 2:25am and transferred to Hurghada airport for our short flight to Cairo. The airport itself had very limited options — just one small café — so we recommend taking snacks or arranging a breakfast box through your hotel.
Upon arrival in Cairo, we were greeted by our guide — an incredibly knowledgeable Egyptologist — and our small group of six (three couples, with both English and French speakers). The guide did a fantastic job of conducting the tour in both languages without missing a beat. He always ensured that everyone felt included and informed.
Our first stop was a short refreshment break at an “On the Run” service station, which was appreciated after such an early start. We then headed to the Giza Plateau to see the Pyramids and the Sphinx.
We had pre-paid for a horse-drawn carriage ride around the Pyramids, which offered amazing views and photo opportunities. However, visitors should be aware that scams are common around the Pyramids. The man driving our carriage offered to take our photo (which we appreciated), but then aggressively demanded a tip — not just once, but repeatedly, and insisted on more than we felt was fair. We were firm and stood our ground, but another couple in our group felt pressured and overpaid. Fortunately, our guide intervened and helped them recover some of their money. Our advice: avoid engaging with unsolicited offers and have your guide handle any interactions with locals.
We stopped for lunch around 12:30pm — definitely take snacks to bridge the long gap between hotel pickup and mealtime. The meal itself was tasty and in a clean, comfortable restaurant.
Later, we visited the Egyptian Museum, where we had some free time to explore after a guided introduction. Afterwards, we opted for the optional Nile boat ride, which was a definite highlight — a smooth, scenic journey. Around 4pm, the roads became heavily congested, likely due to people rushing home for Ramadan. Despite the chaos, our driver was excellent and we always felt safe.
The guide frequently offered to take group and couple photos, which was a lovely touch.
We skipped the incense/perfume shop but did visit a papyrus store, which was a brief but interesting stop.
Some tips/advice and other notes:
- Bring cash (preferably Egyptian Pounds or Euros) for tipping. You’ll need it for toilets, refreshments, and sometimes unexpected situations.
- Public toilets often require tips for tissue paper, even when signs say otherwise — we suggest bringing your own tissues just in case.
- Flying rather than driving was the right choice for us — the roads are long and often bumpy, and the flight saved us a lot of discomfort and time. We think this was worth the extra money.
- Security at Cairo airport was noticeably disorganised, with multiple checkpoints and frequent bag checks. Unfortunately, some staff were asking for tips despite signage clearly stating this wasn’t allowed.
We arrived back in Hurghada airport just after 9pm and were returned to our hotel by around 10pm, tired but thrilled with the experience. Despite a few hiccups involving tipping culture and airport security, the excursion was an incredible way to see the highlights of Cairo and Giza in just one day. The small group format, engaging bilingual guide, and overall organisation made it a standout part of our trip to Egypt.
Highly recommended!