G Adventures Egypt: Best of Egypt Trip Review (+ Alexandria Add-on)
Is visiting Egypt on your bucket list? Look no further than the G Adventures Best of Egypt tour!
I have wanted to visit Egypt since I first saw a pyramid as a little girl. I was obsessed with everything Egypt, from the hieroglyphics to the iconic historic architecture.
It took three tries over fifteen years, but I finally made it in late 2024.
In this post, I’ll include why I chose this tour and my favorite experiences. I also added on a two-day excursion to Alexandria through G Adventures, and I’ll include that as well.
Additionally, you can add the Highlights of Jordan tour for a two-week adventure through both countries. If you are interested in seeing Jordan, it’s an experience I recommend!
This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my links at no extra cost to you. Please read the full disclosure for more information.
Why I Chose G Adventures Egypt
Visiting Egypt has been at the top of my list for as long as I can remember. I first started looking into visiting in 2010, and the civil war delayed things. The second time I began planning was in early 2020. No need to explain that one!
I did extensive research reviewing itineraries for ten companies to decide on G Adventures. Why G Adventures? First, the itinerary checked off all my boxes. This tour saw my top choices of places and things to see in Egypt.
Second, I chose G Adventures to go to Morocco, and I had a great experience. I had never taken a group tour before Morocco, as I usually plan my travel.
In this case, not only would it have been a logistical challenge to plan this trip and to see as much in such a short time, but I had also read that the vendors can be quite pushy, so traveling in a group with a local guide is helpful.
I enjoy G Adventures and highly recommend them for several reasons. First, they hire expert guides who really know the areas where they work. This has been my experience with the three guides I was with on this tour (including Alexandria, Egypt, and Jordan) and in Morocco.
Additionally, it’s a small-group tour, with a typical max of around 12 people. Keeping it small is helpful with keeping the group together, and it’s great to get to know the others.
G Adventures has a nonprofit, Planeterra, that supports local projects in the countries where it tours. Most trips include a visit to the supported project, and I think this is a really special aspect of G Adventures. It feels good.
And last, with this tour, I could add on a short excursion to Alexandria and a tour of Jordan at the end of the Egypt tour. Everything was handled seamlessly, including transportation and airfare, making it easy.
My Favorite Experiences From the Best of Egypt Tour
Trying to pull together a short list of my favorite experiences from such a remarkable trip isn’t an easy task! These are the experiences that I found the most exciting and interesting, though the whole trip was packed full of them!
One thing I love about G Adventures is that they include local experiences on each tour. This one was no different, and we had an incredible dinner in a Nubian village at a family’s home. We also had lunch with a local family that was one of the best meals of the trip!
Additionally, the Planeterra experiences are always wonderful, and this was no different.
5 Top Experiences on the G Adventures Highlights of Egypt Trip
The highlights of this trip are all about the magical and historical places we visited on the tour. These are the places from our history books, and wandering through them was just incredible.
- Valley of the Kings—This was my favorite excursion of the trip. We entered the area as one of the first groups and imagined how it must have looked when first found. Now, there are small plaques by each tomb, though the area is still very remote. You choose three tombs to visit with your entrance ticket, and you can purchase tickets to “King Tut’s” tomb and several others. I visited six tombs in total and was most impressed by the Rameses I tomb and the Rameses V and VI tombs. The intricate details are still visible after so many years! King Tut’s tomb was also terrific and will always capture my heart.
- Pyramids and the Sphinx—Is there anything more iconic in Egypt? Climb through to the burial chamber in the Great Pyramid and just take in the views from all around this area.
- Abu Simbel—Looking upon the four large statues of Rameses II gave me goosebumps. Inside, there are even more, along with many paintings and hieroglyphics. The inside of the tomb of his favorite wife, Nefertari, was even more impressive and better maintained.
- Felucca ride on the Nile River—We spent a few hours floating on a traditional felucca, relaxing on the thick cushions, and looking out at the banks of the river. We also took a couple of motorized feluccas, though the traditional was a favorite.
- Egyptian Museum—Though this museum is moving to a new location and is in a bit of disarray from the process, it’s filled with some incredible artifacts. You’ll find exquisitely detailed carvings, statues, and more. The tour will highlight some of the unique items in the museum, then you get free time to tour on your own.
Other Experiences Worth Noting
That wasn’t all packed into this fantastic trip! The incredible Philae Temple was a highlight, and we wandered around to explore.
Karnak Temple was also awe-inspiring and a great visit. It’s huge and the intricate hieroglyphics are incredible to see.
Also, Hatshepsut, the first female Pharaoh’s funerary temple located outside the Valley of the Kings was a highlight.
We got to visit several artisan shops on the trip. The first was a papyrus maker, and we got to see how the papyrus sheets were made. They offer beautiful finished products with intricate paintings. We also got to a place that made carved alabaster objects in multiple colors.
While there’s a little discomfort going to these shops as you feel an expectation of buying, you are not obligated to and can appreciate the artistry.
Benefits of a G Adventures Small Group Tour
G Adventures tours are similar to many small-group tours, and here are some of the benefits I see. Though I still love planning my adventures, these tours are a great option if you don’t have the time or interest.
- No logistics are needed—You show up, and they take care of the rest. You don’t need to book transportation during the trip, determine if places are open, or determine the cost.
- Optional tours can be added—G Adventures tours are guided with an option to buy additional day and part-day trips. You can do what you choose; if you don’t want to do an optional tour, you don’t have to.
- Downtime is available—You get a guided tour at many places, then free time to do as you wish. Choose to hang out with your new friends or not; it’s your choice.
- Expert guides are included—Your CEO will provide you with the history and orientation of the areas you visit. Sometimes, they work with a guide with expertise in a place they see.
- Reasonable budget—I have found the price for the G Adventures tours to be very reasonable when I am pricing my trips. Accommodations are tourist class and basic/comfortable, though not luxury. I think they are a good value for the budget.
Group tours are also great if you’re traveling to a place where you don’t feel comfortable on your own. After spending two days with a friend before the group met, I’m glad I opted for the tour.
We found Cairo to be very chaotic, loud, and disorienting. Crossing the streets and even more challenging not to be eased into shops was challenging. Twice, we felt taken advantage of when trying to be nice, which was a frustrating experience.
Alexandria Extension
Depending on your start date for the Best of Egypt tour, you may see the option to add on a trip to Alexandria, Egypt. We booked the Best of Egypt tour, leaving on a Sunday, so we could add this on.
Alexandria is the second largest city in Egypt, founded nearly 2600 years ago by Alexander the Great. It was the first capital in the country and a thriving port city in Roman Times.
Cairo Visit
If you have the time, I highly recommend this tour. You spend a half day seeing the highlights of Cairo, which you can add as an optional tour to the Best of Egypt tour. On this tour, we saw Coptic, Christian Cairo, and historic Muslim Cairo.
Included in this tour, you can see the Hanging Church, an old Synagogue, and more!
Alexandria Visit
Alexandria is a great city to visit. It’s not quite as frenetic as Cairo and gives you a great taste of the Egyptian culture. Some of the highlights of this trip are below on this full day of exploring the area.
On the way to Alexandria, we stopped at a monastery built in the 4th century. It’s a Christian Orthodox Monastery founded by St. Mikarius. 120 monks currently live there.
We got a tour with one of the monks and it was really interesting. He was actually my age, 53, and had been a monk there for 28 years. He had a wealth of knowledge and a delightful sense of humor. One of the great aspects of these tours is getting to meet people like him!
- Library of Alexandria—Though the ancient library was destroyed in a fire around the 1st century BC, a new library was opened near the site in 2002.
2. Qaitbay Citadel—Known as one of the most important defensive strongholds in this area in the 15th century AD, this fort was the cornerstone of the protection offered. It was built on the site of the ancient lighthouse, destroyed by an earthquake. The Citadel is gorgeous and worth checking out!
3. Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa—The tombs were created by a tunnel system in the 2nd century AD. They were constructed for a single wealthy family.
4. Pompey’s Pillar Visit—Though Pompey had nothing to do with this pillar, erected for Emperor Diocletian, it’s a popular place to explore. You can climb over extensive ruins, and there’s an area with carved statues and stones. Are the cats posing for photos?
Why I Recommend G Adventures Best of Egypt Tour
There are a lot of great options for tours of Egypt. If you’re looking for a small-group tour that visits all of the top highlights of Egypt for great value, then look no further than the G Adventures Best of Egypt tour.
This tour was a bucket-list dream come true, and I am still pinching myself thinking about it! After trying to plan this trip three times, the third time was the charm!
Not only did I get to see all of the places I dreamed of, but I also made a new group of like-minded friends with whom I hope to travel again.
You Might Also Like
Like it? Pin it!
