Sun Pyramids Tours

The ship is dated. Lobby is 1970s bland. We had to walk through other cruise ships to get to port, and if the lobbies are a reflection of the cabins and service, other ships are 4 or 5 stars while ours is a 3-star. We had an upgraded suite which had the advantage of more space but did not feel like the amenities one expects in a suite. We were also woken up on several occasions by the crew's robust shouting as the ship landed in ports. Showerhead did not work well. Carpets were not well cleaned, and the door keycard entry system needed multiple swipes to work. Food was average. A couple of the meals were excellent, but most of the meals were only passable to the extent that we went to eat for sustenance rather than pleasure.

Beautiful grounds on the beach in Hurghada. Attentive service. Well appointed room. Fabulous view of the beach. This is an all-inclusive resort and provided everything we needed. Food was fabulous (loved the lox, which was the high quality smooth and fatty version). We enjoyed the evening shows in the pool area from our balcony. 5-star resort. Definitely a pick me up after the Nile Cruise experience. Would definitely stay here again.

Beautiful property on an island on the Nile River in Aswan. Need a boat to get to. Expansive grounds with nice landscaping and multiple walkways to stroll. Very peaceful. 5-star amenities. Would definitely stay here again.

Great location if wanting to stay closer to the Pyramids and avoid the chaos of downtown Cairo.

Loved the GEM. Smaller than the British Museum or Louvre or Hermitage, but the GEM only exhibits Egyptian artifacts so I suspect this is the most comprehensive and complete collection in the entire world. The GEM houses the King Tut exhibit, which actually has over 5000 artifacts and is really a small museum in and of itself. The GEM contains a remarkably well preserved 40-foot statue of Ramses II and an ancient cedarwood ship un-earthed near the Khufu Pyramid. If you are a fan of museums, this should be on your short list of ones to visit.

Loved the city of Hurghada. It's a small and quaint city on the Red Sea with a European feel. After the hustle and bustle of downtown Cairo, and the undisciplined feel of the Nile Cruise, Hurghada was a welcome respite. We took the snorkeling trip out to Mahmya Island, which is part of the Giftun Island complex. The snorkeling was fabulous from even the shore. We saw many colorful fish in protected reefs located within 40-50 feet of the beach and often at depths of 4-5 feet. I also took a short boat ride from Mahmya to the Sabena Reef, and the coral formations there were amongst the most colorful that I've ever seen.

The visit to the Valley of the Kings rivaled the Giza Pyramids as our two most favorite sites to visit. You get to visit 3 tombs as part of the regular entrance ticket. We also wanted to see King Tut's tomb and the Seti I tomb, which required separate tickets. IMO, it was well worth the extra cost (700LE for Tut and 2000LE for Seti I). If I had to pick my favorite activity for the entire trip, it would visiting the Seti I tomb. The variety and intricacy of the wall carvings, the surprisingly preserved vibrant colors and the multitude of chambers to explore made me frequently just pause and stand still to enjoy that warm feeling you get from sheer happiness.

A hot air balloon ride with fabulous views of temples below and the sun rising in the horizon! We loved it! We had a perfect morning, with a clear cloudless sky and not too cold and not too windy. Just spectacular views! The highlight was seeing the sun rise over the horizon, which even left our rather expressive and chatty group watching in silent awe for a few minutes. The balloon captain was outstanding. He was clearly experienced and exuded an air of confidence that helped settle any fears or trepidations in the group. The ascent and descent were both smooth. He expertly slowly rotated the balloon so everyone in the group (over 30 people) could get the same view without having to look over or around other passengers. He pointed out landmarks in the distance, threw out a few interesting factoids, and threw in a few jokes to keep the atmosphere festive.

The East Bank tour consisted of the Luxor Temple and Karnak Temple. Both of these temples were from the Greco-Roman period of Egyptian history and showed the interplay of the Greek and Roman influences with Egyptian architecture. Both Temples were magnificent in their unique ways - we marveled at the huge columns with colorful and intricate designs. Because the grounds of these temples were much larger than the ones at Kom Ombo and Edfu, the negative effect of crowd sizes on the tour experience was minimized. 5-stars for the beauty of the temples. As with other aspects of this trip, the logistics of visiting these sites lessened the overall experience.

The temples were very interesting and likely had more to offer than what we experienced. Our experience was significantly diminished by the massive crowds at both places. This is the product of poor tourism infrastructure -- all boats arriving at the same time with multiple tour groups descending on relatively small temples all at once. There was a fair amount of pushing and jostling as people tried to cram into small areas to catch short glimpses of interesting structures or hieroglyphics. Not really enough time or space to make these an enjoyable experience, which is a shame as I suspect the Temples themselves would have been a 4 or 5-star visit. This is a systemic problem that the Egyptian tourism ministry should regulate better.

A phenomenal structure that is well worth the 6-hour drive to visit.

The Aswan Dam and Philae Temple were great sites to visit. The story of how the Nile River was "tamed" was fascinating. The story of how the Philae Temple was moved to avoid being submerged by dam water was interesting and inspiring. Unfortunately, our interactions with the guide very much detracted from the overall experience.

It was an amazing feeling to see the Giza Pyramids, and experience the rush of being in the presence of the only standing Ancient World Wonder. The views were phenomenal. We took the camel ride and really enjoyed that experience. We were very specific that we would cancel the camel tour if we felt the animals were abused. We were heartened to see the camels being appropriately cared for and looking healthy and relaxed. Memphis and Sakkara were interesting sites to visit, but the Pyramids were the highlight of the day.

Got to experience the famous Khan El Khalili Bazaar and El Moez Street. Also saw how the local population lived.

We spent very little time here but it was beautiful, comfortable and clean with delicious breakfast.

The Semiramis III is an older Nile cruise ship that shows its age, but it was generally clean and comfortable. Our cabin was surprisingly spacious and one of the nicer aspects of the experience. The food was consistently good, and the housekeeping staff was kind and attentive—creating lovely towel sculptures each day that genuinely made us smile. That said, there were several drawbacks. The ship smelled strongly of cigarette smoke in many common areas. Wifi was repeatedly promised but never worked. While docked in Aswan and Luxor, dozens of ships were packed together, so our “river view” was directly into another cabin window. Once underway, the experience improved, but scheduling was unreliable. We were told departure and arrival times that turned out to be hours off, which caused us to miss anticipated evening temple visits. While sailing, vendors in small boats approached the ship and shouted into cabin windows—even while we were sleeping—which was jarring and disruptive. The sundeck itself was lovely, but swimming and sunbathing felt uncomfortable, as very few passengers used the pool and there was intense staring from men on staff, even while dressed conservatively. Despite these issues, cruising the Nile itself was genuinely special, and traveling together along the river was a highlight of our trip. With better communication, stricter policies around vendors, and improvements to onboard amenities, the experience could be much stronger.

The Great Pyramids Inn is a clean, basic hotel with an unbeatable rooftop view of the pyramids—but otherwise, it fell short for us. Our room was simple and comfortable enough, with very comfortable beds, but several things were broken, including the bathroom door and the shower waterproofing. Breakfast was disappointing and limited. The rooftop restaurant offered a stunning view and good food, but it was noticeably overpriced for what it was. The hotel’s location is also a drawback. It’s not in a walkable neighborhood, and there isn’t much to explore nearby on foot. It’s also very far from the airport, which made late-night and early-morning transfers especially tiring. Overall, it was fine for a short stay focused on pyramid views, but given the condition of the room, food quality, and location, I would likely choose a different hotel next time.

This was another excellent experience thanks to Mary. The Citadel offered fascinating insight into medieval Cairo, and learning about the Mamluk massacre was chilling and memorable. Touring Coptic Cairo—the churches and synagogue—was deeply interesting and meaningful. As an AP World History teacher, I especially appreciated Mary’s ability to connect these sites to broader historical themes. She handled sensitive topics with care and clarity. This tour felt thoughtful, educational, and well paced.

The food itself was delicious. Koshary Abu Tarek was a highlight, and wandering through the streets and Khan el-Khalili was colorful and lively. However, the tour was uncomfortable in several ways. The guide, Hani, made inappropriate and misogynistic comments, including comparing women to uncovered chocolate bars melting in the sun when explaining why women should cover themselves. When asked how men fit into this analogy, he laughed and refused to answer. He also showed us shirtless photos of himself and bragged about working out. He offered little explanation about the food or its cultural context. Aggressive sales tactics in the bazaar were relentless, and the overall experience felt more awkward than enjoyable.

The West Bank tour was incredible in terms of content. The Colossi of Memnon were striking, and the Valley of the Kings was unforgettable. The tomb artwork was astonishingly well preserved. Guides are not allowed inside the tombs, but Ahmed explained the history beforehand, which helped us appreciate what we were seeing. Seeing King Tut’s tomb—his mummy still inside—was a powerful experience, and we appreciated that the ticket was included. Lunch afterward at Oriental House was excellent and easily the best meal we had in Egypt. While the sites themselves carried the day, the guiding was competent but not especially engaging.

This was absolutely worth it. Despite the very early wake-up, the hot air balloon ride over the Valley of the Kings was flawlessly organized. The crew and pilot were professional, calm, and safety-focused, and we felt secure throughout. Floating above the temples and farmland at sunrise was breathtaking and one of the most awe-inspiring moments of the entire trip. This experience exceeded expectations and was a clear standout.

Karnak and Luxor temples were breathtaking in scale and preservation. Walking through these massive complexes gave a real sense of ancient grandeur. Unfortunately, we arrived much later than expected—after 8 p.m.—and missed the anticipated evening experience and light show because of delays earlier in the day. The sites themselves were extraordinary, but poor timing and communication diminished what could have been an even more memorable visit.

The concept of traveling the Nile between Aswan and Luxor was magical and a highlight of the trip. However, communication around timing was consistently inaccurate. We were told specific departure and arrival times that were hours off, which resulted in missed evening temple visits we had been looking forward to and super early wake up times. The promised "gym" did not exist, and sunbathing or swimming on deck was not appropriate or comfortable for women. While sailing, vendors in small boats pulled alongside the ship and shouted into cabin windows, even while we were sleeping. Despite the logistical frustrations, being on the Nile together was genuinely special and memorable.

Kom Ombo Temple was interesting and lovely to see in the dark. We especially enjoyed the crocodile mummy museum. Again, the visit felt rushed. Our guide, Ahmed, seemed frustrated by crowds and eager to finish quickly. On the walk back, vendors aggressively accosted us, throwing items at us as we said no. Edfu Temple was visually stunning and historically rich, but the experience was dampened by logistics. We were required to wake at 4:30 a.m. for a carriage ride, only to arrive with thousands of other visitors already present. Our guide again seemed impatient and disengaged. We stayed positive and enjoyed the site, but the guiding did little to elevate the experience.

Philae Temple was truly spectacular and one of the most beautiful sites we visited. Learning about its relocation and seeing it by boat was fascinating, and Ahmed provided helpful historical context once we were on-site. However, the overall day felt disengaged. After arriving in Aswan during a sandstorm, Ahmed was reluctant to help us plan alternative afternoon activities and instead lingered in the souk smoking. We were taken to a spice shop with extreme overpricing and very pushy sales tactics. While the sites themselves were impressive, the guiding felt uneven and lacked initiative.

This was an outstanding first day in Egypt, largely due to our guide, Mary. She was warm, knowledgeable, and consistently professional. She navigated the massive Giza complex smoothly, chose engaging stories that brought the pyramids and Sphinx to life, and never rushed us. The camel ride was touristy but fun, and Mary helped us avoid unnecessary hassle. The Grand Egyptian Museum was a highlight. Mary guided us through about 20 pristine galleries, helping us make sense of the scale and significance without overwhelming us. She also brought us to a papyrus “museum” where sales pressure was noticeably lower than elsewhere. This day set a very high bar and showed what excellent guiding in Egypt can be.

Amazing hotel, location, cleanliness, and service. 5 star luxury with a concierge that was able to set us up with trips and excursions when Kimkim left us hanging. The hotel concierge facilitated our trip better than Kimkim.

Not really that interesting. Small farm tour with the owners (very nice family). Took about 15 minutes. Then a preparation of an Egyptian lunch which wasn’t more than 20 minutes. We got to make bread in the oven which was fun. after that it was eating the lunch and driving back to Cairo. The whole experience was about an hour and though it was nice to see the countryside not really worth it. They didn’t book anything else for us for the day but luckily the hotel concierge was able to find activities for our free time. (Our rep from kimkim was useless)

A must do obviously while in Egypt. The camel ride was adventurous, kids loved it!

They cancelled this on us

Was great and worth it.

It’s dated but loved its breakfast and there staff was not very helpful and porter was rude

One star : Dam visit was very boring , avoid Philae temple : 3 star Obelisk: 3 star