Nile cruise vacation in Egypt

Planet

UK Office:
It all starts at home so we have first worked at reducing our carbon footprint in our UK Offices. Through energy conservation measures and recycling policies, we are proud to be actively reducing the waste produced and our impact on the environment. We support various projects all over the world to try and give something back to the places we visit.

Group Size:
This small group tour has a maximum of 16 participants, meaning that we have a low impact on the environments and communities we visit and are able to ensure that we do not disrupt or lead to the displacement of local people. The small number also allows us to stay in unique, family-run hotels that cannot benefit from coach tours and other mass tourism due to their limited sizes.

Charity:
We support A.C.E (Animal Care in Egypt) by sending clients to visit their center and promoting their work to encourage donations. A.C.E. is a charity dedicated to stopping the suffering of animals in the most deprived communities in Luxor by providing free veterinary care and education. There is now a walk-in clinic, a hospital for crucial surgery and 25 stables which allow animals to recover from injury and pressure of working life. This is not just an amazing cause for the animals, but by teaching over 150 children a week, plus owners and veterinary students, communities gain a lot of valuable training.

Activity:
Our tour is largely culturally and historically focused, with our itinerary including a large number of significant Egyptian sites. We visit Al Azhar mosque, Cairo's oldest mosque, university and bazaar, Aswan bazaar and corniche, the Egyptian museum, El Azhar Mosque, the Valley of the Kings, Luxor temple, the Nubian museum, Aswan High Dam etc. This not only promotes these cultural assets by encouraging international appreciation of the architecture, history and relics inside these buildings, but we are creating a demand for local employment and income for the sellers and service providers in surrounding areas.

People

Accommodation and Meals:
You will spend half of the nights on a luxury cruise boat on the Nile and the remainder in hotels. Both types of accommodation are locally staffed, which is wonderful for providing employment opportunities in the area. Where meals are provided, we use fresh fruit, vegetables, meat and fish etc. of which there is an abundance here. Food in Egypt involves such things as kebabs, chicken, stews, pitta-bread, falafel, beans, aubergine and other vegetables, pickles, salads. Clients are encouraged to eat in small restaurants, cafes and markets when their meal is not included, and local guides can suggest what the best places are. There are even options to have a Nubian dinner or a home cooked meal in Cairo, where clients can have an authentic meal and see directly who their money is going to.

A Fair Deal:
We work closely with our local operator and ensure that all of our guides are local and that in exchange for their expertise that they are paid and treated fairly. The leaders will give a briefing on Responsible Tourism issues to help you understand how you can help reduce your impact and maximise the benefits to the local community from your visit.