Osiris ToursReviews of osiristours.com

We took a weeklong trip in early February 2021 to Egypt with Osiris Tours. Mahmoud the owner was outstanding throughout the entire process. We had planned this trip before COVID hit as a group trip for a milestone birthday for my wife. Mahmoud worked with us to craft a trip and timeline that worked for the group, and believe me that was a lot of communication….but not once was he ever anything other than cordial, informative, and understanding. As the pandemic raged on it came down to just my wife and I making the trip and he was just as informative and helpful as ever, even as we freaked out with the continued speculation of additional country closures. As we got closer to the departure date it was required that we take a COVID test before we boarded to arrive in Egypt and before we boarded to leave Egypt, Mahmoud provided a business so that we could schedule and pay for a local test so that it wouldn’t be a concern. We ended up taking the trip and was it an experience of a lifetime. We were met in the airports by our local representative and then taken to our private vehicle with our driver and security. From there we went to our hotel and later met our private tour guide, security, and driver to start our adventures. Each tour guide was friendly and very knowledgeable. They were attentive to what peaked our interest and were always ready to ensure we captured great pictures for memories. From all of the tourist attractions, to the local customs, to the current state of things due to COVID, to local cuisine, they were top notch and gave us a great understanding of what we were seeing and experiencing. With them we never felt out of place, or lost, or concerned about anything…..well except when we go to experience Cairo traffic for the first time. Cairo driving behaviors aren’t like those in the US and it took a little getting used to, however the drivers were top notch and we never had any issues or concerns. As far as COVID goes, everyone in the team wore masks and hand sanitizer was always available. They also made sure we had water if needed. We could go into detail about the pyramids, tombs, etc. however, it is just something that you must see for yourself to really appreciate the experience. I’ve always been intrigued with them ever since being a young kid in school and learning about them or watching the history channel or watching movies that included them, but it’s nothing like seeing them for yourself and understanding the engineering feat that you are able to witness 1000s of year later. In addition, to the tours we were given great recommendations for local restaurants where we ate and had a wonderful experience. We were also able to shop with wonderful local shops and bring back authentic items. As our trip was winding down, they also assisted us with our COVID test, by ensuring the test was completed at the hotel (which we hadn’t originally scheduled) and making sure we had our results on time before our flight. Osiris Tours and their employees are top notch, the experience was exceptional, and the only thing we were disappointed with was that we had elected not to see Aswan to accommodate the potential group. We forgot to mention that our flights were changed numerous times due to COVID, our originating flight had changed the week before and because our connecting flight to Cairo was the same we didn’t think to mention it…..well when we arrived in Amsterdam I had a voice mail from Osiris Tours making sure that our arrival hadn’t changed because they checked and saw that our flight time wasn’t listed anymore. They wanted to ensure that someone was there to meet us at whatever time we were arriving. I could go on and on, however they truly enjoy what they do and are class acts. I would definitely recommend them to anyone looking to go to Egypt, you will not be disappointed! Thanks Mahmoud and team, you truly made this a memorable experience!

Thank you, Mahmoud and team, for the most wonderful family trip. Accommodations were beautiful. The guides and drivers were all terrific and knowledgeable. Everything went perfectly. I traveled with my husband and three boys (ages 16, 14, and 11). Some things to consider if traveling with a family: (1) Be careful how much you try to accomplish in one day. Our domestic flights were booked early. My youngest got tired and had some trouble keeping up. (2) Do not worry about your safety. We felt very comfortable and safe the entire trip. (3) Driving in Egypt is like nothing we have ever experienced. Between no traffic lights, an apparent lack of "rules" of the road and police checkpoints, I was so happy we decided to use Osiris. (4) The guides will cater to your every wish and change the itinerary if you need to. Making unplanned stops is not a problem. One day, my boys were exhausted, so we canceled our afternoon plans and lounged by the pool. And finally, do not let COVID hold you back. Our guide helped us take care of our required COVID test for our flight home. The tourist attractions are almost empty. If you are planning a trip to Egypt, do yourself a favor and use Osiris Tours!

Wow! This trip far exceeded our expectations! Osiris Tours did a magnificent job planning and ensuring our trip went off without a hitch. Mahmoud and his crew were professional, personable, and knowledgeable. We are so glad we chose to go to Egypt now, despite Covid concerns. Everyone from our guides and drivers to hotel staff respected Covid guidelines. There were too many highlights to mention here, though I will say we especially enjoyed the early morning hot air balloon ride. Yes, we could take a balloon ride anywhere, but the view over the Nile at sunrise was spectacular. We opted to drive between Aswan and Luxor which gave us the chance to see more of the local countryside. If you are looking for an unique travel experience you'll never forget, I highly recommend an Osiris Tour of Egypt.

We are so pleased that we used Osiris Tours for our trip to Egypt. Mahmoud and his team exceeded expectations and made this a completely fantastic experience. This was by far one of the most well-run and special tours we have ever been on. From the beginning, Mahmoud helped us create a perfect itinerary that suited our needs, and he was wonderful about accommodating any changes or last minute requests. We absolutely loved our guides Ahmed and Faten. They had so much knowledge of ancient culture, great personalities, and interesting stories that really made the sights come alive. In fact, the entire team that assisted us with every aspect of the trip from airport transportation to driving to security was top notch, and it’s clear that Osiris Tours only employs the very best to take care of their guests. We went in January 2021 and felt incredibly safe and well taken care of 100% of the time. I would highly recommend Osiris Tours and Egypt for a trip of a lifetime! We can’t wait to go back and see more of this fascinating country with this exceptional tour company.

Before I begin, I want to thank Mahmoud Gebril, the founder and president of Osiris Tours, for arranging a spectacular trip for our family. From the beginning, I knew we chose the perfect travel company to arrange our family vacation to Egypt. When I first spoke to Mahmoud, I felt like he knew exactly what we were looking for our trip. He asked about our interest, and came up with an itinerary that was perfect for our family of four. Our tour of Egypt included travel to Cairo and Luxor. I traveled with my wife and two boys, ages 15 and 9, to Egypt at the beginning of January 2021. Upon arrival, our airport representative greeted us shortly after landing in Cairo. He guided us through the entry process into Egypt, which made it incredible easy and stress free for us during every arrival and departure of our trip. The hotels were amazing and luxurious. We stayed at the Four Seasons, which was awesome! We spent our first two days in Cairo with our guide Sultan. Sultan is incredibly knowledgeable with Egyptian history. He took us to the Great Pyramids, The Sphinx, on a food tour through Cairo, and we spent the end of our day drinking Turkish coffee sitting outdoors on the streets of Cairo. On Day 3 we took a short flight from Cairo to Luxor. Our first evening in Luxor, we met with our guide for the next few days, Sam. Sam is just a happy person. He loves what he does and enjoys sharing his knowledge of ancient Egyptian history with others. We had so much fun in Luxor! He took us to the Valley of the Kings, Valley of the Queens, Abydos, The Dendera Temple, and the Karnak and Luxor Temples just to name a few. We enjoyed an amazing lunch at a local restaurant where we ate chicken shawarma and stuffed pigeon (yes it is delicious)! We visited several local shops, where you have the option of purchasing various items, such as hieroglyphs and paintings on papyrus paper, Egyptian clothing made from Egyptian cotton, essential oils and perfumes, jewelry, and local pottery made from alabaster and other items. On the day before departure back to the US, we flew back to Cairo to enjoy our last day at the Egyptian Museum and an afternoon shopping at the famous Khan el-Khalili Bazaar. My family enjoyed the Museum. The exhibits are impressive, and there are many ancient statues, mummies, and many other antiquities to be seen. The Bazaar was fun. It is a great place to find deals from local vendors and souvenirs to bring home. In summary, our trip was perfectly planned. Everything is as advertised. Everything Mahmoud said would happen, happened and Osiris Tours delivered. My wife loved it, my kids loved it, and I loved this trip! Words just cannot describe the experience of what it is to visit in person and witness the incredible structures, art, hieroglyphs, scenery, and hearing about ancient Egyptian history from an Egyptologist. The entire Osiris Tours staff was amazing, and the people of Egypt are amazing. This was a trip to remember, a trip that my family and I will never forget. Thank you Mahmoud and thank you Osiris Tours for providing my family and I the opportunity to experience Egypt this way.

WOW WOW WOW. We had the trip of a lifetime, arranged by Mahmoud Gebril of Osiris tours. We just returned two days ago from our 8-day trip to Cairo, Aswan, and Luxor. First, let me sing the praises of Osiris tours. I am generally not a fan of arranged tours, but I wanted a private tour for my kids and me of Egypt's highlights as we had only one week to travel. Mahmoud Gebril (owner of Osiris) was so responsive to my requests and my wishlist (nice hotels, private transportation, private tour guides). He made the process SO EASY. From my initial phone call to being fully booked took less than 24 hours. Then I threw a curve ball and we decided to add a friend to the group, which was also a seamless process. She was added and booked within a couple of hours. EVERY SINGLE DETAIL was taken care of. Upon our arrival in Cairo, we were greeted by an airport rep, who helped us through the visa process and assisted with our luggage and transport to our first hotel (The Four Seasons on the Nile). In Cairo, our guide was Mahmoud (aka Sultan). He was so so knowledgeable and patient with us (I have 3 moody teenagers). He MADE OUR DAYS IN CAIRO AMAZING. We learned so much. All of Osiris' guides are trained and educated Egyptologists and I was so so impressed by their breadth of knowledge. In Cairo, the pyramids/sphinx were breathtaking. We have amazing pics. We also arranged a camel ride (While in Egypt, this is a must-do). We also visited the Citadel/Mosque of Muhammad Ali), the Egyptian Museum (AMAZING) and the Khan Bazaar. I just took it all in and we had the perfect amount of time in EVERY PLACE. We then flew on EgyptAir to Aswan. Once again, we had an airport rep help us through the entire process. As a solo parent traveling with my kids, this made the process so easy. We were greeted by Sam, our tour guide in Aswan and Luxor. We visited multiple temples in addition to the Valley of the Kings and Valley of the Queens. Sam MADE OUR TRIP and was so so knowledgeable about the temples and the tombs in the Valley of the Kings and Valley of the Queens and Hatshepsut's Temple. He told wonderful stories that drew us in and he engaged my kids, which is not always easy to do. He loves to laugh and so do we, so we were a perfect match. In Luxor, we stayed at the Hilton, where the food was amazing, the service was amazing, and we LOVED our downtime relaxing at the pool beside the Nile. Please add a hot air balloon ride in Luxor and a Felucca sailboat ride - two extras that we requested and they were breathtaking. IT IS THE PERFECT TIME TO VISIT EGYPT. We had negative COVID tests (PCR) required by the country within 96 hours of our visit. We had the historical sites to ourselves. Filae temple was EMPTY. Sam (our guide) told us many times that pre-COVID, the temples were wall to wall people. We could spread our wings and explore at our leisure. We felt extremely safe and felt safer in Egypt (COVID) than here in the USA. USE OSIRIS TOURS to make your trip to Egypt a memorable trip of a lifetime. EVERY DETAIL was PERFECT and I can't say that about ANY of our other trips. Mahmoud gave me his personal cell phone number in the event that we had any questions or concerns and this was such a nice personal touch. FIVE STARS FIVE STARS FIVE STARS. I can't speak highly enough.

Now is an excellent time to visit Egypt, and Osiris Tours will make the trip memorable. We had originally scheduled to visit in March 2020, but COVID-19 restrictions forced us to reschedule to early December. Mahmoud Gebril worked closely with us to rearrange the travel for when we could move our airline reservations, and suggested alternatives when our side trip to Jordan (Petra) was not possible due to travel restrictions. What you will find in Egypt right now is truly a once in a lifetime experience. We literally had all of Abu Simbel to ourselves, rather than crowds of thousands. This experience was repeated at all of the major sites: Philae, Edfu, and Kom Ombo temples were all free of other tourists. Sam, our excellent guide in Aswan and Luxor, repeatedly commented on how he would normally have to queue for 30 minutes just to enter a site, while we were fortunate to have the site all to ourselves. In Cairo, we climbed into the Great Pyramid alone, and had all of Tutankhamen’s treasures to view without the crowds. We strongly suggest you listen to Mahmoud’s advice and add on the special options. The tombs of Seti I and Nefartari are amazing. The color and depth of the carvings is well beyond that of other tombs, although everything is worth seeing. The drive to Abydos and Dendera Temples was a bit out of the way, but the color and detail of the decoration showed how powerful Seti was by the design of his temple. So what is the downside of travel now? We had to test for Covid-19 before leaving the US in a narrow time window, and again in Luxor before leaving Egypt to satisfy our airline (Emirates). The hotels (Four Seasons in Cairo, Movenpick in Aswan, and Hilton in Luxor) all had robust cleaning and masking, so those hotels felt safe. Your guide, driver and security person (the latter required by the US embassy) will all be masked as well. You will find that most Egyptians do not mask. It still felt safe given the low Covid-19 numbers in Egypt and that most activities are outdoors. You will also find some amenities are limited. Most hotels are empty, so there is typically only one restaurant open. And despite there being just one restaurant option at the Hilton, even after 6 nights we still found new things to try. And eating along the edge of the Nile never gets old. We opted to not take a Nile cruise even when we initially planned the trip as we wanted to control our schedule rather than be at the mercy of the ship (Mahmoud’s suggestion) and it turns out that decision was fortunate. There are virtually no ships cruising the Nile, and we would not want to take a chance on Covid risk that would come with a cruise. As a bonus, traveling down the backroads of Egypt gave us an opportunity to see more of the lives of the people there, and get some freshly picked bananas and oranges as a snack! Given the limited number of tourists, you will find the vendors to be a bit more aggressive than when there are many people for them to sell to. They aren’t too pushy, but we found the constant pressure to be a bit unnerving at times. We also suggest you either bring a large quantity of one dollar bills or lots of small Egyptian bills. We visited virtually every tomb available, and given that your guide will not be allowed inside the actual tomb with you, the local ‘tomb guardian’ will take you through and want a tip at the end. This is a very tip-centric culture, and given that you are one of a very limited number of visitors, be prepared for more tipping than you might otherwise expect. Overall, we believe we just had a once in a lifetime experience. Not just to see the riches of Egyptian culture as history, but to do so at a time when we had what felt like a private tour of these world famous sites was unprecedented. You may not have the Great Pyramid to yourself as we did, but if you go with Osiris, you will have the best possible tour of Egypt. Trust Mahmoud Gebril to design an itinerary and provide guides like Mahmoud in Cairo and Sam in Aswan and Luxor. Their depth of knowledge and humor really bring Egypt to life.

My husband arranged the trip with Mahmoud G, who designed it for us since my husband was going to initially be in Alexandria for business. Someone met us at every airport and accompanied us to our hotels. We had the same guide for our entire trip: Mahmoud Farah, and he was amazing. He has his Master's in Egyptology and is starting his PhD, so of course he is incredibly knowledgeable, but he is also just the nicest person! Our driver while we were in Luxor was Hani, who was also wonderful. The hotel in Luxor was so lovely and relaxing. Depending on the day we often had some time to relax by the pool, but some days were busier than others. We saw so much, and it was incredibly relaxing to not have to worry about driving, logistics, etc. We highly recommend Osiris tours!