Egypt
Egyptian Odyssey: Cairo, the Nile and Lake Nasser
Program No. 18774RJ
Join an Egyptologist for an insider’s understanding of this mysterious nation, learning about iconic sites, ancient communities and hidden treasures.
Participant Reviews
Based on 209 Reviews
SHOWING
Hamada was a fantastic leader! The program was top notch throughout and delivered an excellent learning experience.
— Review left February 18, 2026
Amani Nabil was an excellent tour guide. She was a knowledgeable, organized and understandable interpreter of both ancient Egyptian history and modern Egyptian culture. In particular, I was very impressed with her tour of the newly opened Grand Egyptian Museum and the afternoon session she spent with the group responding to questions about modern Egyptian life. The only challenging issue on the trip was the 2:30 a.m. wake-up for the flight from Cairo to Aswan. Some consideration should be given to flying from Cairo to Abu Simbel, which would allow some much appreciated sleep time. Overall, a great program!
— Review left February 17, 2026
This was our first Road Scholar trip and first trip to Egypt, and I must say that it was a great experience; many thanks to Road Scholar. Our wonderful tour guide and Egyptologist Rania’s extensive knowledge and sparkling personality made every day fascinating and thoroughly enjoyable.
— Review left February 12, 2026
This trip was OUTSTANDING, and only superlatives would adequately describe it. Of course the sites of Egypt are remarkable, but the trip’s great success was primarily due to Amani, our group leader and Egyptologist. Not only was Amani tremendously knowledgeable, but she was always extremely kind and patient. The itinerary was excellent, and included a several days on Lake Nasser, in addition to the highlights to be expected on a trip to Egypt (e.g., Giza, Abu Simbel, Luxor, Cairo). Each day was filled with visits to multiple sites and/or museums, made all the more interesting by Amani’s explanations. I don’t know how she managed the complicated daily logistics for the group, but everything went off without a hitch. The accommodations were top-notch, particularly in Luxor and Cairo, where we stayed in the best hotel in each city. (The boats on both Lake Nasser and the Nile were more than adequate and had 5-star ratings.) Our group of 22 got along very well, which also contributed to a very successful trip. I can’t recommend it highly enough.
— Review left February 11, 2026
This trip was excellent. The Egyptologist who led the group (Rania) was thoroughly knowledgeable about the history, culture and civilization of ancient Egypt. She has an engaging and cheerful personality, great energy and strong leadership skills, which were well adapted to a group of 24 intelligent, educated and otherwise accomplished adults from all disciplines; an interesting group of people who all got along quite well. The tour achieved visiting all the promised locations, monuments, tombs and temples and was bolstered with highly valuable talks by other experts as well as entertainments by Egyptian performers. Accommodations in a Cairo hotel and on two different river and lake boats were of excellent quality, as was the food. Finally, Road Scholars handled all travel arrangements, both international and within Egypt and, except for issues over which Road Scholars had no control (January weather in the U.S.), all went flawlessly with no concerns about safety or security.
— Review left February 9, 2026
This was my first adventure with Road Scholar; I have gone to India, Vietnam, Italy, and Japan with other “tour” companies, (at roughly the same “tier”) and I believe RS proved to the best experience. I noted that our Tour guide was assisted by a RS tour administrator, which seemed to relieve him of mundane duties that other tour operators still burden tour guides with. Our tour guide, George Samir was obviously well experienced, and handled sensitive questions regarding social and political issues with a good balance of diplomacy and candor, without too much editorializing. He provided extremely valuable narrative at each site and was both instructive and teasingly inquisitive. The bulk of my Egyptology appreciation was directly related to his descriptions and context setting. The supplemental lectures were good, but frankly, not any better than he was able to provide us extemporaneously. My fellow travelers were good natured and convivial for the most part. I made some new friends that I would enjoy traveling with on future RS adventures. My main criticisms were concerning dining. The majority of meals are buffet style, but their selections never varied much. In addition, particularly on the Nile Cruise portion, all diners had the same schedules so the queues became somewhat chaotic and tiresome. Perhaps there can be cadenced sections of diners in order to limit crowds at buffet lines. In other words, buffet lines with some crowd control would make it a more relaxed experience. At hotels, because of the peak tourist season the buffet restaurants were over capacity resulting in poor service and diners frustration. Again, some seating adjustments would be welcome. On a positive note, RS seemed to protect our group from other large groups at the most popular sites. I also appreciated that our guide refrained from tacky “flags” or mascots to herd our small group at sites. We felt like adults rather than kids on a field trip. I recommend RS wholeheartedly
— Review left February 8, 2026
What a wonderful trip with a group of wonderful travelers. Egypt was everything that I thought it would be and our program director, George Samir, was very organized, professional, and knowledgeable. He thought of every detail.
— Review left February 8, 2026
Fantastic trip!! everyday more interesting than the day before..Guide was terrific! Always felt safe and informed of next adventure!!
— Review left February 7, 2026
A 5++ star experience.
This trip was an extraordinary journey combining history, art, and culture. I loved the itinerary and felt it truly delivered the in-depth experience I was looking for. I researched several tour companies and found that most do not include the Lake Nasser ship experience, with Abu Simbel offered only as an optional excursion. Not with this tour—everything was included, and we approached Abu Simbel from the water rather than enduring a three-hour bus ride. The Nile and Lake Nasser cruises also allowed us to take in truly beautiful landscapes.
We saw and experienced so much on this trip. Our Group Leader, Rania Akl, was outstanding. As an Egyptologist, she provided invaluable historical insight, but beyond her obvious expertise, she led with kindness, energy, organization, humor, and excellent communication skills. She worked intentionally to help the group bond like a family—and she succeeded. We made wonderful friends along the way.
I will always cherish this incredible journey to Egypt and the opportunity to immerse myself in ancient Egyptian history.
— Review left February 6, 2026
This was my first Road Scholar trip, and it will NOT be my last! I attended this trip with my husband and we really had no expectations. Yet, Rania Akl treated us to an amazing adventure in Egypt, full of wonderful experiences, incredible knowledge, and she helped create a "family" among our group.
The pyramids in Giza were astonishing, as well as the Sphynx and camel ride. The Grand Egyptian Museum, trekking inside the Red Pyramid, Rania's enthusiastic descriptions and explanations in the Valley of the Kings--All wonderful!
I think I was VERY pleasantly surprised about how much I enjoyed sailing down the Nile and Lake Nasser. The ships and the service were both excellent; going to the sun deck was a special treat every day; tea at 4:00, etc. This is where our group truly got to know each other better.
But again, Rania's leadership, inexhaustible enthusiasm, and knowledge made all of our excursions magical. Luxor, Karnak, Aku Sambel, old Cairo, EVERYTHING. SHE WAS GREAT! And, personally, I really enjoyed getting to know Rania and appreciated her help when I made purchases. AND special "extras" like a geology lecture from one of our group, as well as viewing "Death on the Nile" all together and enjoying the recognition of the scenery!
Thank you Rania and Road Scholar for this amazing experience!
Best Regards,
Anuket aka Susan Briss
— Review left February 6, 2026
Our Egyptologist, tour leader Rania was the best tour guide we have had. She made Egypt come alive for us!
— Review left February 2, 2026
Visiting Egypt is a once in a lifetime opportunity, so I did a lot of research before choosing which tour company would take me there. This was my first trip with Road Scholar, and it’s clear I chose the right company. I loved every single minute! This trip keeps you hopping and Road Scholar’s Egypt team on the ground from Ash, and Tariq to our wonderful guide, Egyptologist Bassem Samir, were absolutely amazing! Everything - including the tours (terrific), the food (particularly good to excellent), my accommodations (extremely comfortable), and transportation (efficient and well-coordinated) - was very well-managed. Bassem even added extra lectures, and other sights whenever he thought we had the time, and it would be of interest to our group. He insured this trip was as rich and rewarding as it could be. Things to be aware of before taking this tour – if you don’t like your international flight arrangements, work with Road Scholar to find the right flights that work for you. Be prepared for the middle of the night flight to Aswan, busy days, and several early morning wake up calls as well as lots of walking – this is far more than a quick tour of Egypt – it was the educational experience of a lifetime, and I didn’t want to miss a minute.
— Review left December 28, 2025
This was a trip of a lifetime. And Road Scholar made everything easy, thorough, enjoyable and fun for our first Adventure with them.
Our guide Bassem Samir was exemplary. So kind, knowledgeable, clear, patient, and fun. We were so grateful for everything he did to make the trip run so well and share so much of his insights and humanity with us.
Our travel mates were amazing - we hadn't ever done a tour this large and were a bit nervous, but our tour-mates are folks who we would definitely travel with again.
And of course Egypt was the star.
Highlights of the trip were the Tomb of Ramses IV in Valley of the Kings (it was an extra $5 but truly amazing and worth it), the pyramids in Giza, the temple at Philae, Abu Simbel, the new GEM museum, and the added lectures on Life along the Nile, Egyptian Culture and Religious Customs, and the process of Restoration.
The pace was great, never felt too slow or too fast. And while the early wake ups were sometimes tough - it was worth it to get to see a lot of the sites with very few other folks there.
The hotels/ships were great and accommodating when issues arose under way. The food was amazing and varied. The transfers and vans and flights while on tour were incredibly well organized (even if some of the wake-up times were very early!).
The only other thing I might have done differently is bring along more small USD bills which are preferred by some vendors and for special service tipping. Also a masks would have been good at times to help address dust/air quality in a few spots. Otherwise 5 shirts, 3 pants, a scarf and undies/socks were more than sufficient packing (we were able to do rapid turnaround laundry twice which meant I could have packed less and saved more room in my bags for souvenirs).
This is the perfect tour and I highly recommend!
— Review left December 17, 2025
When I chose Egypt for my next trip, I looked at other tour providers. I chose Road Scholar for their focus on the educational component, and specifically for the sites included in this tour. The tour was amazing, and I made the right choice.
— Review left December 17, 2025
This program was well conceived and well executed. It hit all the major Egyptian sites possible in a 2 week trip. The guide was absolutely fantastic - an Egyptologist for 30 plus years who knew all the key sites and Egyptian history inside and out. The fellow travelers were all interesting companions. I would highly recommend this program.
— Review left December 16, 2025
This trip to Egypt was a trip of a lifetime and far exceeded all my expectations. Our guide, Rania Aki was fanntastic and her knowledge and skill brought Egypt to life. Thank you road Scholar.
— Review left December 4, 2025
Our recent Egyptian Odyssey trip was amazing. So much history and our guide was so knowledgeable and helpful in presenting it to us. It was also good seeing a country with a culture and living situations different than our own. It makes us appreciate a bigger world and other cultures then our own.
— Review left December 4, 2025
I absolutely loved my trip to Egypt with Road Scholar. Our guide and teacher, Sameh, was amazing. His passion and extensive knowledge about his country made this trip. Egypt is magical and truly the center of the earth.
I hope to go again.
— Review left December 4, 2025
This trip is a terrific value for the money. Hits all the historic highlights and includes two boat rides. Our guide was not just an expert on the subject matter but in guiding us through the itinerary and giving us practical tips on things like how and when to tip and negotiating prices. Highly recommend!
— Review left December 1, 2025
Our trip to Egypt with Road Scholar was amazing. We learned a great deal and spent time with a group of other people who were interesting and engaged. Our guide was first class as were the accommodations. The boat trip portions -- on Lake Nasser and on the Nile -- were pinch worthy: We were on the Nile! Can't say enough about the organization and leadership of the tour. This was our first Road Scholar journey and there will be more.
— Review left November 30, 2025
This program is for a person that wants to learn, be active, and be safe in an area of the world that may seem exotic and intimidating.
— Review left November 27, 2025
This is an outstanding trip for those who want a well-rounded and thorough introductory educational experience in Egyptian history coupled with excellent program guides, accommodations, meals and assistants to help navigate any personal issues (health, diet, etc.).
— Review left November 25, 2025
Go on this trip! Visiting Egypt had been on my list of places to go for 40 years and I am so glad I went. It was a well-paced (no one night stops), thorough trip with plenty of time at the sites we visited. Our guide/program expert, Sameh was such a great manager - on top of all of the details, knowledgeable and funny! Hotels and food very wonderful too!
— Review left November 20, 2025
Unfortunately we had a guide Sameh that negatively impacted our enjoyment and experience of Egypt. He provided little depth of understanding. He is unable to answer questions in a meaningful way and gets very annoyed by them. He gets basic facts wrong which makes him hard to believe.
Getting to see the ancient sites was interesting and we were really looking forward to this trip, it came highly recommended by past participants. But we were glad when it was over and would never have booked another Road Scholar trip if this was our first experience.
— Review left November 18, 2025
My trip to Egypt was my first Road Scholar program and I am hooked! I traveled solo and didn't miss a beat, making friends with all the participants and life time friends with several of my solo buddies.
Our guide was outstanding in his knowledge and his patience and humor keep us all fully engaged throughout our adventure.
Cannot recommend Road Scholar and specially this trip enough!
Thank you Road Scholar.
— Review left November 15, 2025
Great trip of a lifetime. It was made all the better by our tour guide and Egyptologist, Mohamed Elhenawee, better known to our group as Hamada. His ability to read the hieroglyphs and explain their meaning was invaluable information, bringing ancient Egypt to life. Kudos, Road Scholar!
— Review left November 5, 2025
Great program but the temperature was really hot.
— Review left November 4, 2025
IF YOU ARE INTETRESTED TO LEARN ABOUT OLD CIVILIZATION THAN THAN GOING TO EGYPT AND CAIRO TO SEE THE PYRAMIDS AND HOW THEY PRESERVE THE BODIES
IS VERY IMPORTANT TO VISIT AND GAIN KNOWLEDGEON MORE THAN 4000 YEAR OLD CIVILIZATION.
— Review left November 3, 2025
Excellent trip! So many amazing things to see! Our group leader, Bassem Samir, and all the Road Scholar staff were knowledgeable and did everything they could to make sure we had a wonderful experience in Egypt. Mary and Jim
— Review left October 31, 2025
Well organized program. The RS team did a good job coordinating the tour and flights, with wonderful food and accommodations. We had a great in-country Egyptian guide (Bassem Samir), who was attentive and took care of our needs and questions. Just ignore all those friends and family who are too scared to travel to a country in the Middle East and Africa. JUST GO!! So much to learn!!
— Review left October 21, 2025
Hello. We enjoyed this trip very much. Magdy was resourceful, knowledgeable and available. The ship and hotels were very nice. Breakfast at the last hotel in Cairo was chaotic - that would be our only complaint.
— Review left October 3, 2025
My wife and I returned (9/29/25) from our Egyptian Odyssey adventure. The sites were amazing and our Egyptologist tour guide was incredible. We had a great experience and met some wonderful people that made the trip a total pleasure. For people that might be concerned for their safety in Egypt, Road Scholar provided appropriate security throughout the trip. We never once felt unsafe.
— Review left October 2, 2025
Excellent trip! Magdy was an excellent guide and the trip was well planned- hit all the major sites
— Review left September 30, 2025
Bassem our egyptologest did a great job. We were 150% pleased with him and also with the program as a whole. Very well planned out. Bassem was even able to squeeze in the GEM and the mummy museum in our free time.
This was a trip I have been dreaming of for about all my life. Three cheers and 5 stars for both Road Scholar and Bassem
— Review left June 8, 2025
I cannot say enough good things about our group leader on this trip. Exceptionally knowledgeable, always good-humored, and went the extra mile when the occasional mishaps occurred - which was not often. The sites we visited were well-chosen. The lectures were both informative and entertaining. Our accommodations were very comfortable and well-located. And we were well fed with a variety of good food. The only part of the itinerary I might have left out was the felucca ride out of Luxor to the island. There wasn’t much to see there and it seemed to be something just added in because it’s expected that you ride in a felucca.
— Review left May 26, 2025
If you go to Egypt with Road Scholar ask for George Samir as your primary guide. It was a fabulous experience.
— Review left April 10, 2025
The program fully met and surpassed my expectations. Our group leader had superb knowledge of Ancient Egypt and it monuments, while manifesting excellent interpersonal skill and warmth toward participants. Facilities, food, and transportation were all excellent, while security and safety were never a concern for the participants. I strongly recommend this program to those considering a trip to Egypt.
— Review left April 10, 2025
The excellence of our guide, George Samir, meant that the trip lived up to all our of hopes. His knowledge is deep, he has a great sense of humor along with a lot of patience and warmth. We looked forward to seeing him for a new adventure each day.
— Review left April 9, 2025
My wife and I fully enjoyed this program and we highly recommend it to anyone wanting to experience Egypt. Our tour guide George Samir was exceptional.
— Review left March 31, 2025
From the moment I arrived in Cairo for my Egyptian trip, I had no worries about how I was going to get where I needed to be. Road Scholar people were there every step of the way. I didn’t need to worry about the state of the world, I could just focus on seeing the sights I have always dreamed about.
— Review left March 28, 2025
This was truly a trip of a lifetime. To be able to see and experience in depth the Egyptian culture was amazing. Words alone would not do it justice. Our first Road Scholar trip and it will not be our last. They were there from the moment we stepped off the airplane until we were boarding to go home. The hotels and boats were top notch especially the boats where we felt like royalty. If you are into many different foods you will love it from the delicious buffets to the several local restaurant experiences. Our local Archaeologist guide Hany Safwat was amazing. His grasp and understanding of hieroglyphics made everything come to life. We felt safe and secure every step of the way. If you were ever considering a trip to Egypt do not hesitate.
— Review left March 20, 2025
This was truly a trip of a lifetime. To be able to see and experience in depth the Egyptian culture was amazing. Words alone would not do it justice. Our first Road Scholar trip and it will not be our last. They were there from the moment we stepped off the airplane until we were boarding to go home. The hotels and boats were top notch especially the boats where we felt like royalty. If you are into many different foods you will love it from the delicious buffets to the several local restaurant experiences. Our local Archaeologist guide Hany Safwat was amazing. His grasp and understanding of hieroglyphics made everything come to life. We felt safe and secure every step of the way. If you were ever considering a trip to Egypt do not hesitate.
— Review left March 20, 2025
If you are hoping for a cultural, life changing experience, and not just a sightseeing trip to Egypt, go with Road Scholar with Hani Safwat as your guide. I can’t imagine going with anyone else.
— Review left March 20, 2025
If you plan to tour the Nile and its various sites, then request Hany Safwat as your tour guide. You'll find no better.
— Review left March 18, 2025
What an amazing experience - explore Egypt with a real expert!!
— Review left March 14, 2025
Road Scholar trip to Egypt was amazing. I still cannot believe how much I traveled and saw in Egypt that I could have never accomplished on my own. You just need to show up and your guide takes care of everything else. The value for your money is great.
— Review left March 10, 2025
Trip of a lifetime! Sameh was a terrific guide. Our accommodations were first rate
— Review left March 8, 2025
Good: Our guide Sameh Gosar was amazing. So, so, so knowledgeable. Eager to introduce us to the country of Egypt, both in its current state as well as ancient history. He was matter of fact as to current events, presenting good and bad in a balanced way but mostly proud of his country and its accomplishments. The accommodations were beautiful, especially Winter Palace in Luxor. The least pleasant accommodation was MS Minerva, which was a tight fit.
Bad: 24 people on the tour is too many. Not too many for Sam to handle, he kept us informed an in line beautifully. Too many in that it took more than half the trip for me to get everyone straight (name, home location, who are they traveling with) and I did feel a bit herded like sheep.
Suggestions: 1. On the first day at our first "meeting" I would have liked a moment for each traveler to introduce themselves. Even better if there were a paper listing of names so that I could take notes about each person; 2. When the MS Minerva arrived in Luxor on the morning of day 10, I would have preferred to move to Luxor Winter Palace that evening, rather than waiting until day 11 (2 nights on MS Minerva, 3 nights at Winter Palace); 3. We had one traveler who was clearly struggling with the physical requirements and listening requirements the entire time. Your description of the trip clearly listed it as activity level 4, while two other Egypt trips were activity level 3 and likely would have been more appropriate. I don't know how you can avoid customers picking the wrong activity level; this woman was 81- or 82-years old. Is there any way to notice date of birth once a customer signs up and maybe have a "conversation" about the requirements? Probably not, but I felt sorry for Sam as well as the rest of us.
— Review left March 6, 2025
This was a trip of a lifetime! We had so many interesting and varied experiences packed into every day - each day was different and full. We felt completely safe during our trip, even though the lifestyle and culture was very different from our own. Don't hesitate if Egypt is on your bucket list - we are so glad we went with Road Scholar as we learned far more than we would have on a traditional "tourist trip."
— Review left March 5, 2025
The trip was amazing and worth every penny! Our tour guide, Bassem, was wonderful, entertaining, knowledgeable and a true asset to Road Scholar. I was a bit apprehensive to travel on my own, but every step of the way I was made to feel comfortable--from the agent at the Cairo airport looking for me upon arrival, to the same gentleman escorting me through the checkin process back at the airport at the end of the trip. In between, everything about this trip was first-class. The highlights were all the locations we visited during the two weeks--more than 24 ticket-required locations all paid for by RS, with a fluent English-speaking guide to explain what we were seeing and to wisk us through everywhere.
When they say "on to go" they really mean it. Some very early wakeups, but all intended to maximize the ability to see absolutely everything the country has to offer. For those apprehensive about travel to the middle East, don't be. Most everywhere we went, there was an armed security guard looking out for each of us. While that sounds scarry, it was reassuring. Even in the most chaotic market, I felt perfectly safe and welcomed as an American tourist.
Although our guide made currency exchange easy, almost everywhere you go, American dollars are welcome. Just make sure your bills are not torn, as apparently the Egyptian banks won't accept torn bills and so folks there are reluctant to take them. And, interestingly, their banks won't take $1 bills--even they they are appreciated as tips.
Everthing about this trip was well thought out and impecibly delivered. We had 19 on the tour and our guide created a WhatsApp group to share daily schedules and pictures he took of us. He was great about grabbing pics of the solo travelers--for once I'm in front of the camera and not just behind it.
— Review left January 27, 2025
Our trip to Egypt far exceeded our expectations. It was well planned and we had a terrific guide.
— Review left January 22, 2025
This is an excellent comprehensive trip. Everything was outstanding - guide Bassem, fellow Road Scholars, accommodation, food - and the real star is Egypt itself with its unmatched monuments. Egypt is safe if you travel with a tour group and a dedicated local guide, as we did. Police security is ubiquitous in tourist locations and I never felt the least bit uncomfortable. Five stars.
— Review left January 22, 2025
Amazing! So glad we chose Road Scholar as our tour leaders to Egypt! It was an energetic tour with lots of walking and some early morning departures - the "let's go" activity level described in program materials needs to be taken seriously. That energetic pace let us see and learn a ton. And our guide/local area expert was amazing! Fluent in English, Arabic, Coptic and the reading of ancient hieroglyphs, he made the program for us!
— Review left January 21, 2025
My trip to Egypt with Mohammad Younis as our guide was absolutely fabulous! He was knowledgeable, patient, friendly and so enthusiastic to share his country with us. I can't say enough about what an outstanding guide he was. Our trip was seamless, stressless and packed full with sights. The accommodations and meals were truly 5 star the entire way from our hotels in Cairo and Luxor to our boat travels on the Nile and Lake Nassar!
— Review left December 25, 2024
Outstanding trip of a lifetime! Heba, our group leader was extremely knowledgeable, informative, and personable. The sites were amazing. I learned so much about ancient Egyptian history that I’m still trying to assimilate it all. The accommodations and meals were fantastic.
— Review left December 25, 2024
I fully enjoyed this trip. It was well organized and the transitions between hotels, flights and boats flowed without error. Our tour guide Heba was well informed and did an excellent job communicating the historical facts. She did a nice job of keeping us on task, timely and shared expectations for each day. She answered our questions and shared cultural details which helped us to navigate the environment. The accommodations were nice and the food provided options for all. I truly enjoyed the local restaurants as they provided both a cultural experience as well as great food! The temples, tombs, museums and religious spots all held their own. Everyday was a “wow” experience. Heba was integral in bringing together the historical facts at each location. It is obvious she is a well skilled teacher. I would suggest RS add the Great Egyptian Museum to this trip. A few of us went on our own and it was well worth it! Overall this was an epic experience!
— Review left December 22, 2024
Outstanding! The itinerary is much more extensive than other tour offerings. Younes, both guide and Egyptologist, was the best one I've ever experienced. He made ancient Egypt come alive.
— Review left December 21, 2024
This Road Scholar Program is an OUTSTANDING one for anyone wishing to visit the AMAZING Nation of Egypt!!
— Review left December 21, 2024
If you are only going to Egypt once, this is the program for you, especially if you are interested in Ancient Egypt. It combines land and river travel, and journeying along the Nile gives you a glimpse into the timelessness of Egyptian rural life.
— Review left December 12, 2024
Excellent trip. Our guide Mohammed Younis was outstanding and was excited to show us all the country he loved. It was like being with family the entire trip.
— Review left December 12, 2024
Excellent program. Highly recommend as an in-depth look at ancient and contemporary Egypt. Tour leader was extremely knowledgeable and greatly enhanced our experience. We felt safe the entire time. Cruising on Lake Nasser and Nile greatly added to experience.
— Review left December 11, 2024
This Road Scholar tour exceeded my childhood dream of visiting Egypt in every way and it was worth the wait.
Our tour guide Amal Elfar recreated every facet of the ancient’s world and their dependence on the Nile. Her ability to read hieroglyphics opened even more doors into understanding Egypt throughout history. Amal brought together everything I have ever read about ancient Egypt with her extensive detailed knowledge about each location we visited.
The itinerary and accommodations were excellent. The administration team, our guards, and drivers were all highly professional and friendly as well.
We are telling everyone we can to book a trip to Egypt with Road Scholar today and ask for Amal and her team.
Lynn
— Review left December 5, 2024
This was a wonderful way to learn about and experience Egypt- its rich history, people and enduring legacies! The program is well planned, organized and executed. Our guide, Safwat, was the best - knowledgeable, organized, patient and fun!! This was our first Road Scholar trip but hopefully not the last!
— Review left December 2, 2024
Best program ever! It was an amazing trip! Our leader Safwat made the trip! His knowledge brought ancient Egypt alive. Of the 11 plus trips I have taken with Road Scholar this is my favorite.
— Review left November 29, 2024
This trip to Egypt exceeded all of my expectations! I felt like we really saw so many sides to Egypt, past and present. The accommodations were lovely and you can't beat sailing down the Nile! The excursions and experiences were wide-ranging and each so special. It was a new adventure every day! Everything was extremely well organized and I can't express enough how lucky we were to have Safwat as our guide. He helped make this a once in a lifetime trip! He is organized, extremely knowledgable, and made sure everyone was taken care of and had the best trip ever.
— Review left November 24, 2024
I absolutely loved this experience. It was well organized, our group leader Safwat Gabr was great. He had excellent knowledge of the subject plus was warm and welcoming. Site highlights for me were Pyramids, Abu Simbel, Lake Nassar cruise, Valley of the Kings, Luxor (Karnac). The activity rating is accurate, we were keeping track on our step counters and were averaging 10,000 per day. Some days are long - but all well worth it.
— Review left November 22, 2024
This was a wonderful program. I encourage anyone interested in Egyptian to participate!
— Review left November 21, 2024
WE had a fabulous time in Egypt. Our guide, Safwat Gabr, was so far and beyond our expectations for a leader; charismatic, brilliant, kind, funny and extremely organized. If you go on this trip, make sure he's your guide. We loved him and he made the trip great. Wendy Peterson
— Review left November 19, 2024
Amazing trip and felt very safe. In fact, more safe than I do in some cities in the U.S., my own country. Really appreciated how our guide, George, informed us of the various scams to be aware of. A good mix of historical sites and things to do. It's not just all temples, tombs and pyramids. Took this trip in late October. It was a little hot at times but doable and it was perfect weather for sitting outside to watch the light show at Abu Simbel. Also, the sites weren't overly crowded w/people.
— Review left November 5, 2024
Egypt is awesome, and our tour guide did a wonderful job explaining what we saw, with both insight and a sense of humor. Highly recommended!
egypt is awesome
— Review left November 4, 2024
Egypt and the Nile had been on my bucket list for decades and Road Scholars' tour to Giza pyramids, Abu Simbel, Luxor, cruises, and many tombs and temples, churches, synagogue, and mosques did not disappoint! Our Tour Leader George, a trained Egyptologist, was fantastic and put the sights and history in context of Egypt's people and its role in greater geopolitics present and past.
— Review left October 31, 2024
Educational program that has made memories for a lifetime.
— Review left October 29, 2024
This is an amazing trip we recommend to anyone interested in Ancient Egypt. George Samir is an outstanding guide!
— Review left October 29, 2024
George Samir, our travel guide, made the history of Egypt come alive during this fast-paced trip. From day one to day 14 we were all hanging on his every word as he discussed his ancestors and their history. I also need to mention the RS rep at Cairo International Airport. Ryad made a very stressful process easy for us. He was the first RS person we saw when we got to Egypt and the last one we saw before we boarded our flights and left. He was a fantastic ambassador for Road Scholar.
— Review left October 29, 2024
The trip of a lifetime led by outstanding Egyptologist, George Samir. What can I say? This was a bucket list, Trip I waited all of my life to go on. Egypt is definitely a different world than the United States. You only know if you go. The most outstanding aspect of the trip other than our wonderful group leader, George Samir, was seeing the great Pyramids and Giza. That was the first day of our trip and it fulfilled a lifelong dream of mine. Everything else felt like icing on the cake. The food was wonderful. The culture was astonishing. And our group leaders knowledge of Egyptology was completely blew my mind. We had a great trip and a wonderful group of people., After our long trip, we’re glad to be home.
— Review left October 28, 2024
Egyptian Odyssey was a trip I will never forget! I loved every minute of the tour and would not change a thing! The sites we visited, accommodations , food, transportation, and attention to details were top notch and anticipated every need. I would take a Road Scholar tour again !
— Review left October 22, 2024
I literally want to do all my trips w/ Road Scholar based on my experience.
— Review left October 21, 2024
This was an outstanding program filled with excursions to the sites of ancient Egypt. Our guide was a local resident with good English skills and extensive knowledge of the sites and local contacts. The accommodations were very nice and the whole experience was outstanding.
— Review left October 17, 2024
This was a great trip! Amal was knowledgeable and very attentive to our entire team of travelers we felt heard, understood and accommodated. One of the best trips and my first Road Scholar trip. It will not be my last! Progression from overview to timeline and being fully engaged throughout!!
We learned so much and were able to see so much in a short timeframe! One of the best trips!!
— Review left October 14, 2024
This trip was my first Road Scholar adventure. The size of our group was just 12 plus staff. Amal was our Egyptologist for the entire trip. She is thoughtful, intelligent on all subjects Egyptian, and very engaging. I couldn't imagine the trip without her! The accommodations were excellent. Since this was just at the beginning of the tourist season it felt like we had all of Egypt to ourselves. What an amazing trip! I look forward to many more.
Lauri
— Review left October 11, 2024
The Egypt trip was just awesome! Our guide Amal was terrific! She is very knowledgeable and very easy going. We ere accompanied by RS staff for our protection. The program was tailored perfectly. It was hot but RS supplied the group with water the entire time. Had a wonderful time and will going back when the new Egyptian museum opens. Thank you RS and Amal for a great experience.
— Review left October 9, 2024
This trip to Egypt was a life long dream. I am so glad I was able to participate. Although there is conflict in the Middle East currently, I always felt safe. The tourism programs are important to Egypt, therefore, they had safety features and personnel in place everywhere we went. I also felt certain that Road Scholar was constantly in communication with the tour staff and would make sure our program went smoothly.
— Review left October 8, 2024
Visit Egypt!! You wouldn't be disappointed.
Egypt should be on every travelers list. A miss visit country!
— Review left April 25, 2024
This was a trip of a lifetime. Each day was an adventure and our guide was with us each step of the way. The variety of locations, sights and modes of transport was second-to-none: air, 2 cruise ships, boat, bus, and horse-drawn carriage. All meals were excellent and 100% included.
— Review left April 25, 2024
A dream of a lifetime. The only disappointment was not being able to replicate the picture taken of my great-aunt in 1911 on a camel at pyramids of Giza.
— Review left April 18, 2024
Egyptian Odyssey ranks as one of the best Road Scholar programs that we have done. Our leader, Safwat, was incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about sharing the history of his country. We visited temples, tombs, mosques and churches and learned so much about Egyptian history and present-day society. The accommodations were all top notch and the lecturers were excellent. We never felt the least bit unsafe. We can highly recommend this program,
— Review left April 18, 2024
Lifelong learning meeting lifelong friends! A wonderful experience creating cherishable memories.
— Review left April 16, 2024
Mahel continues the high RS quality I've come to expect from guides. She's an genuine Egyptologist! (And a nice person.)
— Review left April 16, 2024
Everyone must go to Egypt!! It is rich in culture and history and will AMAZE you at every turn. Yes, it is safe. Road Scholar takes great care of its participants.
— Review left April 3, 2024
This trip was outstanding in every way. The sites will amaze you and the memories from your experiences will last a lifetime. Our wonderful tour guide, George Samir, was a knowledgeable Egyptologist who made this trip an amazing learning experience. In addition to his shared depth and breadth of knowledge, George was a kind, caring, and organized professional. We highly recommend this trip to anyone interested in Egypt’s past and present.
5 STARS
— Review left April 1, 2024
Egyptian Odyssey was a superior Road Scholar experience. We had full days, comfortable accommodations and an incredible encounter with significant parts of ancient Egypt. Our Group Leader, Amani Nabil, was incredible. The depth and breadth of her knowledge and her ability to relate it to us made this one of our most memorable Road Scholar programs
— Review left March 28, 2024
My trip to Egypt provided much-needed context that was lacking back in Western Civilization classes in school, namely the similarities between many political structures and the importance of religious belief in helping people understand the world around them.
— Review left March 19, 2024
Amazing experience . Everything was wonderful and road scholar did a fantastic job from beginning to end .
Our tour leader Mohamed Younes was exceptional and made this trip a once in a lifetime experience.
— Review left March 7, 2024
This trip went beyond all my expectations! We visited almost all the most important monuments/temples/tombs. The information the tour guide provided greatly expanded my knowledge of this wonderful place. The accommodations and food were first class. Excellent security was provided on all legs of the journey. The tour guide was super knowledgeable, helpful and friendly. I found out that the modern Egyptians are warm, love to laugh, and very helpful.....and their food is great too! I will definitely return some day!
— Review left March 1, 2024
Outstanding Tour. Greatly exceeded my expectations.
— Review left February 29, 2024
Pyramids, temples and tombs, OH MY! Photos don't do the temples and tombs justice because it's awe-inspiring to be standing in massive buildings and rock cut tombs that are thousands of years old looking at art on the walls representing royal or everyday life in ancient Egypt.
— Review left February 28, 2024
I highly recommend this trip for folks who are interested and motivated to learn about Egypt and it's history. It is a fast paced trip with lots of stimulating activity. If you go in the winter, take some warm layers of clothing. Be sure to get lots of exercise before you go and do lots of the recommended reading. If you haven't done some homework, your experience will be more of an overview and less of an understanding of our Western Civilization. Either way, Road Scholar does a great job of taking care of you and keeping you safe.
— Review left February 26, 2024
This was an unbelievable trip! Well organized, top notch guide, incredible experience. Words are not adequate to describe the sites and history of Egypt. If you take only one Road Scholar trip this should be the one!
— Review left February 22, 2024
This trip was excellent. Learning about ancient Egypt by visiting the historical sites and museums with our excellent guide, Bassem, was easy. I would highly recommend this trip everyone who loves history.
— Review left February 21, 2024
All Road Scholar trips are amazing, fun and educational... but this trip, this tour with this guide was truly, the trip of a lifetime. How can each day be more amazing than the day before? It was with this tour.
— Review left February 20, 2024
An exceptional program with an in-depth look at Egyptian monuments and history. First 2 days are exceptionally difficult but after that the schedule moderates. Bring extra cash and a debit card to get more as there are unanticipated expenses.
— Review left February 8, 2024
An excellent tour guide!
— Review left February 2, 2024
We have all heard about the pyramids, the sphinx and the Nile River ever since we have been little kids. Fulfill your childhood dreams and go on this tour. Explore the dawn of civilization and the monuments that immortalize it. You wont' regret it. Jed
— Review left January 4, 2024
This is an absolutely amazing trip. A good combination of education, fine dining and luxury. Once is a lifetime - at least.
— Review left December 7, 2023
What a well-designed trip. Standing inside and gazing at the tombs of Rameses V & VI in the Valley of the Kings, I couldn't help but compare it with the Sistine Chapel ceiling in terms of religious content, visual character and emotional impact. WOW! Even though the Abu Simbel light show was silly and melodramatic it was really fun to see the whole site lit up after dark. Cruising up the Nile in a leisurely fashion was perfect for getting to know fellow travelers, seeing the country and having time to process the sights and sounds of our daily tours. And we will never forget our most happy visit to sample the 'sasheesa' in Luxor. Plus, camel rides at the Great Pyramids, scores of ancient temples, incredible fresh food and seeing modern Egypt firsthand.
— Review left December 6, 2023
This was our first experience with Road Scholar, but it won’t be our last. We were completely satisfied with the organization and execution of the trip. Any travel snags we encountered were quickly overcome. Our guide made Egypt come alive for us and our new traveling companions were loads of fun. I recommend this program without hesitation.
— Review left December 5, 2023
This was a wonderful trip. Our guide made all the difference, sharing information and insight, encouraging questions, and helping us to create a real friendship-group with our fellow participants, which greatly enhanced our experience.
— Review left November 28, 2023
Have done 3 Road Scholar trips. ALL PERFECT! Going on another 3 week train trip to Australia next year. We met many of others who have done dozens of Road Scholar trips exclusively and we concur with them.
— Review left November 28, 2023
Trip to Egypt was the best trip of my life. I encourage all to visit Egypt I have the best memories and experience in Egypt. Thank you Bassem and Road Scholar.
— Review left November 27, 2023
I can't say enough about how wonderful this trip was. We saw much more than expected. What an eye opener to history and the human race. Our leader was very knowledgeable and excited to share his history and country. The accommodations were 5 star and the people were extremely friendly. This is the second Road Scholar trip for us and will be looking forward to more, recommending them to everyone.
— Review left November 22, 2023
The cabins in the two boats are too small
— Review left November 19, 2023
My wife and I were very impressed by the Road Scholar organization. On the two occasions where things went wrong, our flight in was delayed, and our bus broke down once, both times the problem was swiftly corrected and we did not miss any part of the trip.
We were happy with the accommodations, food and guide, and we felt that we received very good value for our money. The trip was well laid out and the physical requirements specified for this trip were accurate. We would certainly recommend Road Scholar to others.
The one disappointment that we had was a visit to the Museum of Civilization was not included on this tour. We would have preferred to visit this museum on our return to Cairo and visits to religious sites limited to perhaps The Hanging Church, and the Al-Rifa'i Mosque on the last day. Through this was a minor disappointment, it did not distract from a wonderful trip that gave us much to think about.
— Review left November 17, 2023
You hear the phrase: "A trip of a Lifetime." This was it. Plus, our exceptional, personable, well-organized guide, Mr. Bassem Samir, made the entire experience come to life and add meaning to it. I also wish to add I felt very SAFE in Egypt from Cairo all way south along the Nile River to the famous temples of Abu Simbel. Everything was taken care of from airports transfers with Road Scholar staff on site, travelling on first class busses and cruise ships and staying at exceptionally well located, classy hotels. Not too often you open the hotel curtains and you'll see the Giza pyramids or walking off the cruise ship and seeing the Luxor Temple across the street. The trip for me was basically seamless upon arrival to and departure from Cairo. So glad my wife and I made this memorable trip and the new friends we made.
— Review left November 10, 2023
This was a trip of a lifetime. First of all, I felt very safe in Egypt. Our tour guide Bassem was incredibly knowledgeable and went out of his way to show us Egypt. He also had quite a sense of humor. I recommend this trip.
— Review left November 10, 2023
It's impossible to overstate what a phenomenal experience Egyptian Odyssey is! We felt entirely safe at all times and are so grateful we made the trip. We trusted Road Scholar to assess safety, and were welcomed everywhere by the lovely Egyptian people. Our guide was exceptional--Bassem Samir is so knowledgeable, energetic, passionate, and entertaining. We were well oriented day by day, and each day was a stunning, beautiful immersion into Egyptian history and culture. The boats, hotels, and food were lovely, the group became very engaged with one another, the lecturers were great! If you're thinking of choosing this trip--do it!! You'll love it all.
— Review left November 10, 2023
Egyptian Odyssey: Cairo, the Nile and Lake Nasser excursion was amazing and provided me with a glimpse of a country and ancient culture that I have long been fascinated by. I was able to experience and often enter the pyramids, tombs, and temples of which I had previously only seen in books and documentaries. They are even more impressive in person.
Our guide, Osama A., is an expert in Egyptology. He presented appropriate facts of the ancient ruins and artifacts that we viewed, including their place within the historical context, and the symbolic meaning of the structures, inventions, and aesthetics of what we viewed. His expert knowledge and guidance provided throughout the trip increased my enjoyment and safety.
I highly recommend this as a bucket-list adventure.
— Review left November 9, 2023
This was a most informative and enjoyable educational trip on ancient and contemporary Egypt both. Site visits and lectures were well balanced with relaxing and more leisurely activities. Our guide for the trip was excellent. He was organized, very knowledgeable, most approachable and expert at building group cohesion. He scheduled our site visits to get ahead of the crowds and the heat of the day and his passion for his subject and general affability was most engaging. Overall he was a delight!
— Review left November 8, 2023
Egyptian Odyssey was a fantastic experience!
We worried about safety beforehand but learned about Road Scholars continuous program disruption evaluation process and decided to trust it.
On the tour we were accompanied by an armed security person, but never felt any danger. We often mingled with Egyptians, who were consistently positive toward Americans. There were no demonstrations. Egyptian police were in evidence throughout the trip.
This trip helped us in many ways, including deepening cultural understanding. The benefit of our tourism for Egyptians was obvious. Egypt is a benign participant in the current conflict. It would be a tragedy if concern about a war remote from this tour suppressed enrollment. We're so glad we went!
— Review left November 7, 2023
Road Scholar put together a great itinerary that gives you a taste of Egypt and its 3000 years of history. It is hard to believe, but every day of the trip you see another iconic historical site.
— Review left October 25, 2023
What an incredible trip! Our guide, George, was amazing: his knowledge of Egyptology and his skill in presenting the facts and adding personal stories created a learning environment that totally engaged the group. He was funny, too, an added bonus! The small number of people in the group, 15, was great and all were smart, interesting, interested, and very nice people. This is my third Road Scholar trip and I will continue to expand and enhance my knowledge of the world, its cultures, history and environment, by taking more Road Scholar trips. This is the way to travel!
— Review left October 25, 2023
Road Scholar is a class act! This was our first tour, and I think there will be more.
The food - There was a lot of delicious food, and always choices for everyone, impeccably presented; The accommodations - always clean and well appointed with attentive staff; The transports - spotless and well driven in hellish traffic; The learning experience - highest quality educational material backed with the amazing location; The Egyptologist - top quality information and an amazing person.
— Review left October 19, 2023
This is our 6th tour with Road Scholar and I believe it was the best. Road Scholar, your organization has absolutely outdone itself in creating this adventure. The trips, food, accommodations and Egyptian helpers along the way were the best. Not to take any compliments away from our previous tour guides but George Samir, the guide for our trip, is outstanding. A trained Egyptologist and consummate professional whose love for country and his incredible heritage were fully in evidence and transmitted to our group. He explained schedules fully in advance of each day and colorfully and fully explained sites and items so that all understood. George answered myriad questions with a smile and no signs of stress or upset. He kept our group of 21 together; a very disparate group of humans who got along amazingly well.
Road Scholar, you deserve kudos for an incredible and unforgettable trip. Your planners excelled with this one.
— Review left October 19, 2023
Outstanding Egyptologist/Tour Guide in George Samir. Trip was everything I wanted.
— Review left October 19, 2023
I am still processing the wonderful Nile Odyssey adventure. So much more than I would have seen, experienced and learned on my own. All the logistics were not only done, but done well. I enjoyed my time with our knowledgable program director, Amani and my tour mates who were all there to see the things I was also interested in. What a great experience.
— Review left October 10, 2023
We thoroughly enjoyed our trip to Egypt and the cruise on the Nile. Our program director, Amani, elevated this experience with her professionalism, knowledge, and good humor. You can just relax and enjoy learning! The itinerary description is accurate: the sun is scorching and the terrain is uneven, etc., but if you're able to navigate the physical challenges, you'll discover so much more of Ancient Egypt than you ever imagined!
— Review left October 10, 2023
One of the best trips of my life. As a new widow traveling alone for the first time I found a welcoming group of wonderful new friends, a guide who was caring, extremely knowledgeable, and funny. Accommodations for a single traveler were the same price as a double, transportation was comfortable and the depth of information so much more than just a trip. I have already booked another trip!
— Review left June 7, 2023
The trip to Egypt is a tiring but fascinating exploration of an amazing ancient civilization. I would recommend it to anyone with the energy for such travel. In addition, we had a very congenial group, enjoyed each other's company, and we all loved our tour guide, Eman, and would travel anywhere with her.
— Review left April 18, 2023
Road Scholar delivers the educational experience it promises. If you go to Egypt, sign up for Eman, who is remarkable. We heard from others on our trip that their guides on previous RS trips were also very good. Accommodations met and sometimes exceeded our expectations.
— Review left April 7, 2023
The Egypt trip was fantastic. You explore all the Egyptian pyramids and temples with an expert guide. Traveling the Nile from Abu Simbel to Luxor was an amazing experience. Anyone who loves history and wishes to explore a new culture should consider taking this trip.
— Review left April 5, 2023
The Egyptian Odyssey was the trip and experience of a lifetime; it was a dream come true. Our group leader, Sameh Ali Ibrahim, enhanced our adventure through his love and enthusiasm of his country and its rich history.
— Review left March 31, 2023
I cannot yet tell you what the impact of Egyptian Odyssey: Cairo, the Nile and Lake Nasser will be on me. Every day I get a new "hit" -- or two or three or five -- from the memories I've stored up.
— Review left March 29, 2023
An odyssey so super, superlatives fail.
— Review left March 28, 2023
Such a wonderful trip. So exciting to see images you only knew from books and magazines in real life. Thought the timing on visits to major tourist sites was very smart. We were able to avoid the worst of the crowds and hear our guide who was an encyclopedia of Egyptian history. He also let us know how to survive "sniper's alley" and reminded us to "not talk to strangers." Thanks Saami.
Accommodations and food were all top notch. Too much food at times but all delicious. And safe if you were wondering. My only problem was with the very dry climate and dust causing a sore throat the first day--but I'm used to high humidity.
And a "shout out" to George who welcomed us at Cairo Airport at the beginning of the trip and helped us navigate it again at departure when we were too bleary eyed to even read the signs.
— Review left March 22, 2023
This is a comprehensive overview of the ancient sites. The tour is as described re: physical activity. I was glad I did several of the recommended readings as they enhanced my appreciation of what we experienced.The contrast of old and new was fascinating.
— Review left March 19, 2023
I have read about Egypt, looked at pictures, movies and TV shows. nothing can compare with being there.
— Review left March 18, 2023
This was the fulfillment of a dream and a wonderfully informative program, but be prepared for some dust and heat as well as a lot of walking.
— Review left March 18, 2023
Egypt is an amazing place to visit. Everyone should spend at least a week in Egypt and a week in Luxour area.
— Review left March 16, 2023
We were very fortunate to have an outstanding guide, Bassem Samir, who managed all the logistics exceptionally well, provided us with in depth information about Egypt and showed the utmost patience and thoughtfulness with the group. Accommodations were excellent. The weakest parts of the trip involved aspects of the boats outside of RS control (such as entertainment). This trip is active. You’ll see a lot and learn a lot and it left us wanting to return to Egypt. Thank you, Bassem!
— Review left March 8, 2023
I had one of the most wonderful experiences of my life on the Road Scholar tour of Egypt and Lake Nasser. The tour was comprehensive and we had a wonderful guide. I highly recommend this exciting tour!
— Review left March 7, 2023
Wonderful trip! Fascinating country with mind-blowing archeological sites. Great accommodations! Great guide! Perfect weather in February. It can be fairly strenuous. Bring lots of singles and fives for tipping. Camel ride a treat!
— Review left March 7, 2023
RS program is excellent and Bassem Samir, our assigned guide did an outstanding job and really made the trip exceptional with his knowledge of Egypt and his charming humor. Egypt has a phenomenal number of monuments and this trip allowed us to see some of the most important of those found. While the program was very active, you really get your $ worth from the trip by getting to see as much as you can in 15 days. We travel in Feb - perfect weather - cool in Cairo and warmer in the south (Aswan, Luxor). This is now my new favorite RS trip! (See Discussion for tips)
— Review left February 28, 2023
I am 80 Years Old and I still could manage getting around this and other Programs I have been on Recently
— Review left February 8, 2023
Egyptian Odyssey was a wonderful, informative introduction to one wow! temple, tomb, monument after another. A word of caution though: if you don't like to get up early (usually 5 to 6AM), or can't get used to it, you might have trouble. Bring sleeping aids.
— Review left February 5, 2023
Excellent in every way. Tour Director, Hosam was wonderful and so kind and informative and added so much to my adventure, thank you Hoosam
— Review left January 24, 2023
I have been on 28 RS programs, so I know how these tours are supposed to operate. While many of the folks in our group seemed quite satisfied, I felt that this program did not live up to the standards that RS represents.
Hesham El Haddad is the worst group leader I have ever had. After two weeks, he did not know anyone's name. He knows about the ancient monuments, but otherwise, his knowledge of other aspects of his country are poor. He did not inform us about daily schedules, except on the cruise ships, when it was required. For example, when he knew about a 3 AM departure from the Giza hotel, he didn’t inform us until before dinner at 8 PM the night before.
He told us that nobody knows how they built the pyramids, but I found several theories by simply googling the question on my computer. He complained that no-one in the group had responded to his initial email, when he knew that we had internet issues at the hotel, so most folks couldn't get online. He did not distribute a hard copy of the roster - he sent it electronically as a blurry photo - nevertheless, we all managed to learn the 24 names. Frequently he would allow vendors to hawk their wares on the bus, when we were all loaded up and ready to depart.
We asked about everyday life of ancient Egyptians, and Hesham never had any solid information. He would expound on something else, but did not answer our questions. For example, someone asked about how they handled sanitation, and how they lived in community groups. He had no answers, or even hypotheses.
Apparently he has led numerous RS trips in the past, but I don't think the organization should hire him anymore. There were several first-timers on this program, and his poor leadership skills might leave those folks with a very negative impression of RS tours. We know he is not representative of so many wonderful RS guides we've had on other trips in the past 22 years.
— Review left December 19, 2022
I have now done 28 RS trips, 10 of them have been foreign trips. I cannot recommend this trip for a number of reasons. My judgement may be influenced by the fact that we had a poor guide (Hesham El Haddad), who was well versed in what was written on the tomb walls, but didn't know anything about about the civilization that built the monuments. Of course you may luck out, and get a different guide, but the following items will not change.
1) The group size was 24 participants, which was twice as big as it should be. In a group this large it is very difficult to ask questions in the mob scene that is present at every tourist attraction.
2) We were in a tourist bubble, and never able to interact with regular Egyptians. Either the hotels were in the middle of nowhere, or we were so tightly scheduled we didn't have time to wander the streets and interact with Egyptians outside the tourist bubble.
3) I thought the educational component lacking. We only had two lectures that gave us information about the people, geography, and government of Egypt. These were both excellent, but I wanted more. We visited many many tombs, but they were all the same. All the artifacts were gone, and all that was left was the writing on the walls. After I saw ten tombs, each filled with faded drawings and hieroglyphs, I had seen enough. I didn't need to fight the crowds to see ten more. It did not increase my understanding of the civilizations that built these monuments, or what led to their downfall.
I have friends who went to Egypt with other tour companies, and they had better experiences.
— Review left December 19, 2022
Memories of a lifetime!
— Review left December 13, 2022
This trip fulfilled a lifetime dream for me. I was able to get up close to Egyptian antiquities and also had adequate time to relax on the ship and watch the Egyptian landscape flow by.
— Review left December 8, 2022
We had a great group of people of only 20 people, we all got along very well and our guide was a real pro!
— Review left December 8, 2022
The perfect way to experience Egypt. Lovely accommodations, great food, knowledgeable tour guide. Well organized. Never had to worry about anything. The proper amount of security. I never felt unsafe. Everything was taken care of from the time we landed until we boarded our departure flight. A lovely experience. We will book Road Scholar again.
— Review left December 8, 2022
We were blown away by the in-depth "study" with which we were "entertained."
Quite honestly, being our first trip with Road Scholar, we weren't expecting the grand accommodations and the variety of activities presented to us.
AND, Bilal is the BEST! We were expecting some professorial type to give us lectures and then we would be presented with a tour of sorts. NO, he was with us every step of the way, providing on site "lectures" with each and every stop.
The "Cruise Ships" were a pleasant surprise also. Hadn't expected the "luxury" that we had. Food was excellent.....a little too much perhaps, but that was our choice.
Our only "I wish we would have known moments" had to do with the "tradesmen" at each stop....That was exhausting! And, even though Bilal cautioned us and guided us through the "Gauntlets," it was still somewhat disconcerting. Not sure anything can be done about it, they're just trying to make a living, but it was the most unfavorable part of our trip.
Also, we didn't understand that we would need small bills all of the time. We know it was stated in the practical info, but it needs to be emphasized because we figured we would be able to get smaller bills from the ATM's. We finally found one that gave us 50 pounds, but that was the smallest. Again, Bilal to the rescue as he exchanged as many 200 pound notes as he could.
All in all, a GREAT EXPERIENCE.
Respectfully, Ken/Bonnie Mumm
— Review left November 29, 2022
You don't sit back and relax with this Road Scholar program. You participate, you learn and you grow with your fellow travelers. You don't just learn about the past. You become familiar with the challenges of Egyptian society and plans to meet these to meet 21st century life.
— Review left November 29, 2022
Loved this trip. It was strenuous, but the spa onboard was great after a long day. The Egyptologist, Sam, was excellent and had great tidbits about the local areas and people. I traveled as a single and found the small group of 22 welcoming. Egypt is one of the places I would do a shorter repeat trip to.
— Review left November 26, 2022
Excellent program with a strong group leader who negotiated some complex situations well. The accommodations were very comfortable. All met or exceeded expectations. The trip was somewhat more rigorous than I had anticipated, but everything was manageable. My only quibble was remaining on the riverboat in Luxor when the Luxor Hotel was so very comfortable and convenient. The young man who met us at the airport in Cairo was cheerful and very helpful - the kind of young man that everyone wanted as their son. The connections in Istanbul were tight and we really had to hustle to get through the airport on time, but the flights were comfortable. Would definitely recommend this trip to anyone wanting to visit Egypt.
— Review left November 23, 2022
Take this trip of a lifetime and learn all about the Egyptian heritage!
— Review left November 19, 2022
This Road Scholar tour is wonderous, and then some. It takes some stamina, but is well worth the push.
— Review left November 17, 2022
Our tour guide, Bassem Samir, made the trip to Egypt a once in a lifetime experience.
— Review left November 15, 2022
This was an amazing, once-in-a-lifetime journey filled with eye-popping historical sites and a thorough understanding of Egyptian history. I wholeheartedly recommend this trip.
— Review left November 2, 2022
This itinerary provides an excellent introduction to the highlights of Ancient Egypt--from the pyramids of Giza and Dashur to the rescued temples of Lake Nasser, key temples of Edfu and Luxor. Be prepared for lots of walking and climbing steps in blazing sun! It concludes with visits to the Coptic and Islamic sections of Cairo, an enormous, noisy and smoggy city of 22 million. The vistas--sunrise and sunset--on the Nile cannot be forgotten.
Our tour guide and Egyptologist, Hesham ElHaddad, was wonderful. He answered all of our questions--about logistics, local culture and life, religions, ancient history, artifacts--without hesitation. It was apparent that he takes his studies seriously because he was up to date on recent finds and their implications. One of his most effective strategies upon arriving at a site was conducting a role play with us--calling us by name to take the various parts of (for example) Hatshepsut, Thutmose, Ineni to explain lineages and actions of the ancients. Hesham was also extremely well-prepared, providing daily schedules the evening before, making decisions about the most efficient way for the group to access various sites, and having contacts everywhere. He took us into an elderly woman's home in Cairo so we could better understand living conditions. He was sensitive to individual needs (health issues or specific interests). We also had free time in both Luxor and Cairo; however, he made us cognizant of the safety issues in both places.
RS took extra care to make sure we were safe. Our guards were with us every day but unobtrusive. The bus drivers and boatsmen were friendly and professional. Our guide helped us deal with the hordes selling items at every location. It may be that we had a unique experience, but everyone in our group enjoyed interacting with the others and sharing our reflections about what we learned each day. I believe our team leader was responsible for the group's cohesion and our outstanding experience.
— Review left October 26, 2022
Excellent trip - Great time of year to go (spring) . Our guide Bassim was amazing - very insightful and willing to answer every question asked.
We had plenty of time to discuss and learn about what we were seeing - I never felt it was just seeing one tomb after another. Bassim really helped us understand the bigger picture and spent time helping us to understand the Egypt and the Egyptians of today - their successes and the things they are working on.
Loved everything, but want to tell you that after being in the desert for days and days the Pavillion Winter Luxor Hotel was SUCH a wonderful respite - with the endless gardens. It was so welcome - don't change that hotel! :-)
The trip exceeded our expectations!
— Review left May 11, 2022
I would highly recommend Road Scholar for their outstanding program and educational opportunities. As a solo traveler. I always felt safe and made new friends along the way. Road Scholar made it easy.
— Review left April 7, 2022
It was a terrific program and our Guide Basim Samir was the best in all areas.
— Review left April 4, 2022
This is a great program that really hits all of the highlights of ancient Egypt, Coptic Christian Egypt and Islamic Egypt. For someone who has wanted to visit Egypt since grade school, this fulfills that dream!
— Review left April 2, 2022
Egypt was more than I ever imagined. This is the trip of a lifetime. I went inside a pyramid, rode a camel, cruised the Nile, and walked in the footsteps of an ancient people with the most amazing guide and a pack of adventuresome fellow travelers. The museums were world class. And every field trip left you awestruck.
— Review left March 31, 2022
Egypt had been at the top of my bucket list for years, and this Road Scholar trip far exceeded my expectations! We could not have had a better tour guide than Amal El Far. Her comprehensive knowledge about ancient Egyptian history made the many sites we visited come alive. She easily explained some subtleties of the beautiful Egyptian art, and even taught us enough about hieroglyphs so that the symbols and writing on tomb and temple walls became a little less mysterious. The accommodations were first class all the way, and the included meals were all delicious. Finally, the other guests on our tour were friendly and extremely curious about all things Egypt, and we all got along very well. My wife and I are already looking forward to our next Road Scholar trip!
— Review left March 5, 2022
Simply put, you won’t regret taking this Egyptian Odyssey Tour. All of what you remember seeing and reading in books and magazines will come to life ! Our Egyptologist guide Amal El Far was amazing with her knowledge of ancient Egypt. Her enthusiasm reflected her true feelings for her country. Her warmth and attentiveness to each member of the group was most appreciated.
— Review left March 4, 2022
This trip extended my expectations and beyond. I learned so much about Egypt .Amal our tour guide is an exceptional guide who has extreme knowledge and enthusiasm about her country. She made each day of the tour a fantastic adventure which I will never forget
— Review left March 4, 2022
You need good walking shoes and a sun hat for sure. We kept track of our “mileage” and the average was 2.8 miles a day.
— Review left February 23, 2022
More people need to know about the quality services that you provide.
— Review left January 29, 2022
Egypt is a MUST destination for those who travel to learn. We found it to be very, very safe and felt RS did an excellent job keeping everything organized and were very helpful getting through the airports with all the security checkpoints and Covid paperwork requirements.
— Review left January 25, 2022
Would highly recommend this trip to anyone interested in the history of this region.
— Review left November 26, 2021
This is an exceptional program and learning opportunity. My husband and I thoroughly enjoyed our experiences on this tour.
— Review left November 17, 2021
Just got back from Egypt - a 12 day adventure including ships on the Nile & lake Nassar and stays in Giza, Luxor & Cairo. It was a fantastic experience. Ghada, our guide, was outstanding. It felt like a vacation and a course in Egyptian History mixed together. Now I need to lose the 5 lbs. I gained eating at all the wonderful buffets.
— Review left November 16, 2021
I enjoyed this trip very much. One of the highlights was our trip leader & Egyptologist, Bassem Sameh. He is an outstanding leader, very informative, and clearly cares a great deal about doing a great job for the people in his group.
— Review left July 5, 2020
Even though I would have liked to spend more time at many of the sites, this trip has been one of the best I've ever taken! The overall organization, guide(s), accommodations, and food were all excellent.
— Review left March 27, 2020
I’ve wanted to visit Egypt since I was a little kid — admittedly, a very long time ago. I’m glad that I finally made the trip and very glad that it was with Road Scholar. Our guide was very knowledgeable and the tour group were very well travelled and educationally oriented. We visited a variety of ancient sites - my favorites were probably The Valley of the Kings and Abu Simbel. It’s hard to describe how I felt when I saw sites in person that I had previously only seen in pictures.
We were also on 2 boat, one on Lake Nassar and one on the Nile River. Both were good, although the one on Lake Nassar was really nice. It was nice to have time to watch the desert landscape and shoreline as we travelled from site to site. The hotels where we stayed were excellent and the food, for the most part, was very good too.
I love that the trip took me a little out of my comfort zone a few times -like riding a camel and walking down into a tomb. I didn’t feel that the pace was too difficult — other than some of the logistics that involved some early morning flights and somewhat lengthy bus rides. But most of these logistical issues can’t really be avoided if you want to see the major ancient sites. Plus, Cairo traffic is outside the control of Road Scholar.
I would recommend this trip to anyone who is fascinated by ancient Egypt and enjoys travelling to a country that is very different from the US. I never felt unsafe — but I also was aware of the precautions that were being taken (police escorts, etc). Go for it!
— Review left March 16, 2020
This was a great trip in every way: flights, hotels, Egyptologist, transfers, food and basic itinerary. The fact that there were only 14 on the trip was an added plus. The reading list needs to be updated. Toby Wilkinson's "The Nile " should be on it. He also wrote others about ancient Egypt. "The Nile" is a great read at any time. It was very beneficial to have an Egyptologist not just a "tour guide". Mostafa is a treasure-he was able to tell stories about ancient Egypt and interpret what we saw. Besides seeing the temples and tombs, we experienced carriage rides, a Felucca ride and a camel ride. The cruise boats were great. The Lake Nasser boat was a bit more spacious than the Nile boat. Thank you, Holly P
— Review left February 17, 2020
Wonderful and Fascinating Trip! Excellent guide who was knowledgeable, warm and humorous and covered amazing amount of history and culture, both ancient and modern. Two different cruises on Lake Nasser and then on the Upper Nile were the perfect way to get to remote sites and time spent on deck was serene and beautiful. The thirteen other travelers were all incredible well traveled and fun. Memorable two weeks!
— Review left February 13, 2020
This program was an amazing experience! A great itinerary: We saw many of the most beautiful sites of ancient Egypt and admired gorgeous landscapes along the Nile river. The two ships and the hotels were very comfortable. Our group leader was friendly, very well organized, and shared with us his passion for Egyptian history and antiquities. From the moment I landed, the airport pick-ups and departures, the bus rides, and the ship transfers were flawlessly organized by Road Scholar. I highly recommend this trip!
— Review left December 16, 2019
This tour provided a great way to learn about and experience Egypt. Our guide, Sameh Ali Ibrahim, was a fantastic teacher and gave great directions and advice as we traveled the waterways and stayed in three beautiful hotels in two cities. He provided extensive information about Egypt's history, but also helped us to see and experience Egypt in present day.
— Review left December 16, 2019
This is an outstanding way to experience the highlights of an amazing part of the world and be deeply immersed in both the ancient and current civilizations of Egypt. The diversity of lodging - excellent hotels plus two lovely ships - adds to the adventure. Our guide negotiated every location and transition with incredible savvy and insider knowledge. His explanations were outstanding and we were filled with wonder and mentally challenged as we viewed the sights together. Our guide made sure we felt 100% safe and personally adjusted our schedule and free time so that we got the most out of each opportunity to explore with a minimum of hassle. We found laundry to be easy and very inexpensive so packing light is possible. The weather in Nov/Dec was absolutely perfect. Highly recommended.
— Review left December 13, 2019
I was disappointed with the group leader on this trip. She was distant, irritable, and very defensive if challenged in any way. While she seemed to be very knowledgable, her people skills are sub-par.
I think perhaps, she has simply been doing this work for too long, and is burnt out.
— Review left December 10, 2019
The small group experience we had on the "Egyptian Odyssey: Cairo, the Nile and Lake Nasser" trip exceeded all of our expectations. The leadership of our local Road Scholar staff made our experiences feel up-close, personal, safe and rich with learning. By the end, we didn't want to leave and were eager to learn more about Egypt, it's culture and history!
— Review left December 7, 2019
All you have been taught about Egypt wasn't enough! This program fills in all the empty spaces in your knowledge about Egypt.
— Review left December 4, 2019
This was a wonderful, well balanced trip combining lake, river and ground experiences in a fast but manageable pace.
— Review left November 29, 2019
Egypt is AMAZING! If it’s not already there, may I suggest the you put it on your travel wish list.
— Review left November 29, 2019
This was a great program. It covered all the main highlights of Egypt with an excellent guide and lectures. I appreciated that everything was included in the price such as all admissions, all meals, and all gratuities.
— Review left November 22, 2019
1. Tour leader: Outstanding! Amazing knowledge, charming personality, complete attention to all details, seemingly infinite patience dealing with seniors. She was terrific!
2. Tour arrangements: Fine overall except,
a. Ridiculously early departure from Giza for the airport and flight to Aswan, followed by long boring bus ride to Abu Simbel. Why couldn't we just have flown directly to Abu Simbel at a decent hour??
b. Scheduling of lectures. Should have been earlier in the tour and earlier in the day so the information would have helped us understand what we were seeing.
3. Accommodations: Fine. Ships had very good cabin service and really good laundry service.
4. Meals: Buffet meals were better. Meals at "local restaurants" had too much food and took way too much time. Wasted food and wasted time = frustration.
5. Suggestions:
a. Provide Purel or other hand sanitizer for people to use every time they re-board the bus.
b. Improve the bus toilets!
c. Provide small Egyptian pound notes in exchange for our large bills so we could give the expected small tips. Hotel and ship reception desks seemed to have no small bills available.
d. Don't schedule lectures just before meals.
— Review left November 21, 2019
The website is probably one of the best, easiest to use.
— Review left November 18, 2019
This was my first Road Scholar experience - the trip was everything they promised and more!
— Review left October 12, 2019
I hate to use such a trite and overused description, but this was truly a trip of a lifetime. I had always wanted to visit Egypt and this trip fulfilled nearly all of my expectations. If you have a visit to Egypt on your "bucket list" there is no better time than now to fulfill that desire. At NO time did I feel unsafe or threatened. Yes, we had an escort with us for most of our travels, but they did not interfere with any of our scheduled activities and provided some well needed assistance in the crowded city streets. The Pyramids were fantastic and far better in real life than in picture books or travel guides. We visited numerous temples along our route and toured the Valley of the Queens and the Valley of the Kings, including a stop at the house Howard Carter occupied during the excavation of King Tut's tomb. Our Egyptologist guide and tour leader, Hassan Bar, was nothing short of fantastic. His knowledge and his ability to impart that knowledge to us really made the trip for me. The trip is well organized and the Egyptian people are friendly and courteous. The highlight of the trip was meeting the Egyptian President, el-Sisi, at Philae Temple near Aswan. The accommodations, both in hotels and on the boats, were luxurious and very comfortable. The food provided (most all of the meals in hotels or on the boats) was well prepared, well presented, and very tasty. I only regret that we did not have more of an opportunity to eat at more local restaurants and sample more of the traditional Egyptian cuisine. In short, if you have always wanted to visit Egypt this is the time and this is the tour for you. Tourism is making a strong comeback in Egypt so get there before the crowds return. This tour does require quite a bit of walking and standing so I would not suggest it for anyone with a mobility issue.
— Review left June 7, 2019
Seeing Abu Simbel, Karnak, Luxor were highlights of the trip for me. Warm, sunny days were an added bonus. Our guide, who has a Master's degree in Egyptology, was a wealth of information. I wish I could have taped her daily comments as we learned lots; remembering it was another challenge.
— Review left June 1, 2019
A trip of a lifetime. Perfect mix of seeing amazing antiquities and floating down the Nile watching the world go by.
— Review left April 14, 2019
As a university student majoring in art, had always hoped to get to Egypt. Just a matter of time. Egyptian Odyssey fulfilled my longings. However, this program is not a walk in the park, or a picnic with family on a Sunday afternoon. Depending on time of year the environment, and terrain can be demanding. So in all practicality, be prepared with the right wardrobe, and especially good shoes. Do some research, realistically evaluate your physical abilities, and you will be rewarded with a rare discovery over 5,000 years of time. I feel blessed that this program was beyond my expectations. By the way ~ our guide, Fouad Berto, Egyptologist made all the difference. Traveled March 19-Apr 02, 2019
— Review left April 5, 2019
The Egyptian Odyssey tour that I took in February/ March 2019 provided a comprehensive visits to the ancient temples, pyramids, and tombs along with a series of lectures by local scholars diverse topics such as monument restoration, religion, and social issues. The hotel and riverboat accommodations were the best available, with the Winter Palace in Luxor and the Conrad in Cairo being Five Star. Throughout we were accompanied by the experienced and personally affable guide Fouad Berto, who became a friend to us. And the Road Scholar travelers I was with added to the experience. There were many new experiences.
— Review left March 24, 2019
Road Scholar assembled a program about ancient Egypt that was thoroughly enlightening and entertaining. This was our first experience with Road Scholar, and several fellow participants have enjoyed other programs. So our experience and others' testimonials are so positive I'm convinced it won't be our last.
— Review left March 8, 2019
Our experience during the Egyptian Odyssey was everything we had hoped it would be. Getting to see the iconic Egyptian sites fulfilled a lifelong dream. Our guide was supremely knowledgeable, kind and compassionate. He opened our eyes to both the history and the current issues facing modern Egypt. We felt very safe throughout the experience. I highly recommend this trip to anyone who has dreamed of learning firsthand about Egypt.
— Review left March 8, 2019
If you are thinking about it, GO! If you are not, you should. Egypt is safe and not as crowded as it will be if you put off going until later.
— Review left March 6, 2019
An amazing trip --- going back in history 5000 years. Cruising Lake Nasser was a delightful experience. The temple of Abu Simbel is not to be missed.
— Review left March 5, 2019
A wonderful view of an amazing ancient culture that can't be comprehended by pictures alone. It helps to have a trip leader who has an encyclopedic knowledge of these times and can interpret them for us.
Quite strenuous, about 4 miles per day, with some rather rocky stretches.
— Review left March 4, 2019
This program was a wonderful comprehensive program. Our program provider was outstanding . The group was congenial, interesting and cohesive. The size was perfect.
— Review left March 3, 2019
What a superb experience this particular Egypt trip was. Well rounded, both rural and urban, with cultural, archeological, visual and educational experiences in spades! Organization was great, Lake Nasser and Nile cruises were fun and vital to the learning. Our Guide and Egyptologist, Tarek, could not have been finer, and we can't say enough good things about these two weeks
— Review left February 25, 2019
Our trip to Egypt was exceptional. The guide, always well education and had a strong ability to convey information in a pleasant clear manner. Although Egypt may be considered an unsettled political environment, we never felt unsafe or vulnerable. Very well done. I would not advise going without a tour like Road Scholar.
— Review left February 24, 2019
Great program, I was surprised by the historical content and the amazing sites that we visited. Firoz
— Review left February 21, 2019
Marvel at the architectural and engineering feats the ancient Egyptians accomplished (as well as the modern day movement of several monuments). Enjoy listening to the latest interpretations of the reliefs and ancient life from Egyptologist, Michael Makram. The schedule is demanding, especially days 1 through 5. Tips: Consider arriving a day or two early if you wish to see the interior of a pyramid (day 3) which involves climbing 300+ steps up and down. Also, there is a 2:00 am wakeup call on day 4 for the flight to Aswan. We're already counting the months until we can return to Egypt to see Alexandria and the New Egyptian Museum!
— Review left February 19, 2019
My spouse and I have just returned from a 15 day Egypt tour. It was marvelous. Lectures plus great tours of ancient sites.
— Review left February 14, 2019
A great introduction to Egypt. If you have been waiting to go, now is the time.
— Review left February 13, 2019
This program really delivered everything that was scheduled as well as additional surprises that were unexpected but appropriate. The security that was provided was excellent and I felt very safe from beginning to end. As this has been a lifelong dream to visit Egypt, I can say that I was not disappointed in any way!
— Review left February 6, 2019
This was an amazing trip. My husband and I both loved it.
We felt safe throughout (something friends asked about). Security was provided.
I saw another review that suggested bringing $30 in one dollar bills for tips and little trinkets. I'd say that (and maybe a bit more) is a great idea. The bills should be in good shape (not torn or overly wrinkled) as the bank won't take damaged currency from the sellers. We used US currency for most things so there isn't a need to get a lot of Egyptian money (at least we didn't have that need).
Tipping was expected at restrooms but was sometimes handled by our guide. Make sure you carry a little toilet paper and consider a little container of hand sanitizer. Tipping on the cruise ships would be nice by not necessary.
Water in sealed bottles was provided in your hotel/ship room and at each meal (you may need to ask at breakfast if you don't drink coffee) and before each field trip so water wasn't really a problem for us.
The Egyptian people were very friendly. Women should bring a scarf to wear when entering the mosques.
We didn't see any bugs so I wouldn't worry about that. Sunburn could be a problem, though, if you don't either cover up or wear sun screen.
We got tickets to many of the sites so we took a picture of the ticket before starting to take pictures of that site so we could remember later which temple was which.
Again, this was a great trip -- enjoy.
— Review left January 2, 2019