Jordan Express

We traveled to Jordan and Egypt! Great experience but what made it unforgettable was our tour guide, Ayman, in Egypt. He was so knowledgeable, educated, funny but overall a nice, good person!! If I was to ever go back to Egypt, I would definitely ask for him as my tour guide!! 5 stars for him!!!

My husband and I previously used Encounters Travel for a vacation to Egypt and Greece and therefore jumped at the opportunity to use them for our journey to Jordan. The expectations bar was high given our previous trips being absolutely amazing and something we wanted to replicate in many areas. Our trip to Jordan delivered on those expectations! From the encyclopedic knowledge of our guide, Omar, who explained the historical significance of various sites encompassing the folklore of the civilizations responsible for such wonders as the temples, amphitheaters around Amman, As-Salt, Jerash, all the way to the remoteness of Wadi Rum. Plus, who could forget the marvels of Petra with its Hellenistic design. The highlights were many. One of which was floating on the waters of the Dead Sea being magical. Omar also kept the entire group updated via What's App. One improvement or thing to note is the preservation of water in Jordan might mean if you're taking a shower at a particular hour expect it to be freezing cold. During the trip, we were provided bottled water; however, the water was never cold. It would have been nice if the refrigerated unit used to hold the water on the coach bus worked and would keep the water cold. The expectations for the culinary choices were something my husband and I were particularly thrilled with offerings such as Makloubeh. Nothing could beat the desert item called Kanafeh which was scrumptious and if you're into Baklava, there is no shortage of places to purchase. Encounters Travel gets both thumbs up for the trips and locations they put together and we will definitely use them for future travel adventures.

This trip was an adventure for sure! Visiting Jordan was amazing; however, when we got to Egypt it was a more stressful experience. Beware the extra charges for tours where they want dollars instead of pounds. Also, they rush you through places and limited time to shop for souvenirs. If you see something you want, get it because there won’t be another chance. The tour guides were knowledgeable and helpful. Omar, our guide in Jordan was amazing! Petra is a must see, camel rides in the desert a must do, a donkey ride up to the monastery a must, and sleeping on the outdoor sailboat on the Nile was so fun! I also enjoyed a swim in the Dead Sea! I’d advise you to be ready to walk a lot and get little sleep. This is a once in a lifetime trip. They change the itinerary on you a bit in Egypt so it’s hard to know what you’re doing and then they charge you extra. That’s why I gave a 4 star. Hotels are not great but comfortable.