Reviews
GUEST REVIEWS
EXCELLENT
Based on 89 reviews
olivia sellar2024-05-29A big thank you Annmarie and Ganun for being such welcoming hosts. Your work in horse rehabilitation is truely inspiring. Your horses are trustworthy, endurant and overall a pure pleasure to ride. I really hope I get to come back, inshallah.
Aly Coyle2024-05-07A really fantastic experience. Annmarie and Ganun were incredible hosts and made every effort to ensure an amazing trip. They created such a great atmosphere that it really felt more like just being out riding with good friends than being on an organised tour. The horses are beautiful and so well cared for and it is clear that the whole team are really passionate about the horses and their welfare. They treat each horse with obvious care and affection and take the time to make sure each one is happy and healthy. The guides are just brilliant, they take beautiful photos and videos and are always vigilant, they take their roles seriously but are always smiling. Would highly recommend to anyone thinking of horse riding in Egypt!
Claudia M2024-04-29Ich war zum zweiten Mal mit Horses & Hieroglyphs in Ägypten und es war wieder ein unvergessliches Erlebnis. Es fühlte sich an wie nach Hause zu kommen und ich habe mich riesig gefreute alle wiederzusehen, sowohl das herzliche Team als auch die tollen Pferde. Wir hatten eine komplett maßgeschneiderte Tour und es war alles perfekt. Alle unsere Wünsche konnten umgesetzt werden. Ich hoffe, dass ich in naher Zukunft erneut zu Annmarie und Ganun reisen kann, da es immer noch so viel neues und aufregendes zu entdecken gibt.
Isabelle Kunz2024-04-25Hands down the best travel tour experience of my life. Annmarie and Ganun absolutely were the highlight our trip with their genuine hospitality, love for Egypt and their horses. All of their animals are incredibly well cared for and their rescue mission is inspiring. They take great care in matching their horses to the riders, we had all levels of riders on our tour and everyone had a great time on the fun and well trained horses they were paired with. Furthermore, their tours are the perfect blend of authentic cultural immersion, adventure and comfort. I will never forget our gallops through Luxor’s dunes and walks through the bustling streets, incredible temple tours and the best Egyptian food you’ll ever taste. I cannot recommend this company more to anyone traveling in Egypt and seeking the adventure of a lifetime.
Haneul Kim2024-04-22I don't know if it is always private tour or i was just lucky to do this private tour. My tour guide was very friendly and passionate! He also knows how to take photo and videos! He even take video while he is riding horse he look back to take video of me! There are many horse riding activities you can choose, and they are very fast responding to your questions. They do not start counting the time from the time they pick you up but actual time that you started horse riding! So it was full time horse riding. He also gave me a tea and cold water after the horse riding. I could see rural areas of luxor, walk with horse next to Nile river, watch hot balloons.
please p.2024-04-21This is an exceptional experience in Cairo and Luxor, Egypt I could have ever asked for. Other than what I impressed how H&H team determine to help those poor horses to get back in shape, they, especially AnnMarie, organize the perfect fit schedule for us also. Every activities were well thought through. You wouldn't be too bored or too tired for the entire trip. Though we chose Ancient Adventures program, but you could customize to anything that fits you, actually. I would give all the credit in the world to Annmarie and H&H :). She can design and manage anything that match with your desires. Even you don't wanna do horseriding! But not us 😀.
Trevan Signorelli2024-04-14Would highly recommend booking your Egypt adventure through Horses & Hieroglyphs! H&H provided a seamless experience upon arrival, organizing drivers, meals, tour guides, etc. which allowed us to just enjoy the trip. We had a packed and diverse itinerary - the many historical sites, incredible food, camping in the desert, horse back riding through the village / agricultural fields, boat rides on the Nile, and the more fast paced lifestyle in Cairo - and we just scratched the surface of what Egypt has to offer. The H&H staff, tour guides, and drivers were all so friendly and accommodating and excited to show us around Egypt!
Parkpoom Prapasawudi2024-04-14Amazing experiences Amazing people Amazing horses Amazing gallopping Amazing sunsets Amazing sunrises Amazing hosts ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️
Sara Signorelli2024-04-02A great, unforgettable experience. Horses and Hieroglyphs create a customizable experience for sight-seeing and riding in Egypt. They are flexible based on your interests and able to accommodate different riding experience levels. The staff are clearly dedicated to the horses’ wellbeing as well as making sure we got to see all the best sights on our week long trip!
Allison Butler2024-03-30If you’re looking for an unforgettable trip, look no further. Annmarie organizes all the guides, rides, and transportation, so you can take in every piece of the trip. The organization is doing important work by rehabilitating horses so they may live out their lives happy and well taken care of! At the same time, they are hosting people to experience Egypt. Thanks for a great trip!!
EXCELLENT
Based on 40 reviews
kim t2024-02-15Adventures with Horses and Heiroglyphs Wow! This experience was more than a holiday! I have been on holidays all over the world but I have not had such an amazing immersive experience before. On horseback we explored the pyramids, food and museums of Giza, we were taken on rides through local villages, around the fields and banana plantations and travelled to ancient sites around Luxor. Our experiences were made even better by the young , enthusiastic guides, organised by our hosts Ganud and Annemarie. Our eight day trip included river boat rides, many different food stops and even time to relax in the beautiful courtyard at our hotel. Of course, the horses were the best thing. All of the horses have been rescued and nursed back to health by Ganud, Annemarie and their devoted team. They really seem to enjoy their work and have a wonderful life at the stable. Our riding guide Saied eased us through all our adventures with expertise and good humour. The best thing was that we were welcomed so warmly and now feel we have a family waiting for us to come home in Egypt! Thanks to you all.
B H2024-02-13Outstanding riding holiday - Horses and Hieroglyphs stole my heart! Horses and Hieroglyphs are a host with a difference! From touch down in dusty Egypt you are made to feel part of the extended family in every aspect of your Nile adventure. As a horse lover, the most important element of the trip was always going to be the welfare of the wonderful animals who enabled us to explore the diverse countryside. The team at Horses and Hieroglyphs clearly care deeply for their animals - many of whom they have rescued (at huge personal cost) from the most dire of circumstances and whom are given the chance to return to full fitness and live a purposeful life as part of a herd. Our riding guide Sayid was a generous lead, letting us enjoy the power and the thrill of galloping in the banana plantations, through the sugarcane fields and the desert whilst looking after us throughout and sharing his intimate knowledge of the local area and our horses. An unexpected bonus of the ride was to ride through the maze of narrow streets in the villages which pepper the West bank of Luxor - a real taste of how locals live day to day without feeling like an intrusive tourist. Our hosts Ganun and Annmarie made us feel so incredibly welcome, as experienced riders we were given the chance to ride forward going horses but it was apparent the trip (and the horses) were really adaptable for less experienced riders. On our ‘Ancient Adventures’ tour we got to see a great many historic sites throughout the trip and the balance between history and horses was just right for us…but it was clear that adjustments would be accommodated easily and we never felt rushed or under pressure to tick sights off a list. Our tour guides in Cairo and Luxor were great fun and brought so much more to our trips than cultural and historic knowledge. I would recommend Horses and Hieroglyphs to anyone looking for an ethical horse tour and the chance to experience something closer to real Egypt (warts and all) rather than a sanitized version. It should also be said that all our pick ups and taxis were on time and friendly. We were never left waiting and each journey was a new experience as our taxi rides became mini tours in themselves. This was a trip of a lifetime which touched my heart in a way I was completely unprepared for. I hope to return in the future. Tips: Bring everything suggested in the kit list – we used it all If you are going to visit the temples and tombs (an who wouldn’t!) do some reading before hand – it really helped bring together what the knowledge which our wonderful guides shared with us (Look up Dr Bob Brier on Audible!) Accept all offers of bottled water. By UK standards the driving (especially in Cairo) is pretty chaotic but it seems to work! Just relax and let your driver take the strain.
Doreen S2024-01-28Perfekte Reise mit Kultur und Reiten, liebevolle und warmherzige Betreuung! Die Reise war wunderbar, die perfekte Mischung aus alt-ägyptischer Kultur und Reiten auf exzellenten Pferden! Ich startete in Kairo mit einem wunderbaren Dinner auf der Hotelterrasse mit Blick auf die Pyramiden. Im nächsten Morgen ging es auf flotten Pferden um die Pyramiden herum, danach eine individuelle Führung mit vielen spannenden Erklärungen und Erläuterungen. Auch eine geführte Besichtigung der Altstadt von Kairo stand auf dem Programm. In Luxor lernte ich Annmarie und Ganun kennen und wurde so warmherzig empfangen wie ein Teil der Familie. Auch hier wieder individuelle und sehr spannende Führung zu den Tempeln von Luxor und dem Tal der Könige, eine Fahrt auf dem Nil zum Sonnenuntergang und natürlich Reiten. Die Pferde sind top gepflegt unglaublich freundlich und nervenstark und schnell, dabei aber jederzeit fein zu reiten! Die Reittouren führten durch Bananen - und Zuckerrohrplantagen und in die Wüste, schnelle Galoppstrecken und entspanntes Erleben vom Pferd aus. Alles war perfekt organisiert, die Unterkünfte und das Essen super! Ich fühlte mich perfekt betreut und unglaublich freundlich und warmherzig umsorgt!
_upshegoes_2023-12-15Superb rides and tons of history! Book now! In short, I absolutely suggesting booking this tour. This November we set out on our adventure with Horses & Hieroglyphs! It was a wonderful trip with great riding and tons of history. We selected the '8 day Ancient Adventures' trip. -Transportation: was always on safe, friendly, and on time. -Lodging: Cairo- great location with views of Pyramids at Giza, clean rooms, hot water, good food, comfortable beds, staff spoke great English. Luxor accommodations- we stayed at this fantastic villa just a block from the Nile and a 10 minute walk to the stables. I felt very safe walking around, even at night. The hotel was clean, quiet, comfortable beds, hot water, and had a beautiful pool which was key after a hot day of riding. -Horses & Hieroglyphs staff: Annemarie, Mo, and Sayed were our main guides. All of them are superb! Great horsemanship skills, fun to ride with, knowledgeable, and friendly. I would ride with them any day and look forward to seeing them again. The rest of the stable hands were kind, friendly, and attentive. -Horse condition: It's apparent animals in Egypt are used for work purposes, but this operator is doing the necessary and hard work by rehabbing horses, and holding themselves to a higher standard! We saw some before photos of the horses we rode and it was night and day the improvement they had after being adopted/purchased by H&H. My horse Zorro was so good and sweet. He was a delightful to canter, such a smooth trot to canter transition. -Rides: The early morning hot air balloon ride might have been my favorite, it was stunning. I also loved riding though the sugar cane and banana fields. Our long 2 days of to/from the desert camp were amazing as well. Highly suggest a desert overnight on your tour choice. -Historical Tours: There was no lack of history on our tour, it was incredible. We saw so many sights, the tour guides were so fun, friendly, and knowledgable. In Cairo, Sabri was really funny and spoke perfect English. In Luxor we had Hamdi and Hasan. They were fantastic. We were able to visit multiple pyramids, crawl through a pyramid, visit many temples, a museum, and Valley of the Kings. -Food: Meals were delicious! Personally, it can feel a bit repetitive, but it’s Egyptian cuisine and is really fresh! The handmade fatir bread with buffalo cheese and molasses was my favorite during brunch. We watched the owner Ganun's mother and sister make the fatir, very cool and super tasty. -Entertainment: one night we celebrated by boyfriend’s birthday. H&H went above and beyond, they decorated the villa with balloons, had a DJ, and 2 dancers, plus a cake! It was so special and fun. It was a lovely surprise. Also the one night we rode out into the desert for a camp, the set up with a fire pit was stunning. The team cooked us dinner and we all ate inside our beautiful tent on a low table. The food was delicious! -Riding skill: I have experience riding horses and had been taking lessons for 3 months to get in riding shape. My boyfriend had been on a horse once in his life. He was able to ride 3 of the 5 days, and learned how to trot. He was given some one on one work with Mo and really appreciated the guidance. The 2 days he didn’t ride were to/from the desert camp, it was a far ride and without canter/trotting it would have taken a long time. I was happy to canter often through the desert and banana/sugarcane fields. I wouldn’t suggest this trip for inexperienced riders… it’s just better to come with a base of knowledge and the ability to trot/post IMO. -Group- our group was 8 people, a couple solo travelers, some friends, and 2 couples. Everyone was incredible, fast friends. Generally on rides we had 2-3 guides. Suggestions: -Bring water everywhere. You can drink the bottled water or use bottles to fill up your personal refillable bottle/camelbak bladder. -Be prepared for Egyptian time. It’s a chill slow pace. Food takes a long time to come, just drink your water and relax. -Understand the place the country is in. There is lots of pollution. Cairo was worse than Luxor but it will be apparent. The air quality is also poor but is better in Luxor. -Expect to tip, and have small bills for bathroom visits. Apparently USD is good. The Egyptian pound is suffering presently. We were suggested 10EGP for bathroom tips, fyi. - Absolutely wake up at 4am for the hot air balloon ride. It was the most beautiful of rides! <3 Overall- I absolutely suggest. You will be very happy you did. Safe riding.
Adventure390904971422023-12-12Great rides and sights, amazing tour guides, museums, antiquities, the perfect way to check Egypt off the bucket list! Absolutely amazing! Perfect way to check Egypt off your bucket list. Horses were so well trained. Perfect way to experience Luxor!
Journey028025836692023-12-12Really nice experience Super nice ride. The team was very welcoming and nice. The horse was looking good for the ride and we had a great time. Great gallop experience in the sugar cane field. Strongly recommend.
Teresa N2023-12-11All-inclusive bliss! My third tour with H&H and it won’t be my last! Their unique offerings and next-level flexibility make each experience special. Their loving, dedicated horsemanship and charity work of rescuing and rehabbing horses from around the country is so inspiring- I’ve seen the horses glow up! It makes me so happy to support them and their mission. There’s no other tour company doing what they do. Accomodations are comfortable clean and lovely- the pool was perfectly cold after a long ride. The all-inclusive pricing makes for a really nice experience, for instance, all the temple, pyramid and tomb visitation tickets are included. It was a relief not to need to deal with that on the ground. And the interpreters were incredible. This time I went with friends but my previous two tours were solo. They were able to accommodate for our mixed experience levels and we all had a blast. They can make custom bookings for anything, not just horse riding. We visited spice and ceramics shops to get some special gifts. They even arranged for an extra special birthday celebration for one in our group(upon request). Sweet Gamar and I fell in love on my first trip last year and it’s been so special to return and spend more time with her and baby Roya. If Egypt calls to you, this is the best way to go! You’ll be treated like family and I bet you won’t wana leave!
Lilly M2023-12-06Love love love this place This trek was one of the best I’ve ever done. It goes without saying that the history in Egypt is fantastic but this tour really took it to the next level. The horses are amazing and the team is always willing to cater to your needs. They have a ton of horses that fit all ability levels and love to let you try things out. Everybody really makes you feel like you’re at home and apart of the family there. I cannot wait to go back!
Rhea B2023-12-04Egyptian desert escape Gizeh/Luxor When dreams come true 🤍 this has been one of the best trips I've ever done, I enjoyed every single minute with Ganun, Annmarie & their team & their amazing horses. If you are looking for the perfect horseback riding trip with happy horses (& dogs & cats etc.) combined with culture & good food & adventure & good conversations & a lot of laughter - Horses & Hieroglyphes is the place to go. Words can hardly describe the experience I've made. Riding next to the pyramids, sleeping in the desert, riding into the sunrise while admiring the balloons, riding bare back, cuddling with all kinds of animals and so on. Annmarie & Ganun made sure that I've been feeling comfortable and safe at all times. I learned so much about their horses & how they rescued them & how they are living a happy life now. I got so much more confident with horseback riding myself cause they are amazing teachers & they gave me all the time I needed. On top of that, the accomodations, the restaurants, the boat rides, the tours to the temples have been great. Everything has been planned perfectly. I couldn't stop smiling throughout 10 days . I'll be back in January & I just can't wait 🤍 PS to everyone reading that review - book that trip, you won't regret it, I promise!
Yawen C2023-11-29Travel in style like Indiana Jones with national-geographic like expert guided expeditions This is a trip of a life time for people who prefer travel like Indiana Jones or having national-geographic like expert guided expeditions. If you are looking for authentic and adrenaline packed adventure or a country with most incredible ancient wonders, LOOK NO FURTHER, THIS TRIP IS FOR YOU. Be ready to be pleasantly surprised by the heartwarming Egyptian hospitality. This is the trip of a life time for people who are adventurous like Indiana Jones. You will experience the rhythms of daily life along the west bank of the Nile and visit ancient temples, monuments and UNESCO sites all accompanied by historian experts/ Egyptologists. Owners/operators of Horses & Hieroglyphs also run a nonprofit horse rescue in the region. Have your dream trip while supporting a good cause, that is the way to do it.
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