Day tour from Cairo

Flamengo Travel & Tours has a branch in Cairo International Airport run by a pleasant man, Mr. Said Atia (phone 012 212 6291 or 224 3587, fax 586 1621… or at 1 a El Sherifein St., Cairo; phone/fax 023931044).

For an October ’06 trip, I had prebooked (but not paid ahead) with another tour company, whose representative did not show up at the airport at the scheduled time; in fact, they were an hour late. I then booked with Flamengo for a transfer from the airport and some guided touring the next day for my friend and me. Transfer from the airport was $20 each. The price for the 5-hour tour was $100 each.

The next day, Mr. Said showed with a van, driver and a pleasant lad by the name of Ibrahim, who talked about Egypt for the next five hours nonstop. Actually, Ibrahim has more degrees than a thermometer! We saw the Sphinx, the Red Pyramid, the Bent Pyramid, Cheops and Giza and made stops at a carpet factory and a papyrus factory. It was quite intense!

I think anyone wanting a good tour and a very knowledgeable guide should book with Flamengo.

SAM SARTAIN

Colorado Springs, CO