Testimonials

Good Morning Lesley...

Our group are still speaking about their pilgrimage and how overwhelmed they were with the experience. Lesley, I enjoyed every moment of our trip and as I have been doing these trips for 20 years I would have to say that this one was the “best” and it will be indelible in my memory.

I must also say that the planning by Traveland left no stones unturned. We are ever so grateful we had James accompany us in Egypt. We all wanted him to go right through to the end of the trip with us and we even wanted to take him back to Canada. He is truly an incredibly kind, compassionate and caring young man. I was ill and he called a doctor for me on the day of our cruise and sat with me while the doctor was in the room. He took such great care of us and nothing was an imposition if you asked James for anything. I hope to return with a group again and do a similar trip and if Gerald and I can get another group we would like Traveland to work with again.

Thank you and I hope the financial crisis throughout the world will not affect your business. I can tell you that to visit Egypt is a dream that most people have and I can now say mine has come true and I thank you for the part your company paid in making mine a reality.

Thank you!!

Martha Moore
St. Joseph High School

Hello Mariana and everyone at Traveland,

I just want to say we had a fabulous time and thank you again for the planning. The guides were marvelous. They have excellent knowledge of the history of Egypt and are very good speakers. Our room on the ship was sparkling clean and the crew was first class. I will tell everyone at AIS what a wonderful job you have done. Also, I will add positive review to the internet travel pages that I found.

Thank you does not seem like enough to say . . . shukron, merci, and muchas gracias!

Deborah Kerwood

We have just come back from our wonderful time in Cairo, visiting the pyramids & staying at the Mena House. I would like to thank you again, of behalf of my husband & myself for your help to make our first trip to Cairo an exquisite experience.

Traveland & Mr. James Kamel & Mrs. Marianna Michelle in specific, were very kind & helpful & very attentive to all our requests.

Thomas & Gil Leitersdorf.

Dear Lesley and the Traveland Team:

As an experienced independent traveler, I have avoided using travel agencies as a badge of honor. However, when my traveling companion and I decided to travel to Egypt and Jordan, we knew that we would have to use the expertise of a travel agency as the cultures were simply too different to enable 100% independent travel. After researching over 25 travel agencies who specialize in Middle East travel and having in-depth discussions, we settled upon you and your team for a variety of reasons.

First and foremost, you are an English-background team. This was important to us as you would understand the needs of a western tourist. Secondly, you are based in Cairo and know the local scene much more than those agencies based in the United States, Canada or Europe. Finally, you are a smaller agency which would indicate more personal service.

From the moment I first contacted you, you have been nothing but an immense help. No question was too small for you. Your turn-around time, even with a seven hour time difference, was remarkable. I felt from day one like a V.I.P. and that, no matter what issue might develop, you and your team would be there to help.

Upon arrival in Egypt, your personal service was evident in our greeting by your son, James, who walked us through the intricacies of the Cairo airport, visas, immigration, customs, luggage, and the like. From our first meeting him, we knew that all would be well. This personal service continued throughout the trip.

Although I ate very carefully and tried to avoid any intestinal illness, the bacteria got to me and, while on the Nile Cruise ship, I became quite sick. Thanks to you and your team, you were able to arrange everything for me and assure me that all would be well. Your personal calls to ensure I was getting better went above and beyond anything I could have imagined.

We felt that every detail of our trip was carefully planned and constantly monitored to ensure that all went well. Your service was personal and then some. From selecting hotels, arranging for flights, transfers, tours, choosing tour guides, and the like, you ensured that every detail, no matter how small, was taken care of. I know that this would not happen with any other agency.

Lesley and Team, I cannot thank you enough for your making our trip to Egypt and Jordan such a spectacular one. I highly recommend you to anyone considering a trip to Egypt and/or the Middle East. To use the services of Traveland is to put your trust in the hands of the right people. Thank you, thank you, thank you!

In thanksgiving,

Fr. Christopher D. Hofer

Wantagh, New York (Long Island)

As one way of saying thank you to Mrs Lesley Forfar and her husband Nabil Kamel who own and run Traveland I would like to comment on the pilgrimages that they have prepared for me and my parties.

I have known and used the services of Traveland since 1988 when I went to live and work in Cairo. While in Cairo I was Principal of the Heliopolis British International School for 8 years. I am now a priest in the Church of England. Part of my ministry is to enable pilgrims to enjoy what the Middle East has to offer in terms of its scenery, history (ancient and modern), and as the cradle of the Abrahamic faiths (Judaism, Christianity and Islam). I find that such pilgrimages, not only provide a stimulating intellectual environment for the participants, but also an exciting unique adventure, and cultural experience, that has supported their own spiritual growth. They have been journeys that have enabled each person to draw from them what they were seeking and indeed, positively, things that they had not anticipated. The way in which Traveland organise them means that they can be tailored to suit all ages. I personally have taken groups from 9 years of age to 89. The youngest parties falling into the 9 to 13 age range. During the organisation Traveland’s own intimate knowledge of the itinerary has been used to adjust it to suit the needs of the group so enabling them to obtain the most from the experience. Personal feedback has confirmed that, so far, everyone who has attended my journeys has had a fantastic experience.

The journeys under review to Egypt come under two main headings: ‘In the footsteps of the Holy Family’, and the ‘Coptic Church and the Desert Monasteries’. Personally I find that a combination of the two themes provides the opportunity to experience a wide range of what Egypt has to offer in a coherent way. The history of the Coptic Church and its own brand of spirituality begins with a dip into Pharaonic times (including the pyramids et al!), because the language of its traditional liturgy is based on the script of the priestly sects and ancient Greek. The range of churches and other ancient buildings many dating back to the 4th century, and many still in use today, helps provide a continuity of experience. Visits to a selection of sites in Cairo, the Nile valley and the delta is best covered by the theme chosen because there are so many that not all can be covered. The revered Coptic sites where it is believed the Holy Family lived or rested during their sojourn in Egypt provide another wide choice for any chosen itinerary. Then for an undoubtedly spiritual and breathtaking experience there is a visit to a selection of the Desert monasteries and the Homes (or caves!) of the Desert Fathers. Clearly in this respect the Sinai Peninsula, Mt Sinai and St Catherine’s monastery is an absolute ‘must’. This is best approached following a crossing of the Sinai plateau from Suez to near Taba before turning South along the shores of the Gulf of Aqaba, finally turning inland to reach St Catherine’s. It is a breathtaking experience. From there, back to the Gulf of Suez and into the Eastern Desert to the monasteries of St Anthony and St Paul. The former has so recently been featured on television. Monasteries in Wadi El Natrun and other parts of the Northern Sahara, such as Abu Minas provide a wealth of historical and religious experiences.

For the people of Europe Egypt is recognised as the land of the Pharaohs with the Giza Plateau, Luxor, Aswan, Abu Simbel and a Nile cruise as the main objective. Or else it’s the coastal resorts of the Red Sea and Mediterranean. But there is so much more to Egypt than these, albeit important, aspects. It is one of the cradles of modern civilisation which has so much to offer to the discerning traveller and often a combination of the themes can be very rewarding. For me a pilgrimage covering Holy Family sites, significant Coptic churches, Sinai and the desert monasteries, together with a dabble into Pharaonic history and rounded off by comfortable hotels, particularly in Cairo, together with a little of the nightlife, if wanted provides, an unforgettable journey into a unique culture.

The approach used by Traveland in tailoring the needs and predilections of the group to what the country has to offer, thoughtfully providing excellent guides where appropriate, and in the degree of comfort required is, in my experience, the perfect solution for a religious and cultural pilgrimage to a unique country that has so much to offer the discerning traveller.

(Recipient of the Traveland Experience)

Reverend Richard Costin

St Martin-on-the-Hill, Scarborough

First I want to thank you,

I should have written this e-mail as soon as I came back but I’m sorry because I was busy with family and work.

Second, I would like to express some feelings about that trip.

At the beginning when I booked the trip I was so worried, going for 4 days alone with strangers, what if I don’t like them, what if they didn’t like me??

Then finally I told myself, no problem, I’m going to see new places that I’ve never seen before , the group should not bother me.

The trip started in the arranged time and place, then, blessings started to fall.

Two young men full of integrity (the tour leader and the tour guide) + a decent driver who knows how to do it right + an English couple who were like a sister and brother all the time.

To cut it short, I thought I’m going with strangers and it ended up being with family.

I want to come-up with a mistake or disadvantage but I couldn’t find any.

A trip full of spiritual input, very well organized, comfortable to the maximum extent with a group of people that I will never forget.

Thank u soooo much, till we meet again in another trip

Gerry – Cairo

Dear Marianna Michelle

Our Holiday was fantastic thanks to you! The sites were incredible, we were able to rest in the afternoon and venture out in the evenings. The transport and drivers were first class, the guides were helpful and informative, the best of which was Sayed Kamel in Luxor who explained everything very clearly and was able to answer all of our questions. Your Luxor Representative, Hassan, was very efficient and friendly.

The staff in both hotels were lovely and I hope you will pass on our thanks! Maybe you could arrange our holiday next year to Petra in Jordan?

Once again Many thanks Tamsie Fowler

I would be pleased to share our experiences with Traveland-Egypt with you.

First, my wife and I are Canadians living in Egypt. We have been here for over three years. I was first introduced to Traveland by colleagues shortly after my arrival and have, for the most part, continue to use their services.

A collection of experiences include:

Luxor, Alexandria Trip Dahab, Sinai Istanbul, Turkey India (Golden Triangle), Thailand (Bangkok and Phuket) Safari to Kenya and Tanzania (for ourselves and later for visiting friends from Canada, including return tickets from Canada) Mombasa, Kenya Extensive travel for my sons and daughter-in-law from Canada to Egypt (including Nile Cruise) Sharm El Sheikh, Sinai Stop off at Paris from Canada to Cairo Jordan trip Hurghada, Red Sea Upcoming trip to Greece and the Island in the summer of 2008

I'm sure there are others that have slipped my mind at this point.

In the majority of cases flights, hotels, and tours have been arranged by Traveland. The attention to detail by Lesley has been superb.

Perhaps the best example of trouble shooting was in our Safari Trip to Kenya and Tanzania. Due to heavy rains we were unable to travel from Masa Mara to the Serengeti. Roads through the parks were washed out and we were forced to re- route to Nairobi, travel to Arusha then into the Norongora region. Through our driver's contact with his company, Twiga Tours, and they in turn contact with and support from Lesley, where able to make this diversion with expenses covered, although we did not have insurance for this. I would consider travel insurance back-up another time but with Lesley's insistence, the travel operators covered the problem.

We have had no concerns in dealing with Traveland. They are aware of our travel patterns, our preferred 'fuzzies' when traveling and cater to our tastes and requests, as complicated, simple and/or anal as they can tend to be.

To be honest with you, we have become reliant on their service. We simply outline our requests with Lesley and often with suggested modifications for the best from Lesley we feel comfortable in getting on with our travel. We have never been disappointed with Lesley's suggestions or service, and plan to continue with Traveland as our primary travel provider.

If you have additional questions or queries please feel free to contact me. Happy traveling!

Best Regards,

George Ditto