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Israel - Overseas Adventure Travel

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All the agent cared about was booking the flight. I put a deposit down. He said I have 10 days for... read more

After reading the bipolar reviews for the first 3 months of 2024, I feel responsible for sharing my... read more

I’m so sad over this trip. I’ll get over it. Signed up with other tour groups for Sicily and Scotland this year. Israel was a waste. I had to keep mingling with other tour groups to hear wonderful details. Our tour guide was brand new to OAT (his first trip) and had no one shadowing. We didn’t go to major spots. But he and the bus driver kept setting up “different” excursions where they walked out with free swag. An olive oil infomercial the day after we visited an olive oil farm (which was beautiful). A terrible waste of time that 2nd day. A wine tasting (missed a War site) where they were again rewarded for our time. We landed in Tel Aviv, traveled 2 hours to Haifa where everything was shut down for the biggest holy Day of the year. Had we stayed in Tel Aviv or Jerusalem....there would have been options. Even a hotel on the beach. Every day he kept messing up. Mixing up itineraries and always blaming the other person. In one case the other person was a Fulbright Scholar and so interesting. She was so prepared. Our guy had nothing. When I called the company, they “listened”, and hoped we had better luck on our next tour with them. Seriously....the list goes much longer. But enough. Uncruise Adventures are brilliant. Rick Steves in October. I’ve heard wonderful things about them. What is interesting to me are the people who rave about this tour group. We just had bad luck???? All said and done....$15,000 should be able to purchase a decent holiday. No remorse on management’s part. Count your shekels OAT. That’s all that matters, right? Still makes me sad...but onward to the next trip. First horrible trip in our lives and it HAD to be to Israel. OAT is terrible!!!!!

We have been on 7+ trips including to the Baltics(amazing), Africa, costa Rica, various European, Scandinavia. We like them because we believe they treat their guides well, they focus more than some tours on educational, culture, and there is always a local family experience included. We are approx 60ish years old, and the trips are geared more toward either 70s which is OK- they try hard to accommodate for issues with their travelers. We had an issue with customer service recently with a lost airline bag that was handled poorly, and for us the price is high compared to booking your own trip and then hiring local guides using the internet. All told we believe OAT does a good job.

Cannot emphasize enough the sub-par experience I have had with the travel arrangements for my upcoming trip to Antarctica. They took our flight money loooong before purchasing the tickets, and then apparently held our reservations hostage to the point we have not been able to upgrade to business class, and have a 15 hour layover in DFW before we even get to Buenos Aires. I've attempted to get the reservations sorted out and shifted to a later-in-the-morning flight to DFW, but never get the same customer service rep and have even been escalated to a supervisor who made promises to fix/expedite our request with American Airlines. He also never followed through or responded back to me after I was told I'd get a callback from him. American says OAT has the power to fix this, OAT says American has control. I have traveled with other tour companies who have always come through for me when there's been a problem. I'm hoping for a great tour, but man, this is a tough way to start an expensive once-in-a-lifetime trip. It seems such a large, reputable travel company would have 1. better, responsive and reliable customer service and 2. an ability to better control airline reservations. I don't know what "discount" I received on the plane tickets, but whatever it was, it wasn't worth the loss of customer service and control over my reservations and seat selection. PS. The call wait-times are insane for this kind of service business. It's not like the rest of us, working at our jobs to be able to pay for this trip can sit and wait 15-30 minutes to have each question answered.

We've traveled with OAT on four tours (Jewels of Bohemia, Holy Lands, Crossroads of the Adriatic, Baltic Capitals), with two reserved in 2020 (Real Peru, The Stans - yes, we're branching out, thanks to OAT!). Beautifully thought out itineraries, authentic cultural experiences, small tour group size (typically 12-16), outstanding local tour guides, pleasant lodging that avoids the typical mega-hotels, and excellent meals that often incorporate local tastes, have been consistent on every tour. We pay for OAT's travel protection plan and consider it well worth the expense and peace of mind. We also book our airfare thru OAT, which includes pick-up upon arrival and transportation to the airport for departure. We can't come close to the rates OAT offers, for any class of service. When fellow travelers have arranged for their own airfare it's typically because they want to use their miles or points, which cannot be done thru OAT. Pre and post trips are almost always offered and we learned after our first trip to take advantage of them. They're as high quality as the main trip. OAT treats you like a member of the family, and we would be hard pressed to travel with any other company.

Went on 10 day small boat trip with 50 passengers. Advertised/rated as level 2+ with ability to walk 3-5 miles/day on on uneven surfaces (cobblestones, hills, etc) and to get from boat to tender (often rolling with waves) when going ashore. We were disappointed to find many elderly fellow travelers in mid to upper 80's with canes and even walkers. We were divided into 2 groups of 25 with no regard to physical abilities or disabilities. Those of us who were able to fulfill requirements of the 2+ activity level self-selected into a smaller group but often found ourselves doing things at well below the pace we had anticipated. Complained to guides and a representative from OAT main office who happened to be traveling with us in official capacity. Nothing was done, although they were sympathetic to our concerns and complaints. The striking discrepancy in age and physical condition took away from the pleasure that we should have derived from the trip. After the trip many of the people in our smaller subgroup registered complaints to customer service at OAT and received less than satisfactory explanation, apology or compensation. This was our second OAT trip; the first was also marred by a very poor guide in New Zealand. Although the guides were excellent on this trip, boat comfortable, and food acceptable I would not use OAT again because of above problems on two consecutive trips and lack of appropriate response from customer service.

Excellent Trip. We went with OAT’s. 14 total on the trip. 3 couples from here. Very different. Exotic. I highly recommend. We did spend 2 nights in the desert in fancy tents and rode camels. I highly recommend.

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Egypt, Jordan, and Israel: Final Itinerary

I leave in about three weeks for my next big adventure: six weeks in Egypt, Jordan, and Israel. I’ve received my final documents from Overseas Adventure Travel , so I can now share all the details of my trip.

I’m taking two back-to-back OAT tours. The first is Egypt and the Eternal Nile ; the second is Israel: The Holy Land and Timeless Cultures . This tour includes an optional pre-trip extension to Jordan and a post-trip extension to Palestine.

I’ve written about OAT before. These two trips are my third and fourth tours with OAT. I previously went with them to Argentina and Chile and to Peru and Ecuador .

There are a few things I really like about OAT. First off, there’s no single supplement. I can get a single room without paying extra. That’s makes a big difference; Rick Steves , for example, charges about 20% extra for a single supplement, and I’ve seen some tour companies that charge even more. Charter Club Tours , a local company in Ajijic, where I live, charges close to 50%, a ridiculous penalty in my opinion.

OAT tours are run in small groups, no larger than 16. This makes things happen more speedily and efficiently, and it makes it easy to get to know people on the tour. For the Egypt trip, there are 12 participants. For Israel, there are 15, of whom 8 are doing the Jordan pre-trip extension and 11 are doing the Palestine post-trip.

I’ve also really appreciated the pace of the OAT tours I’ve taken. I really don’t like one-night stays, and with OAT there are very few.

One of my favorite things about OAT tours is their special activities. These include “A Day in the Life,” where we get to spend time interacting with a local family, and “Controversial Topics,” where we meet with people who can talk to us about national or local issues that are of serious concern. Plus there are several occasions on each trip for home-hosted meals.

My Itineraries

You can hover over the numbers on the map to see what is where. And use the + and — buttons to zoom in and out.

Cruising the Nile

The yacht, Asiya Dehabeya, accommodates just 16 passengers and has a crew of 15. With our group size of just 12, the crew will outnumber the guests! Dehabeya (also spelled dehabiya, dahabeah, and all sorts of other ways) is Arabic for “golden one.” Asiya is the name of our boat. A dehabeya is a passenger boat, typically flat-bottomed like a barge and with two or more sails. 

Here’s what OAT says about our vessel:

This is not your typical large river ship, packed with travelers, chugging up and down the Nile (we’re content to let those big boats pass us by). Instead, you’ll experience a gentler, more gracious era in travel. As we glide quietly across the Nile’s timeless waters, guided by the gentle winds and whims of the currents, our small motorized tender is there to nudge us along when we require assistance. The intimate size of our vessel also allows us to visit ancient temples at quiet times, and gives us access to the smaller islands and riverside villages that travelers on the big river ships can only dream about. And at night, we’ll be far away from the bright lights and lines of the noisy tourist steamers. Quietly moored in secluded locales, we can spend peaceful evenings relaxing on deck, gazing out at the Nile to imagine a time when Cleopatra and Julius Caesar drifted past these very same waters aboard the Egyptian queen’s gilded barge.

Somewhere along the way in my education, I must have learned something about ancient Egyptian history. But I’m sad to have to admit that I remember almost nothing. I should probably do some reading in advance of the trip so I’m not a complete ignoramus about what we’re seeing.

Of course we’ll have guides to provide context, but still, it’s nice to start with an understanding about the ancient culture (or cultures) that created so many temples and tombs and left behind so many artifacts.

The OAT tour in Jordan doesn’t actually start until October 12, so that gives me two days on my own. I’ve made arrangements for a driver to pick me up at the airport in Amman and drive me to Wadi Rum, where I’ll spend two nights in a Bedouin camp. Then the driver will pick me up and bring me back to Amman to join the tour.

About Wadi Rum

My visit to Wadi Rum might be the part of this trip I’m most excited about. 

As you can see from the map above, it’s a long way from Amman, and it’s going to take probably at least 4 hours to get there. Since my flight doesn’t arrive until 3:30 in the afternoon, it’s going to be probably close to 9pm before I arrive at the camp where I’m staying. I was in touch with the owner of the camp, Mhareb, and he said there’s no problem with the late arrival, and that he would even hold dinner for me.

There are a lot of highly rated camps in Wadi Rum, and it was hard to pick, but Mhareb tipped the scales in his favor. Here’s what he says on the website for the camp.

Hi, my name is Mhareb, local tour operator and owner of Wadi Rum Desert Adventures. Being a local means I am in love with the desert and I know the best spots of Wadi Rum – that’s why my camp is located in a special area, far from the other camps. My passion is to share this special place in the most local way possible with individual travellers or small groups. Our team is comprised of local Bedouins who are all born and raised in Wadi Rum. During your stay with us, you’ll have time to experience real local culture. From discussing life in the desert to sharing stories around the campfire after seeing the day’s sights, you’re bound to learn about Wadi Rum’s history and the current way of life with us. https://wadirumdesertadventures.com/about/

I’ll plan to write more about Wadi Rum after I’ve been there, but if you Google it and look at the pictures , you should get a good idea about why I’m so excited to go there.

Which is not to say I’m anything but excited about this entire trip! 

Israel and Palestine

Controversial topics in israel and palestine.

The two “controversial topics” we will explore during our visit to Israel and Palestine are issues I’ve thought a lot about. As a more-or-less secular Jew growing up, I attended Hebrew school, had a Bar Mitzvah, and readily accepted the version of history about Israel that they taught us. That included Israel’s biblical legacy and their acquisition of the Golan Heights and lands west of the Jordan River in the 1967 Six-Day War. 

It took me a long time to rethink my views about Israel’s right to exist and their treatment of Palestinians. I have come to believe that the Bible should never have been used to justify the establishment of a Jewish homeland in the Middle East. I’m also in favor of the “Two-State Solution,” creating an independent Palestinian state in the West Bank.

So I’m eager to hear from people who live in these disputed (or occupied) territories.

In the Golan Heights we will have a conversation with a retired captain of the Israel Defense Forces. Then we will have lunch at a restaurant run by a Druze family and will meet with members of the Druze community in the village of Majdal Shams.

During the post-trip extension in Palestine, we will visit a Jewish settlement near Bethlehem to hear their perspective of Israeli-Arab relations.

Curiously, OAT doesn’t actually refer to either of these experiences as “Controversial Topics.” I suspect they are treading lightly here. I will be curious to talk with our tour leader and with other travelers on the trip to see what range of opinions exist. Controversial topics can be sensitive for a lot of people. I wonder if others will share my views. And I wonder if (or how) my views will evolve during this trip.

3 Responses

Abby Bergman

Hi Lane, This trip looks FABULOUS!!! We’ve done Egypt and Israel (several times because Rose’s family is there) but only to Petra in Jordan. This looks SO EXCITING. The only things I would try to squeeze, if time permits, is Beit Sha’an IMHO has far superior ROman ruins than does Caesaria. Also the other thing that we loved was “Dig for a Day” ( https://www.digforaday.com/ ), yes it’s very touristy, but great fun and they allow you to excavate (after a brief introduction) minor sites. We all loved it. We were there about a year ago, last August, and it was beastly hot! Our prior trip was in March and it was HOT then. There was a Hamseem (a hot wind from the desert). In Egypt, we never got to the Aswan Dam. In terms of entertaining movies that do provide a decent historical perspective, I’d recommend “The Beauty Queen on Jerusalem,” “The Syrian Bride,” “Out in the Dark,” and “Sandstorm” and of course “Shtisel!” As a music officianado, you might also enjoy the youtubes about the East-West Divan Orchestra. While in Israel and Egypt we spoke freely about the then current situation (Netanyahu is a completely different situation! Ugh!) and particularly amond Druze Arabs, we were able to have some common understandings. Another easy place for conversations will be Abu Gosh (one of the Arab towns whose people supported the Israeli’s during the War of Independence. I found many Israeli’s defensive (except our relatives who are very liberal and open) and almost discounting my right to have an opinon! Your trip is SO AMAZING and I can’t wait to read your impessions and see your photos. Abby

Abby, thanks so much for your input. I doubt there is any opportunity to see anything that is not on the itinerary, but I will ask the trip leader if there’s time to stop in Beit She’an. (It appears it’s on the way from the Sea of Galilee to Jerusalem.) And a big thanks for the video recommendations!

Mardee Sherman

Lane, thanks for the updated info. It looks absolutely wonderful and I’m really looking forward to hearing more about your travels! Also thanks for the link to the Wadi Rum camp — I’m hoping to be able to do that, too, although I still need to talk to OAT about the logistics of that. I’m not sure I can wait until January 2025 to go on my tour! 

Have an incredible and safe journey!

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Israel Adventure: Tel Aviv, the Dead Sea & Jerusalem

4.8 out of 5 stars

You have up to 60 days to get a full refund

Feel good about putting a tour on the calendar today: Enroll in AutoPay or pay in full when you book, and if you change your mind,  you’ll get your money back .†

Come for the history, and stay for the culture.

Ancient and historic. Energetic and eclectic. For a nation steeped in thousands of years of tradition, Israel feels surprisingly contemporary. Step back in time at famous sites that span stunning landscapes on this small group Adventure Tour. Plus, after trying off-the-charts good food, you’ll discover why this small corner of the world makes such a big impression.

Your tour package includes

• 8 nights in handpicked hotels
• 8 breakfasts
• 3 dinners with beer or wine
• 1 wine tasting

Included highlights

• Jaffa's Old Town
• Crusaders fortress in Acre
• Kibbutz visit
• Olive oil farm
• Golan Heights Jeep tour

An expert specializing in tours of this region is here to help.

Day-by-day itinerary

Board your overnight flight to Tel Aviv today.

Welcome to Israel! Gather with your Tour Director and fellow travelers at tonight’s welcome dinner.

Join your Tour Director for a sightseeing tour of Tel Aviv, a modern metropolis located on the Mediterranean Sea.

• Walk through the Old Town of Jaffa
• Stroll along the cobblestone streets to admire the many shops, restaurants, and cafes located in this historic port city
• Step inside an Arab Israeli family’s home, meet the homeowners, and enjoy a cup of coffee paired with a traditional sweet
• Discover the UNESCO-listed White City, named for its 4,000 buildings built in the Bauhaus and International styles
• Stop at Rabin Square to see the Holocaust Monument designed by Israeli sculptor Igael Tumarkin

Enjoy free time in Tel Aviv or add an excursion.

Carmel Market & Israeli Cooking Class with Dinner

From $145 per person

Discover some of Israel’s legendary sites and living traditions as you make your way to Galilee, a fertile, mountainous region in northern Israel..

• Visit Isfiya, home to many members of the Druze faith
• Learn about their religion, culture, and history on a walk through the village with a local guide
• Hear how the traditions of this ethnoreligious group make up part of Israel’s modern-day culture
• Head to Haifa and admire the views of Mount Carmel and the hanging Bahá'í Gardens
• Continue on to Acre and taste local foods at Acre Market
• Step inside the Knights’ Halls in the Crusaders fortress with your Tour Director

Stop by a female-run, non-profit Israeli olive oil farm this morning.

• Tour the visitor’s center and factory store with a local guide
• Hear about the work the Arab and Jewish employees do to promote Fair Trade in Israel
• Sample olive oil during a tasting

Then, join a local guide on a visit to an Israeli kibbutz.

• Learn about this communal way of living, established in 1909
• Hear how community members work together on agricultural, technological, and industrial enterprises
• Enjoy an included lunch with the locals

Set off on a Jeep tour and adventure through the Golan Heights later this afternoon.

• Meet a local guide for a Jeep tour of the region
• See old military outposts as you learn about the Syrian-Israeli disputes over the land in the Golan Heights
• Try wines at a boutique winery and learn how the vintners make these varietals

En route to the Dead Sea region, stop to visit Beit She’an National Park, one of the oldest cities in Israel.

• Learn how the city was settled around 6,000 years ago and has continuously remained inhabited
• Take time to explore the impressive archaeological remains of Canaanite, Egyptian, and Roman cities

This afternoon, relax in the famously salty waters of the Dead Sea. This body of water is located at the lowest point on Earth, and you’ll have free time to hang out on the beach or take a swim.

This evening, sit down for an included dinner.

Enjoy a free morning in the Dead Sea region or add an optional excursion.

Travel to Jerusalem this afternoon, making stops along the way.

• Visit the Kfar Hanokdim Bedouin camp and learn about the Bedouin culture and lifestyle
• Enjoy an opportunity to ride a camel in the Judean Desert
• Experience Bedouin hospitality during an included lunch in a tent

Arrive in Jerusalem and join your Tour Director on a walking tour of the Mount of Olives at sunset.

• See the Church of the Pater Noster and the Garden of Gethsemane where, according to the Gospels of the New Testament, Jesus was arrested before his crucifixion
• Enjoy panoramic views of the Old City

Masada National Park Hike

From $89 per person

Spend time at Yad Vashem, the Holocaust History Museum. This museum is a world leader in Holocaust education, commemoration, and research.

Spend a free afternoon and evening in Jerusalem or add an excursion.

Jerusalem Home-Hosted Shabbat Dinner

From $125 per person

Take a walking tour of Jerusalem’s Old City with your Tour Director. You’ll see the city’s historic sites and learn about the artisans practicing traditional trades.

• Venture into the Muslim, Christian, Armenian, and Jewish quarters
• Step inside local shops to see tradespeople creating their craftwork
• Visit Jebrini Tahini, the only tahini producer in Jerusalem still using the traditional stone-grinding method to make the product
• Try various types of the sesame-based condiment
• Pay a visit to the Western Wall, also known as the Wailing Wall
• Follow the Via Dolorosa to the Church of Holy Sepulchre
• Head to Mount Zion to view King David’s Tomb and the Upper Room, where Christians believe Jesus held the Last Supper

Tonight, celebrate your trip with your group at a farewell dinner.

Transfer to the airport for your flight home or continue your tour in Jordan.

Travel along the Jordan Valley, crossing into the Kingdom of Jordan, and stop to visit Jerash—one of the world’s largest and best-preserved Roman ruins.

Then, continue on to Petra and sit down for an included dinner.

Head to the city of Petra, carved into the red rocks of Mount Hor, and embark on a guided tour.

• Learn about Petra’s unique architecture, one of the reasons it’s on the list of modern world wonders
• Walk through the UNESCO World Heritage Site to the famous Al-Khazneh temple
• See the intricately carved pillars and columns that make up the Palace Tomb
• Stroll through the winding gorge known as the Siq

Please note: In order to enter Petra, customers should be able to walk two miles round-trip in hot weather over uneven terrain. Other modes of transportation may be available for you to book upon your arrival at an additional cost.

Spend a free evening in Petra or add an excursion.

Levantine Cooking Class & Dinner

From $75 per person

Drive to Wadi Rum, also known as the Valley of the Moon, and marvel at the region’s landscapes and petroglyphs on a desert safari.

• Hop in a Jeep and ride to a red sand dune
• Set off on an optional walk to view ancient rock carvings
• Stop at a Bedouin tent to learn about the traditions of this ethnic group, largely regarded as Jordan’s first inhabitants, and enjoy Arabic coffee
• Sit down for a buffet lunch in an air-conditioned, desert bubble camp

Later, continue on to Amman. You’ll join a local family for a home-hosted dinner. Enjoy traditional Jordanian cuisine as you learn more about your host’s daily lives.

Head outside of Amman to visit the Iraq Al Amir women’s cooperative.

• Learn how working at the cooperative empowers women to achieve financial independence and raise their standard of living
• Watch the employees make soap from olive oil and greeting cards from recycled paper
• Make paper or pottery during a hands-on workshop
• Share a meal prepared by the women at the collective

Travel back to Amman for a guided tour of the capital city this afternoon.

• Explore the ruins of the citadel and Roman Theater
• Walk through the Old City

Then, relax in a dayroom before boarding your flight home.

Arrive home today.

Book for just $99 down

That’s all it takes to secure your spot on tour with AutoPay. Then, pay for your trip in interest-free, monthly installments.†

Overall rating 4.8 out of 5

5 out of 5 stars

This was an absolutely amazing tour. Our tour director Miki made every day so memorable. Miki was able to embrace the cultural heritage that the itinerary had predetermined and then customize the moments between to really get more than we ever imagined possible on such a short time frame. This tou...

Hi Kristine, Thank you for taking a moment to sha...

I choose to travel with Go Ahead because it understands that its travelers want to visit and understand what they are seeing and how it connects/relates. Because of the thoughtful selection of the tour’s locations and activities, we were offered an understanding of ancient and current Israel, visi...

Thank you for your review! We are so glad that you...

What a delightful experience! This trip surpassed all my expectations and has become my favorite destination. It was an action packed walk through time and brought the pages of the Bible up and alive and in 3-D, thanks to our wonderful guide Miky. This beautiful country with its diversity of people ...

Hotels, flights & FAQ

This elegant hotel is located in the Neve Tzedek neighborhood. Guests enjoy a pool, fitness center, and Wi-Fi. Nearby, you'll find beaches along the M...

This luxurious hotel is located in the heart of the Old City of Zefat. Guests enjoy a large outdoor pool, spacious rooms, and an on-site restaurant fe...

This beachfront hotel is located in Tamar on the shores of the Dead Sea. Guests enjoy the private beach area, large spa complex, and outdoor pool area...

This contemporary hotel is located in Jerusalem. Guests enjoy indoor and outdoor pools, Wi-Fi, and a spa. Nearby, you'll find the Old City, the Dead S...

This unique, rustic-chic hotel is located in the town of Wadi Musa, Jordan. Guests enjoy a swimming pool, sauna, restaurant, and bar. Nearby, you’ll f...

This contemporary hotel is located in Amman's Diplomatic Area. Guests enjoy the outdoor and indoor pools, homemade morning cakes and pastries, and spa...

• Round-trip flight for your tour
• Airport transfers at your destination
• A great price locked in today
• 24/7 support from our dedicated service team
• Options for arriving early, staying longer, or requesting an upgrade
• Flexible rebooking options if your tour itinerary changes
• Find out more about flights
• In order to enter Israel (and Jordan on the tour extension), U.S. and Canadian citizens need a valid passport with an expiration date extending at least six months beyond the date of reentry.
• We recommend having at least two blank passport pages for entry stamps.
• There is no visa required for U.S. and Canadian citizens to enter Israel.
• A group visa for entry into Jordan (on the tour extension) will be provided for all travelers whose flights have been arranged through Go Ahead Tours, as well as for travelers who book their own flights and provide Go Ahead Tours with their full passport and flight details.
• If you are not a U.S. or Canadian citizen, you must contact each destination country’s consulate for your specific entry requirements.
• You can see the most up-to-date entry requirements for the destination(s) you’ll visit on tour by going to goaheadtours.com/entry-requirements and searching the code ISL.
• You will walk for at least 4 hours daily across uneven terrain, including paved roads, cobblestone streets, and dirt paths, with some steep hills.
• Travelers should be healthy enough to participate in all included walks without assistance. Adding optional excursions may increase the total amount of walking on your tour.
• You should feel comfortable managing your own baggage at times.
• Go Ahead Tours and the Tour Director who accompanies your group are unable to provide special, individual mobility assistance to travelers on tour. The responsibility of the Tour Director is to ensure the group as a whole enjoys a relaxing and informative journey, and he or she cannot be relied upon to provide ongoing, individualized assistance to any one traveler.
• If you have any mobility concerns or physical restrictions, please contact our Customer Experience Team.
• You will have a different Tour Director in Jordan on the tour extension.
• When crossing into Jordan on the tour extension, the Tour Director for the Israel portion of your tour will leave while you’re on the Israeli side of the border and will not cross into Jordan with your group. The bus and driver will drive your group five minutes to the Jordanian side of the border, where you’ll meet the Tour Director for the Jordan portion of your tour who will assist with the groups Visas.
• Round-trip flights booked through Go Ahead Tours arrive in and depart from Tel Aviv (or from Amman on tour extension). A Go Ahead Tours representative will meet you at the airport and take you to your hotel. Please remain in the arrival lounge, as the representative might be escorting one of your fellow travelers to the bus at the time of your arrival.
• Transfers to and from the airport at your destination are included for travelers who have purchased their flights through Go Ahead Tours. Travelers who purchase their own flights may request airport transfers with Go Ahead Tours for an additional cost.
• All other included transportation on this tour is by private motor coach.
• Please note that our travelers are limited to one checked bag and one carry-on bag per person due to storage limitations on motor coaches and other transfers, which may include train connections or flights.
• Contact your airline(s) for baggage size and weight restrictions for your flights, which may include on-tour flights in addition to your round-trip flights to and from tour. Please note that your included on-tour flights may have more restrictive baggage limits.
• Some airlines may impose additional charges if you choose to check any baggage or exceed baggage size and weight restrictions. Be advised that you are responsible for any baggage fees incurred on all flights.
• Make sure you label your baggage and keep valuables, medication, and documents in your carry-on bag.
• We recommend packing lightweight, loose-fitting clothing that can be easily layered, as well as a light jacket or rainwear. Please note that temperatures will dip with changes in elevation throughout your tour.
• A sturdy pair of walking shoes or sneakers is recommended for sightseeing.
• A sun hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen is recommended for outdoor activities.
• You may want to pack dressier attire if you plan to visit a high-end restaurant or attend a special performance.
• It is preferable not to visit churches, temples, or other religious sites with bare legs or shoulders (entrance may be denied on this basis).
• At least 60 days prior to departure, check with your doctor or healthcare provider for the latest updates and entry requirements, or visit the Center for Disease Control and Prevention website at cdc.gov .
• Please be sure to take proper care with sun exposure, the sun can be especially strong in some of the areas you are visiting.
• If you have medication that you take daily, be sure you have enough for each day of the tour as well as any possible delays encountered.
• If you have dietary restrictions and/or food allergies please notify Go Ahead Tours at least 30 days prior to your departure by logging in to goaheadtours.com and updating your traveler info. To update this information closer to your departure date, please call our Customer Experience Team.
• Israeli food is invariably fresh and very carefully prepared. A typical breakfast may consist of sourdough bread with sheep’s-milk cheese and olives, as well as jam or honey. You’ll find everything from Kosher meals to dishes with Middle Eastern and Mediterranean influences, as well as the international choices available in any major city. On the coast, fish is an excellent choice.
• On the tour extension, Jordanian cuisine resembles that of the rest of the Middle East. Olives, hummus, sesame seeds, and herbs are typical in many meals. Falafel is the main street food and many meals are served with rice. Hummus and salad are also popular and available at many restaurants.You'll find plenty of opportunities to sip mint tea or Turkish coffee.
• Israel (and Jordan on the tour extension) operates on 220 volts and historically uses a Type H plug, with three flat pins. As the Type H plug is being phased out, you will mostly encounter a new socket that fits both a newer, round-pinned version of the Type H plug as well as the European standard Type C plug with two round pins.
• We recommend packing a universal adapter, as well as a voltage converter if you plan on using your own hairdryer or other device without a built-in converter.
• The strength of the air conditioning in Middle Eastern hotels is often not as strong or as cool as what one might be used to in the U.S. or Canada. When air conditioning is available, it is usually regulated seasonally and controlled centrally by the hotel.
• Your hotels may provide hairdryers, irons and other small appliances. However, these amenities cannot be guaranteed.
• Wi-Fi is available in most hotels, though some charges may apply.
• There is no Wi-Fi on any of the motor coaches.
• Please contact your mobile service provider for information on roaming charges.
• Israel (and Jordan on the tour extension) is 7 hours ahead of Eastern Standard Time.
• When it's noon in New York City, it's 7pm on tour.
• You will use the Israeli new shekel in Israel (and the Jordanian dinar in Jordan on the tour extension).
• Better rates of exchange are usually available overseas, although it’s worth ordering some currency from your local bank to use when you first arrive.
• We strongly advise that you take debit/bank cards and credit cards, which can be used to withdraw cash at local banks as needed.
• You can use most debit/credit cards at ATMs on the international networks Cirrus and Plus, but make sure to check with your home bank about withdrawal fees.
• Inform your bank and credit card company of your travel plans so that they won’t confuse your international purchases for fraudulent charges.
• International banks and businesses primarily accept debit and credit cards that work with the EMV chip system. If you do not already have at least one debit or credit card with a chip in it, we strongly recommend requesting one from your bank prior to your tour.
• At the conclusion of your tour, it’s customary to offer your Tour Director and driver a gratuity in local currency. Please keep current exchange rates in mind.
• We recommend tipping the equivalent of $8USD to $10USD per person per day for your Tour Director and the equivalent of $3USD per person per day for your driver.
• If applicable, we also recommend the equivalent of $2USD per local guide.
• Tips can only be paid in cash.
• Most optional excursions will be available for purchase while you are on tour.
• Your Tour Director will only accept cash (in USD only), Visa or MasterCard as payment for excursions.
• Please be advised that if you pay for an excursion by credit card while on tour, it may take up to three months for your card to be charged.
• Some optional excursions may only be purchased in advance. See page four of your tour itinerary for more information.

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The Scoop: What to Know About Overseas Adventure Tours (OAT)

This small-group specialist runs tours to all continents..

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• Looking at an Overseas Adventure Travel (OAT) tour, but want to know more about this small-group tour company?
• Here’s everything you need to know about the tour company, all updated for 2024.

Overseas Adventure Travel —more commonly referred to as OAT (saying the letters as opposed to naming the grain)—is a small-group tour specialist with tours on all continents. As its name suggests, tours with Overseas Adventure Travel tend to be fairly active, so participants should be comfortable with six to eight hours of activity each day, including walking distances ranging from three to six miles.

OAT has a great reputation for its solo guest focus (more on that below), and offers a generous number of no-additional-cost single spots on its tours. It also has women-exclusive departures on many itineraries.

BEST OF THE BEST: Best Tour Companies for Guided Tours

On OAT tours, accommodations tend to be less about amenities and more about authenticity. Another thing to note is that airfare is often bundled into the up-front price of the tour (unless you specify that you want to book your own travel). OAT is one of the family of Grand Circle Corp. companies, also including Grand Circle Travel and Grand Circle Cruise Line.

TourScoop Takeaways

• Countries: OAT has tours on every continent 
• Tour Size Average: OAT specializes in small-group trips of no more than 16 people. Its small-ship tours are aboard 50- to 98-passenger ships max out at 25 travelers. 
• Tour Type: Coach, van, small ship, rail, and air

Credibility Check

Overseas Adventure Travel is BBB accredited with a rating of A+. It’s an active member of the United States Tour Operators Association (USTOA). The OAT website posts verified guest reviews on each tour page (sometimes with hundreds of reviews) so it’s easy to see what past travelers think of each tour. 

Tour Destinations

For 2024, OAT has 80 itineraries that include tours on every continent. Some of the most popular tours are to destinations in Italy, Egypt, and multi-country tours in Africa and around the Adriatic. 

Overseas Adventure Travel gives all its tours an Activity Level Rating that ranks tours from one (easy) to five (strenuous) to help travelers find the right fit. It has both women-only departures and many no-additional-cost single traveler spots on tours. 

There are multi-country and single country tours. On many tours, OAT creates spaces for discussion and learning with its Controversial Topics program that covers topics such as Scottish independence on its Scotland Revealed itinerary and female genital mutilation on its Safari Serengeti: Tanzania Lodge & Tented Safari tour. 

Tour Guides

OAT’s tour guides are called Trip Experience Leaders. All are fluent in English and have a range of skills, certifications, and experience specific to the tour destination and experience. Trip Experience Leaders focus on both the logistical and the experiential, and help connect travelers with destinations by sharing firsthand insight that brings a destination to life. 

Inclusions/Extras

Inclusions are tour-specific (there’s a “What’s Included” section on each tour’s page), but generally include round-trip flights, many (but not all) meals, transportation, accommodations, activities, and gratuities for local guides, porters, etc. As with most tour companies, gratuities for trip experience leaders is separate. 

Typical Travelers

OAT’s guests are mostly American travelers aged 50 and older. In the last few years, Overseas Adventure Travel has seen a major jump in the number of solo travelers—more than half of all OAT guests are now solo travelers, and 80% of these solo travelers are women.

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OAT does right by its strong solo traveler base —in 2024, the company is offering 25,620 single spaces—91% of which are free (the remaining 9% of single spots have what OAT says is the lowest single supplement in the industry). And a number of itineraries also have women-exclusive departures. 

Communication

After booking, travelers have access to all trip details through the “My Planner” section on the website. The section includes details like flight information, destination weather, and itinerary information.

Then, two weeks before departure, travelers receive all their final documents, and are also contacted by their Trip Experience Leader. Any additional questions can be directed to OAT’s customer service email or phone number.

Loyalty Program

OAT’s loyalty program is the Sir Edmund Hillary Club . Membership benefits kick in when travelers reserve their third trip, and increase after traveling with OAT five and ten times. Benefits include credits to use on future trips, travel credits, exclusive gifts, and priority luggage service. 

Private Options

OAT offers Personalized Private Adventures for groups of five to 10 people. These private departures are available using existing itineraries, and include a dedicated Trip Experience Leader. The private group premium amount depends on the number of travelers in a group. Some of the most popular private tours include Ultimate Africa , Sicily’s Ancient Landscapes , and Japan’s Cultural Treasures . 

Sustainability Efforts

OAT is part of Grand Circle, and participates in the Grand Circle Foundation , which supports projects around the world focused on water and sanitation, education, community development, renewable energy, the protection of indigenous cultures, conservation, historic preservation, and disaster relief.

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Health and Safety Practices

On OAT tours that include time onboard a ship, additional precautions include crew trained on best health and hygiene practices to prevent onboard spread of illnesses, nightly electrostatic disinfection of public areas, and disinfection of high-efficiency air filtration systems before each sailing. The OAT website is the place to go to read more about the current health and safety practices for land and ship tours.  

Family Companies

The Grand Circle family of companies includes Overseas Adventure Travel , Grand Circle Cruise Line , and Grand Circle Travel .

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Tour Scoop’s team of travel experts brings you in-depth tour company overviews, tour itinerary reviews, the latest tour news, and travel tips and advice written just for guided tour travelers like you.

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Active Tours & Trips in Israel

Find the right active tour for you in Israel. There are 17 trips to choose from, that range from 3 days in length, up to 15 days. The month with the most departures is September, making it the most popular time to visit Israel.

17 Active tour packages in Israel with 11 reviews

• Spiritual Walks
• Hiking & Trekking
• In-depth Cultural

Israel and Jordan: Walking in the Footsteps of Abraham

• Christmas & New Year

Highlights of Israel & Jordan - 11 days

Beautiful itinerary, good accommodation and good meals. Competent tour guides. Perhaps lunches stops in Israel could have been planned better.

Israel and Palestinian Territories 8-Day Package Tour

Petra, Masada, Dead Sea 3 days

I am very glad that I booked this tour. we were picked-up on time and saw all the most important sites. I received a bunch of positive emotions and exciting new impressions.

Israel and West Bank 8-Day Tour Package

• Sightseeing

Israel: Relaxed experience

• Intl. Flights Included

Israel Highlights

• Flights included

Best of Israel Trip Experience - 5 Days

Tours were good and the tour guides were knowledgeable. We covered a lot in 5 days. The people on the tours were friendly and the rides were comfortable. For lunches we were taken to restaurants where they could quickly accommodate a large number of people but often they were over priced , limited choices, and the food was sub par. So lunch was $25 US for a small salad bar and undercooked fried fish, Two beef kabobs or such. I would have rather brought my lunch-which some hotels will make up for you. Our hotel, the BY14 was clean and comfortable but smaller than US hotel rooms. I upgraded one level and was glad I did. Other tour friends said the basic hotel package was unacceptable but they were told they would lose all their money if they tried to switch. Touradar could do a better job on giving out information on the hotels prior to booking. Also many tour friends booked their own hotels with points and such at the Hilton and Sheraton. The tours picked up and dropped off at those hotels too hope this helps someone with their visit to Israel.

Journey of Israel Classic Tour - 4 Days

Quite some time lost with a pick-up and changeover system and the usual annoying stops at souvenir shops.

Jewish Gems Trip - Jerusalem, Caesarea, Dead Sea & Golan Heights - 4 Days

We did the 4 days tour and it was great ! We had Daniel G in Jerusalem he was awesome ; Itamar in Haifa he was great and lastly Another Daniel for the Golan Eights who was also great ! The Guides are really involved and love their country. We updated for the 4* and did not regret it in Jerusalem. We had a great experience that we really recommend

Jewish Heritage Historical Tour - 12 Days

We had an absolutely amazing time and was so impressed by the Click Tours team. Our guide was absolutely awsome and knew all about the history of each place we visited. All hotels were wonderful and food were fantastic. The people are so welcoming and friendly. Israel It truly is a beautiful country. Thank you for such a memorable trip! Don't hesitate to book this tour!

Explore Israel Best Experience - 6 days

Excellent experience, really enjoyed it. The best way to visit israel.

Israel Tour Adventure - 9 Days

Thank you for such a wonderful experience! One of the best guided tour we have ever been on. The tour was very well organised and the itinerary covered everything we wanted to see. Our guide did an excellent job and was very knowledgable, The hotels were top notch, comfortable, clean and in excellent locations and the food very delicious. definitely recommend this tour!

Jewish Heritage Tour Experience - 15 Days

Cycle through Israel Valleys

What people love about active tours in israel, travel styles.

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International Versions

• Deutsch: Israel Aktivreise Rundreisen
• Français: Israël : Circuits aventure active 2024/2025
• Español: Aventura Activa Circuitos en Israel
• Nederlands: Actief avontuur Rondreizen in Israël

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U.s. citizens in haiti, update january 10, 2024, information for u.s. citizens in the middle east.

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Latest Information for U.S. Citizens

Information for U.S. Citizens in Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza

U.S. citizens should heed the  Travel Advisory  for Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza. The U.S. Embassy continues to closely monitor the dynamic security situation in Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza. There are active military operations and active rocket and mortar fire in Gaza and the Gaza periphery.  Terrorist groups, lone-actor terrorists and other violent extremists continue plotting possible attacks in Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza. Terrorists and violent extremists may attack with little or no warning, targeting tourist locations, transportation hubs, markets/shopping malls, and local government facilities. Violence can occur in Israel, the West Bank, and Gaza without warning. If you require emergency assistance while in Israel, the West Bank or Gaza, contact the  U.S. Embassy in Jerusalem  by email ([email protected]).

Individuals seeking to depart Gaza  through the Rafah crossing into Egypt should monitor the  Palestinian General Authority for Crossings and Borders’ Facebook Page  for a list of those approved to cross. U.S. citizens, Lawful Permanent Residents, or immediate family (as listed below) who desire our assistance and have not already provided their information to the Department of State, please email U.S. Embassy Jerusalem at  [email protected]  with a copy of the individual’s travel document as well as an explanation or proof of relationship.

The U.S. government does not control the crossing lists nor determine who is permitted to depart Gaza or enter Egypt. Individuals must assess their own safety and risks in attempting to cross the border. Individuals permitted to enter Egypt will likely receive a 72-hour Egyptian visa; all those who cross should have a plan for onward travel from Egypt in this timeframe. U.S. citizens, LPRs and their immediate family members who successfully enter Egypt and require further consular assistance should contact the  U.S. Embassy in Cairo  via the  U.S. Citizens Services Navigator .  Individuals may apply for a U.S. visa at any U.S. Embassy or Consulate; U.S. immigration laws and regulations will apply.

If a name has appeared on a crossing list since November 1, we understand those individuals will be permitted to cross as long as the border remains open for foreign nationals. We urge U.S. citizens, LPRs, and their immediate family members who have appeared on one of these lists to cross as soon as possible – there is no guarantee the border will remain open. We continue to work in partnership with Egypt and Israel towards safe passage for U.S. citizens, LPRs, and their immediate family members.

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Go tripping with Overseas Adventure Travel

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Overseas Adventure Travel   Reviews

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First and last trip with OAT

First and last trip with OAT. Absolutely terrible. Guide was horrible. Didn’t help or guide us- Hank was his name. He would drive us for hours in a bus and drop us off at museum and give us a brochure to read to learn about Japanese history and culture. I have so many horror stories. Do NOT travel with this company

Date of experience : March 11, 2024

Excessive Service Fee!

Poor experience when cancelling an additional night at hotel 34 days before our stay. OAT gave us a sevice fee of $300. I think this is excessive. Paul Kaese - Eau Claire, Wisconsin

Date of experience : February 22, 2024

I took an OAT trip to New Zealand with…

I took an OAT trip to New Zealand with Australia add one for $3000.00. Half of this trip was supposed to be a trip from Sydney to Cairns. However this portion of the trip, which was half of what i paid for, was cancelled due to typhoon. i contacted oat about this trip interuption and was informed by customer service representative that i would be refunded half of trip. this never happened. after many calls and literally hours on hold with oat "Customer service" i was informed that the representative had no authority to authorize this refun d and to file a claim with my insurance company. my insurance company is about to deny my claim because oat has steadfastly refused to provide necessary paperwork, Oat promotes itself as catering to seniors and single travelers. i am both of these categories and they have stonewalled, baited and switched and outright lied to me. having to deal with their cusomer service is a nightmare.

Date of experience : March 12, 2024

Bad customer service when it comes to processing refunds

We cancelled a trip we had booked with OAT on 11/30/2023. It is now 1/9/2024 and we are still waiting for them to credit back our deposit to our credit card. Their stock answer when we call is that it takes 45 days to process a refund. As anyone with any intelligence know, that is not true. Every other travel company we have ever booked with processes credits/refunds in 2 weeks or less. Please be aware that this is the attitude of this company toward customer service prior to booking trips with them.

Date of experience : November 30, 2023

Be Very Careful, Very Careful when you work with these people

When I began to research OAT, I said to my husband, there are really bi-modal reviews – people either had a great time or it was a “horror show”. Initially, I was reluctant to sign up for a trip given the negative reviews, but then a friend who has been on a number of trips with OAT encouraged me to sign up. So, I signed up on Feb 2 for a trip to Costa Rica in September. However, the trip didn’t get set up and I couldn’t see what I had reserved, etc. so I decided to cancel on Feb. 4. Our deposit was $1598 – most of which was for travel insurance. When I spoke with the representative, Barbara, she told me that the bulk of the deposit would be returned within days as it was for an outside agency and the balance would be paid 45 days later. No credit appeared on my account and when I called about a week later, the fellow helping me left me on the phone for a while and then returned to tell me that the entire amount would be refunded in 45 days – that my information was wrong. The clock is still ticking and I have my calendar flagged to check on the refund – HOWEVER I feel compelled to write this for the record. It is ridiculous that I should have to pay this charge on my credit card while OAT gets to use my money. There is NO reason not to refund the deposit in a timely fashion and I recommend that they PROMINENTLY display this questionable policy of their materials. I'll be back if I don't see that refund hit my credit card on March 20.

Date of experience : February 04, 2024

Very poor customer service

After planning 10 trips w this company, I can NO longer recommended this company. In Feb, we booked a trip to Africa, paying an addtnl $3890 for business class upgrade, AS WE ALWAYS DID WITH INTERNATIONAL FLTS. When OAT went to finally purchase the air fare in Aug, (after keeping my money for 6 mos) they erred in purchasing coach seats and sent me a refund for $3890 without any explanation. I NOTICED we were in coach, called them and was told we would now have to pay $12k to sit in business class. Therefore this trip is now costing me an addtnl $8k that we never expected to pay!! If I had known this in Feb, we may not have taken this trip. NO ONE AT OAT HAS APOLOGIZED OR ADMITTED TO THIS ERROR. I too have been getting continued poor customer service as of late, since the pandemic.

Date of experience : November 10, 2023

Don't book with OAT if there is the slightest chance you or they will cancel

I have had the WORST experience in decades of travel with OAT. I booked a trip for 2024 and had to cancel. I'm due a refund of the amount paid over the deposit/insurance. It has been two full months since cancelling and no refund has been made. I have called OAT customer service twice - one month after cancellation then today, two months after. Both times, they CS reps gave the same story with a slight twist: first call after one month - my refund should've been processed within 30 calendar days, but it was "in process" and would be paid in the next 15 calendar days at most. Today, after two months, my refund should've been processed within 45 calendar days, but it was "in process" and would be paid "whenever finance got around to it." I am going to have to contact my bank for a fraud claim because, at this point, I don't believe that OAT will refund my money and "whenever" is not an acceptable timeframe. They seem to be unable to process refunds, which does not speak well of their financial health. I am an independent traveler and read high recommendations for OAT - not my experience at all.

Date of experience : January 02, 2024

We have traveled 11 times--NEVER again!

We have traveled 11 times, spending more than $110,000 with this company---NEVER again! Booked our last trip with them to Egypt. On our return home our tickets on American Airlines on our final leg were cancelled by British Air. The flight was not cancelled--only our tickets. If we wanted to get home we had to pay $650 for tickets on the same flight that OAT had already booked us on. we were at the gate ready to board and told tickets cancelled. We paid, now OAT says it's not their responsibility even though they made all flight reservations and were paid for all reservations. Beware--OAT will take your money but give no help when they owe you $$$

Date of experience : November 18, 2022

OAT deserves a consumer class action

Anyone know a good consumer class action attorney? That's what this company deserves. I was mostly satisfied with Road Scholar, but was seduced by an OAT trip's pre- and post-options, as well as the 'no single supplement,' so signed up. I told the Travel Dep't I wanted to travel Business Class, and they made the reservation I had researched and requested. Now that it's time to pay, I noticed that they also charged me $1200 for economy round-trip airfare. Even though their website says "Free round-trip economy airfare!!!" I have never seen anything so outrageous. The customer service guy I ended up practically screaming at kept repeating lines from the handbook trying to appease me, but couldn't/wouldn't address my complaint about paying for airfare that a) supposed to be free and b) I'm not using. The R/T business fare I found on Google was just a few dollars more than what they're charging me for the Business Class 'upgrade'. Please, someone sue these people on behalf of all of us!

Date of experience : August 14, 2023

I canceled my trip for October on April…

I canceled my trip for October on April 26th. I was informed in writing since I had the Allianz trip insurance that I would receive a refund by May 11th. When I did not receive it I wrote to inquire. I was told the policy had changed to 30 days - May 26th. I replied that I was not notified of any policy change and expected them to honor thw agreement they put in writing. The next response said I would not receive my refund to June 8th. I called and spoke to a rep then escalated to a manager and was told there was nothing they could do their finance department is overwhelmed. That might be a BIG clue for those thinking of booking with them!

Date of experience : May 14, 2023

THIEVES! Buyer Beware! My mother had legitimate reasons for cancelling and even purchased Cancel for any Reason insurance. Allianz insurance assured her she’d be reimbursed in full and then OAT deducted $2,000 from her reimbursement. This company lacks honesty and integrity and we will spread the word far and wide to save others from such deception and shameful business practices!

Date of experience : April 01, 2023

Excellent tour company

I've taken 2 tours with OAT. They do a great job of handling all the arrangements, and I've had an excellent experience talking with their customer service representatives. Their tour leaders and guides have been consistently knowledgeable. And I love that there is no single supplement.

Date of experience : August 05, 2022

Refund delayed.

I booked a trip but needed to cancel just in time to get my down payment of $350.00 back. I was told it would take 45 days. Now it is 55 days and no refund. I called OAT several times but was given excuses for the delay.

I really don't know how to improve…

I really don't know how to improve terrible! The customer service is beyond repair and will never ever use them again. We booked our reservations with the promise that a discount would be applied and never happened. We signed up based on getting the discount! Bait and switch tactics. After weeks of the same run around and promised calls back from inept supervisors, we finally got one that was just as useless as the first tier advisors. It was like talking to children who were never educated. Customers don't mean anything to these people or company. We have not even left for our trip and now really worried that they will not perform as promised during our trip. They have our money and can you imagine the fiasco trying to cancel and get it back? Not worth the effort and if you are thinking of using this company, our word of warning, . . DON'T! If you do . . . GOOD LUCK! We just hope that this nightmare will not carry forward during our trip . . . please pray for us!

Date of experience : November 10, 2022

Disappointing!

Disappointing! This is my third trip with OAT and I have to say that I have been happy with the actual trips - well organized, knowledgeable guides, good hotels and food - that's why I gave it one star! I understand it's been a difficult year but customer service and policies have been hard for me to manage - HOURS and HOURS waiting on the phone, mistakes in invoicing which were difficult to correct, not honoring the flight upgrade price when we were closer to the departure date, cancelling the post trip without contacting us to rebook the flight home (I had to contact them) , charging a $600 fee EACH to rebook my travel partner and I on the same flight home (they called it a "custom" flight fee) - so many issues that I had to deal with makes this company not worth the time and effort. I will not travel with them again!

Date of experience : June 16, 2022

Neither legal nor ethical

To be courteous and professional, I am letting you know in writing that this information is also going to the Attorney General’s office in Boston, the BBB, Yelp, Google, Tripadvisor, ConsumerAffairs, and Trustpilot. It has been a tremendous waste of our time trying to get our money back after cancelling our trip. Starting on 29 Nov 2022, we were told multiple times, both by phone and by email, that our request has been given to the finance department for review. We have never heard back nor have we received our refund. This is ridiculous. Both my wife and I are retired and have traveled extensively with many other companies but never has any company given us such a runaround/delay. From numerous calls and emails and hours on hold, this is without a doubt the worst customer service we have EVER experienced. No one should ever be treated this way…especially a loyal returning customer. One can only theorize OAT is planning to go out of business. We were told that we have until the end of 2023 to use the credits from our cancelled trip. But due to your policy of requiring a COVID vaccination, which you did not have in place when we initially booked our trip with you, we will not have time to use the credits. Holding our money, from the initial booking on 29 Mar 2021, while making it impossible to use the credits is neither legal nor ethical. Also, if we were to book and trip after being treated like this everyone on the trip would hear firsthand how we have been treated. No…that’s a promise. After this complaint is filed, there will be no more, “contact us at…so we can assist you”. Enough is enough. Just do what is right or we will keep this up. Customer # 2822077

Date of experience : November 29, 2022

I have been on hold for hours and hours…

I have been on hold for hours and hours over several days and have not got through - I dont know how I ever got through in the first place to make a booking. This is ridiculous

Date of experience : January 28, 2023

Hiddens Gems? OAT projection

i booked a trip w/OAT. my first return to international travel since covid. i liked that the trip was on a small ship with a cap of 25 fellow travelers . better yet the ship would transit through the corinth canal (part of my bucket list for years). two days ago OAT advised me via letter that he itinerary had changed a bit. i was informed that the corinth canal is closed and that instead of making the transit to delphi by ship , it would be done instead by a 7 hour bus ride over mountainous terrain. other modifications were also revealed. I called OAT to cancel. i was informed that siince i was cancelling 35 days out, i would be subject to a 65% cancellation "fee" (read penalty) and that i could recoup the balance from the "any reason" trip insurance i had purchased from their travel partner allianz (more on this below). by this time , i had researched the status of the corinth canal and had discovered that the corinth canal has been closed since january 2021and that the authorities have indicated a re-opening of the canal in summer 2023. NEVER at any time or in any correspondence did an OAT representative offer any information regarding the canal. in discussing my desire to cancel the OAT,agent asked if i would like to move my departure date to MAY 2023. you have got to be ... that "any reason" trip insurance ? well it turns out that you do have to have a reason and the exclusion list of coverage is longer than the inclusions . cancelling because OAT made a consequential change to the itinerary does not qualify.so if you dont have a qualifying reason , allianz will issue a travel voucher w/OAT for a future trip w/OAT for the balance of what i had originally paid minus the 35 % reimbursement from OAT. had i not cancelled when i did , allianz would be offering me a 100% travel voucher. after my experience w/OAT the last thing i want is a travel voucher from them. it is my sincere belief that OAT has ,from the very first contact ( and continues today) acted in bad faith. proof? go look up this trip on their website . they are still marketing the corinth canal today with nary an asterix regarding the canals closure. pure and simple deceit; delays in notifications that then create higher penalties; lack of transparency; disregard for ethical treatment of customers are all attributes that this company embraces. if you are considering travel with them I STRONGLY ADVISE YOU TO RUN FOR THE DOOR P.S.- i wish i could have gone with zero stars

Date of experience : February 17, 2023

Actually, we haven't left for our trip yet. We are scheduled to leave in mid October and decided to arrive early and spend the nights of 10/13- 15 at the hotel in Lisbon where the tour will start. My mistake was booking and paying for this early arrival before the tour starts thru OAT. The friend I am traveling with wants to take me on a special trip to Porto for the nights of 10/14 (my birthday) and 10/15. So I called OAT to cancel the early pre tour starting nights of 10/14 and 10/15. No can do. If I had booked directly with the hotel I could have. So so greedy, OAT. Now for one night (1 night) it will cost me nearly $1,000.00, the full price of all 3 nights.. For one night. Checking in at 3pm on 10/13 and leaving the hotel at 10:00 am the next morning. Cost for 1 night/ 19 hours will be close to $1,000.00. So be aware, friends, that changes, even a month in advance, to early arrival pre-tour on your own will cost you the full price with no refunds if you book thru OAT. Book on your own with the hotel. This is the hotel they booked me in for that I now have to pay nearly $1,000.00 for one night. Check out the prices if you book on your own. Turim Marques Hotel in Lisbon, Portugal. Rates at this hotel if you book on your own is between $100- $200 a night. I have learned my lesson. These companies may have been good pre pandemic. Now they are just trying to make up for lost profits by these sorts of business practices. I have traveled extensively on my own (48 countries) but thought that traveling with a small group would be easier now. After this trip, however, I am back to traveling on my own. I would never have to spend nearly $1,000.00 for one night/19 hours on a hotel if I was traveling on my own.

Date of experience : September 21, 2023

4 Phone Calls, 8 hours 23 Minutes On Hold

Customer service, has OAT even heard of this concept? The cover letter that came with my final documents has NO CONTACT information for OAT just in case a customer needs to reach out. No email. No phone number. This SCREAMS: “We have your money, and we don’t care to service your needs.” I had to resort to the numbers available on the website. Here’s my call log: • June 7, 2022: called 800-221-0814 at 1:05 pm, on hold for 3 hours 16 minutes. An automated message told me I had reached the maximum hold time, was being disconnected, and someone would call me within 72 hours (NO ONE EVER CALLED ME BACK!). • June 8, 2022: called 800-221-0814 at 9:03 am, on hold for 2 hours 14 minutes. Could no longer stay on hold, as I had to attend a meeting. • June 10, 2022: called 800-955-1925 at 9:01 am, on hold for 2 hours 8 minutes. Could no longer stay on hold, as I had to attend a meeting. • June 11, 2022: called 800-221-0814 at 9:01 am, on hold for 1 hour 5 minutes. Despite having followed the prompts for needing to speak with someone about the airline reservation portion and departing within the next 4 months, still got transferred from one agent to another and put on hold yet again. I also tried sending an email. The automated response was that someone would respond within 15 business days. Really, 3 weeks to respond to an email? Would Alan & Harriett Lewis, the owners of OAT, have persevered if they were customers? Called 4 times and stayed on hold for a total of 8 hours 43 minutes? ONLY TO BE TOLD THAT BECAUSE IT WAS NOW SO CLOSE TO THE DEPARTURE DATE, CHANGES WOULD NOW BE AN ADDITIONAL $$$. All of my time and effort were futile. Back on August 14, 2017 OAT posted an apology for poor service and long hold times on their website titled "We Owe You an Apology - Addressing our service issues." Yet, once again, OAT has the exact same problem. Why didn’t OAT learn the value of that lesson the first time? Shameful for a service business to not prioritize its customers. And this didn’t just happen, it’s been going on for months (just look at the reviews posted on TripAdvisor). OAT is in serious need of a customer service make-over, starting with the website as well as competent staffing. There is no chat feature on their website, nor the ability to send an intranet email. Customers traveling within the next 30 days are not provided higher priority than someone traveling 4 months from now. It is obvious their needs are more immediate. This isn’t rocket science. For heaven’s sake, OAT needs to step in to and up to today’s technology expectations for a multimillion-dollar travel company. Believe me, an apology will not repay me for my effort, frustration, disappointment, and time spent apparently uselessly trying to reach OAT. Results count, excuses do not. I am stuck traveling with a company that does not have the capability of helping its customers.

Date of experience : July 02, 2022

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• Logistical questi...

Logistical questions about Egypt tours and O.A.T.

I am planning an Egypt tour in early 2025 and have started planning and reviewing the many posts here, plus researching online. However, I have a couple of questions about a few things.

First, one of the tours I'm looking into is Overseas Adventure Travel (OAT). When I priced one tour (with a Jordan pre-trip extension), it gave an optional price for travel insurance (through Allianz), which includes the ability to cancel up to the day of departure, plus baggage coverage, medical benefits, assistance and emergency evacuation, and more. I think the price is a little over $1000. Has anyone purchased something like this as opposed to a regular travel insurance policy?

Second, the price includes the flight from JFK to the destination ($1100 cost, although I can change the departing flight to MSP for $400 more). Do you all typically take advantage of using their flights? It's my understanding that if you book your own flight, then you would be responsible for transfers to and from the hotel, although evidently starting next year, you can purchase the transfers separately. Just curious what most of you do.

And lastly, any thoughts on OAT? I'm still not finished looking at tour companies but I like that there is no single supplement and that they have a 5-day Jordan extension I can tack on. They also have the ability to add extra nights before or after your trip for pretty reasonable costs, which includes hotel, meals and airport transfers.

Thanks for your help!

Lots of friends have traveled with OAT but then tired of traveling with them. I think there were a lot of extra charges for various options that they offered. We went to Egypt and Jordan with Odysseys Unlimited, perfect tour, hotels, guides.

I did the OAT Egyptian trip with the dahabiya (yacht) Nile cruise in 2021, postponed due to pandemic from originally scheduled 2020. They have another similar one, on a bigger cruise ship. I thought they were great. The guide was incredibly knowledgeable, helpful and hard working. The in-country arrangements all went smoothly. The attractions, hotels and cruise were the best quality available in Egypt in my opinion. I did buy the travel insurance but didn't need to use it. I suppose one can buy it cheaper independently, but the convenience was worth it for me (and I don't recommend a pricey tour without getting travel insurance). Added one additional night in Cairo before start of trip, at very reasonable cost. Used their flight arrangements (they booked it on Lufthansa from Washington via Frankfurt). I thought the value for money on this tour was very good. I had a similar good experience on their SE Asia trip in 2022. That one, I was able to use frequent flier miles for a business class ticket so I didn't purchase their air component. What they charged for roundtrip air in economy Washington to Bangkok was $1500, which I thought was a fair price, but that was my savings by booking my own air instead. They give you the overall price quote up front, but if you ask them, they will tell you how much of it is the airfare. I bought airport transfers for $25 each way -- I thought that also was a fair price for having them meet me at the airport and take me to hotel late at night, and reverse on departure. As noted, if you buy their air the airport transfer is included. Another thing, on one of the tours they handled the situation of a participant who got COVID with the utmost professionalism, compassion and relevant information-sharing with the group.

I have a couple of friends who used OAT tours and were very happy with them. I contacted them a few months ago because I was wondering about taking an OAT tour to the Puglia region of Italy, and they still were recommending OAT. (I’ve since decided to do it independently and stay much longer.). I think they have smaller group sizes than the RS tours which could be nice.

Hi there, My husband and I (and 10 other friends) took the OAT trip to Egypt with the pre trip to Jordan March, 2023 and it was amazing, wonderful, and wowed us at every turn. They're all inclusive with just one or two meals out of pocket due to the travel schedule. The guide --- as are all OAT guides --- knowledgeable, flexible, fun and looked after us in every way imaginable. All of us felt it was one of the best trips we'd ever taken (this was a very savy travel group) and we felt like we had gotten a PhD in middle east studies and culture. The five days spent on the Nile was so wonderful and welcomed. All of the hotels were beautiful, comfortable and historic. The food (I'm a vegetarian) was amazing and they went out of the way to accommodate varying dietary requirements. We had OAT book our flights and that worked well. Before having them book our flights we do our own research so we know what are our flight path preferences. We arrived in Jordan three nights early and stayed at the OAT hotel which they booked for us. This allowed us to rest, acclimate and do our own private tour to Wadi Run as the OAT tour did not include this. We love traveling with OAT for the small groups, amazing itineraries and guides, reasonable cost and we generally enjoy the people who are attracted to travel with them.Please feel free to message me privately if you'd like further info.

One of the commenters mentioned hearing from friends about "a lot of extra charges." I did not find that to be the case at all, on my two OAT trips. As with any tour, not everything is included, but most things are, and they are upfront about what isn't: Meals: The number of meals included as part of the tour varies according to destination. You can find out all this info from the website about the tour that interests you. Anytime you are on a ship (such as the 5 day Nile cruise) all meals are included (and they were excellent). On land, virtually all meals were included in the Egypt tour, while perhaps 2/3 of lunches and dinners were included on the SE Asia one (breakfast was always included at the hotel, and was always good, sometimes downright lavish). All included meals were good, typically the local cuisine at a clean, attractive restaurant (often one with a lot of character), with plenty of food served. Occasionally Western fare. All included meals provided complimentary bottled water, but alcoholic beverages, soft drinks and juices were usually at your own expense, if you wanted them. When meals weren't included, it was always at times and places where there was a good variety of nearby restaurants at various price points. Tips: You are expected to tip the tour leader. OAT recommends $10-15 per day, per person, given at the end of the tour. The guides were wonderful and worked incredibly hard, and I was quite happy to tip above this recommended range. In Egypt, there was also a tour box for the yacht staff, which I was equally glad to do as they were awesome. Other tips arising out of any of the included services, you are not expected to pay as the tour leader handles that (bus drivers, waiters, local tour guides, hotel porters). Shopping: This can be a real hassle in some places, such as many locally arranged tours in Egypt where part of the guide's income depends on steering you to particular shops where he gets a kickback on anything you buy (and which the merchant figures into the price he charges you). This was not a problem with OAT on either trip. The tour bus never wasted our time by stopping at any alabaster workshops, "papyrus museums", perfume factories, or anything like that (of course, we went plenty of places where there were things to buy, but not places that appeared to be solely aimed at getting us to shop). The guide was available to give good advice to those on the tour who did want to shop, but there was no pressure whatsoever on anyone to do any shopping or to purchase anything. Excursions with surcharge: Virtually everything the group does and sees is included in the price (of course, if you want to do other things on your free time, those are at your expense, but most of each day does comprise included activities). There are a couple of additional ones offered if you want, but few. On the Egypt trip they offered a balloon flight in Luxor, and in SE Asia, one trip to an outlying temple near Angkor Wat in addition to the main ones included in the tour, and an evening food tour by motor scooter (local drove the scooter, tourist on the back) in Saigon. I did these, except for the food tour, and thought the surcharges were reasonable. Also I liked the group "vibe" on both trips. Good people. I'm travelling with OAT again soon, to the Balkans, and looking forward to it.

Oh my gosh, I posted this, then ran to the gym and when I got back found all these helpful responses!

@Suki: I have OU on my list of potential tour companies, but it does seem that OAT caters more to singles, which would be great for me.

@Slate: Thank you so much for all this information - this helps enormously! I am getting so excited about this trip. And that is really good to know about the travel protection plan and the airfare. Convenience is definitely worth something! That is also good to know about the meals and the shopping and the excursions. I looked at Tauck's all-inclusive tours but I don't drink much alcohol and would prefer not to have access to free alcohol - it's just too tempting, lol! And I appreciate your thoughts on the group's vibe - that does matter so that's good to know!

@Jean: Thanks for letting me know what you friends think! I think you're right about the size - the tour I am interested in says that the size is between 8-16 people.

@mark_arleneleewong: Thank you so much for your wonderful mini trip report! OAT really does sound wonderful and the more I hear, the more I'm inclined to go with this company. I will definitely PM you if you don't mind - that would be great. Thanks so much!

I have traveled with OAT twice and have a third trip scheduled, so yes I do like them. The one thing I would caution you about is their travel insurance. When then they canceled one of my trips (due to COVID) they canceled the travel insurance so I was not able to collect for any of my costs outside of OAT.

Oh Bob...that is good to know!

I just saw a friend who had done OAT to Egypt, and she loved it.

Regarding travel insurance: their package may not be such a good deal. You can compare on insuremytrip.com. The important features are trip cancellation and medical evacuation. Baggage insurance isn’t important. Costs depend on your age. Your own health insurance may already cover any medical problems. We are two superannuated travelers (79 and 81 on our last, precovid trip). I don’t remember ever paying as much as $1000 for insurance, even for the two of us..

Thanks, Bob and Roselyn. I will definitely keep that in mind.

We also did OAT to Egypt and really enjoyed it. We didn’t do the Jordan extension due to lack of vacation time. We’ve done several OAT tours and we’re not happy with their flight arrangements. Because our last name starts with W, we were in the last row of seats. This was back in 2007 so maybe you can have more say in the type of seat you want? Most of us got sick within a day of arrival. Probably got the crud from the plane? I didn’t become ill for over a week so I think I got it from one of the tour mates. One couple escaped the illness. The guide gave us meds that cleared us right up.

I always compare several travel companies before booking a tour, cruise (river or ocean). Competition, I love it.

I have never used OAT, but based on reviews and talking with people that have done tours with them, I have a positive opinion ot them.

Also, when I compare their price against other companies, I always find them to have competitive prices.

HOWEVER, they have never had the lowest price of a firm that I rated high enough to book with.

We did Egypt in January with Gate 1 and it was by far the lowest price for similar tours comparing with Viking, OAT and others. In fact Viking was almost DOUBLE what I paid with Gate 1 Travel.

The Crown of Egypt Tour was 14 day tour that included airfare from JFK and all the optional tours. Cost was about $3500 pp and the tour was fantastic. We stayed in five star hotels and had two great three day cruises. Our guide was a university educated woman that was very knowledgeable of Egyptian history.

@Diane, thanks! Definitely something to question when I get more information. I'm picky about airline seats so I would want some guarantee that the seat would be decent.

@geovagriffith: Thanks for your thoughts. I did look at Gate 1 but the price would be higher than what you paid. First, the price for that particular tour in 2024 starts at around $4500 and there is a single supplement of $1000 (and that does not include the optional tours). It also does not include Jordan and I did not see any extensions offered. There is an Egypt and Jordan tour but that one starts at $6100 plus a $1050 single supplement. With travel insurance and fees for optional tours, it looks like it comes close to what I will be paying for the OAT tour (which includes a Jordan extension).

I will admit, too, that one of the appealing factors for me with OAT is that it seems to cater to solo passengers. Plus I like the fact that this particular cruise has the dahabeya boats, rather that the large cruise ship. And lastly, this particular tour is one of the small group tours, so it ranges from 8-16 people tops. That is worth it for me.

I do have another question - just wondered what everyone thinks are the best months to travel to Egypt? Right now I'm looking at February or March of 2025. Thanks!

Definitely the Winter. It will be warm in the daytime in the Winter. Still, take a sweater or jacket for cool evening.

Thanks - looks like my month picks will work!

In March we encountered Khamsin winds (dust storms) twice. The first time, in Cairo, was short-lived, just an hour or two. The second time, in Luxor, it was more serious. I found it kind of interesting, but it did impact our itinerary. Fortunately, we had scheduled a free day in Luxor, and so we were able to work around it. (The nice part was that we had Karnak Temple all to ourselves. :-) )

You can see pictures of the dust storm in Luxor here: https://mariematthews.smugmug.com/Egypt/Luxor/ https://mariematthews.smugmug.com/Egypt/Luxor-Tombs-and-Temples/

There were some singles on our OU trip to Egypt and Jordan. They were part of everything we did, wonderful travelers.

The Khamsin winds come in March and are dust storms that frequently include rain. Otherwise it doesn't rain much in Egypt.

Marie, thanks for letting me know about the Khamsin winds, and special thanks for the links to your photos! Those are absolutely beautiful! What tour were you on?

Suki, thanks! Good to know!

George, thanks for the weather info - maybe I should shoot for February, although it would be fun to see a dust storm. I was in Okinawa during a typhoon once, and while it was scary, it was also really cool and interesting. :)

I did the OAT Egypt trip in mid-September. It was pretty darn hot! Daily highs at least in the high 90s and up into the 100s some days, sunny all day every day. I can hear the guide's voice in my head still, reminding us when leaving the bus each time: Do you have your hat? Your bottled water? Your sunscreen? With those, pacing oneself, air conditioning most indoor places we were and the bus, and hotel pools at the end of the day, it was fine. And as September is not quite full summer (I don't think they even run this tour in July and August) but not yet high tourist season, plus this was soon after things reopened post-pandemic (in fact one of OAT's first Egypt tours after the COVID suspension), we had the benefit of pretty low numbers of other tourists. I hear Egypt can be quite crowded at the major sites during the prime season of Dec-Feb. I would have liked to have done a Jordan pre-extension -- still need to get to that country -- but it wasn't offered in 2021. The pre-extension was Israel, where I'd been before, and the post-extension Alexandria (which would have been nice, but I figured I would have had sufficient Egypt, good as the tour was, after 17 days, which was so, and needed to get home for work as well).

My husband and I (69 and 70) have done 4 OAT trips and have been extremely happy with the quality. We are getting ready to travel with OAT to Africa and have booked Turkey for next spring and Egypt in November 2024. There are always 5or 6 solo travelers on each trip because they offer a great deal (solo spots book fast). There have been an average of 14 travelers on each trip and we have enjoyed all the groups. The trip leaders are amazing. Hotels are well located and food is good. I research flights so I know what i want and they have booked my prefered flights. I always request and get good seats. You can call them to change your flight up to 90 days before departure and ask about seats, upgrades or whatever. I call them all the time about flight changes and the customer service is good. The airport pickup has been reliable. I do not use their insurance. It is a "cancel for any reason" policy which is why it is so expensive. I buy a poiicy with the same company for half the price. We are excited for Egypt, we booked the trip with 5 day yacht trip and the Jordan pre-trip. Best weather is October to Apri. The OAT trip to Vietnam was my favorite, it was amazing.

@Mardee - we did a private tour with Djed Egypt.

One other thing about timing: you might want to check the dates for Ramadan in 2025. You can certainly travel during Ramadan, but things might be a little different, especially with regard to food. It's just another thing to consider. I was in Turkey and Jordan during Ramadan this year, and there were very few customers in restaurants during the day, and our guides/drivers in Jordan couldn't join us for meals until after sundown.

slate, good to know. I definitely won't be going in September then! I live in Duluth and am used to cooler temps. But you make a good point about the crowds in prime season. Definitely something to think about. Thank you!

Lyn, thank you for this excellent information; especially about the flights and insurance! And I have Vietnam on my list - I have always wanted to go there, so will definitely check into that. It sounds wonderful!

Marie, I didn't even think about Ramadan so thanks for the reminder. It looks like it begins on March 1st in 2025, so March might be a good month to avoid. And I've heard good things about Djed, too.

Friend has done multiple OAT trips including Nile yacht trip and loved them. I did first land tour (not Egypt) with them recently including buying their insurance and air, including business upgrade. They try to minimize connections, which I found true. Most of my tour mates had their international flight cancelled by airline and OAT proactively got all of them rebooked as best as possible! I upgraded about 9 months before trip (original date postponed by you know what, and I absolutely wanted to lock in business class for transpacific flight) and thought price at time reasonable. It turned out to be a great deal, as prices rocketed closer to date. Overall I was very pleased with their air (and impressed with their responsiveness when airline issues occurred).

SQ, very good to know - thanks so much! With this and the other responses above, I think I will go with their flights. In the long run, convenience counts (and price, too, as you mentioned the fare increase). Plus that is an area I am not familiar with and it will be nice not to have to worry about getting there. :)

I'm a little late chiming in, but we have done 2 OAT/GCT (Grand Circle Travel) small ship cruises and thought they were great. No complaints about the tours themselves - good itineraries, excellent guides, nice balance of free and scheduled time. The "day in the life" and "controversial topic" offerings can be a little hokey/artificial, imo, and are my least favorite thing. Good reputation for solo female travelers - lots of women traveling solo or in groups.

We have had OAT schedule our flights, their pricing and schedules are competitive, and sometimes a great deal (we got a steal on Comfort-Plus through them once). You might want to check on the transfer - I think if you are booking their hotel early via OAT, even if you don't have them book your flight, you can still get their transfer service. You will have to weigh whether the transfer service is worth booking extra nights via OAT - you might find better hotel pricing on Expedia, etc.

I would not recommend using their insurance, you can get better deals elsewhere - and they have a poor reputation for processing any payments. My understanding is that Allianz pays OAT, which then pays you - and OAT has a 45-day "policy" for payments to customers, whether it's a refund or insurance payment. And it often takes even longer than that.

All that said, once you are booked, their customer service can be abysmal especially if you require changes or a refund. We had huge issues with a trip that was cancelled during the pandemic. Even allowing for all the confusion that all travel companies were having, OAT/GCT was utterly awful. They changed their refund policy after we had already requested a refund! We ended up filing a BBB complaint and disputed the credit card charge before we finally got our refund.

This hasn't completely turned us off OAT, but we do proceed with caution, knowing if we need to cancel, we need to read the fine print three times and be aware that getting a refund will require LOTS of our time administratively and we may be out the money for 6 months. Reviews of their trips are consistent - great tours and experiences, terrible home office customer service after you book. We ended up taking that cancelled tour last year and it was excellent. And we are about to schedule another tour for later this year (they have some great deals going).

"All that said, once you are booked, their customer service can be abysmal especially if you require changes or a refund. We had huge issues with a trip that was cancelled during the pandemic. Even allowing for all the confusion that all travel companies were having, OAT/GCT was utterly awful. They changed their refund policy after we had already requested a refund! We ended up filing a BBB complaint and disputed the credit card charge before we finally got our refund."

I had the exact same experience. In addition to filing a complaint with the BBB I also filed one with the Massachusetts State Attorney General as it is illegal in Massachusetts (where OAT is based) not to offer a refund. I also did finally get my refund.

@Bob - but their tours are so good. Consistently good reviews. I really don't get it....

That is why I just finished one tour and have another booked. Their tours are very good but you just have to be aware of their lousy refund policy.

Rebecca (and Bob), thanks for the input. This is my very first tour so I'm really really hoping I don't need to cancel or deal with anything that would cause problems (famous last words, I know!). :)

I am having them take care of the flight arrangements. I decided that I just did not want to deal with it, so hopefully it will work out.

I was told that even if I did booked my own flight, I could still get their transfer service but would have to pay a fee. I don't know the cost but it's a moot issue, since they are taking care of the flights.

But very good to hear that the tours are so good! I'm glad to hear it!

$1100 cost, although I can change the departing flight to MSP for $400 more

How will you do this? Are you going to link a Delta flight with Egyptair on a single ticket, or have 2 tickets and spend the night in Queens?

"$1100 cost, although I can change the departing flight to MSP for $400 more

How will you do this? Are you going to link a Delta flight with Egyptair on a single ticket, or have 2 tickets and spend the night in Queens?"

What this means is that you can buy your airfare to Egypt from OAT departing from pretty much anywhere in the US you want. For this trip, they charge the least if you leave from NY, and understandably, a few hundred more from MSP. If you choose MSP, the routing they choose may or may not go via New York. Just as likely it would be a flight from MSP connecting through a European city. It would almost certainly not involve an overnight in Queens.

slate, thanks - yes, that's right, Tom. If I flew out of JFK, the cost would be $1100. But because I would rather fly out of MSP, the cost increases to $1500 RT. I'm happy they offer that option. It would be a headache (and cost even more) to have to fly to NYC and possibly spend the the night there just to fly out of JFK.

Mardee: When I looked at this a couple years ago the flights from MSP to CAI were terrible across the board. Even checking now the choice is either a 10 hour layover at CDG or 3 flights. It used to be that most of the 3 flight options (final leg Swiss, Lufthansa, or Austrian) arrived between 2-4 am but this has changed.

The best choice a few years ago (and still today) was via Toronto but Air Canada and Egyptair (both Star Alliance) won't codeshare (why?). Maybe a travel agent can force this onto one ticket. If you are going to Tel Aviv or Amman on this trip, it is easier to get to either from MSP than Cairo.

It would be a headache (and cost even more) to have to fly to NYC and possibly spend the the night there just to fly out of JFK.

This is exactly what poster Geovagriffith did or is going to do, this year, spent the night at JFK waiting for the Egyptair flight.

Whichever tour you take you will love Egypt and Jordan. We were there this past March, only had one sandstorm and one rain storm and that was during our night in the desert at Wadi Rum. Incredible day and evening. I tell my friends who decided not to come with us that we would go back again any time they are ready. We did include Israel on our 24 day trip. if we went again Egypt and Jordan are good enough alone. I would make Israel another trip.

Tom, I should mention that I will not be flying into Egypt but Amman. I've added a pre-trip extension that goes to Jordan, so that might possibly make a difference. Not sure.

Barbara, thanks so much for that. I've been trying to decide whether to add the Tel Aviv post-trip extension on and I really think it would be too much. So I appreciate what you are saying and definitely helps! I am getting very excited about this trip!

Amman is easy from MSP, AA to ORD then Royal Jordanian, 1 stop, reasonable layover. Royal Jordanian also flies from Detroit, but that doesn't mesh well with airline alliances.

Thanks, Tom - good to know!

Hello Mardee - currently United flies 3 times per week from IAD (Washington DC) to Amman. I think Mon, Thur, Sat.

Thanks, sloo! I'm not booking the flight so we'll see where I land (and layover). :) I don't leave till late January of 2025, so it's a ways off. :)

I run a small Egypt tour company that has been in business for over 25 years and I have never heard anything bad about OAT. Its hard to get general recommendations though because everyone is looking for something different in their tours. I believe OAT has more shopping and modern cultural activities than my company for example, so the people who travel with me would not be as happy with them, because we go for the ancient history only. Something to be aware of when looking at tours in Egypt is that some companies pay their guides very low wages but have them take kickbacks from the shops, or a commission, for all of the tourists' shopping, encouraging the guides to spend more time with the tour groups shopping than at the historical monuments. This is how the budget tours manage to run. Of course, if no one is shopping the guide almost gets no pay, which I find it a bit unethical of those companies - so beware. Some of the pricier companies might be a bit more generous in the treatment of their employees. I am not saying OAT does this or any other specific tour operator, it is just what I have been told by my guides. I think the best time to visit Egypt is November and late January through February. Ramadan in 2025 is March 1-30 so it looks like you will miss it entirely, thank goodness.

Thank you, nancy! I appreciate your thoughts!

If your post-trip offer is only Tel-Aviv I would definitely skip it. Too much hassle crossing into Israel and Tel-Aviv was our least favorite city. With what us going in now Israel is on the back burner for a few years I would guess.

We were in Egypt and Jordan with OAT during Ramadan during March, 2023 and it was a positive and joyful experience. It did not pose any inconvenience and instead added an additional cultural dimension to experience. Also, the weather in March was ideal and we did not encounter any wind or dust anywhere and we went from Cairo down to Abu Simbel in the south. Enjoy---it's an amazing experience.

Barbara, that's what I was thinking. Plus I think I'm going to be ready to go home at the end of the Egypt tour, and will probably not want to tack on anything else at that point. And of course, it's moot now with the political situation (sigh).

mark_arleneleewong, thanks for your thoughts. I'm actually going in late January/early February so Ramadan will not affect me, but good to know regardless. :-)

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