Upon your arrival in Amman, our staff will warmly welcome you and assist with your hotel transfer. After settling in, we'll provide you with a brief orientation of the local area, including nearby shops, cafés, and restaurants. You'll then have some free time to explore the city on your own and get a feel for its unique vibe before the official start of the tour tomorrow.
We will take you on a journey through time, beginning with a visit to the ancient ruined city of Jerash. Marvel at the stunning Roman architecture that was once hidden beneath the sand. You will explore some of the city's most impressive ruins, including the theatres, baths, fountains, winding paved streets, and striking hilltop temples.
After Jerash, we'll return to Amman for a city tour. Known as the "white city," Amman boasts a vast collection of white limestone buildings that are simply stunning to behold. Your knowledgeable guide will provide insight into the city's rich history, pointing out excavations and renovations from the Neolithic period, the Hellenistic period, and the late Roman to Arab Islamic Ages.
One of the highlights of the city tour is the Citadel, where you'll discover the ancient temple of Hercules, the 8th century Umayyad Palace, the Byzantine Church, and the 6,000-seat Roman theatre that dates back to the 2nd century. Despite its age, the theatre is still in use today for cultural events, providing an unforgettable experience of Amman's cultural heritage.
Embark on a scenic drive along the King's Highway to Petra today, taking in breathtaking views of Jordan's wadis, olive groves, and rural villages. Along the way, we'll make stops at historic landmarks, starting with Madaba, where we'll visit the Greek Orthodox Church of St. George. Admire the famous 6th-century Byzantine mosaic map of the Holy Land, along with other biblical sites.
Our journey continues to Mount Nebo, where you'll marvel at the stunning panoramic views of the Holy Land from its summit. As we make our way towards Petra, we'll cross the impressive Wadi al-Mujib and stop at the 12th-century Kerak Castle, a massive fortress built by the Crusader King Baldwin along the ancient Egypt-Syrian caravan route.
Finally, we'll arrive at Petra and help you check into your hotel for the night. You'll have some free time to explore the city on your own, but we highly recommend taking the Petra by Candlelight tour through the Siq to the Treasury, a magical experience not to be missed.
Today, we embark on a full-day adventure to discover the wonders of Petra, the renowned Nabatean site. Dating back to the 1st century AD, Petra was once the bustling capital of the Nabatean commercial empire. It was forgotten for centuries until rediscovered by Swiss explorer Johann Ludwig Burckhardt in 1812. Accessible only through a narrow passage called the Siq, Petra is perched on the edge of Wadi Aruba, surrounded by towering canyon walls and hills.
Our guided tour takes us through the winding Siq, rising 200m above and only 2m wide. We'll pass by the terracotta pipes that once brought water into the city and the ancient Nabatean water channel. As we emerge from the Siq, we'll be awestruck by the sight of the Khazneh, also known as the Treasury, one of Petra's most impressive landmarks. We'll also explore the Roman amphitheater, colonnaded streets, and the multi-colored sandstone cliffs leading to the Monastery, Petra's biggest carved monument, standing 50 meters high and 45 meters wide. The views of Wadi Aruba and the Jordan Valley from this point are simply breathtaking.
After an unforgettable day in Petra, we head to Wadi Rum, a stunning desert landscape of towering rocks and cliffs. Here, we'll be welcomed by friendly Bedouin hosts and settle into a comfortable campsite beneath the starry sky. We'll indulge in a delicious traditional Jordanian meal and spend the evening relaxing by the campfire, gazing at the stars, and enjoying the tranquility of this breathtaking desert setting.
Our day begins with an exciting jeep safari through Wadi Rum's magnificent desert landscape. With sharp cliffs and intriguing rock formations, this area's enormous rust-colored rocky 'jebels' were made famous by the film Lawrence of Arabia. We'll traverse the desert terrain and marvel at the stunning vistas that stretch out before us.
After our adventure in Wadi Rum, we'll travel up north to the banks of the Dead Sea. This body of water is the lowest point on earth, at over 400 meters below sea level. The sea receives a variety of incoming rivers, including the Jordan River, and when the rivers merge together, they leave behind a unique blend of salts and minerals that supply local industries with high-quality products.
We'll stop for a swim in the Dead Sea, which is unlike any other swimming experience. Due to its high salt concentration, you'll float effortlessly, making it a truly unique and memorable experience. Remember to avoid getting the water in your eyes, as it can be quite uncomfortable.
After enjoying the unique swimming experience in the Dead Sea, we'll make our way back to Amman, taking in the scenic views of the hills of Jerusalem along the way. This area is believed to have been the home of five biblical cities: Sodom, Gomorrah, Adman, Zebouin, and Zoar (Bela). If you'd like some additional time at the Dead Sea for spa treatments and/or relaxation, we also offer the option of spending your final night in Jordan here instead of returning to Amman.
Transfer to Amman airport for your flight to Cairo, where we'll meet you upon arrival. Our team will assist you in obtaining your visa and luggage before transferring you to your Cairo hotel for check-in. Take some free time to explore the city on your own or relax at the hotel. An optional Nile dinner cruise is available tonight for those interested in a unique dining experience.
Note: The cost of the Amman-Cairo flight is not included in the tour price. To provide flexibility, you may include this flight as part of your main international ticket, or we can assist you in booking it separately. Both Egypt Air and Royal Jordanian Airlines offer direct flights at any time during the day. All transfers in Amman and Cairo are included, and we are happy to arrange all of your international flights upon request.
Note: the Amman-Cairo flight is left out of the set tour price as it is often more cost effective for you to include this flight as part of your main international flight ticket. We are happy to book all your international flights, just this Amman-Cairo flight, or none of them at all, whichever works best for you. Direct flights are available with both Egypt Air and Royal Jordanian Airlines. You can fly at any time during the day - all transfers in Amman and Cairo are included.
Begin your Egyptian adventure by visiting the iconic Great Pyramids of Giza, located on the outskirts of Cairo. Built by the Pharaohs Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure around 2500 years BC, these pyramids are among the most recognizable ancient buildings in the world. Your Egyptologist guide will introduce you to the history of the Pharaohs and provide insights into why and how these pyramids were constructed. For the adventurous, there is even the option to climb inside one of the pyramids (subject to availability).
Next, visit the majestic Sphinx, which was fully uncovered only in the 1920s and sits nearby the pyramids.
Later, we'll visit the ancient capital of Memphis to see the statue of Ramses II and the Step-Pyramid in Saqqara.
This morning we transfer to Cairo airport of an early morning flight to Luxor. We begin our tour of the West bank of the Nile starting at the Colossi of Memnon we then get to explore the dusty Pharaonic tombs located at the world famous Valley of the Kings. We also visit the Temple of Queen Hatchepsut and see the colourful hieroglyphics at Medinat Habu temple before crossing back into Luxor. Your afternoon is free to relax on board your 5-star Nile cruise boat or to explore Luxor's markets. In the evening we take a walking tour of the beautiful Luxor Temple which is spectacularly lit up at night.
This morning you have the chance to take a spectacular sunrise hot air balloon flight over the West bank of the Nile. After breakfast, our tour of Luxor today is to the huge temple complex of Karnak which features towering columns and numerous temples and structures - rightly justifying Luxor's reputation as the largest open air museum in the world! In the afternoon the boat starts sailing up the Nile, through the lock at Esna and on to Edfu where we overnight.
After breakfast we visit the nearby Edfu Temple which is dedicated to the god Horus. We then continue upriver towards Kom Ombo, watching traditional rural Egyptian life pass us by on the banks of the Nile. You may want to enjoy a relaxing soak in the plunge pool on the boat's sun deck. At Kom Omombo we tour the temple which sits scenicly by the banks of the Nile and is home to mummified crocodiles amongst other things! The cruise then continues onwards to Aswan.
An option is available this morning to visit the temples built by Ramses II at the amazing UNESCO world heritage site of Abu Simbel. We depart very early with the aim of seeing the rising sun over the temples. If you don't visit Abu Simbel, then this morning is free.
Our tours in Aswan include a trip to the beautiful island temple complex of Philae which we visit by boat. The Philae temple remains one of Egypt’s most romantic and picturesque sites having been completely relocated following work on the Dam. We'll also see the impressive Aswan High Dam which was constructed to form Lake Nasser.
This morning we transfer to Aswan airport for a flight back to Cairo. We start our tour of Cairo with a visit to the Egyptian Museum, the world-renowned Museum of Egyptian Antiquities. Accompanied by your certified Egyptologist, you'll stroll through the halls highlighting each historical period of this ancient land. This afternoon is free to enjoy at your leisure, or to take an optional half day tour to discover Cairo's old churches and synagogues in Coptic Cairo, visit the Citadel overlooking the city, and explore the narrow streets of the Khan-el-Khalili bazaar. Finally, an optional dinner cruise on the Nile is available this evening.
Your time is free today until we transfer you to the airport for your departure flight. Extensions are available to add onto the end of the tour to spend some time by the Red Sea, add some day trips to Alexandria or visit the World Heritage Site of Wadi Rayan and the Valley of the Whales.
Hotel Gala Dinners
Many of Egypt and Jordan's hotels arrange a very special gala dinner with entertainment in the evening on Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve. Payment for these is often optional on Christmas Eve (24 Dec) but normally compulsory on New Year's Eve (31 Dec), whether you attend or not. Prices can range from around US$50 to over US$180 per person in 5-star hotels. Final decisions on prices and whether dinners are compulsory are made relatively close to the time. We aim to always select hotels that make their Gala Dinners optional, though this is not always possible, especially for New Year's Eve. Gala dinner prices are therefore not included in our prices above, but will be added to your booking if they become required. Please budget accordingly. More information is available on request.
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