.jpg "Ancient Encounters Tour")
Once you arrive at Queen Alia International Airport, one of our staff members will meet you and transport you to your hotel in Amman. They'll help you settle in, let you know the plan for tomorrow and then you have the rest of the day to rest or explore your new surroundings independently.
After breakfast, we officially start our Egypt and Jordan tour and make our way to Jordan's famous 'desert castles' of Qasr al-Kharrana, Qal' at al-Azraq and Quseir Amra. These imposing structures can be found on the old trade routes built during the Umayyad era and remnants of this period can still be seen today in the form of frescoes, bathhouses and wells.
We'll head back to Amman for lunch at a local restaurant, enjoying falafel and hummus, before we enjoy a walking tour of Jordan's capital city. We'll visit some of its top tourist attractions such as the Amphitheatre, the Folklore Museum as well as the Citadel. We'll also browse through its busy markets - giving you a chance to taste Knafeh - a tasty sweet treat - all the while being taught some basic Arabic terms to use throughout the rest of our tour through Jordan.
If there's time left, we may visit a few traditional handcraft and art galleries, before we return to our hotel in Amman.
We'll say goodbye to Amman for now, as we travel north to Jerash - the one of the best examples of a Roman provincial city in the whole of the Middle East. We visit the spectacular Forum, Roman colonnaded street, the Nymphaeum and Artemis Temple.
Also on the agenda today is a visit to the towering Aljoun Castle - which was crafted in the 12th century by the Ayyubids and extended in the 13th century by the Mamluks. The castle also once served as the hub for Saladin's Arab forces, who defeated the Crusaders in the 12th century. The mountains, hills and forests around Aljoun Castle are surprisingly lush and tree covered and are very popular with hikers from Jordan and abroad.
Our next stop on our Jordan tour is a visit to Rasoun village, where we'll meet a Jordanian family - our homestay hosts. After settling into our accommodation for the night, we'll take a walk through the hills to see some Bronze Age Dolmens, which date back around 5000 years. Dolmens are stone burial chambers formed by a huge stone slab atop two or more standing stones.
For dinner, a delicious, home-cooked traditional Arabic meal will be prepared by our host Jordanian family, and we spend the evening chatting with them about life in Jordan.
We reluctantly say goodbye to our hosts in the Rasoun village after a shared breakfast, as we journey south to Madaba to see the amazing Byzantine mosaics excavated from throughout the town. We'll see the 'Madaba Map', the oldest preserved mosaic map of the Holy Lands before heading to Mount Nebo and wonder at the view where Moses looked across to the Promised Land and later died and was buried.
After lunch, we'll head to the Dead Sea where you have the afternoon to float in the sea, try the invigorating properties of the mud by the beach, and rest by the resort pool. Swimming in the Dead Sea is a strange and wonderful experience and one you'll never forget.
Today, we'll make our way down the Dead Sea coastline, passing lots of deep canyons and gorges as they meet the sea. After we pass some salt flats at the southern end of the Dead Sea we head up through the mountains towards Petra, stopping for a short walk in the beautiful scenery and hills of the Dana Biosphere Reserve along the way. This is Jordan's largest nature reserve, and there are great views of the valleys and hills on the various trails around the restored Dana village. Spring is a particularly lovely time to visit with the terrain surprisingly green and full of flowers. We'll stop for lunch and take a walk before continuing to the imposing crusader castle at Shobak, finally arriving at Petra late in the evening.
An option is available this evening to get a first taste of Petra on the atmospheric Petra by Night tour, during which the Siq Trail and area outside the Treasury are lit up with hundreds of candles.
Today is all about exploring the Nabatean site of Petra. It was once the ancient capital of the Nabataean commercial empire until the Romans finally took over in 106AD. For a long period of time, Petra was forgotten - except by the local Bedouins - before it was rediscovered in 1812 by Swiss explorer Johann Ludwig Burckhardt. Petra can be found at the edge of the Wadi Aruba desert, where canyon walls and towering hills make it virtually impossible to reach, except via a narrow cleft in the rock, known as the Siq. There are very few free-standing buildings in Petra, as the Nabateans chose to carve their dwellings into the multi coloured sandstone cliffs. Petra has become one of Jordan's main tourist attractions and the Jordanian Government is well aware of this. The tourism infrastructure in the adjoining village of Wadi Musa is booming, though, thankfully, once you enter through the Siq, the site is protected, there aren't that many touts or souvenir sellers, and all the building feels miles away.
We have most of the day available today to explore this ancient city (2-3 hour guided tour, then free time to explore independently). We start by making our way through the Siq, which rises to 200 metres above us and narrows to just 2 metres wide in certain sections. Keep an eye out for the ancient Nabatean water channel which is still visible on one wall and there are remnants of the terracotta pipes that brought water into the city as well. We'll turn a corner and suddenly - one of the most familiar sights of Petra will be in front of you - The Khazneh (Treasury) comes into view. Our guide will explain how this, and the other buildings here, are mainly elaborate facades carved into the rock from the top down, and also discuss the spiritual significance of the building style.
From the Treasury, the valley opens out, and you'll see tombs carved into the rock on both sides. You'll get a glimpse of the ruined Roman amphitheatre and colonnaded streets and during your free time, you can walk up a steep and narrow winding gorge to the towering 'Monastery' - which is 50 metres high and 45 metres wide, giving you breath-taking views of the Wadi Aruba desert and the Jordan Valley. Another climb takes you to the High Place of Sacrifice, and Lion Fountain. All in all, this is a full and tiring exercise, but hugely rewarding day touring one of the world's most famous ancient sites.
Walking distances today are an absolute minimum of 3km through the Siq to the Treasury and back and to see a few tombs, 8km to take the trail on as far as the main basin, plus an additional few km to the Monastery and back (over 800 steps up and down). For those with less mobility or who are worried about the distance, horse carriages are available for around 20JD (USD 28) to take you on the 1.2km journey through the Siq to the Treasury and back again at an agreed time. They will also take you further in through the site for an extra fee. We do not recommend riding the horses that are available. Donkeys are available for the steps up to the Monastery - if you want to use them, we'd reommend doing this on the way up, not on the way down.
Later in the afternoon, we leave Petra and drive into the spectacular desert scenery of Wadi Rum where friendly Bedouin hosts are ready to greet us at a comfortable camp beneath the towering rocks and cliffs. We spend the evening and night relaxing at the camp, watching the stars and enjoying a delicious traditional Jordanian meal.
Today we head out on a jeep safari through the sandy terrain of Wadi Rum, beneath the towering 'jebels' - stopping every now and then to marvel at its sand dunes, strange rock formations and rock bridges.
We'll also participate in a few activities derived from Bedouin traditions such as walking with a local shepherd with their sheep and goats to a Bedouin tent, where we'll help make lunch. You can also choose to do other activities such as shearing sheep and goat's hair, grinding and roasting coffee beans and making bread.
Afterwards, we'll head back to camp before driving north on the Desert Highway back to Amman. Tonight, we'll head to the local coffee shops and cafes near our hotel, where you can try a sheesha or a game of backgammon as we enjoy our last night in Jordan.
We transfer you to Amman airport today to board your flight to Egypt's busy capital of Cairo (not included). Once you arrive in Cairo, one of our staff will be there to meet you before taking you to your hotel. We'll have some time to settle in before being introduced to the local area and we'll also arrange tomorrow's collection time.
You have the rest of the day to explore Cairo independently. Options are also available to head out on an evening dinner cruise on the Nile River or enjoy a mesmerising sound and light show at the pyramids (both available to book locally on arrival).
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. To help keep the group together we recommend Egypt Air MS720 which departs Amman between 09.30-10.30. However, you can also fly at other times during the day - all transfers in Amman and Cairo are included.
Our tour of Egypt begins with a drive to Giza on the outskirts of Cairo to visit the Sphinx and the three great pyramids of Egypt. One of our local Egyptologist guides will be accompanying you on this and all of your other sightseeing tours, and you'll find them a wealth of knowledge and full of enthusiasm about Egyptian history, and their country in general. At 500 feet high and 750 feet wide at its base the Great Pyramid of Khufu (Cheops) is an awesome man-made structure constructed of giant stone blocks with a hard limestone casing. The casing has, over the years, been stripped away to leave exposed the inner block structure. Together with the smaller pyramids of Khafre (Chephern) and Menkaure (Mycerinus), the majestic sight of these enormous structures rising out of the desert is a breathtaking spectacle. You will have the opportunity to climb down right inside the pyramids if you wish, though your guide cannot accompany you (a limited number of tickets are available for the Great Pyramid). Following on from the Pyramids we then head to the Egyptian Museum. Home to the fantastic Tutankhamun exhibit the museum hosts a huge number of other ancient Egyptian artefacts.
This evening we transfer to the station for the overnight sleeper train to Aswan (approx. 12 hours). You’ll enjoy dinner on board in your private twin-berth compartments before the steward sets your beds up for the night.
This morning we arrive in Aswan and transfer to our hotel overlooking the Nile which is at its most picturesque here, with lush green islands, and feluccas sailing to and fro. Aswan itself is a melting pot of African and Middle Eastern cultures, most easily experienced by wandering through the busy markets. It's also part of the ancient region of Nubia, which comprised parts of present day southern Egypt and northern Sudan around the Nile rivers. Many descendants of the Nubian people still live here and we'll visit a local Nubian village to see their colourful houses, simple way of life and to enjoy a traditional lunch.
We continue our tour this afternoon with a visit the Temple of Philae, a beautiful island complex dedicated to Isis and reclaimed from the rising waters of Lake Nasser, which we reach by a scenic boat ride. The evening is then free to look around Aswan's spice and general markets, and to walk up and down the popular Corniche, on the banks of the Nile. An option is also available to take a camel ride through the sands on the far bank of the Nile to St. Simeon's monastery. If you've chosen the Abu Simbel option then head to bed early this evening to be ready for a very early start tomorrow morning.
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. Transfers, guiding, and entrance fees are included. If you don't visit Abu Simbel, then this morning is free.
We board our traditional Nile felucca at lunchtime to enjoy an afternoon sailing down the Nile. Floating down the Nile on a felucca is one of Egypt's most enjoyable activities and you'll be able to watch local rural Egyptian life pass you by on the banks of the river as you drift past. Our Nubian crew will sail the boat and entertain you on the way, as well as preparing meals for you. Our separate facilities boat will join with us from time to time during the day and moor up with us at night. This boat has a welcome toilet and showers on board as well as a hygienic kitchen. You sleep on the deck of the boat tonight (mattresses, blankets and mosquito nets provided). This is a fun, but basic experience, and we offer an optional upgrade to spend this night back in the Aswan hotel instead of sleeping on the felucca for those wishing some more comfort. You then rejoin the rest of the group the next morning.
After breakfast on-board we bid farewell to our felucca crew and visit the nearby temple at Edfu before continuing on north to Luxor. The town of Luxor is built on and around the ancient site of Thebes, and boasts the largest concentration of ancient ruins in the Nile Valley, if not the world. To the west of the Nile lies the City of the Dead, with its mortuary temples and rock-hewn tombs, whilst to the east lie the Temples of Luxor and Karnak.
We check into a luxury 5-star hotel on the banks of the Nile and have time to relax and enjoy time by the pool this afternoon.
Later this evening we'll take a walking tour of the smaller Luxor Temple which is right in the middle of town and beautifully lit up at night.
We cross the Nile early this morning to begin our tour of Luxor’s West Bank. Home to the Valley of the Kings, the dusty tombs in this ancient burial site are still revealing their secrets today and so it remains one of the most important archaeological sites in the world. Our tour includes several of these Pharaonic tombs, as well as the temple of Queen Hatchepsut, Deir El-Medina (Valley of the Artisans), and the huge Colossi of Memnon.
A spectacular hot air balloon flight over the west bank of the Nile is available this morning (expect an early start to catch sunrise as the balloon rises).
After lunch we'll tour the huge temple complex at Karnak , once the religious centre of Thebes and Upper Egypt. It was linked to Luxor by an extensive avenue, lined with sphinxes, and the whole complex was in turn linked to the Nile via a canal through which moved the sacred boats of the god Amun. Entering through a smaller sphinx-lined avenue, built by Ramesses II, you come to the immense pylon entrance. Inside the huge Courtyard are three chapels dedicated to the gods Amun, Khous and Mut. The remarkable Hypostyle Hall has 134 towering columns, each carved with scenes of gods and pharaohs, and hieroglyphic inscriptions adorn the walls.
After a lazy morning we leave the Nile Valley and drive to the Red Sea resort of Hurghada where we check into a 5-star resort. Your stay here is on a 'soft all inclusive' basis, with all meals, soft drinks and snacks included but not alcoholic beverages.
Your day is free today to relax and enjoy your time by the Red Sea. Hurghada is world famous for its scuba diving and snorkelling and the rich Red Sea marine life here attracts divers from all over the world. Other adventurous activities available include wind surfing and kite surfing, glass bottomed submarines, quad biking, camel rides and sea fishing trips. Our local rep based in Hurghada will be on hand to help make any arrangements. Hurghada itself has an interesting marina and old town to explore.
If you wish, we can book extra nights in the resort in Hurghada for you to extend your time here - please contact us for details and prices.
Note: Please note that when adding extra nights in Hurghada you will leave the group here and miss the remaining activities in Cairo. You can either finish the tour in Hurghada or return later to Cairo. Please contact us for more information and customised pricing.
We drive back to Cairo this morning (approx.. 5hrs) and check into a city centre hotel. An upgrade to an internal flight is also available on request. In the late afternoon we take a guided walk through the back streets and bazaars in Old Cairo. We'll walk through the huge Bab al-Futuh gateway and explore streets dedicated to metalwork, spices, pottery, fabric, jewelery and anything else you can imagine as we gradually enter the more touristy Khan-el-Khalili bazaar. We'll have time for a break to try some mint tea and a shisha pipe and this is a great final opportunity to pick up some souvenirs of your time in Egypt.
Today is our last day on our Egypt and Jordan tour with the day being yours free to do some last-minute sightseeing or shopping until we transfer you to the airport for your departure flight. If you have an afternoon or evening flight departure, then a half-day tour of Coptic Cairo and the Citadel is available today, or you could take another half-day tour to learn more about the evolution of pyramid building at Saqqara, Dashour & Memphis. tours are also available today. Alternatively, you can add extra nights to your time in Cairo which would allow you to take a day trip to the colonial city of Alexandria on the Mediterranean coast, or a trip into the desert outside Cairo to see the World Heritage Site of the Valley of the Whales at Wadi Rayan.
Hotel Gala Dinners:
Many of Egypt's hotels and Nile cruise boats 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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