Tour type: Small Group
Group size: Min: 2 | Max: 18
Accommodation: 4 to 5-star hotels, Bedouin camp, 5-star Nile cruise boat
Meals:
Transport: A/C car/minibus/coach, Bedouin jeep, domestic flights, Nile cruise boat
Highlights: Jerash, Kings Highway, Madaba mosaics, Amman Food Tasting, Wild Jordan Centre, Wadi Rum safari & camp, Petra, Dead Sea, Pyramids & Sphinx, Karnak & Luxor temples, Valley of the Kings, Queen Hatchepsut temple, Edfu & Komombo temples, Boat trip to Philae Temple, Nile Cruise.
We begin our journey in Amman, Jordan, with an arrival transfer and free time before we explore the ancient Roman city of Jerash and Amman's key historical sites, including the Citadel and Roman Theatre, the following day. Day two also includes a local street food experience and an evening visit to the Wild Jordan Centre. Our journey then continues south along the scenic King's Highway, where we stop at the historical sites of Madaba, Mount Nebo, and Shobak Castle en route to Petra. We dedicate an entire day to discovering the magnificent Nabataean city of Petra, walking through the Siq to marvel at the Treasury and exploring other tombs and monuments, with options like Petra by Night or a cookery class available to us the previous evening.
Following Petra, our adventure takes us into the striking desert landscapes of Wadi Rum, where we stay overnight at a Bedouin camp, complete with a traditional meal and an included Jeep safari the next morning; optional activities like camel rides or hot air ballooning are also offered. We conclude the Jordanian segment of our trip with a journey to the Dead Sea, the lowest point on Earth, where we have ample time to float in the hypersaline waters and experience the therapeutic mud, before we transfer to Amman airport on day six.
We then transition to Egypt with a flight from Amman to Cairo (note: this flight cost is not included). Upon arrival in Cairo, we begin our exploration with the iconic Giza Plateau, visiting the Great Pyramids and the Sphinx, followed by trips to the ancient capital Memphis and the Step Pyramid at Saqqara. An early flight takes us to Luxor, the ancient Thebes, where we explore the West Bank's treasures, including the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut Temple, and the Colossi of Memnon, before boarding our 5-star Nile cruise ship. In the evening, we enjoy an illuminated tour of Luxor Temple. Our cruise continues with a visit to the vast Karnak Temple complex as we sail upstream towards Aswan, stopping at the well-preserved Temple of Edfu and the unique double temple of Kom Ombo along the way.
In Aswan, our highlights include an optional early morning excursion to the magnificent temples of Abu Simbel, taking a traditional Felucca sailboat ride on the Nile, visiting the relocated Philae Temple complex, and stopping at the Aswan High Dam. Afterwards, we fly back to Cairo for our guided tour of the world-renowned Egyptian Museum, home to Tutankhamun's treasures. Our final full day offers free time or an optional tour covering Coptic Cairo, the Citadel, and the Khan el-Khalili bazaar. We conclude our tour on day thirteen with free time in Cairo before our departure transfer to the airport.
Accommodation is in comfortable mid-range hotels in Jordan, Bedouin tents with proper beds in Wadi Rum, 5-star hotels in Cairo and a 5-star Nile cruise between Luxor and Aswan.
Expand all
Expand all
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.
If you are looking for a tour and not finding what you are looking for, have a look at our best other related tours to check out for your travel plans. At Encounters Travel, we offer a variety of tours to suit your needs. So sit back, relax, and let us help you plan the perfect getaway.
Small-group departure dates are listed below. The tour is also available as a customisable private departure on any dates. Please contact us for more information and prices for your preferred date and number of travellers.
Select the currency that works best for you by clicking one of the icons below. Whether you prefer US Dollars (USD), Euros (EUR), British Pounds (GBP), or any of our other supported currencies, simply tap the flag or symbol to instantly update all prices site-wide.
The hotels and accommodations listed below are the ones we most often use on this tour. From time to time we may exchange these for similar properties at the same level. In general, specific hotels cannot be guaranteed on our group tours, but you may select your preferred options if you are booking a tailor-made trip.
Our tours are designed to include all that you need to enjoy a really special time in the destination youre visiting. However, we do also offer some extra options to complement the tour and add some additional sightseeing or activities, or some extra time at either end of the tour.
All accommodation based options (e.g. Single supplements, extra nights, cruise upgrades) should be booked and paid for in advance so that we can make the appropriate arrangements. Other options may either be booked and paid for in advance or while you are on the tour, though we recommend booking in advance to ensure there are no issues with availability.
Many options are priced the same throughout the year, but some may incur single or high season supplements - full details are given on the tour reservation form or on request.
The detailed Tour Notes below have been written to give you some more detailed information about how the tour runs, what to expect, and how to prepare for your holiday. We recommend downloading an up to date copy of these shortly before you travel in case of any changes.
Expand all
Need some travel inspiration or looking for some handy travel tips? Our blog provides excellent insight into our travel destinations - from tour updates to country guides, packing lists to little known things to do, you'll find it all in our travel blog.