Tour type: Small Group
Group size: Min: 2 | Max: 18
Accommodation: 4-star hotels, Bedouin camp, Nubian guesthouse & felucca sailboat
Meals:
Transport: A/C car/minibus, Bedouin jeep & felucca sailboat, overnight train
Highlights: Amman, Bethany Baptism Site, As-Salt Daily LifeTrail, Jerash Roman ruins, Amman Food Tasting, Wild Jordan Centre, Madaba mosaics, Mt Nebo views, scenic King's Highway, Shobak crusader castle, Full day in Petra, Wadi Rum jeep safari & Bedouin camp, Overnight stay at the Dead Sea, the Pyramids & Sphinx, Huge Karnak Temple complex, Island Philae Temple, The Valley of the Kings, Felucca cruise on the Nile
This comprehensive 14-day journey commences in Jordan's bustling capital, Amman. Your exploration delves into the country's rich history and culture, starting with visits to the unique hilltop town of As-Salt, a UNESCO site celebrated for its Ottoman architecture and interfaith harmony, and the magnificent Roman ruins of Jerash. Cultural immersion continues with an authentic 'Daily Life Trail' experience and lunch with a local family in As-Salt, plus a street food tasting in Amman. The itinerary then follows the historic King's Highway south, taking in the biblical sites of Madaba and Mount Nebo, and the Crusader-era Shobak Castle, before arriving at the phenomenal Nabataean city of Petra for a full day's exploration of its rock-carved wonders, including the iconic Treasury reached via the narrow Siq canyon.
Following the awe-inspiring Petra, the adventure leads into the dramatic desert landscapes of Wadi Rum. Here, you'll enjoy a thrilling jeep safari through the iconic scenery made famous by T.E. Lawrence and spend a night under the stars at a traditional Bedouin camp, experiencing renowned local hospitality and cuisine. The Jordanian leg concludes with a visit to the remarkable Dead Sea, the lowest point on Earth, offering a unique opportunity to float effortlessly in its mineral-rich waters. Throughout Jordan, optional activities enhance the experience, ranging from Petra by Night and cookery classes to various desert excursions in Wadi Rum and potential canyoning in Wadi Mujib (seasonal).
Transitioning to Egypt, you will travel from Amman to Cairo by air. It's worth noting that this flight is not included in the tour price, offering flexibility in booking, while the necessary airport transfers in both cities remain part of the service. The Egyptian adventure immediately immerses you in ancient history with a visit to the awe-inspiring Pyramids of Giza and the enigmatic Sphinx, complemented by a taste of local life with an included Koshary lunch. Travelling south via overnight train, you'll explore Aswan, visit the beautifully relocated Philae Temple on its island setting, and experience Nubian culture firsthand with a stay in a local village. A major highlight is sailing the Nile aboard a traditional felucca, offering a peaceful perspective on riverside life and including an overnight stay onboard (with hotel upgrade options available). An optional early morning trip to the magnificent temples of Abu Simbel is also offered.
Continuing north, the tour reaches Luxor, often described as the world's greatest open-air museum. Included tours cover the West Bank's Valley of the Kings, the impressive Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, the village of the tomb builders at Deir El-Medina, and the towering Colossi of Memnon. Optional excursions allow for exploration of the vast Karnak Temple complex and the beautifully illuminated Luxor Temple at night, along with potential hot air balloon rides over the ancient sites at sunrise. The trip utilises overnight trains for travel between Cairo and Upper Egypt (with sleeper upgrades available) before concluding back in Cairo, offering free time or optional final explorations, such as the Egyptian Museum or vibrant Khan el-Khalili bazaar, before your departure transfer.
Accommodation is in comfortable mid-range hotels, Bedouin tents with proper beds in Wadi Rum, a friendly local Nubian guesthouse in Aswan, plus one night on board the felucca sailboat on the Nile.
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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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Group tour departure dates and prices are shown below. The tour is also available as a customisable private departure on any other dates. Please contact us for details and prices.
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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.
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