Essence of Egypt and Jordan

Welcome to Cairo! Our local representative will pick you up at the arrival hall of the airport with a board noted your name. On the way back to the downtown, our representative will give you a brief introduction of this itinerary and transfer you to the hotel for check-in. You are free for the rest of the day.

Meals: No meals, advice freely available
Accommodation: InterContinental Cairo Semiramis or similar

After breakfast, your guide and the driver will pick you up from the hotel. We will first go to visit Great Pyramids of Giza including Pyramids of Khufu, Khafre, Menkaure, the Great Sphinx and Valley Temple. Then go back to downtown to have lunch. Afterwards, go to visit Egyptian Museum, which shows the history of Ancient Egypt by displaying over 120,000 objects. The mask of Tutankhamun is one of the most precious treasures of the museum. Finally we will take a traditional felucca to visit the Nile. You can appreciate the beautiful sunset scene of Cairo. After that, transfer back to the hotel.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: InterContinental Cairo Semiramis or similar

After breakfast, your driver will pick you up at the hotel and drive you to Cairo Airport for a flight to Luxor, where you will have a Nile Cruise. Upon arrival, your local guide will pick you up from airport and transfer you to the pier for embarkation. Check in the cruise at around 12:00 and lunch is arranged on board. After lunch, your guide and the driver will take you to Luxor East Bank. The first stop is Karnak Temple, which was called the heart of Egypt during the New Kingdom. Despite of its religious meaning, it also worked as national treasury, administration center and palace of pharaohs. The most impressive is the Sphinx Avenue in the doorway. Then we'll head to Luxor Temple, the most well-preserved historic site in Luxor. The intact and exquisite statues and reliefs make it one of the most impressive spots. After the visit, we will send you back to the cruise. Dinner and overnight stay in cruise.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Cruises: MS Concerto

After breakfast, your guide will pick you up from the cruise to start today's trip of the West Bank of Luxor. The first stop is Valley of the Kings. We will visit the tomb of three kings. You can pay extra fee to visit the famous Tomb of Tutankhamun. Then visit the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut which is built leaning the mountain. Afterwards, move forward to Mortuary Temple of RamessesIII of which the reliefs and murals are the best preserved in Luxor. You can appreciate the carvings and murals carefully since the tourists here are less. Finally we will visit Colossi of Memnon. The two huge stone statues stand still, telling us about the glory of ancient Egypt. After the visit, go back to the cruise. We will continue to sail to Edfu.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Cruises: MS Concerto

After breakfast, your guide will pick you up from the cruise ship and take you to visit Temple of Edfu. After disembarking, you will arrive in the entrance of the temple by a horse-drawn carriage. The temple is not only large but well-preserved. The murals of the inner temple are carved with various patterns such as eagles, cobras, pharaoh's sun, etc., symbolizing the authority of the pharaoh. Then you will return to the boat and continue to sail to the next stop, the Temple of Kom Ombo. Your guide will take you off the boat and walk a few minutes to the Temple of Kom Ombo. This temple has two halls dedicated to Horus, the falcon-headed god, and Sobek, the crocodile god respectively. After the trip, return to the cruise ship, enjoy the various entertainment facilities on board in the afternoon, and there are local performances and food in the evening that cannot be missed. The cruise ship will arrive in Aswan late at night.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Cruises: MS Concerto

After breakfast, your guide and the driver will pick you up from the cruise ship. Abu Simbel is 210 kilometers (130.5 miles) away from Aswan and a single journey takes about 3 hours. The guide will take you to visit the magical Temple of Abu Simbel, also known as the Temple of Ramses II and Temple of Hathor built by Ramses II for his wife Nefertari which is just 50 meters (164 feet) from the Temple of Abu Simbel. Finally, we'll drive back to the cruise ship. Dinner on the cruise ship.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Cruises: MS Concerto

After breakfast, it's time to leave your cruise ship. Check out at around 8:00. Your guide will pick you up and then we'll visit the highlights of Aswan. The first stop is Aswan High Dam, and then head to Temple of Philae, a world cultural heritage site listed by UNESCO. The temple is located on an island in the Nile to the south of Aswan Dam, so we have to take a boat to get there. The temple is dedicated to Goddess Eros. Afterwards, we'll head to the Unfinished Obelisk. The obelisk is unfinished since the stele has a crevice. You can see the interesting nicks and replicative symbols. After the visit, you will be transferred to Aswan Airport for your flight to Cairo. Upon arrival, the driver will pick you up at the airport and send you to the hotel for check-in.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: InterContinental Cairo Semiramis

After breakfast, your driver will pick you up from the hotel and send you to Cairo Airport for a flight to Amman. Upon arrival, our local representative will pick you up with a placard at the Arrivals Hall of Amman airport and send you to the hotel. Amman, the capital of Jordan, is a historic city. Since it is located on 7 hills, it is also called "City of Seven Hills".

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Down Town Hotel Apartments or similar

After breakfast, your English-speaking driver will pick you up at the hotel and drive to Ajlun Castle, a typical Islamic castle. It was a military site built by the general of Saladin to avoid the attack of crusades. Standing at the highest point of Ajlun Castle, you can overlook the mountains and valleys of North Jordan.

Next, head to visit the Roman Ruins of Jerash. The ancient Roman city is well preserved. You can understand the glories of ancient Roman from the elliptic square, Colonnaded Street and Nymphaeum. Here you will be accompanied by an English speaking spot guide for around two-three hours.

Before returning to Amman, you will visit Salt, the once capital of Jordan during Ottoman Turks era. The buildings and ancient architectures on the mountains are still preserved well. Then, go back to Amman.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Down Town Hotel Apartments or similar

After delicious breakfast in the hotel, your English-speaking driver will pick you up on time and drive along the King Road to City of Mosaic, Madaba. There you will visit the Church of St. George in the center of Madaba and admire the mosaic map on the ground. In the nearby Madaba Archaeological Park, you can see churches during Byzantine times, including the Church of the Virgin Mary, etc., and enjoy many exhibitions of original mosaics.

Mount Nebo, 8km (5 miles) away from Madaba, is one of the holy places in Jordan. Moses is said to view the Promised Land here. It is 817 meters (2,680 feet) above sea level. Standing on the observation deck, you can see the Jordan Plain and the Jordan River.

Then head to Kerak Castle, and have a stop at Wadi Mujib to take pictures. Kerak is the crusader castle of the 11th-12th century AD. Finally we'll arrive at Petra, stay overnight, and look forward to tomorrow's Petra tour.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Petra Guest House or similar

Petra was the once capital of Nabataean Kingdom. The city is almost carved on rocks and surrounded by cliffs. It is also called "Rose-Red City" because of the rose-colored soil stone which can be seen everywhere. In the scenic area of Petra, you will be accompanied by an English speaking local guide for around two to three hours. Ride a horse from the entrance to the Siq Canyon, walk along the narrow canyon for a while, and then you will see the breathtaking Al Khazneh, also the Treasure. Here we'll admire the outside of Al Khazneh and other historic sites. Stay overnight there.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Petra Guest House or similar

Today drive north for 7 km (4.3 miles) to Little Petra, a place also carved on rocks and similar to Petra. Then drive south to Wadi Rum, known as Moon Valley listed by UNESCO as a mixed natural and cultural world heritage site. We'll have a three-hour jeep tour here to admire the special scene. Afterwards, go back to the camp to have dinner and stay overnight.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation: Sun City Camp

After breakfast, your English-speaking driver guide will pick you up at appointed place and drive to Dead Sea. It is the lowest point of the earth and is called the "navel of the world". You can enjoy a relaxing floating time in Dead Sea. Stay overnight at the hotel.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Holiday Inn Hotel or similar

After breakfast, drive back to Amman. Upon arriving in Amman, you will have a relaxing half day trip. The spots we'll visit are Amman Roman Theater, Castle Hill and Royal Automobile Museum. For the rest of the time you can explore the city by yourself, go shopping or have a rest at the hotel. Stay the night in Amman.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: Down Town Hotel Apartments or similar

Today the Egypt and Jordan tours end. After breakfast in the hotel, your driver will pick you up at appointed time and send you to the airport and see you off. Hope you have a nice holiday!

Meals: Breakfast