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Cairo · Giza · Egypt
Small Group Premium Egypt & Jordan - 15D/14N
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From $7,974.00 per person
Current Project Expedition rate
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Project Expedition
The Experience
What your day looks like
From the Valley of the Kings to the awe-inspiring ruins of Petra, this 15-day Premium adventure through Egypt and Jordan reveals the sphinxes and tombs of your childhood imagination and then some. Cruise down the Nile, visit traditional Nubian communities, dig for obscure treasures in ancient marketplaces, and float in the Dead Sea. Be guided by a passionate Egyptologist and a Jordanian local, respectively, for the most immersive possible experiences in two fascinating nations. This tour reveals the iconic sites that you’ve seen on film plus plenty of intimate moments with locals who are proud to invite you into their world.
At a Glance
The experience, in brief
- Experience a 15day Premium adventure through Egypt and Jordan
- View the Pyramids of Giza, Egyptian Museum, & tomb of Tutankhamun
- Learn the ancient history of the Nile and the incredible sights along its banks
- Explore Philae Island and visit the beautiful Temple of Isis
- Stop at a Nubian village & learn about local life
- Enjoy a peaceful morning on board your riverboat
- See the openair museum of Luxor from the spectacular temple complex of Karnak
- View Kom Ombo Temple & the Valley of the Kings
- Visit Khan alKhalili Bazaar including the gold market, cloth market & the spice market
- Stop at Ibn Tulun Mosque – one of the oldest and largest in Egypt
- See the Dana Nature Reserve in Petra
- Drive to the ancient Crusader castle at Shobak
- View the Treasury's glorious façade
- Explore the old Roman road, amphitheater, and several ancient tombs.
- Visit Wadi Rum which is a protected area of desert
- Take a nature walk in Amman
Your Itinerary
Your day, step by step
Day 1
Cairo
Day 1: Cairo. Welcome to Cairo! On arrival at the airport, take an included transfer to your hotel. You are free to arrive at any time today before an important welcome meeting, held at 6 pm. If you do arrive early, perhaps get out and explore the busy streets, finding a hole-in-the-wall eatery for a snack like ta’ameya – Egypt’s take on falafel. Or you may wish to make the most of your fabulous hotel – the pool area offers magnificent pyramid views.
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Cairo
Cooking Class. After your welcome meeting, where you will meet your local leader and fellow travellers, head out for an included dinner with the group. Here your leader will introduce you to the dazzling variety of Egyptian cuisine, known for being fresh, delicious and unique to the country. Best enjoyed when shared, tuck into an array of traditional dishes like fatta, a dish made with rice, bread and meat in a garlic and vinegar sauce, and kushari, a tantalising mixture of pasta, rice, lentils and fried onions.
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Cairo
Steigenberger Cairo Pyramids Hotel or similar (1 night).
Day 2
Cairo
Sightseeing at Great Sphinx Of Giza. Day 2: Cairo. This morning, tour the mighty Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx with your small group and expert leader, who is a trained Egyptologist. Seeing these ancient and iconic structures up close is a memory that will stay with you long after your time in Egypt is over. For an additional charge, you may be able to go inside the Great Pyramid of Khufu (or Cheops).
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Cairo
Sightseeing at Egyptian Museum. After stopping to purchase some lunch, Your adventure continues to the Egyptian Museum, home to one of the world's great collections of ancient artefacts. Wander the treasure-filled halls, and make sure to check out the optional Mummies Hall for a close encounter with some of the country’s most important queens and pharaohs.
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Cairo
Sightseeing at Tomb of Tut Ankh Amun. The masses of gleaming artefacts recovered from the tomb of Tutankhamun are an impressive sight – from jewellery to the famous golden death mask and his gilded sarcophagi, this pharaoh was certainly prepared for the afterlife. Your leader will take you through some of Egypt’s dynastic history, and you will have plenty of time to explore on your own – home to almost 100,000 artefacts, there’s a whole ancient world to uncover.
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Cairo
Steigenberger Cairo Pyramids Hotel or similar (1 night).
Day 3
Cairo
Boating at Nile River. Day 3: Nile Cruise - Aswan. Catch a morning flight to Aswan – Egypt’s southernmost city. Its relaxed charm is due in no small part to its large Nubian population. Here you will board a Nile riverboat, your Feature Stay accommodation for the next three nights.
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Cairo
Boating. There’s no better way to soak in the ancient history of the Nile and the incredible sights along its banks. Enjoy all the comforts of a world-class hotel, including a swimming pool, sundeck, restaurant and cabins with panoramic windows to watch riverside life stream by. Travelling by riverboat allows you to get to the heart of each destination while ensuring the journeys in between are every bit as interesting.
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Cairo
Sightseeing at Philae. Travel to Philae Island and visit the beautiful Temple of Isis – the goddess of health, marriage and wisdom – rescued from the rising waters of the Nile and relocated here. Your leader will share stories of the history and changing landscape of the island.
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Aswan
Local Flavor at Nubian Village. Then, board a traditional felucca sailing boat where you can sit back and relax with some drinks as the sun sets over your beautiful surroundings. Stop off at on an island in the middle of the Nile. Walk through the village before sitting down to dinner with a local Nubian family in their home. Enjoy traditional Nubian food, swap stories with your friendly hosts and gain a unique perspective into their way of life.
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Cairo
MS Nile Style or La Fayan Nile Cruise (Feature Stay) or similar (1 night).
Day 4
Cairo
Relaxation & Fun. Day 4: Nile Cruise - Edfu. Enjoy a peaceful morning on board your riverboat, then set out in the afternoon along the river, relaxing in the sun on deck and taking in the desert hills forming a backdrop over the lush riverbanks.
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Cairo
Sightseeing at Temple Of Kom Ombo. Arrive at Kom Ombo Temple, sitting spectacularly on the river’s edge. Your leader will let you in on the secrets of this ancient temple.
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Cairo
Sightseeing at Temple Of Kom Ombo. Built in approximately 181 BC, Kom Ombo is dedicated to two gods – Horus (god of protection) and Sobek (god of fertility, linked to the Nile’s water). Each god has a dedicated section – north or south – and there have been recent discoveries of mummified crocodiles in the Sobek section. Afterwards, return to your riverboat and continue to Edfu where you will dock for the evening.
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Cairo
MS Nile Style (Feature Stay) or similar (1 night).
Day 5
Cairo
Boating at Nile River. Day 5: Nile Cruise - Luxor. This morning, you will be moored near Edfu and may have the option to venture independently into town to see the nearby temple. Sail towards Luxor passing through the Esna Locks. You may have to queue to proceed through the locks, but this is a great opportunity to sit back with a drink in hand and observe life on the Nile – listen to the shouts of the many captains as they navigate their way through the various small boats of merchants selling their wares to a captive audience.
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Cairo
Sightseeing at Valley Of The Kings. Arrive at the open-air museum of Luxor – from the spectacular temple complex of Karnak to the Valley of the Kings, Luxor is full of wonderfully preserved reminders of the Pharaohs.
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Cairo
Sightseeing at Karnak Temple. Today you'll explore the Karnak Temple. One of the world's most celebrated temple complexes, Karnak is a house of the gods built over a period of some 200 years. Your guided tour of this vast temple of impressive pylons, obelisks and chapels will reveal its finest sections, such as the Avenue of Sphinxes and the Great Temple of Amun.
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Cairo
MS Nile Style (Feature Stay) or similar (1 night).
Day 6
Cairo
Sightseeing at Valley Of The Kings. Day 6: Luxor. Disembark your riverboat and travel to the Valley of the Kings. Buried under the arid hills here are over 60 tombs of pharaohs, many richly decorated with reliefs and paintings. With your leader, explore this place, where the pharaohs of the New Kingdom (16th to 11th century BC) were secretly interred for all eternity, and where discoveries are still being made.
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Cairo
Sightseeing at Tomb of Tut Ankh Amun. Your leader will explain the history and legends of these remarkable people, and the significance of the many paintings and hieroglyphics, still well preserved in the deepest tombs. Entry is included to three tombs of your choosing, as well as access to the tomb of Tutankhamun. The unearthing of the young Pharaoh’s resting place is one of the world’s greatest archaeological discoveries, and today you will have the chance to explore the painted chamber and marvel at his famous golden sarcophagus.
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Cairo
Sightseeing at Mortuary Temple Of Hatshepsut. Continue to the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut – a colonnaded building set against high cliffs that create a spectacular natural amphitheatre, then view the Colossi of Memnon – two 17-metre-high statues on Luxor's west bank.
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Cairo
Sonesta St George Hotel or similar (1 night).
Day 7
Cairo
Sightseeing at Al-Azhar Mosque. Day 7: Cairo. Board a flight bound for Cairo this morning. On arrival, settle in to your hotel then head with your group to the Al-Azhar neighbourhood.
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Cairo
Sightseeing at Khan el-Khalili. Visit Khan al-Khalili Bazaar – a sprawling maze of alleyways including the gold market, cloth market, 'perfume street' and the spice market.
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Cairo
Sightseeing at Mosque of Ibn Tulun. Continue to the 9th-century Ibn Tulun Mosque – one of the oldest and largest in Egypt. Its perfectly proportioned courtyard and distinctive minaret make it a masterpiece of Islamic architecture.
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Cairo
Sightseeing. Stop off in Cairo’s oldest coffeeshop for an Arabic coffee or mint tea as you watch the world go by. It’s a known fact that the very best food in Cairo is made inside local homes, but few visitors get the chance to experience this for themselves.
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Cairo
Tonight, you will be one of the lucky few as you are welcomed into the home of a local family for dinner. Sit down to a wonderful meal of traditional dishes which you’ll share with your friendly hosts and gain an inside look at modern Egyptian life.
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Cairo
Novotel Cairo El Borg or similar (1 night).
Day 8
Cairo
Day 8: Amman. Today you will transfer to Cairo airport and catch a flight to Amman, Jordan’s cosmopolitan and contemporary capital that’s steeped in biblical history. On arrival, you will be transferred to your hotel where a meeting will take place at 6pm to welcome any new travellers joining you for the next part of your adventure.
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Cairo
Local Flavor. After the meeting, head out to a local restaurant for a welcome dinner with your group and leader. Sharing food is a huge part of Jordanian culture and eating out is a social affair that’s packed with flavour.
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Cairo
Food Tasting. Tonight your leader will introduce you to some of the country’s most beloved dishes, like mansaf, a dish made with lamb, yoghurt and rice, and kunafa, a delicious dessert made with pastry and cheese.
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Cairo
Sulaf Luxury Hotel or similar (1 night).
Day 9
Cairo
Sightseeing. Day 9: Amman. This morning, leave Amman for a short drive north to Jerash where you’ll find some of the world’s best Greco-Roman ruins. Reaching its peak as a favourite of the emperor Hadrian, Jerash holds a striking collection of archways, theatres, baths, public buildings and colonnaded streets. Your leader will share the incredible history of the ruins and help you imagine what life once looked like in this glorious Roman city.
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Cairo
Sightseeing. Grand columns encircle the city's centrepiece of the Oval Plaza – an atmospheric place to linger after exploring Jerash's riches.
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Cairo
Sightseeing. Afterwards, return to Amman and head to a cooking school run by a mother and her daughters, where you’ll get a special look behind the scenes of Jordanian cuisine. You’ll feel as through you’ve stepped into the welcoming home of a local grandmother as you learn how to make classics like tabbouleh, flat bread and lentil soup with passionate guidance and generations of culinary know-how. The flavours, recipes and warmth of this evening are sure to stick with you long after your time in Jordan is over.
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Cairo
Sulaf Luxury Hotel or similar (1 night).
Day 10
Cairo
Sightseeing. Day 10: Dead Sea. Today you will make the journey from Amman to the Dead Sea. Named for the lack of life in its waters, this lake is so intensely salty that the water density makes swimming very difficult, but bobbing on the water's surface is a truly fun and one-off experience.
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Cairo
Sightseeing at Mount Nebo. En route, stop off at Mount Nebo and hear the story of how Moses saw the Promised Land before he died from what is believed to be this very spot, and St Georges Church, best known for its Byzantine mosaic depicting a map of the Holy Land. On arrival, enjoy some time to float in the buoyant waters of the Dead Sea, relax on your hotel’s beachfront or take a dip in one of three swimming pools or jacuzzi.
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Cairo
Holiday Inn Resort Dead Sea or similar (1 night).
Day 11
Cairo
Sightseeing at Montréal (Castle). Day 11: Petra. Depart the Dead Sea and drive to the ancient Crusader castle at Shobak – your leader will explain how this ancient castle was originally built to protect the eastern flank of the Latin Kingdom and its trade routes to the sea before it fell to Saladin in 1189.
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Cairo
Sightseeing. Enjoy superb scenery and stop off at the viewpoint overlooking the Dana Nature Reserve before arriving in the late afternoon to your Petra accommodation. Petra dates back to the sixth century BC and is considered the crown jewel of Jordan, featuring an impressive series of tombs and dwellings carved directly into the rock.
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Cairo
Relaxation & Fun. On arrival, there is time to check out the town that has grown around the site and to relax, ready for a big day of exploring Petra tomorrow.
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Cairo
Petra Moon Hotel or similar (1 night).
Day 12
Cairo
Sightseeing. Day 12: Petra. Today will be spent uncovering the secrets of Petra with the knowledgeable guidance of your leader. The iconic view of the Treasury's glorious facade, glimpsed from a narrow cleft known as the Siq, is perhaps the single-most striking sight of the entire region. The Siq leads through the rock and is at points only a few meters wide, with walls soaring up to 180 meters on either side.
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Cairo
Rock Climbing. Explore the old Roman road, amphitheatre and several ancient tombs. You will also have time to climb to the Monastery if you wish, providing a magnificent view of the entire site.
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There is a cafeteria on the site, where you can enjoy your own light lunch.
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Cairo
Leisure. The rest of the day will be at your leisure. This evening, perhaps take the chance to witness Petra by night if your dates align. Seeing the Treasury plaza lit up by candlelight while Bedouin music plays is a truly memorable experience.
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Cairo
Petra Moon Hotel or similar (1 night).
Day 13
Cairo
Sightseeing at Wadi Rum. Day 13: Wadi Rum. For another glimpse at Petra, rise very early for an unguided morning visit, if you wish. Then, drive to Wadi Rum, a protected area of desert that impresses with sandstone mountains, canyons and arches. Enjoy some lunch in the small village of Rum and browse the informative visitor’s centre.
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Cairo
Sightseeing. Afterwards, jump into a local jeep and journey into Wadi Rum with your Bedouin hosts. Visit several of the area’s distinctive rock formations and appreciate the vast silence and spectacular desert landscapes. These landscapes are home to hardy Bedouin communities that live in scattered camps. You will gain a deeper understanding of their way of life as you join them for a zarb (underground oven) dinner at one of their camps, set in an amazing location deep in the desert.
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Cairo
Camping. Tonight’s Feature Stay accommodation is a luxury camp that offers a splendid base among remote and wild surroundings. Spacious tents are fitted out with creature comforts like king-sized beds, air conditioning and en suite bathrooms, and all furniture is made by hand with décor inspired by Bedouin culture. Fall asleep beneath a magnificent canopy of stars and wake up to a sunrise over the red-hued landscape.
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Cairo
Wadi Rum Luxury Camp (Feature Stay) or similar (1 night).
Day 14
Amman
Nature Walks. Day 14: Amman. After waking up in the unique surrounds of your Bedouin camp this morning, take a walk around the area – the length of which depends on the group’s desires – before scaling one of the large dunes to enjoy panoramic views of your surrounds.
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Cairo
Local Flavor. Afterwards, return to Amman for the evening. Tonight you may like to join your group for a final dinner to round off your adventure – speak to your leader about the best restaurants in the city that are popular with the locals.
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Cairo
Sulaf Luxury Hotel or similar (1 night).
Day 15
Cairo
Day 15: Amman. Your trip will come to an end today after breakfast. Check-out time is usually around 12pm and you are free to leave at any time. If you have arranged a private airport transfer, you will be advised of the pick-up time. If you would like to spend more time in Amman, we’ll be happy to organise additional accommodation (subject to availability).
Before You Go
What to know before booking
Included
Private vehicle, Plane, Riverboat, Felucca, Jeep Complimentary Airport Arrival Transfer Cairo - Welcome Dinner Cairo - Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx Cairo - The Egyptian Museum headset Cairo - Egyptian Museum Aswan - Philae Temple Aswan - Sunset drinks on a felucca Aswan - Nubian Village Visit and Dinner Izbat Al Bayyarah - Kom Ombo Temple Luxor - Karnak Temple Luxor - Hatshepsut Temple Luxor - Valley of the Kings (entrance to 3 tombs) Luxor - Tomb of Tutankhamun Luxor - Colossi of Memnon Cairo - Home-Cooked Dinner Cairo - Khan al-Khalili Bazaar Cairo - Al-Azhar Mosque Cairo - Coffee/tea in a local cafe Amman - Welcome Dinner Jerash - Roman ruins Amman - Beit Sitti cooking class and dinner Madaba - St Georges Church Mt Nebo - Site visit Shobak - Shobak Castle Petra - Guided tour of Petra Petra - Petra second day visit (unguided) Wadi Rum - Desert Jeep tour Wadi Rum - Zarb dinner Wadi Rum - Desert and dunes walk
Meeting & Pickup
The tour starts in Cairo, Egypt. Finish Amman, Jordan.
Languages Offered
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Planning Notes
Minimum age: 15 Hotel pickup offered: No Confirmation: Manual By PE
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