Welcome to Jordan, a country that is home to some of mankind’s earliest settlements. We begin in Amman, Jordan’s bustling and vibrant capital and one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities of the world. We don’t want you to miss out on any aspect of your small group tour. To ensure that you don’t, we recommend you arrive at your starting destination by 5.00pm. We’ll enjoy some free time to freshen up, before meeting our fellow travellers at a group welcome dinner this evening.

This morning we will travel to Jerash, one of the most beautiful and well-preserved Greco-Roman cities in the world. The ancient city was buried in sand before being gradually revealed through a series of excavations, starting in 1925 and continuing to this day. We’ll tour through the colonnaded streets, amphitheatre, churches, temples and the vast Roman Forum. Later, we’ll take a short drive to the impressive Ajloun Castle or ‘Qalaat Rabadh’ (Arabic for ‘Hilltop Castle’). This Islamic Castle was built in the 12th century and served as a military fort to protect the region from invading Crusader forces.

Special Experience

Take part in a local baking workshop at the Biscuit House, complete with a cup of aromatic tea and scenic views of the nearby Ajloun Forest.

We’ll return to Amman where the evening is at leisure.

Today we’ll make our way to the breathtaking Wadi Rum, a protected desert wilderness in southern Jordan. Traces of ancient civilisations exist in the many carved inscriptions to be found throughout the Wadi Rum area, from pictographs to Thamudic, Nabatean and Arabic texts. The most lasting monuments in Wadi Rum, however, are those carved by nature - the natural rock bridges, the towering rose-coloured sand dunes and vast peaks. This morning we begin with a visit to the amazing Amman Citadel that is perched atop the Jabal Al Qal’a, one of the cities highest hills and one of the seven Jabals that originally made up the city. We will walk through this ancient ruin to gain insight into Jordan’s history while also enjoying incredible panoramic views. Upon arrival in Wadi Rum we’ll enjoy lunch before checking in to our hotel. This afternoon we’ll take an exciting 4WD tour through one of the most stunning desertscapes in the world.

Optional Excursion

Camel Ride - Experience an iconic aspect of Bedouin life, taking a camel ride through Wadi Rum. 1 hour – from $25pp US. Cash only.

Located in Jordan’s southwestern desert, Petra is one of the world’s most famous archaeological sites. Carved from rose-coloured sandstone, Petra is often called the ‘Rose City,’ and has appeared in a number of films including Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade and Arabian Nights. As we make our way towards Petra, we’ll stop to visit the fascinating 'Little Petra', also known as Siq al-Barid. Little Petra has a history dating back some 9,000 years and is one of the oldest archaeological sites in the Middle East. Famous for its ancient buildings sculpted out of solid red sandstone, Little Petra has been a UNESCO World Heritage-listed site since 1985. Tonight, we’ll enjoy a group dinner at a local restaurant in Petra.

Optional Excursion

Petra by Night - Discover the magic of Petra after dark, as the rock city is lit by more than 1,000 candles. 2 hours – from $43pp US. Cash only.

This morning we explore the famous lost city of Petra on a guided tour. Carved into the sheer rockface by the Nabataeans more than 2,000 years ago, it was an important junction for the silk and trade routes. Attracting visitors from all over the world, much of Petra’s appeal comes from its breathtaking setting deep inside a narrow desert gorge. Our guide will explain the history of this great city and our tour will include a visit to Petra’s most famous monument, the Treasury. We will also visit Pharaoh's Castle, the Triumphal Arch, the Amphitheatre situated near the top of a large hill and the stunning Monastery. The view from here is worth the climb! After our guided tour, enjoy the rest of the day free to explore this delightful city independently.

Challenging Day

Today is a particularly challenging day, where there will be extended periods of walking time, often across uneven ground and in areas of high altitude or heat and humidity.

Today we’ll venture to the lowest point on Earth - the Dead Sea. As its name evokes, the Dead Sea is devoid of life due to the extremely high content of salts and minerals that give its waters its renowned curative powers, therapeutic qualities and buoyancy. Because the salt content is four times that of most oceans, you can float in the Dead Sea without even trying. We’ll begin the day travelling along the ancient King’s Highway, one of the world’s oldest trade routes still in use today. Mentioned in the Old Testament, this historic thoroughfare connected Syria to the Gulf of Aqaba, and today is a scenic route to explore parts of Jordan. Along the King’s Highway we’ll find the incredible Shobak Castle, perched atop a hill that was formerly called Mons Realis or 'Royal Mountain'. This imposing castle was built by the crusader King Baldwin I in 1115, and throughout history was the subject of numerous attacks, reflected through the site's weathered architecture. We’ll continue to the Dead Sea where we check in to our hotel and enjoy a group lunch. The rest of the day is at leisure.

Today we make our way back to Amman, stopping in Madaba along the way. Known as ‘The City of Mosaics’, underneath almost every house in Madaba lies a fine Byzantine mosaic. We will visit the Greek Orthodox Church of St George, home to Madaba's main attraction, a wonderfully vivid, 6th century Byzantine mosaic map showing the entire region from Jordan and Palestine in the north, to Egypt in the south. We’ll also stop at Mount Nebo, the centre for pilgrimages since the earliest Christian times. Mount Nebo is one of the most sacred holy sites of Jordan as it is said to be the place where Moses was buried. Returning to Amman, we will have the afternoon at leisure before joining a cooking class.

Special Experience

Enjoy a cooking class where we learn about delicious local Middle Eastern cuisine and enjoy our culinary creations for dinner as we bid farewell to Jordan.

Today we bid farewell to Jordan and take a short flight to Cairo. Set on the Nile River, Cairo is the capital and largest city of Egypt. Home to many famous Egyptian landmarks, visitors will find it to be a fascinating and often bewildering mixture of old and new. Meet your guide and transfer to the hotel before a group dinner to welcome us to Egypt.

Our touring in Egypt begins at the oldest structures in existence and one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the amazing Great Pyramids of Giza. We’ll visit the nearby Great Sphinx, with the body of a lion and the head of a king, often referred to as the national symbol of Egypt.

Special Experience

Take in the incredible views of the Great Pyramids of Giza while enjoying a delicious lunch at the 9 Pyramids Lounge

We begin today with an exploration of Sakkara, where we will see the Step Pyramid of Djoser. Designed by Imhotep, the famous vizier of King Djoser, this was the first pyramid ever built!

Special Experience

Tour the historic Serapeum of Sakkara, the burial place of the Apis Bulls

For lunch we will try a popular local dish called Koshary, Egypt’s national dish and a beloved street food. We’ll then visit the 12th-century Saladin Citadel of Cairo and the Mohammed Ali Mosque, built in classic Turkish style, it resembles the great mosques of Istanbul. Our tour will also take us to visit a weaving workshop, to learn about locally made Egyptian carpet.

Finally, we’ll visit a local jewellery shop, that specialises in customised gold and silver cartouches.

We’ll transfer to Cairo airport this morning for a short flight to Aswan, gateway to the incredible history, temples and monuments of Upper Egypt. On a half day tour we’ll visit the picturesque Philae Temple, located on Agilkia Island. This stunning temple complex, dedicated to the goddess Isis, is renowned for its majestic architecture and captivating history, set against the backdrop of serene waters and lush surroundings. This afternoon we’ll relax on board a traditional felucca sailboat, cruising along the Nile and observing life along the banks of the river as our boat takes advantage of the gentle winds and currents.

Optional Excursion

Sound & Light Show at Philae Temple at night. 1.5 hours – from $65pp US. Cash only.

We have an early start this morning as we cross the desert to our destination, the incredible UNESCO World Heritage-listed twin temples of Abu Simbel. The temples were originally carved out of the mountainside during the reign of Pharaoh Ramses II in the 13th century BC, as a monument to himself and his queen, Nefertari. We will spend a few hours exploring the temples before returning to Aswan to embark the Nile cruise ship. We’ll enjoy lunch on board with the remaining afternoon at your leisure

Optional Excursion

Nubian Museum - Visit this fascinating Museum dedicated to Nubian culture and civilisation. 1.5 hours –from $60pp US. Cash only.

Optional Excursion

Nubian Village - Travel by motorboat to a local village, visit a Nubian family and enjoy tea in their home. 3 hours – from $75pp US, including camel ride; from $65pp US, without camel ride. Cash only.

After breakfast we’ll cruise to the riverside Temple of Kom Ombo, dedicated to the gods Sobek and Haroeris. We’ll then cruise onward to Edfu, located on the west bank of the Nile River between Esna and Aswan. It is famous for the Temple of Horus, dedicated to the Falcon God, the main attraction which we will visit this afternoon. This beautiful ancient temple is one of the best-preserved in Egypt and the second largest after Karnak Temple. Continuing our journey, we cross the lock at Esna and sail on towards Luxor. Tonight, we enjoy a Galabeya party on board.

After breakfast on board, today we set off to explore the West Bank on a half day tour. Our first stop is the spectacular Valley of the Kings, which served as a royal burial chamber for around 500 years. This site is home to legendary kings and queens, their families, and their possessions for the afterlife. Here we’ll explore tombs carved deep into the limestone, where each tomb has a similar pattern of three corridors, an antechamber and a sarcophagus chamber.

Special Experience

Descend underground into Tutankhamun’s Tomb, adorned with intricate corridors, ancient artefacts, and well-preserved hieroglyphic paintings.

Optional Excursion

Hot Air Balloon Ride over the West Bank in the early morning. Includes transport from hotel. 1.5 hours – from $170pp US. Cash only.

Optional Excursion

Deir El Medina & Medinet Habu – Visit one of the most well-preserved ancient settlements in Egypt and the Mortuary Temple of Ramses ll. 3 hours – minimum 4 participants required – from $105pp US, including Nobles Tombs; from $160pp US, including Nefertari’s Tomb (subject to open times). Cash Only

Challenging Day

Today is a particularly challenging day, where there will be extended periods of walking time, often across uneven ground and in areas of high altitude or heat and humidity.

Today we disembark our Nile cruise ship after breakfast and explore Luxor. Located on the east bank of the Nile River, the city is celebrated as one of the world's greatest open-air museums, thanks to its two huge surviving ancient monuments, the Egyptian temple complexes of Karnak and Luxor. Our sightseeing begins at the fascinating Karnak Temple, dedicated to the Pharaoh Amun. Approximately 30 pharaohs contributed to the temple’s structure over time, which explains its monumental size! We’ll then visit Luxor Temple, once connected to Karnak Temple by a 3-kilometre-long Avenue of Sphinxes. Luxor Temple is also home to a 25-metre-tall pink granite obelisk, which was part of a matching pair until the 1830s when one was given to France. It now stands in the centre of the Place de la Concorde in Paris. We’ll visit a local gallery to appreciate the ancient artform of papyrus craft, before checking in to our hotel to enjoy the rest of the afternoon at leisure.

Optional Excursion

Dendera Temple Complex – Visit one of the best-preserved temples and most important sites of ancient Egypt. 5 hours – minimum 4 participants required – from $75pp US. Cash only.

Optional Excursion

Sound & Light Show at Karnak Temple at night. 1.5 hours – from $65pp US. Cash only.

Today we farewell Luxor as we transfer to the airport for our flight back to Cairo where we’ll visit the 14th-century Khan el-Khalili Bazaar, a major souk in Cairo’s Islamic District. Famous for its handmade crafts, it’s also the perfect place to enjoy a traditional Arabic coffee. There are no fixed prices here, so make sure you practice your haggling skills! Enjoy some free time before a group farewell dinner at a local restaurant.

Today marks the end of our incredible adventure across Egypt and Jordan. Our tour concludes after breakfast this morning. We bid farewell to Egypt and begin our journey home. We hope you leave with fantastic memories! Please note, in order to undertake the following optional tours additional post tour accommodation in Cairo may be required. Please check with your Travel Specialist for details.

Optional Excursion

Coptic Cairo - Discover the ancient sites & culture of Coptic Christians throughout Old Cairo. 3 hours – from $65pp US. Cash only.

Optional Excursion

Islamic Cairo - Visit the Gayer Anderson Museum, Ibn Toulon Mosque & El Sultan Hassan Mosque. 3 hours – from $65pp US. Cash only.

Optional Excursion

The Pyramids of Dahshur - Dahshur forms the southernmost area of the Memphis Necropolis & contains a number of pyramid complexes & monuments 3 hours – from $65pp US (cash only).

Optional Excursion

National Museum of Egyptian Civilisation – Displaying the civilisation of Egypt from the prehistoric period to the present era. 3 hours – from $80pp US. Cash only.