Egypt and Jordan Highlights

Accompanied by your guide and the driver, let’s start today with a visit to the 4,500-year-old Giza Pyramids, the monumental tomb complex for Egyptian pharaohs. Marvel at the three most mature and typical ones it houses: the legendary Pyramid of Khufu, with its original 146 m (479 ft) tall, represents an engineering peak of the 4th Dynasty; the middle Pyramid of Khafre still topped with patches of its original white limestone casing, hinting at its former radiance; and the smallest yet most exquisite Pyramid of Menkaure, whose base is clad in red granite, left unfinished due to the pharaoh’s sudden death. To the east, the most iconic Great Sphinx crouches with its back to Khafre’s pyramid. It is believed that Pharaoh Khafre had his own face carved onto a lion’s body, creating a guardian of wisdom and strength. Your guide will show you the best spots for classic pyramid family portraits and fun interactive shots.
► Note: Pyramid interiors are accessible for an extra fee, around EGP 200-1,500 (USD 4-29). If interested, please inform us in advance to secure tickets. The interior passages are very narrow and stuffy; those with claustrophobia are advised not to enter.

Then, we’ll visit the Saqqara Complex to see the Step Pyramid of Djoser, the world’s oldest pyramid. Unlike Giza’s smooth-sided monuments, it was built by stacking six layers of shrinking stone platforms. With your guide, gain insights into how the structure evolved over centuries, disproving any alien-builder myth.

Afterward, let’s head to the Grand Egyptian Museum, the world’s largest archaeological museum. Among its treasures, Pharaoh Tutankhamun’s funerary collection stands unmatched, most notably his golden mask, adorned with the eagle and cobra gods and the lapis lazuli false beard, representing the pinnacle of ancient Egyptian goldsmith craftsmanship in the 14th century BC. Ramesses II’s 11-meter (36-foot) colossus is another must-see, which dominates the grand hall with breathtaking presence. After the visit, your guide and the driver will escort you back to your hotel.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Steigenberger Pyramids Cairo (5 stars) or similar

After breakfast at your hotel, set off with your guide and the driver to the Salah El Din Citadel, an ancient fortress commissioned by Saladin, the revered Muslim commander who retook Jerusalem from the Crusaders in the 12th century. Perched atop Cairo’s highest hill, it offers panoramic city views. Inside, explore the Mohamed Ali Alabaster Mosque, which features enormous Turkish-style domes and imposing twin minarets; the Military Museum, displaying weapons and military items from Pharaonic to modern times; and the elegant gardens.

While 84% of Cairo’s population is Muslim, the Coptic Area rings with Christian church bells. Here, let’s dive into its religious heritage at the unique Hanging Church, built atop the southern gate tower of the Roman Babylon Fortress, giving it a suspended-looking floor. Then drop by a nearby alley to see the Ben Ezra Synagogue, Egypt’s oldest Jewish house of worship, said to stand above the site where the Holy Family once took refuge.

Next, adventure into Khan El Khalili Market, Cairo’s most vibrant bazaar. Wandering through the maze of winding alleys, you’ll smell the aromas of spices wafting in the air, shisha tobacco, and fresh leather from craft kiosks. Deeper in, the domain of true artisans awaits, where centuries-old techniques are passed from master to apprentice.

★ Featured Felucca Ride: Timeless Slow Life on the Nile River

At dusk, cruise the picturesque Nile on a typical felucca, an engineless sailboat dating back to pharaonic times. It moves silently when the wind dies and glides pleasantly forward when it rises, with just flapping sails and lapping water. Behind its silhouette, the sun slowly sets, painting the sky pink, crimson, and gold. A breeze stirs the date palms, the boatman hums an old tune, and life carries on beside millennia of civilization. The evening river air can be chilly, so bring a light jacket or shawl.

Finally, your guide and the driver will escort you back to your hotel.

► How Much Do You Know about the Nile?
The Nile was a sacred river to the ancient Egyptians, with distinct laws of life and death on its east and west banks: The east bank was the realm of vitality and the living world, thus the earthly home to grand temples for the gods; the west bank, however, was the land of death and the afterlife, where tombs and mortuary temples were constructed to express hopes for the life to come.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
Accommodation: Steigenberger Pyramids Cairo (5 stars) or similar

This morning, your driver will pick you up from your hotel and escort you to the airport for your flight to Aswan.

★ 4-Day, 3-Night Full-board Nile River Cruise

Upon arrival at Aswan’s airport, your local guide will meet you at the exit and escort you to the pier to board the Nile Cruise before 12:00 at noon. Over the coming days, let’s sail along the Nile between Egypt’s two ancient cities, Aswan and Luxor. During the voyage, we’ll go ashore occasionally and invite you to visit the renowned historical landmarks.

Savor lunch on board while taking in the passing views of rocky banks, shallows, and hamlet houses. Afterward, your guide will accompany you ashore and drive to visit the impressive Aswan High Dam, Egypt’s largest hydroelectric dam, and the Temple of Philae, a masterpiece with elegant courtyards, towering pylons, and intricate reliefs blending Egyptian and Greco-Roman styles. It is dedicated to the goddess of love, Isis, who briefly revived her murdered husband Osiris on Philae Island after finding his heart, conceiving their son Horus. Also, witness the Unfinished Obelisk and discover how the ancient Egyptians quarried massive obelisks to honor the gods and record pharaohs’ achievements. If completed, this 42-meter (137.8-foot) obelisk would have been the largest ever built.

After that, return to the cruise for dinner and enjoy your overnight stay.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: M/S Concerto Nile Cruise (5 stars) or similar

Wake up to a Nile sunrise, and after breakfast, disembark the cruise and enjoy a comfortable 3-hour drive to Abu Simbel to admire the breathtaking rock-cut Temple of Abu Simbel, built by Ramses II, the powerful pharaoh of the New Kingdom’s (c. 1550-1069 BCE) final golden age. At its entrance, you’ll find four enormous, 20-meter (65.6-foot)-tall seated statues of him. One of them was damaged by an earthquake, with its fallen upper half left at the feet, preserved exactly as it collapsed even after the temple was relocated. Inside, admire the intricate reliefs of his heroic military campaigns. Moreover, don’t miss the adjacent smaller Temple of Nefertari, built by the pharaoh for his most beloved wife, Queen Nefertari.

Later, back on the cruise, continue our journey past villages fringed with date palms, where locals may wave warmly from the riverbank. We'll dock in the afternoon to visit the Kom Ombo Temple, a rare double temple honoring two gods: the falcon-headed Horus and the crocodile-headed Sobek. Its walls offer fascinating glimpses of daily life, including a royal dining table laden with food, one of the world’s earliest calendars, and rites that prepare a pharaoh for coronation.

After the visit, reboard the cruise and sail toward Edfu, a key stop on the Aswan-Luxor Nile cruise route. Enjoy another night on board.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: M/S Concerto Nile Cruise (5 stars) or similar

Today, we’ll dock to visit the Temple of Horus, aka Temple of Edfu, Egypt’s second-largest temple. Admire its interior reliefs depicting Horus avenging his father’s death in battle against his uncle Seth, and inscriptions recording Greco-Roman Egyptian mythology and religious practices. Glimpse its Birth House, where the birth of the divine son and pharaoh’s continuing authority were celebrated.

Afterward, get back on board and sail downstream to Luxor. We’ll disembark on its east bank and visit the Karnak Temple, dedicated to Amun-Ra, the god of sun and air. As Egypt’s largest temple complex, its Hypostyle Hall alone covers over 5,000 square meters, spacious enough to fit Paris’s Notre-Dame Cathedral. Outside the temple’s southern gate, spot ram-headed sphinxes, lion bodies fused with the ram, Amun’s sacred animal, that flank the Rams Road. This sacred procession road leads to the Luxor Temple, which was continuously expanded and renovated by numerous pharaohs over 2,000 years. There, let’s check out the innermost sanctuary, once accessible only to the pharaohs and high priests, the medieval mosque, the Roman-era graffiti, and murals of the Amun god’s religious procession from Karnak Temple during the most revered Opet Festival.

Finally, your guide will escort you back to the cruise.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: M/S Concerto Nile Cruise (5 stars) or similar

After breakfast, we’ll check out of the cruise at 8:00 a.m. Then your local guide will accompany you to Luxor’s west bank to visit the Valley of the Kings. This is where the later pharaohs abandoned pyramids in favor of rock-cut tombs due to financial strain and rampant tomb robbing. Your guide will show you around three regular tombs and two premium ones: KV9, the tomb of Ramesses V & VI, and KV62, Tutankhamun’s tomb, where you can glimpse the young pharaoh’s mummy! Additionally, the vibrant murals are a highlight, especially the Weighing of the Heart, wherein the deceased’s fitness for the afterlife was assessed by weighing their heart against the feather of truth. A portable fan is recommended, as it gets stuffier the deeper you go.

Then, let’s tour the Temple of Hatshepsut, a unique three-tiered structure carved into a cliff. Under your guide’s vivid explanation, glimpse into how each level had a distinct function: the lowest for rituals and processions; the middle for housing the gods; and the top for honoring both Hatshepsut and the god Amun. Next, proceed to the Temple of Medinat Habu erected by Ramesses III, where you’ll marvel at its well-preserved reliefs depicting the pharaoh’s fierce battles against the Sea Peoples, one of ancient Egypt’s most detailed records of a foreign invasion, and the Colossi of Memnon, two 18-meter (59-foot) statues that once guarded Pharaoh Amenhotep III’s mortuary temple.

At last, enjoy a private convoy to Luxor’s airport for your 1-hour flight to Cairo. When you land at Cairo’s airport, your local driver will meet you and escort you to your hotel.

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Accommodation: Steigenberger Pyramids Cairo (5 stars) or similar

In the morning, your driver will escort you to the airport and see you off for your flight to Amman, Jordan. After landing, your local English-speaking driver guide will meet you in the arrival hall and accompany you directly on today’s sightseeing.

After about a 1-hour private car ride, we’ll reach the Roman Ruins in Jerash, one of the world’s best-preserved ancient Roman cities, often called the “Pompeii of the Middle East.” Wander the central Oval Plaza, once a gathering place and justice center, encircled by over 60 columns resembling harp strings; walk along the major stone-paved Cardo Maximus; and visit the Temple of Artemis, honoring the city’s patron goddess. Its dozen or so 20-meter (65.6-foot) towering columns will make you wonder at ancient engineering. Life in the Roman era was vibrant, and this relatively small city even boasts two Roman theaters, north and south, both typical open-air semicircular stages with tiered seating for perfect acoustics. Every July, the Jerash Festival for Culture and Arts is held here.

In the end, your driver will escort you to your hotel in downtown Amman for check-in.

Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: Golden Tulip Amman, Jordan (4 stars) or similar

This morning, your driver guide will accompany you to tick off Amman’s Roman Theatre, famous for its natural acoustics. Its three-tiered seating, stage, and partial colonnades are remarkably well preserved, and a few seats still bear ancient Greek inscriptions that assigned them to specific Roman families or social classes. Continue our way to the Citadel, the city’s highest point. Besides appreciating the grand Roman columns and colossal finger remnants of its Temple of Hercules and the iconic Umayyad Palace constructed as a governor’s residence and administrative headquarters during the Umayyad Dynasty (661-750 CE), you can also take in sweeping views of the hillside block-like houses.

Next, step into the Jordan Archaeological Museum to see artifacts unearthed from across Jordan, including Jordan’s oldest known artifacts, the 100,000-year-old stone blades and axes found in the Jordan Valley, and important fragments of the Dead Sea Scrolls.

In the afternoon, enjoy a 2-hour private transfer to Petra, an ancient city tucked in a narrow valley between the Dead Sea and the Gulf of Aqaba. Upon arrival, check into your hotel and relax for the rest of the day.

Meals: Breakfast
Accommodation: RN Hotel, Petra (4 stars) or similar

This morning, enjoy a guided tour of Petra Ancient City, one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Known as the “Rose City,” it features grand structures carved into red sandstone, blending local Nabataean nomadic tribal style with Greco-Roman influences. Walk through the imposing, narrow Siq Canyon, and marvel at the iconic 39-meter (128-foot) high Treasury Temple, aka Al Khazna. Nearby on the hillside, the Royal Tombs, including the Silk Tomb and Palace Tomb, are also carved into the rock face. Additionally, the ancient theater, residential buildings, and water systems here deserve your admiration for the Nabataeans’ remarkable engineering ingenuity.

In the early afternoon, enjoy a comfortable 1.5-hour private transfer to Wadi Rum, a red desert known as the “Valley of the Moon” for its lunar-like landscape. Remember to bring a coat as temperatures vary greatly between day and night here.

★ Special Inclusion: An Adrenaline-pumping Desert Jeep Adventure!

Avoiding the midday heat, let’s embark on a 2-hour desert jeep tour through Wadi Rum’s red desert, giant rocks, and canyons, complete with bumpy rides and thrilling downhill stretches. Along the way, you may encounter local Bedouins in traditional robes and headscarves leading their slow-moving camels. Feel free to chat with these nomads who have chosen to stay outside modern city life. Also, watch out for small watermelon-like fruits. Toxic! If weather permits, enjoy a beautiful sunset.

Tonight, bed down at a camp in the desert.

Meals: Breakfast, Dinner
Accommodation: Mazayen Rum Camp, Wadi Rum or similar

After breakfast, your English-speaking driver will pick you up from your hotel and escort you to the Dead Sea, the lowest point on Earth at 430 meters (1,411 feet) below sea level, often dubbed the “Navel of the Earth.” Known for its extreme salinity, 8 to 10 times that of seawater, it makes floating on its surface effortless. Upon arrival in 3 hours, your driver will assist you with check-in at the hotel, and the rest of the day is free at your leisure.

Put on your swimsuit and head to your hotel’s private beach. Squat down, relax, and you’ll float on the Dead Sea with ease. Due to the high salt content, limit your time in the water to 15-20 minutes. Then, try a mineral-rich mud bath. Smear the black mud over your body, let it dry in the sun, and rinse off. Your skin will feel soft and silky. At dusk, watch the salt crystals glisten as the sun sets, a truly dreamy scene.
► Warm Tips:
1. Refrain from getting into the water if you have open cuts, as the salt will sting.
2. Sharp salt crystals can easily cut your skin, so wear water shoes, and rinse off right after you get out.

Meal: Breakfast
Accommodation: Holiday Inn Dead Sea Resort (5 stars) or similar

Today, your driver will pick you up from your hotel at the agreed time and escort you to Amman’s airport for your onward flight. Wishing you a pleasant journey!

► FYI: We recommend you book a later departure flight so you can enjoy more beach time by the Dead Sea or unwind at Ma’in Hot Springs, known for its therapeutic pools and a natural steam cave beneath the waterfall. Entry is JOD 15 (USD 21) per person, at your own expense.

Meal: Breakfast