Real Egypt & Jordan

Ahlan wa sahlan! Welcome to Egypt. If you arrive in Cairo with time to spare, maybe immerse yourself in the madness of the bazaars, embrace the kitsch world of Dr Ragab's Pharaonic Village or wash down the dust with a sahlab (sweet, hot custard drink with nuts). Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight. After, put your tastebuds into overdrive as you head out with your new travel buddies for some koshari (vegetarian Egyptian chilli often with fresh lemon juice). Later tonight, maybe explore Cairo’s nightlife – your trip leader will know all the best spots!

After breakfast this morning, it’s time to tick something huge off your bucket list. Drive out to the edge of the desert and explore the Great Pyramids of Giza – one of the famed ancient Wonders of the World – and the nearby Sphinx (nobody's quite sure how it lost its nose). A guy called Khufu was responsible for building the Great Pyramid – it’s 4500 years old, 146 m tall, and made from 2.3 million blocks weighing around 2.5 tonnes each. He even got a 9 cm statue to commemorate him – lucky him! You can marvel at their size up close or take an epic pic from a distance, with Cairo in the background. Later, you’ll have free time to continue exploring how you’d like – maybe visit the Egyptian Museum, home to one of the world's greatest collections of ancient artefacts, or head to the Valley Temple of King Khafre (Chephren). In the evening, it's time for your sleeper train to Aswan where you’ll spend the night.

Hit the bazaar this morning on a tour with your leader. Among the friendly shouts of ‘welcome’ and ‘where are you from’ coming from the vendors, you’ll visit an oil and perfume merchant to learn how aromatic botanicals have been used in Egypt throughout the ages. Later, choose whether to join an optional tour to the Philae Temple Complex, where you can see the Temple of Isis (the goddess of health, marriage and wisdom) that was rescued from the rising waters of the Nile and relocated in the 1960s. In the afternoon, grab a paddle for a kayaking adventure as you navigate the Nile. Float along the historic waters as you see the sights from a new perspective. For dinner, you can head to a Nubian village for an optional dinner with a local family.

This morning is yours to spend as you please in Aswan. If you can manage a (very) early start, the optional drive to the epic Abu Simbel is well worth the sleepy eyes – cut out of a solid rock cliff, this temple is a historic site built as a place of worship to Pharaoh Ramses II after his death. Renting a minivan with your fellow travellers is the cheapest option and it takes about 3 hours to drive there. You’ll want at least 2 hours to explore, before heading back to Aswan for a free evening to hit the best dinner and drink spots. Maybe try some ful wa ta’ameya (Egyptian falafel) with a warm pita and salad, followed by another cup of mint tea.

This morning is yours to relax and recharge. Then you’ll board an overnight felucca – a bit like a floating tent, this traditional Egyptian vessel is the perfect way to explore the Nile. Spend the late afternoon amid tranquil scenery, either tucking into a good book or playing cards with your group. Stop at a colourful Nubian village nearby for a stroll and discover what life is like for people living along the Nile. Depending on your group’s vibe tonight, you might like to have a little beach party under the starry night sky. Tonight, fall asleep to the gentle rocking of the boat, the warm breeze on your cheeks and the blanket of constellations above (there are no walls on a felucca, so your view will be totally undisturbed!).

Disembark your felucca this morning and head for the sweet release of a hotel shower. If you like, you can check out the Temple of Edfu along the way, where inscriptions give insight into life during the Hellenistic period when the temple was built. Continue to Luxor, where you’re free to explore this open-air museum at your own pace. Karnak Temple is a good first stop – wandering through this ancient village is a cool way to get a sense of what life was like here more than 3000 years ago. Legend has it that if you walk around the granite scarab west of the Sacred Lake seven times, you’ll meet your soulmate. Tonight, maybe kick back with some fiteer baladi (Egyptian pizza) or shawarma.

This morning, travel the short distance to the West Bank. Check out three burial tombs in the Valley of the Kings, with the option to explore the formerly lost tomb of Tutankhamun. Continue to the Colossi of Memnon, where two huge statues of Pharaoh Amenhotep III will have you pondering whether posting selfies twice a day is really the height of narcissism. You’ll also head over to Animal Care in Egypt (ACE), a local NGO dedicated to providing free veterinary care for wounded working animals in the region. If your fellow travellers are up for it, you can choose to finish your West Bank adventure with an optional visit to the tomb of Hatshepsut – she became pharaoh when she married her half-brother (not all that uncommon at the time). If you’ve got any energy left, there will also be time to squeeze in a visit to Luxor Temple before your overnight train to Cairo.

When you arrive in Cairo, you’ll head to your hotel to freshen up and drop your bags. Then, jump on the Metro with your leader to Bab al-Futuh – one of three remaining gates from the Old City. Walking past the old Islamic monuments that stand watch over the bazaars, you can join in on some good-natured haggling at the Kahan-el Khalili bazaar, then head to El Fishawy. This ramshackle 240-year-old cafe is perfect for a cup of tea or a glass of cold water with lemon and mint. Tonight, you’re free to find the perfect spot for a farewell dinner with your group or to hit the nightlife and celebrate a trip well-travelled.

Say goodbye to Egypt and fly to Jordan's capital city – Amman. You’ll have another meeting at 6 pm tonight, but until then, you’re free to hit the streets. Why not make a beeline for Rainbow Street for a falafel and a shisha – it’s what the locals do! After something more substantial? Maybe have a cultured afternoon at the Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts, snap some pics of the city from the hilltop Temple of Hercules, or sweat it out in a hammam. After your meeting, why not get a group together and head out for the night on Rainbow Street – your trip leader will know all the best little bars. 

This morning, take a walking tour with your leader around Amman, beginning at the hilltop Citadel, then following the edge of the walls down into town past the Roman Theatre, the Nymphaeum ruins and the Al Husseiny Mosque. Be sure to stop in at some nut shops or a souq for some snacks along the way. After lunch, drive to Wadi Rum. When you arrive, you'll meet your Bedouin hosts, who'll show you around camp and offer you many rounds of ‘Bedouin whisky’ (mint tea), so settle in for a night of traditional hospitality. This evening you'll be dining on traditional Bedouin cuisine and sleeping in Bedouin-style tents. If you choose, you can even sleep in the open air, surrounded by the Mars-like mountains in the background. Fall asleep under a desert blanket of an undisturbed night sky, rich with stars.

You won’t want to miss this – Wadi Rum rarely looks as fine as she does in the early morning. Wake up early to take in the sunrise, then it’s time to head on a 4WD safari. Jump in one of the jeeps and begin driving around the curious landscapes, passing by Lawrence Spring – a rocky landscape contrasted by a freshwater spring with panoramic views over the valley. You’ll also stop at Lawrence House – supposedly the house where Lawrence of Arabia lived and stored his equipment. Continue to one of the largest sand dunes in Wadi Rum and check out some of the famous rock bridges. The deserts around Wadi Rum have got a real otherworldly feel to them, and many Hollywood blockbusters have been shot in and around where you’ll tour today. Later in the afternoon, return to your camp and enjoy a second night of Bedouin hospitality.

Today, farewell your Bedouin mates and journey to Petra – one of the famed Seven Wonders of the World. You’ll have two full days exploring Petra and its surroundings, so be sure to take your time exploring this archaeological site. Take a guided tour where you’ll learn about its thousands of years of history and the many films that have used this as a backdrop. You'll get to follow in the footsteps of movie stars as you head through the site's narrow siq (a narrow crack in the mountain) to Petra's tombs, temples and rock-hewn amphitheatre. For those wanting to admire the 'rose-red city' from a different angle, there's also the option of hiking the Alkhobatha Trail (approximately 2.5 hours) where locals sell cold drinks in exchange for the best view over the Treasury – this is the best place to get your photos! After a day of exploration, the cave bar is a good place to relieve your parched throat and put your feet up.

Today, you’ve got another day to explore Petra at your own pace. Maybe walk the road to Al Khanzneh (the Treasury) – one of the most impressive structures in the whole site. Or, if you didn’t make it yesterday, head up the stairs to El Dier (the Monastery) – this is a decent climb, but well worth it for the views. Other great options today are to hike to the royal tombs or visit the incredible Byzantine mosaics. Your leader will know all the good things to do, so feel free to ask them for help.

This morning after breakfast, drive down the King’s Highway towards Madaba. You’ll stop along the way to check out the famous Dead Sea – the lowest point on Earth – where you’ll go for a swim (or float) in its salty waters. If you’re feeling a bit sore after your Petra expedition, the Dead Sea’s mud has known healing properties and will be sure to bring back your youthful good looks! After, swing past Mt Nebo, where you’ll have the opportunity to view the Promised Land, just like Moses did. Arrive in Madaba – the city of mosaics – and take a leader-led orientation walk to get your bearings. This afternoon, visit St Georges Church, where you’ll see the intricate mosaic map containing the oldest surviving cartographic depiction of the Holy Land and Jerusalem. Later, maybe head out with the gang for dinner – there are some awesome places to eat in this city and your leader knows all the best spots.

Your Jordan exploration ends in Madaba after breakfast today. Because there’s so much to see in Madaba and Amman, it’s recommended that you spend an extra day or two to check out what you missed. If you would like to spend more time here, just speak to your booking agent ahead of time.