Essential Egypt & Jordan small group tour

Today you'll explore the magnificent Karnak Temple, which is perhaps the most impressive of all the ancient pharaohs' monumental works. One of the world's most celebrated temple complexes, Karnak was built over some 200 years and was once known as the 'Chosen of Places'. 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.

The rest of the day is yours. Take part in the optional tour to visit the Luxor Temple, or relax, shop in the excellent bazaar, or perhaps experience the atmosphere of a local teahouse.

Inspiring Highlights

• Karnak Temple Visit 

Catch an early morning flight from Luxor to Cairo, where you'll be greeted and transferred straight to the historic city of Alexandria. Once in Alexandria, enjoy an afternoon in this historic down. 

You will be taken to visit to the historic Fort of Qaitbey, built in 1480 AD by the Mamluk ruler to defend the coastline against Ottoman invasion. With an afternoon to yourself, stroll along the Cornice to enjoy the fresh Mediterranean Air. 

Inspiring Highlights

•  Alexandria - Fort Qaitbey Visit 

Special Information 
Your flight time today is approximately 1 hour. Your driving time from Cairo to Alexandria is approximately 3 hours 

Today, after breakfast, prepare to delve into the catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa. Heading underground, you’ll get to view the largest known Roman burial site in Egypt, complete with burial chambers, labyrinth alleyways and entertaining rooms for families coming to visit the dead.

The crypts are 20 metres below street level and date back to the Greco Roman period. What likely started as a small family tomb grew into a large number of graves that could accommodate more than 300 bodies. The tombs are organised around a central spiral staircase that leads down through several levels.

Stop by the strikingly modern Bibliotheca Alexandrina, inspired by the original great library of Alexandria and   built to hold over 8 million books. 

We then drive back to Cairo. On arrival, you will check into your hotel for an evening at your leisure

Inspiring Highlights

•   Alexandria - Bibliotheca Alexandrina 
•  Alexandria - Catacombs of Kom Ash-Suqqafa 

Your travel time today will be approximately 3 hours.

Enjoy a day at leisure in Cairo.

Today, say goodbye to your Egyptian tour leader and get ready for the next leg of your journey as you are transferred to the airport for your flight to Amman, Jordan. Welcome to Jordan, cosmopolitan and contemporary, yet steeped in biblical history. On arrival at Amman's Queen Alia International Airport, you will be met by our representative and transferred to your hotel. You will meet your Jordanian tour leader today.

Special Information

Your flight time will be approximately 1.5 hours

Your included flight allows one checked bag up to 23kg (50 lbs), and one 7kg (15 lbs) carry-on. Your flight will be unescorted, however your tour guide will assist you on either end to ensure that your journey is trouble free. 

If you are eligible for a Jordanian visa on arrival, this will be included in your tour package.  You will be met and assisted through immigration.

After breakfast enjoy a tour of this capital city. Cosmopolitan and contemporary, yet steeped in ancient biblical history, Amman is a bit of a chameleon. Most of the city's historical sites are located downtown. Here we'll visit the Citadel, with remains from the Roman to the early Islamic period; the Jordan Archaeological Museum, which houses the oldest Neolithic statues dating from 8000 to 5000 NC, as well as other valuable artifacts; the souq, where we'll get an idea of everyday life; as well as the beautifully restored 2nd-century Roman Theatre.

Next we'll take a short drive (approximately one-hour) north to Jerash. Once one of the grandest ancient Roman cities in the world, Jerash now boasts some of the best Greco-Roman ruins around. Admire this site's striking collection of crumbling archways, theatres, baths, public buildings and colonnaded streets. Grand columns encircle the city's centrepiece, the Oval Plaza, a wonderfully atmospheric place to linger after exploring this ruined city's lasting riches.

Today marks the beginning of our journey towards the fabled site of Petra. En route we'll visit Madaba, an ancient market town that's home to a number of fine Byzantine mosaics, the most outstanding of which lies within Saint George's Greek Orthodox Church. Here, a map of the Holy Land once carpeted the whole floor, said to contain more than two million pieces. Crafted around 560 CE, a large swathe of this mosaic map can still be viewed, providing the oldest map of Palestine in existence.

Next we'll continue to the ancient village at Dana, on the edge of the Dana Biosphere Reserve, where local artisans sell silver jewellery.

Later, we'll drive along the King's Highway, up to Shobak Castle, sometimes known as Montreal. Perched at the top of a hill in the desert, this ancient Crusader castle was originally built to protect the eastern flank of the Latin Kingdom and its trade routes to the sea before it fell to Muslim sultan Saladin in 1189. Stroll the site and discover a small chapel, original gatehouse, and find out where a long, dark secret passage leads.

Get ready for Petra! A firm fixture on most bucket lists for good reason – the jewel of Jordan is an arresting sight. The so-called Rose City boasts an impressive series of tombs, caves and temples hidden behind ornate façades carved directly into the rock. No one knows the exact date of this desert kingdom's creation, but the lost city of the Nabateans is believed to date as far back as the 2nd century CE. The city has lain empty and unknown for centuries, only rediscovered in 1812 by a Swiss explorer.

You'll feel just like Indiana Jones, as you meander through the narrow canyon known as the Siq; at times the path measures only a few metres wide, with walls soaring up to 180 metres on either side of you. It's easy to imagine the armies and merchants who made their way here many years ago, and the sense of awe they too must have felt upon reaching this ancient rock-hewn kingdom, surrounded by such a stark landscape. The Siq is the main entranceway to The Treasury – perhaps Petra's most iconic sight, and one of its most elaborate temples.

Petra's greatest surprise, however, is its size. With our guide we'll explore the old Roman road, the amphitheatre and several tombs. We'll also climb up to the beautiful façade of the Monastery, from where you will have a magnificent view of the entire site.

Exploring this truly extraordinary destination is sure to be a highlight of your trip.

We continue to Wadi Rum and browse around the excellent and informative visitor's centre. We'll visit several of Wadi Rum's distinctive rock formations and soak in the vast silence, towering sandstone mountains and spectacular desert landscapes of this surreal 'Valley of the Moon', where, the wind-sculpted rock formations change in hue throughout the day.

We'll also meet with local Bedouins, who live in scattered camps throughout the area, and ride camels to our traditional Bedouin tent, situated deep within the valley. We'll enjoy an evening with them at one of their camps, savouring the hospitality of these nomadic peoples and the uninterrupted desert panoramas.

Wadi Rum is probably best known for its connection with the enigmatic British army officer TE Lawrence, who was based here during the Great Arab Revolt of 1917-18. Much of David Lean's movie on his exploits, Lawrence of Arabia, was actually filmed in this very region.

Please note - While we are sure that this experience will inspire you, please be aware that your stay will differ from that of a traditional hotel. There are no hotels in or near Wadi Rum: the only places to sleep are the numerous bedouin-run camps dotted around the desert. The camps that we use are quoted as being 'luxury' because their locations differ from other styles of camps and your tent will have its own ensuite. Even at the best and more 'luxurious' camps, bathroom facilities within the tents are somewhat rudimentary and the bedding can also be quite basic, however still offering you a comfortable nights' accommodation. All of your meals are included and will be served in a common social area.

After waking up in the unique environment of the luxury camp this morning, we'll enjoy a walk around the area before scaling one of the large dunes to enjoy sensational views of the surrounding area; keen photographers will be delighted. We'll then ride camels back across the Wadi Rum desert.

Later, we'll drive for approximately an hour and a half to reach a radically different landscape – the Dead Sea. We'll spend the afternoon on the shores of this famous body of water, named for the dearth of life in its waters. The saline water has a high density that keeps bathers buoyant and makes getting underneath the surface very difficult. Floating on the surface without any sort of lilo makes for a once in a lifetime experience. Afterwards we'll return to Amman for the evening.

Unfortunately, today marks the end of your incredible tour through Egypt and Jordan.

At the appropriate time, you will be transferred to the airport to board your flight.

Special Information:

Departure transfers are included as part of your package. You will be collected from your hotel at the appropriate time and transferred to the airport to meet your flight.