Itinerary
- Day 1
Cairo
You'll arrive in Cairo and head to your hotel to settle in. If you get there early enough, there's an optional backstreets tour leaving at 10am where you can walk through local neighborhoods and see how the city actually works. Otherwise, just rest up after your journey.
Optional Activities
- Backstreets of Cairo tour (departs hotel at 10am)
- Pre-tour excursion to Alexandria (available Thursdays)
- Day 2
Cairo
This morning you're heading to the Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx with plenty of time to walk around and take it all in. After that, you'll drive out to Saqqara to see Djoser's step pyramid, which is one of the oldest stone structures around. Before wrapping up, you'll stop at a government-run papyrus museum to see how they make it.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit to Pyramids of Giza and Sphinx
- Visit to Saqqara necropolis and Zhoser's step pyramid
- Visit to government-supervised Papyrus Museum
Landmarks/POIs Pyramids of Giza Great Sphinx of Giza Saqqara Pyramid of Djoser - Day 3
Cairo to Aswan
Start your day with a guided tour through the Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza, where you'll see tons of ancient artifacts including things from King Tutankhamun's tomb. Later, you're heading to the Egyptian Museum in Cairo to check out mummies, statues, and jewelry. You'll get back to your hotel with time to relax by the pool before boarding an overnight sleeper train to Aswan around evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of the Grand Egyptian Museum in Giza
- Visit to the Egyptian Museum in Cairo
- Overnight sleeper train from Cairo to Aswan (private 2 berth cabin)
Landmarks/POIs Grand Egyptian Museum Egyptian Museum - Day 4
Aswan
You'll arrive in Aswan and get settled at your hotel. After that, you're taking a boat out to Agilika Island to see the Temples of Philae, which were dedicated to the goddess Isis. On the way back, you'll stop at a perfume oil shop. The rest of your evening is free, so you can either wander through the colorful souqs or just relax.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Boat trip to Agilika Island
- Visit to Temples of Philae
- Visit to perfume oil emporium
Landmarks/POIs Temples of Philae - Day 5
Aswan to Nile Felucca
You're boarding your Nile felucca for a 2-night cruise heading downstream toward Kom Ombo. You'll spend the day relaxing on deck, watching the river go by, and stopping at local villages along the way. The Temple of Kom Ombo sits right by the water, so you'll see that too. There's also an optional early morning trip to Abu Simbel if you want.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Nile felucca cruise (2 nights) towards Kom Ombo
Optional Activities
- Early morning excursion to Abu Simbel by road
- Upgrade to 5-star luxury Nile Cruise
Landmarks/POIs Temple of Kom Ombo Abu Simbel - Day 6
Nile Felucca Sailing
Today is all about relaxing on the felucca. You can swim, sunbathe, or just chill on deck reading or watching the scenery. In the afternoon, you'll dock near Kom Ombo and take a motorboat to visit the temple dedicated to Sobek, the crocodile god. After, you're heading back to the felucca for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit to Temple of Kom Ombo by motorboat
Landmarks/POIs Temple of Kom Ombo - Day 7
Kom Ombo to Luxor
You'll disembark this morning and drive to Luxor, which is famous for the Valley of the Kings and the Temple of Karnak. Once you arrive, you've got the rest of the day to rest and explore. There's an optional visit to the Temple of Luxor in the evening, or you can use the hotel's facilities and relax.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Evening visit to Temple of Luxor
Landmarks/POIs Valley of the Kings Temple of Karnak Temple of Luxor - Day 8
Luxor
You're heading to the West Bank of the Nile to explore the Valley of the Kings. You'll see the Colossi of Memnon, walk through the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, and check out the surrounding tombs. After lunch, you'll head to the Temple of Karnak to see those impressive stone papyrus columns. The evening is yours to do whatever you want.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Lunch
Included Activities
- Visit to Colossi of Memnon
- Visit to Temple of Queen Hatshepsut
- Exploration of surrounding tombs on West Bank
- Visit to Temple of Karnak
Landmarks/POIs Colossi of Memnon Temple of Queen Hatshepsut Temple of Karnak - Days 9 - 10
Luxor to Hurghada
You'll leave Luxor and drive east to Hurghada on the Red Sea coast. You've got the rest of today and all of tomorrow free. There's an optional day trip to Giftun Island where you can swim and snorkel, which you can book once you're there. The area has great water facilities and some nice reefs offshore.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Day trip to Giftun Island for swimming and snorkeling (bookable locally)
Landmarks/POIs Red Sea - Day 11
Hurghada to Petra
Early in the morning, you're heading to Hurghada Airport for your flight to Amman with a stop in Cairo. Once you land in Amman, you'll drive south toward Petra, arriving around sunset. If you want, there's an optional candlelight walk through Petra's Siq available for around $45 that you pay for locally.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Petra By Night candlelight stroll through Petra's Siq (approximately USD$45, payable locally)
Landmarks/POIs Petra - Day 12
Petra
You'll take a guided walk through Petra's famous narrow Siq and emerge to see the Treasury carved into the rock face. After that, you're exploring ancient Nabatean tombs, Roman streets with temples, royal burial sites, and gates. You'll also see an old amphitheater that originally held 3,000 people (Romans expanded it to 7,000). After your guide tour, you can explore more or take it easy. There's an optional hike up to the Monastery if you want the view, or you can try a cooking class at Petra Kitchen.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided walk through Petra's Siq
- Visit to Treasury
- Exploration of Nabatean tombs
- Exploration of Temple, royal tombs, and amphitheater
Optional Activities
- Hike to the Monastery
- Petra Kitchen cooking experience add-on
Landmarks/POIs Petra Treasury Petra Siq Petra Monastery - Day 13
Petra to Wadi Rum
You have the option to go back to Petra this morning if you want to see more. Then you're driving to Wadi Rum, a massive desert landscape with these colorful rock formations called jebels. You'll do a 4x4 safari through the sand, and later sit down for a Bedouin dinner at the desert camp. You can sleep under the stars or stay in tents.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Bedouin dinner)
Included Activities
- 4x4 desert safari in Wadi Rum
- Bedouin dinner at desert camp
Optional Activities
- Revisit Petra for further exploration
Landmarks/POIs Wadi Rum - Day 14
Wadi Rum to Dead Sea
After breakfast at the camp, you're heading north on the Desert Highway to check out Shobak Castle, a fortress built way back in 1115 by a Crusader king. You'll then descend about 1,300 meters down to the Dead Sea, the lowest point on Earth. Once there, you'll float in the mineral-rich water and slather on some of that famous black mud. If you're going April through October, there's a moderate trek through the Siq Trail in Wadi Mujib (500m deep, 4km across) where you can swim and wade. Otherwise, you can just walk part of it or hang out at the visitor center.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit to Shobak Castle
- Floating and swimming in the Dead Sea
- Black Dead Sea mud treatment
Optional Activities
- Wadi Mujib Siq Trail trek (2 hours, moderate pace, seasonal April-October, includes water wading and swimming)
Landmarks/POIs Shobak Castle Dead Sea Wadi Mujib - Day 15
Dead Sea
You've got a full day here to enjoy the Dead Sea. Spend it bobbing around in the buoyant mineral water and doing a mud bath to detox. If you're interested, you can book a visit to Ma'in hot springs or the site where John is believed to have baptized Jesus (you arrange this locally).
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Floating and swimming in the Dead Sea
- Mud bath treatment
Optional Activities
- Visit to Ma'in hot springs (bookable locally)
- Visit to Jesus Christ baptism site (bookable locally)
Landmarks/POIs Dead Sea - Day 16
Dead Sea to Amman
Your tour wraps up today. The tour operator offers departure transfers to Amman Airport at various times: 23:00 (evening of day 15), 04:00, 07:00, 09:00, 12:00, and 16:00. If you need a different time or want to stay another night, you can arrange that for an extra fee.
Optional Activities
- 2-day end in Amman add-on (post-tour accommodation)
