A Family Expedition: Jordan and Egypt Adventure

Our day begins with a journey north from Amman to Jerash, famously known as the 'Jewel of the North.' This expansive site boasts some of the most well-preserved examples of Roman architecture in the world outside of Italy and has a continuous history of human occupation dating back more than 6,500 years. Although Jerash was hidden under sand for many centuries, excavations and renovations over the past 70 years have revealed a magnificent example of grand Roman urbanism found throughout the Middle East. Upon returning from Jerash, we'll spend the afternoon exploring Amman, also known as the 'white city' due to its abundance of white limestone buildings. Amman's rich history stretches back for millennia, with numerous excavations and renovations uncovering remnants from the Neolithic period, Hellenistic era, late Roman to Arab Islamic Ages, and beyond. Our tour of Amman will include a visit to the Citadel, once home to the ancient Temple of Hercules, as well as the Umayyad Palace and the Byzantine Church. Additionally, we'll explore the 6,000-seat Roman Theatre, which dates back to the Roman period when the city was known as Philadelphia. Overnight: Amman hotel Meals: Breakfast

Today, we bid farewell to Amman and embark on a scenic drive to Petra via the King's Highway. Along the way, we'll cross deep Wadis, pass through olive groves, and remote rural villages. Before arriving at Petra, we'll make a stop in Madaba to visit the Greek Orthodox Church of St. George, renowned for its 6th Century Byzantine mosaic map of the Holy Land and other biblical sites. We'll also take a detour to Mt. Nebo, known as the burial place of the prophet Moses, for stunning views of the Holy Land. As we continue our journey, we'll cross several deep Wadis, including the awe-inspiring Wadi al-Mujib, where the road winds through olive groves before ascending up the side of a breathtaking 1-kilometer deep canyon. We'll also visit Kerak Castle, one of several Crusader fortresses built across Jordan in the 12th Century on the ancient Egypt-Syrian caravan route. Built in 1132 AD by the Crusader King Baldwin 1 of Jerusalem, the castle fell to Saladin in 1188 AD. To this day, it remains an impressive structure with commanding views over the surrounding hills and plains. Upon arrival in Petra, we'll assist you with checking into your hotel, and you'll have the evening free to relax and explore. As an option, you can get a first taste of Petra itself by taking the atmospheric Petra by Candlelight tour through the Siq to the Treasury. Overnight: Petra hotel Meals: Breakfast

Today is dedicated to exploring the Nabatean site of Petra, which was the ancient capital of the Nabataean commercial empire until the Romans conquered it in 106 AD. For a long time, Petra was forgotten, except by the local Bedouins, until it was rediscovered by Swiss explorer Johann Ludwig Burckhardt in 1812. Petra is situated at the edge of the Wadi Aruba desert, where canyon walls and towering hills make it nearly impossible to reach, except through a narrow cleft in the rock known as the Siq. The Nabateans carved their dwellings into the multi-colored sandstone cliffs, resulting in very few freestanding buildings in Petra. We have the majority of the day to explore this ancient city, starting with a 2-3 hour guided tour, followed by free time to explore independently. We'll begin by traversing the Siq, which rises 200 meters above us and narrows to just two meters wide in some sections. Keep an eye out for the ancient Nabatean water channel, which is still visible on one wall, and remnants of the terracotta pipes that brought water into the city. Suddenly, the Khazneh (Treasury), one of Petra's most familiar sights, will come into view as we turn a corner. Our guide will explain how this, and the other buildings here, are primarily elaborate facades carved into the rock from the top down, as well as discuss the spiritual significance of the building style. From the Treasury, the valley opens out, and you'll see tombs carved into the rock on both sides, glimpses of the ruined Roman amphitheatre, and colonnaded streets. During your free time, you can hike up a steep and narrow winding gorge to the towering Monastery, which is 50 meters high and 45 meters wide, offering breathtaking views of the Wadi Aruba desert and Jordan Valley. Another climb takes you to the High Place of Sacrifice and Lion Fountain. This is a full and tiring exercise, but a rewarding day touring one of the world's most famous ancient sites. Walking distances today are a minimum of 3km through the Siq to the Treasury and back and a few kilometers to the Monastery and back (over 800 steps up and down). For those with less mobility or concerned about the distance, horse carriages are available for around 20JD (USD 28) to take you on the 1.2km journey through the Siq to the Treasury and back again at an agreed time. They can also take you further in through the site for an extra fee. However, it's not recommended to ride the horses available. Donkeys are available for the steps up to the Monastery, and we suggest using them on the way up, not down. Later in the afternoon, we'll leave Petra and drive into the spectacular desert scenery of Wadi Rum, where friendly Bedouin hosts will welcome us to a comfortable camp beneath towering rocks and cliffs. We'll spend the evening and night relaxing at the camp, gazing at the stars, and enjoying a delicious traditional Jordanian meal. Overnight: Wadi Rum Bedouin camp Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

After breakfast, we'll embark on a Jeep safari to explore the stunning desert and mountains of Wadi Rum. The desert here, with its towering rust-colored rocky 'jebels,' awed TE Lawrence during his visits in 1917-18's Arab Revolt and was later made famous in the film Lawrence of Arabia. Next, we'll leave Wadi Rum and drive north up the banks of the Dead Sea, one of the most remarkable places on earth. The Dead Sea region, in addition to being the lowest point on earth at over 400 meters below sea level, is one of the world's most spiritual landscapes and is full of dramatic natural beauty. The Dead Sea receives several incoming rivers, including the River Jordan. Once the waters reach the Dead Sea, they are land-locked and have nowhere to go, so they evaporate, leaving behind a rich cocktail of salts and minerals that supply industry, agriculture, and medicine with some of their finest products. The Dead Sea is flanked by mountains to the east and the rolling hills of Jerusalem to the west, giving it an almost otherworldly beauty. Although the area is now sparsely populated and serenely quiet, it is believed to have been home to five Biblical cities: Sodom, Gomorrah, Adman, Zebouin, and Zoar (Bela). During our journey, we'll stop to enjoy a 'swim,' though the intensely salty waters lead to a very unusual swimming experience. Normal swimming is not possible, and it is easier (and more photogenic!) just to float, sit or lie in the water. However, be careful not to get any water in your eyes, as it will sting, and you may discover various tiny cuts you never thought you had! We'll finish the day back at our hotel in Amman, where you can relax and reflect on the amazing experiences of the past few days. Overnight: Amman hotel Meals: Breakfast

Today marks the end of your Jordan trip as we transfer you to Amman airport for your flight to Cairo. Once you arrive, we'll be waiting to greet you at the airport and assist you with obtaining your visa and luggage before transferring you to your hotel. We'll help you check-in, and then you'll have some free time to relax or explore Cairo on your own. An optional dinner cruise on the Nile is also available tonight. Please note that the Amman-Cairo flight is not included in the set tour price as it's often more cost-effective for you to include this flight as part of your main international flight ticket. We can book all your international flights, just the Amman-Cairo flight, or none of them at all, depending on your preference. Direct flights are available with both Egypt Air and Royal Jordanian Airlines, and you can fly at any time during the day. All transfers in Amman and Cairo are included in the package. Overnight: Cairo 3-star hotel Meals: Breakfast

Our exploration of Egypt begins with a visit to the iconic three great pyramids at Giza, located on the outskirts of Cairo. These three pyramids, built by the Pharaohs Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure around 2500 years BC, are probably the most recognizable ancient buildings in the world. Our Egyptologist guide will provide you with an introduction to Egyptian history, explaining how and why pyramids were constructed and how they fit into the ancient Pharaonic story. You'll even have the opportunity to climb down inside one of these pyramids, if you wish (and if you're not claustrophobic!). Our next stop is the majestic Sphinx, which is nestled nearby and was completely uncovered only in the 1920s. In the afternoon, we'll drive south through towns and villages along the banks of the River Nile to Luxor, where we'll check into our hotel. Overnight: Luxor 4-star hotel Meals: Breakfast

Luxor is the jewel in Egypt's crown and boasts the largest concentrations of ancient ruins in the Nile Valley, if not the world. These ruins are split across both banks of the Nile, with the City of the Dead on the West Bank, featuring many mortuary temples and tombs cut into the rocky mountains. On the East Bank, the Temples of Luxor and Karnak and their connecting Avenue of Sphinxes are the highlights. Later this evening, there is an optional tour to Luxor Temple, which is right in the middle of town and beautifully lit up at night. Alternatively, you can head into town to explore some of Luxor's popular outdoor cafes, perhaps enjoying a few games of backgammon and trying a shisha pipe with the locals. We'll spend the night at a comfortable 4-star hotel with a pool on the banks of the Nile. Overnight: Luxor 4-star hotel Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

This morning, we'll take a tour to the West Bank of the Nile, where we'll visit the Temple of Queen Hatchepsut, explore several tombs in the Valley of the Kings, and learn about the workers who made all this happen in Deir El-Medina (the Valley of the Artisans). We'll also stop to see the huge Colossi of Memnon. In the afternoon, you're free to relax in the hotel, or take an optional tour to explore the huge temple complex at Karnak. Alternatively, (optional excursion) you can opt for a spectacular hot air balloon flight over the West Bank of the Nile, which will require another early start to catch the sunrise as the balloon rises. Overnight: Luxor 4-star hotel Meals: Breakfast

This morning, we'll visit the temples of Dendara and Abydos along the way. These temples are much less visited by tourists than the sites in Luxor but are hugely impressive. Dedicated to the Goddess Hathor, Dendara, in particular, often becomes many people's favorite site due to its incredible preservation. Nearby Abydos is another fascinating site, the cult center of the god of the dead, Osiris. The necropolis here was a pilgrimage and burial site, and at least ten temples were originally built here.  Overnight Luxor 4-star hotel  Meals: Breakfast

Today, we'll Drive to Edfu and visit The Edfu temple, or Temple of Horus, is a well-preserved ancient Egyptian temple in Edfu, Upper Egypt, built during the Ptolemaic dynasty between 237 and 57 BC. It has a rectangular design with halls, shrines, and courtyards decorated with carvings and hieroglyphs from Egyptian mythology. The temple's grand entrance, or pylon, towers over 36 meters and features reliefs and carvings. The temple is a popular tourist attraction and provides insight into ancient Egyptian history and culture. After exploring the temple, a sail on the Nile by Felucca to Kom Ombo Temple is a double temple located in Kom Ombo, Upper Egypt, built during the Ptolemaic dynasty around 180-47 BC. It is dedicated to two gods, Horus and Sobek, with a symmetrical layout, two entrances, halls, and sanctuaries. The walls and columns depict scenes from the lives of the deities and religious rituals. The temple features a relief of ancient surgical instruments and a Nilometer. A popular tourist destination, visitors can explore the temple's chambers, admire the carvings and reliefs, and learn about ancient Egyptian beliefs. Finally, the journey along the Nile will bring you to Aswan, where you can spend the night on felucca sailboat with accompanying support boat with toilet; shower Overnight: on board Felucca Meals: Breakfast

An optional tour is available early this morning to drive to the amazing UNESCO World Heritage site at Abu Simbel, which sits on the banks of Lake Nasser, approximately 3 hours away from Aswan. The temples here were built by Ramses II and are among Egypt's most impressive and fascinating sites, particularly since they're carved into the hillside rather than being built independently. The temples were completely dismantled and moved to their present location when Lake Nasser was flooded. If you choose not to visit Abu Simbel, you can explore Aswan's markets and Corniche this morning or visit the Nubian Museum, which has an excellent collection covering the history of the Nubian people in the region. In the afternoon, we'll take a boat trip to visit one of Egypt's most beautifully situated temples, the Temple of Philae, which was dedicated to Isis. It was also reclaimed from the rising waters of Lake Nasser. We'll arrive back in Cairo this evening and check into our hotel in the city center for a final evening together Overnight: Cairo 4-star hotel Meals: Breakfast

Today, you have free time for some last-minute sightseeing or shopping until we transfer you to the airport for your departure flight. We recommend booking an afternoon or evening flight so that you can take a tour to visit the incredible Egyptian Museum and see more of the city this morning. If you'd like to extend your stay, extra nights in Cairo are also available. There are optional tours to (Cairo city tour, Saqqara, Dashour & Memphis Extra day in Cairo post-tour (3-star), Egyptian Museum & Bazaar Tour) Meals: Breakfast