Pyramids & Petra: Ancient Wonders Unveiled

After breakfast, we'll have a brief pre-tour briefing before taking you on a tour of Giza and Saqqara. Giza, built around 4600 years ago as a necropolis for the pharaoh Khufu (Cheops), is our first stop. Known as a tyrant, Khufu decided to have a tomb built that was bigger and better than all others. The Pyramid of Khufu, standing 500 feet high and 750 feet at its base, is an awe-inspiring man-made structure constructed of giant blocks of stone covered in a hard limestone casing. Over the years, the casing has been stripped away, leaving the inner block structure exposed. Together with the smaller pyramids of Khafre (Chephern) and Menkaure (Mycerinus), the sight of these enormous structures rising out of the desert is breathtaking. Here, you have the chance to climb inside one of the pyramids (although there are a limited number of tickets available, so we cannot guarantee this) and take a camel ride. The mysterious Sphinx stands nearby, guarding the area for thousands of years. You'll have another guided tour around the Sphinx and some free time to walk around and take photos. Next, we'll take you to Saqqara, located 25km south of Cairo. Djeser's (Zoser's) Step Pyramid, built 4700 years ago, dominates the skyline and is believed to have been the ancient Egyptian's first attempt at pyramid building. The entire 7km stretch of desert at Saqqara is a treasure trove of pyramids, temples, and tombs, which we'll have plenty of time to explore as we learn about the history of pyramid building in Egypt. Overnight: Cairo hotel Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast, we'll begin our tour of Cairo. Founded in 969 AD by Gohar, a Fatimid army leader, El Kahera (Cairo) soon became the capital of Egypt. Subsequent additions like the El Azhar mosque, the Islamic University, and defensive walls and a citadel, built by Saladin in 1179, have helped Cairo remain Egypt's principal city. The reign of Ismail (1830-1895) brought a new period of expansion and modernization to Cairo, with the addition of areas like Heliopolis, Dokki, and Roda, as well as gardens, opera houses, large hotels, and wide, tree-lined avenues. Further post-revolutionary urban expansion has made Cairo one of the world's largest cities. A unique blend of diverse cultures, a gateway to Egypt's past, and a mix of modern and old. Our tour includes a visit to the Egyptian Museum, which houses a vast collection of artifacts from Egypt's past, including the famous King Tutankhamun display, as well as a visit to the Citadel, a collection of mosques and palaces with a great view over the city, and the Khan al Khalili bazaar, a labyrinthine market that offers a window to the past and a guaranteed souvenir. Overnight: Cairo hotel Meals: Breakfast

This morning, we'll transfer you to Cairo airport to board your flight to Jordan's bustling capital of Amman (flight not included). Upon arrival in Amman, one of our staff will meet you and take you to the Dead Sea, where you'll have the remainder of the day to relax in the salty waters and experience the feeling of weightlessness. To make the most of your time at the Dead Sea, we recommend taking a morning flight so that you'll have the whole afternoon to relax and unwind. Overnight: Dead Sea Spa Resort Meals: Breakfast

Today, we'll travel down the Dead Sea coastline, passing through deep canyons and gorges as they meet the sea. After passing some salt flats at the southern end of the Dead Sea, we'll head up through the mountains towards Petra, stopping for a short walk in the beautiful scenery and hills of the Dana Biosphere Reserve along the way. This reserve is Jordan's largest nature reserve, and there are great views of the valleys and hills on the various trails around the restored Dana village. Spring is a particularly lovely time to visit, with the terrain surprisingly green and full of flowers. We'll stop for lunch and take a walk before continuing to the imposing crusader castle at Shobak, finally arriving in Petra in the evening. Depending on the tour departure date and local schedules, you may have the option for a spectacular and atmospheric introduction to Petra tonight with the Petra by Night tour. Here, you'll walk through the Siq to the Treasury, with the entire way atmospherically lit up by hundreds of candles. Overnight: Petra hotel Meals: Breakfast

We'll begin our exploration of the Rose Red city of Petra, now one of the Modern 7 Wonders of the World, with a walk through the winding Siq to the magnificent Treasury. Our guide will share the fascinating history of the site and the Nabatean people who built it, and we'll explore several caves and tombs. You'll then have time to further explore, perhaps hiking up to the huge Monastery, carved out of the cliffs overlooking the Jordan Valley, or walking up to the High Place of Sacrifice. Later in the afternoon, we'll head into the stunning desert scenery of Wadi Rum for a night under the stars, enjoying the hospitality of the Bedouins. We'll stay in a comfortable camp with a remote location between the sand dunes and the rocky cliffs, far away from the road and traffic. You can sleep in a traditional goat hair tent, complete with a proper bed and all bedding provided, or take a sleeping bag and find a secluded location to sleep outside under the stars. Overnight: A full day in Petra and overnight Wadi Rum Bedouin Camp Meals: Breakfast, Dinner

After breakfast in the camp, we'll embark on a jeep safari through the sands and beneath the towering "jebels" of Wadi Rum, stopping to climb sand dunes and to see some of the strange rock formations, including a spectacular rock bridge. We'll also participate in local activities inspired by Bedouin traditions, walking with a local shepherd and his sheep and goats to a Bedouin tent where we'll help make lunch. We can also learn about other traditional Bedouin activities such as shearing the sheep and goats' hair, milking, grinding grains, making bread, and roasting coffee until our lunch is ready. After really getting a feel for nomadic Bedouin life, we'll return by jeep to our camp and then drive north on the Desert Highway back to Amman. If you'd like to add a few days to your tour and spend some time by the Red Sea, an extension to Aqaba is available after finishing in Wadi Rum. Overnight: Amman hotel Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

You'll have free time in Amman today until we pick you up from your hotel and transfer you to the airport for your departure. If you have a late afternoon or evening flight, further sightseeing tours are available today, including a trip to the Baptism Site at Bethany on the Jordan River. Meals: Breakfast
Meals: Breakfast