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Overview

Small group travel in Egypt and Jordan

The histories of Egypt and Jordan stretch back over the millennia, offering a rich and rewarding experience to travelers. In Egypt, we visit all the major pharaonic sites, including the Great Pyramids, the Sphinx, the Temple of Karnak, the Valley of the Kings, and the splendid Temple of Queen Hatshepsut. The Egyptian Museum, a three-night Nile cruise and a day visiting medieval Cairo are additional highlights before we drive to Mount Sinai for a spectacular sunrise climb. A hydrofoil then takes our small group to Jordan where we explore the sandstone landscapes of Wadi Rum, ride camels to our Bedouin camp and spend a night amongst the dunes – a truly memorable experience. We also spend a whole day in the fascinating city of Petra, visit the Crusader castle at Shobak and relax in Dana Village. The final days of our adventure are spent frolicking in the Dead Sea and exploring the remarkably well-preserved Jerash – an antediluvian site dating from 70AD.

Contact our country specialist today for more information on how to travel in a small group on this adventure in Jordan and Egypt!

Itinerary

Day 1| International flight

Day 2| Cairo
On arrival at Cairo airport, you are greeted by our representative and transferred to your hotel. This is simply an arrival day, so the schedule is independent of your arrival time. Note that hotel rooms are generally only available after noon. For the rest of the day, you are free to explore the area. Your tour leader will contact you in the evening.

Day 3| Cairo - overnight train
After breakfast at the hotel we head to the Egyptian Museum for a tour of the various key exhibits. Our guide explains the complexity of Egypt's many dynastic periods, starting with the Old Kingdom and ending with the Greco-Roman occupation. This provides us with an excellent background for our visit south to Upper Egypt. Later we drive out to Giza, where we visit the Great Pyramids and the nearby Sphinx. For an additional charge you may be able to go inside one of the pyramids (although occasionally they are closed). Returning to our hotel, there is plenty of time to freshen up and pack before we are transferred to the railway station, where we board the overnight sleeper train to Luxor. Sleeping berths (beds and linen) are provided in private cabins and an airline-style dinner is served on board. It is worth bringing additional snacks on board and your tour leader can help you to arrange this. A toilet is located at the end of each carriage.
Meals included: 1 breakfast, 1 dinner

Day 4| Luxor
Breakfast is served on board the train and just after dawn we arrive in Luxor, where we are transferred to our Nile cruise boat and our home for the next four nights. We can relax by the pool on the boat or explore the bazaar in town. Later in the day we take horse-drawn carriages to Karnak, which is one of the world's most celebrated temple complexes, built over a period of some 200 years. We enjoy a guided tour of the temple and the rest of the afternoon and evening is free to relax, shop in the bazaar (which stays open till quite late) or experience the atmosphere of a local coffee shop.
Meals included: 1 breakfast, 1 dinner

Day 5| Luxor
We rise early this morning (very early in summer time!) and drive across to the west bank of the Nile. We head into the Valley of the Kings where our guide explains the funerary rites of the ancient Egyptians and significance of the many tomb paintings and hieroglyphics. We visit three royal tombs and then continue to the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, set in a spectacular natural amphitheatre. Our final stop is at the Colossi of Memnon, giant statues that were once part of an impressive colonnade. We return to our cruise boat on the east bank, where we enjoy lunch on board. There is time to relax on deck or in your cabin before we set sail for Edfu. Departure time may vary, depending on river traffic – please refer to the note regarding cruise schedules in the ‘Other Information' section. We pass through Esna lock, which can sometimes be a slow process, depending on the number of vessels waiting to get through, and continue our journey upstream.
Meals included: 1 breakfast, 1 lunch, 1 dinner

Day 6| Edfu – Kom Ombo
Morning finds us moored near Edfu, a very well-preserved temple dedicated to Horus, the falcon-headed God. We disembark and have time to explore the temple as well as to experience the bustling town centre. Returning to our cruise boat we continue travelling upstream, relaxing on the sundeck and enjoying views of the desert and the everyday life that is almost as timeless as the Nile itself. Arriving at Kom Ombo we visit the Temple of Sobek (the crocodile-headed god) that lies classically ruined on the edge of the Nile River. The most views are undoubtedly from the river itself, but a short walk around the temple also provides an interesting insight into the Greco-Roman period.
Meals included: 1 breakfast, 1 lunch, 1 dinner

Day 7| Aswan
We arrive in Aswan, Egypt's southernmost city. This friendly metropolis has an easygoing charm that is due in no small part to its large Nubian population. Depending on the arrival time of our cruise ship, we may make a visit to the beautiful Temple of Isis that was rescued from the rising waters of the Nile and relocated on Philae Island (alternatively we will visit it tomorrow). It is an absolute gem and one of the highlights of Upper Egypt. The rest of our day we are free to wander through the Nubian bazaar, visit the excellent Nubian Museum, or enjoy a walk along the 'corniche', which is the promenade that runs alongside the river.
Meals included: 1 breakfast, 1 lunch, 1 dinner

Day 8| Aswan - overnight train
We disembark from our cruise boat and check into a hotel, where a few day rooms are made available for our use. For the rest of the day we are free to make our own discoveries. The visit to Abu Simbel will take place this morning for those of us who booked this option with our tour leader back in Cairo. A popular afternoon option is a relaxing sailboat ride around the islands in a traditional felucca, stopping off at the botanical gardens on Kitchener's Island. We can also take a fun camel ride to the Monastery of St. Simeon, located in the desert on the west bank of the river. Our tour leader is on hand and can help us organize any excursions we may wish to undertake. Alternatively, you may prefer to just relax by the hotel pool. In the late afternoon we reconvene for our transfer to the station, where we board the sleeper train for the return journey to Cairo. After departure an ‘airline-style' dinner is served in our cabins.
Meals included: 1 breakfast, 1 dinner

Day 9| Cairo
After enjoying breakfast on the train we arrive in Cairo and are transferred to our hotel, where we have time to freshen up. Having experienced the highlights of ancient Egypt, today is our opportunity to see something of medieval Cairo in the form of the Khan al-Khalili Bazaar, Cairo's oldest mosque and the Gayer-Anderson Museum. Our tour leader takes us first to the beautiful Ibn Tulun Mosque, considered one of the finest examples of 9th century architecture, before walking us across to the Gayer-Anderson Museum, housed in two fine old villas (16th and 17th century) overlooking the mosque. Once owned by an English army officer, the two houses contain a fascinating collection of Arabic artefacts, furniture and memorabilia, giving us a great insight into Cairene life during the Ottoman period. We then continue into the Khan al-Khalili Bazaar, which sprawls around an old area of Cairo known as Al-Azhar. The tortuous streets and alleyways and attendant hawkers all combine to make the area look like a scene from '1001 Nights', as our tour leader takes us into the heart of the bazaar. We explore the gold market, ‘perfume street' and the spice market – where the scent of cumin, coriander and cardamom hangs in the air like a thick blanket of Damascene cloth (which can be purchased next door in the cloth market!). There's time for you to do some last minute shopping here before we head back to the hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure.
Meals included: 1 breakfast

Day 10| Mount Sinai
This morning we travel east towards Suez where we drive through the Suez Canal tunnel and then turn south towards Mt. Sinai. It's a long drive (around eight hours) and on the way we stop for a light lunch. We reach our hotel in the late afternoon where there may be time to relax by the pool before dinner.
Meals included: 1 breakfast, 1 dinner

Day 11| Mount Sinai - Nuweiba - Aqaba
Those wishing to ascend Mount Sinai to watch the sun rise over the peninsula will be woken up between 2am and 3am (depending on the season). It is a fairly steep climb (with stairs all the way), but as it is dark most people take two to three hours to reach the summit. The view is well worth the effort and you return to your hotel for a well-earned breakfast. Note that during the winter months (October to March) it can get very cold on the mountain and may even snow during the height of winter. Please ensure you have warm thermal clothes during this period. Around mid-morning we drive to Nuweiba to board the hydrofoil to Aqaba. It is important that you read the notes below regarding the ferry journey. On arrival in Aqaba we are transferred to our hotel for our first night in Jordan.
Meals included: 1 breakfast

Day 12| Aqaba - Wadi Rum
With our guide we enjoy a brief orientation session on Aqaba. We can visit the old castle (time permitting) before driving to Wadi Rum. We have time for lunch in the small village of Rum where we can browse around the excellent and informative visitor's centre before we meet our Bedouin friends and ride camels to our traditional Bedouin tent situated deep within Wadi Rum. There's plenty of time to explore our surroundings and enjoy a memorable sunset. Wadi Rum is a truly beautiful place with towering sandstone mountains rising from the desert. It fully deserves the amount of time we spend here, with the wind-sculpted rock formations changing hue throughout the day from sunrise to sunset. The area is home to Bedouin tribes who live in scattered camps throughout the area. We enjoy an evening with our Bedouin friends at their camp, which is set in an amazing location. Wadi Rum is probably best known because of its connection with the enigmatic British officer T.E. 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 Wadi Rum.
Meals included: 1 breakfast, 1 dinner

Day 13| Wadi Rum - Petra
It's well worth rising early and watching the cliffs change colour as the sun comes up. We enjoy a walk in the morning (the length of the walk will depend on how energetic we are feeling) and scale one of the large dunes to enjoy sensational views of the surrounding area. Keen photographers will be delighted! We then take 4WDs from our camp back to the main entrance. The visitor's centre is also a great spot to buy some jewellery and knick-knacks, mostly made by a women's co-operative aimed at supporting traditional local industries. We then continue our journey to Petra. On arrival there is time in the afternoon to check out the town, withdraw or change money, and just relax...we’ll want to be ready for a big day of exploring Petra tomorrow.
Meals included: 1 breakfast, 1 dinner

Day 14| Petra
For most people the image of Petra is a narrow chasm with glimpses of the famous Treasury in the distance. We are sure to be surprised by the size of this ancient city, built by the Nabataean people. Along with our guide we explore the old Roman road, amphitheatre, and several old tombs. We also climb up to the Monastery for a fine view of the entire site. It is a memorable day and sure to be one of the main highlights of our trip. There is a cafeteria on the site where we enjoy a light lunch. In the mid-afternoon we return to our hotel and our tour leader will try hard to persuade us to take a Turkish bath! This is a great experience and Petra is an excellent – and safe - place to try one. The cost is around US$14 per person. The rest of the day is at leisure.
Meals included: 1 breakfast, 1 lunch, 1 dinner

Day 15| Shobak - Dana - Madaba - Amman
This morning we drive along the King's Highway, a road that dates back to beyond the time of the Old Testament. We reach Shobak Castle, originally built to protect the eastern flank of the Latin Kingdom and its trade routes to the sea before it fell to Saladin in 1189. We enjoy a walk through the site and continue to the ancient village at Dana, where local artisans sell attractive silver jewellery and charms. We then reach Madaba, where we visit the Greek Orthodox Church of St. George that houses an ancient mosaic map. This is of particular interest as it clearly depicts Palestine and Lower Egypt around 550 AD. We expect to arrive in Amman in the late afternoon, where, in the evening, we can try one of the several fine restaurants. (Please note that Kerak Castle is not included in your tour, as it is often very congested and busy. However, if there is sufficient interest among members of the group, your leader can also arrange an optional visit to Kerak Castle. Many travelers however prefer to spend extra time in Amman.)
Meals included: 1 breakfast

Day 16| Jerash - Dead Sea - Amman
The Roman city of Jerash is in a fine state of preservation. Founded in the time of Alexander the Great, it had become a centre of considerable importance by the 3rd century AD. Today it is one of the grandest ancient cities in the world with an imposing collection of archways, theatres, baths, public buildings and colonnaded streets. We visit the site in the morning and later drive down to the Dead Sea. The afternoon is at leisure to experience the warm waters, which have an unusually high saline content, or to relax on the shore. We return to Amman for our final night.
Meals included: 1 breakfast

Day 17| Amman
Your trip ends today, after breakfast. If you have arranged a private airport transfer you will be advised of the pick-up time.
Meals included: 1 breakfast

Budget

**Rates published on this website are for information purposes only and are not legally binding (since departure dates are not given). Prices on this website are known to fluctuate frequently in relation to changes in currencies and hotel pricing. In order to obtain a definite quote, please click here.

Other fees

Optional extras and sightseeing
Abu Simbel
Abu Simbel Guide/entrance fee Approx US$20 (min 4 people)
Bus Aswan-Abu Simbel-Aswan Approx US$80
Flight Aswan-Abu Simbel-Aswan US$175-$230 (must be bought in Cairo)

Aswan
Afternoon felucca ride Approx US$7 (based 4 people)
Camel Ride (1 hour) Approx US$8
Nubian Museum Approx US$9
Philae Temple car/boat trip Approx US$26pp (based on 4 people)
Philae Temple Entrance fee Approx US$13

Cairo
Camel ride at the pyramids (15 mins) Approx US$10
Egyptian Museum (Mummy Room) Approx. US$18
Entrance inside Chephren or Mycerinus Approx US$5 each
Entrance inside Great Pyramid Approx US$18

Luxor
Luxor Museum Entrance Fee Approx US$14

Petra
Turkish Bath JD15

Other
Nile Cruise Schedules
There are numerous boats cruising the Nile, all of which must negotiate the lock at Edfu. As a result, boats arrive and depart Luxor continuously throughout the day. The printed itinerary is therefore only a guideline and you may find you have more (or less) time in either Luxor or Aswan. The actual cruising time, from Luxor to Aswan, is about a day and a half and this will be accomplished both during the day and at night.

Summertime Schedules in Egypt
As the days get warmer, temperatures can start to soar – particularly in Upper Egypt (Luxor and Aswan). From April to October, to avoid the midday heat, some days start very early (eg at 0500). Please be prepared for this; our schedules are designed to make touring as comfortable for you as possible.

The Ferry Between Egypt (Nuweiba) and Jordan (Aqaba)
On most of our departures we receive feedback regarding the ferry between Nuweiba (Egypt) and Aqaba (Jordan). It can be a slow, boring and often frustrating experience. But it really is the only way to cross the narrow Gulf of Aqaba. Many travellers use the ferry and it works for the locals.

A few tips will make the process easier for everyone.

Like an airport, the ferry terminal is a secure point of entry and exit for both Egypt and Jordan. Your tour leader is therefore NOT ALLOWED to enter the area. Egyptian law requires you to pass through immigration and customs controls about two hours prior to the departure of the boat.

Unlike an airport, there is pretty much nothing to do but wait. There is a small, shabby canteen, toilets and the ubiquitous tea stall. It can be very crowded at different times of the year. We suggest that you purchase food and drinks prior to your arrival at the ferry terminal.

Sometimes the fast ferry is delayed, you will not learn about this until you are inside the terminal, occasionally the regular vessel may be out of order and an older and slower back-up boat is used, this will add another couple of hours to the journey.

When it is time to depart you will need to board a fleet of buses. Store your luggage underneath and travel the short distance to the boat. You will need to retrieve your luggage and store it on the car level as you enter. Keep all valuables in your daypack as usual.

You will need to queue, show your passport and ticket and head upstairs. We suggest that you find seats together as a group. Onboard there is a much better canteen and a moneychanger.

Nominate a member of your group to collect all of your passports, they will be taken by an immigration official and you will be issued a receipt. Passports will be held by immigration until you arrive in Aqaba where you meet your Jordanian leader, and he/she will organise collection of the passports with entry stamps for Jordan. This happens every time and is perfectly safe.

All travellers departing Egypt at Nuweiba Port must pay a 50 Egyptian Pound departure tax (subject to change). Your tour leader will collect this to pay immigration control.

Remember that a bit of patience, a smile and a friendly chat always go a long way.

'Baksheesh' and Tipping
Throughout the Middle East, tipping is part of the fabric of life. The local word is 'baksheesh', which when translated into English falls somewhere in between 'tip' and 'bribe'. Everyone constantly tips everyone else and foreign travellers are expected to comply with this system. It is part of everyday life and is a form of remuneration for doing something, regardless of the standard of service. This is quite confusing for those used to the western concept of tipping as a way of showing appreciation. Over the years we have found that most of our customers find this constant need for tipping to be both tiresome and embarrassing, especially if you don't have the correct small change. To overcome this, we have established a very successful tipping kitty system. At the beginning of the tour, your tour leader will suggest collecting a set amount from each tour member. He/she will then distribute all tips along the way, on behalf of the group, to the local guides, drivers, porters and anyone else who provides services along the way. We have surveyed thousands of our previous clients and the vast majority clearly prefer this procedure. We hope that this system will also work for you. The amount will vary from trip to trip, but it usually works out to be about the equivalent of US$3 per person per day.

If you are out on your own, for example at a restaurant, you should also leave a tip for the waiter.

Please note that the tipping kitty will NOT include a gratuity for your tour leader. They work hard for you and if you are happy with their service it is appropriate to tip them as well. The normal amount expected is US$3 (or equivalent) per day from each member of the group.

Ramadan
Ramadan occurs in the ninth month of the Islamic calendar. It is an exciting (and at times, frustrating) time to travel in the Middle East. In the evening there is a celebratory atmosphere as people break their fast, and to witness all this is a real highlight. However, during the day, people must refrain from eating, drinking, smoking and sexual activity, so if you encounter someone who is a bit grumpy, be sympathetic! Tourist sites are generally unaffected although some places may close early, but your leader will plan around this. Most hotels bars and tourist restaurants will remain open. Overall, Ramadan is a really interesting time to the Middle East, although you do need to be flexible, sympathetic and sensitive. In 2010, Ramadan starts on 11th August and finishes on 9th September, with the Eid el Fitr feast commencing on 10th September. In 2011, Ramadan will start on 1st August and finish on 30th August.

Wadi Rum
Please note that the two days in Wadi Rum are quite active. You'll ride a camel, enjoy a jeep safari and Wadi Rum is a great place for walking. So, while you don't need to be particularly fit, there is a fair amount of activity. You also spend the night in a basic Bedouin tent. This is all a lot of fun and a great experience, but please be aware of the nature of the experience.
Visas
Egypt: Egypt: Australians, Americans, British, Canadian and New Zealanders currently require a visa for Egypt. For all other nationalities please reconfirm your visa requirements with your travel agent.

Single entry visas for most nationalities can be obtained on arrival in Cairo (costs vary according to nationality) and payment must be made in either US Dollars or British Pounds CASH ONLY. However, if you are returning to Cairo from Jordan or Syria, at the end of your tour, you will require a double entry visa for Egypt. Double entry visas can ONLY be obtained from overseas consulates. Alternatively, just pay for a single entry visa each time you enter.

All travellers departing Egypt at Nuweiba Port must pay a 50 Egyptian Pound departure tax (subject to change). Your tour leader will collect this to pay immigration control.

Furthermore, if you are coming across the border from Israel you CANNOT get a visa at the border. As a result of this, we recommend you obtain your visa before you leave home.

Jordan: Jordan: Australians, Americans, British, Canadian and New Zealanders currently require a visa for Jordan. For all other nationalities please reconfirm your visa requirements with your travel agent.

Travellers entering AND departing Jordan as part of a group (i.e. continuing to Syria as part of the tour) do not need to obtain a visa before joining the tour. The visa will be issued as a group visa, but we must have all passport details when final monies are paid.

If you are travelling from Egypt to Jordan by ferry to Aqaba port, you may not need to pay for a Jordanian visa, because you are landing in a duty-free economic zone. This may change at any moment on the whim of officials, so please check with your agent. Jordanian officials recommend getting a visa ahead of time to be on the safe side. It is your responsibility to obtain this visa.

Many nationalities can obtain a visa on arrival at Amman Airport, at a cost of 10JD (approx US$15) however this can be time consuming and it is often easier to organise the visa before you leave home. If purchasing a visa upon arrival in Jordan this must be paid in USD CASH only.

Please note: the above information is given in good faith and is in accordance with the visa requirements for Jordan. At times, our Travelers experience that visa fees are waived due to the daily mood of immigration officials, which may result in that you seemingly have ‘overpaid' for your Jordanian visa requirements. This is not in our control. However, please understand that we cannot base the above information on these circumstances.

If clients are entering Jordan after Israel they will need to pre-arrange their visa as it cannot be obtained at the Allenby Bridge border.

There is a departure tax of JOD5 (approx. US$8) for all clients travelling departing Jordan overland (eg road to Syria or ferry to Egypt) and this must be paid in Jordanian Dinars.

Vaccinations
Vaccinations may be required for this trip. Please consult your doctor or a travel health specialist. The choice of vaccinations can depend on a range of issues including the specific destination, the duration of the trip, your personal health and of course what vaccines you have had before.

Compulsory vaccines: These days the only compulsory vaccine is for yellow fever, which is required for many countries in Africa and South America. It should be done at least 10 days before travel and must be recorded in an official certificate book. Please note that very often you may not need to show this certificate book when entering these countries, but you will need to produce it to immigration/customs on returning to your home country.

Routine Background Vaccines: We strongly endorse current public health recommendations that all travellers should be up-to-date with their routine vaccines such as tetanus, diphtheria, measles/mumps/rubella, polio and influenza, and paediatric vaccinations for children.

Travel Vaccinations: While the food and water-borne diseases such as hepatitis A and typhoid will apply to most of our travellers, other travel vaccines such as hepatitis B, rabies, meningitis, Japanese encephalitis and cholera may apply to select travellers, especially long-term travel. Travel health experts can advise on what is required and also what is not required!

Malaria: There is no vaccination against malaria, which is transmitted by mosquito bites and is a risk in many less-developed tropical areas, particularly in Central, East and West Africa, Melanesia (especially Papua New Guinea) and the Amazon region. In Asia (particularly India) and Central America it may be a problem in rural areas. Protection against mosquito bites is essential and where the risk is considered high, anti-malarial medications are recommended. Anti-malarial medications should be discussed with experts as there are different medications available and not all medications suit all people or all destinations. We prefer that trekkers to altitude try to avoid the use of mefloquine (Lariam) if possible.

It is your responsibility to ensure that you obtain any vaccinations or preventative medicines for the countries you are visiting – or any which may be required by your home country upon your return. To find out which, if any, vaccinations are mandatory or recommended for your destination contact your local doctor, immunisation centre or medical centre for up-to-date information. If you need to arrange vaccinations or a supply of preventative medicine (e.g. malaria tablets), you should contact your doctor at least two months before you depart. Some inoculations require more than one visit and can take several weeks to administer the full course.

Carry Your Certificate
You should be issued with an International Certificate of Vaccination booklet that records each vaccination. Always carry this with you on your travels; it could provide essential information for doctors in the event that you fall ill whilst travelling.

Passport
Well before travelling, please ensure that you have a current passport, with an accurate photo, that is valid for at least six months after your scheduled return home. Also check that your airline tickets are in exactly the same name as your passport. Some countries may require that you have a return air ticket, or have sufficient funds to purchase such a ticket.

Insurance
On all our holidays you must have comprehensive travel insurance. Your own domestic government medical insurance and private health schemes will not cover you in most overseas countries. We are able to recommend a policy designed to cover participants in our programmes. You may take other cover, of course, but we require you to be adequately insured before we can allow you to participate on our tours. Should you commence a tour without adequate insurance you will be asked to arrange cover immediately before continuing with your holiday - and this may be difficult to arrange locally. For Group Tours your local leader will need 2 copies of your policy. The Tour Leader and our Ground Operator will keep one copy each in the unlikely event of an emergency. The copies must show the policy number and the emergency hotline phone number. Please bring these along to the tour briefing.

If you are covered by a policy arranged through your credit card company you will be asked to provide evidence of this cover, as well as a 24-hour emergency contact number. Many credit card companies do not provide an insurance policy number. In this instance, the tour leader will need to record your credit card number, as this is required to activate any request for emergency assistance. You should also bring along the travel insurance information booklet provided by your credit card company. It is your responsibility to ensure that you meet the requirements set out by your credit card company in order to be effectively covered and that the cover offered is of a suitable standard.

About this information
The information provided here is given in good faith and has been compiled with all reasonable care. However, things change and some of the information may become out of date. Please keep this in mind when you read it and check with us if you want to be sure about something. The document was correct at time of printing, but you can check online for the most up to date version. If you have any queries, please contact your travel agent or our staff in Australia. We are here to help you!