Transport

SECURITY WHILE TRAVELLING: Occasionally you may experience a Tourist Police Escort in your vehicle and whilst not common convoys between select towns or regions are possible. This practice has been implemented by local authorities to monitor the safety and security of visitors to Egypt. NILE RIVERBOAT: You will be staying on a riverboat for the Nile River section of this itinerary. The company we work with has a large fleet of boats and the actual boat can’t be confirmed until 30 days before departure. However you can expect the following facilities; restaurant, bar & sundeck. Most boats will also have a small swimming pool and in that instance, swimming towels will be available for use. All cabins have ensuites, air conditioning, and windows to enjoy the views of the Nile. Accommodation during the cruise is on a full board basis, often in the form of a buffet. Drinks can be purchased from the bar or restaurant. Bottled drinking water and tea and coffee are available but are not included so please ensure you check prices on board. Internet is mostly charged at an additional fee. We recommend purchasing a local sim card for your data requirements, please refer to the Communications section of this Essential Trip Information document. You will have the opportunity to disembark the boat each day as we explore some of the ancient sites included on the itinerary. The boat will also be anchored at port each evening. Only on the odd occasion would it sail at night depending on the water traffic at Esna Lock. Most often when in port there can be many boats and you may be berthed side by side with another ship. Riverboats have anywhere from 50-70 cabins and you will be sharing the facilities with other travellers not on your tour. Private vehicle , Plane , Riverboat , Felucca , Jeep

Meals

14 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 12 dinners

Accommodation

The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline only and may change. On some occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our preferred accommodation. In these cases, we will use a similar standard of accommodation. Throughout the trip, we request that our properties prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we’re arriving prior to normal check-in time. However, this isn’t always possible which means we won’t be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination or on some trips, have use of shared day rooms until all rooms are available. Comfortable hotel (11 nights), Feature Stay (4 nights)

Flights

Internal flights included. *** All other flights are not included.

Guide

All group trips are accompanied by one of our group leaders. The aim of the group leader is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. Premium leaders are Intrepid’s most experienced, with in-depth knowledge and extensive local networks to make it a trip of a lifetime. Your leader will provide information on the places you are travelling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues and introduce you to our local friends. While not being guides in the traditional sense, you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the places visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious, and social aspects. At Intrepid we aim to support local guides who have specialised knowledge of the regions we visit. When not already included in your trip, your leader will be able to recommend a local guide service who can share more detailed or specialised information at specific sites should you be interested in delving deeper.

Others

Complimentary Arrival Transfer Cairo - Welcome Dinner Cairo - Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx Cairo - Egyptian Museum Aswan - Nubian Village Visit and Dinner Aswan - Philae Temple Aswan - Sunset drinks on a felucca Izbat Al Bayyarah - Kom Ombo Temple Luxor - Karnak Temple Luxor - Hatshepsut Temple Luxor - Valley of the Kings (entrance to 3 tombs) Luxor - Tomb of Tutankhamun Luxor - Colossi of Memnon Cairo - Home-Cooked Dinner Cairo - Khan al-Khalili Bazaar Cairo - Al-Azhar Mosque Cairo - Coffee/tea in a local cafe Amman - Welcome Dinner Jerash - Roman ruins Amman - cooking class and dinner Madaba - St Georges Church Mt Nebo - Site visit Shobak - Shobak Castle Petra - Petra second day visit (unguided) Wadi Rum - Desert Jeep tour Wadi Rum - Zarb Local Dinner Petra - Leader-led tour of Petra Wadi Rum - Desert and dunes walk

Not included:

Insurance

Insurance is not included.

Others

Other activities and services are not included.

Optional

Cairo - Islamic Art Museum (entrance fee) - EGP270 Urban Adventures - Islamic Cairo in Depth Tour - USD86 Urban Adventures - Saqqara and Memphis - USD82 Cairo - Urban Adventures Downtown Cairo Tour - USD40 Cairo - The Great Pyramid of Cheops (entrance fee) - EGP900 Aswan – Abu Simbel excursion by car (includes transfer, guide and entry) - USD110 Aswan - Abu Simbel excursion by flight (includes flights, transfers, guide and entry) from price - USD450 Edfu - Edfu Temple (entrance fee) - EGP450 Luxor - Karnak Temple Sound and Light Show (minimum 2 persons) (entrance, guide & transport) - USD45 Luxor - Hot Air Balloon over the Valley of the Kings - USD130 Luxor - Valley of the Queens (entrance fee) - EGP180 Luxor - Tomb of Queen Nefertari in the Valley of the Queens (entrance fee) - EGP2000 Petra - Petra By Night - JOD17

Start planning your experience

Day 1 Day 1: Cairo
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 1: Cairo

Salaam Aleikum! Welcome to Egypt. When you arrive at the Cairo airport, meet an Intrepid representative and take an included transfer to your hotel. You’re adventure officially begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight. If you arrive early, maybe get out and explore the busy streets, find a hole-in-the-wall eatery for a snack like ta’ameya (Egypt’s take on falafel) or relax at your hotel – the pool offers magnificent pyramid views! After your meeting, head out for an included dinner with the group. Your leader will introduce you to Egyptian cuisine, known for being fresh, delicious and unique to the country. Best enjoyed when shared, you’ll tuck into an array of traditional dishes like fatta (a dish made with rice, bread and meat in a garlic and vinegar sauce) and kushari (a delicious mixture of pasta, rice, lentils and fried onions).
Day 2 Day 2: Cairo
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 2: Cairo

This morning, tour the mighty Pyramids of Giza (one of the famed Seven Wonders of the World) and the Sphinx with your expert leader, who is a trained Egyptologist. Seeing these ancient and iconic structures up close is a memory that will stay with you long after your time in Egypt is over. For an additional charge, you may be able to go inside the Great Pyramid of Khufu (or Cheops). After some time for lunch, your adventure continues to the Egyptian Museum – home to one of the world’s great collections of ancient artefacts. The masses of gleaming artefacts recovered from the tomb of Tutankhamun are an impressive sight – from jewellery to the famous golden death mask and his gilded sarcophagi, this pharaoh was certainly prepared for the afterlife. Your leader will take you through some of Egypt’s dynastic history and you’ll have plenty of time to explore on your own – home to almost 100,000 artefacts, there’s a whole ancient world to uncover!
Day 3 Day 3: Aswan
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 3: Aswan

Catch a morning flight to Aswan – Egypt’s southernmost city. Check into your hotel, then travel to Philae Island and visit the beautiful Temple of Isis – the goddess of health, marriage and wisdom – rescued from the rising waters of the Nile and relocated here. Your leader will share stories of the history and changing landscape of the island. Then, take a boat to a Nubian village on an island in the middle of the Nile. Walk through the village before sitting down to dinner with a local Nubian family in their home. Enjoy traditional Nubian food, swap stories with your friendly hosts and gain a unique perspective into their way of life.
Day 4 Day 4: Aswan - Nile Cruise
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 4: Aswan - Nile Cruise

After breakfast, you may like to take a stroll around Aswan or join an optional tour of Abu Simbel – a temple complex that was dismantled and moved to make way for the Aswan High Dam. Board a Nile riverboat – your Feature Stay accommodation for the next three nights! Travelling by riverboat allows you to get to the heart of each destination while ensuring the journeys in between are every bit as interesting. In the afternoon, board a traditional felucca sailing boat where you can sit back and relax with some drinks as the sun sets over your beautiful surroundings. Return to your riverboat for dinner.
Day 5 Day 5: Nile Cruise - Edfu
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 5: Nile Cruise - Edfu

Enjoy a peaceful morning on board your riverboat, then set out in the afternoon along the river, relaxing in the sun on deck and taking in the desert hills forming a backdrop over the lush riverbanks. Arrive at Kom Ombo Temple, sitting spectacularly on the river’s edge. Your leader will let you in on the secrets of this ancient temple. Built in approximately 181 BC, Kom Ombo is dedicated to two gods – Horus (god of protection) and Sobek (god of fertility, linked to the Nile’s water). Each god has a dedicated section – north or south – and there have been recent discoveries of mummified crocodiles in the Sobek section. After, return to your riverboat and continue to Edfu where you’ll dock for the evening.
Day 6 Day 6: Nile Cruise - Luxor
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 6: Nile Cruise - Luxor

This morning, you’ll be moored near Edfu and may have the option to venture independently into town to see the nearby temple. Sail towards Luxor passing through the Esna Locks. You may have to queue to proceed through the locks, but this is a great opportunity to sit back with a drink in hand and observe life on the Nile. Arrive at the open-air museum of Luxor – from the spectacular temple complex of Karnak to the Valley of the Kings, Luxor is full of wonderfully preserved reminders of the Pharaohs. Today you’ll explore the Karnak Temple. One of the world’s most celebrated temple complexes, Karnak is a house of the gods built over a period of some 200 years. 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.
Day 7 Day 7: Luxor
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 7: Luxor

Disembark your riverboat and travel to the Valley of the Kings. Buried under the arid hills are over 60 tombs of pharaohs, many richly decorated with reliefs and paintings. With your leader, explore the place where the pharaohs of the New Kingdom (16th to 11th century BC) were secretly interred for all eternity, and where discoveries are still being made. Your leader will explain the history and legends of these people and the significance of the many paintings and hieroglyphics, still well preserved in the deepest tombs. Entry is included to three tombs of your choosing, as well as access to the tomb of Tutankhamun. The unearthing of the young Pharaoh’s resting place is one of the world’s greatest archaeological discoveries, and today you’ll explore the painted chamber that holds his famous golden sarcophagus. Continue to the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut – a colonnaded building set against high cliffs that create a spectacular natural amphitheatre, then view the Colossi of Memnon – two 17-m-high statues on Luxor’s west bank.
Day 8 Day 8: Cairo
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 8: Cairo

Board a flight bound for Cairo this morning. When you arrive, settle into your hotel then head out to the Al-Azhar neighbourhood to visit Khan al-Khalili Bazaar – a sprawling maze of alleyways including the gold market, cloth market, ’perfume street’ and the spice market. Continue to the 9th-century Al-Azhar Mosque – one of the oldest and largest in Egypt. Its perfectly proportioned courtyard and distinctive minaret make it a masterpiece of Islamic architecture. Stop off in Cairo’s oldest coffeeshop for an Arabic coffee or mint tea as you watch the world go by. It’s a known fact that the very best food in Cairo is made inside local homes, but few visitors get the chance to experience this for themselves. This afternoon, you’ll be one of the lucky few as you’re welcomed into the home of a local family. Sit down to a wonderful meal of traditional dishes which you’ll share with your friendly hosts and gain an inside look at modern Egyptian life.
Day 9 Day 9: Amman
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 9: Amman

Ahlan wa sahlan! Welcome to Jordan. You’ll be met by an Intrepid representative at the airport and transferred to your hotel, where there will be a welcome meeting with your group and local leader at 6 pm. If you arrive early, maybe visit a local cafe and pick up a coffee and ara’yes (pita filled with spiced meats). Maybe head to the Old Town’s Roman Amphitheatre or the Jordan National Gallery of Fine Arts. After your meeting, head to a local restaurant for a welcome dinner with your group and leader. Sharing food is a huge part of Jordanian culture, and eating out is always a social affair. Tonight, your leader will introduce you to some of the country’s most beloved dishes, like mansaf (a dish made with lamb, yoghurt and rice) and kunafa (a dessert made with pastry and cheese).
Day 10 Day 10: Amman
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 10: Amman

This morning, leave Amman for a short drive north to Jerash where you’ll find some of the world’s best Greco-Roman ruins. Reaching its peak as a favourite of the emperor Hadrian, Jerash is home to a collection of archways, theatres, baths, public buildings and colonnaded streets. Your leader will share the incredible history of the ruins and help you imagine what life once looked like in this glorious Roman city. Grand columns encircle the city’s centrepiece of the Oval Plaza – a great place to linger after exploring Jerash’s riches. After, return to Amman and head to a cooking school for a look behind the scenes of Jordanian cuisine. During this hands-on activity, you will learn how to make some classic dishes like Maqlubeh, Mutabbal and Baba Ghanouj before sitting down as a group to enjoy the fruits of your labour.
Day 11 Day 11: Dead Sea
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 11: Dead Sea

Today, you’ll make the journey from Amman to the Dead Sea. Named for the lack of life in its waters, this lake is so intensely salty that the water density makes swimming very difficult, but bobbing on the water’s surface is a fun experience. On the way, stop off at Mount Nebo and hear the story of how Moses saw the Promised Land before he died from what is believed to be this very spot, and St Georges Church, best known for its Byzantine mosaic depicting a map of the Holy Land. When you arrive, enjoy some time to float in the waters of the Dead Sea, relax on your hotel’s beachfront or take a dip in one of three swimming pools or jacuzzi.
Day 12 Day 12: Petra
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 12: Petra

Depart the Dead Sea and drive to the ancient Crusader castle at Shobak – your leader will explain how this ancient castle was 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. Enjoy superb scenery and stop off at the viewpoint overlooking the Dana Nature Reserve before arriving in the late afternoon to your Petra accommodation. Petra dates back to the sixth century BC and is considered the crown jewel of Jordan, featuring an impressive series of tombs and dwellings carved directly into the rock. When you arrive, there will be time to check out the town that has grown around the site and to relax, ready for a big day of exploring Petra tomorrow.
Day 13 Day 13: Petra
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 13: Petra

Today will be spent uncovering the secrets of Petra with the knowledgeable guidance of your leader. The iconic view of the Treasury’s glorious facade, glimpsed from a narrow cleft known as the Siq, is perhaps the single-most striking sight of the entire region. The Siq leads through the rock and is at points only a few metres wide, with walls soaring up to 180 m on either side. Explore the old Roman road, amphitheatre and several ancient tombs. You’ll also have time to climb to the Monastery if you wish, providing a magnificent view of the entire site. There is a cafeteria on the site, where you can enjoy your own light lunch. The rest of the day is free. Tonight, maybe take the chance to witness Petra by night – seeing the Treasury Plaza lit up by candlelight while Bedouin music plays is a truly memorable experience.
Day 14 Day 14: Wadi Rum
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 14: Wadi Rum

For another glimpse at Petra, you can rise very early for an unguided morning visit. Then, drive to Wadi Rum – a protected area of desert that impresses with sandstone mountains, canyons and arches. Enjoy some lunch in the small village of Rum and browse the informative visitor’s centre. After, jump into a local jeep and journey into Wadi Rum with your Bedouin hosts. Visit several of the area’s distinctive rock formations and appreciate the silent desert landscapes, home to hardy Bedouin communities that live in scattered camps. Gain a deeper understanding of their way of life as you join them for a zarb (underground oven) dinner at one of their camps, set deep in the desert. Tonight’s Feature Stay accommodation is a camp that offers a base among remote and wild surroundings. Spacious tents are fitted out with creature comforts like king-sized beds, air conditioning and en suite bathrooms, and all furniture is made by hand with decor inspired by Bedouin culture. Fall asleep in your tent after witnessing a magnificent canopy of stars outside, and wake up to a sunrise over the red-hued landscape.
Day 15 Day 15: Amman
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 15: Amman

After waking up in the unique surrounds of your Bedouin camp this morning, take a walk around the area before scaling one of the large dunes for panoramic views of your surroundings. After, return to Amman for the evening. Tonight, you might like to join your group for a final dinner to round off your adventure – speak to your leader about the best restaurants in the city that are popular with the locals.
Day 16 Day 16: Amman
12:00 am - 11:59 pm

Day 16: Amman

Your trip will come to an end today after breakfast. If you have arranged a private airport transfer, you will be advised of the pick-up time. If you would like to spend more time in Amman, just get in touch with your booking agent ahead of time to organise additional accommodation.

+13

16 days tour

Premium Egypt & Jordan

This tour includes:

Not included:

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Itinerary of your trip Premium Egypt & Jordan

Day 1: Cairo

Day 2: Cairo

Day 3: Aswan

Day 4: Aswan - Nile Cruise

Day 5: Nile Cruise - Edfu

Day 6: Nile Cruise - Luxor

Day 7: Luxor

Day 8: Cairo

Day 9: Amman

Day 10: Amman

Day 11: Dead Sea

Day 12: Petra

Day 13: Petra

Day 14: Wadi Rum

Day 15: Amman

Day 16: Amman

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