Ancient Egypt, Nile Cruise & Jordan - 12 Days

Welcome to Cairo. Known locally as Al-Qahirah, the city is one of Africa's largest urban centres and the cultural heart of the Arab world. Its historic quarters retain the layout of medieval times, while later Ottoman and European influences shaped much of the modern city. On arrival, independently transfer to your hotel.

Today we visit the remarkable Pyramids and the Great Sphinx. The Greeks once counted these monuments among the Seven Wonders of the World, and the sheer scale of the complex continues to inspire awe. The Great Pyramid of Cheops is particularly notable, with its burial chambers open for public viewing.

Nearby stands the Sphinx, carved from natural limestone and dating to the reign of Chephren around 2620 BC. We then return to the hotel, with the rest of the day at leisure. You may wish to join one of the optional evening experiences.

Optional: Sound and Light Show at the Pyramids This evening you may return to Giza to see the Pyramids and Sphinx illuminated under the night sky. The show uses dramatic lighting and narration to bring ancient Egypt’s legends to life. Departure approx. 6 pm. Pick-up time may vary.

Cairo - Luxor. This morning we transfer to Cairo Airport for our flight to Luxor. On arrival, we board our cruise ship, our home for the next four nights. After lunch, we explore Luxor and Karnak Temples.

Luxor Temple, largely built by Amenhotep III and Ramses II, once hosted the important Festival of Opet, which linked the pharaoh’s human role with his divine status. Karnak Temple, dedicated primarily to Amun, developed over 1,300 years and is now the largest religious complex in the world.

Optional: Sound and Light Show at Karnak Temple You may return to Karnak after dark for an atmospheric sound and light presentation that recounts the rise of ancient Thebes.

Luxor - Edfu. After breakfast, we cross Luxor Bridge to visit the Valley of the Kings, where many New Kingdom pharaohs were laid to rest, including Tutankhamun and Ramses the Great. We visit three Royal Tombs, each featuring elaborate inscriptions and statues.We continue to the Valley of the Queens, home to dozens of tombs from the 18th to 20th Dynasties, including that of Nefertari, wife of Ramses II.

Our final visit is the Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahri, built for Egypt’s only female pharaoh and aligned with Karnak Temple across the river. After lunch on board, we sail towards Edfu via Esna. Enjoy afternoon tea as we enter the lands once known as ancient Nubia, famed for its gold and strategic importance.

Optional: Hot-Air Balloon Flight Over Luxor At sunrise, you may choose to see Luxor’s temples and desert landscapes from the air on a hot-air balloon experience.

Edfu - Aswan. After breakfast we visit the Temple of Edfu, the best-preserved ancient temple in Egypt and second in size only to Karnak. Dedicated to Horus, it stands on the site of the mythical battle between Horus and Seth.

We sail to Kom Ombo for lunch and afternoon tea before disembarking to explore its twin temples dedicated to Sobek and Haroeris. The site once hosted sacred crocodiles that basked along the Nile bank.

This evening, enjoy the fun of an Egyptian Galabeya Party as we continue sailing south.

After breakfast, you will visit the Aswan High Dam, completed in 1970, and the Old Dam from 1902. Together they transformed the region, creating Lake Nasser, the world’s largest man-made reservoir.

We continue by motorboat to Philae Temple, dedicated to Isis. The entire complex was relocated stone by stone to save it from rising waters during the dam’s construction.

Optional: Sound and Light Show at Philae Temple This evening you may return to Philae for an immersive sound and light show that recounts the legends of Isis and Osiris.

Aswan - Cairo. After breakfast we disembark and transfer to Aswan Airport for our flight back to Cairo. On arrival, you will be met and transferred to the hotel. The rest of the day is at leisure, or you may choose an optional excursion.

Optional: Morning Visit to Abu Simbel This morning you may fly to Abu Simbel to visit the magnificent temples of Ramses II and Queen Nefertari, relocated in a remarkable UNESCO-led engineering feat to avoid submersion by Lake Nasser.

Optional: Half-day Citadel, Mosques and Khan Khalili Bazaar This optional afternoon tour takes you to the Citadel, set high on the Mokattam Hills and long regarded as the seat of Egyptian power. Built from 1176 and later expanded by Muhammad Ali Pasha in the 19th century, it served as the residence of Mamluk sultans and Ottoman governors. Inside, you visit the Mosque of Muhammad Ali, often called the Alabaster Mosque, distinguished by its elegant twin minarets rising 84 metres above Cairo. You then continue to Khan El Khalili, the bustling 14th-century bazaar known for its antiques, crafts and lively atmosphere.

Cairo - Amman - Petra. This morning we transfer to Cairo International Airport for our flight to Amman. On arrival at Queen Alia International Airport, we are met and assisted with immigration and customs formalities before beginning our journey south along the historic King’s Way to Petra.

En route, we stop in Madaba to view its famous 6th-century mosaic map of the Holy Land, an important record of the region’s early geography. We then continue to Mount Nebo, traditionally regarded as the burial place of Moses, where we enjoy sweeping views across the Dead Sea and the Jordan Valley. Our drive continues through the dramatic landscapes of Wadi Mujib to Kerak for a tour of its imposing Crusader Castle, with an optional stop for lunch.

After breakfast we spend the day exploring Petra, the Nabatean city carved into the red sandstone cliffs of the Sharah Mountains. We enter via the narrow Siq to reach the Treasury, Petra’s most recognised monument. We continue through the site to visit the Roman Theatre, the Royal Tombs, Qasr Bint Pharaoun and the Temple of the Winged Lion. You may choose to take an optional lunch break or hike up to the Monastery for far-reaching views over the surrounding valleys.

Petra - Wadi Rum - Amman. After breakfast we travel to Wadi Rum to explore one of the Middle East’s most striking desert landscapes. We begin with a short, exhilarating 4x4 ride through this vast wilderness of sandstone peaks, red sands and ancient rock carvings. Known as the Valley of the Moon, Wadi Rum provided the backdrop for Lawrence of Arabia and remains renowned for its dramatic, cinematic scenery.

Following our desert experience, we drive back to Amman via the Desert Highway, or you may opt for a transfer to Aqaba and the Araba border crossing. We then continue to our hotel in Amman for the night.

Amman - Jerash - Aljun - Amman. Today we embark on a full-day excursion from Amman to explore three of Jordan’s major archaeological and historical sites. We start in Jerash, one of the best-preserved Roman cities in the world, with its impressive colonnaded avenues, temples, plazas and Hadrian’s Arch. We then visit Ajloun Castle, built in the 12th century by the forces of Saladin to defend against the Crusaders, and admired for its commanding hilltop position.

Our final stop is Umm Qais, the ancient city of Gadara, where Roman theatres and streets sit alongside remnants of an Ottoman village and sites linked to biblical tradition. We return to Amman in the early evening.

After breakfast, independently transfer to Queen Alia International Airport for departure.