Jordan & Egypt Uncovered - 23 Days

Ahlan wa sahlan! Welcome to Jordan. Your trip begins in Amman with a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight, where you’ll meet your local leader and fellow travellers. If you arrive early, maybe take in the sweeping views of Amman from the citadel, explore the Jordan Museum (home to the Dead Sea Scrolls) or take a trip to the ruins of Jerash – an ancient walled town from 2000 years ago. After your meeting, maybe head out on the town in search of arayes (pita bread packed full of spiced meats).

This morning, travel by minibus to Mt Nebo – the place where the prophet Moses is said to be buried and where he saw the 'Promised Land'. Check out the mosaics inside its 4th-century church. On a clear day, the views over the Dead Sea to Israel and the Palestinian territories are spectacular. After, drive to the super salty Dead Sea – sitting well below sea level, this is the lowest point on earth, and you’ll float rather than swim due to the water’s high concentration of salt. The mud on the sea floor is said to have healing properties, so maybe lather up and enjoy Mother Nature’s spa. Continue to the Crusader castle of Kerak, sitting on top of a cliff overlooking the town and valley below. Explore the seven-level fortress and learn the legends of 12th-century battles between Crusaders and Muslim armies, then continue to Petra for the night.

Spend today exploring Petra – the jewel of Jordan, the lost city of the Nabateans and one of the Seven Wonders of the World! Squeeze through a narrow path called the Siq until you reach the grand entrance of the Treasury. Gaze up at the intricate carvings and spend the afternoon exploring the site at your own pace. You might like to visit the old Roman road, other temples and old tombs or the rock-hewn amphitheatre. If you’re feeling more adventurous, you could take a challenging hike up a set of stairs to the smaller but no less impressive monastery, which takes about an hour. After arriving back at your accommodation, why not find a traditional bathhouse to rejuvenate after a day of incredible sightseeing.

This morning, you’ll drive to Wadi Rum – a rugged, lunar-like landscape framed by huge sandstone mountains. Embark on a half-day jeep safari, taking you through desert scenery to uncover traces of ancient civilisations in the many carved inscriptions scattered throughout the area, from pictographs to Thamudic, Nabataean and Arabic texts. The most enduring monuments in Wadi Rum are those carved by nature – natural rock bridges, towering sand dunes and scattered rocky peaks. Spend the night sleeping in a simple desert camp under a camel hair tent. Tuck into a dinner cooked in an earthen oven by your Bedouin hosts and soak in the unforgettable surroundings as a sky full of stars stretches out above you.

This morning, leave Wadi Rum and make the journey to Dahab. You’ll drive to Aqaba, then bid your Jordan local leader farewell and board a ferry bound for Taba. When you arrive, you’ll be met by your Egypt local leader and drive to the laidback resort area of Dahab – your base for the next two nights. Dahab, meaning 'gold' in Arabic, has transformed from a Bedouin fishing village to a popular tourist town, thanks to the excellent conditions for activities like diving, windsurfing and rock climbing. However, the town hasn't lost the authenticity and lowkey appeal that’s attracted visitors since the 1970s. The rest of the day is free for you to wander through the cafes, find some fresh seafood or do some snorkelling in the Red Sea. Dahab is well known for its drop-offs – spectacular coral reef shelves that plunge into the vast blue depths of the ocean.

This morning, why not strap on a mask and head to the Blue Hole for some snorkelling at one of the best diving spots in the world. The area gets its name from a submarine sinkhole about 94 m deep, with an arch in the coral reef down at 54 m – a challenge that’s only open to highly experienced technical divers. Float on the surface and look down into an endless world of blue, then make your way around to the ‘Bridge’, where the visibility is always great and the untouched coral swarms with a variety of colourful fish and other marine life. Later today, return to Dahab, where you might like to seek out a waterside restaurant for an evening feast or maybe head inland to Assalah, where local joints serve up plates of roast chicken and falafel with regional beer.

Check out of your hotel in Dahab, then have lunch before driving to St Catherine in the late afternoon. Check into your hotel before heading out for dinner to get your first glimpse of the area. There’s the option to hike up Mt Sinai tonight – starting the hike after midnight, you’ll watch the sunrise before descending the mountain. Ask your leader for more details if you’re interested.

This morning, you’ll have the option to visit St Catherine's Monastery. Located at the foot of Mt Sinai and built over 1500 years ago, this is the oldest continuously inhabited Christian monastery. Legend has it that the monastery encloses what's claimed to be the burning bush seen by Moses. The monastery is named after Catherine of Alexandria, who is buried here – it has since become an important pilgrimage site. It’s now also a UNESCO World Heritage site, holding incredible significance in Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Later today, you’ll hit the road to Cairo, arriving in the late afternoon. Settle into your hotel before you head out for an optional farewell dinner to celebrate this incredible journey.

Enjoy a free day in Cairo. Maybe explore the Mosque of Mohammed Ali at your own pace or head out to explore the local markets. If you want to escape the hustle and bustle, the Christian Coptic sector is well worth a visit. You’ll have a second meeting at 6 pm tonight to get to know your new group. Tonight, why not get dinner with your group and celebrate the next stage of an epic journey.

After breakfast, set out to see some of Egypt’s most renowned sights. Visit Giza’s pyramids – one of the Seven Wonders of the World – and the Sphinx. Explore these structures that have stood tall for 4500 years. You may even be able to go inside the Great Pyramid of Khufu (at an additional charge). After, maybe make your way to the Grand Egyptian Museum – home to one of the world's great collections of antiquities. Here, you can see artefacts from Tutankhamun’s tomb, including jewellery and the famous golden death mask. Later, meet your leader and travel to Giza train station, where you’ll board a sleeper train to Aswan.

The Nile, Elephantine Island and white-sailed feluccas – this is Aswan, Egypt's southernmost city. Today is a free day, so take the opportunity to see the sites, like the unfinished obelisk or the High Dam. The Nubian Bazaar is a must, and the Nubian Museum is at the top of many visitors’ lists. Maybe visit the Temple of Isis (goddess of health, marriage and wisdom), which was rescued from the rising waters of the Nile and relocated to Philae Island. It's a marvel of decorative pylons featuring some of Egypt's finest carvings. Maybe stop at the waterfront promenade for a mint tea and watch the waterfront come alive at dusk, with families out strolling, socialising and relaxing along the corniche.

This morning is your best chance to head out of Aswan and visit Abu Simbel, if that’s on your list. With the four gargantuan statues of Ramses guarding the Great Temple, this is one of Egypt's most memorable sights. Otherwise, the day is free for you to make your own discoveries. A popular afternoon option is a boat ride around the islands in a traditional felucca, stopping off at the botanical gardens on Kitchener's Island. Your local leader will be on hand to help you get the most out of your day. You may prefer to just relax and take in the beauty of the Nile or do some shopping in the vibrant bazaar.

This morning, jump on a traditional Egyptian sailboat (or felucca) to cruise along the Nile. After lunch on board the felucca, arrive at a Nubian homestay on the Nile’s west bank. Here, you’ll learn about the local way of life with a walk through the surrounding countryside and agriculture fields to reach the homestay. The house is built in traditional Nubian style, with a sandy courtyard in the middle where the family gathers for meals. Get into the swing of Egyptian life by lending a hand in the kitchen to help cook dinner or maybe kick around a football in the courtyard with the kids. There are few better ways to understand a country and its people than with a local homestay, and you’ll have the chance tonight to soak it all up.

Board another felucca and spend today out on the river, seeing rural Egyptian daily life play out on the banks before spending a night under the stars. Your sailing crew will provide all your onboard meals. The felucca is a traditional wooden boat with broad canvas sails, offering some shade and protection from the elements, but there is no cabin or enclosed section – watching the sun setting over the Nile in the evening from an open deck is an experience you won't forget.

After farewelling the felucca crew, take a private van to Luxor. Today, you’ll explore Karnak Temple, maybe the most impressive of all the ancient pharaohs' monumental works. 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 pylons, obelisks and chapels will reveal its finest sections, such as the Avenue of Sphinxes and the Great Temple of Amun. Then, head over to Intrepid Foundation partner Animal Care in Egypt (ACE) – a local NGO dedicated to providing free veterinary care for wounded working animals. The rest of the day will be free for you to relax, shop in the bazaar (which is open until quite late) or soak up the atmosphere of a local teahouse.

Rise early this morning and head into the Valley of the Kings. Buried under these arid hills are more than 60 tombs of pharaohs, many richly decorated with reliefs and paintings. With your leader, explore 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 the people buried here, their funerary rites and the significance of the many paintings and hieroglyphics, still well-preserved in the deepest tombs. Visit three of the most interesting royal tombs, then you’ll have the option to visit the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut – a colonnaded building set against high cliffs that create a natural amphitheatre.

This morning, say farewell to the Nile and drive east to the beachside town of Hurghada. The luscious green of the Nile valley will soon be behind you as you head out into the Eastern Desert. As you pass rocky hills, the glittering waters of the Red Sea come into view and the rugged bulk of the Sinai Peninsula looms on the opposite shore. A vibrant beach resort town, Hurghada is by no means a typical adventure destination. After checking into your hotel, take a leader-led orientation walk to get your bearings and to scope out the local vibes.

Today, you might like to explore the scenic Hurghada Marina, where you can stroll along the waterfront, browse the shops and maybe stop at a cafe overlooking the water, or you could relax on one of the local beaches. There’s also the option to go on a Red Sea snorkelling adventure. If you opt into this activity, you’ll be transferred to the Hurghada Marina to climb aboard your motor yacht for a trip around the Red Sea Marine Park, where you’ll snorkel one of the most magnificent reefs in the Red Sea. Your captain will select three separate locations to maximise your experience and snorkelling gear is provided. Lunch will consist of a delicious feast of kofta, salads, fish and rice and soft drinks, tea and coffee will be provided throughout the day. You’ll head back to Hurghada in the mid to late afternoon and be transferred back to the hotel. Otherwise, speak to your trip leader about other options for how to make the most of today in this colourful beach town.

Make the journey back to Cairo by private vehicle. When you arrive, you’ll have the option to visit the frenetic Khan al-Khalili bazaar with your leader. The ‘Khan’ is one of the biggest and oldest markets in the world, sprawling around an old area known as Al-Azhar. You might explore the gold market, ‘Perfume Street’ and the spice market, where heady aromas hang in the air like a thick blanket of Damascene cloth (which can be purchased next door in the cloth market!).

Jump in a private van today and follow the Desert Road to the Mediterranean coastal city of Alexandria. Egypt's second largest city and main port, locals call this vibrant city the ‘Bride of the Mediterranean Sea’. When you arrive, go on an orientation walk with your leader. The Greek architect Dinocrates built Alexandria in 331 BC under the orders of Alexander the Great. The city, immortalising Alexander's name, quickly flourished into a prominent cultural, intellectual, political and economic metropolis. Take some time to stroll along the corniche and breathe in the fresh Mediterranean air. Alexandria is well known for its seafood, so don't forget to feast on some fresh fish while you're in town – ask your leader for all the best restaurant recommendations!

Today is a free day to explore the many sights of Alexandria at your own pace. You may choose to visit the El Alamein War Museum, which marks a turning point in the North African campaign of WWII, where the Allies held out against, and eventually pushed back and defeated, Rommel’s Afrika Korps. Alternatively, stop by the strikingly modern Bibliotheca Alexandrina, inspired by the original Great Library of Alexandria and built to house more than 8 million books. You might also visit El Morsi Abu El Abbas Mosque, the largest in the city, or head to the Citadel of Qaitbay – a fortress overlooking the Mediterranean Sea, built on the site where the famous Lighthouse of Alexandria once stood.

This morning, head underground and delve into the mysteries of the Kom el Shoqafa Catacombs. This Roman burial site is the largest of its kind in Egypt and was discovered, quite accidentally, by a donkey! The crypts are 20 m below street level – what probably began as a small family tomb grew into a labyrinth of chambers that could accommodate more than 300 bodies. You’ll have free time for the rest of the day before you leave Alexandria and return to Cairo. Tonight, why not gather your travel crew for a celebratory kebab, kofta or sheesha.

With no further activities planned, your trip finishes today after breakfast. If you’d like to extend your stay, just speak to your booking agent ahead of time.