Egypt and Jordan Experience

16 days - from $2890

The histories of Egypt and Jordan stretch back over the millennia, offering a rich and rewarding experience to travellers. In Egypt we visit all the major pharaonic sites including the Great Pyramids and Sphinx, Karnak Temple, 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 us 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 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.

Highlights

• Egyptian Museum
• The Pyramids
• Sphinx
• Karnak Temple
• Valley of the Kings
• Mt Sinai
• Aswan
• Luxor
• Philae Temple
• Aqaba
• Wadi Rum
• Petra
• Jerash
• Komombo Temple
• Nile Riverboat Cruise
• Medieval Cairo
• Dead Sea
• Amman
• Temple of Hatshepsut
• Edfu Temple
• Shobak Castle
• Bedouin Desert Camp

Itinerary:

Day 1 (Sat) Arrive in Cairo and transfer to hotel.2 Visit the Egyptian Museum, pyramids and Sphinx. Sleeper train to Luxor.3 Arrive Luxor. Horse-drawn carriages to Karnak Temple. 4 Visit Valley of the Kings, Temple of Hatshepsut and Colossi of Memnon. Board Nile cruise boat. 5-6 Sail to Aswan. Visit Edfu and Komombo temples. 7 Free day in Aswan. Optional visit to Abu Simbel. Sleeper train to Cairo.8 Arrive Cairo. Visit Medieval City.9-10 Drive to the Sinai. Optional ascent of Mount Sinai. Hydrofoil to Aqaba.11-12 Drive to Wadi Rum and ride camels to Bedouin camp. Explore Wadi Rum. Drive to Petra.
13 Full day exploring Petra, with guide.14 Explore Crusader castle at Shobak. Orientation tour of Amman.
15 Drive to Jerash in the morning. Visit Dead Sea in the afternoon.16 Tour ends in Amman after breakfast (Sun).
Included: Local tour leader, professional local guides, arrival transfer, transport, sightseeing and entrance fees.
Not Included: Flights, meals unless specified, drinks, visas, departure taxes, travel insurance, tips (see below), spending of a personal nature, optional sightseeing, departure transfer.
Meals: 15 breakfasts,4 lunches,10 dinners
Valid From: 01 Jan 09
Notes: 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.
Starts/Ends: Cairo to Amman
Trip Reference: PGJX