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Day 1
Arrival in Amman, Jordan
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A member of Encounters Travel will meet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel in Amman. After helping you check in and suggesting a few local shops, cafes or restaurants, you're free to explore Amman independently before your sightseeing starts tomorrow.
Overnight: Amman hotel
Meals included: None
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Day 2
Explore Amman and Jerash
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Start the day by heading north out of Amman to nearby Jerash, one of the largest and most well-preserved sites of Roman architecture in the world outside Italy. Fondly referred to as the 'Jewel of the North,' Jerash boasts an unbroken chain of human occupation dating back more than 6,500 years. Jerash was hidden for centuries in sand, and excavations and restorations over the past 70 years have revealed a fine example of the grand, formal provincial Roman urbanism that is found throughout the Middle East.
After returning from Jerash, spend the afternoon exploring Amman, commonly known as the 'white city' due to its sheer number of white limestone buildings. Amman's rich history dates back many millennia, with numerous excavations and renovations uncovering remains from the Neolithic period as well as the Hellenistic and late Roman to Arab Islamic Ages.
The tour will include the Citadel, the former home of the ancient Temple of Hercules, The Umayyad Palace and the Byzantine Church. You'll also visit the 6,000-seat Roman Theater, which dates back to the Roman period.
Overnight: Amman hotel
Meals included: Breakfast
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Day 3
Mosaics, Castles & Wadis en-route to Petra
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Say goodbye to Amman today as you depart for Petra via the King's Highway. The drive to Petra is a scenic one, and you'll cross deep Wadis, pass through olive groves, and see many remote rural villages.
Before you reach Petra, you'll stop at Madaba, where you'll visit the Greek Orthodox Church of St. George, famous for its 6th century Byzantine mosaic map of the Holy Land and other biblical sites. You'll also make your way up Mount Nebo, which provides spectacular views of the Holy Land, and is known as the burial place of the prophet Moses.
After exploring Madaba, You'll once again cross a few deep Wadis, including the impressive Wadi al-Mujib, where the road winds through olive groves before rising up the side of a spectacular 3,000-foot deep canyon. Stop at Kerak Castle, which is one in a chain of Crusader fortresses built across Jordan in the 12th century on the ancient Egypt-Syrian caravan route. Built in 1132 AD by the Crusader King, Baldwin 1 of Jerusalem, the castle fell to Saladin in 1188 AD. It is still a hugely impressive building with commanding views over the surrounding hills and plains.
Once you arrive in Petra, an Encounters staff member will help you check into your hotel and the evening is free for you to relax and explore. An optional tour is available to get a first taste of Petra - the Petra by Candlelight tour through the Siq to the Treasury.
Overnight: Petra hotel
Meals included: Breakfast
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Day 4
Explore Petra and Wadi Rum Bedouin Camp
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Enjoy a full day today inside the world famous Nabatean site of Petra. As the ancient capital of the Nabatean commercial empire until the Romans finally took over in 106 AD, Petra was largely forgotten except by the local Bedouins, until it was 'discovered' in 1812 by a young Swiss explorer, Johann Ludwig Burckhardt.
Petra is situated on the edge of Wadi Aruba, whose canyon walls and surrounding hills make it almost impossible to approach except through a narrow, winding cleft in the rock, called the Siq. The city itself has very few free-standing buildings, as the Nabateans chose to carve their homes, buildings and tombs into the multi-colored sandstone cliffs.
You'll have a whole day today to tour this fascinating city (2-3 hour guided tour, then free time to explore yourselves). You'll start by walking through the Siq, which rises to 650 feet, and narrows to just 6 feet wide in certain places. The ancient Nabatean water channel can still be seen on one wall, as well as some remnants of the terracotta pipes that brought water into the city. You'll also see one of Petra's most impressive monuments, the Khazneh (Treasury). From the Khazneh, the valley opens out, with tombs carved into the rock on both sides. You'll see the ruined Roman amphitheater, Colonnaded Street, and during your free time you can walk up a steep and narrow winding gorge past beautifully colored sandstone cliff walls to the huge and imposing 'Monastery.' The biggest of Petra's carved monuments at 160 feet high and 150 feet wide, this is truly spectacular, as are the distant views west across Wadi Aruba and the Jordan Valley. Another climb can take you to the High Place of Sacrifice and Lion Fountain.
Late in the afternoon, you'll leave Petra and drive into the spectacular desert scenery of Wadi Rum, where friendly Bedouin hosts are ready to greet you at a comfortable camp beneath the towering rocks and cliffs. Spend the evening and night relaxing at the camp, watching the stars and enjoying a delicious and traditional Jordanian meal.
Overnight: Wadi Rum Bedouin camp
Meals included: Breakfast and dinner
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Day 5
Wadi Rum Jeep safari and Dead Sea swim
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After breakfast, you'll explore the spectacular desert and mountains of Wadi Rum via a Jeep safari. The desert here, with its towering rust colored rocky 'jebels' inspired TE Lawrence during his visits during the Arab Revolt of 1917-18 and was later made famous in the film Lawrence of Arabia.
You'll leave Wadi Rum and drive north up the banks of the Dead Sea, one of the world's most amazing places. In addition to being the lowest point on earth at over 1,300 feet below sea level, the Dead Sea region is one of the most spiritual landscapes and full of dramatic, natural beauty.
The Dead Sea itself receives several incoming rivers, including the River Jordan. Once the waters reach the Dead Sea they are land-locked and have nowhere to go, so they evaporate, leaving behind a rich cocktail of salts and minerals that supply industry, agriculture and medicine with some of its finest products.
The Dead Sea is flanked by mountains to the east and the rolling hills of Jerusalem to the west, giving it an almost otherworldly beauty. Although sparsely populated and serenely quiet, the area is believed to have been home to five Biblical cities: Sodom, Gomorrah, Adman, Zebouin and Zoar (Bela). You'll stop along the way to enjoy a unique "swimming" experience through the intensely salty waters. Due to the high salt content, it is nearly impossibly to swim normally and is easier to just float, sit or lie in the water. Be careful not to get any water in your eyes as it will sting! Finish the day back at your hotel in Amman.
Overnight: Amman hotel
Meals included: Breakfast
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Day 6
Travel to Cairo, Egypt
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You'll leave Jordan today and transfer to the Amman airport for your flight to Cairo. Once you arrive, you'll be met at the airport where a guide will assist you with obtaining your visa and luggage, and then transfer you to your hotel for the start of the Egyptian portion of your trip. Check in before enjoying some free time to relax or explore Cairo independently.
Note:
The Amman-Cairo flight is not included in the set tour price as it is often more cost effective for you to include this flight as part of your main international flight ticket. Encounters Travel is happy to book all your international flights, just this Amman-Cairo flight, or none of them at all, whichever works best for you. Direct flights are available with both Egypt Air and Royal Jordanian Airlines. You can fly at any time during the day (all transfers in Amman and Cairo are included).
Overnight: Cairo 3-star hotel
Meals included: Breakfast
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Day 7
Pyramids and Sphinx at Giza
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Start your exploration of Egypt with the iconic three great pyramids at Giza, on the outskirts of Cairo. Probably the most recognizable ancient buildings in the world, these three pyramids were built by the Pharaohs Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure around 2500 years BC. Your Egyptology guide will start your introduction into Egyptian history here with information on how and why the pyramids were built and how they fit into the whole ancient Pharaonic story. You’ll have the chance to climb down inside one of these pyramids if you wish (and if you’re not claustrophobic!).
The next stop is the majestic Sphinx, which nestles nearby, and was uncovered completely only in the 1920s. In the afternoon you'll then drive south through towns and villages along the banks of the River Nile to Luxor where you'll check into your hotel for the night.
Overnight: Luxor 4-star hotel
Meals included: Breakfast
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Day 8
Aswan and Nubian Village
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Enjoy some free time to relax in your hotel, or perhaps take an optional tour to the Luxor Museum, which has a beautifully displayed collection of ancient Egyptian artifacts and includes some very important and impressive specimens. There are also some items from the period after the end of Pharaonic times in Egypt. You'll then continue the drive south, following the Nile to Aswan where you'll spend the night in a Nubian village staying in a local guesthouse. The ancient region of Nubia comprised an area around the Nile in parts of present day Southern Egypt and Northern Sudan. Many descendants of the Nubian people still live around Aswan and during your stay you’ll see their colorful houses and can enjoy a typical meal this evening.
Overnight: Aswan - Nubian guesthouse
Meals included: Breakfast
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Day 9
Aswan, Abu Simbel option, Philae Temple, and felucca cruise
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There is an optional tour early this morning to drive to the amazing UNESCO World Heritage Site at Abu Simbel, which sits on the banks of Lake Nasser about three hours away from Aswan. The temples here were built by Ramses II and are one of Egypt’s most impressive and fascinating sites, especially because they are carved into the hillside rather than built independently, and were completely dismantled and moved to their present location when Lake Nasser was flooded. If you don’t visit Abu Simbel you can explore Aswan’s markets and Corniche this morning or visit the Nubian Museum, which has an excellent collection covering the history of the Nubian people in the region.
This afternoon you’ll take a boat trip to visit one of Egypt’s most beautifully situated temples which was also reclaimed from the rising waters of Lake Nasser. This is the Temple of Philae, which was dedicated to Isis.
Later, board a traditional Nile felucca and sail a little way out of Aswan before mooring up for the night. A separate facilities boat will join with the felucca from time to time during the day and moor up with it at night. This boat helps protect the environment of the banks of the Nile, having a proper toilet and showers on board as well as a hygienic kitchen. You'll sleep on the deck of the boat, with mattresses, blankets and mosquito nets provided. This is a fun but basic experience, and you can upgrade to a hotel stay in Aswan if you prefer.
Overnight: On board felucca sailboat
Meals included: Breakfast, lunch, and dinner
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Day 10
Felucca sailing to Luxor
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Spend some more time sailing on the Nile this morning, and after lunch with the felucca crew, you'll bid them a reluctant goodbye and drive north to Luxor. Luxor is the jewel in Egypt’s crown with the largest concentrations of ancient ruins in the Nile Valley, if not the world. These are split across both banks of the Nile, with the City of the Dead on the West Bank with many mortuary temples and tombs cut into the rocky mountains, and with the Temples of Luxor and Karnak and their connecting Avenue of Sphinxes the highlights on the East Bank. Later this evening there is an optional tour available to Luxor Temple which is right in the middle of town and beautifully lit up at night. You'll can also head into town to explore some of Luxor's popular outdoor cafes, perhaps enjoying a few games of backgammon and trying a shisha pipe with the locals. Spend the night at a comfortable 4-star hotel with a pool on the banks of the Nile.
Overnight: Luxor 4-star hotel
Meals included: Breakfast and lunch
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Day 11
Luxor and West Bank tour
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This morning you'll take a tour of the West Bank of the Nile, where you’ll visit the Temple of Queen Hatchepsut, explore several tombs in the Valley of the Kings, learn about the workers who made all this happen in Deir El-Medina (the Valley of the Artisans), and stop to see the huge Colossi of Memnon. Your afternoon is then free to relax in the hotel, or take an optional tour to explore the huge temple complex at Karnak. A spectacular hot air balloon flight over the west bank of the Nile is also available today (expect another early start to catch the sunrise as the balloon rises).
Overnight: Luxor 4-star hotel
Meals included: Breakfast
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Day 12
Temples of Dendara and Abydos
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Leave Luxor this morning and drive back to Cairo, stopping at the temples of Dendara and Abydos along the way. These temples are much less visited by tourists than the sites in Luxor, but are hugely impressive. Dedicated to the Goddess Hathor, Dendara in particular becomes many people’s favorite site, and is incredibly well preserved. Nearby Abydos is another fascinating site, and was the cult center of the god of the dead, Osiris. The necropolis here was a pilgrimage and burial site and at least ten temples were originally built here. Arrive back into Cairo this evening and check into your hotel in the center of the city for a final evening together.
Overnight: Cairo 3-star hotel
Meals included: Breakfast
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Day 13
Departure from Cairo, Egypt
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Your time is free today for some last minute sightseeing or shopping until your guide transfers you to the airport for your departure flight. We recommend an afternoon or evening flight so that you can take a tour to visit the incredible Egyptian Museum this morning. Extra nights in Cairo are also available if you would like to extend your stay.
Meals included: Breakfast