Highlights of Egypt & Jordan: Cairo, Nile Cruise, Petra & Wadi Rum - 8 Days

Highlights

• Visit the Egyptian Museum to browse the collection of over 120,000 artifacts
• Journey up the Nile River on a scenic three-night cruise
• Explore the meticulously carved tombs of the Valley of the Kings
• Climb sand dunes and rock formations in the otherworldly landscapes of Wadi Rum

Brief Itinerary

Detailed Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in Cairo (Egypt), Half-Day City Tour

Welcome to the bustling city of Cairo, Egypt's capital! Meet your driver outside the airport and transfer to your hotel to regroup. Then, venture out on a tour of the city, starting at Al-Muizz li-Din Allah al-Fatimi Street, or Al-Muizz Street for short, in Old Cairo. Follow your guide down the pedestrian street lined with medieval Islamic architecture and art, creating an open-air museum. Listen to stories about the historic mosques, mausoleums, and palaces while you walk before turning onto another historic street, Haret al-Darb al-Asfar—commonly known as the "Street of the Tentmakers."

Watch the artisans take part in the centuries-old tradition of tentmaking, using colorful hand-stitched textiles and intricately embroidered fabrics. End the tour at Khan el-Khalili, a bustling 14th-century bazaar, where you can find a treasure trove of souvenirs, from handmade carpets to delicate jewelry and Egyptian street food. If you're hungry, try koshary, the country's national dish of lentils, rice, chickpeas, and tomato sauce, covered in crispy onions. After a busy first day in Egypt, return to the hotel to rest for the night.

Day 2: Day Tour to the Giza Pyramid Complex, Visit the Egyptian Museum

Spend the day discovering the ancient pyramids in Giza, located just 30 minutes out of the city. Start at the Great Pyramid of Giza, the largest of the three main pyramids and the only survivor of the Seven Great Wonders of the Ancient World. Continue to the Pyramid of Khafre, the best-preserved pyramid, to see the original, smoothly finished stone at the tip. The final pyramid is the smallest of the three, the Pyramid of Mycerinus, offering a more intimate look at ancient Egyptian funeral practices. 

Step inside the dimly lit passageways to discover the sacred chambers that once cradled Egypt's rulers and marvel at the engineering prowess of ancient Egyptians. Adjacent to the pyramids, the Great Sphinx guards the Giza Plateau. Admire the colossal limestone statue depicting a lion's body with a pharaoh's head, then return to the city for your last stop, the Egyptian Museum, home to a collection of over 120,000 artifacts spanning over 5,000 years. Wander through the vast halls housing statues, jewelry, mummies, and the mask of the renowned pharaoh, Tutankhamun, before returning to your hotel.

Day 3: Fly to Aswan, Board Nile Cruise, Explore Aswan's Landmarks

Trade the bustling capital for the tranquil Nile River today as you catch a 1.5-hour flight to Aswan. Upon arrival, meet your driver outside the airport and transfer to your cruise ship for check-in. Refresh and relax, then take a small boat to Philae Temple on Agilkia Island. Disembark and explore the temple complex dedicated to the goddess Isis, who embodies love, magic, and motherhood in Egyptian mythology. Admire the well-preserved colonnades, intricately carved reliefs, and hieroglyphics adorning the walls.

In the afternoon, board a felucca, a traditional wooden sailboat, for a tranquil spin around Aswan's iconic landmarks, such as the Aga Khan Mausoleum, framed against the backdrop of the Sahara Desert and Nubian villages. Stop at Elephantine Island, where you can stroll through the ruins of ancient temples, including the Temple of Khnum, dedicated to the island's namesake deity—the elephant god Khnum. End the tour at Aswan Botanical Gardens to see the variety of exotic plants, trees, and flowers before returning to the cruise ship for dinner as you cast off on your three-night cruise.

Day 4: Visit Abu Simbel & the Temple of Kom Ombo 

Leave the cruise ship behind for most of today and take your breakfast with you as you set off on a three-hour transfer inland to Abu Simbel, a historic site home to two temples commissioned by Pharaoh Ramesses II in 13th century BCE. Pass the colossal statues of Ramesses II and his beloved wife Nefertari to enter the temple's main hypostyle hall, where more statues of the pharaoh and walls adorned with hieroglyphs greet you. Explore the inner chambers dedicated to different deities and admire the seamless integration of art, architecture, and religious symbolism.

After exploring the twin temples, you'll transfer back to the Nile and re-board your boat, cruising north to the Temple of Kom Ombo and enjoying a delicious lunch on the way. Dedicated to both Sobek, the crocodile-headed god of fertility, and Horus, the falcon-headed god of the sky, the complex features duplicated halls, courtyards, and sanctuaries. You'll stop to explore both temples, adorned with hieroglyphs that provide insight into the rituals and ceremonies that once unfolded within this sacred space. In the evening, return to the cruise ship to relax and sit down for dinner as you continue cruising upstream.

Day 5: Discover the Temple of Khnum & the Karnak Temple Complex

Enjoy breakfast onboard the ship as you cruise toward Esna this morning, where you'll disembark to visit the Temple of Khnum, another structure dedicated to the elephant god. Step inside the well-preserved Greco-Roman structure to see the focal point, the hypostyle hall, featuring 24 towering columns adorned with intricate carvings of floral motifs and mythological scenes. Don't forget to look up to see the astrological signs decorating the ceiling. Then, wander through the surrounding chambers and courtyards to discover remnants of the ancient rituals and ceremonies that used to take place here. 

Board the ship again for lunch while you continue up the Nile to Karnak in Luxor, an awe-inspiring temple complex dedicated to the deities of Thebes. Walk down the Avenue of Sphinxes to enter the temple and discover the towering obelisks adorned with hieroglyphs. Navigate through the different precincts dedicated to Amon-Re, Mut, and Montu to witness the evolution of the complex over centuries before following the Avenue of Sphinxes to the nearby Luxor Temple, home to graceful colonnades and colossal statues of Ramesses II. Return to the ship to spend your final evening on board, docked in Luxor.

Day 6: Disembark, Valley of the Kings, Fly to Amman (Jordan), Transfer to Petra 

Sit down for one last breakfast on the ship, then disembark and join your guide for a tour of the Valley of the Kings, a UNESCO-listed necropolis just 30 minutes outside Luxor. Descend to the meticulously carved tombs and listen as your guide teaches you about the pharaohs, like Tutankhamun, and noblemen who were buried here during the New Kingdom period. Get a close look at the vivid murals and intricate hieroglyphs depicting each person's journey to the afterlife before continuing to Deir el-Bahari, a complex of mortuary temples above the tombs dedicated to Queen Hatshepsut.

Ascend the three terraces and explore the meticulously decorated corridors, grand halls, and tranquil chapels. After plenty of time to discover the tombs and temples, it's time to head to the airport for a one-hour flight back to Cairo. From there, you can catch a 1.5-hour flight to Amman, the capital of Jordan. Meet your driver outside the airport for a three-hour transfer to your hotel near Petra, an iconic archaeological site and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.

Day 7: Self-Guided Tour of Petra, Transfer to Wadi Rum

Visiting Petra can't be rushed, as there's so much to see, so today, explore the "Rose City" at your own pace. Enter the archaeological site through the narrow Siq, a natural rock gorge, until you get your first look at the Treasury, a towering mausoleum with an elaborately carved entrance. Beyond the Treasury, the site opens to a vast expanse of monuments, temples, and dwellings. Walk along the Street of Facades, showcasing impressive Nabataean tombs, until you reach the theater, where you can imagine the echoes of ancient performances.

Deeper into the archaeological site, you'll find the Royal Tombs, which stand as a testament to the city's regal history. End your self-guided tour in the monastery and climb to the top, which takes 45 minutes to an hour, to enjoy panoramic views of the ancient city's monuments and surrounding mountains. In the evening, return to the hotel to grab your bags and meet your driver for a two-hour transfer south to your new hotel in Wadi Rum, a Martian-like landscape of vast desert expanses, towering sandstone mountains, and surreal red sand dunes. 

Day 8: Jeep Tour Across Wadi Rum, Transfer to Amman, Depart 

Although it's your last day in Jordan, there's still one final adventure—a Jeep tour across the desert. Start at the Al Ramal Red Sand Dune, where you can climb to the summit of the towering dune for panoramic views of the Martian-like landscape. Continue to Raqabat al-Wadak, better known as the "Little Bridge," a sandstone arch that spans a narrow chasm. Although you can't walk across the bridge, you can clamber up the rock for another perspective of the surrounding landscape.

Back in the Jeep, venture into Khazali Canyon, a narrow gorge renowned for its ancient rock carvings. Look out at the inscriptions and petroglyphs adorning the rocks that tell tales of the Nabataean and Bedouin cultures that once thrived in the region. End the tour at Lawrence's Spring, a natural oasis in the middle of the arid desert. Dip your toes in the crystal-clear water while you look out at the surrounding mountains. In the afternoon, set off on a four-hour transfer back to Amman to catch your flight home. Safe travels!

More Great Egypt Itineraries

Looking for more inspiration for your trip to Egypt? Check out these other Egypt itineraries, explore different ways to spend eight days in Egypt, or discover the best time to visit Egypt.