Wonders of Ancient Egypt & Jordan: Cairo, Aswan, Nile Cruise, Hurghada, Wadi Rum & Petra - 10 Days

Day 1: Arrive in Cairo (Egypt), Walking Tour of the Capital

Welcome to Egypt's sprawling capital and largest city, Cairo! Meet your driver at the airport and transfer to your hotel to check in and freshen up before an evening walking tour of the city's ancient streets. Discover Cairo's rich history and culture as you follow your guide down winding streets and alleys lined with modern buildings and historic architecture. Pass ancient mosques with towering minarets, centuries-old coffeehouses, and bustling bazaars, like the 14th-century Khan el-Khalili. After four hours, return to your hotel to enjoy dinner and fight off your jet lag.

Day 2: Visit the Giza Pyramid Complex & Egyptian Museum, Tour Old Cairo 

Start your day with a 30-minute transfer to the Giza Pyramid Complex, home to three of the world's most famous pyramids. Head to the towering Great Pyramid of Giza first, the largest of the three and the only remaining wonder of the ancient world. Nearby, the Pyramid of Khafre is the best-preserved, as you can still see the original limestone casing at the tip. Last up is the Pyramid of Menkaure, the smallest of the three. It's possible to go inside all three pyramids, but many prefer to enjoy them from the outside as the sacred chambers and passageways within can be cramped.

Before you leave, visit the Great Sphinx, carved out of a natural rocky outcrop and extending 240 feet (73 m) in length. Back in the city, visit the Egyptian Museum, home to one of the most comprehensive collections of ancient Egyptian artifacts. Wander through the museum and admire highlights like Tutankhamun's golden mask. Then, spend the rest of the day exploring Old Cairo's religious buildings, such as the Ben Ezra Synagogue and the Church of St. Sergius and Bacchus, which is believed to be built on the site where the Holy Family once sought refuge.

Day 3: Fly to Aswan, Visit Philae Temple & the Aswan High Dam 

Say goodbye to Cairo this morning as you head to the airport to catch a 1.5-hour flight to Aswan, your gateway to the Nile River. Meet your driver at the airport and transfer to the port to check in for your three-day cruise along the Nile. Leave your bags in your cabin, then switch to a smaller boat for a guided half-day tour. You'll cruise first to Agilkia Island, where Philae Temple awaits your discovery. Disembark and explore the temple complex dedicated to Isis, the goddess of love, magic, and motherhood in Egyptian mythology.

Admire the well-preserved colonnades, intricately carved reliefs, and hieroglyphics adorning the walls before continuing to the Aswan High Dam, an engineering marvel built in 1970 CE to control the river's annual flooding and generate hydroelectric power for the whole country. Stand atop the dam to appreciate its sheer scale as it stretches across the Nile, creating the vast Lake Nasser, one of the largest artificial lakes in the world. Afterward, return to the cruise ship for lunch overlooking the water. Then, spend the rest of the day exploring the ship and taking advantage of its amenities. 

Day 4: Nile Cruise to Kom Ombo Temple

Enjoy a delicious breakfast on board before sailing to Kom Ombo Temple, perched on the east bank of the river. Dedicated to both Sobek, the crocodile-headed god of fertility, and Horus, the falcon-headed god of kingship and the sky, the complex has a symmetrical layout with its halls, sanctuaries, and courts mirrored on both sides. Explore both temples, adorned with hieroglyphs that provide insight into the rituals and ceremonies that once unfolded within this sacred space. 

As you admire the detailed carvings covering the temple's walls, note how they illustrate mythological stories of both gods and depict daily life in ancient Egypt. Then, step inside to discover more carvings on the walls and columns showcasing ancient surgical instruments and medical procedures. Be sure to see the rare nilometer, an ancient device used to measure the Nile's water level and predict flooding. After exploring the temple, return to the ship for lunch and dinner while continuing your cruise northward down the river. 

Day 5: Visit Edfu Temple, Nile Cruise to Luxor Temple & Karnak 

Wake up in Edfu and enjoy breakfast on board before hopping on a horse-drawn carriage or toktok (motorized rickshaw) for a ride through the bustling city streets toward Edfu Temple, one of the best-preserved temples from the Ptolemaic period. As you approach the temple, also dedicated to Horus, you'll be greeted by massive pylons adorned with towering statues of the deity in his falcon form. Step inside to see the richly decorated halls before returning to the cruise ship for lunch. While dining, you'll cruise to Luxor, then disembark on the east bank to explore Karnak.

Walk through the second-largest religious complex in the world (after Angkor Wat in Cambodia) and discover the towering pylons, massive obelisks, and forest of columns intricately carved with scenes from Egyptian mythology. Then, head to Luxor Temple, where monumental statues of Ramesses II dominate the landscape. Be sure to see the serene sanctums and sacred chambers within the sanctuary dedicated to the triad of deities revered here. After exploring both temples, return to the cruise ship for dinner. 

Day 6: Explore the Valley of the Kings, Transfer to Hurghada

Savor your final breakfast on board before checking out to explore Luxor's west bank, starting at the Valley of the Kings. This royal necropolis is the final resting place of some of Egypt's most illustrious pharaohs, including Tutankhamun and Ramesses the Great. Descend to the rock-cut chambers surrounded by vivid hieroglyphs and intricate paintings depicting scenes from the afterlife while your guide highlights the noblemen and pharaohs buried here during the New Kingdom period. Then, head up to Deir el-Bahari, a mortuary temple complex dedicated to Queen Hatshepsut.

Admire the symmetry of the three main terraces and discover the series of chapels and sanctuaries adorned with bas-reliefs and vibrant frescoes highlighting the queen's divine birth. End the tour at the Colossi of Memnon, two massive statues depicting Pharaoh Amenhotep III at 60 feet tall (18 m). Originally part of a grand mortuary temple, the statues have weathered over the centuries, but their sheer scale and intricate details are still impressive. Following a day of discovering tombs and temples, it's time to transfer four hours to your hotel in Hurghada, a coastal city on the Red Sea.

Day 7: Enjoy a Free Day in Hurghada

Today, you're free to explore the coastal city on your own or choose from an array of activities, like a boat tour to the Giftun Islands, a set of two islands known for their diverse marine life, crystal-clear waters, and vibrant coral reefs. On the way, stop at Dolphin House Hurghada to swim with the wild dolphins that gather here. When you arrive at the islands later, don your snorkeling gear and jump into the warm water to look for marine life below the surface.

Keep an eye out for tropical fish, like butterflyfish, angelfish, and clownfish, among the reefs. If you're lucky, you may spot larger marine creatures, such as reef sharks, stingrays, and sea turtles. Spend the day cruising from site to site and enjoying a buffet lunch. Those who want to see the water but don't want to get wet can opt for a ride on the Hurghada Submarine instead. Sit back and watch as the vessel descends 82 feet (25 m), giving you a close-up look at the swaying coral, exotic reef fish, and larger sea creatures like stingrays or sharks.

Day 8: Fly to Amman (Jordan) via Cairo, Transfer to Wadi Rum, 4WD Desert Tour

Bid farewell to Hurghada and Egypt as you head to the airport for a one-hour flight to Cairo. From there, you'll board a 1.5-hour flight to Amman, the vibrant capital of Jordan. Meet your driver at the airport and start the four-hour journey south to Wadi Rum, a Martian-like landscape characterized by its towering sandstone mountains, deep canyons, and sweeping red dunes. Along the way, you'll stop in the "City of Mosaics," Madaba. Head to St George's Greek Orthodox Church to see the famous Madaba Map, an ancient detailed mosaic depicting Jerusalem during the Byzantine period.

Back in the car, continue to Mount Nebo, believed to be where Moses died, overlooking the Holy Land. Look out at the Jordan Valley, the Dead Sea, and Jerusalem if it's clear enough. Complete the drive to Wadi Rum and switch to a 4WD vehicle to traverse the rugged landscape with your local Bedouin guide. Stop at the Valley of the Moon, with its otherworldly terrain, towering rock formations, and ancient petroglyphs etched into the cliffs by the Nabateans. Before settling into your camp for the night, look for more petroglyphs on the walls of Siq Um Tawaqi, a narrow, winding canyon.

Day 9: Transfer to Petra, Guided Tour of the UNESCO Site

Trade the otherworldly landscape of Wadi Rum for the rock-cut architecture of Petra, the former capital of the Nabataean Kingdom. Transfer 1.5 hours to the visitor center, then walk through the narrow gorge known as the Siq. When you emerge, you'll be greeted by the dramatic facade of the Treasury carved into the rose-red sandstone cliffs. 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.

As you go deeper, you'll find the Royal Tombs, a testament to the city's regal history. If you're up for a hike, climb 800 steps up to the Monastery to take in the towering facade that echoes the grandeur of the Treasury but on a much larger scale. After exploring the archaeological site, transfer to your nearby hotel to check in and enjoy dinner. If you're visiting on a Monday, Wednesday, or Thursday, you can return to the UNESCO site to experience Petra by Night, where thousands of candles illuminate the Siq and Treasury, and you can listen to Bedouin music and storytelling.

Day 10: Transfer to Amman, Depart

Enjoy your final breakfast in Jordan, then set off on a three-hour transfer back to Amman for your flight home. The journey will take you along the scenic King's Highway, an ancient route that traces its origins back to biblical times. Watch the diverse terrains go by, from rolling hills and verdant valleys to dramatic desert vistas. Along the way, you'll also pass small towns and picturesque villages, offering a glimpse of daily life in rural Jordan. Once in Amman, you'll head straight to the airport for your departing flight. Safe travels!