Compare Jordan & Egypt: Petra to the Pyramids 2021 by Tauck vs Classic Egypt and Jordan Tour by Memphis Tours

Day 1 Arrive Amman, Jordan

Tour begins: 5:30 PM, Kempinski Hotel Ishtar Dead Sea. A transfer is included from Amman airport to the Kempinski Hotel Ishtar Dead Sea, a luxurious beachfront resort nestled on the shores of the ancient salt lake at the lowest point on Earth. Join us this evening for a welcome reception and dinner tonight.

MEALS : D

LODGING : Kempinksi Hotel Ishtar Dead Sea

Day 2 Roman Antiquities in Jerash

Set off on an excursion to Jerash, site of one of the best-preserved ancient Roman cities in the Middle East and a window to its past glory as an important imperial city. Your local guide shares expert insights about the sites you will see, including Roman temples, squares, arches, baths and theatres, often colonnaded and always astounding. See Hadrian’s Arch, built in 129 AD, the ruins of the Temple of Zeus, the South Theatre, built to accommodate some 5,000 spectators, and the meticulously restored North Theatre. Drive through Amman en route back to your resort hotel after lunch. Tonight, a lecture by Ms. Muna Haddad precedes dinner at a choice of restaurants at the hotel.

MEALS : B, L, D

LODGING : Kempinksi Hotel Ishtar Dead Sea

Day 3 Mt. Nebo, Madaba & Petra

Thousands of years of biblical history reveal themselves today on a visit to Mt. Nebo where you will see what Moses saw when he looked out over the Promised Land. Continue to Madaba for a visit to St. George Greek Orthodox Church where the remains of the oldest known map of the Holy Land, painstakingly assembled from more than a million pieces of colored stone, cover the church floor. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant and drive to the ancient Nabataean city of Petra, carved out of sandstone cliffs around 6 BC, where your hotel is just steps away from the archaeological site. Dinner is at your leisure tonight.

MEALS : B, L, D

LODGING : Movenpick Resort Petra

PORTOFCALL : Petra, Jordan

Day 4 A Camel Ride in Petra

Imagine riding aboard a camel cart through a hidden desert canyon that opens up to a magnificent red rose city dating back to the 1st century BC. Ancient master builders carved palaces, temples, tombs and more into the stone cliffs you will see here today. Picture yourself standing in awe at the 130-foot-high Khazneh, (The Treasury), intricately decorated with Corinthian capitals, friezes, statues and more, like Indiana Jones did in the movie Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Discover Royal Tombs, celebrating the achievements of the dead long gone and built high on the mountain side, and marvel at the ancient amphitheatre capable of seating more than 8,000 spectators, along with numerous temples sculpted in sandstone. Have lunch at a local restaurant, before returning to your hotel for an afternoon at leisure. Join us tonight for a private tented dinner in the desert (weather-permitting), enjoying a fruit-infused hubbly-bubbly smoke, music and dancing by a local troupe of sword dancers.

MEALS : B, L, D

LODGING : Movenpick Resort Petra

PORTOFCALL : Petra, Jordan

Day 5 Desert Adventures in Wadi Rum

Take a morning excursion to the otherworldly landscapes of Wadi Rum, known as the Valley of the Moon for the lunar-like dunes and towering sandstone cliffs found here. Exploring by 4x4 vehicle* with an option to ride a camel makes your visit unforgettable. It’s off to Egypt this afternoon aboard a flight to Aswan that touches down for a guided visit to the Aswan High Dam, built across the River Nile. Drive to your hotel, where your suites overlook the cataracts on the Nile, and have dinner at your leisure. 

MEALS : B, L, D

LODGING : Sofitel Legend Old Cataract

PORTOFCALL : Aswan, Egypt

Day 6 Fly to Abu Simbel

A morning flight brings you to the Nubian village of Abu Simbel for a locally guided visit to its massive temples cut into a solid rock cliff and created during the reign of Ramesses II in the 1200s BC. The Great Temple stands 98 feet high with four seated colossi flanking the entrance and smaller statues depicting Ramessess’ conquered enemies lining up below. The smaller temple, some 40 feet high, is adorned by four colossi depicting Ramesses and two of his queen Nefertari at a height of 32 feet. Fly back to Aswan and have dinner at a restaurant made famous by Agatha Christie. 

MEALS : B, L, D

LODGING : Sofitel Legend Old Cataract

PORTOFCALL : Aswan, Egypt

Day 7 A Village Life & Island Temples

A full day of Egyptian exploration includes a boat ride to Agilkia Island to see the sacred Temple of Isis at Philae, one of the last of the ancient temples constructed in the “classic” Egyptian style, and a visit to a Nubian village for an opportunity to discover an authentic taste of daily life – and local tea. Visit the ruins of Saint Simeon Monastery, once housing some 300 monks when it was completed in the 10th century. End your day with a felucca cruise as the sun sets on the Nile and have dinner at leisure onboard your ship.

MEALS : B, L, D

LODGING : Oberoi Zahra

Day 8 Temples of Kom Ombo & Edfu

Cruise to Kom Ombo, where its unusual twin temples are just a walk away from your ship. Temple reliefs here feature a unique engraving thought to depict the first representation of medical and surgical instruments. After lunch aboard ship, ride aboard a horse cart to the Temple of Horus at Edfu, considered to be the most beautiful and best-preserved temples in Egypt, with its roof still intact. It took 180 years for the temple to be built and during your guided visit you’ll discover why. Massive statues of Horus as a falcon guard entrances and the reliefs on its interior walls relate the story of the birth of Horus and depict Ptolemaic rulers making offerings to the gods and destroying their enemies. Return to your ship by horse cart for an evening at leisure.

MEALS : B, L, D

LODGING : Oberoi Zahra

Day 9 Luxor & The Valley of Kings & Queens

Buried under the sand for more than 1,000 years, Luxor’s Temple of Karnak is the largest complex of its time ever built, developed over a thousand years. Explore the site with an expert guide who shares insights about its history and construction, including the 134-columned Great Hypostyle Hall. A locally guided visit to Luxor Temple, connected to Karnak by an avenue of sphinxes, and dating back to the 1300s BC, follows. Return to your Nile cruiser for lunch and an afternoon excursion to the Valley of the Queens with a visit to the beautiful tomb of Nefertari, the great wife of Pharaoh Ramesses II, where the hieroglyphics amaze. Continue to the Valley of the Kings for an after-hours private visit that includes entry to King Tutankhamun’s tomb, renowned for the wealth of valuable antiquities it contained when it was discovered unopened in 1922. Return to your ship for dinner at leisure.

MEALS : B, L, D

LODGING : Oberoi Zahra

Day 10 The Egyptian Museum in Cairo

Disembark ship for an early flight to Cairo this morning, touching down late morning. Following an early lunch at a local restaurant, visit the Egyptian Museum, housing the world's largest collection of ancient Egyptian artifacts including many of the treasures found in King Tutankhamun's tomb! Check into your room at Marriott Mena House in Cairo, inviting with views of the Great Pyramids of Giza, where the remainder of the day is at leisure.

MEALS : B, L, D

LODGING : Marriott Mena House

PORTOFCALL : Giza, Egypt

Day 11 Pyramids of Giza

Drive to nearby Giza this morning for a guided tour of its storied pyramids, including the Great Pyramid of Giza, the last of the ancient Seven Wonders of the World, that have stood as defining symbols of Egypt for millennia. Here, you'll have an opportunity to ride a camel,* before seeing the most instantly recognizable statue in the world, crafted in limestone with the body of a lion and the head of a king – the Great Sphinx has been mysteriously reclining atop its Giza plateau for more than 3,000 years, guarding still the unanswered secret of who built it and why. After lunch, visit the pyramids at Saqqara, site of the necropolis (burial ground) for the ancient Egyptian capital of Memphis. The pyramid you will see here is the Step Pyramid, a magnificent reminder of the early architecture of the pharaohs of the Old Kingdom. The remainder of the day is at leisure.

MEALS : B, L

LODGING : Marriott Mena House

PORTOFCALL : Giza, Egypt

Day 12 Treasures of Old Cairo

Located on the right bank of the River Nile, the historic district of Old Coptic Cairo predates its modern-day processor with sites that date back to the 6th century BC, including ones allegedly visited by the holy family of Joseph, Mary and the baby Jesus. A guided tour includes Roman ruins, ancient Coptic churches and the Al Rifai Mosque or the Sultan Hassan Mosque a short drive away. Have lunch at a local restaurant in the Khan El Khalili Market, a bustling souk in the city’s historic center, and enjoy free time to experience the labyrinthine lanes of this colorful bazaar. Join our local guide for a visit to the Old Egyptian Museum this afternoon, housing the world's largest collection of ancient Egyptian artifacts, including many of the treasures found in King Tutankhamun’s tomb. Join us for a farewell reception and dinner at your hotel tonight.

MEALS : B, L, D

LODGING : Marriott Mena House

PORTOFCALL : Giza, Egypt

Day 13 Journey Home

Tour ends: Cairo. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from Marriott Mena House to Cairo Airport. Allow three hours for flight check-in at the airport. 

MEALS : B

PORTOFCALL : Giza, Egypt

Day 1: Arrival Cairo

Welcome to Cairo, Egypt (Around The Clock)

Your tour manager will meet and assist you at Cairo International Airport (Arrival procedures) and then he will escort you to the hotel by exclusive air-conditioned deluxe vehicle. At hotel the tour manager will assist with a smooth check-in and review your holiday itinerary with you to establish and confirm pick-up times for each tour. Overnight in Cairo.

Welcome Drink

Day 2: Pyramids – Cairo

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Breakfast at your hotel in Cairo and then met by your personal guide who will accompany you to Giza Plateau to visit one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, the Great Pyramids of Cheops, Chefren and Mykerinus, famous Sphinx, and Valley temple facing the great statue. Lunch at a good quality local restaurant. Then transfer to enjoy the Egyptian Museum. Continue driving to Islamic Cairo, where you will be able to explore Khan El Khalili, Cairo’s old bazaar. Back to hotel. Overnight in Cairo.

Day 3: Cairo - Luxor Nile Cruise

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Check out from hotel in the morning then transfer to Cairo Airport for a flight to Luxor where you will be met and assisted, then taken by an air-conditioned vehicle to board your 5 star Egypt Nile cruise to check in. After lunch on board, enjoy a visit to the impressive Karnak Temples and Luxor Temple. Dinner and overnight on board Nile cruise.

Day 4: Luxor West Bank

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast on your Nile cruise, take an excursion to the royal cemetery for 62 Pharaohs, Valley of the Kings, then to mortuary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, which was built by the architects of the New Kingdom Pharaoh Hatshepsut approximately in the 15th century BC. Head to the Colossi of Memnon. After lunch, you will sail to Edfu enjoying a leisurely dinner on board. Overnight on board Nile Cruise.

Day 5: Edfu - Kom Ombo

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast on Nile Cruise, visit the well-preserved Ptolemaic Temple dedicated to Horus at Edfu. Sail to Kom Ombo to see the unique Temple of Sobek, dedicated to Sobek the crocodile god, and Horus the falcon-headed god. Lunch on board. Continue sailing to Aswan. Dinner and overnight on board your deluxe Nile Cruise.

Day 6: Aswan Sightseeing

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

After breakfast on Nile cruise, enjoy a day’s sightseeing in Aswan. Start with the High Dam and the largest known ancient obelisk, located in the northern region of the stone quarries of ancient Egypt, the Unfinished Obelisk, then on to the beautiful Temple of Philae, which is devoted to the two goddesses Isis and Hathor. Dinner and overnight on board deluxe Nile Cruise.

Day 7: Back to Cairo

Meals: Breakfast

Disembark from your Nile cruise after breakfast, then transfer to Aswan Airport for your return to Cairo where you will be met and assisted at the airport then taken to your hotel. Overnight in Cairo.

Day 8: Cairo - Fly to Amman

Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast, you will be transferred to Cairo International Airport for flight to Amman. Upon arrival at Queen Alia Airport our representative will meet and assist you through the customs and immigration procedures. Transfer to the hotel in Amman for overnight.

Day 9: Jerash, Ajloun and Umm Qais Tour

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

In the morning we drive two hours from Amman to Gadara (Umm Qais), which belonged to the famous decapolis, a union of 10 cities, founded by Alexander the Great. Here you have an overwhelming view over the north Jordan Valley, the Golan Heights and the Sea of Galilee. We leave to Jerash, situated in the foothills of the mountain of Gilead, the ancient city is a reminiscent of the Roman Empire. Being one of the largest and well-preserved sites of Roman Architecture outside of Italy its grandeur can be seen in the colonnaded streets, the Nymphaeum and the Temple of Artemis. Next stop is Ajloun the great 12th century Islamic castle build around 1184/85 by the famous Islamic leader Salah al-Din. Back to Amman and overnight.

Day 10: Dead Sea in Jordan

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast drive to Mt. Nebo, the place where Prophet Moses gazed at the promised land before he died and his alleged burial place. You visit the old monastery and overlook the Jordan Valley, Dead Sea, Jericho and Jerusalem. After we proceed to Madaba, where to find the famous mosaic 6th century map of Palestine in St. George’s church. Afterward we drive to the Dead Sea, Being the lowest point on earth and filled with a variety of minerals with medicinal properties the site has developed into a health spa-like hotspot. The mineral concentration in the mud is used for therapeutic and beauty treatments. Queen Cleopatra and Sheba both were said to have known the value of the site and used it. Due too high salinity the water supports no form of life hence the name the Dead Sea and floating is very easy. Be sure to prepare to swim and relax in the mud before heading back to Amman. Overnight Amman hotel.

Day 11: Petra Tour

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

After breakfast drive about 2.5 hours to the Rose Red City of Petra, Jordan’s largest attraction. First started in the 6th century B.C. by Nabataean Arabs the city boasts beautiful facades carved directly into the walls of the mountain sides. Arriving at the visitor’s center it’s a 700 meter walk to the Siq entrance which is an impressive 1200 meter long gorge of a kaleidoscope of colors the towers more than 80 meters above you. As you exit the chasm you’re instantly transfixed by the beauty of Petra, chosen as one of the New World Wonders, the place speaks for itself. After your time at Petra you make your way back through the Siq before returning to Amman.

Day 12: Final Departure

Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast transfer to Queen Alia Airport for final departure.