12-Day Egypt & Jordan: Grand Egyptian Museum, Nile & Dead Sea

Our representative meets you inside Cairo International Airport, helps you through arrival formalities and walks you to the car for the transfer to your 5-star hotel. The rest of the day is yours to rest after the flight.

There is no fixed sightseeing today, so the time you land shapes the evening. If you arrive early and still have energy, we can arrange an optional extra: a dinner cruise on the Nile, an evening walk through the Khan el-Khalili bazaar, or a short drive around central Cairo. If you land late, a light meal and an early night are the better choice, because the pyramids are first on the list tomorrow.

Use the evening to set up a local SIM card or eSIM so your guide can reach you. No meals are included today.

After breakfast your Egyptologist guide takes you to the Giza Plateau. You stand at the base of the Great Pyramid of Khufu, the largest of the three, and walk the plateau to take in all of them from different angles. Below the pyramids sits the Great Sphinx, carved from the bedrock with the body of a lion and a royal head. Your guide explains how the site was planned and why it was built.

In the afternoon you drive the short distance to the Grand Egyptian Museum. The galleries hold royal treasures, monumental statues and objects spanning thousands of years of Egyptian history, and your guide steers you to the key pieces so the visit stays focused rather than tiring.

Lunch is included today. You return to the hotel in the evening. Pack tonight with tomorrow's early flight in mind.

After breakfast you transfer to Cairo Airport for the domestic flight south to Luxor. Your Egyptologist guide meets you on arrival and starts on the East Bank of the Nile.

The first stop is Karnak Temple, one of the largest temple complexes ever built. You walk through the Great Hypostyle Hall with its forest of carved columns and past the statues of Ramses II and the standing obelisks. Next comes Luxor Temple in the center of the modern city, known for its tall colonnade and colossal seated statues.

In the afternoon you board your 5-star Nile cruise ship, home for the next four nights. Lunch and dinner are served on board as the cruise begins, and from here all meals are included until you leave the ship.

Today you cross to Luxor's West Bank, where the pharaohs of the New Kingdom chose to be buried. In the Valley of the Kings you go down into decorated royal tombs cut deep into the hillside.

Next is the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut at Deir el-Bahari, built in terraces against a sheer cliff, one of the most striking buildings in Egypt. On the way back you stop at the Colossi of Memnon, two huge seated statues standing alone in the fields.

You return to the ship for lunch, and the cruise sets sail south toward Edfu. The afternoon is for the sun deck and the view of farmland and villages along the river. Early risers can add an optional hot air balloon flight over Luxor before the tour. All meals are on board.

After breakfast you visit Edfu Temple, dedicated to the falcon god Horus. It is one of the best-preserved temples in Egypt, with its roof, pylon and inner sanctuary still in place, which gives you a clear sense of how a working temple was laid out.

The ship then continues upriver to Kom Ombo. This temple stands right on the riverbank and is unusual because it is a double temple, shared by Sobek, the crocodile god, and Horus the Elder, with two matching entrances and sanctuaries side by side.

After the visit the cruise sails on to Aswan, where it moors for the night. The stretch between Kom Ombo and Aswan is a good time to sit on deck as the valley narrows and the desert comes closer to the water. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are all served on board.

Today is open in Aswan, and the ship stays moored as your base. The most popular optional excursion is the early-morning road trip to Abu Simbel, where Ramses II had two temples carved into the rock near Lake Nasser. Departure is before dawn, so tell us when you book if you want to add it.

In the afternoon you can add an optional visit to a Nubian village, a good way to see the colorful houses and local culture of southern Egypt. Another option for the evening is the sound and light show at Philae.

If you prefer a quiet day, the sun deck and the view over Aswan's islands and granite rocks are reason enough to stay on board. All meals are included on the ship.

After breakfast you check out of the cruise ship and head out with your guide to Philae Temple. The temple is dedicated to the goddess Isis and sits on an island, so you reach it by a short boat ride. Its carved colonnades and riverside setting make it one of the most photographed sites in southern Egypt.

After the visit you transfer to Aswan Airport for the domestic flight back to Cairo. On arrival you are met and driven to your hotel for one night.

The evening is free. If you want to see Cairo after dark, an optional trip to Khan el-Khalili or a Cairo by night tour can be arranged. Keep your passport handy for the domestic flight. Breakfast is the only meal included today.

After breakfast you transfer to Cairo Airport for the flight to Amman, the capital of Jordan. Please note that this flight is not part of the package price. We can help you arrange it, or you can book it yourself and send us the details.

Our representative meets you in Amman and drives you to the Sulaf Luxury Hotel (or similar). The rest of the day is free to rest and get your bearings after the change of country.

If you arrive early enough, an optional Amman city tour is available. It is a good chance to see the capital before you head south to the desert tomorrow. Remember that Jordan has its own entry visa, which is not included, so check the rules for your passport before you travel. Breakfast in Cairo is included today.

After breakfast you travel south by road to Petra, the city the Nabataeans carved out of red sandstone and Jordan's best-known site.

You enter on foot through the Siq, a narrow canyon with rock walls rising high on both sides. At its end the Treasury, Al-Khazneh, comes into view, its facade cut straight into the cliff. From there you continue past rock tombs, temples and carved facades along the old paths of the city. Petra covers a large area, and the walking is on sand and uneven stone, so wear sturdy shoes and carry water.

You stay tonight at the Petra Elite Hotel (or similar). Optional extras today are Petra by Night, when the Siq and the Treasury are lit by candles, and a visit to Little Petra nearby. Breakfast is included.

After breakfast you drive to Wadi Rum, a protected desert of red sand and sandstone mountains in southern Jordan, with a long Bedouin heritage.

On arrival you head out on a 4x4 jeep tour across the desert to get a first look at its valleys and rock formations. In the late afternoon you check in at the Sharah Luxury Camp (or similar), where dinner is served.

Wadi Rum is at its best after sunset, when the sky fills with stars. Optional extras include a camel ride, a guided stargazing session or a longer jeep safari. Desert nights can be cold for much of the year, so bring a warm layer and a small bag for the camp night rather than your full suitcase. Breakfast and dinner are included today.

After breakfast at camp you set out on a 2-hour 4x4 jeep tour through Wadi Rum. The route takes in red dunes, sandstone mountains, ancient rock carvings, quiet valleys and high viewpoints over the desert.

You then travel by road north to the Dead Sea, the lowest point on Earth. The water is so salty that you float without effort. After check-in at the Grand East Hotel (or similar), the rest of the day is free to swim, rest by the shore and enjoy the calm after a busy trip. The drive from the desert is long, so the free afternoon comes at the right moment.

A practical tip: avoid shaving on the day you swim, keep the water away from your eyes, and rinse off with fresh water afterward. Breakfast is included today.

After breakfast you check out of the hotel. Depending on your flight time, you can spend the morning by the water for a last float, or use the resort facilities.

At the agreed time you transfer to Queen Alia International Airport in Amman for your flight home. Allow plenty of time for check-in, and send us your flight details before the trip so we can plan the pickup time. If your flight leaves late in the day, ask the hotel about a late checkout or keep a change of clothes in your hand luggage after your last swim.

This ends your 12-day journey through Egypt and Jordan, from the pyramids and the Grand Egyptian Museum to the Nile temples, Petra, Wadi Rum and the Dead Sea. Breakfast is included today.