1001 Arabian Nights
Egypt and Jordan a la Indiana Jones

A Grand 17 day Tour of Egypt and Jordan, Including Petra.
Friday Departure from USA

Add a Cruise on Lake Nasser

An extended stay in Egypt and Jordan
Indiana Jones himself couldn't squeeze more adventure into this journey: Cairo and the Pyramids, a cruise on the Nile, the fabled temples and tombs of Luxor and Thebes, diving in the Red Sea, the mountains of Sinai, and a trek to the mysterious ruins of Petra in Jordan.

DAY 1 - DEPARTURE - Friday ( or Saturday) Weekly year round
( click here if your prefer to start in Amman Jordan)
We take off aboard Lufthansa, Swiss , Air France, British Airways or KLM from New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport.

DAY 2- CAIRO - Saturday
Our Egypt-based local rep. greets you in bustling Cairo airport and escorts you to your hotel . The Egyptian visa may be issued for a limited number of nationalities such as : for American, Australian , NZ, EU , Canadian, Mexican and Japanese citizens. Passports must be valid for at least 6 month upon arrival). Please pay the visa fee $ 15 upon arrival in cash. After exiting the terminal, our local representative will escort you (private vehicle) to the hotel . After exiting the terminal, our local representative will escort you (private vehicle) to the hotel . At your hotel, complimentary coffee or tea ( please advise your preference), one bottle of water for each guest, and a platter of Egyptian sweets will await you at your room.

DAY 3 - CAIRO Sunday (BL)
Your exploration of the ancient world begins today! First stop is the Egyptian Museum, with its treasures of the ancient pharaohs: mummies, statuary, precious stones and metals. We'll also stop at the Citadel of Saladin and the Alabaster Mosque. Then it's on to Giza and the mysteries of the Pyramids and Sphinx.

The museum of the Royal Barge of Cheops The museum is built over the rectangular pit that housed the Royal Barge for thousands of years , the wooden boat was readied for the king's daily journey with the sun god, Ra . Discovered in 1954, in a completely dismantled state, the 43-metre (140-foot) cedar boat is a rare window on the Royal boats used by the kings of Ancient Egypt.

We are glad to include the entrance fee to get inside the Great Pyramid , if interested , please read this first : The King's Chamber in the Great Pyramid was not meant to be visited:
Getting to it is challenging, and once you enter, it is very difficult to turn back. The stone passage is only wide enough for one person. You must be in good physical condition, able to climb several flights of stairs, bend double, crouch and duck-walk for short distances. The King's Chamber itself is the world's most claustrophobic place, with dim light and heavy, hot, oxygen-poor air. There is no ventilation. If you are at all sensitive to claustrophobia or confinement, or if you have any sort of respiratory condition, for your own safety and the safety of others, you must not enter the pyramid because it is impossible to remove a person or to bring aid to them quickly

Evening complimentary dinner is included at a local home:
Meet the locals, you may wish to bring token gifts to exchange with the host family ( T shirt , small souvenirs of your home town): This afternoon we'll venture where few ordinary visitors ever tread . . . right into the homes of some of the people of Cairo ! You'll be invited to a family dinner, and while you enjoy wholesome home-cooked specialties, you'll learn about and appreciate the outlook, aspirations, and way of life of your hosts. Be assured, as curious as you may be about your new friends, they're sure to have questions about your own background. Once the ice is broken, you'll enjoy a lively afternoon , and find that you have more in common than you ever suspected. Of course, you may enjoy a quiet evening with your travel companions, by letting us know your preferences ,overnight in Cairo

DAY 4 - LUXOR ! - Monday (BLD)
Guests booking Deluxe Category will be flying in business class . ( subject to availability), we fly to LUXOR and board our Nile cruiser in time for a delicious lunch. Complimentary welcome fruit basket awaits you in your cabin .The gigantic Great Temple of Amon at Karnak, and the mighty Temple of Luxor are our goals in the afternoon. We'll return in time for the afternoon tea served on deck. You'll have a chance to explore your ship before dinner. Evening Sound and light show at Karnak ( bring a jacket )

DAY 5 - LUXOR , EDFU - Tuesday (BLD)
We tour today as well the magnificent tombs in the Valley of the Kings including Tut-Ank-Amon's tomb and the great temple of Queen Hatshepsut, we stop at the Colossi of Memnon on the way back to our cruise.

Afterward, we'll continue on Luxor's west bank to get a totally different perspective on ancient Egyptian life, at the ancient workers' settlement of Deir el-Medinah. While most of the imposing stone monuments and sites of Egypt honor the lives and after-lives of royalty, Deir el-Medinah gives us unique and surprising insights into the ordinary citizens who constructed and decorated the tombs.

Here we'll see the excavated homes shared by laborers with their domestic animals. These quarters were surprisingly large, with three good-sized rooms, courtyard, kitchen, and even storage cellars. While ancient Egypt might not have been a workers' paradise, we'll see that artisans and builders were highly regarded in their community. We are proud to be the only operator to offer regular visits to this singular ancient settlement in its tour and cruise programs.

We sail in the afternoon we cruise to Esna to go through the locks , and on to Edfu where we dock for the night. In the evening , we'll celebrate in Egyptian style, dressed in galabias, the flowing national costume, a galabya will be delivered to your cabin with our compliments.

DAY 6 - EDFU, KOM OMBO -Wednesday (BLD)
We moor in Edfu, drive through the town to the Temple of Horus, Egypt's best-preserved temple. Re-embarking on our Nile cruiser, we enjoy lunch as we sail further south upriver .
We disembark downstream at Kom Ombo to visit its twin temples of Haroeris, the sun god, and Sobek, the crocodile god, the continue our voyage to Aswan, while we party after dinner with music & dance.

DAY 7 - CAMEL CARAVAN, NUBIAN VILLAGE , ASWAN - Thursday (BLD)
First we tour Aswan dams, then on to the new Nubian Museum then the awesome Aswan dams, and next an ancient granite quarry complete with an unfinished obelisk. Then we go by motor launch to the Island temple of Philae , dedicated to the Ancient Goddess ISIS.
In the afternoon we enjoy a leisurely sail by graceful felucca on the Nile.
For those who are interested : a short camel caravan & ride is included( almost a half hour ride) to visit a local Nubian Village. Our farewell dinner this evening is a buffet of Egyptian specialties, followed by a show featuring oriental performers, including of course a belly dancer.

DAY 8 - ASWAN , CAIRO / Sharm El Sheikh- Friday (BD)
Now that you've seen the best of the Egypt of the Pharaohs, our guides escort you to the airport. You'll fly north to Cairo and over the Sinai Peninsula and land at historic Sharm El Sheik on the Red Sea. You're at the beach and free to swim, or explore under the waters. Lunch is included at the hotel in Sharm, is the flight is a late one, snacks will be served at your room at no additional charges. Complimentary welcome dinner at the hotel.

DAY 9 - MOUNT SINAI Saturday (BLD)
Our knowledgeable guides arrange a pre-dawn departure into the still-cool wilderness of Sinai, through which Moses led the Children of Israel to the Promised Land. Our goal is the Monastery of St. Catherine, built of rock at the base of Mount Sinai, at the site of the Burning Bush. We tour the monastery, rich in history, icons and sacred paintings, then return to Sharm El Sheik. Dinner is included at the hotel.

Please advise us early on , if you prefer to do Mount Sinai / St. Catherine's tour by Jeep versus air conditioned sedan / vehicle .

DAY 10 - Sunday- Saladin’s Castle and Pharaoh’s Island ( BLD)
Breakfast at the hotel, lunch box will be prepared by your chef and includes bottled water.
Just off the Sinai along the northern reaches of the Gulf of Aqaba lies one of the more curious and scenic locales in this part of the world.

The rulers of the Nile might once have held sway over these rocks and sand and water of Pharaoh’s Island (or Coral Island, or Geziret Faraoun). More certain is that Crusaders established an outpost here, on the site of a onetime Phoenician port, and erected a castle in 1115 A.D. to protect pilgrims on the way to St. Catherine’s Monastery in the Sinai wilderness. The island did double duty as a base from which to attack Arab traders, which led to its capture by Saladin (or Salah El-Din). The legendary Arab leader strengthened the fortifications, and his name remains attached to the castle. Later, it was a Mameluke and Ottoman outpost.

We’ll have a treasured half-day opportunity to board a boat to visit this rarely seen fortress island. We’ll motor northward from Sharm El Sheikh, following the rocky coast, passing Bedouin travelers on camels, and secluded beaches, with occasional sightings of desert foxes. At Dahab or Nuweiba, we’ll embark for our short crossing to the island.

Once ashore, we’ll wander through the precincts of the reconstructed castle, with its courtyard, storerooms, galleys, and dining rooms, and appreciate the natural harbor that made this such a coveted outpost. And we’ll take in the unusual offshore vista of the breathtaking azure waters of the Gulf, back dropped by the grandeur of the mountains of Sinai and a cloudless sky.

Then, at your option, you can don scuba or snorkeling gear for a close encounter with the world-famous underwater life of coastal Sinai: corals, reefs, and schools of fish in every gradation of the rainbow, before we return to our lodgings at Sharm El Sheikh . Evening bedouin dinner.

DAY 11 - Sharm El Sheikh , PETRA - Monday (BLD)
We'll fly to Amman ( non-stop or via Cairo ), air fare is included in economy class tax included , in Amman , our Jordan-based representative waits to greet you. You'll drive north under a towering ridge of mountains, and arrive at your hotel in Petra for the night. Complimentary Jordanian visa fee (valid only for American , Australian, NZ , Canadian, EU , Singaporean, Korean & Japanese citizens. Passports must be valid for at least 6 month upon arrival). Lunch is included today. Complimentary welcome dinner tonight at the hotel.

DAY 12 - PETRA- Tuesday (BD)
We'll spend the entire day at Petra, the stunning desert city hewn by the Nabateans from solid cliffs of pink and violet sandstone. Petra was known in the bible as Sela, and rediscovered only in 1812. You'll feel like Indiana Jones in Raiders of the Lost Ark as you penetrate into the city through a narrow sandstone gorge, the Siq, and wander among the Temple of the Winged Lion, tombs, Roman theater, and the imposing Treasury.

In the evening we will call on you for a unique experience :
Dine as a local : The Petra Kitchen is a delightful way to round out your Jordan travel experiences. Like any home kitchen, The Petra Kitchen is a relaxed, informal atmosphere where you’ll gather to prepare an evening meal, working alongside local women under the supervision of our chef.

Each evening meal includes soup, cold and hot mezza ( appetizers ) and salads, and a main course—all typical Jordanian dishes. You will have get an inside glimpse of the secrets behind the famous regional cuisine of the Levant.

The Petra Kitchen offers an evening of learning, fun and a very special dining experience, with each dish gaining the special flavor of a reward well-earned. Great care has been taken to make The Petra Kitchen a truly Jordanian experience—right down to the furnishings, all crafted in Jordan, the tableware, all produced by the Iraq al Amir Women’s Co-operative, and the aprons and table linens, all hand-embroidered by the Jordan River Foundation.

Tour experience tonight includes the cuisine course, meal and all non-alcoholic beverages as well as take-home recipes for all dishes prepared that evening.

DAY 13 - WADI RUM DESERT - Wednesday (BL)
Visit the Wadi Rum Desert (with a short ride in a 4 Wheel Drive vehicle) and its awesome moonlike landscape, where the film “Lawrence of Arabia” was shot, we will break for tea with the bedouins . Back to Petra and overnight. Lunch is included at a local restaurant.

DAY 14 - Petra / Amman - Thursday (BLD)
After breakfast we head north for Amman on the Desert Highway. Lunch is served enroute at a local restaurant. Overnight in Amman. Dinner is included at the hotel

DAY 15 - Amman - Friday (BL)
Breakfast at the hotel , half day morning tour of Amman. Visit the Roman Theater, the Citadel, the Archaeology and Folklore Museums, old and modern Amman and one of the many art galleries in this enchanting capital city. Afternoon is free for your leisure

DAY 16 - Amman - Saturday (B)
Breakfast at the hotel. Full day on your own to explore Amman as you wish .
If you prefer to leave today, please click here for the 15 day edition.

DAY 17 - DEPARTURE FOR HOME - Sunday (B)
Our staff escorts you to the airport of Amman for your flight home. Or, you may choose to add one of our extensions,to Egypt, Sharm El Sheikh, Syria, Greece or Turkey or even stop in Paris or London on the way back. Interested in adding an extra night in Amman ? Please click here

RATES per person in USD

 

• For departures from most west coast cities , please add $ 450 to the above rates.
  
  
  
• For an upgrade to the Four Seasons in Cairo & Amman (Standard room ):
  Please add : $500 to the deluxe rate ( Per person)
  
  

• For travel in May through end of Sep , as well as Dec 20 - Jan 2 please note that a $300 air-fare supplement is added to the above rates. This doesn't apply when you handle your own air fare.
  
  
  
• Easter ( two weeks) , Christmas, New Year's Dec 15 - Jan 5 : 10 % supplement will apply

Sample 5-stars Deluxe Nile Cruises:
Monaco , Monte Carlo , Mojito , Queen of Hansa ,
Beau Soleil , Adonis , Renaissance







RATES per person in USD Based on an Ultra Deluxe Nile Cruise

	Ultra Deluxe Nile Cruise Including private Guide Egyptologist
Triple	US$ 7010
Double	US$ 7150
Single	US$ 8390

 

 

Sample 5-stars Ultra Deluxe Nile Cruises:
M/S Nile Cruise Princess Sara, Queen TiYi , Alexander the Great , Movenpick Radamis II and Movenpick Royal Lotus , the all suites M/S Amarco , or the all suites with private balconies Nile Cruise : M/S Moon Goddess ( all state   rooms do offer private balconies)

 

 



The Ultra Deluxe M/S Amarco.

 

 

Prices include:

• International air fares ( with tax) from New York to Cairo , in economy class , with return from either Amman . If / when you handle your own air fare please deduct $ 500 from the listed rates.
  
• All domestic flights within Egypt, economy class with tax .
• Air-conditioned hotel accommodations with tax and service charges
  
• All transfers in Egypt and Jordan.

• Air fare between Cairo and Amman in economy class , with tax
  
• Complimentary welcome fruit basket on board the Nile Cruise.
  
• Bottled water ( one per person) delivered daily to your cabin
  
• Bottled water / tea / coffee with every meal on board the Nile Cruise.
  
• Nile Cruise with all meals & shore excursions, cabins are always outside with large panoramic windows.
  
• Sightseeing with professional guide and entrance fees as indicated
  
• Meals as indicated, with pre-set menu (B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner)

• Lonely Planet guidebook to Jordan and Egypt
  
• Jordanian visa fee (valid only for American , Australian , NZ, Canadian , EU & Japanese citizens. Passports must be valid for at least 6 month upon arrival).
  
• Jordanian departure tax.
  
• Gratuities to your guides, drivers, crew on board your cruise, as well as all the porters.

   Not included:

• Personal expenses and beverages .

• Additional meals, drinks and services

• Trip interruption and cancellation insurance

• Egyptian Visa : please pay the $ 15 in cash upon arrival, no photos required . Visa maybe issued upon arrival at Cairo Airport for a limited number of citizens such as : American, EU , Canadian , EU Singaporean and Japanese citizens. You are responsible for having your passport in order valid at least for 6 month beyond the date of your arrival in Cairo.