Egypt and Jordan Your Way

Egypt for the Independent Traveller and a Foray into Jordan and Petra
Egypt and Jordan A La Indiana Jones
All in 14 days

Imagine having friends in Egypt and Jordan . They speak the language, of course, and know all the ins and outs. They'll meet you at the airport, check the train schedules and buy your ticket, get you to the station, and make sure that you have a comfortable room reserved at your next stop. In Egypt this tour is for the "independent traveler"

Your friends will be on hand to answer questions, and lend a hand when you need one. With " Jordan and Egypt Your Way" , you'll have those gracious friends-our local personnel. In Jordan your tour includes : Amman, Petra, Wadi Rum and Jerash

DAY 1 - CAIRO- Saturday - Weekly - Year Round
On arrival, our local rep. will escort you to your comfortable hotel. Our local representative greets you at the airport and whisks you to your hotel. Visa may be issued upon arrival at Cairo Airport for a limited number of citizens such as : American, EU , Canadian , EU Singaporean and Japanese citizens. For Americans , please pay the $ 15 USD fee in cash upon arrival . You are responsible for having your passport in order valid at least for 6 month beyond the date of your arrival in Cairo. Our local rep. meets with a sign that carries your name you after you clear the passport and customs formalities . After exiting the terminal, our local representative will escort you (private vehicle) to the hotel

DAY 2 - CAIRO / FIRST CLASS OVERNIGHT TRAIN- Sunday (B)
On your first full day in Egypt with your guide book at hand explore on your own maybe : the Egyptian Museum, the Pyramids of Giza, the Sphinx, the Citadel of Saladin, and the Mohammed Ali Mosque, made of alabaster.

In the evening, it's all aboard! We'll settle you into your first class reserved private wood-panelled sleeping compartment on the train, we speed along the banks of the Nile. When you upgrade to the sleeping car you'll enjoy dinner on board , as the lights of villages reflect in the river.

We rate the sleeper train : 3 stars modest. If you prefer to fly , please add : $ 150 per person in double, in which case you 'll spend the night in Cairo , and fly tomorrow morning.

DAY 3 - Aswan - Monday (B)
After breakfast on board, the train arrives in Aswan, where we'll escort you to your hotel . Explore Aswan on your own : you may wish to Tour Kalabsha Temple dedicated to the ancient god Mandulis, and the goddess Isis . Built during the reign of the Roman Emperor Augustus , the small rock-cut temple of Beit El Wali, built by Ramses the Great , and the small yet charming Kiosk of Qertassi.

DAY 4 - ASWAN - Tuesday (B)
One more day in Aswan, own activities, here are some suggestions:Tour the awesome Aswan dams, and next an ancient granite quarry complete with an unfinished obelisk. Then we go by motor launch to the island temples of Philae.

DAY 5- LUXOR Wednesday (B)
Transfer to Aswan Railway station , board your first class air conditioned train bound for Luxor. Evening arrival.

DAY 6- LUXOR - Thursday (B)
Own activities, suggestions :
Crossing the Nile , you may wish to tour the magnificent tombs in the Valley of the Kings and Valley of the Queens.

DAY 7 - LUXOR / Overnight train - Friday (B)
Again you are on your own, Suggested tours: The gigantic Great Temple of Amon at Karnak, and the mighty Temple of Luxor. Followed by a transfer to Luxor Train Station. Once again it's all aboard! We'll settle you into your first class reserved train seats, bound for Cairo , if you prefer for a supplement of $ 100 per person in double, you may upgrade to a be in a private wood-panelled sleeping compartment on the train, we speed along the banks of the Nile. When you upgrade to the sleeping car you'll enjoy dinner on board.

DAY 8 - CAIRO - Saturday (B)
Early morning arrival. Transfer to your hotel. In the afternoon, wander through the city on your own, or do your last-minute shopping.

DAY 9 - CAIRO/ Amman - Sunday (B)
Our representative escorts you to the airport for your flight to Amman , air fare is included in economy class, tax included .

Our staff will meet you upon arrival and help with the transfer to your hotel in Amman .Complimentary visa is issued upon arrival for American, EU & Japanese passport holders. Passport must be valid at least for 6 month beyond the date of your arrival. Arriving at Aqaba by sea from Egypt, Sinai ? Please click here

DAY 10 - MADABA, KERAK & PETRA- Monday (BD)
We drive south along the King's Highway, an ancient caravan route, to Madaba to visit the church containing the oldest known map of the Holy Land. Continuing to Mount Nebo, we enjoy the panoramic view of the Promised Land the way Moses saw it for the first time. Further on, at Kerak, we tour the ruins of its romantic Crusaders' castle of Renaud de Chatillon, one of a line which stretched from Aqaba to Turkey. Finally, we arrive to PETRA .

DAY 3 - PETRA - Tuesday (BD)
Today the fabulous Nabatean City of Petra awaits us. Made famous in the Indiana Jones movie "Raiders of the Lost Ark," its ancient temples, tombs and striking Khazneh (Treasury) were hewn right from the pink and violet sandstone. We spend a full day here, and another night.

DAY 11 - PETRA/ Wadi Rum - Wednesday (BLD)
Breakfast is included at the hotel . We board four-wheel-drive vehicles for an expedition to Wadi Rum, the "Valley of the Moon" where T. E. Lawrence ("Lawrence of Arabia") organized Arab resistance to Ottoman rule during World War I. Lunch box is included . After our visit we head to one of the local camp sites , It is essential to take several layers of clothes, including warm layers , this is desert weather, so there is a great drop and / or increase in temperatures with sunrise / sunset , we will deliver to you a NEW unused sleeping bag with our compliments , in case you wish to use . Sample camp site : the Bait Ali Desert Camp, or the RSCN Rummana Campsite at the Dana Nature Reserve. You may have the choice as well to camp with the bedouins, this is even more basic, and no modern toilet facilities. This is an exotic and memorable experience and will enable you to experience something of the Bedouin's desert culture, if camping is not your cup of tea , then we will simply head back to the hotel in Petra and overnight. Dinner is included camp style or at your hotel. Your guide will always be available on hand , and will be escorting you at all times .

Please note that camping in Wadi Rum is very basic:

Tourist Camp Sites : Pre-assigned sites and set camps where accommodation is arranged in the usual camping tents , you may find at home (not Bedouin Tents). Showers, Bathrooms and restaurants are available in each camp site .

Bedouin camps:
Are not pre-fixed sites, you will be indeed in the heart of the bedouin desert environment and culture, and you will be in direct contact and interacting with the Bedouins. These Bedouin camps have Bedouin tents that are divided into small rooms for the guests to sleep.
Other tents are used for sitting ( as your living room per say ) and eating. They also may or may not have basic toilets and a small kitchen where food is prepare for the guests by the Bedouins.
Guests who enjoy nature and the desert scenery will fall in love with these camps and the authentic Bedouin experience in Wadi Rum.

DAY 12 - JERASH, Amman - Thursday (BD)
We drive to Jerash, among the best-preserved Roman cities in the world, to tour its temples, theaters, churches and colonnaded streets. From Jerash, we will escort you back to Amman. Dinner is included at Kan Zaman local restaurant .

DAY 13 - Amman , Departure - Friday -(B)
After breakfast , transfer back to Queen Alia Airport .
Add an extra night in Amman ? Jordanian departure tax is included in our rate.

For guests going on to Syria with us. You will continue on to The Syrian border, visit Bosra before continuing to Damascus. Or if you are touring Syria on your own, we'll be glad to arrange for the transfer to Bosra in Syria ( Supplement $65 per person, minimum 2 guests, private car/driver to Bosra).

RATES per person in USD

This tour starts weekly in Cairo.

For Easter , Christmas/New Year's week, add 20 % to the rates.

The rates include :

• All Sleeper train tickets , air conditioned, within Egypt , as per itinerary in a private sleeping car compartment.
  
• One way air fare Cairo Amman , in economy class, tax included.
  
• Transfers within Egypt, including meet and assist.
  
  
• Preset menu continental or buffet B = Breakfast.
  
• Complimentary visa is issued upon arrival in Amman only for American, Australian, NZ , EU , Canadian, Brazilian , Mexican & Japanese citizens, passports must be valid for at least 6 month beyond the date of your arrival.
  
• Hotel accommodation as listed, including all tax & service charges.
  
• Jordan departure tax.

Rate does not include:

• Guided sightseeing ,entrance fees.
• International airfares to or from Cairo.
• Tips.
• Insurance

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 .

More Choices :

• Click here for the 9 days edition
  
  
• The 12-Day version with the Red Sea
  
• Add Abu Simbel , or Alexandria