Overview
From the monuments of the pharaohs to Jordan’s fabled “lost city” of Petra, our journey celebrates the wonders of the ancient world. On a five-day Nile cruise aboard a luxury vessel, we explore Egypt’s spectacular temples and see the captivating beauty of the Nile as we pass villages inhabited since the time of the pharaohs. At Abu Simbel, we visit the colossal Nile-side statues of Ramses II, and at dazzling Petra, we explore a metropolis carved from red sandstone in the 3rd century BC. Our grand finale finds us in the desert canyon of Wadi Rum, famed haunt of Lawrence of Arabia.
This was a wonderful trip with superb guides and a very well planned itinerary. We enjoyed Egypt, where we knew what we were going to see, but Jordan was a revelation. Petra was so much bigger than we expected and Wadi Rum and the day at the Dead Sea were really memorable.
— Julia K., Bend, OR
Itinerary at a Glance
Days 1-3
Cairo, Egypt / Pyramids of Giza
Nothing quite prepares one for the first sight of the pyramids—these breathtaking monuments continue to radiate the magnificence that has awed visitors for millennia. After visiting Cairo’s new Grand Egyptian Museum, we explore the treasures of Giza necropolis, including the lion-bodied Great Sphinx.
Days 4-8
Abu Simbel / Nile Cruise / Aswan / Karnak / Luxor
Flying down to Abu Simbel, we see the colossal statues of Ramses II gazing out over the Nile Valley, then board our Nile vessel to cruise to Kom Ombo, Edfu, and Esna, enjoying the captivating beauty of the Nile. We’ll walk amid the temples, chapels, and pylons of Karnak, built 4,000 years ago, and explore elaborate tombs in the Valley of the Kings and Queens, the ancient royal necropolis of the pharaohs.
Days 9-12
Amman, Jordan / Jerash / Petra
We enjoy lunch with a family near Amman, then explore the ancient Roman city of Jerash. Arriving at Petra, we walk through a narrow slot canyon to behold lavish temples and palaces chiseled into solid rock, including the iconic Al-Khazneh (“Treasury”) with its elaborate Greek-style façade. One unforgettable evening, we’ll experience Petra by the light of a thousand candles.
Days 13-15
Wadi Rum / Dead Sea
The landscape of Wadi Rum is one of awe-inspiring rock spires. It served as headquarters for Prince Faisal bin Hussein and T. E. Lawrence during World War I. Our overnight in a Bedouin-style tented camp is perfect for enjoying the desert landscape. We end our journey at a lovely hotel on the shores of the Dead Sea, where we can take a dip in its therapeutic waters. Depart on Day 15 via Amman, Jordan.
Pyramids to Petra
Highlights
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Secrets of the Pharaohs
Discover a mysterious world of soaring temples in a timeless desert landscape, from the Pyramids and the Sphinx to a luxury cruise on the Nile.
Jerash, Wadi Rum, Petra, and the Dead Sea
Join your private guide to explore the magnificent Roman ruins at Jerash, the ethereal desert canyon of Wadi Rum, haunt of T. E. Lawrence, and the extraordinary lost city of Petra, a World Heritage Site.
