Upon arrival into Cairo, after completing immigration formalities, collect your baggage and proceed through customs to the exit. Here you will be met by an Alluring Africa representative for your private road transfer to Marriott Mena House Cairo, where you will stay for two nights.
Location:
LocationGiza
Accommodation:
Accommodation Marriott Mena House Cairo
Type:
Accommodation Type Hotel
Room Basis:
Room Basis B&B: Bed and Breakfast
After breakfast, you will be collected from your hotel by your private guide for a Full Day Tour of Sakkara, and the Great Pyramids of Giza.
The Great Pyramids of Giza are the only present-day survivors of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, built over 4,500 years ago as giant tombs for the mummies of the pharaohs Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure, who were father, son and grandson respectively. The pyramids are truly monumental in scale, with the largest – Khufu’s – constructed from over two million blocks. Contrary to popular beliefs, the pyramids were not built by slaves but by Egyptian peasants, whose labor in building the pyramids paid their taxes to the Pharaoh, who also fed, clothed and housed them.
Nearby sits the enigmatic Sphinx with the body of a lion and the face of a man wearing a royal head cloth, which workers may have based on King Khafre to guard his enormous funerary monument. About a thousand years after the Sphinx was built it was covered in sand until a young prince had a dream in which the Sphinx told him that if he cleared the sand away, he would become Pharaoh. This story is told on the ‘Dream Stela’ that was placed between the Sphinx’s paws by King Tuthmose IV.
Next, move on to Sakkara, the former necropolis (cemetery) for the ancient Egyptian city of Memphis and the place where the very first pyramids were built as tombs for kings. Instead of the smooth sides featured on other pyramids, the pyramids here feature six steps on the outside, representing the pharaoh’s stepladder to heaven. Discover the famous Step Pyramid of King Zoser, the first pyramid ever built and the world’s oldest freestanding stone structure. You could also admire the beautiful tomb art at Sakkara, which gives great insight into the lives of the ancient Egyptians.
Return to your hotel for an evening at leisure.
Location:
LocationGiza
Accommodation:
Accommodation Marriott Mena House Cairo
Type:
Accommodation Type Hotel
Room Basis:
Room Basis B&B: Bed and Breakfast
After breakfast, you will be collected by an Alluring Africa representative for your private road transfer to the airport for your scheduled flight to Luxor. Upon arrival, you will be collected by an Alluring Africa representative for your visit to Karnak and Luxor Temples.
Your tour of the East Bank begins with a visit to the Temple of Karnak. Built over 2,000 years by generations of pharaohs, the 62-acre Temple of Karnak was dedicated to the god Amun. It would take days to explore all of the pylons, obelisks and smaller temples within. The great ‘Hypostyle Hall’ alone is a veritable forest of giant pillars rising 23 meters toward the sky. At the ‘Sacred Lake,’ priests purified themselves in the waters before performing rites at the temple. At the height of its glory, Karnak Temple collected annual tribute from over 65 cities in the region.
Next your Egyptologist guides you on a tour of the strikingly graceful Temple of Luxor before you return to your cruise boat for afternoon tea in the lounge. Afterwards, check into Sonesta Moon Goddess, where you will stay for four nights. Lunch awaits on board and this evening enjoy a sound and light show at Karnak Temple.
Accommodation:
Accommodation Sonesta Moon Goddess
Type:
Accommodation Type Cruise Ship
Room Basis:
Room Basis Full Board – Dinner, Bed, Breakfast and Lunch
After breakfast on board, visit the Valley of the Kings where you have the chance to visit the tomb of King Tutankhamun. Deir El Medina – a virtually self-contained isolated community of workmen and their families, supervisors and foremen and their families – were all dedicated to building the great tombs of the Egyptian Kings.
Next see a series of temples built by The Pharaoh Ramses III (1182-1151 BC) and second only to Karnak Temple in size and complexity. The holy ground was believed to be the site where the Ogdoad – the eight primordial gods – were buried.
On the way back to the river Nile, pass by the famed Colossi of Memnon, known in Ancient Greek times for their haunting voices at dawn. Lunch is served on board as you sail to Edfu via Esna lock.
Accommodation:
Accommodation Sonesta Moon Goddess
Type:
Accommodation Type Cruise Ship
Room Basis:
Room Basis Full Board – Dinner, Bed, Breakfast and Lunch
Enjoy breakfast on board before visiting Edfu Temple and exploring the extraordinary Temple of Horus.
Edfu: about 33 miles south of Esna, is a friendly town at the hub of a road network, which produces sugar and pottery. In ancient times, it was the capital of the second nome of Upper Egypt, and here is the grand Temple of Horus, considered to be the best preserved cult temple in Egypt. French and Polish teams have excavated some of the ancient city, finding Old Kingdom mastabas and a Byzantine house.
Back on board, sail to Kom Ombo as lunch and then afternoon tea are served on board.
In the afternoon, visit the magnificent Temple of Kom Ombo, dedicated to the crocodile god: Sobek. The temple stands at a bend in the Nile where, in ancient times, sacred crocodiles basked in the sun on the riverbank. Continue sailing to Aswan.
Accommodation:
Accommodation Sonesta Moon Goddess
Type:
Accommodation Type Cruise Ship
Room Basis:
Room Basis Full Board – Dinner, Bed, Breakfast and Lunch
Following breakfast on board, visit the High Dam, the Unfinished Obelisk and the Temple of Philae on the Island of Agilika.
Philae Temple: According to the Ancient Egyptians, the goddess Isis traveled all over Egypt gathering her husband Osiris’s remains after he was cut to pieces by his evil brother. On Philae Island, where she found his heart, the Egyptians built a sacred temple to Isis, goddess of purity, sexuality, nature and protection. During the building of the High Dam, Philae Island was submerged by water, so UNESCO helped transport the temple complex to nearby Agilkia Island, where you see it today.
Lunch awaits back on board and this afternoon take a traditional Felucca (sail boat) out on the Nile around Kitchener’s Island.
Felucca sailing around Elephantine Island: The traditional sailboats of Egypt have graced the Nile since the time of the Pharaohs and are a relaxing way to take in Aswan. With no engine, feluccas rely on the breeze to carry them along, and Egypt is blessed with southerly winds that push the sailboats upriver, allowing them to return on the downstream current. Sail around Elephantine Island and Kitchener’s Island with its lovely botanical gardens planted by a former British Consul General with a passion for flowers.
Accommodation:
Accommodation Sonesta Moon Goddess
Type:
Accommodation Type Cruise Ship
Room Basis:
Room Basis Full Board – Dinner, Bed, Breakfast and Lunch
After breakfast on board and checking out, you will be collected from your cruise by an Alluring Africa representative and transferred to Aswan Airport for your scheduled flight to Abu Simbel. Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to the monument The Abu Simbel temples are two massive rock temples at Abu Simbel, a village in Aswan Governorate, Upper Egypt, near the border with Sudan. They are situated on the western bank of Lake Nasser, about 140 miles southwest of Aswan (190 miles by road).
The complex is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the “Nubian Monuments”, which run from Abu Simbel downriver to Philae (near Aswan). The twin temples were originally carved out of the mountainside in the 13th century BC, during the 19th dynasty reign of the Pharaoh Ramesses II. They serve as a lasting monument to the king and his queen Nefertari and commemorate his victory at the Battle of Kadesh. Their huge external rock relief figures have become iconic.
Your guide will explain the history of the monument before you enter on your own to enjoy the journey through time. At a time to be determined with your guide, you will meet and return to Abu Simbel Airport for your scheduled flight to Cairo via Aswan. Upon arrival, you will be met by an Alluring Africa representative for your private road transfer to Kempinski Nile Hotel Garden City Cairo, where you will stay for two nights.
Location:
LocationCairo
Accommodation:
Accommodation Kempinski Nile Hotel Garden City Cairo
Type:
Accommodation Type Hotel
Room Basis:
Room Basis B&B: Bed and Breakfast
After breakfast, you will be collected from your hotel by your private guide for a Full Day Tour of Cairo including the Egyptian Museum, the Citadel & Khan el Khalili Bazaar.
Tour 7,000 years of history at the Egyptian museum, home to the largest collection of ancient Egyptian artefacts in the world. Key features of the museum include the treasures of the ‘boy-king’ Tutankhamun, including his gold mask, the solid gold sarcophagus that held his mummy and his beautiful throne.
Visit the Citadel next, a medieval fortress perched high on limestone hills above Cairo, which was built in 1176 to protect the city from crusaders. Today, the citadel complex houses various mosques and museums, including the National Military Museum.
With its grand, soaring architecture and rich decoration, the Mosque of Sultan Hassan, completed in 1363, is one of the finest in Egypt and also houses the mausoleum where Sultan Hassan’s sons are buried. A short walk across to the Mosque of Sultan Hassan, discover the much newer Refaie Mosque, completed in 1912 with well-preserved, colorful decoration. Buried in tombs there is a Muslim saint, a companion of the Prophet Mohamed, Egypt’s last royal family and the last Shah of Iran.
Finally, visit the fascinating Khan El-Khalili Bazaar is reputed to be the largest bazaar in the Middle East. Originally founded as a watering stop for caravanserai in the 14th century, the bazaar has now grown to vast proportions. Wander through the labyrinth of narrow streets to find workshops and stalls selling all manner of things from woodwork and glassware to leather goods and perfumes.
At the end of your tour, return to your hotel for an evening at leisure.
Location:
LocationCairo
Accommodation:
Accommodation Kempinski Nile Hotel Garden City Cairo
Type:
Accommodation Type Hotel
Room Basis:
Room Basis B&B: Bed and Breakfast
After breakfast you will be transferred to Cairo Airport for the scheduled flight to Amman, Jordan. Upon arrival you will met and assisted with immigration formalities, baggage collection and to the exit. Here you will be met by your driver and transferred to Grand Hyatt Amman where you will stay for one night.
Location:
LocationAmman
Accommodation:
Accommodation Grand Hyatt Amman
Type:
Accommodation Type Hotel
Room Basis:
Room Basis B&B: Bed and Breakfast
After breakfast, depart with your private driver to Petra along the King’s Highway.
The trip south from Amman along the 5,000-year-old Kings’ Highway is one of the most memorable journeys in the Holy Land, passing through a string of ancient sites. The first city to encounter is Madaba, “the City of Mosaics.” The city, best known for its spectacular Byzantine and Umayyad mosaics, is home to the famous 6th century mosaic map of Jerusalem and the Holy Land. With two million pieces of colored stone, the map depicts hills and valleys, villages and towns as far as the Nile Delta.
Within the area is Mount Nebo, one of the most revered holy sites of Jordan and the place where Moses was buried. A small Byzantine church was built there by early Christians, which has been expanded into a vast complex. During his visit to Jordan in 2000, the Late Pope John Paul II held a sermon here that was attended by some 20,000 faithful.
Arrive Petra this afternoon, where you will stay at Movenpick Petra for one night.
This evening a special treat! Petra By Night! This event is a magical way to see part of the rock city by candlelight and explore the old city, which has become a world wonder, incomparable experience starts by walking the entire Siq to the Treasury, lit with over 1,500 candles to bring the major attraction due to the spectacular view it has.
Location:
LocationWadi Musa
Accommodation:
Accommodation Mövenpick Resort Petra
Type:
Accommodation Type Hotel
Room Basis:
Room Basis B&B: Bed and Breakfast
After breakfast, the visit of the ancient Nabatean Capital starts on horseback, followed by a walk through the Siq. The tour then proceeds to gradually unfold the mysteries of the Red Rose City with its spectacular Treasury, Royal Tombs, Burial Chambers and high places of sacrifice.
The ancient city of Petra is one of Jordan’s national treasures. Petra is the legacy of the Nabataeans, an industrious Arab people who settled in southern Jordan more than 2,000 years ago. Admired then for its refined culture, massive architecture and ingenious complex of dams and water channels, Petra is now a UNESCO World Heritage Site that enchants visitors from all corners of the globe. Much of Petra’s appeal comes from its spectacular setting deep inside a narrow desert gorge. The site is accessed by walking through a kilometer-long chasm (or siq), the walls of which soar 200m upwards. Petra’s most famous monument, the Treasury, appears dramatically at the end of the Siq.
After the tour, we head to Wadi Rum, known also as the Valley of the Moon. It is a valley cut into the sandstone and granite rock in southern Jordan, near the border to Saudi Arabia. Several prehistoric civilizations left petroglyphs, rock inscriptions and ruins in Wadi Rum. The Wadi Rum Protected Area has been a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2011.
Spending the night in Wadi Rum means you get the opportunity to experience the so-called Bedouin hospitality. Come the evening, your camp’s chef concocts a delicious Zarb dinner, one of the delicacies of the Bedouin culture.
Afterwards, Wadi Rum’s 280 square miles unfold under the most pristine skies you’ll ever see. The desert has no cities nearby, and the camps use lightning only when necessary. Consequently, the stars above shine as brightly as ever when the night comes. All you have to do is find a secluded spot, spread a blanket on the sand, and gaze upon the stars.
Accommodation:
Accommodation Wadi Rum UFO
Type:
Accommodation Type Hotel
Room Basis:
Room Basis B&B: Bed and Breakfast
Channel the Bedouin in you and join your guide for a sunrise camel ride into the desert. Camel rides are one of the best experiences you can get in Wadi rum as you get a taste of how Bedouins navigate through the land. Needless to say, riding a camel while the sun rises above the horizon just makes the whole experience even more charming.
On a tour our jeep tour your guide takes you to Wadi Rum’s most famous rock formations and a few hidden nooks as time permits:
The Seven Pillars of Wisdom is one of the desert’s most famous hikes. They are impressive rock formations shaped like towers and sit inside the Wadi Rum World Reserve, listed on the UNESCO World Heritage Register.
Lawrence Spring – Named after T.E. Lawrence, Lawrence Spring sits in the shadows of a cliff. The picturesque spring is one of the few places in the desert where there is still a natural water source and therefore a popular site where camels come to drink water.
Khazali Canyon is more than an impressive rock formation. Its inner walls are home to Thamudic, Nabatean, and Islamic inscriptions, dating back to 2000 years with petroglyphs depicting humans and animals. You can also climb up the canyon slot and even see pools of rainwater.
The Anfishiyyeh inscriptions are on the south-facing side of Jebel Anfashieh towards Jebel Um Kharg. These petroglyphs belong mainly to Thamud and Nabatean peoples and depict hunting scenes and camel caravans.
There’s a high chance you’ve seen Um Fruth Rock Bridge in photos. The bridge has arguably become the most Instagrammable spot in the entire desert. It rises 49 feet from the ground, and many travelers choose to climb to the top for the views and, of course, the iconic photo.
Afterwards we head to Wadi Al Muwijib for a 2-3 hour hike through the siq!
The Mujib Biosphere Reserve is the lowest nature reserve in the world, with a spectacular array of scenery near the east coast of the Dead Sea. The Reserve is located within the deep Wadi Mujib gorge, which enters the Dead Sea at 410m below sea level. The Reserve extends to the Karak and Madaba mountains to the north and south, reaching 900 metres above sea level in some places. This 1,300m variation in elevation, combined with the valley’s year- round water flow from seven tributaries, means that Wadi Mujib enjoys a magnificent bio-diversity that is still being explored and documented today. Over 300 species of plants, 10 species of carnivores and numerous species of permanent and migratory birds have been recorded. Some of the remote mountain and valley areas are difficult to reach, and thus offer safe havens for rare species of cats, goats and other mountain animals. Mujib’s sandstone cliffs are an ideal habitat for one of the most beautiful mountain goats in the world, the horned Ibex.
The trail starts at Mujib Adventure Center where you will take the cantilevered walkway and follow the course of the river between the towering sandstone cliffs to the base of a large waterfall. Depending on seasonal rainfall levels, the gorge may contain pools deep enough for swimming. This is an idea walk to take slowly and enjoy the cool water and shade, especially in the heat of summer.
Afterwards we continue the drive to the Dead Sea where we will stay at Holiday Inn Dead Sea for one night.
At Horizon Terrace you can watch the sun sink behind the Dead Sea over a cool drink or mellow shisha, with live music creating a festive vibe. Follow the aroma of freshly baked flatbread or sizzling steak to one of our elegant restaurants.
Location:
LocationSwemeh
Accommodation:
Accommodation Holiday Inn Resort Dead Sea
Type:
Accommodation Type Resort
Room Basis:
Room Basis B&B: Bed and Breakfast
This morning, soak up the ancient magic of the Dead Sea on the hotel’s sun-drenched, private beach, whose soft sands are lapped by the healing waters of the world’s most famous salt lake. Three palm-fringed, heated pools link the Dead Sea with the sand-colored hotel, making this a water lover’s paradise. Swim out to Jacuzzi island and forget the outside world – or stay in touch using complimentary, high-speed Wi-Fi. Luxurious massages and facial treatments in Shape Up spa use natural Dead Sea products.
After check out, we depart for Amman. En route we will stop at the site of John the Baptist’s settlement at Bethany, where Jesus was baptized, has long been known from the Bible (John 1:28 and 10:40) and from the Byzantine and medieval texts. The site has now been identified on the east bank of the Jordan River, in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, and is being systematically surveyed, excavated, restored, and prepared to receive pilgrims and visitors. Bethany Beyond the Jordan is located half an hour by car from Amman. The Bethany area sites formed part of the early Christian pilgrimage route between Jerusalem, the Jordan River, and Mount Nebo. The area is also associated with the biblical account of how the Prophet Elijah (Mar Elias in Arabic) ascended to heaven in a whirlwind on a chariot of fire.
Reach the Grand Hyatt where will stay for two nights (well almost two for those with early morning departures!)
Location:
LocationAmman
Accommodation:
Accommodation Grand Hyatt Amman
Type:
Accommodation Type Hotel
Room Basis:
Room Basis B&B: Bed and Breakfast
After breakfast, you will meet your private driver/guide for a tour of Jerash & Ajloun.
Depart your hotel and start your tour in Jerash (it takes 60 minutes’ drive). Second only to Petra in tourist appeal, the ancient city of Jerash in remarkable for its long chain of human occupation. Here at a well-watered site in the hills of Gilead, remains from Neolithic times have been found, as well as Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Umayyad and others. Jerash’s golden age, however arrived with Roman rule. Today it is acknowledged as one of the best-preserved province cities of the Roman Empire. Jerash was a member of the Decapolis, a dynamic commercial league of ten Greco-Roman Cities.
Optional / not included in a standard tour
Enjoy lunch at Lebanese House Restaurant. It is specialized in genuine Lebanese cuisine, offering a wide range menu, topped with an exceptional Lebanese service and Arab hospitality and gastronomy.
After lunch you will be transferred to Ajloun. Ajloun Castle, 73 km north of Amman, and a short journey northwest from Jerash, through a beautiful pine-forest and olive groves, brings you to the town of Ajloun, where Hadrian stayed over the winter of 129-30 AD, and built himself an arch well outside the town, leaving unbonded its sides for future city walls to come out to meet it.
The Castle of Ajloun or Qalaat Errabadh (Arabic for “Hilltop Castle”), from which there is a splendid view westward into the Jordan Valley. It looks like a Crusader fortress, but it was built by Muslims in 1184-85 as a military fort and buffer to protect the region from invading Crusader forces. It was built on the orders of the local governor, Ezz Eddin Osama bin Munqethe, a nephew of the Ayyubid leader Salahuddin Al-Ayyoubi (Saladin), as a direct retort to the new Latin castle of Belvoir (Kawkab El-Hawa) on the opposite side of the valley between the Tiberias and Besan, and as a base to develop and control the iron mines of Ajloun.
Return to your hotel for an evening at leisure and to get ready for your early departures (or late if applicable).
Location:
LocationAmman
Accommodation:
Accommodation Grand Hyatt Amman
Type:
Accommodation Type Hotel
Room Basis:
Room Basis B&B: Bed and Breakfast
You will be collected by an Alluring Africa representative for your private road transfer to Amman International Airport for your homebound flight.
Return home, taking with you the sights, sounds, and memories of an incredible trip!
Location:
LocationAmman
Accommodation:
Accommodation Grand Hyatt Amman
Type:
Accommodation Type Hotel
Room Basis:
Room Basis B&B: Bed and Breakfast
Price Includes:
Price Excludes:
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