Jordan & the Gems of Egypt

Day 1 : Fly to Jordan

An overnight flight takes us to Jordan.

Day 2 : Arrive in Amman

Arrive at the Amman Airport, meet your Tour Director and local guide. We travel to your hotel in Amman where you get to know your fellow travelers during a Holiday Vacations Social Hour.

Day 3 : Tour Amman & Jerash

After breakfast, enjoy a tour of the old city of Amman exploring the Citadel and the Roman Theater, two of the most popular archaeological sites in the city. We will continue to Jerash, a Graeco-Roman city and close second to Petra on the list of top destinations in Jordan. This city boasts an unbroken chain of human occupation dating back over 6,500 years and was hidden for centuries in the sand before being excavated and restored over the past 70 years. One can walk beneath four imposing gates or down the Street of Columns north from the Oval Plaza while stepping over the tracks of chariot wheels still visible in the paving stones.

Day 4 : Visit Madaba & Mount Nebo

Enjoy an included breakfast, then travel south on the 5,000 year-old King's Highway, one of the most memorable journeys in the Holy Land, as it passes through a string of ancient sites. The first city you come upon is Madaba, the City of Mosaics. A chief attraction of the city is the contemporary Greek Orthodox Church of St. George, home to a wonderfully vivid, sixth-century Byzantine mosaic map showing Jerusalem and other holy sites. Then we visit nearby Mount Nebo, the memorial of Moses which is the presumed site of the prophet's death and burial place. A small, square church was built on the spot by early Byzantine Christians and later expanded into a vast complex. Later, proceed to our accommodations in Petra.

Day 5 : Petra

This morning, we tour the breathtaking Red Road City also known as Petra which begins at the Siq, a winding canyon road nestled in soaring cliffs. At the end of the passage, you'll see this UNESCO World Heritage Site’s most beautiful monument, the Treasury, an ancient mausoleum carved out of the solid rock from the side of the mountain. We then travel by air to Cairo and settle into our comfortable Egyptian accommodations.

Day 6 : Pyramids & the Great Sphinx

Today we explore some of Egypt’s most mysterious monuments with a visit to the Great Pyramid of Giza featuring the Pyramid of Khufu, the oldest and largest of the pyramids and the only surviving structure of the remaining six wonders of the ancient world. We also see the iconic Great Sphinx of Giza dating back to the 26th century BC when the other civilization of the time was next-door Mesopotamia in modern-day Iraq. We drive to Memphis, once a thriving metropolis and capital of the Old Kingdom where we stop to see Sakkara, the legendary step pyramid of the Third Egyptian Dynasty.

Day 7 : Cairo Sightseeing

Set on the Nile, the longest river in the world, explore the ancient city of Cairo filled with exciting attractions including the new National Museum of Egyptian Civilization, Khan el Khalili Bazar, Old Cairo, and the Citadel of Cairo featuring the Mosque of Muhammad Ali. Old Cairo is the historic part of the city that tells its origin stories. Be amazed when you consider how Old Cairo was once a Roman-era fortress called “Fort Babylon” and at another time, an Islamic-era settlement, both which pre-dated the founding of Cairo in 969 AD.

Day 8 : Karnak & Luxor Temples

We fly south to Luxor where we board the ms Tulip, our home for the next four nights. Cruise the Nile River which flows northward through Africa and into the Mediterranean Sea. We visit Karnak, a complex that consists of decayed pylons, temples and chapels. Karnak Temple has not only religious significance, it also served as a treasury, administrative center, and palace for the New Kingdom pharaohs and is considered the largest temple complex ever constructed anywhere in the world. It is divided into three parts, and the largest is the precinct of Amun which contains the Great Hypostyle Hall of 134 massive columns, one of the most impressive places in all of Egypt. This temple must have been awe-inspiring over 2000 thousand years ago when these massive structures were first erected. Luxor Temple was built around the 14th century BC, and by the time of the Roman Empire, it was used as a fortress for the Roman government. Originally dedicated to the mother goddess of Mut, Luxor Temple has since turned into a Tetrarchy cult chapel, and then a church.

Day 9 : Valley of the Kings

Today we cross the Nile and disembark to visit the burials of the Valley of the Kings and Hatshetsut Temple, the ‘Holy of Holies’ built during the Eighteenth Egyptian Dynasty, showcasing masterful ancient architecture. After lunch on the ship, we continue to Esna where we cross the lock and spend the night.

Day 10 : Edfu & Kom Ombo

Enjoy a horse-drawn carriage ride to the Temple of Edfu, dedicated to the Falcon-headed god of Horus. Horus is among the most famous of the Egyptian gods. This deity’s significance lies in its many functions, being both the god of the sky and the god of kingship as well as the origin of the iconic Eye of Horus which represents health, protection, and restoration. This afternoon we visit the Ptolemaic Temple of Kom Ombo before sailing to Aswan.

Day 11 : Kitchener Island

On our way to Aswan, we have a relaxing sail around Kitchener Island, home to the Aswan Botanical Garden, by felucca, a traditional Egyptian wooden sailboat. Enjoy views of this lush island from the water.

Day 12 : The Botanical Island

Arriving today in Aswan, we see the temple on Philae Island, a destination that Victorian-era Brits found fascinating in the 1800s. Later this afternoon we fly back to Cairo and prepare for our flight back home.

Day 13 : Arrive Home