Secrets of the Rose City of Petra, Jordan

Cairo Airport - Cairo

Day 1: Welcome to Cairo!

Touch down in Cairo International Airport. 

We’ll be on hand to greet you and help you check in to your hotel. Here you can take the evening to rest, relax and get ready for your adventure.

If you can’t wait to get out and explore, the Khan El Khalili Old Market is a great place to get the first taste of Cairo.

Cairo - Cairo City Tour - Cairo

Day 2: Experience the Great Pyramids of Giza

Strikeout for Memphis. This ancient city was the first capital of the unified kingdom of Upper and Lower Egypts. Despite being completely abandoned by the 7th century, a large number of important statues and ruins remained, which can now be visited at the open-air museum.

Nearby, you’ll explore Sakkara’s great tomb complex, which is home to the nation's oldest pyramid: the Step Pyramid of Djoser. This is the largest archaeological site in the country and the resting place of the Old Kingdom pharaohs. Wandering through the complex gives you a glimpse into an ancient civilization. 

In the afternoon, you’ll witness one of the most famous sights in the world. Step onto the Giza Plateau to see the Sphinx and Egypt’s three largest pyramids, built for the pharaohs Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure.

Cairo - Fly - Aswan

Day 3: Wander Old Cairo and the Saladin Citadel in Cairo

Back in Egypt’s current capital, you’ll embark on a full-day tour of Cairo with your private guide.

First, up will be the Egyptian Museum, where you’ll wander the halls filled with remnants from an ancient world. If you’re ready to delve further, there’s the option to visit the museum’s Mummies Room. 

After a lunch break at a local restaurant, you’ll head to Saladin Citadel. There’s plenty to explore in this medieval Islamic-era building, including the Mohamed Ali Alabaster Mosque.

Your final stop of the day will be at Coptic Cairo in the heart of the Old Cairo area - a fortress of Christianity during the Islamic era. Coptic Cairo encompasses a number of impressive landmarks including the Hanging Church and Ben Ezra Synagogue.

Nile Cruise - Aswan - Nile Cruise

Day 4: Arrive in Amman, Jordan

After breakfast, you’ll be heading out from Egypt into Jordan. Flying into Queen Alia Airport, we’ll head into the city of Amman. 

In the afternoon, you’ll explore your surroundings. A guided half day tour will see you taking in some of Amman’s most impressive sights including the Citadel, an area dating back to the Bronze Age, and the Roman Theatre.

Nile Cruise - Luxor - Nile Cruise

Day 5: Explore the ancient Roman city of Jerash

Head north out of Amman for the Greco-Roman city of Jerash. 

Our guide will be on hand to tour you through the temples, churches, and colonnaded streets. Not forgetting the Roman amphitheater and vast Roman forum. 

Following this, you’ll visit Ajloun. The 12th Century fortress provides a glimpse into the days of the Crusades with stunning views of the Jordan Valley and surrounding desert.

Finish the day by descending into the town to wander the eclectic flea markets of the old city.

Nile Cruise - Fly To Cairo - Cairo

Day 6: Take the King's Highway to the City of Mosiacs

Today, you’ll start by heading to Mount Nebo, a place of pilgrimage since the earliest Christian times. Said to be the site that the Prophet Moses was granted a view of the Promised Land.

Head along the ancient King’s Highway to Madaba, the City of Mosiac, which hosts some of the finest Byzantine mosaics in the world. This includes the famous 6th century Mosaic Map of the Holy Land amongst other mosaic masterpieces.

On to Karak, a capital city of ancient Moabite, dating back to the 7th century. Karak Castle, a legendary fortification from the Crusades, was eventually overthrown by Saladdin’s armies. It was later expanded and refortified during the Ayyubid and Mamluk periods.

Cairo - Cairo City Tour - Fly To Amman

Day 7: Experience the ancient sandstone city of Petra

After breakfast, you’ll embark on a full-day tour of the legendary red rose city, Petra. 

Reachable only on foot, although horse carriage options are available, you’ll cross the narrow chasm into this ancient site. Your first glimpse will be of the Treasury, whose towering façade with magnificent columns was made famous in the final sequence of the film Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.

After your two-hour guided tour, the rest of your visit will be self-guided. Explore the Roman Theatre, Royal Tombs, the Great Temple, and the other wonders of a city carved into the sandstone of Jordan’s desert.

Amman - Madaba, Mount Nebo , Karak - Petra

Day 8: Wander the dramatic landscapes of the Rum Valley

Take the morning at a leisurely pace and stroll the streets and markets of the city of Petra. 

From here, you’ll leave urban life for a while to discover the romance of the Arabian Desert. The Rum Valley is a vast, silent landscape of ancient riverbeds and pastel-colored sands. 

Take a 2-hour driving tour of the silken sand dunes and discover why this area is known as the ‘Valley of the Moon’. After the tour, you’ll arrive at a campsite on the edge of the valley to spend a night under the star-filled sky.

petra - Visit Petra - Rum Valley

Day 9: Dip your toes in the Dead Sea

Take the morning to soak up those spectacular views of the Rum Valley. You could take an early morning balloon ride to catch the rising sun over the valley, strike out on a sunrise hike, or camel ride to embrace the atmosphere of the desert. 

It’s time to take it easy in the afternoon. Journey out of the desert to the shores of the Dead Sea and relax on the local beaches.

Rum Valley - Queen Alia Airport

Day 10: Goodbye Jordan!

After breakfast, it's time to head back to the airport for your return flight. Time to start planning your next visit!