Highlights of Egypt & Jordan

Welcome to Egypt! At the Cairo terminal keep your eyes peeled for the Travel Talk sign for your transfer to the hotel. Freshen up and meet in the lobby around 15:00pm for visitıng the world-famous Khan el-Khalili bazaar. Make sure to wear your haggling hats and brace for the mayhem! Afterwards you have free time to start exploring vibrant Cairo or board a cruise for an optional group dinner.

Set your alarms for 7.30am and fill up on plenty of breakfast before a big day exploring Egypt’s iconic Ancient Wonder of the World – the Pyramids and Sphinx! Follow your guide for a tour across the ancient site to learn about the 4,600-year-old wonders. The journey continues with one of the most important museums dedicated to the ancient world – The Grand Egyptian Museum of Cairo. Home to over 120,000 ancient Egyptian relics and antiquities, this place will leave you in awe! After everyone has had their dose of awe, you'll board the overnight sleeper cabin train to Aswan, where you can unwind and rest comfortably as you travel through Egypt’s stunning landscapes.

We start the day with Aswan city tour with our local guide. Visit the Unfinished Obelisk for a look into the incredible building methods used to create the four-sided, hallmark monuments that are placed at the entrances of Egyptian temples. Take some time to walk along the 42-metre long lying bed of granite and learn about its significance from your guide. Visit the Philae Temple, dedicated to the goddess Isis, divine mother of the pharaohs. The temple is set beautifully on an island in the middle of the Nile. We will then arrive at the hotel for check-in and then have the option to join a traditional Nubian dinner in the evening.

At 04:45 in the morning, we depart for the optional trip to the UNESCO World Heritage Listed Abu Simbel. It is a must-do for all keen historians! Then we will hop on board the traditional Felucca sailboat and embark on our  cruise down the Nile River. Enjoy a free afternoon to explore Aswan and the banks of the Nile River at your own pace.

Time to bid farewell to our lovely felucca as we hop back onboard the coach and drive north towards Kom Ombo. Visit the Kom Ombo Temple, dedicated to the crocodile god Sobek. Next stop will be Edfu, home to one of the largest and best-preserved temples in Egypt. Dedicated to the falcon god Horus, the temple was built over 180-years from 237 BC to 57 BC. We’ll arrive in Luxor in the late afternoon, before checking out the Luxor Temple in the evening. Explore the dim-light temple after dark and learn from your guide of the temple complexes ancient history, dating back to the 14th century B.C. Not to forget, a visit to the vast Karnak Temple Complex, one of the most important religious centers of ancient Egypt with its marvelous temples. Your Egyptologist guide will enlighten you with the most intriguing stories and mythologies from the temple complex. Feeling adventurous?

Early in the morning take to the skies on an optional hot air balloon ride over Luxor.

Then follow your guide to the Valley of the Kings, also known as the ‘City of the Dead’, home to fancy royal tombs carved into desert rocks and filled with treasures for the Pharaoh afterlife. Next up, the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut and Colossi of Memnon. Later in the afternoon we make our way to the train station and go back to Cairo.

Wake up well rested as your overnight sleeper train pulls into Cairo and, transfer to Cairo airport for your flight to Amman. In the afternoon, feel free to discover Amman on your own terms and compare the local Jordanian cuisine with Egypt!

Fill up on breakfast before a big day exploring. Follow your guide on an included city tour through Amman with included visits to the Citadel and Amphitheatre. Next up, make tracks towards Ajloun to visit the castle ruins and impressive ancient city of Jerash. Filled with stunning sights of Greco-Roman ruins, the area has been inhabited since the Bronze Age! In the afternoon, we make our way to Wadi Rum. In the evening, enjoy a traditional Jordanian dinner under the stars. Followed by music and dance around the campfire as we get to know the locals of Wadi Rum!

After breakfast, enjoy free time to explore and relax or join an optional camel trek and jeep safari through the otherworldly desert landscapes. In the afternoon, farewell Wadi Rum as we head towards the Lost City of Petra! Recognised as one of the amazing 7 Wonders of the World, the city of Petra is a serious sight to behold, carved from rose-coloured rock. Enjoy free time on arrival in Petra to relax and unpack before an optional Petra by Night tour in the evening for a magical first glimpse of the ancient city lit by over 1,5000 glimmering candles.

Get your cameras ready for a full day exploring all the sights of Petra. Be sure to pack comfortable shoes as there will be plenty of walking today. Follow your guide as they lead you towards the inner city to the Paraoh’s Castle, Triumphal Arch, Amphitheatre, Siq, Treasury and plenty more. Learn fascinating stories about the rediscovery of this ancient city lost in time.

Fill up on breakfast before a jam-packed day! First up we’ll visit the Shobak Castle, the first Crusader fortress in the territory of East Jordan (Oultrejourdain). Learn from your guide about the history of these ruins built in 1115. Then, hop back on board the coach as we head towards the lowest point of dry land on Earth – the Dead Sea! Also known as ‘Sea of Salt’, the Dead Sea is hundreds of metres below sea level and holds incredibly salty water that keeps you afloat! Throw on your swimsuit, cover yourself in a cleansing mud bath and jump into the salty sea to bath in the natural minerals! Tonight, we’ll return to Amman.

Enjoy a final breakfast with the tour group before bidding your farewells to new travel mates and checking out of the hotel. Time to start counting down the days until your next adventure with Travel Talk!