This 18-day escorted tour combines the great sights of Egypt and Jordan, with return flights from the UK, all internal flights and nearly every meal included. You travel with a group and local guides, stay in four- and five-star hotels, cruise the Nile for four nights on a five-star ship and spend a night in a comfortable desert camp in Wadi Rum. Breakfast, lunch and dinner are included almost every day, along with entrance fees, a felucca sail, 4×4 trips in Wadi Rum and a cooking class in Petra.

Cairo opens the journey with the Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx, the treasures of the Grand Egyptian Museum and the Khan el-Khalili bazaar, followed by the Coptic Quarter and the Step Pyramid at Saqqara. A trip to the Mediterranean takes in Alexandria's Roman theatre, the catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa and the Qaitbay Citadel, and the Second World War battlefield and cemeteries of El Alamein.

A short flight to Luxor begins a four-night Nile cruise. You visit the temples of Karnak and Luxor, the Colossi of Memnon, the Temple of Hatshepsut and the Valley of the Kings, then sail south to the temples of Edfu and Kom Ombo. From Aswan you make the journey to the colossal temples of Abu Simbel, see the High Dam, the Unfinished Obelisk and the Temple of Philae, and sail on a traditional felucca.

Flying to Amman, you visit Jerash, one of the best-preserved Roman cities in the Middle East, with a chariot-race show, Ajloun, Amman's Citadel and Roman theatre, and the desert castles. Mount Nebo and the mosaic map of Madaba lead to two nights in Petra, which you see by day and again by night, when the Treasury is lit by more than a thousand candles, with a Levantine cooking class with a local chef. After Little Petra, a 4×4 takes you into Wadi Rum for a night in a desert camp with air-conditioned tents, and the tour ends with a float in the Dead Sea and a farewell dinner.

The physical rating is medium, with early starts and walking at sites. This tour suits travellers who want both countries' highlights in one trip, with flights and almost everything arranged.

Trip highlights

The Pyramids of Giza and the Grand Egyptian Museum (Day 2)
Alexandria and El Alamein (Days 4–5)
A four-night five-star Nile cruise with the Valley of the Kings (Days 6–9)
The temples of Abu Simbel (Day 9)
Jerash and its chariot-race show (Day 12)
Petra by day and by candlelight, and a night in Wadi Rum (Days 15–16)

Map of the 18-day tour from Cairo to Alexandria and El Alamein, by air to Luxor for a Nile cruise to Aswan and Abu Simbel, then to Amman, Jerash, Petra, Wadi Rum and the Dead Sea — 18-day route: Cairo – Alexandria – Luxor – Aswan – Abu Simbel – Amman – Jerash – Petra – Wadi Rum – Dead Sea

Cairo Days 1–3, 5 & 10
Pyramids of Giza Day 2
Saqqara Day 3
Alexandria Day 4
El Alamein Day 5
Luxor Days 6–7
Edfu Day 8
Kom Ombo Day 8
Aswan Days 8–9
Abu Simbel Day 9
Amman Days 11–13 & 18
Jerash Day 12
Ajloun Day 12
Mount Nebo Day 14
Madaba Day 14
Petra Days 14–15
Little Petra Day 16
Wadi Rum Day 16
Dead Sea Day 17

Return UK flights, four internal flights and nearly all meals are included in one price. Covers Alexandria and El Alamein as well as the classic Nile and Jordan highlights.

Best suited to

First-time visitors to Egypt and Jordan
Travellers who want flights and meals arranged
History lovers keen on ancient Egypt, Rome and the Nabataeans
Anyone who prefers comfortable hotels and a cruise

Day 1 · Cairo Fly to Cairo

Fly from the UK to Cairo and transfer to your hotel in the city centre, with dinner in the evening.

Hotel
Cairo Sheraton or similar

Meals
Dinner
Day 2 · Pyramids of Giza, Sphinx, Grand Egyptian Museum, Khan el-Khalili The Pyramids of Giza

Visit the Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx, then the Grand Egyptian Museum, with its statues, mummies and pharaonic treasures. Later, explore the Khan el-Khalili bazaar.

Hotel
Cairo Sheraton or similar

Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 3 · Coptic Quarter, Saqqara Coptic Cairo and Saqqara

Explore Cairo's oldest district, the Coptic Quarter, with its churches and the Coptic Museum, then visit Saqqara, the ancient necropolis of the Step Pyramid of Djoser.

Hotel
Cairo Sheraton or similar

Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 4 · Alexandria, Kom el Shoqafa, Qaitbay Citadel Alexandria

Take the desert road to Alexandria on the Mediterranean to see the Roman theatre, the catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa and the Qaitbay Citadel, built on the site of the ancient lighthouse.

Hotel
Helnan Royal Palestine or similar

Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 5 · El Alamein, Monastery of St Macarius El Alamein

Visit El Alamein, scene of two key battles of the Second World War, with its military museum and war cemeteries, then return to Cairo via the Monastery of St Macarius.

Hotel
Hotel

Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 6 · Luxor, Karnak Temple, Luxor Temple Fly to Luxor and Karnak

Fly to Luxor and board your five-star Nile cruise ship for four nights. In the afternoon, explore the vast Temple of Karnak and Luxor Temple on the East Bank.

Hotel
MS Tamr five-star cruise ship or similar

Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 7 · Colossi of Memnon, Temple of Hatshepsut, Valley of the Kings Luxor's West Bank

Cross to the West Bank to see the Colossi of Memnon, the terraced Temple of Queen Hatshepsut and the tombs of the Valley of the Kings.

Hotel
MS Tamr five-star cruise ship or similar

Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 8 · Edfu, Kom Ombo Edfu and Kom Ombo

Visit the Temple of Horus at Edfu, one of the best-preserved temples in Egypt, then cruise on to Kom Ombo and its riverside temple dedicated to the crocodile god Sobek.

Hotel
MS Tamr five-star cruise ship or similar

Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 9 · Abu Simbel, Aswan Abu Simbel

Travel south to the twin temples of Abu Simbel, built by Ramesses II and moved block by block to save them from the waters of Lake Nasser. Return to your ship in Aswan.

Hotel
MS Tamr five-star cruise ship or similar

Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 10 · Aswan High Dam, Unfinished Obelisk, Temple of Philae Aswan

Visit the Aswan High Dam, the Unfinished Obelisk and the Temple of Philae on Agilkia Island, and sail on a traditional felucca, before flying back to Cairo for the night.

Hotel
Le Méridien Cairo Airport or similar

Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 11 · Amman Fly to Jordan

Take a short flight to Amman and transfer to your hotel for a briefing on the Jordan section of the tour.

Hotel
Centro Mada Hotel or similar

Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 12 · Jerash, Ajloun Jerash and Ajloun

Explore Jerash, one of the best-preserved Roman cities in the Middle East, and watch a chariot-race show in its hippodrome. Continue to Ajloun and its castle.

Hotel
Centro Mada Hotel or similar

Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 13 · Amman Citadel, Roman Theatre, Desert Castles Amman and the desert castles

Explore Amman's Citadel and Roman theatre, then drive into the eastern desert to see the early Islamic desert castles.

Hotel
Centro Mada Hotel or similar

Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 14 · Mount Nebo, Madaba, Petra Mount Nebo, Madaba and Petra

Visit Mount Nebo, where Moses is said to have seen the Promised Land, with its mosaic-floored churches, and the Church of St George in Madaba, famous for its mosaic map. Continue to Petra, with a Levantine cooking class with a local chef.

Hotel
Petra Moon Hotel or similar

Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 15 · Petra, The Siq, The Treasury Petra by day and by night

Walk through the Siq into Petra, the rose-red city of the Nabataeans, carved from the sandstone cliffs. After a free afternoon, return after dark to see the Treasury lit by more than a thousand candles.

Hotel
Petra Moon Hotel or similar

Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 16 · Little Petra, Wadi Rum Little Petra and Wadi Rum

Visit Little Petra, then transfer to Wadi Rum, where a 4x4 takes you among sandstone mountains in the footsteps of Lawrence of Arabia. Spend the night in a desert camp with air-conditioned tents.

Hotel
Wadi Rum Oasis Camp or similar

Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 17 · Dead Sea The Dead Sea

Head north to the Dead Sea, the lowest point on earth, for an afternoon floating in its salty water, followed by a farewell dinner.

Hotel
Dead Sea Spa Hotel or similar

Meals
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Day 18 · Amman Fly home

Transfer to Amman airport for your flight back to the UK, and the tour comes to an end.

Meals
Breakfast

Cairo (3 nights) Cairo Sheraton or similar
Alexandria (1 night) Helnan Royal Palestine or similar
Cairo (1 night) Hotel
Nile cruise (4 nights) MS Tamr five-star cruise ship or similar
Cairo Airport (1 night) Le Méridien Cairo Airport or similar
Amman (3 nights) Centro Mada Hotel or similar
Petra (2 nights) Petra Moon Hotel or similar
Wadi Rum (1 night) Wadi Rum Oasis Camp or similar
Dead Sea (1 night) Dead Sea Spa Hotel or similar

Hotel names are indicative and may be replaced with a property of similar standard and location.

Included

Flights return from the UK, Cairo to Luxor, Aswan to Cairo and Cairo to Amman
Accommodation 17 nights in four- and five-star hotels, a five-star Nile cruise ship and a desert camp
Meals 17 breakfasts, 16 lunches and 17 dinners
Egypt the Pyramids and Sphinx, the Grand Egyptian Museum, the Coptic Quarter, Saqqara, Alexandria, El Alamein, Karnak, Luxor, the Valley of the Kings, Edfu, Kom Ombo, Abu Simbel, Philae and a felucca sail
Jordan Jerash, Ajloun, Amman, the desert castles, Mount Nebo, Madaba, Petra by day and night, a cooking class, Little Petra, a Wadi Rum 4x4 trip and the Dead Sea
All transfers and entrance fees as listed, with local guides

Not included

Visas for Egypt and Jordan
Travel insurance
Drinks and personal spending
Tips for guides, drivers, cruise and camp staff

The Temple of Hatshepsut beneath the cliffs at Luxor

Honest disclaimer — please read

You want a small group — groups can be up to 28
You want plenty of free time — the days are full
You dislike early starts — Abu Simbel and some sites start early
You want to choose your own restaurants — most meals are included

FCDO advice UK FCDO travel advice for Egypt · UK FCDO travel advice for Jordan

The avenue of sphinxes at Karnak Temple, Luxor