Tour overview

This 16-day upgraded small-group tour brings together the great sights of Egypt and Jordan, with comfortable hotels, special stays and many local experiences. Groups have no more than 12 travellers aged 15 and over, with local leaders in each country and expert guides at the main sites. You fly within Egypt and on to Amman, sail the Nile for three nights on a riverboat, and spend a night in a Wadi Rum desert camp with air-conditioned tents and private bathrooms. Breakfast is included every day, with 3 lunches and 11 dinners, and arrival transfers are included. International flights are not; the tour starts in Cairo and ends in Amman.

Cairo opens with a welcome dinner, then the Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx with an expert guide, and the treasures of the Grand Egyptian Museum. A flight takes you south to Aswan to visit the Temple of Isis on Philae, share dinner in a Nubian village and sail on a felucca at sunset. You then board your riverboat for three nights, cruising north past Kom Ombo and Edfu to Luxor, where you see Karnak, the Temple of Hatshepsut, the Colossi of Memnon and three tombs in the Valley of the Kings, as well as the tomb of Tutankhamun. Back in Cairo you browse the Khan al-Khalili bazaar and share a home-cooked dinner with a local family.

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In Jordan, your new leader takes you to the Roman city of Jerash and a cooking class in Amman, followed by Madaba's mosaic map and Mount Nebo on the way to a night on the shores of the Dead Sea. The Crusader castle of Shobak leads to Petra, with a leader-led tour of the rose-red city and a second day to explore it at your own pace, and dinner with a local family. The journey ends with a jeep tour of Wadi Rum's sandstone mountains and a night at a desert camp, with a traditional zarb dinner cooked under the sand.

The physical rating is medium, with early starts and plenty of walking at the sites. Optional extras include a visit to Abu Simbel and Petra by Night. This tour suits travellers who want both countries in comfort, with small groups and plenty of chances to meet local people along the way.

Trip highlights

  • The Pyramids of Giza and the Grand Egyptian Museum (Day 2)
  • Philae Temple, a Nubian village dinner and a felucca sail (Day 3)
  • Three nights on a Nile riverboat from Aswan to Luxor (Days 4–6)
  • The Valley of the Kings and Tutankhamun's tomb (Day 7)
  • Jerash, Madaba and the Dead Sea (Days 10–11)
  • Two days in Petra and a night in Wadi Rum (Days 12–14)

Your route

18 stops from Cairo to Amman

16-day route: Cairo – Aswan – Nile cruise – Luxor – Cairo – Amman – Dead Sea – Petra – Wadi Rum – Amman
  1. Cairo Days 1–2
  2. Pyramids of Giza Day 2
  3. Aswan Days 3–4
  4. Philae Temple Day 3
  5. Kom Ombo Temple Day 5
  6. Edfu Day 5
  7. Esna Day 6
  8. Luxor Days 6–7
  9. Cairo Day 8
  10. Amman Days 9–10
  11. Jerash Day 10
  12. Mount Nebo Day 11
  13. Madaba Day 11
  14. Dead Sea Day 11
  15. Shobak Crusader Castle Day 12
  16. Petra Days 12–13
  17. Wadi Rum Day 14
  18. Amman Days 15–16

Why choose this tour

A small group of up to 12, special stays on the Nile and in Wadi Rum, and most dinners included. Plenty of local experiences, from a Nubian village to home-cooked dinners in Cairo and Petra.

Best suited to

  • Travellers who want Egypt and Jordan in one comfortable trip
  • Anyone who prefers small groups to large coach tours
  • History lovers keen on the pharaohs and the Nabataeans
  • Food lovers who enjoy cooking classes and family dinners
The Pyramids of Giza, Egypt

Day-by-day itinerary

16 days from Cairo, Egypt to Amman, Jordan

  1. Day 1 · Cairo Arrive in Cairo

    You are met at Cairo airport and taken to your hotel. Meet your leader and group at 6pm, followed by a welcome dinner.

    Hotel
    Steigenberger Pyramids Hotel or similar
    Meals
    Dinner
  2. Day 2 · Pyramids of Giza, Sphinx, Grand Egyptian Museum The Pyramids and the Grand Egyptian Museum

    Tour the Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx with your leader and an expert guide, then explore the treasures of the Grand Egyptian Museum.

    Hotel
    Steigenberger Pyramids Hotel or similar
    Meals
    Breakfast
  3. Day 3 · Aswan, Philae Temple, Nubian village Fly to Aswan

    Fly to Aswan and visit the Temple of Isis on Philae Island, rescued from the rising waters of the Nile. Sail on a felucca at sunset, then share dinner in a Nubian village.

    Hotel
    Sonesta Nouba or similar
    Meals
    Breakfast, Dinner
  4. Day 4 · Aswan Board the Nile riverboat

    A free morning in Aswan, or join an optional trip to the temples of Abu Simbel. Then board your riverboat for three nights on the Nile.

    Hotel
    Amwaj Nile Cruise or similar
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  5. Day 5 · Kom Ombo Temple Kom Ombo

    Relax on deck as the riverboat sails north past desert hills, arriving at Kom Ombo Temple, dedicated to the crocodile god Sobek, for a guided visit.

    Hotel
    Amwaj Nile Cruise or similar
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  6. Day 6 · Edfu, Esna Locks, Karnak Temple Edfu to Luxor

    Moor near Edfu, with time to see its temple, then sail through the Esna Locks to Luxor and the vast open-air temple complex of Karnak.

    Hotel
    Amwaj Nile Cruise or similar
    Meals
    Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
  7. Day 7 · Valley of the Kings, Temple of Hatshepsut, Colossi of Memnon Valley of the Kings

    Leave the boat and visit the Valley of the Kings, entering three tombs and the tomb of Tutankhamun, then see the Temple of Hatshepsut and the Colossi of Memnon.

    Hotel
    Sonesta St George or similar
    Meals
    Breakfast
  8. Day 8 · Cairo, Khan al-Khalili Back to Cairo

    Fly back to Cairo to explore the Khan al-Khalili bazaar and stop for tea in a local café, before a home-cooked dinner with a Cairo family.

    Hotel
    Steigenberger El Tahrir or similar
    Meals
    Breakfast, Dinner
  9. Day 9 · Amman Fly to Amman

    Fly to Amman, where you are met and taken to your hotel. Meet your Jordanian leader and travellers joining here at a welcome dinner.

    Hotel
    InterContinental Amman or similar
    Meals
    Dinner
  10. Day 10 · Jerash, Amman Jerash and a cooking class

    Visit Jerash, one of the best-preserved Greco-Roman cities in the world, then return to Amman for a cooking class and dinner.

    Hotel
    InterContinental Amman or similar
    Meals
    Breakfast, Dinner
  11. Day 11 · Madaba, Mount Nebo, Dead Sea Madaba, Mount Nebo and the Dead Sea

    See the mosaic map in St George's Church in Madaba and the view from Mount Nebo, then float in the salty water of the Dead Sea.

    Hotel
    Mövenpick Resort Dead Sea or similar
    Meals
    Breakfast, Dinner
  12. Day 12 · Shobak Castle, Petra Shobak Castle to Petra

    Visit the Crusader castle of Shobak, then enter Petra through the Siq on a leader-led tour of the rose-red city of the Nabataeans.

    Hotel
    Petra Moon Hotel or similar
    Meals
    Breakfast, Dinner
  13. Day 13 · Petra, Monastery Petra at your own pace

    Return to Petra to explore on your own, perhaps climbing to the Monastery. In the evening, share dinner with a local family.

    Hotel
    Petra Moon Hotel or similar
    Meals
    Breakfast, Dinner
  14. Day 14 · Wadi Rum Wadi Rum

    Drive to Wadi Rum and explore its sandstone mountains, canyons and arches by jeep, before a zarb dinner cooked under the sand and a night at a desert camp.

    Hotel
    Mazayen Camp or similar
    Meals
    Breakfast, Dinner
  15. Day 15 · Wadi Rum, Amman Back to Amman

    Climb a dune for views over the desert, then return to Amman for a final evening.

    Hotel
    InterContinental Amman or similar
    Meals
    Breakfast
  16. Day 16 · Amman Trip ends in Amman

    The trip ends after breakfast. Extra nights in Amman can be arranged when you book.

    Meals
    Breakfast
Feluccas on the Nile at Aswan, Egypt

Where you stay

  • Cairo (2 nights) Steigenberger Pyramids Hotel or similar
  • Aswan (1 night) Sonesta Nouba or similar
  • Nile riverboat (3 nights) Amwaj Nile Cruise or similar
  • Luxor (1 night) Sonesta St George or similar
  • Cairo (1 night) Steigenberger El Tahrir or similar
  • Amman (2 nights) InterContinental Amman or similar
  • Dead Sea (1 night) Mövenpick Resort Dead Sea or similar
  • Petra (2 nights) Petra Moon Hotel or similar
  • Wadi Rum (1 night) Mazayen Camp or similar
  • Amman (1 night) InterContinental Amman or similar

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

What's included

Included

  • Accommodation 15 nights in hotels, a Nile riverboat and a Wadi Rum camp
  • Meals 15 breakfasts, 3 lunches and 11 dinners
  • Flights Cairo to Aswan, Luxor to Cairo and Cairo to Amman
  • Egypt the Pyramids and Sphinx, the Grand Egyptian Museum, Philae, a Nubian village, a felucca sail, Kom Ombo, Karnak, Hatshepsut, the Valley of the Kings, Tutankhamun's tomb and Khan al-Khalili
  • Jordan Jerash, a cooking class, Madaba, Mount Nebo, Shobak Castle, Petra with a leader-led tour and a second day, and a Wadi Rum jeep tour
  • Arrival transfers in Cairo and Amman
  • Local leaders in Egypt and Jordan, with expert guides

Not included

  • International flights to Cairo and from Amman
  • Visas for Egypt and Jordan
  • Meals not listed
  • Optional activities, such as Abu Simbel and Petra by Night
  • Single supplement, tips, travel insurance and personal spending
The Temple of Hatshepsut beneath the cliffs at Luxor

This trip might not be for you if…

Honest disclaimer — please read

  • You want international flights included — they are not
  • You want lots of free time — the days are full
  • You dislike early starts — several sites are visited early
  • You want Abu Simbel included — it is an optional extra

Good to know

FCDO advice UK FCDO travel advice for Egypt · UK FCDO travel advice for Jordan
The avenue of sphinxes at Karnak Temple, Luxor

In pictures

Departures & prices

From £5,560 per person, twin share, tour only. 147 upcoming departures.

Frequently asked questions

How do I book this tour?

Tap any "Enquire" button on the page and one of our travel specialists will be in touch within 24 hours (often same day). We'll confirm availability on your preferred date, run through anything you need to know, and only ask for the deposit once you've decided.

What financial protection do I get?

Every Travelisto booking is 100% financially protected. Your money is held in a ring-fenced Trust account until you return from your trip, and we are members of the Protected Trust Services scheme (PTS 6035). Most tours also include ATOL protection where flights are part of the package.

How is this different from the other Egypt and Jordan tours?

This trip has a small group of up to 12, a three-night Nile riverboat and many local meals, but does not include UK flights. Other tours on this site include flights from the UK or a longer Nile cruise.

What is the Wadi Rum camp like?

A desert camp with spacious tents, king-size beds, air-conditioning and private bathrooms, so it is comfortable rather than camping.

Which flights are included?

Cairo to Aswan, Luxor to Cairo and Cairo to Amman. International flights to Cairo and home from Amman are not included.

Is Abu Simbel included?

No, it is an optional early-morning trip from Aswan on Day 4.

What meals are included?

15 breakfasts, 3 lunches and 11 dinners, including home-cooked dinners in Cairo and Petra, a Nubian village dinner, a cooking class in Amman and a zarb dinner in Wadi Rum.

Do I need visas?

Yes. UK passport holders need visas for Egypt and Jordan, usually obtained online or on arrival. Check the latest rules before travel.

Can you tailor the trip?

Yes — every escorted tour can be modified into a private tailor-made version with your own dates, adjusted pace, upgraded hotels and add-on extensions. Tell us what you'd like changed when you enquire and we'll quote it both ways so you can compare.

What if my flight is delayed or cancelled?

If your international flight is part of your booking through us, we re-book at no cost. If you've booked flights separately, the tour's local team holds your transfer slot until you arrive. We strongly recommend a comprehensive travel insurance policy that includes delay and cancellation cover.

ATOL protected 100% financially protected in a Trust bank account PTS 6035 4.7 on Trustpilot
Tailor-made option

Not quite the right fit? Make it tailor-made.

If this group tour doesn't match your ideal trip, our specialists will turn it into a private tailor-made journey — your own dates, your own pace, upgraded hotels where you want them, and the parts you don't love swapped out. Same destinations, just rebuilt around you.

Contact us for a tailor-made version of this itinerary

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