Tour Details
  • Starts in: Cairo / Ends in: Damascus
  • Departs: Saturdays - year round
  • No local payment required
  • Breakfast:16, Lunch: 2, Dinner: 4
  • Hotel Rating: 4 - 5 star (3 star Jordan & Syria hotels) & Wadi Rum camp
  • Tour Guide: Yes

Cairo to Damascus - 17 days

The ultimate adventure - Egypt, Jordan & Syria in one amazing holiday! Journey beyond the pyramids to ancient Thebes, sail the river Nile & relax by the Red Sea. Add the hidden city of Petra, a 4x4 safari in Wadi Rum & incredible Damascus - the oldest city on earth.

Day 1: Cairo
Saturday. Welcome to the start of your Arabian adventure! Arrive Cairo prior to 08:00, included transfer and hotel check in. At approximately 10:00, we embark on a guided tour of the Egyptian at the Museum. The prize exhibit has to be the priceless treasures of King Tutankhamen. Enjoy the remains of the day shopping and exploring Cairo. Overnight - Cairo
Cairo - Aswan. A big day out at the pyramids and sphinx at Giza, then a visit to the ancient tomb-strewn necropolis at Saqqara. We later enjoy a chance to relax, freshen up and have dinner. Tonight, we travel to Aswan by overnight seater train. Upgrade to sleeper cabin available Overnight - Train (B)
Cairo to Damascus - 17 days Go Guide : :Check out the go guide for details of the tour, info on visas, climate, money, what to bring and more!
The ancient Egyptian temple of Kom Ombo in Egypt
Arrive Aswan and check into our hotel. Today, we visit the High Dam and travel by boat to the Temple of Philae, dedicated to the goddess Isis. Remainder of day and evening free. Overnight - Aswan (B)
Days 4 - 5: Felucca Sailing
Aswan - Nile felucca cruise. Optional early morning air excursion to the colossal Temple of Abu Simbel. This afternoon, we board our Nile felucca for a 2 night voyage on the River Nile down stream, stopping along the way at local villages and islands. If sailing by felucca is not for you, consider upgrading to a 5 star luxury Nile Cruise with our Pharaoh's Pass. Overnight - onboard Felucca (B:2, L:2, D:2)
Kom Ombo - Edfu - Luxor. Disembarking in Kom Ombo we visit the temple before travelling to the Temple of Horus at Edfu, a huge complex that began construction in 237 BC! We then continue to Luxor. Home of the legendary Valley of the Kings and Temple of Karnak, 4000 year-old Luxor is ancient Egypt at it’s best. Enjoy some rest and relaxation. Tonight, an optional visit to the Temple of Luxor. (book and pay locally). Remainder of the evening at leisure to enjoy the facilities of our hotel. Overnight - Luxor (B)
Sunbeds on the beach in Dahab - Egypt's popular Red Sea resort
Luxor - Dahab. Optional early morning hot air balloon ride over Luxor before crossing to the west side of the Nile and commencing our tour of the Valley of the Kings. One of the first sights you’ll see is the Colossi of Memnon. This huge pair of enthroned statues is all that remains of the temple of Amenophis III. Touring of Valley of the Kings, Valley of the Queens and the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut and and after a little R&R Karnak Temple. This evening we travel by overnight bus to Dahab via Hurghada. Overnight - Bus (B)
Days 8 - 9: Dahab
Dahab. Arrival and hotel check-in. Scuba diving, snorkelling, sun-worshipping, chilling, shopping - take your pick. On day 9, we offer an optional snorkelling excursion to the Blue Hole. 80 metres deep, the Blue Hole boasts an abundance of colourful coral, fish and marine life. Most of the aquatic species live within the first 5 metres beneath the sea level. Overnight - Dahab (B:2)
Day 10: Aqaba
Dahab - Petra (Jordan). Today we transfer to Taba Port to cross the Gulf of Aqaba by private ferry and travel onward to Petra. This evening we will meet our Jordanian tour guide and other tour members continuing with us through Jordan and onto Syria. Overnight - Aqaba (B)
An on the go group outside the rose red Treasury in Petra, Jordan
Day 11: Petra
To see Petra’s beauty, we first take a walk through the winding cleft in the rock that is known as the Siq, before reaching the awe inspiring Treasury. This rose red building actually served as a royal tomb, but got its name from the legend that pirates hid their treasure there. More amazing Nabataean and Roman ruins follow, including a huge 8000 seat amphitheatre and other Royal tombs and Mausoleums. If you are feeling energetic, why not continue up the hillside along the ancient steps that take you to the Monastery, to take in the stunning views. Consider opting for our Petra Kitchen bolt-on tonight. Overnight - Petra (B)
Day 12: Wadi Rum
Petra - Wadi Rum. This morning we can return to the Rose Red city for further exploration. Then drive to Wadi Rum for a 4x4 desert safari before enjoying a traditional Jordanian dinner and a night in the desert. Overnight - Wadi Rum (B, D)
Girls on Mt Qassioun with panoramic views over Damascus
Days 13 - 14: Madaba and Damascus
Wadi Rum - Umm ar-Rasas - Mt Nebo/Madaba - Damascus (Syria). We visit the ruined town of Umm ar-Rasas and admire the brilliant views of the Promised land and the impressive large mosaic floor in the Church of St Stephen, which portrays ancient Jerusalem, Madaba and Karak. Then head to Mt Nebo, where we take in stunning views across the Promised Land, just as Moses did long ago.

We continue on to the compact town of Madaba - famed for its Byzantine mosaics, including the fascinating map of the Holy Land made in the 6th century out of two million stone pieces and now housed in the Greek Orthodox Church of St. George. Here, we have time to explore before dinner - a traditional Jordanian feast! Day 14 - morning at leisure and onward travel to the Syrian border. After attending to immigration we continue to the nation’s charming capital. Overnight - Madaba - (1), Damascus - (1) (B:2, D:1)
Day 15: Damascus
Today, we enjoy a tour of reputedly the oldest continuously inhabited city on earth. Thoroughly charming, compact and bustling, Damascus (Ash-Sham to locals) is studded with rich examples of Islamic and Ottoman architecture. The heart of the city is Martyrs Square. In the side streets just off the square, there are lots of eateries serving shawarma and felafel, and pastry shops serving sweetmeats.

However, just east is probably the real beating heart of Damascus - the Old City. Surrounded by what was once a Roman wall and rebuilt several times over the last 2000 years, the Old City boasts a main thoroughfare, Straight Street which has been here since Graeco-Roman times. Just beyond the Citadel is the colourful Souk al-Hamidiyya, a stone’s throw from the Umayyad Mosque. Built in 705AD, the facades around the central courtyard are adorned with golden mosaics. South of the mosque is Azem Palace. This evening, enjoy a hamam at a Damascene bath house before taking in the magnificent views from Mt Qassioun. Overnight - Damascus (B)
The spectacular ruins of Palmyra in Syria
A free day to enjoy Damascus or book our optional excursion to Ma’alula, an ancient town where the locals still speak Aramaic, the language of Christ & Krac des Chevaliers, a crusader castle of epic proportion OR the spectacular ruins of Palmyra – perhaps Syria’s number one sight! See our website for further details (payable locally). Overnight - Damascus (B)
Day 17: Damascus
Monday. Our tours ends after breakfast and onward departure transfer to Damascus airport. (B)

Perseids Meteor Shower departure - 31 July 2010

Why not combine this tour with the amazing celestial spectacle of the Perseids Meteor shower? The Perseids meteor shower is a spectacular celestial light show, that has mystified and amazed sky watchers for nearly 2000 years. The night sky is lit up by often over 60 meteors per hour! You can witness the incredible meteor shower from our desert camp in Wadi Rum, where you will spend two incredible nights star-gazing, when the meteor shower is at its peak on the 11th and 12th August. Please see the Go Guide for details of the amended itinerary. Supplement applies.