Festive Road to Jordan - 17 days

The ultimate Egypt & Jordan experience. Pyramids, Petra, Red Sea & Dead Sea. Do something out of the ordinary this New Year - spend it under the desert stars in Wadi Rum, sailing the Nile on a felucca cruise or celebrating by the Red Sea in Dahab!

Day 1: Cairo
Welcome to Egypt and the start of your holiday! Arrive Cairo, included transfer to hotel. Overnight - Cairo
Day 2: Pyramids & Sphinx
Cairo - Aswan. A big day out at the pyramids and sphinx at Giza then a visit to the ancient tomb strewn necropolis at. We later enjoy a chance to relax, freshen up and have dinner. Tonight, we travel to Aswan by overnight seater train. Sleeper cabin upgrade available Overnight - Train (B)
Festive Road to Jordan - 17 days Go Guide : :Check out the go guide for details of the tour, info on visas, climate, money, what to bring and more!
Girls striking an Egyptian pose in front of the Sphinx and pyramid on the Giza Plateau
Day 3: Philae Temple
Arrival and check into our hotel. Today, we visit the Aswan High Dam and travel by boat to Agilika Island to visit the Temple of Philae. Later, free time to hit the bazaars or relax by the swimming pool. Overnight - Aswan (B)
Felucca boats on the River Nile
Days 4 - 5: Felucca Cruise
Aswan - Nile felucca cruising. Optional early morning excursion to the magnificent rock-cut Temples of Abu Simbel, built by mighty King Ramses II. If travelling on 15 Dec 2012, our optional Abu Simbel excursion is undertaken by air. On 21, 23 and 27 Dec 2012, the optional excursion is undertaken by road. This afternoon, we board our Nile felucca for a 2 night cruise downstream toward Kom Ombo. Relax, top up your tan and chat with new friends as the felucca gently plies its route. Stops are made en route at local villages and islands.

If sailing by felucca is not your style, navigate the River Nile on board a 5 star Nile Cruiser with private cabin and ensuite bathroom. Our Nile Cruise Upgrade can be purchased in conjunction with a sleeper train upgrade. Overnight - Felucca Cruise (B:2, L:2, D:2)
The Temple of Queen Hatshepsut on the West Bank in Luxor
Day 6: Temple of Horus & Luxor
Kom Ombo - Edfu - Luxor. Disembarking at Kom Ombo, travel to visit the Temple of Horus in Edfu. Later, time to relax at our hotel and spend the evening your way. Alternatively enjoy an optional visit to the Temple of Luxor by night. The excursion is payable locally. Overnight - Luxor (B)
Day 7: Valley of the Kings
Luxor - Cairo. Optional hot air ballooning excursion over Luxor, before crossing to the West Bank, where the first monument you’ll see is the imposing 18m-high Colossi of Memnon. After we enjoy a guided tour of the Valleys of the Kings and the colonnaded Temple of Hatshepsut. Taking a break and time for lunch, we visit the giant Temple of Karnak. This evening we return to Cairo by overnight seater train. Overnight - Train (B)
Day 8: Egyptian Musuem
Arrving to Cairo, we set off on a guided tour of the Egyptian National Museum of Antiquities. The museum boasts an amazing and certainly extensive collection. Opt to visit the Royal Mummy Room, where 9 royal mummies from the New Kingdom is displayed. The afternoon offers free time or the option to take part in a city tour. Overnight - Cairo (B)
Divers in the Red Sea with tropical fish
Days 9 - 11: Dahab - by the Red Sea
Cairo - Dahab. Today we cross the Suez Canal and travel onto Dahab, located on the Red Sea. Dahab has developed from a hippy village to a respected haven with a solid infrastructure for SCUBA divers, snorkellers and travellers seeking sun, sea and relaxation. The waterfront is dotted with laid back cafes, bars and shops, perfect for eating, drinking or relaxing with a little retail therapy. You can opt to take part in an excursion to the Blue Hole or climb Mt Sinai and see St Katherine’s Monastery if your interested. Overnight - Dahab (B:3)
Head below sea level to swim in the mineral rich waters of the Dead Sea
Day 12: Dead Sea, Jordan
Dahab - Aqaba - Madaba. This morning, we transfer to Taba/Nuweiba to take a private ferry crossing to Aqaba in Jordan. From Aqaba we commence our included excursion to the Dead Sea to test our powers of buoyancy and enjoy some lunch. After we explore Mt.Nebo - the single most important biblical site in Jordan. Having led the Israelites for 40 years through the wilderness, Moses finally saw from this panoramic vantage point, the Promised Land. We too can enjoy excellent views of the Jordan River Valley, the northern shore of the Dead Sea, Jericho and on clear days Jerusalem. We travel onto the bustling market town of Madaba. Overnight - Madaba (B, L)
Day 13: Time to Explore Petra
Madaba - Petra. Explore Christian Madaba this morning before noon time transfer to Petra. The late afternoon offers free time. Choose to explore the town on foot, stop off at a cafe for a cup of rich dark arabian coffee, browse the village shops, pop into the 'Made in Jordan' store for quality hand made items or simply spend the afternoon relaxing by the pool.

Free evening or why not test your culinary skills in the Petra Kitchen? Consider our Petra Kitchen - something good's cooking bolt-on. Overnight - Petra (B, L)
Ad-Deir - better known as The Monastery in Petra
Day 14: The Rose City of Petra
Welcome to the Rose City! Access to the city on our guided exploration is through the famous narrow, deep siq. The rocks then give way to the most amazing site – that of the fantastically impressive Treasury. Walking down the gravel tracks, we’ll explore the ancient Nabatean tombs and the Roman rock-carved streets lined with temples, royal tombs, staircases, arched gates and public buildings. There is also a gigantic amphitheatre originally built to house 3000 spectators, though the Romans increased capacity to a whopping 7000. After the guided tour, you’re free to head off and further explore, haggle for a horse and chariot or just relax and take it all in.

Tonight, it maybe possible to take a candlelit walk through the Siq by attending the 'Petra by Night' excursion. Overnight - Petra (B)
A group standing on a rock formation in Jordan's red desert - Wadi Rum
Day 15: Wadi Rum - Lawrence of Arabia's land
Petra - Wadi Rum. A free morning in Petra to further explore independently or with your guide. If following in the footsteps of our guide we enter the Nabataean city via the 'secret road' of al-Madras, and visit the High Place of Sacrifice for a panoramic view of the ancient city centre. Later this afternoon, we depart Petra and drive to Wadi Rum. A vast, silent landscape of ancient riverbeds, pastel coloured stretches of sandy desert and amazing rock formations known as jebels, dating from when time began that rise from the desert floor, Wadi Rum is our base for an exciting 4 x 4 desert safari. We’ll jump aboard open-top 4 x 4s for our sunny, sandy and scenic adventure into Jordan’s wilderness. Tonight, we’ll enjoy an included Bedouin dinner and bed under a galaxy of stars at our remote camp. Overnight - Wadi Rum (B, D)
The Red Sea resort of Dahab with the Sinai Mountains
Day 16: Crossing the Gulf of Aqaba
Wadi Rum - Aqaba - Cairo. Free time, dependent upon ferry scheduling. Later today we drive to Aqaba to cross the Gulf of Aqaba once again by private ferry and travel onward by road to Cairo. The journey will take approximately 8 hours with us arriving to Cairo very late in the evening. Overnight - Cairo (B)
The Mohammad Ali Mosque in Islamic Cairo (also known as the Alabaster Mosque)
Day 17: Cairo
Cairo. Our tour concludes after breakfast and included departure transfer to the airport. Happy Travels!
Note: Please ensure that you book a flight departing Cairo after 7am today. This will allow a window of time in the rare event that our ferry returning from Jordan is delayed. (B)

5 star Nile cruise for Xmas or New Year
If you’d like to upgrade from the included Nile felucca cruise from Aswan to Luxor, cruise the Nile in style for 3 nights with our 5 star Nile Cruise upgrade.

Cruiser's are similar to 5 star hotels with their own bar, lounges and restaurant. Your well–appointed, outward facing cabin offers air-conditioning, a private bathroom and views of the Nile as we sail. The boat deck offers plenty of space for relaxation and a swimming pool. All meals are included, buffet style.

Where do you want to spend XMAS & NEW YEARS EVE IN 2012?

  • 15 Dec tour - It's Xmas day in Dahab, relaxing by the Red Sea
  • 21 Dec tour - wake to Xmas day from the River Nile. Spend the day lazing about to the perfect backdrop of the Nile with a chilled beer in hand. For New Year's Eve, we PARTY in Dahab!
  • 23 Dec tour - On Xmas Day we take a leisurely boat trip to Philae Temple and discover the colourful souqs of Aswan. On New Year's Eve, choose to relax or PARTY in Dahab!
  • 27 Dec tour - New Year's Eve felucca sailing or Nile cruising. Bonfire and party at the stroke of midnight.

 

as arrive Dahab, NYE in Wadi Rum
21 Dec: Xmas on felucca, NYE party in Dahab
23 Dec: Xmas in Aswan, NYE party in Dahab
27 Dec: New Year's Eve felucca sai


Tour Details
  • Starts in: Cairo / Ends in: Cairo
  • Departs: 15, 21, 23, 27 Dec 2012
  • No local payment required
  • Breakfast:16, Lunch: 4, Dinner: 3
  • Hotel Rating: 4 - 5 star (+ 3 star Jordan hotels & Wadi Rum camp)
  • Tour Guide: Yes
The on the go Theatre
On tour in Egypt. Pyramids, Nile cruising, Abu Simbel & Red Sea!
The Inside Track
Exploring the temple of Abu Simbel, Egypt Trevor from Flight Centre went with us recently on a tour to Egypt and was blown away by the temple ..
Extra time in… Cairo Our very own Andy Henderson lived in Cairo for two years, and these are his top spots to see if got ..
Howard’s Way Guest expert Wendy Gomersall visited Egypt, and the home of world-renowned archaeologist Howard the ..
Photo showcase – enigmatic Egypt Egypt is filled with spectacular ancient monuments and natural wonders too. As a destination, one of ..