Durfee Travel & Tours
Tours


Jordan & Egypt: Petra to the Pyramids
From $11,690.00 (USD)

Explore the awe-inspiring wonders of ancient Jordan and Egypt on this 13-day journey from the Dead Sea to Cairo, including a 3-night cruise on the Nile from Aswan to Luxor aboard a luxury riverboat.
 
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Jordan & Egypt: Petra to the Pyramids
Explore the awe-inspiring wonders of ancient Jordan and Egypt on this 13-day journey from the Dead Sea to Cairo, including a 3-night cruise on the Nile from Aswan to Luxor aboard a luxury riverboat.

Explore biblical lands untouched by time from atop Mt. Nebo, at sandstone Petra, and in ancient Roman cities surrounding Jordan's Dead Sea shores. Sail down the River Nile on a journey that spans 5,000 years of history in the world's oldest civilization. Visit pyramids, temples and tombs that speak volumes about the lives of Egyptian kings and queens, traveling by felucca, camel and small boat to places immortal and intriguing. And indulge in modern-day luxuries, enriched by the past, at premier hotels and resorts with views of the iconic sites you've dreamed of seeing.

Explore the awe-inspiring wonders of ancient Jordan and Egypt on this 13-day journey from the Dead Sea to Cairo, including a 3-night cruise on the Nile from Aswan to Luxor aboard a luxury riverboat. Begin in Amman, Jordan, with a visit to the Dead Sea, a popular vacation spot for its spas and historical sites... in Madaba visit St. George Church, famous for its Byzantine art and 6th-century mosaic map... re-discover the lost city of Petra, carved out of pink sandstone in a mountain pass at Wadi Musa... Board your luxury riverboat at Aswan for a Nile River odyssey to ancient Egyptian sites, including Abu Simbel, the grand temple built by Ramses II, with towering statues of himself... the Philae Temples, a breathtaking complex of Egyptian, Greek, and Roman temples and monumental statues on Agilika Island... the House of the Crocodile and the Castle of the Falcon at Kom Ombo... the dazzling tomb of Nefertari in the Valley of the Queens... the vast necropolis at the Valley of Kings and the tomb of Tutankammen... and the Avenue of Sphinxes at Luxor. Along the way, shore excursions include jeep safaris, camel rides, a visit to a Bedouin camp, dining at local restaurants, and an Arabic cooking lesson in Amman. Stay three nights at the exclusive Mena House in Giza, your base for exploring the Khufu Pyramid and the Great Sphinx with an expert Egyptologist, as well as treasures of Cairo, including the Hanging Church, the Al Rifai Mosque, the Khan El-Khalili Market, and the new Grand Egyptian Museum.



Explore biblical lands untouched by time from atop Mt. Nebo, at sandstone Petra, and in ancient Roman cities surrounding Jordan's Dead Sea shores. Sail down the River Nile on a journey that spans 5,000 years of history in the world's oldest civilization. Visit pyramids, temples and tombs that speak volumes about the lives of Egyptian kings and queens, traveling by felucca, camel and small boat to places immortal and intriguing. And indulge in modern-day luxuries, enriched by the past, at premier hotels and resorts with views of the iconic sites you've dreamed of seeing.

Explore the awe-inspiring wonders of ancient Jordan and Egypt on this 13-day journey from the Dead Sea to Cairo, including a 3-night cruise on the Nile from Aswan to Luxor aboard a luxury riverboat. Begin in Amman, Jordan, with a visit to the Dead Sea, a popular vacation spot for its spas and historical sites... in Madaba visit St. George Church, famous for its Byzantine art and 6th-century mosaic map... re-discover the lost city of Petra, carved out of pink sandstone in a mountain pass at Wadi Musa... Board your luxury riverboat at Aswan for a Nile River odyssey to ancient Egyptian sites, including Abu Simbel, the grand temple built by Ramses II, with towering statues of himself... the Philae Temples, a breathtaking complex of Egyptian, Greek, and Roman temples and monumental statues on Agilika Island... the House of the Crocodile and the Castle of the Falcon at Kom Ombo... the dazzling tomb of Nefertari in the Valley of the Queens... the vast necropolis at the Valley of Kings and the tomb of Tutankammen... and the Avenue of Sphinxes at Luxor. Along the way, shore excursions include jeep safaris, camel rides, a visit to a Bedouin camp, dining at local restaurants, and an Arabic cooking lesson in Amman. Stay three nights at the exclusive Mena House in Giza, your base for exploring the Khufu Pyramid and the Great Sphinx with an expert Egyptologist, as well as treasures of Cairo, including the Hanging Church, the Al Rifai Mosque, the Khan El-Khalili Market, and the new Grand Egyptian Museum.



Traveling Well Includes:
  • TAUCK EXCLUSIVE - A private tented dinner in the desert in Petra featuring traditional entertainment by sword dancers
  • TAUCK EXCLUSIVE - An after-hours private visit to the Valley of the Kings and King Tutankhamun's tomb
  • Guided sightseeing to Jerash, Mt. Nebo and Madaba, thousands of years old
  • Visit to Aswan Dam, spanning the Nile
  • A 3-night Nile River cruise aboard Oberoi Zahra with included shore excursions to Egypt's must-see sights; please see flyout on Pricing & Availability for dates with an alternative itinerary featuring a 4-night Nile River cruise
  • A 4x4 adventure in the lunar landscapes of Wadi Rum

  • Call (530) 896-1668 for more information or to book today! Mention code 18852035
    Tour OperatorTauck Tours
    OfferOffer valid through 12/31/2024
    Duration
    13 Days
    Itinerary
    DayDestinationDescription
    Day 1AmmanArrive Amman, Jordan

    Tour begins: 5:30 PM, Kempinski Hotel Ishtar Dead Sea. A transfer is included from Amman airport to the Kempinski Hotel Ishtar Dead Sea, a luxurious beachfront resort nestled on the shores of the ancient salt lake at the lowest point on Earth. Join us this evening for a welcome reception and dinner tonight.



    Lodging:Kempinski Hotel Ishtar Dead Sea

    Meals: D
    Day 2AmmanRoman Antiquities in Jerash

    Set off on an excursion to Jerash, site of one of the best-preserved ancient Roman cities in the Middle East and a window to its past glory as an important imperial city. Your local guide shares expert insights about the sites you will see, including Roman temples, squares, arches, baths and theatres, often colonnaded and always astounding. See Hadrian's Arch, built in 129 AD, the ruins of the Temple of Zeus, the South Theatre, built to accommodate some 5,000 spectators, and the meticulously restored North Theatre. Drive through Amman en route back to your resort hotel after lunch. Tonight, a Jordanian woman gives a lecture on the issues that her generation faces today that's followed by dinner at a choice of restaurants at the hotel.



    Lodging:Kempinski Hotel Ishtar Dead Sea

    Meals: B, L, D
    Day 3PetraMt. Nebo, Madaba & Petra

    Thousands of years of biblical history reveal themselves today on a visit to Mt. Nebo where you will see what Moses saw when he looked out over the Promised Land. Continue to Madaba for a visit to St. George Greek Orthodox Church where the remains of the oldest known map of the Holy Land, painstakingly assembled from more than a million pieces of colored stone, cover the church floor. Enjoy a home-style lunch at a local family-run restaurant and drive to the ancient Nabataean city of Petra, carved out of sandstone cliffs around 6 BC, where your hotel is just steps away from the archaeological site. Tonight, you have a choice of two restaurants for dinner - or dinner with a local family at their residence.



    Lodging:Movenpick Resort Petra

    Meals: B, L, D
    Day 4PetraA Camel Ride in Petra

    Imagine riding aboard a camel cart through a hidden desert canyon that opens up to a magnificent red rose city dating back to the 1st century BC. Ancient master builders carved palaces, temples, tombs and more into the stone cliffs you will see here today. Picture yourself standing in awe at the 130-foot-high Khazneh, (The Treasury), intricately decorated with Corinthian capitals, friezes, statues and more, like Indiana Jones did in the movie Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Discover Royal Tombs, celebrating the achievements of the dead long gone and built high on the mountain side, and marvel at the ancient amphitheatre capable of seating more than 8,000 spectators, along with numerous temples sculpted in sandstone. Have lunch at a local restaurant, before returning to your hotel for an afternoon at leisure. Join us tonight for a Tauck Exclusive private tented dinner in the desert (weather-permitting), enjoying a fruit-infused hubbly-bubbly smoke, music and dancing by a local troupe of sword dancers.



    Lodging:Movenpick Resort Petra

    Meals: B, L, D
    Day 5AswanDesert Adventures in Wadi Rum

    Take a morning excursion to the otherworldly landscapes of Wadi Rum, known as the Valley of the Moon for the lunar-like dunes and towering sandstone cliffs found here. Exploring by 4x4 vehicle* with an option to ride a camel makes your visit unforgettable. It's off to Egypt this afternoon aboard a flight to Aswan that touches down for a guided visit to the Aswan High Dam, built across the River Nile. Drive to your hotel, where your suites overlook the cataracts on the Nile, and have dinner at your leisure.



    Lodging:Sofitel Legend Old Cataract

    Meals: B, L, D
    Day 6AswanFly to Abu Simbel

    A morning flight brings you to the Nubian village of Abu Simbel for a locally guided visit to its massive temples cut into a solid rock cliff and created during the reign of Ramesses II in the 1200s BC. The Great Temple stands 98 feet high with four seated colossi flanking the entrance and smaller statues depicting Ramessess' conquered enemies lining up below. The smaller temple, some 40 feet high, is adorned by four colossi depicting Ramesses and two of his queen Nefertari at a height of 32 feet. Fly back to Aswan and have dinner at a restaurant made famous by Agatha Christie.



    Lodging:Sofitel Legend Old Cataract

    Meals: B, L, D
    Day 7At SeaA Sacred Temple & a day's end Felucca Cruise

    A full day of Egyptian exploration includes a visit to the ruins of Saint Simeon Monastery, once housing some 300 monks when it was completed in the 10th century, and a boat ride to Agilkia Island to see the sacred Temple of Isis at Philae, one of the last of the ancient temples constructed in the classic Egyptian style. End your day with a felucca cruise as the sun sets on the Nile and have dinner at leisure onboard your ship.



    Lodging:Oberoi Zahra

    Meals: B, L, D
    Day 8At SeaTemples of Kom Ombo & Edfu

    Cruise to Kom Ombo, where its unusual twin temples are just a walk away from your ship. Temple reliefs here feature a unique engraving thought to depict the first representation of medical and surgical instruments. After lunch aboard ship, visit the Temple of Horus at Edfu, considered to be the most beautiful and best-preserved temples in Egypt, with its roof still intact. It took 180 years for the temple to be built and during your guided visit you'll discover why. Massive statues of Horus as a falcon guard entrances and the reliefs on its interior walls relate the story of the birth of Horus and depict Ptolemaic rulers making offerings to the gods and destroying their enemies. Return to your ship for an evening at leisure.



    Lodging:Oberoi Zahra

    Meals: B, L, D
    Day 9At SeaLuxor & The Valley of Kings & Queens

    Buried under the sand for more than 1,000 years, Luxor's Temple of Karnak is the largest complex of its time ever built, developed over a thousand years. Explore the site with an expert guide who shares insights about its history and construction, including the 134-columned Great Hypostyle Hall. A locally guided visit to Luxor Temple, connected to Karnak by an avenue of sphinxes, and dating back to the 1300s BC, follows. Return to your Nile cruiser for lunch and an afternoon excursion to the Valley of the Queens with a visit to the beautiful tomb of Nefertari, the great wife of Pharaoh Ramesses II, where the hieroglyphics amaze. Continue to the Valley of the Kings for an after-hours private visit that includes entry to King Tutankhamun's tomb, renowned for the wealth of valuable antiquities it contained when it was discovered unopened in 1922. Return to your ship for dinner at leisure.



    Lodging:Oberoi Zahra

    Meals: B, L, D
    Day 10GizaThe Egyptian Museum in Cairo

    Disembark ship for an early flight to Cairo this morning, touching down late morning. Following an early lunch at a local restaurant, visit the Egyptian Museum, housing the world's largest collection of ancient Egyptian artifacts including many of the treasures found in King Tutankhamun's tomb! Check into your room at Marriott Mena House in Cairo, where the remainder of the day is at leisure.



    Lodging:Marriott Mena House

    Meals: B, L, D
    Day 11GizaPyramids of Giza

    Drive to nearby Giza this morning for a guided tour of its storied pyramids, including the Great Pyramid of Giza, the last of the ancient Seven Wonders of the World, that have stood as defining symbols of Egypt for millennia. Here, you'll have an opportunity to ride a camel,* before seeing the most instantly recognizable statue in the world, crafted in limestone with the body of a lion and the head of a king - the Great Sphinx has been mysteriously reclining atop its Giza plateau for more than 3,000 years, guarding still the unanswered secret of who built it and why. After lunch, visit the pyramids at Saqqara, site of the necropolis (burial ground) for the ancient Egyptian capital of Memphis. The pyramid you will see here is the Step Pyramid, a magnificent reminder of the early architecture of the pharaohs of the Old Kingdom. The remainder of the day is at leisure.



    Lodging:Marriott Mena House

    Meals: B, L
    Day 12GizaTreasures of Old Cairo

    Located on the right bank of the River Nile, the historic district of Old Coptic Cairo predates its modern-day processor with sites that date back to the 6th century BC, including ones allegedly visited by the holy family of Joseph, Mary and the baby Jesus. A guided tour includes Roman ruins, Ben Ezra Synagogue, ancient Coptic churches including St. Sergius and the Hanging Church, and your choice of the Al Rifai Mosque or the Sultan Hassan Mosque, a short drive away. Enjoy some free time to explore as you please before joining us for a farewell reception and dinner at the hotel this evening.



    Lodging:Marriott Mena House

    Meals: B, L, D
    Day 13GizaJourney Home

    Tour ends: Cairo. Fly home anytime. A transfer is included from Marriott Mena House to Cairo Airport. Allow three hours for flight check-in at the airport.



    Lodging:

    Meals: B
    Disclaimer
    * All prices are per person in U.S. dollars, based on double occupancy.

    Itinerary Changes - Although not expected, Tauck reserves the right to alter the sequence of ports or omit or substitute scheduled ports or attractions at any time without prior notice.
    Durfee Travel Phone: 530-896-1668
    janice@durfeetravel.com

    CST#: 2065762-40