Pyramids and Jordan Tour
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Pyramids and Jordan OVERVIEW

TOUR SUMMARY

11 days

Pyramids and Jordan

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$0 (p/p)

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Country(ies): Egypt

Tour type: Private

Group size: Min: 1 | Max: Any

Accommodation: No Accommodation

Meals: Breakfasts - 10, Lunches - 3, Dinners - 1

Transport: A/C minibus & 4x4 jeep

Highlights:

Pyramids, Sphinx & Egyptian Museum, Citadel, Coptic & Islamic Cairo; Jerash Roman ruins, Ajloun & Kerak castles, As-Salt, Bethany baptism site, Madaba mosaics, Wadi Rum safari & Bedouin camp, Petra, King's Highway, Dead Sea swim.

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This tour is ideal if you want to see the pyramids & sphinx and Egyptian Museum in Egypt, but concentrate mainly on Jordan.

The tour starts at a luxury boutique hotel in the heart of Old Cairo and two day's of touring, taking in the Pyramids, Sphinx and Egyptian Museum, followed by the Citadel, Coptic Cairo, and a walk through the mazy backstreets of the Khan-el-Khalili bazaar. You then fly to Amman (flight not included) and tour the city and the Roman ruins at Jerash as well as Ajloun Castle and the surrounding Ajloun Forest Reserve.

Our next tour takes in the hillside town of As-Salt with its 'Harmony Trail' celebrating the way different religions live side by side there, plus the Biblical Baptism Site at Bethany beyond the Jordan. We'll then see ancient Roman mosaics at Madaba and drive down the Desert Highway to the stunning desert scenery of Wadi Rum. Our night here is spent in a comfortable Bedouin camp set against the cliffs inside the desert reserve. We'll enjoy a short camel ride and a jeep safari in Wadi Rum before we head on to Petra, rightly one of the world's most famous ancient sites. Here the Nabataean people carved their ancestral tombs into the beautifully coloured sandstone cliffs surrounding this inaccessible hidden city. We'll start with a tour of the neighbouring site, Little Petra, and in the evening, there is the chance to experience the Petra by Candlelight tour, when thousands of candles light up the Siq and Treasury. A full day in the main site follows, with a guided tour and plenty of free time to explore.

From Petra, the scenic King's Highway takes us through small rural villages, across deep Wadis to the Dead Sea with stops en-route to visit the crusader castle at Kerak and to admire the views of the Jordan Valley and into Israel from Mt. Nebo. The tour finishes with a night at a spa resort by the Dead Sea where you can swim, or float in the salty waters.

Extensions can be added to include time relaxing or snorkelling in the Red Sea from a resort in Aqaba if you wish, and accommodation levels can also be adjusted to suit your preferences and budget.

ITINERARY

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We meet you at Cairo airport and transfer you to your luxury boutique hotel in the heart of Old Cairo. The rest of the day is free for you to settle in and relax. The mainly pedestrian streets surrounding the hotel are quiet during the day but teem with life in the evenings as local Egyptians come for a stroll and a snack. The Khan-el-Khalili bazaar with its various markets featuring a huge variety of different crafts is only a 15 minute walk away.

OVERNIGHT:

Cairo boutique hotel

MEALS:

Breakfasts - 0, Lunches - 0, Dinners - 0

EXTRAS:

Extra day in Cairo pre-tour - Le Riad

Single room supplement (EGTMPP)

We enjoy a full day tour today to the majestic Pyramids and Sphinx at Gisa, and also to the huge Egyptian Museum, home to the famous Tutankhamun display. Your are accompanied by one of our professional Egyptologist guides who will explain the history of pyramid building, and more about the ancient Egyptian empire and its different Pharaonic dynasties.

OVERNIGHT:

Cairo boutique hotel

MEALS:

Breakfasts - 1, Lunches - 0, Dinners - 0

EXTRAS:

None

Our tour of Cairo today includes the Citadel overlooking the city, some important and beautiful mosques, and the tiny streets and churches of Coptic Cairo. We'll then spend the afternoon on an exploratory walking tour, heading out from our hotel through the back streets and markets of the Khan-el-Khalili bazaar.

 

OVERNIGHT:

Cairo boutique hotel

MEALS:

Breakfasts - 1, Lunches - 0, Dinners - 0

EXTRAS:

None

We say farewell to Egypt and fly to Jordan today. On arrival we transfer you from the airport to your 5-star hotel in central Amman. In the afternoon we then take a guided tour of the Roman amphitheatre and other sites in the centre of the city. We'll finish the day with a walk through the market streets of the Downtown area getting a first feel for the differences between Amman and Cairo, and between Egypt and Jordan.

The flight from Cairo (CAI) to Amman (AMM) is not included in the tour price, but can either be purchased as an individual single ticket, or included as part of your main international flight ticket if you are flying with Egypt Air or Royal Jordanian. There are several flights available every day and transfers are included at both ends. Further advice on suggested flight times and booking will be provided during the booking process.

OVERNIGHT:

Amman 5-star boutique hotel

MEALS:

Breakfasts - 1, Lunches - 0, Dinners - 0

EXTRAS:

None

We leave Amman after breakfast and drive north to the ancient city of Jerash which is renowned as being one of the best-preserved and largest Greco-Roman cities away from Europe. Our tour will include the Forum, colonnaded streets, the Nymphaeum and the Temple of Artemis which was built on one of the highest points in the city.

After leaving Jerash, we'll stop for lunch at the Summaga café which offers an authentic taste of the Ajloun region with a menu based on local ingredients produced by a cooperative of organic farms in the Ajloun area. The cooperative’s products are also on display for sale including organic olive oil, apple cider vinegar, honey, zaatar, sumac, and dibbes (molasses). Summaga has also created full time jobs for local Ajlouni women and is very proactive in up-cycling and other initiatives which we are keen to support.

After lunch, we'll head to the nearby Aljoun Castle which was built in the 12th century by the Ayyubids and later extended in the 13th century by the Mamluks. It was also the base for Saladin's Arab forces in the 12th century when he defeated the Crusaders. The Ajloun Forest Reserve around the castle is picturesque and green and is popular with walkers, both locals and visitors. A night can be added here to enjoy the warm welcome of a local family at a village homestay in the village of Rasoun on the edge of the reserve. This then allows for an interesting walk through hills covered with scrub and forest to some ancient Bronze Age Dolmens, megalithic tombs formed by placing a huge stone slab atop two or more standing stones. This tour itinerary however returns back to Amman this afternoon.

OVERNIGHT:

Amman 5-star boutique hotel

MEALS:

Breakfasts - 1, Lunches - 1, Dinners - 0

EXTRAS:

None

We start the day with a visit to the hilltop town of As-Salt, which once served as a trading link between the Jordan Valley and the Eastern Desert. As-Salt is known for its impressive old Islamic architecture which was built using yellow limestone.

Today, the town serves as an example of the religious and cultural friendship between the local Muslim & Christian population. To learn more about As-Salt, we'll head out on a walking tour of its 'Harmony Trail', which will give you greater insight into the lives of the locals.

We'll have lunch with a local family today, giving you a great taste of traditional Jordanian cuisine.

After lunch, we make our way to the Baptism site at Bethany, which is an excavated site believed to the place where John baptised Jesus Christ. Many churches, caves and pools dating back to Roman & Byzantine periods have been found here. We'll also visit three of its most important sites: Tell Mar Elias, the Baptism Pools and John the Baptist's Church.

Finally we return to our hotel in Amman where we'll spend the night.

OVERNIGHT:

Amman 5-star boutique hotel

MEALS:

Breakfasts - 1, Lunches - 1, Dinners - 0

EXTRAS:

None

Today's first stop is the town of Madaba which is home to some incredibly well preserved and important Roman mosaics. We then continue south along the Desert Highway until we the stunning desert scenery of Wadi Rum. Here we spend the night at a comfortable Bedouin camp located right inside the desert reserve against some of the towering cliffs. Dinner will be a real treat, normally with a traditional Bedouin barbeque, cooked under the sand. Accommodation is in private en-suite tents with all facilities provided. If you prefer, we could spend this evening at a resort by the Red Sea in Aqaba, giving you a chance for some snorkelling and swimming, and time relaxing by the pool. Extra days in Aqaba could also be slotted in here - please contact us for details.

OVERNIGHT:

Wadi Rum Bedouin Camp

MEALS:

Breakfasts - 1, Lunches - 0, Dinners - 1

EXTRAS:

None

We wake up amidst the incredible desert scenery of Wadi Rum today where we take a jeep safari around the cliffs and rock formations before a short camel ride brings us to our lunch stop with the local Bedouins. In the afternoon we visit 'Little Petra' which forms a great introduction to the main site we'll explore tomorrow.

OVERNIGHT:

Petra 4/5-star hotel

MEALS:

Breakfasts - 1, Lunches - 1, Dinners - 0

EXTRAS:

None

We have a full guided tour of around 3 hours in Petra today, and then also have plenty of free time to explore more of the site, perhaps to walk up to the High Place of Sacrifice and the huge Monastery, carved into the cliffs and overlooking the Jordan valley. In the evening, there is an option to revisit the site for the beautiful Petra by Candlelight tour (Mondays, Wednesdays & Thursdays).

OVERNIGHT:

Petra 4/5-star hotel

MEALS:

Breakfasts - 1, Lunches - 0, Dinners - 0

EXTRAS:

Petra by night

Petra camel ride

We leave Petra early today and drive north up the scenic King's Highway, stopping to explore the impressive crusader castle at Kerak en-route. We also stop to admire the huge and colourful valley of Wadi Mujib, and to hopefully enjoy great views towards Jericho and Israel from Mt. Nebo. We finish the day by arriving at our Dead Sea resort in time for a swim and possible mud bath in the Dead Sea.

OVERNIGHT:

Dead Sea 5-star resort

MEALS:

Breakfasts - 1, Lunches - 0, Dinners - 0

EXTRAS:

None

Your time is free to relax at your hotel today, and perhaps enjoy some of the spa facilities, before we transfer you to the airport for your departure. Alternatively you can extend your stay at the Dead Sea, or add a visit into Israel to the end of your trip.

OVERNIGHT:

N/A

MEALS:

Breakfasts - 1, Lunches - 0, Dinners - 0

EXTRAS:

Pella and Umm Qais

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Included:
  • Accommodation as stated in the itinerary 4/5-star hotels
  • One night in comfortable Bedouin camp in Wadi Rum
  • All transport and transfers in private AC vehicles
  • 24-hour airport arrival & departure transfer service
  • Sightseeing tours as detailed in the itinerary
  • Services of a local Egyptologist guide for all the sightseeing tours in Egypt
  • Services of an English speaking escort driver throughout Jordan
  • Professional guide for the tours in Jerash and Petra (may be extended to the whole time in Jordan)
  • Meals as indicated in the itinerary
Excluded:
  • International flights (available on request)
  • Connecting flight from Amman to Cairo on Day 4
  • Visa fees (see tour notes)
  • Travel Insurance (mandatory, available on request)
  • Meals not indicated in the itinerary
  • Entrance fees in Egypt (budget approx. US$40)
  • Entrance fees in Jordan (included in the Jordan Pass for JD70 / US$99)
  • Drinks, snacks and other personal expenses (e.g. laundry)
  • Tips
  • Hotel Gala Dinners (if charged by the hotels on 24 & 31 Dec, see Tour notes)
  • Any other items not mentioned above

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Dates and Prices

This tour is designed as a sample tailor-made tour itinerary. As such we do not offer set group departure dates that you can join. Rather, the tour is available for you to do privately starting on any date of the year. Guideline seasonal prices are given below, based on 2 people travelling. If you would like to adjust the tour itinerary, or there will be more or less people travelling, please contact us and we will customise a price for you.

Start Date
End Date
Price (P/P)
Offer Price
Note

Accommodation

The hotels and accommodations listed below are the ones we most often use on this tour. From time to time we may exchange these for similar properties at the same level. In general, specific hotels cannot be guaranteed on our group tours, but you may select your preferred options if you are booking a tailor-made trip.

Options

Our tours are designed to include all that you need to enjoy a really special time in the destination you're visiting. However, we do also offer some extra options to complement the tour and add some additional sightseeing or activities, or some extra time at either end of the tour.

TOUR NOTES

The detailed Tour Notes below have been written to give you some more detailed information about how the tour runs, what to expect, and how to prepare for your holiday. We recommend downloading an up to date copy of these shortly before you travel in case of any changes.

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Our trips feature a mix of different transport options. We want you to feel like you're really experiencing the country you're travelling through, but at the same time we want you to finish journeys refreshed enough to enjoy the next stage of the tour. In Egypt and Jordan we do not use any public tourist buses or overnight coach journeys as we know that people don't sleep on board and end up very tired for the following few days. All the vehicles we use are air-conditioned and in Egypt many are fitted with speed limiters. All are inspected and checked daily. The jeeps used in Wadi Rum are provided by the local Bedouins we work with, and while suitable for your desert safari, they may fall below the normal safety and quality standards for vehicles we use during the rest of our tours.

The flight from Cairo to Amman on Day 4 of the tour is not included in the tour price. This may be arranged either as an individual one-way ticket, or included as part of your main international flight ticket. Further advice on airlines, quotes and booking will be provided during booking.

Passports should be valid for at least six months after your departure from the country. Please do not bring an almost full or almost expired passport. Visa arrangements are the responsibility of the traveller, and requirements are subject to change by the local authorities.

To promote tourism to the country, the Jordanian government has designed the Jordan Pass. This provides most nationalities with a free single entry Jordan visa (for stays of 3 nights or more), a discounted package of entrance fees, and free digital brochures for the various sites in Jordan. Please check the Jordan Pass tour note for more information.

Double or multi entry visas for Jordan are no longer available and you will need to arrange two visas if you are doing a combination tour (eg. with Egypt and/or Israel) that visits Jordan more than once. Exceptions may occur if you are crossing to and from Israel via the King Hussein Bridge - please contact us for details.

If you wish to arrange your visa separately in advance, or if your stay will be shorter than four days/3 nights, then a visa fee of 40JD (approx. USD 57) will be due.

Other nationalities may require a visa prior to arrival and to obtain this in advance, please contact your local Jordanian embassy or consulate or a visa agency for details. In addition, if you plan to enter Jordan via the southern Wadi Araba crossing (Eilat-Aqaba) or the Allenby Bridge/King Hussein border with Israel in the north, you will need to obtain your Jordan visa in advance as these are not available on arrival at the border.

The local currency in Jordan is the Jordanian Dinar (JD). You do not need to arrange to bring any Jordanian Dinar with you to Jordan as exchange facilities are available in the international airports and in most hotels, banks and bureau de changes in major towns. You should try to obtain and keep hold of small denomination notes or coins on you during the tour as these are useful for toilets, tips and small purchases. ATMs are readily available in major towns and many local shops will accept VISA/Mastercard or Amex, but may charge fees of up to 10% - check before you pay. Travellers cheques are not recommended as they can not be changed in many places now, and can incur high fees.

While in Jordan you will need sufficient funds to cover meals not included in the itinerary, drinks, snacks, souvenirs and personal expenses such as laundry. These should generally all be paid for in Jordanian Dinar, though tips for guides and drivers may be paid in hard currency (GBP, USD, EUR).

It is difficult to recommend a level of personal spending money which will suit everyone as this can differ greatly, but as a guideline, we would suggest allowing USD 15-25 per person per day as a minimum. Allow more if you plan on doing lots of shopping, or buying many alcoholic drinks.

This tour is designed as a sample tailor-made tour itinerary. As such we do not offer set group departure dates that you can join. Rather, the tour is available for you to do privately starting on any date of the year. Guideline seasonal prices are given below, based on 2 people travelling. If you would like to adjust the tour itinerary, or there will be more or less people travelling, please contact us and we will customise a price for you.

If you would like to book a place on this tour, please complete the online reservation form on our website (via the Dates & Prices tab on the tour page). You can pay your deposit or full balance online, or just hold a reservation if you prefer. We will then contact you with more details about how to complete your booking. Payments may be made by debit or credit card (subject to a card processing fee), or by making a bank transfer or posting us a cheque/bank draft. Full details will be provided in your booking confirmation email. Please contact us if you would like any more information or have any questions before making a booking.

Travel insurance is compulsory on all of our tours and needs to cover personal accident & liability, medical expenses and repatriation, travel delay & abandonment. We also strongly recommend that you take out cover against cancellation and lost/stolen baggage. Personal medical insurance does not normally provide sufficient cover and is generally not suitable for travel on our tours. You will not be able to join your tour if you have not provided us with details of your insurance or if you arrive without cover in place (no refunds will be due in this event). More information...

You may arrange your own insurance, or you can take advantage of a comprehensive policy that we can arrange for you through Endsleigh Insurance which has been designed to be suitable for our tours. The policy is available to travellers of all nationalities and you do not need to live in the UK  to take out the policy. For full details of cover provided, prices and to apply for one of our policies, please complete travel insurance application form.

Note: Any country that borders the Mediterranean is considered as 'Europe' for the purposes of travel insurance (including Turkey, Israel, Egypt and Morocco). If you are doing a tour that visits one country in 'Europe' and one that is 'Worldwide' (for example, an Egypt and Jordan tour), then you need a 'Worldwide' policy. When completing the form you should enter your travel dates including any extra days involved in overnight flights or connecting travel between your home and the tour. Our policies are not able to cover any extra time or activities other than your tour and options booked with us and your travel to & from home.

If you plan to arrange a hot air balloon flight locally, or do some scuba diving during your tour, you should check the small print in your policy to make sure these are covered (these are covered in our policy). Please also check the maximum altitude that you will be reaching and that full cover including emergency evacuation is provided up to this altitude.

IMPORTANT:  We must have your travel insurance details (policy number and type of insurance) before you depart or you may not be allowed to join the tour.  If you haven't told us already, please let us know the details when you can. You should take a paper copy of your insurance policy with you as you may be asked to show this at the start of the tour.

We are a UK registered company and an ABTA Member (Y4447) and you can be confident when booking with us that your money is safe and protected. Financial failure insurance is provided through Affirma to protect all customers for the land portion of their tour.
Please see our website or booking conditions for more information.

It is impossible not to have an impact on the local environment, cultures and eco-systems when you travel. However, it is very possible to try and ensure that these impacts are as limited, or positive as possible. We are committed to ensuring that we try to leave our host countries in a better state than we found them and encourage and assist our travellers to help us with this.
The following are a few simple tips that require very little effort on your part but which will help ensure that any effect you have on the locations you visit is positive rather than negative.

  • Don’t prejudge: Things in different countries will almost certainly be different. That doesn’t make them worse or inferior, just different.
  • Communicate: Don’t expect locals to speak your language. Take the trouble to learn a few words or phrases of the local language. Don’t worry about sounding silly. Most locals are patient and accommodating and appreciate you making the effort to communicate in their language.
  • Conserve energy: Be careful not to waste valuable resources. Use local resources sparingly. Switch off lights, air-conditioning and fans when you leave the hotel room and don’t waste water. Remove superfluous packaging. Many countries have far less efficient waste disposal systems than ours. Remove packaging from newly acquired items before leaving home.
  • Don’t litter: No matter how untidy or dirty the country you’re travelling in may look to you, avoid littering, as there is no need to add to the environment's stress. Many of the countries we visit have a tough challenge dealing with rubbish and waste. Please consider taking home as much plastic waste as you can (e.g. water bottles).
  • Choose environmentally friendly products: By using environmentally friendly (bio degradable) sun creams, shampoos and detergents you can help reduce pollution.
  • Respect local customs and traditions: As you are a guest in these countries, you should also comply with the local customs. If you are friendly and well mannered, the locals will reciprocate and it will only enhance your experience. It’s important to follow dress and behaviour guidelines especially when visiting religious or sacred sites (your tour leader will advise you how best to do this).
  • If a client commits an illegal act the client may be excluded from the tour and Egypt Uncovered shall cease to have responsibility to/for them. No refund will be given for any unused services.

All porters are employed and equipped following guidelines set by the International Porter Protection Group (IPPG).

You can stay in touch with us online by following us on Facebook and Twitter. We post updates on relevant travel news in our destination countries, special offers and discounts and other interesting travel related news and information.
www.facebook.com/EgyptUncovered
www.twitter.com/encounterstravl (yes, without the 'e')

It is important when considering and preparing to travel anywhere in the world that you have a good understanding of the country you are visiting, its laws and customs, and the possible risks and situations that may occur. This includes specific risks related to your itinerary (eg. does it involve water & can you swim, are you fit enough for the activities included), as well as more general risks such as terrorism and natural disasters.

General details and links to more information about health risks, visa requirements, money, and travel insurance are given in these tour notes. We recommend that you re-read all these before your departure as well as the small print of your travel insurance policy so you know exactly what is covered and what is not.

You should take copies of your important travel documents with you and ideally also store them online securely as a backup. Make sure that you have given us your emergency contact details and told that person where and when you are travelling. Ensure you take enough money with you and that you have access to emergency funds.

Finally, you should read through and stay updated with the current official government travel advice for your destination. We are registered partners with the UK Foreign Office's 'Travel Aware' campaign which provides further useful and invaluable information.

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