Petra And Pyramids

Join tour today in Amman, the capital of Jordan. It is a fascinating city of contrasts – a unique blend of old and new. The Temple of Hercules is in the commercial heart of the city along with ultra-modern buildings, hotels, smart restaurants, art galleries and boutiques that rub shoulders comfortably with traditional coffee shops and tiny artisans' workshops. Everywhere there is evidence of the city’s much older past. Due to the city’s modern-day prosperity and temperate climate, almost half of Jordan’s population is concentrated in the Amman area. The residential suburbs consist of mainly tree-lined streets and avenues flanked by elegant, almost uniformly white houses in accordance with a municipal law, which states that all buildings must be faced with local stone. The downtown area is much older and more traditional with smaller businesses producing and selling everything from fabulous jewellery to everyday household items. The people of Amman are multi-cultural, multi-denominational, well-educated and extremely hospitable. They welcome visitors and take pride in showing them around their fascinating and vibrant city.

Overnight Standard Hotel

A short drive brings us to the extensive ruins of Jerash, considered to be best preserved of the Decapolis Confederation of Roman cities. The triumphal arch gives way to colonnaded streets, fountains, a unique oval courtyard and impressive theatre. Later we head south to the Dead Sea. At 300m below sea level, this is the lowest point on earth. The amazingly high salt content (33%) of the shimmering waters makes it almost impossible to sink! After a dip in the warm waters (and possibly a mud bath!)   From here we travel on to Madaba for our overnight stop.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

  Travelling south along the desert highway we visit the crusader castle of Kerak before driving further south to the lost city of Petra. Abandoned centuries ago, Petra is unique and unforgettable: a strange, otherworldly place, enhanced by the play of light and shadow, an altogether overwhelming place. We have the chance to walk through one of the most impressive and exciting sites of ancient history anywhere in the world. Winding down the dramatic Siq, we emerge at the famous ‘Khazneh’ (Treasury). Inside this remarkable city, our half day guided tour also takes us to the Theatre, Court of Justice, Urn Tomb, Triumphal Arch and the museum.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

Our second day in Petra is left free to explore at your own pace and lose yourself in the atmosphere of the past. Steep paths lead to magnificent vantage points above the city, such as the Sacrificial High Place, and wind past overgrown tombs. Other worthwhile visits include Petra’s famous Monastery or a hike to the Royal Tombs.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

Today we experience the beautiful area of Wadi Rum and some of the most spectacular desert scenery of the Middle East. This landscape of sandstone mountains and pink and white sands has been the home of the nomadic Bedouin people for generations and we hope to be able to see some of their camps during our visit. We have the option of taking a camel trek to take us deeper into the Wadi, seeing dramatic rock sculptures on our way. The area is steeped in the legends of Lawrence of Arabia and and some of the scenes of the famous film were shot here. Before our night under the starry sky, we may be lucky enough to witness a spectacular desert sunset. We sleep in a single, large,traditional goat hair tent (the best protection against typical desert extremes of hot and cold) which is laid out with rugs, mattresses, pillows and sleeping bags. The evening is normally spent around a campfire, with spectacular desert stars overhead: Washing facilities and WC are available at the camp.

Overnight Basic Camping Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Leaving Wadi Rum we walk a short distance before joining our bus and then we drive to Aqaba on the Red Sea. Here you have a chance to swim in the warm waters and go snorkelling or take a trip in a glass-bottom boat over the coral reef (optional).

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

This morning we make the trip across the Red Sea by ‘sea cat’ ferry to Egypt and the small town of Nuweiba on the Sinai Peninsula. On arrival we transfer to the laidback resort of Dahab.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

The next few days you can choose to either relax or have a more active time from optional diving or a camel trek. Today there is also an organised snorkelling trip to the Southern Oasis within the Nabq National Park. Qualified open-water divers may choose to take advantage of the numerous dive operators – please bring certification and log book. Your tour leader will be on hand to help make arrangements.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

Today is left totally free for you to choose how to spend your last day in Dahab.  Choices range from more snorkelling, more relaxing, more shopping or even a trip on a Camel in the Sinai, whatever takes your fancy.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

This morning we drive to Ras Mohammed National Park. We will tour the park and explore the saline lake, mangrove forest, earthquake rift and the observation point and Visitors Centre. We will also have the chance to go snorkelling to discover the delights of the national park from the sea.

Overnight Basic Camping Included meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Today we wake up at our camp on the coast of the red sea. We leave the Sinai Peninsula behind and fly to Cairo. Depending on the time of our flight we will be able to relax and enjoy our hotel facilities or take optional excursions around the capital.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

Africa’s largest capital, Cairo is situated mainly on the east bank of the Nile. Today we have all day to explore some of Cairo’s hidden treasures. You may chose to visit the illustrious Citadel, one of Saladin’s many strongholds during the Crusades period. There will also be the opportunity to go inside one of the many thousands of mosques in Cairo or simply wander the narrow back streets of this fascinating city. In the evening the area comes alive with the exoctic narrow alleyways and smells of Khan el Khalili market, the heart of Old Cairo and Islam in Egypt.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

Driving to Giza we see the Pyramids and Sphinx, among the most impressive man-made spectacles in the world. The Great Pyramid of Cheops is the largest of the group (originally 145m high with a square base 232m). Second is the Pyramid of Chephren (136m high, width 210m). The complex includes the Sphinx, a crouching lion with a human head carved from solid rock, and the splendid Granite Temple. We also visit the Egyptian Museum which contains the treasure of Tutankhamun.

Overnight Standard Hotel Included meals: Breakfast

Tour ends in Cairo after breakfast.

Included meals: Breakfast