Treasures of Egypt and the Nile with Hidden Jordan

Today marks the beginning of your Egypt adventure as you arrive in Cairo. We will meet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel. This evening, enjoy a Welcome Dinner and meet your Tour Director and fellow travellers. 

This morning, explore the Giza Plateau with your Egyptologist guide and uncover the mysteries of the Great Pyramids. Nearby, the Sphinx stands guard, carved from a single limestone ridge. Learn about the construction and importance of these sites to the Egyptians. Continue to the Grand Egyptian Museum, where ancient artefacts and modern design come together in a striking tribute to Egypt’s dynastic past. Later, return to your hotel and enjoy an evening at leisure.

This morning, visit part of Cairo’s historic old town by choosing to Enhance Your Journey with a guided tour of the Old Kingdom, exploring Memphis and Saqqara, or delve into Coptic Cairo on an afternoon tour which include a visit to Saints Sergius and Bacchus Church — believed to be built upon a shelter once used by the Holy Family. Later, experience the sights and sounds of the bustling Khan el Khalili bazaar.

Enhance Your Journey – Saqqara and Memphis

Step back into Egypt’s Old Kingdom and explore the ancient wonders of Memphis and Saqqara, home to the civilisation’s earliest pyramids and enduring legacy.

Enhance Your Journey – Coptic Cairo

Wander through the historic heart of Old Cairo and uncover Egypt’s rich Christian heritage in the ancient Coptic district.

Enhance Your Journey – Luxor Museum Visit

This morning, take an included flight from Cairo to Luxor, where your discovery of Upper Egypt begins. On arrival, visit the vast Karnak Temple complex and walk among towering columns and sacred halls that once echoed with ancient rituals. Then, transfer to the Nile River to board your ship, the Travelmarvel Sirius, and settle in with lunch on board. This afternoon you may wish to discover a thoughtfully curated collection of ancient artefacts at the Luxor Museum, celebrated for its elegant displays and rich historical insight. This evening, enjoy a Captain’s Welcome Dinner as your ship sets sail for Dendera.

Since the early steamers visited Egypt in the nineteenth century, Luxor has remained a tourist hotspot. Situated on the east side of the Nile in the centre of The Nile Valley, Luxor is an ideal location for tours and trips to surrounding places of interest.

Early this morning, visit the Dendera Temple complex, one of Egypt’s best-preserved ancient sites. With your Egyptologist guide, explore the Temple of Hathor, renowned for its detailed astronomical ceiling and beautifully preserved reliefs. Wander through sacred spaces including the birth house and the Sacred Lake, once used for ritual purification. After your visit, return to your river ship for lunch and enjoy a scenic sail back to Luxor. This afternoon, continue exploring the East Bank, the beautiful Luxor Temple, linked to Karnak by the Avenue of the Sphinx and once the centre of Egypt’s most important religious festival before setting sail for Esna this evening.

Insider Experience – Dendera Temple Visit

Enjoy a special visit to Dendera, where the beautifully preserved Temple of Hathor reveals intricate carvings, celestial ceilings and sacred spaces that offer a rare glimpse into ancient Egyptian spirituality.

Edfu is an Egyptian town of The Nile Valley situated halfway between Luxor and Aswan, on the west bank of the Nile. The town is popular with tourists for being home to one of the best-preserved temples in Egypt, dedicated to the sky god of the Nile, Horus.

After breakfast on board, step ashore to visit Esna Temple, dedicated to Khnum, the ram-headed god of creation. Admire its towering columns, lotus carvings and astronomical ceiling depicting the twelve signs of the Zodiac.

This afternoon, continue to Edfu to explore the Temple of Horus — one of Egypt’s best-preserved ancient monuments. This grand sandstone structure is dedicated to the falcon god Horus and offers a remarkable glimpse into the architectural and religious legacy of the Ptolemaic era. Travel by coach with your Egyptologist guide and uncover stories of ancient festivals once held on this sacred site.

Later, return to your ship and enjoy dinner on board as you sail towards Aswan for an overnight stay.

Insider Experience – Edfu Temple Visit

Admire the impressive Temple of Horus at Edfu, explore its towering pylons, detailed reliefs and sacred halls in honour of the falcon god.

Abu Simbel is a site situated on the west bank of Lake Nasser in The Nile Valley. It lies south of Aswan and is frequented by day visitors who come to visit The Sun Temple of Ramses ll.

Today is sure to be a highlight as you take an included flight to the awe-inspiring temples of Abu Simbel. With your Egyptologist guide, explore this monumental complex, carved into solid rock under the reign of Ramses II. Admire the towering statues of the pharaoh and intricate carvings that celebrate ancient victories and divine worship. Learn how this UNESCO World Heritage Site was relocated to higher ground in a remarkable international effort to save it from being flooded by Lake Nasser.

Return to the ship for lunch on board, followed by some free time, before immersing yourself in a special Insider Experience thoughtfully curated for you. As the evening falls, consider a visit to the vibrant Night Market to be immersed in the local culture of Aswan through a different perspective as its streets come alive after dark.

Insider Experience – Felucca Sailing on the Nile

Step aboard a traditional felucca and glide along the Nile, admiring the tranquil beauty of Aswan from the water.

Enhance Your Journey – Aswan Night Market Tour

Wander through Aswan’s lively night market, brimming with colourful stalls selling aromatic spices, fragrant oils, local textiles and handicrafts.

Aswan is Egypt’s southernmost city and remains hot and dry all year round. It is considered the most picturesque setting on the Nile and serves as a base for tourist excursions to many local sites of interest.

In a city as serene and storied as Aswan, there’s always something to uncover. After breakfast, embark on a guided tour of the impressive High Dam, the Unfinished Obelisk and the beautifully preserved Philae Temple. After a morning of exploration, enjoy some free time this afternoon. Late in the day, perhaps indulge in our memorable Enhance Your Journey experience at the iconic Old Cataract Hotel. Later, rejoin your vessel to set sail north to Kom Ombo.

Enhance Your Journey – Afternoon High Tea at the Old Cataract Hotel

Step into colonial elegance and indulge in a traditional high tea at the legendary Old Cataract Hotel, overlooking the Nile.

Since the early steamers visited Egypt in the nineteenth century, Luxor has remained a tourist hotspot. Situated on the east side of the Nile in the centre of The Nile Valley, Luxor is an ideal location for tours and trips to surrounding places of interest.

This morning, step ashore to explore Kom Ombo Temple, a rare double temple dedicated to Sobek, the crocodile god, and Harwer, the falcon god of kingship. Admire its symmetrical layout and detailed reliefs, including Roman-era carvings that reveal the medical knowledge of ancient Egypt. After your visit, enjoy a relaxing sail back to Luxor.

Since the early steamers visited Egypt in the nineteenth century, Luxor has remained a tourist hotspot. Situated on the east side of the Nile in the centre of The Nile Valley, Luxor is an ideal location for tours and trips to surrounding places of interest.

This morning, visit the monumental Colossi of Memnon before exploring the West Bank of the Nile in Luxor — often referred to as the world’s largest open-air museum, home to the tombs and temples of ancient Thebes. Discover the Valley of the Kings and Queens, once the sacred burial ground of pharaohs, queens and priests, and step into the awe-inspiring Mortuary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut. With its dramatic cliffside setting and grand colonnades, it stands as a tribute to one of Egypt’s most powerful rulers. This afternoon, you may choose to join an optional experience to further explore the region’s rich archaeological heritage. This evening, choose to Enhance Your Journey with a visit to Karnak Temple for the captivating Sound and Light Show.

Enhance Your Journey – Karnak Sound and Light Show

Witness Karnak Temple in a whole new light during this atmospheric evening experience. As stories of gods and pharaohs echo through the complex, the temple’s towering columns and sacred spaces are illuminated in a dramatic retelling of Egypt’s ancient past.

Since the early steamers visited Egypt in the nineteenth century, Luxor has remained a tourist hotspot. Situated on the east side of the Nile in the centre of The Nile Valley, Luxor is an ideal location for tours and trips to surrounding places of interest.

This morning, disembark your river ship in Luxor and transfer to the airport for your flight back to Cairo, where your Egyptian journey concludes. Board a connecting flight to Jordan's capital city Amman. We'll meet you on arrival and transfer you to your hotel. This evening, meet your Tour Director and enjoy a Welcome Reception to mark the start of your adventure in Jordan.

Amman, the capital of Jordan, is a modern city with numerous ancient ruins. Atop Jabal al-Qala’a hill, the historic Citadel includes the pillars of the Roman Temple of Hercules and the 8th-century Umayyad Palace complex, known for its grand dome. Built into a different downtown hillside, the Roman Theater is a 6,000-capacity, 2nd-century stone amphitheater offering occasional events.

Discover the highlights of Amman on a guided tour, uncovering the city’s layered history at the Roman Theatre, Nymphaeum and hilltop Citadel. Continue to the striking King Abdullah Mosque, followed by a succession of Insider Experiences, before returning to your hotel this evening for time at leisure.

Insider Experience – Souk Visit & Kanafeh Tasting

Wander through a bustling traditional local souk, filled with the scent of spices and the shimmer of gold. There, you'll sample kanafeh, a beloved Jordanian dessert made with sweet cheese and syrup-soaked pastry.

Insider Experience – Jerash

After an immersive experience in the souk, travel to the ancient city of Jerash — often called the ‘Pompeii of the Middle East’ — and explore its remarkably preserved Roman ruins, featuring grand colonnades and temples of Jerash.

Amman, the capital of Jordan, is a modern city with numerous ancient ruins. Atop Jabal al-Qala’a hill, the historic Citadel includes the pillars of the Roman Temple of Hercules and the 8th-century Umayyad Palace complex, known for its grand dome. Built into a different downtown hillside, the Roman Theater is a 6,000-capacity, 2nd-century stone amphitheater offering occasional events.

On the way to Petra, stop in Madaba — the ‘City of Mosaics’ — to see its famed 6th-century mosaic map of Jerusalem and the Holy Land, intricately crafted from more than two million coloured stones. Continue to Mount Nebo, where Moses is said to have glimpsed the Promised Land. From the summit, enjoy sweeping views across the Jordan Valley, the Dead Sea and the River Jordan.

Before reaching Petra, explore Little Petra — or Siq al-Barid — a captivating archaeological site often described as a smaller, yet equally intriguing, version of its namesake.

Later, arrive in Petra for a fun and interactive Insider Experience.

Insider Experience – Petra Kitchen Cooking Class & Dinner

Join local chefs for a hands-on cooking class and prepare traditional Jordanian dishes before sitting down to enjoy your meal in a warm, communal setting.

Following breakfast at your hotel, spend the day exploring Petra. Often called the Rose-Red City, the ancient city, a World Heritage-listed Site is famous for its architecture, cut directly into the red, pink and orange iron-rich sandstone. Wander through a narrow gorge called the Siq and emerge to witness Petra’s most breathtaking and elaborate ruin, Al Khazneh, also known as the Treasury.

This evening, perhaps experience Petra lit up as you wander through the illuminated complex of temples.

Enhance Your Journey – Petra by Night

Walk the candlelit path through the Siq to the Treasury and experience Petra’s magic under the stars.

Dramatic red-rock desert setting from "Lawrence of Arabia" with climbing & camping in Bedouin tents.

Journey south into the dramatic landscapes of Wadi Rum, a UNESCO World Heritage-listed desert valley known as the “Valley of the Moon”. Pass through traditional Bedouin communities before embarking on an exhilarating Insider Experience. As the sun sets, enjoy another memorable Insider Experience.

This evening, savour a traditional Bedouin dinner with music and warm hospitality. Afterwards, you have the option to Enhance Your Journey with a guided stargazing experience.

Insider Experience – Wadi Rum Jeep Tour

Climb aboard your jeep for an open-air exploration of Wadi Rum's desert terrain, admiring its magnificent sweeping valleys and towering sandstone formations etched with ancient carvings.

Insider Experience – Sparkling Wine & Snacks at Sunset in the Desert

Toast the day with a glass of sparkling wine and light snacks as the sun sets over Wadi Rum, casting golden hues across the sweeping desert landscape.

Enhance Your Journey – Guided Stargazing

Join a local expert for a guided stargazing session and witness the brilliance of the dazzling desert night sky of Wadi Rum, one of the world's clearest and most pristine environments for stargazing.

Enjoy a leisurely breakfast at your hotel. Then, travel north to Shobak and visit its hilltop Crusader castle, the earliest of its kind in the region. Built in the 12th century, Shobak Castle offers sweeping views and a glimpse into centuries of history. Continue to the Dead Sea and enjoy a leisurely afternoon floating in its mineral-rich waters at the lowest point on Earth.

This evening, you have free time. Savour dinner at the hotel's restaurant.

Amman, the capital of Jordan, is a modern city with numerous ancient ruins. Atop Jabal al-Qala’a hill, the historic Citadel includes the pillars of the Roman Temple of Hercules and the 8th-century Umayyad Palace complex, known for its grand dome. Built into a different downtown hillside, the Roman Theater is a 6,000-capacity, 2nd-century stone amphitheater offering occasional events.

After a morning at leisure, travel nine kilometres north of the Red Sea to Bethabara to visit the archaeological site of Bethany Beyond the Jordan, a UNESCO World Heritage-listed site, recognised as the place where John the Baptist was believed to have baptised Jesus. The site has become a popular place among Christian pilgrims who travel here to engage in baptism rituals on site. This evening, gather with your Tour Director and travel companions to enjoy a Farwell Dinner at a local restaurant, sharing stories and reliving the highlights of your Jordanian adventure.

Amman, the capital of Jordan, is a modern city with numerous ancient ruins. Atop Jabal al-Qala’a hill, the historic Citadel includes the pillars of the Roman Temple of Hercules and the 8th-century Umayyad Palace complex, known for its grand dome. Built into a different downtown hillside, the Roman Theater is a 6,000-capacity, 2nd-century stone amphitheater offering occasional events.

Your discovery of Egypt and Jordan comes to an end today with a transfer back to Amman airport.