Egypt and Jordan a la Indiana Jones

The Ultra Deluxe Edition - An 18- day In- Depth touring of Egypt and Jordan
Including Alexandria , Abu Simbel Temples and of course Petra,
Dahshour and Deir El Medinah
We have even included all the tips . No hidden charges . No additional tax

Abu Simbel Temples in Nubia The Ancient Land of Gold

Indiana Jones himself couldn't squeeze more adventure into this journey:Alexandria Cairo , Memphis, Sakkara and the Pyramids, a cruise on the Nile, the fabled temples and tombs of Luxor and Thebes, diving in the Red Sea, the mountains of Sinai, and a trek to the mysterious ruins of Petra in Jordan.
Add Dendera Abydos Temples . Extend to Jerusalem

DAY 1- CAIRO : Arrival : Daily , subject to availability
( click here if your prefer to start in Amman Jordan)
Our Egypt-based local rep. greets you in bustling Cairo airport and escorts you to your hotel . Egyptian visa may be secured by our guests upon arrival at Cairo Airport for a limited number of nationalities such as American,Canadian, Australian, NZ, EU and Japanese citizens, please pay the $ 15 in cash upon arrival . Passports must be valid for at least 6 month upon arrival). After exiting the terminal, our local representative will escort you (private vehicle) to the hotel

DAY 2 - CAIRO (BL)
Your exploration of the ancient world begins today! First stop is the Egyptian Museum, with its treasures of the ancient pharaohs: mummies, statuary, precious stones and metals. We'll also stop at the Citadel of Saladin and the Alabaster Mosque. Then it's on to the legendary Khan El Khalili Bazaar district. Lunch is included at Hadaik el-Azhar or Naguib Mahfouz charming local restaurant.

private air conditioned car/driver/guide Egyptologist .

DAY 3 - Alexandria (BL)
After breakfast , your guide will escort you from your hotel ( transfers are always on a private basis) , and off to the railway station, to board your train to Alexandria : first class .
In Alexandria your private air conditioned vehicle, and private chauffeur , will be waiting for your , and of course your private Egyptologist guide will be with you on the train from Cairo .
Your train goes through northern Egypt and the Nile Delta heading northwest for Alexandria:
Full day tour of : the National Museum, the Catacombs, the Roman Amphitheater, Qayet Bey Fortress built on the same site of the ancient wonder of the world : the famous Alexandria Light House.
Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before we have for brief stop at " El Selsela" the site of the Underwater reserve where Cleopatra Place was discovered, as well as Caesar Kiosk , then its off to the new site for the Alexandria Library , after which we head back to the train station and south to Cairo and your hotel . Reach Cairo early evening . Guests who prefer not to go to Alexandria, please click here.

DAY 4 - CAIRO- Dahshour, Giza (BL)
private air conditioned car/driver/guide Egyptologist .
A morning tour takes us to Giza and the mysteries of the Pyramids, Cheops Royal Barge Museum and the Sphinx. Lunch is included at the Mena House.
Then it is on to the time capsule treasure of Dahshour, the newly-opened pyramid field south of Cairo: DAHSOUR - we'll motor to the edge of Cairo, to Dahshour, the newly-opened pyramid field south of Cairo. We visit the great pyramid of Senfru, father of Cheops, and other structure:

The "Discovery" of Dahshour:
For almost half a century, the great field of huge pyramids near the desert village of Dahshour, 25 miles south of Cairo, has been off limits to the public. Confined within the perimeter of a military base were many pyramids, including the great 4500-year-old pyramid built by Senfru, father of Cheops. Senfru's pyramid, the largest in Egypt until his son built Giza's Great Pyramid, is rhomboidal in shape: it tapers more distinctly on its upper half. All the pyramids were coated in thick plaster at one time. Most have lost these protective, decorative sheaths, but Senfru's--miraculously--is still in place.

DAY 5 - ASWAN- ABU SIMBEL - Aswan (B. L. D)
After a very early breakfast , we fly to Abu Simbel via Aswan . ( subject to availability and your date the cruise embarkation maybe from Luxor, in which case the program will be issued simply with a reverse order of tours without missing any of the sites listed here)
In Abu Simbel :Private Guide/Egyptologist in Abu Simbel.
Your private air-conditioned and private chauffeur will be waiting for you in Abu Simbel.
In the larger temple, colossal figures of Ramses are seated with the gods and attended by his queen and daughters. The smaller temple is dedicated to Queen Nefertari, who appears as Hathor, the goddess of love, joy and fertility, symbolized by the benevolent cow. We explore these fine temple , after which retire to a comfortable hotel for lunch refreshments. Fly back to Aswan, and the Movenpick Aswan , later on in 2010, we may be able to stay at the legendary Old Cataract Hotel in Aswan, Nile view room, always subject to availability , the hotel will be closed in 2009 for renovations. Dinner is included at the hotel in Aswan.

DAY 6 - ASWAN - Nile Cruise (BLD)
Breakfast is included at the hotel . Morning tour of the Nubian Museum ,then on to the water front and the Nile cruise pier in time for a late lunch on board your Nile Cruise , where we settle you into your cabin on your Nile steamer. Complimentary welcome fruit basket awaits you in your cabin. In the afternoon we enjoy a leisurely sail by graceful felucca on the Nile. In the evening your guide will call on you for a horse-drawn carriage ride throughout Aswan and the water front .

DAY 7 - KOM OMBO (BLD)
Private air conditioned car/driver/guide Egyptologist .
Tour the awesome Aswan dams, and next an ancient granite quarry complete with an unfinished obelisk. Then we go by motor launch to the Island temple of Philae , dedicated to the Ancient Goddess ISIS :

The Mystery of Isis : Two millennia ago the Mediterranean world was enthralled by the mystery of Isis:

"I, Isis, am all that has been, that is or shall be; no mortal man hath ever seen me unveiled."

Called Aset by the ancient Egyptians, the goddess was a Madonna in the Mediterranean tradition that stretches far, far back to the primitive Mother Goddess from Anatolia, home to some of the oldest human communities on earth. Re-embarking on our Nile cruiser, we sail downstream to Kom Ombo to visit its twin temples.

DAY 8 - EDFU and LUXOR (BLD)
Private air conditioned car/driver/guide Egyptologist .
We moor in Edfu to tour the Temple of Horus, best-preserved in all of Egypt. Then we'll continue beside the Nile , we cruise to Esna , go thru the locks. Evening finds us in Luxor and get ready for the Karnak Sound and light show, please bring a jacket .

DAY 9 - LUXOR (BLD)
Private air conditioned car/driver/guide Egyptologist .
We tour today as well the magnificent tombs in the Valley of the Kings , including Tutankaomn's tomb, and the great temple of Queen Hatshepsut, we stop at the Colossi of Memnon on the way back to our cruise.

The gigantic Great Temple of Amon at Karnak, and the mighty Temple of Luxor are our goals in the afternoon . In the evening your guide will call on you for a horse-drawn carriage ride throughout Luxor souks and water front.

DAY 10 - The Capital of the Pharaohs: Luxor and back to Cairo (B)
After breakfast we check -out , and continue on to Luxor's west bank to get a totally different perspective on ancient Egyptian life, at the ancient workers' settlement of Deir el-Medinah. While most of the imposing stone monuments and sites of Egypt honor the lives and after-lives of royalty, Deir el-Medinah gives us unique and surprising insights into the ordinary citizens who constructed and decorated the tombs.

Here we'll see the excavated homes shared by laborers with their domestic animals. These quarters were surprisingly large, with three good-sized rooms, courtyard, kitchen, and even storage cellars. While ancient Egypt might not have been a workers' paradise, we'll see that artisans and builders were highly regarded in their community. Off to Medinet Habu and the Ramesseum before we head back to Cairo, if we are able to connect same day to Sharm El-Sheikh then we will overnight at the Hyatt Sharm El Sheikh or Four Seasons , if not then we overnight in Cairo and the J. W. Marriott or Inter.Continental City Stars.

DAY 11- SHARM EL SHEIK - RED SEA (B)
Now that you've seen the best of Ancient Egypt , our local rep. , escort you to the airport. You'll fly over the Sinai Peninsula and land at Sharm El Sheik on the Red Sea . You're at the beach and free to swim, or explore under the waters.

DAY 12 - Saladin's Castle - Pharaoh's Island - SHARM EL SHEIK (B)
Morning tour of Saladin's Castle on Pharaoh's Island then head back to your hotel for a relaxing afternoon set aside as a strategic mid-journey break. Spend some time in the sun, but don't miss your chance to snorkel or dive under Red Sea waters for an array of coral and glittering tropical fish.

DAY 13 - MOUNT SINAI (BL)
Our knowledgeable guides arrange a pre-dawn departure into the still-cool wilderness of Sinai, through which Moses led the Children of Israel to the Promised Land. Our goal is the Monastery of St. Catherine, built of rock at the base of Mount Sinai, at the site of the Burning Bush.
We tour the monastery, rich in history, icons and sacred paintings, then return to Sharm El Sheik. Private air conditioned car/driver/guide Egyptologist .

DAY 14 - Sharm , PETRA (BL)
We'll fly to Amman , non-stop from Sharm el-Sheikh or via Cairo ( in business class ) , in Amman , our Jordan-based representative waits to greet you. You'll drive under a towering ridge of mountains, and arrive at your hotel in Petra for the night. Complimentary Jordanian visa fee (valid only for a limited number of nationalities such as American, Canadian , Australian , NZ , EU and Japanese citizens. Passports must be valid for at least 6 month upon arrival). Lunch is included enroute to Petra . In Petra a comfortable bed will be waiting for you. Movenpick Hotel , Marriott or Taybet Zaman

DAY 15 - PETRA (BD)
Private air conditioned car/driver/guide
We'll spend the entire day at Petra, the stunning desert city hewn by the Nabateans from solid cliffs of pink and violet sandstone. Petra was known in the bible as Sela, and rediscovered only in 1812. You'll feel like Indiana Jones in Raiders of the Lost Ark as you penetrate into the city through a narrow sandstone gorge, the Siq, and wander among the Temple of the Winged Lion, tombs, Roman theater, and the imposing Treasury.

Now open in Petra, The Petra Kitchen is a delightful way to round out your Jordan travel experiences. Like any home kitchen, The Petra Kitchen is a relaxed, informal atmosphere where you’ll gather to prepare an evening meal, working alongside local women under the supervision of our chef.

Each evening meal includes soup, cold and hot mezza and salads, and a main course—all typical Jordanian dishes. You will have get an inside glimpse of the secrets behind the famous regional cuisine of the Levant.

The Petra Kitchen offers an evening of learning, fun and a very special dining experience, with each dish gaining the special flavor of a reward well-earned. Great care has been taken to make The Petra Kitchen a truly Jordanian experience—right down to the furnishings, all crafted in Jordan, the tableware, all produced by the Iraq al Amir Women’s Co-operative, and the aprons and table linens, all hand-embroidered by the Jordan River Foundation.

The rate includes the cuisine course, meal and all non-alcoholic beverages as well as take-home recipes for all dishes prepared that evening.

DAY 16 - PETRA - WADI RUM (BL)
Private air conditioned car/driver/guide
After breakfast at the hotel, we board four-wheel-drive vehicles for an expedition to Wadi Rum, the "Valley of the Moon" where T. E. Lawrence ("Lawrence of Arabia") organized Arab resistance to Ottoman rule during World War I. After our visit, we enjoy lunch at a local restaurant then back to your hotel in Petra.

DAY 17 - PETRA - JERASH (BL)
Private air conditioned car/driver/guide
After breakfast at the hotel, we board your private air-conditioned vehicle heading north for Jerash, among the best-preserved Roman cities in the world, to tour its temples, theaters, churches and colonnaded streets. From Jerash, we will escort you back to Amman and your hotel. Choose from : The Four Season ( Standard room) , Sheraton Al-Nabil ( Tower Room) , the Hyatt , or similar

DAY 18 - DEPARTURE FOR HOME (B)
Private air conditioned car/driver. Our local rep. escorts you to the airport . Bon Voyage

Inclusions:

Not included:

• Personal expenses and beverages

• Additional meals and services

• Trip interruption and cancellation insurance

• International air fares from /to your home country.

• Egyptian visa may be secured by our guests upon arrival at Cairo Airport for a limited number of nationalities , such as American,Canadian, Australian, NZ, EU and Japanese citizens. Passports must be valid for at least 6 month upon arrival). After exiting the terminal, our local representative will escort you to the hotel

Egypt & Jordan A La Carte- More Choices :

• Compare with the 17 Day version with Abu Simbel and Alexandria .

• Add Jerusalem.

• Add Dendera Abydos Temples

• Egypt and Jordan in 12 days without Sinai and flying between Cairo and Amman

• Egypt & Jordan A La Carte- Choose from : 12 Day , 13 day Wadi Rum , or 14 day version

• Add Alexandria , Abu Simbel or : Memphis .

• Compare with the 16 Day version with Alexandria and Abu Simbel 
  

• Or the 16 Day version with Abu Simbel and Jerash

• Add a cruise on Lake Nasser
  

• Compare with the 22 days Wonders of Egypt & Arabia
  

• Add Morocco and Syria , in a Grand North African Crossing  .
  

• Compare with the 18-Day in-Depth Version

Saladin’s Castle and Pharaoh’s Island

Just off the Sinai along the northern reaches of the Gulf of Aqaba lies one of the more curious and scenic locales in this part of the world.

The rulers of the Nile might once have held sway over these rocks and sand and water of Pharaoh’s Island (or Coral Island, or Geziret Faroun). More certain is that Crusaders established an outpost here, on the site of a onetime Phoenician port, and erected a castle in 1115 A.D. to protect pilgrims on the way to St. Catherine’s Monastery in the Sinai wilderness. The island did double duty as a base from which to attack Arab traders, which led to its capture by Saladin (or Salah El-Din). The legendary Arab leader strengthened the fortifications, and his name remains attached to the castle. Later, it was a Mameluke and Ottoman outpost.

We’ll have a treasured half-day opportunity to board a boat to visit this rarely seen fortress island. We’ll motor northward from Sharm El Sheikh, following the rocky coast, passing Bedouin travelers on camels, and secluded beaches, with occasional sightings of desert foxes. At Dahab or Nuweiba, we’ll embark for our short crossing to the island.

Once ashore, we’ll wander through the precincts of the reconstructed castle, with its courtyard, storerooms, galleys, and dining rooms, and appreciate the natural harbor that made this such a coveted outpost. And we’ll take in the unusual offshore vista of the breathtaking azure waters of the Gulf, backdropped by the grandeur of the mountains of Sinai and a cloudless sky.

Then, at your option, you can don scuba or snorkeling gear for a close encounter with the world-famous underwater life of coastal Sinai: corals, reefs, and schools of fish in every gradation of the rainbow, before we return to our lodgings at Sharm El Sheikh.