Simply Jordan & Egypt

Ahlan wa sahlan! Welcome to Jordan. Your trip begins in Amman with a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight, where you’ll meet your local leader and fellow travellers. If you arrive early, maybe take in the sweeping views of Amman from the citadel, explore the Jordan Museum (home to the Dead Sea Scrolls) or take a trip to the ruins of Jerash – an ancient walled town from 2000 years ago. After your meeting, maybe head out on the town in search of arayes (pita bread packed full of spiced meats).

This morning, travel by minibus to Mt Nebo – the place where the prophet Moses is said to be buried and where he saw the 'Promised Land'. Check out the mosaics inside its 4th-century church. On a clear day, the views over the Dead Sea to Israel and the Palestinian territories are spectacular. After, drive to the super salty Dead Sea – sitting well below sea level, this is the lowest point on earth, and you’ll float rather than swim due to the water’s high concentration of salt. The mud on the sea floor is said to have healing properties, so maybe lather up and enjoy Mother Nature’s spa. Continue to the Crusader castle of Kerak, sitting on top of a cliff overlooking the town and valley below. Explore the seven-level fortress and learn the legends of 12th-century battles between Crusaders and Muslim armies, then continue to Petra for the night.

Spend today exploring Petra – the jewel of Jordan, the lost city of the Nabateans and one of the Seven Wonders of the World! Squeeze through a narrow path called the Siq until you reach the grand entrance of the Treasury. Gaze up at the intricate carvings and spend the afternoon exploring the site at your own pace. You might like to visit the old Roman road, other temples and old tombs or the rock-hewn amphitheatre. If you’re feeling more adventurous, you could take a challenging hike up a set of stairs to the smaller but no less impressive monastery, which takes about an hour. After arriving back at your accommodation, why not find a traditional bathhouse to rejuvenate after a day of incredible sightseeing.

This morning, you’ll drive to Wadi Rum – a rugged, lunar-like landscape framed by huge sandstone mountains. Embark on a half-day jeep safari, taking you through desert scenery to uncover traces of ancient civilisations in the many carved inscriptions scattered throughout the area, from pictographs to Thamudic, Nabataean and Arabic texts. The most enduring monuments in Wadi Rum are those carved by nature – natural rock bridges, towering sand dunes and scattered rocky peaks. Spend the night sleeping in a simple desert camp under a camel hair tent. Tuck into a dinner cooked in an earthen oven by your Bedouin hosts and soak in the unforgettable surroundings as a sky full of stars stretches out above you.

This morning, leave Wadi Rum and make the journey to Dahab. You’ll drive to Aqaba, then bid your Jordan local leader farewell and board a ferry bound for Taba. When you arrive, you’ll be met by your Egypt local leader and drive to the laidback resort area of Dahab – your base for the next two nights. Dahab, meaning 'gold' in Arabic, has transformed from a Bedouin fishing village to a popular tourist town, thanks to the excellent conditions for activities like diving, windsurfing and rock climbing. However, the town hasn't lost the authenticity and lowkey appeal that’s attracted visitors since the 1970s. The rest of the day is free for you to wander through the cafes, find some fresh seafood or do some snorkelling in the Red Sea. Dahab is well known for its drop-offs – spectacular coral reef shelves that plunge into the vast blue depths of the ocean.

This morning, why not strap on a mask and head to the Blue Hole for some snorkelling at one of the best diving spots in the world. The area gets its name from a submarine sinkhole about 94 m deep, with an arch in the coral reef down at 54 m – a challenge that’s only open to highly experienced technical divers. Float on the surface and look down into an endless world of blue, then make your way around to the ‘Bridge’, where the visibility is always great and the untouched coral swarms with a variety of colourful fish and other marine life. Later today, return to Dahab, where you might like to seek out a waterside restaurant for an evening feast or maybe head inland to Assalah, where local joints serve up plates of roast chicken and falafel with regional beer.

Check out of your hotel in Dahab, then have lunch before driving to St Catherine in the late afternoon. Check into your hotel before heading out for dinner to get your first glimpse of the area. There’s the option to hike up Mt Sinai tonight – starting the hike after midnight, you’ll watch the sunrise before descending the mountain. Ask your leader for more details if you’re interested.

This morning, you’ll have the option to visit St Catherine's Monastery. Located at the foot of Mt Sinai and built over 1500 years ago, this is the oldest continuously inhabited Christian monastery. Legend has it that the monastery encloses what's claimed to be the burning bush seen by Moses. The monastery is named after Catherine of Alexandria, who is buried here – it has since become an important pilgrimage site. It’s now also a UNESCO World Heritage site, holding incredible significance in Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Later today, you’ll hit the road to Cairo, arriving in the late afternoon. Settle into your hotel before you head out for an optional farewell dinner to celebrate this incredible journey.

Today is yours to explore Cairo at your own pace. Cairo is a bustling city of traffic, street food stalls and minarets all side by side, with centuries of history. Maybe visit the Cairo Citadel, which dates back to 1176 and is home to multiple museums and mosques. Or head to the Islamic part of the city and the labyrinthine Khan el-Khalili – a huge, historic bazaar full of spice shops, coffee houses and lots of opportunities to practice your bargaining skills. You’ll have a second meeting at 6 pm tonight to get to know your new group. After your meeting, why not get a group together and head out for dinner– your trip leader will know all the best local restaurants.

Start with the biggies today, heading out to see the Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx after breakfast. These two ancient icons have stood on the desert edge for more than 4500 years, and one is, of course, the last standing Wonder of the Ancient World. Walk around the site with your guide and take in the scale of these massive stone structures up close. For an extra cost, you may also be able to go inside the Great Pyramid of Khufu. After, continue to the Grand Egyptian Museum, opened in November 2025 and home to an enormous collection of ancient artefacts. The treasures from Tutankhamun’s tomb are a standout, from jewellery and gilded sarcophagi to the famous golden death mask – this pharaoh was certainly well prepared for the afterlife! Later, meet your leader and travel to the nearby train station, where you’ll board an overnight sleeper train bound for Luxor.

Wake up this morning in Luxor, home to the spectacular temple complex of Karnak and the Valley of Kings. Set off with your local leader to the Temple of Dendera. This temple is dedicated to the goddess Hathor and is particularly known for the zodiac ceiling, colourful reliefs and intricate columns. Ancient stories, religious tradition and rituals come to life as you wander through the Hypostyle Hall, look into hidden crypts and discover rooftop chapels. After, visit a local NGO, Animal Care in Egypt (ACE), an Intrepid Foundation partner, to learn about the work they do to care for wounded working animals in the region. The rest of the day is free for you to explore further. Perhaps move on to the celebrated Karnak temple complex, a house of gods build over a period of some 200 years. Or, ask your leader for dinner recommendations, then join your group for a felucca sunset sail, imagining what life was like here centuries ago.