Egypt and Jordan

Saturday 06 April

Afternoon departure on Qatar Airlines. Change planes in Doha

Sunday 07 April

Arrive Cairo mid-morning and transfer to your hotel located close to the pyramids. Check in and enjoy a late lunch. Afternoon at rest before the Welcome Dinner in the hotel.

Cairo - has been the heart of Egypt for more than 1000 years and it demonstrates the dichotomy of all things Egyptian. Cairo is where the medieval world and the contemporary western world come together.  Each of the Pagan, Christian and Muslim civilisations which Cairo has hosted, left their imprint on the city in the form of customs, celebrations, monuments and artefacts.  Monuments such as the Pyramids, Sphinx, lively bazaars, famous Islamic mosques and ancient Coptic churches’ open a window of a glorious past. Cairo will strike one as a land of vivid contrasts.  Its ancient civilisation, unique history and culture blend harmoniously with the modern refinements of the 21st century

Monday 08 April

A full day touring the Pyramids of Giza and the enigmatic figure of the Sphinx. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before we continue onto the famous Egyptian Museum which includes the Tutankhamun Collection. 

Tuesday 09 April

Today we visit old Cairo including the Sultan Hassan Mosque, the Abu Serga Church and the Hanging Church all within the Khan El Khalili area. After lunch, overlooking the old city, we take a moment to explore the Grand Bazzar before returning to our hotel for dinner. 

Wednesday 10 April

Early morning flight to Abu Simbel in the south of Egypt. In the afternoon tour the Temples of Abu Simbel. Tonight enjoy the Sound & Light show.

Abu Simbel - of all the temples of Egyptian antiquity, amongst the most spectacular and best preserved are the Temples of Abu Simbel.  The master builder was Ramses II, one of Egypt’s greatest Pharaohs.  The larger temple celebrates the Pharaoh himself while the smaller one honours his wife Queen Nefertari.  When the new Lake Nasser Dam was built in the 1960s, the temples were moved to save them from a watery grave. In an amazing feat of engineering, the temples were hewn into huge blocks of thirty tonnes each and relocated 180m further inland.

Thursday 11 April

Morning drive across the desert to Aswan and perhaps even see a mirage! Visit the Nubian Museum and learn about Nubian culture and former kingdom. Late afternoon enjoy a traditional Felucca sail on the Nile.

Friday 12 April

Today visit the Philae temple then board your river cruise boat in time for lunch. This afternoon there is time to visit the local souk and a Papyrus shop. Overnight Aswan.

Saturday 13 April

Cruise up river to the agricultural town of Kom Ombo to visit the temple completed during the reign of Ptolemy 146 – 181BC. Sail into Edfu to visit the remains of the Old Kingdom as well as houses and the temple of the Byzantine period. Sail onto Luxor.

Sunday 14 April

This morning visit the East bank and drive to the Karnak and Luxor temple.

Luxor - has often been called the world’s greatest open-air museum - as indeed it is and much more. The number and preservation of the monuments in the Luxor area are unparalleled anywhere else in the world that we know of. Actually, most people think of Luxor as three different areas, consisting of the City of Luxor on the east side of the Nile, the town of Karnak just north of Luxor and Thebes, which the ancient Egyptians called Waset, on the west side of the Nile across from Luxor.  Luxor has been a tourist destination since the beginning of tourism. Even in ancient times, during the late Dynasties of the Greek and Roman periods, the area drew tourists and has been doing so ever since. 

Monday 15 April

An early visit to the Western Bank and the Valley of the Kings, the Mortuary Temple and the Colossi of Memnon that faces the Nile. Disembark the ship and transfer to the airport for your evening flight to Cairo. On arrival transfer to your overnight hotel.

Tuesday 16 April

After breakfast we drive north to El Alamein, site of the famous WWII battle. Visit the allied cemetery and the museum. Continue onto Alexandria for a late lunch before a visit to the Kom El Shoqafa tombs. 

Alexandria – founded by Alexander the Great in 332BC, is one of the 34 cities named after the great conqueror. Alexandria soon found its true vocation - becoming the cultural centre of the Mediterranean region. It was called the ‘African Athens’ and became the capital of Egypt during the reign of the Ptolemaic dynasty, named after its founder Ptolemy I (305-282BC), who took power after the death of Alexander the Great. The city retained this role until the death of the last sovereign, Cleopatra VII, in 30BC, when Egypt became a Roman province. With a population of over five million, Alexandria is the second largest city in Egypt and the country’s leading port, as well as a leading tourist attraction.  It has also been the scene of many archaeological excavations in recent years, both on land and in the sea, which have yielded important discoveries.

Wednesday 17 April

A day to explore this northern-most city including the Roman Theatre, The Alexandria Library and the site of the Lighthouse and Pompeii’s Pillar

Thursday 18 April

After a leisurely breakfast return to Cairo International Airport. Mid-afternoon flight to Amman – on arrival you will be transferred to your hotel.

Friday 19 April

A morning tour of Amman before we continue on to Jerash, known as the city of the thousand columns and widely regarded as one of the most-beautifully preserved and forgotten Greco-Roman cities in the world. Enjoy lunch before returning to Amman.

Saturday 20 April

Drive via the King’s Highway, the ancient road that was once part of the Silk Road to Petra. En-route visit Madaba where you can view the oldest-known map of the Holy land in mosaics and Mt Nebo where Moses looked out over the ‘Promised Land.’ Continue to the valley of Wadi Al Mujib and the city of Kerak before arriving in Petra for a two night stay.

Sunday 21 April

Today explore Petra, one of the world’s architectural wonders, described as “The Rose - Red City half as old as time.” Entry is via a narrow siq reaching hundreds of feet high. Time to walk the valley and see Petra’s most-famous monument ‘The Treasury.’ Return to the hotel this afternoon before a cuisine evening in a Petra kitchen. Prepare an evening meal in a relaxed atmosphere, learning how to prepare local food.

Monday 22 April

Drive to the Dead Sea, the lowest land elevation on earth at 423m below sea level, with an opportunity to float in the hypersaline waters. Time at leisure before dinner. 

Tuesday 23 April

Transfer to the airport for a flight to Doha. 

Wednesday 24 April

Change planes for flight back to Auckland

Thursday 25 April

Early morning arrival in Auckland 

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