16-Nights Journeys: Discover Jordan & Egypt - National Geographic Journeys

G Adventures

Journeys: Discover Jordan & Egypt
Find yourself stepping back in time and following the footsteps of those who came thousands of years before you, on this remarkable journey through the enchanting ancient cities and sacred cultural sites of Jordan and Egypt. Experience jaw-dropping natural wonders like the rock-cut magnificence of Petra and incredible archaeological sites like Abu Simple, Philae Temple, Edu fu Temple, Kom Ombo Temple, and the Valley of the Kings. Enjoy traditional meals, one at a G Adventures–supported café, and one at the home of a Nubian Family, and gain insights into the Bedouin way of life in the heart of the Jordanian desert. From the banks of the Nile to the buoyant waters of the Dead Sea, Egypt and Jordan will capture your heart and immerse you in the timelessness of their ancient spaces.

Highlights
Visit the ancient ruins of Jerash and iconic Petra, Float effortlessly and enjoy a mud-facial in the Dead Sea. Thunder through the red-hued desertscapes of Wadi Rum on a 4x4. Discover the Pyramids of Giza - the oldest and last remaining of the original Seven Wonders of the World, Sample traditional Egyptian fare with a special dinner served in the home of a local Nubian family, Learn from an archaeologist about the ongoing excavations of some of Egypt’s most famed sites on the West Bank at Luxor

Accommodation
Hotels (15 nts), Desert camp (1 nt).

Group Leader
CEO (Chief Experience Officer) throughout, local guides and in Egypt a Certified Egyptologist as CEO throughout.

Group Size Notes
Max 16

Meals Included
16 breakfasts, 8 lunches, 4 dinners

What's Included
Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Women's Cooking Class & lunch, Jerash Governorate Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Petra Archaeologist Talk, Wadi Musá Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Wadi Rum Night Walk, Wadi Rum Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Nawaya Project Visit, Cairo Your Journeys Highlight Moment: Meet with an Archaeologist, Luxor Your G for Good Moment: Beit Khayrat Souf women-run cafe, Jerash Governorate Your G for Good Moment: Al Safi Community Lunch, Jordan Valley Your G for Good Moment: Funtasia Project Visit, Luxor Your Local Living Moment: Boat ride to Nubian Village with Traditional Meal, Aswan Your Foodie Moment: Cairo Food Tour, Cairo. Arrival transfer. Visit to the Amman Citadel and the National Archaeological Museum. Tour of Jerash and the Madaba mosaics. Visit Mount Nebo. Petra guided tour. Enjoy a traditional meal at Al Safi Kitchen, a G Adventures–supported café. Wadi Rum desert 4x4 excursion. Visit to Bethany. Guided visit to the Pyramids of Giza and Sphinx, Sakkara and the Step Pyramid of Zoser, and Philae Temple in Aswan. Visit to the Abu Simbel temple. Guided visit of the Valley of the Kings and Temple of Queen Hatshepsut. Guided visit to the tomb complex of El Kab and the temples of Edfu and Kom Ombo, and the temples of Karnak and Luxor. Visit the Grand Egyptian Museum. Visit the Hanging church , St Sergius church & Ben Ezra Synagogue. Explore the Khan El Khalili market and Muiz Islamic street. Departure transfer. Internal flights on tour and all transport between destinations and to/from included activities

Featured Destinations

Dead Sea, Jordan Dead Sea, Jordan Straddling the border between Israel and Jordan, the Dead Sea is the lowest spot on the Earth's surface. If you head there from Amman, don't nod off: The view as you descend from the hills toward the sea is quite striking. The mineral content of this 45-mi-/75-km-long and 6-mi-/10-km-wide saltwater lake tops out at 33%. The Dead Sea should be seen (and stepped into) at least once in every person's life—it's impossible to sink—but some mild words of caution are in order: Don't shave shortly before swimming (the high salt content will leave you with an excruciatingly painful experience), and take some eyedrops along (getting even a tiny drop of the thick water in your eye is painful). Also try to make sure there are shower facilities or a freshwater stream in which to rinse off nearby—otherwise, the sea's minerals will leave an uncomfortable crust on your skin. Near the northern end of the Dead Sea are several spa and beach resorts, including the lovely Movenpick Resort and the luxurious Kempinski Hotel Ishatar, which was inspired by the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. Visitors who are not guests of the resort can generally take advantage of the health and beauty treatments at the spas if they purchase a day membership. For centuries, people have traveled to the Dead Sea to enjoy its beauty as well as its healing properties. Many people go there for relief from chronic ailments such as dermatological problems, asthma, arthritis, circulatory issues and hypertension. The composition of the Dead Sea contains contains high levels of magnesium, calcium, sodium and potassium, making it rich in life-enhancing minerals. A bit inland from the sea, in a beautiful oasis, are thermal springs (including a waterfall) at Hammamat Ma'in. Also nearby is Bethany Beyond the Jordan, which archaeologists believe to be the site where John the Baptist lived and preached, and where he baptized Jesus. The ruins of a Byzantine church were built on what early Christians identified as the spot where Jesus left his robes. Elsewhere, you can visit the Baptist's Spring, which may have been John's cave where he sheltered, and several other churches and baptism pools. Nearby is Jebal Mar Elias, a small hill referred to in the Bible as Hermon, where the prophet Elijah ascended to heaven in a chariot of fire. About midway along the sea's shore is the Mujib Reserve. This protected area encompassing a gorge, mountains and valleys boasts an impressive biodiversity of both plants and wildlife. It also has two marked hiking trails and a campsite. At the southern end of the sea, not far south of Wadi Mujib, is the site identified as Lot's Cave, where the biblical figure was said to have taken refuge after escaping from the destruction of Sodom and Gomorrah. A Byzantine church built over the cave entrance has been excavated and is open to the public. A shell-shaped museum has been built 984 ft/300 m from the entrance to Lot's Cave. North of Lot's Cave are the sites of what are believed to be the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, which show signs that they were indeed destroyed by fire. Try to see the sunset at the Dead Sea at least once—it's worth it. The Dead Sea is 25 mi/40 km southwest of Amman.	Destination Guide
Wadi Musa
Luxor Luxor Aside from visiting the pyramids near Cairo, Luxor and Al Karnak are places not to be missed when in search of ancient Egyptian monuments and artifacts. Luxor is on the southern part of ancient Thebes, Al Karnak on the north. Between the two, visitors can lose themselves for days in the hundreds of temples, chapels, tombs and gardens in the area. Too extensive to list all of them, a few of the tombs not to be missed are the tombs of Nefertari, Amenhotep II & III, several Ramesses and Tutankhamen.	Destination Guide
Aswan Aswan Aswan is Egypt's sunniest southern city and has a distinctively African atmosphere. The pace of life here in the most beautiful setting on the Nile is slow and relaxing. It is a favorite winter resort spot for Europeans, Middle Easterns and Africans alike - it's a perfect place to get away from it all. Strolling up and down the Corniche, one can watch sailboats glide by. Savor the flavor of locally caught fish while listening to Nubian music or wander in the bazaar and get lost in the sights and sounds of this mystical place. Visit the Aga Khan Mausoleum, the Monastery at Qubbat al-Hawa, the Unfinished Obelisk, The Tombs of the Nobles, Qubbat al-Hawa, the Monastery at Aswan , or the St. Simeon monastery (Anba Hatre), uninhabited and just outside of Aswan.	Destination Guide
Cairo Cairo Cairo and the ancient monuments of the Egyptian empire have fascinated visitors throughout the centuries. The mystifying Sphinx and the pyramids of Giza, over four thousand years old, stand majestically on the outskirts of the city at the edge of the desert. Cairo's Museum of Antiquities holds one of the finest collections of artifacts in the world, including the astounding treasures of King Tutankhamen's tomb.	Destination Guide
Wadi Rum Wadi Rum Wadi Rum or Valley of the Moon, is a valley of sandstone and granite rock situated in southern Jordan. Wadi Rum has been inhabited by nomads since prehistoric times and is currently home to the Zalabia Bedouin people who guide ventures of climbers and trekkers. Eco-adventure tourism is a developing success and their main source of income. Travelers can visit the key spots of Wadi Rum’s desert history: the Thamudic inscriptions of Wadi Rum, Nabatean Temple, and Seven Pillars of Wisdom.	Destination Guide
Petra Petra From Jordan's port on the Red Sea, you can travel to the mysterious lost city of Petra, which was hidden for centuries. At first it looks like a mirage: rugged sandstone hills seem to melt into windows and doorways, columns and gargoyles. But it is not: all the buildings of Petra, except one, were elaborately carved into the rock hills by a nomadic Arabian tribe in the 6th century B.C. It is a remarkable sight. You can also visit Wadi Rum, where Bedouin families set black goat-hair tents at the base of massive, striated "jebels," the sheer-faced hills of the region.	Destination Guide
Amman Amman Amman has served as the modern and ancient capital of Jordan. It is one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world and is built on seven enchanting hills. Gleaming white houses, kebab stalls and cafes are interspersed with bustling markets and the remains of civilizations and ages long past. The greatest charm of Amman, however, is found in the hospitality of its residents who give visitors a warm welcome.	Destination Guide

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