TAUCK RIVER CRUISES
13 Days | Egypt, Nile River Cruise and Jordan

CAIRO TO JORDAN

Day 1 | Cairo, Egypt. Your Egypt and Jordan tour begins at Mena House Oberoi. A transfer is included from Cairo International Airport to Mena House Oberoi, a sumptuous former royal hunting lodge in the shadow of one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the Great Pyramid of Giza. Since most international flights arrive between 3:00 and 11:00 PM local time, you might want to consider traveling to Egypt a day early and arrange a pre-stay in Cairo to ease the effects of jet lag before the first day of sightseeing on your Egypt and Jordan tour begins.

Day 2 | Cairo. Meet Tauck's expert Egyptologist as you prepare for a day of awe-inspiring wonders at the Pyramids and more! At Giza, see the Sphinx guarding the plateau, as it has for 4,500 years. Marvel at the Great Pyramid of Cheops (Khufu), a crowning architectural achievement, and smile for the camera as you ride a camel* at the Pyramids. You'll also visit the Solar Boat Museum – whose main attraction is an ancient Egyptian cedarwood boat that was buried and preserved under the shifting sands for more than 4,000 years – and attend a welcome reception and dinner this evening. (B,L,D)

Day 3 | Cairo. A lecture on the sweeping changes in Egypt by a local expert kicks off your day, followed by a special early-opening visit with our Egyptologist to the Egyptian Museum to explore its world-renowned collection of antiquities, many 5,000 years old – yet another memorable experience on Tauck's Egypt & Jordan tour! Behold treasures found in the tomb of the "Boy King," Tutankhamun, including his golden funeral mask, solid gold coffin, carved throne, and jewelry. "Meet" other ancient rulers, including the mighty Ramesses II, face-to-face in the Royal Mummy Room. Later, a walking tour of Old Cairo with a local guide visits a local mosque and includes time to wander through a local bazaar. This evening's elaborate sound and light show at the Pyramids and the Sphinx in Giza is a spectacular way to end this unforgettable day. (B,L)

Day 4 | Memphis. Sakkara. Dahshur. Travel to the site of ancient Egypt's first capital, Memphis, for a look at some of Egypt's oldest antiquities; you'll see the Alabaster Sphinx and an imposing statue of Ramesses II. See firsthand how Egyptian pyramid design developed through the ages on visits to several ancient sites this afternoon. In Sakkara, visit the Teti Pyramid, and view the Step Pyramid of Djoser, the world's first monumental structure built of stone. Continue off-the-beaten path to the less-often visited necropolis at Dahshur for a look at the numerous pyramids, temples and royal tombs there. (B,L,D)

Day 5 | Abu Simbel. Aswan. Embark. Take a private charter flight to Abu Simbel, in what was once the ancient kingdom of Nubia. Marvel at the Great Temple honoring Ramesses II – carved out of a cliff, with four 67-foot-high seated statues of the pharaoh at the entrance – and the adjacent Temple of Hathor, dedicated to his wife, Queen Nefertari. Cross part of the famous Sahara Desert to Aswan to visit the Aswan High Dam, completed in 1971. Embark the Nile Adventurer to start your cruise, then take a boat to the Philae Temple on Agilka Island; dedicated to Isis, it was moved to its present location to save it from the rising waters caused by the building of the new dam. Meet the Nile Adventurer's officers at the Captain's welcome cocktail reception followed by dinner tonight aboard ship. (B,L,D)

Day 6 | Kom Ombo. Edfu. Glimpse river life along the Nile while cruising aboard Nile Adventurer, a highlight of Tauck's Egypt and Jordan tour. Stop to visit the Temple of Kom Ombo, an unusual double temple, and have tea at a replica of an ancient Nubian village. Then it's on to the Temple of the Falcon God Horus in Edfu, one of the best-preserved temples in Egypt. Return to the ship to attend a cooking demonstration and private galley tour before donning Egyptian garb for a festive Egyptian Night dinner featuring local cuisine and after-dinner music and dancing. (B,L,D)

Day 7 | Karnak. Luxor. Your Egypt and Jordan tour continues in Luxor, site of ancient Thebes, starting with a visit to the vast Temple of Karnak with our Egyptologist; built over a span of 1,300 years, it is one of the world’s largest temple complexes. Then tour the Luxor Museum, displaying rich archaeological finds from the region’s temples and tombs. Ride a private horse-drawn carriage this evening to the spectacularly illuminated Temple of Luxor, noted for its avenue of sphinxes, grand colonnades, and colossal statues of Ramesses II. Finally, the Captain and crew of Nile Adventurer bid you a fond farewell with cocktails, dinner and a folkloric show aboard ship tonight. (B,L,D)

Day 8 | Luxor. Valleys of the Kings and Queens. Felucca ride. If you wish, join us early this morning for an optional hot air balloon flight (available for an additional $175) over the dramatic Valleys of the Kings and Queens. Then disembark Nile Adventurer for a major highlight of your Egypt and Jordan tour – an overland visit to the Valley of the Kings, where at least 62 ornately decorated tombs of the pharaohs were hidden; step into another world as you enter King Tut's tomb! Our Egyptologist accompanies your exploration of the Valley of the Queens, revealing 80 tombs of royal family members; see Medinet Habu. Later, enjoy wine, beer and snacks on a sunset cruise along the Nile aboard a traditional felucca, followed by dinner at your choice of restaurants at your Luxor hotel – where your room overlooks Egypt's timeless river! (B,L,D)

Day 9 | Luxor. Aqaba, Jordan. Wadi Rum. Fly via private charter to Aqaba, Jordan, where you'll have lunch at a restaurant on the Red Sea before setting off for the next adventure on your Jordan tour – an excursion by four-wheel-drive vehicle through the stunning, lunar-like desert landscapes of Wadi Rum. Then continue through the desert to a two-night stay overlooking the dramatic Petra Valley, home of the amazing archaeological site, with its great sandstone facades thousands of years old. (B,L,D)

Day 10 | Petra. A short walk from your hotel lies the entrance to one of the world’s greatest archaeological sites – the 2,000-year-old city of Petra, which the ancient Nabataeans carved out of colorful sandstone cliffs. Explore this incredible site’s tombs, temples and other structures by foot as well as by horse cart throughout most of the day. Later, enjoy dinner and traditional entertainment at Taybet Zaman, a restored 19th-century Bedouin village, now a resort. (B,L,D)

Day 11 | Dead Sea. Continue your Jordan tour amidst spectacular views of the Jordan Rift Valley as you wind your way along the 5,000-year-old King’s Highway, one of the oldest continuously used roads on Earth; visit sites where, thousands of years ago, biblical history was made. Stop at Mt. Nebo, where Moses looked out on the “Promised Land," and visit a church dedicated to Moses that dates back to the 6th century. Continue on to Madaba, where you'll enjoy a lunch of traditional Jordanian specialties, and check out a 6th-century mosaic map of Biblical sites at St. George's Church. Your final destination today is your spa resort on the shores of the Dead Sea. (B,L,D)

Day 12 | Dead Sea. Jerash. Take time to enjoy the amenities of your spa resort on the Dead Sea today, or set off to visit the site of Jerash in Jordan. Here you'll see some of the best-preserved remains of Roman architecture in the Middle East, in what was once the city of Gerasa. Explore its Roman temples, theatres, arches, walls and baths before returning to the resort for tonight's farewell reception and dinner – a festive conclusion to your unforgettable Egypt and Jordan tour. (B,L,D)

Day 13 | Jordan. A transfer is included from the Mövenpick Resort & Spa Dead Sea to the Queen Alia International Airport in Amman and takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes. Allow a minimum of 3 hours for flight check-in. Most international flights depart in the early morning hours – you may want to rest and extend your Jordan tour with an extra night's stay at your Dead Sea spa resort. (B)

NOTE: Itinerary is subject to change without notice. For the most up-to-date information, please refer to the itinerary schedule you receive with your final documents.

ITINERARY 13 DAYS | CAIRO TO JORDAN Click ship name to view deck plan.