Egypt and Jordan

Saturday 03 April

An evening departure on Emirates. Change planes in Dubai.

Sunday 04 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 Egypt’s cultural heart for over 1,000 years, where ancient history meets the modern world. Shaped by Pagan, Christian and Muslim civilisations, the city is rich in customs, monuments and traditions. Iconic sights such as the Pyramids, Sphinx, bustling bazaars, grand Islamic mosques and ancient Coptic churches reveal a glorious past, blending seamlessly with the energy and refinements of the 21st century.

Monday 05 April

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

Tuesday 06 April

Today 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, take a moment to explore the Grand Bazaar before returning to the hotel for dinner.

Wednesday 07 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 and Light show.

Abu Simbel is among Egypt’s most spectacular and best-preserved ancient temples, built by Pharaoh Ramses II. The larger temple honours Ramses himself, while the smaller is dedicated to his wife, Queen Nefertari. In the 1960s, the temples were famously relocated in massive 30-tonne blocks to save them from flooding by Lake Nasser, an extraordinary engineering achievement.

Thursday 08 April

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

Friday 09 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 10 April

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

Sunday 11 April

This morning visit the East Bank and drive to the Karnak and Luxor temples.

Often called the world’s greatest open-air museum, Luxor boasts an unmatched concentration of remarkably preserved ancient monuments. Spanning the City of Luxor and Karnak on the east bank of the Nile, and ancient Thebes on the west, the area has attracted visitors since ancient Greek and Roman times and remains a timeless draw for travellers today.

Monday 12 April

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

Tuesday 13 April

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

Founded by Alexander the Great in 332 BC, Alexandria became the cultural hub of the Mediterranean and the capital of Egypt under the Ptolemaic dynasty until Cleopatra VII’s death in 30 BC. Today, it is Egypt’s second-largest city, a major port and a popular tourist destination, with ongoing land and underwater excavations revealing significant archaeological discoveries.

Wednesday 14 April

A day to explore this northernmost city including the Roman Theatre, the Alexandria Library and the site of the Lighthouse and Pompey’s Pillar.

Thursday 15 April

After a leisurely breakfast, return to Cairo International Airport. Mid-afternoon flight to Amman – on arrival transfer to your hotel.

Friday 16 April

A morning tour of Amman before continuing 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 17 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 18 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 19 April

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

Tuesday 20 April

Transfer to the airport for a flight to Dubai.

Wednesday 21 April

Change planes for flight back to Auckland.

Thursday 22 April

Mid morning arrival in Auckland.

Talk to us about options to travel on to the UK and other European destinations.