Egypt & Jordan

Fri. 11 Feb    San Francisco - Fly Cairo

Sat. 12 Feb    Arrive Cairo

• Arrival at Cairo International Airport
• TUTKU representative will meet you with a “STEVE KELLAR – TUTKU” sign
• Assist through customs and formalities.
• Transfer to the hotel.
• Overnight in Cairo.

Sun. 13 Feb    Cairo

• After breakfast, transfer to Giza.
• Visit the Pyramids of Cheops, Chefren & Mikarinus.
• After viewing the three great Pyramids from a panoramic viewpoint, visit to the giant one stone Sphinx.
• transfer to Visit the Grand Egyptian Museum housing thousands of pieces of the ancient Egyptian civilization, including the most famous collection of the young king Tut Ankh Amoun with its fascinating treasures.
• Dinner and overnight in Cairo.

Mon. 14 Feb    Fly Luxor – Nile Cruise

• Early morning fly to Luxor.
• Arrive at Luxor. Visit Karnak Temple. Walk among the pillars of the temple dedicated to the god Amun Ra and along the avenue of the Sphinxes at Karnak.
• Transfer to the Nile cruise for check-in.
• 13.00 Lunch onboard.
• In the evening, visit the illuminated Luxor Temple.
• Optional: Horse Cart tour in Luxor.
• Dinner & overnight on board.

Tue. 15 Feb    Nile Cruise

• Optional: early morning hot-air balloon flight over west Luxor.
• After early breakfast, drive to the west side of Luxor: explore The Great Valley of Kings, where generations of Pharaohs were buried in crypts cut into the cliffs
• Optional: visit Tut Ankh Amon’s tomb.
• Stop by the Colossi of Memnon, then proceed to visit the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, then visit Ramssum temple.
• Transfer back to the cruise boat for lunch.
• Sail to Esna, cross the lock and continue sailing to Edfu.
• Dinner and overnight on board in Edfu.

Wed. 16 Feb    Nile Cruise

• After breakfast, visit Edfu Temple by horse carriages. Discover the huge temple dedicated to the God Horus.
• Lunch on board.
• Sail to Kom Ombo, where you will visit the unusual Double temple dedicated to the crocodile god Sobek and the god Haroeris.
• Evening sailing to Aswan.
• Dinner and overnight on board.

Thu. 17 Feb    Nile Cruise

• After breakfast, you will visit The Unfinished Obelisque (Granite Quarry) and Philae Temple dedicated to the goddess ISIS.
• Afternoon visit High Dam, rock-fill dam across the Nile River, at Aswan
• Optional: Visit Nubian Museum.
• Dinner and overnight onboard in Aswan.

Fri. 18 Feb    Fly Cairo

• Check out after breakfast, transfer Aswan airport to fly back to Cairo.
• Visit the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization , which provides a comprehensive history of Egypt and houses 20 royal mummies of the New Kingdom.
• Visit the Cave Church; a big church set in a big cave at the heart of Mokatam Hill. It is located by one of Cairo’s garbage collectors area, where there are about 50,000 Christians living on manual garbage separation.
• Visit Old Coptic Cairo. The Church of St Sergius. This church is the oldest and most unique of the churches in Old Cairo, founded in the 5th century. Its main attraction is crypt claimed to be the place where the Holy Family stayed during their Egyptian exile.
• Visit Ben Ezra synagogue is the supreme Jewish monument in Cairo. It is not the only synagogue, but it is the most used. It no longer has a rabbi, but is maintained by 42 local Jewish families. Legends claim that the synagogue is built on the spot where pharaoh’s daughter found Moses in the bulrushes and where Jeremiah spoke to survivors after the destruction of Jerusalem by Nebuchadnezzar.
• Then transfer to visit Cairo War Memorial Cemetery
• Dinner and overnight in Cairo.

Sat. 19 Feb    Mt Sinai – St Catherine Monastery

• After breakfast, transfer to St. Catherine. St. Catherine’s has a rich history indeed. So rich that it is a sparkling example of an undiscovered jewel of travel. It has been called the oldest working Christian monastery and the smallest diocese in the world. The Chapel of the Burning Bush was originally ordered built by Empress Helen, the mother of Constantine the Great, but the monastery itself was actually built by Emperor Justinian to protect the monks in the region and to honor the site of the Burning Bush. St. Catherine, whose body was reportedly carried away by angels, was discovered five hundred years later at the top of the peak that now bears her name. Her relics are stored in a marble reliquary in the Basilica. We have additional pictures of this church, and of its interior.
• Afternoon: Camel ride up & down for sunset.
• Dinner and sleep for a few hours.

Sun. 20 Feb    Cross Borders - Petra

• 08.00 Breakfast at the hotel, then transfer to Taba.
• After crossing the borders from Taba through Eilat into Jordan, travelers will continue to Petra, one of the Middle East’s most extraordinary archaeological sites.
• Petra: Explore the ancient Nabataean city, entering through the spectacular Siq, a narrow canyon framed by towering sandstone cliffs, before reaching the iconic Treasury, carved directly into the rock.
• Dinner and overnight in Petra.

Mon. 21 Feb    Amman

• Travel north through Jordan’s dramatic landscapes, combining a natural wonder with an important biblical site.
• The Dead Sea: Make a brief stop to admire the extraordinary landscape of the lowest exposed land elevation on Earth. Depending on the schedule, guests may enjoy the shoreline or a short floating experience, if facilities and weather permit.
• Mount Nebo: Visit the traditional site associated with Moses viewing the Promised Land. Enjoy panoramic views across the Jordan Valley and learn about the mountain’s significance in biblical history. The memorial church and its mosaics are highlights.
• Journey to Amman: Continue to Jordan’s capital, where modern urban life blends with centuries of history.
• Dinner and overnight: Amman.

Tue. 22 Feb    Amman

• Discover the impressive legacy of Roman civilization and explore the historic heart of Jordan’s capital.
• Jerash: Walk through one of the Middle East’s best-preserved Roman cities. Highlights include Hadrian’s Arch, the Oval Plaza, colonnaded streets, ancient temples, and the Roman theatres. Visitors can imagine daily life in a thriving Roman provincial city.
• Amman city tour: Explore selected landmarks in the capital, potentially including the Citadel, the Temple of Hercules, and the Roman Theatre, subject to the available time.
• Archaeological Museum: Discover artifacts that illustrate Jordan’s long history, from prehistoric cultures to the classical and Islamic periods.
• Dinner and overnight: Amman.

Wed. 23 Feb    Departure - End

• After breakfast, transfer to Queen Alia International Airport for the return flight to San Francisco.

• Roundtrip international Air between San Francisco–Cairo & Amman–San Francisco
• Domestic flight Cairo-Luxor
• Domestic flight Aswan-Cairo
• Meet and assist at Cairo Airport upon arrival.
• Accommodation at 5-star standard hotels as per hotels suggested below or similar.
  • 3 Nights at Sonesta Cairo Hotel (or similar) in Cairo based on half board basis.
  • 4 Nights at M/S Jaz Celebrity Nile Cruise (or similar) based on full board basis.
  • 1 Night at Morgan Land Hotel (or similar) in ST. Catherine based on half board basis.
  • 1 Night at Marriott Petra Hotel (or similar) in Petra based on half board basis.
  • 2 Nights at Amman Marriott Hotel (or similar) in Amman based on half board basis.
• Entrance fees to all archaeological sites included in the program.
• English Speaking licensed tour guides throughout the itinerary.
• Transportation by private A/C motorcoach based on the size of the group
• Camel ride up & down for sunset at St. Catherine’s.
• Guide wireless headset system in Egypt.
• Border taxes, transportation and border crossing assistance from Taba, Eilat & Aqaba border points.
• Jordan Collective group visa.
• Portage for one piece of luggage at the hotels.
• Service charges and local taxes.

• Egypt e-visa
• Lunches (except on the Nile cruise).
• Bottled water or drinks.
• Tips to tour guides, drivers and hotel staff.
• Travel and Health Insurances, any kind of insurance