Treasures of Egypt & Jordan: 16-Day Luxury Small-Group Tour with Nile River Cruise, Four Seasons Stays & Desert Glamping

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The Nile Cruise – Boutique cruising and unforgettable sights

Experience true luxury on the Nile aboard the M.S. Mayflower, a boutique luxury ship that puts an intimate spin on cruising. Sail past incredible ancient history while revelling in modern elegance and uncompromising luxury. All cabins feature floor to ceiling windows that open to a French balcony for unsurpassed views of the Nile and its ancient wonders.

Abu Simbel — Discover the historic site on an incredible excursion with included flights

Step back in time on an unforgettable excursion to the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Abu Simbel. Find yourself in awe of this impressive temple complex as your Egyptologist guide brings history to life. Admire famous sights like the four colossal statues of Ramesses II that tower 20 metres above the desert plains, and the small temple of Hathor – dedicated to the goddess of love, happiness, joy and music.

The Accommodation – Indulgent Four Seasons luxury and glamping in the desert

Combine the perfect location with world-renowned luxury at Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at The First Residence, offering classical grandeur in the heart of the city. Spend three nights in unparalleled splendour, with breathtaking views of the Nile or the distant pyramids, and first-class service sure to impress even the most discerning traveller. Staff are on hand to cater to your every need, offering intuitive service and recommendations, and ensuring a seamless stay.

The capital city of Jordan welcomes you in style with a five-star stay at the Four Seasons Hotel Amman. This spectacular property is rated among the top 10 hotels in Amman on Tripadvisor and couples world-class Four Seasons service with a luxe spa, glistening resort pool and myriad fine-dining options. Try French classics at La Capitale or head to The Foyer Lounge for an indulgent afternoon tea.

Witness the majesty of the desert at night with the ultimate glamping experience at Memories Aicha Luxury Camp. This hideaway in the heart of Wadi Rum’s shimmering red sands offers incredible views of the surrounding landscape from the luxury of your air-conditioned tent. Watch the sunset in the desert while enjoying a glass of champagne along with a selection of canapés.

The VIP Upgrade – Business Class flights and ultra-luxe accommodation

Experience the epitome of luxury when you choose the VIP accommodation package, including a Business Class upgrade on your internal flights.

Enjoy an upgraded four-night luxury Nile cruise aboard the boutique M.S. Mayflower (Deluxe Cabin with Veranda), and a luxury hot air balloon ride over Luxor, the world’s greatest open-air museum, including roundtrip transportation and live tour commentary.

Experience the luxury of a One-Bedroom Executive Suite at Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at The First Residence, stay in an opulent Executive Suite with striking city views at the Four Seasons Hotel Amman and a spacious Junior Suites at Kempinski Ishtar Dead Sea and Mövenpick Resort Petra.

The highlight: a Stargazing Dome Tent at Memories Aicha Luxury Camp, where you can sleep under a clear canopy offering panoramic views of the stars above and surrounding mountains. This is a truly unforgettable experience, bringing the magic of the desert into your bedroom.

Your tour begins at Cairo Airport (CAI) and ends at Amman Airport (AMM).

International flights are not included in your package and must be purchased separately.

Please book your flights to arrive into Cairo in time for your welcome briefing at 4pm on Day 1. Flights can depart any time after breakfast on Day 16.

Private return airport transfers are included in your tour on the first and last day only.

A visa may be required for the destination you are visiting. It is each traveller’s responsibility to ensure they are holding a current visa. Please take the time to visit our preferred vendor website Visas Direct to assist you with any visa application requirements and processes. If you require any supporting documentation when applying for your visa please let us know and we would be more than happy to assist.

Minimum number for this tour to operate is two people. Do not book flights until the tour is confirmed. See Fine Print for details.

Need flights? Our dedicated flights concierge can assist with all your flight requirements, contact sales@luxuryescapes.com

Day 1: Arrive Cairo, Egypt

Welcome to Cairo. Your fascinating journey into the depths of Egyptian culture and history begins in this vibrant city, where you’ll be met on arrival at the airport and transferred to the luxurious Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at The First Residence – a prestigious building flanked by zoological gardens and the western bank of the Nile. If you arrive early, why not unwind after a long flight in the resort’s lavish pool or indulge in an aromatic massage once reserved for Egyptian royalty? At 4pm, meet your tour director and travel companions in the hotel lobby for a welcome meeting. The rest of today is at your leisure to relax and enjoy the opulent surrounds of your luxury hotel before a formal welcome dinner at the hotel this evening.

Accommodation: Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at The First Residence

Meals: Dinner

Day 2: Cairo

Today, experience one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, with a full day dedicated to the extraordinary pyramids.

Begin with the legendary city of Memphis, which was founded in 3100 BC by Menes, the Pharaoh who united Upper and Lower Egypt. Memphis became the capital of the Old Kingdom and the heart of Egypt’s busy import-export activity, with traders from around the world giving it a cosmopolitan atmosphere.

Next, move on to Sakkara, the former necropolis (cemetery) for the ancient Egyptian city of Memphis and the place where the very first pyramids were built as tombs for kings. Instead of the smooth sides featured on other pyramids, the pyramids here feature six steps on the outside, representing the pharaoh’s stepladder to heaven. Discover the famous Step Pyramid of King Zoser, the first pyramid ever built and the world’s oldest freestanding stone structure.

Lunch is served at Abou Shakra – Sphinx. Located in plain sight of the great pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx and with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking this iconic view, Abu Shakra serves some of the best, local food in Egypt. Start with a traditional mezze of hummus, tahini and baba ghanoush before grilled kebabs, kofta, chicken or ribs with a side of sautéed vegetables and rice. During the evening, this restaurant is ideally situated to watch the sound and light show.

The Great Pyramids of Giza are the only present-day survivors of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, built over 4,500 years ago as giant tombs for the mummies of the pharaohs Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure, who were a father, son and grandson. The pyramids are truly monumental in scale, with the largest, Khufu’s, constructed from over two million blocks. The pyramids were not built by slaves but by Egyptian peasants, whose labour in building the pyramids paid their taxes to the Pharaoh, who also fed, clothed and housed them.

Nearby sits the enigmatic Sphinx with the body of a lion and the face of a man wearing a royal head cloth, which workers may have based on King Khafre to guard his enormous funerary monument. About a thousand years after the Sphinx was built it was covered in sand until a young prince had a dream in which the Sphinx told him that if he cleared the sand away, he would become Pharaoh. This story is told on the ‘Dream Stela’ that was placed between the Sphinx’s paws by King Tuthmose IV.

Accommodation: Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at The First Residence

Meals: Breakfast & Lunch

Day 3: Cairo

This morning we tour through 7,000 years of history at the Egyptian Museum, which houses the largest collection of ancient Egyptian art in the world. Explore the many priceless antiquities with your private Egyptologist guide and uncover the treasures of the boy-king Tutankhamun, including his golden mask, the solid gold sarcophagus that held his mummy, and his beautiful throne.

Next visit the Citadel, a medieval fortress perched high on limestone hills above Cairo, which was built in 1176 to protect the city from crusaders. Today, the citadel complex houses mosques and museums, including the National Military Museum.

Enjoy lunch at Al-Azhar Park before we stop at the incredible Mosque of Sultan Hassan. With its grand, soaring architecture and rich decoration, it was completed in 1363 and is one of the finest in Egypt which houses the mausoleum where Sultan Hassan’s sons are buried. Next door, discover the much newer Refaie Mosque, completed in 1912 with well-preserved, colourful decoration. Buried in tombs here are a Muslim saint, a companion of the Prophet Muhammad, Egypt’s last royal family and the last Shah of Iran.

Finally, visit the fascinating Khan El-Khalili Bazaar, reputed to be the largest bazaar in the Middle East. Originally founded as a watering stop for caravanserai in the 14th century, the bazaar has now grown to vast proportions. Wander through the labyrinth of narrow streets to find workshops and stalls selling all manner of things from woodwork and glassware to leather goods and perfumes.

Return to your hotel late this afternoon with the rest of the evening at leisure.

Accommodation: Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at The First Residence

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 4: Cairo – Luxor – Nile Cruise

Transfer to Cairo airport for your included flight to Luxor, where you are transferred to your luxury vessel for your four-night Nile cruise.

Elegant interiors, opulent cabins, serene surroundings and lavish, freshly prepared meals – all complemented by daily sightseeing along the Nile – make a cruise aboard the M.S. Mayflower an unforgettable experience.

Check-in and receive a warm welcome from the crew. Lunch is served on board in the main restaurant and then afterwards, your tour of the East Bank begins with a visit to the Temple of Karnak, followed by the strikingly graceful Temple of Luxor.

Return to your cruise boat where a gourmet dinner is prepared on board this evening as you enjoy music in the lounge.

Accommodation: M.S. Mayflower

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

• Note: Order of itinerary may vary.

Day 5: Nile Cruise: Valley of the Kings and Queen Hatshepsut Temple

This morning,, set off to explore the West Bank of the Nile. Discover the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Theban Necropolis burial site and Valley of the Kings, where the tombs of pharaohs and nobles were constructed over a period of almost 500 years between the 16th and 11th century BC. Included is entry to the tomb of the legendary Tutankhamun, which was famously uncovered in 1922 by English archaeologist and Egyptologist Howard Carter. Next, stop at the Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut – one of the few female pharaohs – and the huge Colossi of Memnon statues, which are thought to have stood in the Theban Necropolis since 1350BC.

Return to the ship and enjoy a sumptuous lunch as we sail onto Edfu via Esna. This evening, enjoy a special cocktail reception followed by a gourmet dinner.

• Note: This morning, you may choose to experience the ancient world of Luxor from high above the desert on a hot air balloon ride. Surcharges apply. Please enquire for further information. This option is included in the VIP Upgrade package.

Accommodation: M.S. Mayflower

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 6: Nile Cruise: Edfu and Kom Ombo Temple

Today begins at Edfu, where you can discover the majestic Temple of Edfu, dedicated to the falcon god Horus. This incredibly well-preserved shrine, thought to have been built between 237 and 57BC, was once buried under desert sand and river silt from the Nile before being restored to its former glory.

Enjoy lunch on board before we disembark at Kom Ombo to visit the town’s double temple which was dedicated to two gods: the crocodile god Sobek and the falcon god Haroeris. The temple’s Crocodile Museum is home to the mummified remains of crocodiles who would have lived on the shore of the Nile in ancient times. Enjoy an ‘Egyptian Night’ costume party on board, where you’ll have to chance to dress up in a traditional Egyptian ‘galabeyya’ and feast on a lavish buffet of Egyptian fare.

Return to the ship where a gourmet dinner is served on board as we sail onto Aswan. Tonight is an Egyptian Night costume party for everyone, with a chance to dress up in traditional Egyptian galabeyyas.

Accommodation: M.S. Mayflower

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 7: Nile Cruise: Aswan

Following breakfast on board, visit the High Dam, the Unfinished Obelisk and the Temple of Philae on the Island of Agilika.

Lunch awaits back on board. This afternoon, take a traditional Felucca (sailboat) out on the Nile around Kitchener’s Island.

A gourmet dinner is served on board and you enjoy the Nubian Folkloric show.

Accommodation: M.S. Mayflower

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 8: Aswan – Abu Simbel – Cairo

Disembark your cruise ship and fly to Abu Simbel for the next part of your Egyptian adventure. Part of the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Nubian Monuments site, the two Abu Simbel temples were erected in honour of Ramesses II – one of the most celebrated pharaohs – and his queen Nefertari. The temple dedicated to the former (the Great Temple of Ramesses) features four huge 20-metre statues of the pharaoh on its façade. Like the temples of Philae, the sight becomes even more impressive when you consider these temples were painstakingly moved from their original position to save them from being submerged in water from Lake Nasser after the construction of the Aswan High Dam.

After your sightseeing, take a flight back to Cairo, where you will be transferred to your luxury hotel located within easy access to the airport. The rest of the afternoon is at your leisure.

Accommodation: Hilton Cairo Heliopolis

Meals: Breakfast and Boxed Lunch

Day 9: Cairo, Egypt – Amman, Jordan

Enjoy a final breakfast in Egypt before transferring to Cairo Airport (CAI) for your flight to Amman, Jordan.

On arrival at Amman International Airport (AMM), you will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. Fast-track meet and greet will take you through customs with ease for a hassle-free start to your Jordan experience, followed by the rest of the day at lesiure. Make the most of your five-star stay at Four Seasons Hotel Amman, maybe treating yourself to a massage at the spa or afternoon tea in The Foyer Lounge.

This evening, meet your new leader and the rest of your group for a welcome dinner at the hotel.

​Accommodation: Four Seasons Hotel Amman (Superior Room/Executive Suite)

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Day 10: Amman – Petra

Enjoy a morning tour of Amman, the capital and largest city of Jordan. Our first stop is the ancient Amman Citadel, towering above Downtown. This is the original city, with its monumental Temple of Hercules, Umayyad Palace, National Archaeological Museum, panoramic views of Amman’s jabals (hills) and the Roman Theatre, one of the largest and most impressive amphitheatres of the ancient world.

We then transfer to the ‘Rose-Red City’ of Petra, an incredible collection of tombs and temples carved into pink sandstone walls, dating to 300 BC. We arrive at the Mövenpick Resort Petra in the late afternoon, giving you time to relax and enjoy the resort’s five-star amenities before your Petra by Night experience.

This evening, enjoy a magical experience of Petra by night. Take an incredible walk down the Siq (the entrance to Petra), your path lit only by candlelight, with your first glimpse of The Treasury (Al-Khazneh) through a cleft in the wall. This is one of the most inspiring and heart-thumping moments in travel, an experience that will take your breath away.

​Accommodation: Mövenpick Resort Petra (Classic Room/Junior Suite)

Meals: Breakfast

Day 11: Petra

After breakfast, meet your guide for a hike to Petra’s Monastery. The ancient city of Petra was built between 800 BC and 100 AD by the Nabataeans. In this era, Petra was a fortress, carved out of the jagged rocks and virtually inaccessible.

The flat plaza in front of the Monastery was carved out of the rock, perhaps to accommodate crowds at religious ceremonies. It was originally surrounded by a colonnade. The interior consists of a single room with double staircases leading up to a niche (the same layout as in the Qasr al-Bint and Temple of the Winged Lions). On the left side of the facade, there is a very steep path that tourists are generally not permitted to climb, both for the safety of the monument and the visitors. It leads up to the urn on top of the facade. Local kids like to show off by playing on the urn, some even climbing it all the way to the top. A cave located directly opposite the Monastery houses a small café offering refreshments and a shady place to sit. Other points of interest in the area include a stone circle and a cave, while marvellous views can be enjoyed by taking a few minutes’ climb up the rocks behind the café.

We return to the hotel for an evening at leisure.

​Accommodation: Mövenpick Resort Petra (Classic Room/Junior Suite)

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 12: Petra – Wadi Rum

This morning we drive to Wadi Rum, watching as the scenery changes from craggy hills to a wider expanse of open desert interspersed by rocky outcrops. Wadi Rum is like the landscape of another planet, a series of dramatic rocky mounds, joined by valleys of sand that stretch for miles toward a hazy distant horizon. Look out for black Bedouin tents and flocks of sheep and goats as a reminder of the few Jordanians who still practise this traditional lifestyle.

Arrive at your luxury camp in time for lunch. Set in the heart of the desert, the camp offers incredible views of the surrounding landscape from the luxury of your air-conditioned tent. Upgrade to the VIP package and sleep under thousands of stars as you experience incredible views from your Stargazing Dome Tent.

This afternoon, enjoy Wadi Rum at sunset. Watch the sun fall behind the distant horizon while enjoying a glass of champagne along with a selection of canapés.

We return to the camp for dinner and a restful night’s sleep.

​Accommodation: Memories Aicha Luxury Camp (Junior Luxury Tent/Stargazing Dome Tent)

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 13: Wadi Rum – Dead Sea

After breakfast, we enjoy a 4WD safari to further explore the surrounds. Afterwards, we head to the Dead Sea, the lowest point on Earth, an intense blue lake surrounded by reddish-brown hills. Here you’ll be able to experience the sensation of floating in its waters, an unforgettable travel moment.

Your home for the next two nights is the opulent Kempinski Ishtar Dead Sea Resort. The rest of the day is at your leisure to enjoy the extensive resort facilities, which include a private beach, five-star luxury spa, and gardens dotted with lagoons, waterfalls and swimming pools. Upgrade to the VIP package to enjoy stunning sea views from your Junior Suite Balcony.

​Accommodation: Kempinski Hotel Ishtar Dead Sea (Superior Room/Junior Suite Sea View)

Meals: Breakfast

Day 14: Dead Sea – Bethany – Madaba – Mt Nebo – Dead Sea

This morning we visit the Baptism Site at Bethany, where it is believed John the Baptist lived and Jesus was baptised. The excavations conducted at Bethany have uncovered an ancient settlement with plastered pools and water systems almost certainly used for mass baptisms, and a Byzantine settlement with churches, a monastery and other structures likely catering to religious pilgrims.

Next we visit the laidback town of Madaba, best known for its superb, historically significant Byzantine-era mosaic; a map of the Holy Land, which was unearthed on the floor of the Church of St. George in 1884.

Lunch today is at the beautiful Haret Jdoudna restaurant. Haret Jdoudna represents an authentic Madaba village, offering everything from traditional food to entertainment, local crafts, mosaics and souvenirs. Located in a 19th-century house, its menu is exquisite, offering local mezza dishes, oven-baked delicacies and homemade meals.

Afterwards, we visit Mt Nebo, where Moses first cast his eyes upon the Promised Land. A memorial site and home to the Church of Moses, Mt Nebo affords spectacular views over Jordan, the Dead Sea and Israel. On clear days, you may even be able to see Jerusalem.

We return to the Dead Sea and your luxury hotel for an afternoon at your leisure.

​Accommodation: Kempinski Hotel Ishtar Dead Sea (Superior Room/Junior Suite Sea View)

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 15: Dead Sea – Jerash – Amman

We check out after breakfast and drive north to the ruins of Jerash, one of the best-preserved Roman cities of the Middle East. As we wander the paved, colonnaded Cardo Maximus, it is easy to imagine life in ancient times, with bustling streets full of shops, roaming performance artists and open public spaces alive with debates.

Continue to Amman for a free afternoon before we gather and enjoy our last dinner in Jordan at a local favourite, Fakhreldin Restaurant, a leading Lebanese restaurant located in a historic mid-century house. The menu is carefully selected to offer a variety of the most delicious Lebanese food, developed from Levantine cuisine. Try a fantastic selection of grills and sweet Arabic desserts.

​Accommodation: Four Seasons Hotel Amman (Superior Room/Executive Suite)

Meals: Breakfast and Dinner

Day 16: Depart Amman

This morning you are transferred to Amman International Airport (AMM), where you farewell your leader and board your onward flight.

Meals: Breakfast