Egypt and Jordan

History comes at you fast here. This 14-day private tour packs Cairo, the Giza Pyramids, a three-night Nile cruise, Luxor, Dahab, Petra, the Dead Sea, and Jerash into one carefully arranged trip. I like the airport-to-airport support, especially for a first visit to Egypt, and I like that most major entrance fees, guides, transfers, and breakfasts are already bundled.

The main concern is the pace. You change hotels often, take domestic flights, and cover two countries in two weeks. I would also confirm exactly what is included in the Jordan hotel stays and airfare before paying, since the published inclusions are much clearer for Egypt than for Jordan.

Key points at a glance

• The Giza Pyramids and Egyptian Museum come early: You see Cairo’s essential sights on the first full day before flying south.
• The Nile cruise links Aswan and Luxor: Three nights on a five-star ship include full board and visits to major riverside temples.
• Dahab adds breathing room: You get two days with time for snorkeling, the Blue Hole, the town, and hotel facilities.
• Petra is a focused visit: A local guide leads you along the main trail for roughly three hours, with time to see the Treasury and old city.
• Transfers are a major part of the value: Airport meet-and-assist service, private vehicles, drivers, and an emergency number reduce the strain of independent planning.
• The $2,345 price is not all-inclusive: International and domestic flights, Egyptian entry visa, tips, insurance, and several optional costs are extra.

Cairo begins with pyramids and airport support

Your arrival starts at Cairo International Airport, with a representative meeting you, helping with customs procedures, and transferring you to the hotel. The scheduled meeting point begins at the airport, with a listed start time of 9 p.m., so check your flight timing carefully.

That first evening is free. This is useful after a long flight, though it is not a sightseeing night and no meal is included. Two nights in Cairo are included on a bed-and-breakfast basis, giving you a simple start before the tour moves south.

The next day is the big Cairo morning: the Sphinx and the three principal pyramids, Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure. You can ask your guide about entering a pyramid, but interior tickets are limited and any additional admission is not included. The pyramid complex is not a quick photo stop. You will walk, wait, climb, and deal with heat, so comfortable shoes and water matter.

The Egyptian Museum follows. Its collection includes more than 250,000 antiquities, giving you a useful introduction to the country’s major periods and objects. The Mummy Room is not included, so budget for that separately if it matters to you.

The day is listed at about eight hours and ends with a transfer to the airport and a flight to Aswan. That makes for a full first sightseeing day. I would not plan a late-night Cairo activity unless you are very comfortable with long days.

Aswan brings temples, dams, and the Nile

After flying to Aswan, you spend one night at a hotel before boarding the Nile ship. The Aswan program begins with a short boat ride to Agilkia Island and Philae Temple, dedicated to Isis.

Philae is especially rewarding because the temple was moved after the area around its original site was flooded during dam construction. The boat ride adds to the arrival, and the setting helps you understand why ancient Egyptian temples were tied so closely to the river.

The tour then visits the Old Dam, built between 1899 and 1902, followed by the High Dam, constructed from 1960 to 1970. These stops shift the focus from pharaohs to modern Egypt, showing how water control, electricity, flood protection, and farming still shape life along the Nile.

That afternoon, you board the five-star cruise ship for three nights. Full board is included, meaning breakfast, lunch, and dinner are provided on the ship. This is one of the strongest practical features of the package. Instead of arranging several hotels and long road transfers between Aswan and Luxor, you unpack once and let the river carry you.

An optional early morning trip to Abu Simbel is offered from Aswan. The temples are about 300 kilometers away, so this is a serious outing rather than a casual add-on. The Great Temple honors Ramesses II, while the smaller temple is dedicated to Hathor and Nefertari. The sun alignment inside the Great Temple on February 22 and October 22 is a memorable detail, but the optional trip will make an already active schedule even longer.

Temple stops make the cruise worthwhile

The river cruise is not just transport. At Edfu, you visit the Temple of Horus, one of the best-preserved major temples in the itinerary. The next day includes the Temple of Kom Ombo, associated with Sobek, the crocodile god, and Horus.

The schedule lists six to eight hours for these cruise days, including sightseeing and sailing. You should expect early starts, guided visits, and time governed by the ship’s departure schedule. That structure is convenient, but it leaves less room for wandering at your own pace.

For me, the cruise offers the best balance in the Egyptian portion. You get meals, a fixed cabin, temple visits, and the Nile itself without having to organize each piece. The tradeoff is that the quality of the ship and cabin is important, yet the precise vessel is not named in the information provided. Ask for the ship name, cabin details, and sailing dates before booking.

Luxor covers both riverbanks in one long day

After sailing to Luxor, you check out of the ship and visit Karnak Temple and Luxor Temple on the East Bank. These sites reward a guide because their columns, courtyards, statues, and religious changes can be difficult to sort out alone.

The West Bank follows with the Valley of the Kings, Hatshepsut’s Temple, and the Colossi of Memnon. The Valley of the Kings includes tomb visits, but the published package does not specify which tombs or how many are included. Extra tomb tickets may apply, so ask your guide on the day.

Hatshepsut’s Temple has a different feel from the rock-cut tombs, with broad terraces and a strong connection to the female pharaoh who commissioned it. The Colossi of Memnon make a quick but worthwhile stop before the late afternoon transfer to your Luxor hotel.

This is another eight-hour sightseeing day, followed by a hotel night with breakfast. The program covers the essential Luxor sights, but it is not leisurely. If you want extra time at Karnak, the Luxor Museum, or the Valley of the Queens, this package may feel too tightly timed.

Dahab gives the itinerary room to breathe

You fly from Luxor or the surrounding area toward Sharm El Sheikh, then continue by air-conditioned vehicle to Dahab. The transfer is listed at about four hours, including the airport movement and drive.

Dahab is the tour’s change of rhythm. You receive three hotel nights with breakfast, and Day 8 is free. You can snorkel or pursue other water activities, walk around town, or stay at the hotel. This free day is valuable after the concentrated temple schedule.

The following day focuses on the Blue Hole, one of Egypt’s best-known snorkeling locations. A lunch at a local restaurant is included, along with breakfast. The snorkeling outing is listed at about four hours, leaving some time afterward for rest.

The itinerary uses the word diving in places, but the included activity is described as snorkeling. Confirm the exact equipment, boat or land access, and safety arrangements if you plan anything beyond surface snorkeling. No separate scuba package is included.

Dahab is also where the tour feels less like a checklist. You are not being moved from one archaeological site to another every few hours. Still, the program does not include a dedicated city tour, and the free day is yours to organize within the available options.

Returning through Cairo keeps the air connections simple

On Day 10, you check out of Dahab, transfer to Sharm El Sheikh, fly to Cairo, and return to a Cairo hotel. The evening is free, and breakfast is included.

This overnight in Cairo is practical before the Jordan flight. It does not add another scheduled monument visit, so it functions mainly as a connection day. You might use the free evening for a meal or a short outing, but the arrival time and traffic will determine how much energy you have left.

The domestic flights are not included in the $2,345 price. This is an important cost point. The route includes multiple air segments, and you should ask who books them, what baggage allowance applies, and how schedule changes are handled.

Jordan starts with Petra and the Dead Sea

A representative transfers you to Cairo International Airport for the flight to Amman. On arrival at Queen Alia Airport, another representative meets you and transfers you to your Amman hotel.

The Jordan section is short, so Petra receives the main spotlight the next day. You travel to Petra, walk or take a short horse ride from the entrance toward the Siq, and follow the passage until the Treasury, Al Khazneh, comes into view.

That first sight of the Treasury is one of the strongest moments in the entire trip. The roughly three-hour local guide service covers the main trail, which is enough to explain Petra’s key monuments and give you a solid first look. It is not enough for every path, viewpoint, or outlying site.

Wear shoes suited to uneven ground and be ready for a fair amount of walking. The short horse ride is offered near the entrance, but the information does not say that it replaces the full route or that it is included at no charge. Ask before accepting it.

After Petra, you drive through the Araba Valley toward the Dead Sea. The day is listed at about four hours, but road conditions, stops, and time at Petra can affect the total. The itinerary refers to accommodation in the Dead Sea region, yet the included accommodation list specifically names Egypt hotels and cruises rather than giving a clear Jordan hotel breakdown. Get this clarified in writing.

Jerash and Amman finish with Roman remains

The final sightseeing day heads north to Jerash, also called Jerasa, a remarkably preserved Greco-Roman city. The route includes the Hippodrome, Oval Plaza, colonnaded streets, temples associated with Artemis and Zeus, and the South Theater.

Jerash is a good contrast to Petra. Petra is shaped by cliffs and carved monuments, while Jerash gives you broad streets, columns, plazas, and theater spaces that make the layout of an ancient city easier to grasp.

An English-speaking local guide is provided in Jerash for smaller groups, and an English-speaking guide is included for groups of five or more, except during transfers and free time. The precise guiding arrangement depends on your group size, so confirm who will accompany you in each country.

The day ends with a panoramic tour of Amman and a return to the hotel. The following morning is a transfer to the airport for departure. With only a few days in Jordan, this is a sampler rather than a full national tour. It does not include Wadi Rum, which has appeared in some other versions of longer Egypt and Jordan trips.

What the $2,345 price really covers

At $2,345 per person, the package has real value for someone who wants a managed trip. It includes the airport welcome service, ground transfers, hotels in the Egyptian portion, three nights of full-board cruising, sightseeing vehicles, English-speaking guides, entrance fees for listed sites, daily breakfasts in Egypt, a Blue Hole lunch, bottled water in several Egyptian cities, and a smartphone with internet access for the length of the stay.

The private-tour format is another plus. Only your group participates, so you are not placed on a large bus with strangers. The itinerary also lists a 24-hour emergency number, which can be reassuring during a complex trip involving airports, hotels, ships, and border-related arrangements.

But calculate the real total carefully. You still pay for:

• International flights to Egypt
• Domestic flights in Egypt
• Airfare to Jordan
• The Egyptian entry visa
• Tips for guides, drivers, and hotel staff
• Travel insurance
• Drinks, snacks, laundry, and personal purchases
• Optional trips such as Abu Simbel
• Extra pyramid interiors and the Egyptian Museum Mummy Room
• Meals not listed for the Jordan portion
• High-season or peak-date supplements

The package lists 13 breakfasts, four lunches, and three dinners, but the day-by-day schedule gives the clearest picture: the Nile cruise includes full board, and the Blue Hole day includes lunch. Jordan meal coverage is less detailed. I would ask for a full hotel and meal chart before treating the listed price as final.

Guides and support are central to the experience

The strongest pattern in the available feedback is praise for the people running the trip. Names including Hassan, Tamir, Sherif, Ahmed, Wael, Dua, Nehead, and Nour appear in positive accounts, with special praise for airport help, clear explanations, punctuality, kindness, and personal attention.

That kind of support matters in Egypt. The tour does not simply hand you hotel vouchers and leave you to solve each transfer. Representatives meet you at airports, drivers handle the scheduled road journeys, and guides lead the archaeological visits.

Guide assignments can change, so do not book this expecting one named person throughout. You may have different local guides in Cairo, Aswan, Luxor, Petra, and Jerash. The private format can also allow some flexibility, and one account describes adjustments for a large group, but the published schedule remains fairly fixed.

There are also conflicting accounts about cancellation handling, including complaints about refunds and responses from the operator disputing whether certain bookings were made with the company. The stated policy for this experience is free cancellation up to 24 hours before the local start time, with no refund inside that window. Save your booking confirmation and ask the operator to explain any supplier-specific terms before making nonrefundable arrangements.

Who should book this Egypt and Jordan trip?

I would recommend it most strongly to a first-time visitor who wants the major sights without arranging every hotel, vehicle, guide, and domestic connection. Solo visitors, couples, families, and small private groups can benefit from the meet-and-assist service and the structured support.

It suits you if you want:

• The classic Egyptian highlights in one trip
• A Nile cruise with meals included
• A short Red Sea break
• A focused Petra visit
• Private transportation and organized airport transfers
• Guides at major archaeological sites
• A fixed route with little planning work

I would hesitate if you prefer slow travel, independent exploration, or long stays in one place. The schedule includes several eight-hour sightseeing days, multiple flights, and frequent transfers. It also gives Jordan only a short visit, and several important costs remain outside the headline price.

Should you book it?

Book this tour if convenience, coverage, and support matter more to you than flexibility. The combination of Cairo, the pyramids, the Egyptian Museum, Aswan, a three-night Nile cruise, Luxor, Dahab, Petra, the Dead Sea, and Jerash is impressive for 14 days.

Before booking, get four points confirmed: the exact hotels in Jordan, the Nile ship and cabin category, all domestic and Jordan flight arrangements, and the final cost after visas, tips, optional trips, and peak-date charges. If those details suit your budget, Lady Egypt Tours offers a practical way to see two demanding destinations with airport help and local guides close at hand.

FAQ

How long is the Egypt and Jordan tour?

The tour lasts approximately 14 days, beginning with arrival at Cairo International Airport and ending with departure from Amman.

Is this a private tour?

Yes. Only your group participates in the activity.

Is the Nile cruise included?

Yes. The package includes three nights aboard a five-star Nile cruise traveling from Aswan to Luxor, with breakfast, lunch, and dinner included.

Are flights included?

No. International flights, domestic flights within Egypt, and airfare to Jordan are excluded from the tour price.

Is Abu Simbel included?

No. The Abu Simbel visit is described as an optional trip from Aswan and is not included in the listed package.

Are meals included in Jordan?

The itinerary includes breakfast at the stated Jordan hotels, but meals not specifically listed for the Jordan portion are excluded. Ask for the exact Jordan meal plan before booking.