Jordan & Egypt Express





Ancient cities, desert and sea, deep in Bedouin territory and up Mt Sinai
Rock-hewn amphitheatres, desert dunes and coral reefs – this trip may be quick, but it packs in a lot of action! Take a nine-day adventure through the best of Jordan and Egypt to discover layered histories and striking landscapes. Wander the ancient city of Petra (one of the Seven Wonders of the World), camp in the desert, visit the sacred St. Catherine Monastery and finish up among the souqs and pyramids of Cairo. As you travel this land of mighty pharaohs and biblical prophets, you’ll be greeted by the legendary hospitality of local Bedouin people in Wadi Rum and discover the underwater worlds that lie beneath the azure waters of the Red Sea.
4.8
97 reviewsStart: Amman, Jordan
End: Cairo, Egypt
- Duration
- 9 days
- Group size
- 1 to 16
- Minimum age
- 15 years old
- Style
Basix: Simple accommodation, local transport and lots of free time
Original: Tourist-class hotels, some meals included and a great mix of included activities and free time
Comfort: Comfortable accommodation, with a relaxed pace of travel and many included meals and activities
Premium: Our best accommodation, exclusive inclusions and our most experienced leaders
- Basix
- Theme
Our themes categorise trips based on a common interest or activity, while showcasing the highlights of a destination.
- Explorer
- Physical rating
Indicates how physically exerting a trip is, and how fit you will need to be to enjoy it. More info on physical ratings
Why you'll love this trip
- Join Bedouin locals at a desert camp in Wadi Rum for a night of traditional hospitality, good food and starry skies. You’ll learn about the Bedouin way of life and fall asleep to the eerie silence of the desert.
- Spend a whole day uncovering the majesty and mystery of Petra – one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Follow your local leader down the narrow path of Siq for your first glimpse of the hand-carved Treasury.
- Lay back and take an effortless float in the super salty waters of the Dead Sea after visiting Moses’ Promised Land at Mt Nebo.
- Explore the incredible underwater world that lies just offshore at the Red Sea by snorkel and get into the laidback vibe of Dahab, full of seaside cliffs and sheesha.
- Journey to the foot of Mt Sinai, visit the legendary St Catherine’s Monastery and take an optional sunrise hike up to the summit of Mt Sinai.
View the itinerary for departures between 01 January 2025 - 31 December 2025
Itinerary
Ahlan wa sahlan! Welcome to Jordan. Your trip begins in Amman with a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight where you’ll meet your local leader and fellow travellers. If you arrive early, maybe take in the sweeping views of Amman from the citadel, explore the Jordan Museum (home to the Dead Sea Scrolls), or take a trip out to the ruins of Jerash – an ancient walled town from 2000 years ago. After your meeting, maybe head out on the town in search of ara’yes (Jordan’s toasted sandwich, packed full of spiced meats).
- Hotel (1 night)
There are no meals included on this day.
- Amman - Citadel (entrance) - JOD3
- Amman - Roman Theatre - JOD2
- Jerash - Roman ruins - Entry Fee - JOD10
- Amman - Jordan Archaeological Museum (entrance fee) - JOD3
- Amman - King Abdullah I Mosque (entrance fee) - JOD2
- Jordan Valley - Al-Maghtas Bethany Baptism site (entrance fee) - JOD12
It’s very important that you attend the welcome meeting as we will be collecting insurance and emergency contact details at this time. If you are going to be late, please let your travel agent or hotel reception know. Ask reception or look for a note in the lobby for more information on where the meeting will take place.
We have listed the total price including transportation and local guides (where applicable) for these optional activities wherever possible. This is to help you budget for any additional excursions you might like to do on your trip. Some activities require minimum numbers to operate. If you prefer to do your own thing, taxis are available and your leader can assist in organising.
This morning, travel by minibus to Mt Nebo – the place where the prophet Moses is said to be buried and where he saw the 'Promised Land'. Check out the mosaics inside its fourth-century church. On a clear day, the views over the Dead Sea to Israel and the Palestinian Territories are spectacular. After, drive to the super salty Dead Sea – sitting well below sea level, this is the lowest point on earth, and you’ll float rather than swim due to the high salt count. The mud on the sea floor is said to have healing properties, so maybe lather up and enjoy Mother Nature’s spa. Continue to the crusader castle of Kerak, sitting on top of a cliff overlooking the town and valley below. Explore the seven-level fortress and learn the legends of 12th-century battles between Crusaders and Muslim armies, then continue to Petra for the night.
- Hotel (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Mt Nebo - Entrance Fee - JOD3
- Dead Sea - Visit and Swim - JOD17
- Kerak - Kerak Castle (entrance fee) - JOD2
- Petra - Petra By Night - JOD30
Your travel time today will be approximately 6 hours.
Your tour today includes stops at the Dead Sea, Mount Nebo and Kerak Castle, but keep in mind that entry fees are not included. When swimming at the Dead Sea, towels are available for hire.
Many travellers like to experience Petra by night, however, this is only available on certain days of the week. Feel free to ask your group leader for more information, and if this optional activity is available to you on your dates.
You’ll explore Petra today – the jewel of Jordan, the lost city of the Nabateans and one of the Seven Wonders of the World! Squeeze through a narrow path called the Siq until you reach the grand entrance of the Treasury. Gaze up at the intricate carvings and spend the afternoon exploring the site at your own pace. There’re the old Roman road, other temples and old tombs, as well as the rock-hewn amphitheatre. For those feeling more adventurous, take a challenging hike up a set of stairs to the smaller but no less impressive monastery, which takes about an hour. After arriving back at your accommodation, why not find a traditional bathhouse to rejuvenate after a day of incredible sightseeing.
- Hotel (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Petra - Guided tour (One day pass included)
- Petra - Additional Petra day pass - JOD5
One day's entrance fee to Petra is included in your trip. A horse ride is offered as part of the ticket price (not including tip) from the entrance point down to the Siq. Intrepid doesn't recommend that passengers take this option due to the safety and insurance liability involved.
This morning you’ll drive to Wadi Rum – a rugged, lunar-like landscape framed by huge sandstone mountains. Head on a half-day jeep safari, taking you through some unique desert scenery and uncover traces of ancient civilisations in the many carved inscriptions throughout the area, from pictographs to Thamudic, Nabataean and Arabic texts. The most enduring monuments in Wadi Rum are those carved by nature – natural rock bridges, towering sand dunes and scattered rocky peaks. Spend the night sleeping in a simple desert camp under a camel hair tent. Enjoy dinner cooked in an earthen oven by your Bedouin hosts and soak in the unforgettable surroundings.
- Desert camp (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Dinner
- Wadi Rum - 4WD jeep safari
- Wadi Rum - Bedouin Desert Camp
- Wadi Rum - Zarb Local Dinner
Your travel time today will be approximately 2 hours.
Conditions are basic at the desert camp, but the hospitality of your hosts is legendary, and you'll treasure the memory of sleeping beneath the rugged landscape.
Tonight, a mattress and blankets are provided. Please be aware that while the desert may be very hot during the day, it will still be cool at night and warm clothes and a sleeping bag are highly recommended when travelling outside of the summer months. Western-style toilet facilities are available.
This morning, leave Wadi Rum and make tracks to Dahab. You’ll drive to Aqaba, then bid your Jordan local leader farewell and transfer on a ferry bound for Taba. When you arrive, you’ll be met by your Egypt local leader and drive to the laidback resort area of Dahab – your base for the next two nights. Dahab, meaning 'gold' in Arabic, has gone from a Bedouin fishing village to a popular tourist town, thanks to the excellent conditions for activities like diving, windsurfing and rock climbing. However, the town hasn't lost its authenticity and lowkey appeal that’s attracted visitors since the 1970s. The rest of the day is free for you to wander through the cafes, find some fresh seafood or take on some snorkelling in the Red Sea. Dahab is well known for its drop-offs – spectacular coral reef shelves that plunge into the vast blue depths of the ocean. There are also plenty of bars and restaurants to sit back and enjoy good local food and some sheesha.
- Hotel (1 night)
- Breakfast
Your travel time today will be approximately 5 hours.
In the unlikely event of the Aqaba to Taba passenger ferry being cancelled, you will travel as a foot passenger on the vehicle ferry from Aqaba to Nuweiba. Please refer to the Transport section of your Essential Trip Information for more details.
At the Aqaba ferry terminal, you’ll pass security and pay a JOD10 departure tax, keeping the receipt to get stamped. On board, take your passport to the counter in the middle of the ferry where it will stay for the journey. When you arrive, an escort will take you and your passport to the arrival terminal, where you will pass immigration and then meet up with your Egypt group leader.
Any camera with a resolution exceeding 50 megapixels, regardless of the camera type, including GoPro cameras, can be confiscated by the local authorities at Taba Port. Binoculars are also not allowed. We've had reports of such confiscation even if it's not on the official banned list. Please be aware of this possibility.
In the morning, why not strap on a mask and head to the Blue Hole for some snorkelling at one of the best diving spots in the world. The area gets its name from a submarine sinkhole about 94 m deep, with an arch in the coral reef down at 54 m – a challenge that’s only open to highly experienced technical divers. Snorkellers can enjoy one of the greatest spots in the Red Sea here. Float on the surface and look down into an endless world of blue, then make your way around to ‘the Bridge’, where the visibility is always great and the untouched coral swarms with all different types of colourful fish and marine life. After you’ve had your fill of snorkelling, return to Dahab for an evening feast at a waterside restaurant, or maybe head inland to Assalah, where local joints serve up plates of roast chicken and falafel with regional beer.
- Hotel (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Dahab - Blue Hole snorkelling - USD35
Check out of your hotel in Dahab, then have a proper lunch before driving late afternoon to St Catherine. Check in at your hotel before heading out for dinner to get your first glimpse of the area. For those who want to hike up Mount Sinai, gather again after midnight around 01:00 am for the hike, and watch the sunrise on the top before your descent. If you have any questions, your leader is there to help!
- Hotel (1 night)
- Breakfast
Your travel time today will be approximately 2 hours.
This morning, head out to visit St Catherine's Monastery. Located at the foot of Mt Sinai and built over 1500 years ago, this is the oldest continuously inhabited Christian monastery. Legend has it that the monastery encloses what's claimed to be the burning bush seen by Moses and was eventually named after Catherine of Alexandria, whose relics turned it into an important pilgrimage site. It is now a UNESCO listed site, holding incredible importance to Judaism, Christianity and Islam. After your visit, head back to your hotel to grab your luggage and then hit the road to Cairo. Arrive in Cairo in late afternoon, settle into your hotel before you head out for an optional final dinner to celebrate this great journey.
- Hotel (1 night)
- Breakfast
- Mount Sinai - St Catherine's Monastery
- Mount Sinai - Sunrise hike - Free
Your driving time today will be approximately 7 hours.
For those who are taking the optional hike up Mount Sinai. You'll start around 1am after midnight. There are two hiking routes, one steeper and one less so. Both will meet for the final 750 steps to the summit. You'll need to have sturdy shoes, comfortable clothes and head torch for the hike. It'll take around 3 hours to hike to the top and around 2 hours down the same way. You'll then meet the rest of the group together at St Catherine Monastery for the visit.
There are no activities planned for the final day, so you can depart the accommodation at any time following check-out. While this trip doesn’t include time to explore the sites of Cairo, it’s strongly recommended that you spend a few extra days to see more of what the city offers. If you want to spend more time ere, just speak to your booking agent beforehand.
There are no meals included on this day.
Inclusions and activities
7 breakfasts, 1 dinner
Plane, Ferry, Minibus, Jeep
Hotel (7 nights), Desert camp (1 night)
- Petra - Guided tour (One day pass included)
- Wadi Rum - 4WD jeep safari
- Wadi Rum - Bedouin Desert Camp
- Wadi Rum - Zarb Local Dinner
- Mount Sinai - St Catherine's Monastery
- Amman - Citadel (entrance) - JOD3
- Amman - Roman Theatre - JOD2
- Jerash - Roman ruins - Entry Fee - JOD10
- Amman - Jordan Archaeological Museum (entrance fee) - JOD3
- Amman - King Abdullah I Mosque (entrance fee) - JOD2
- Jordan Valley - Al-Maghtas Bethany Baptism site (entrance fee) - JOD12
- Mt Nebo - Entrance Fee - JOD3
- Dead Sea - Visit and Swim - JOD17
- Kerak - Kerak Castle (entrance fee) - JOD2
- Petra - Petra By Night - JOD30
- Petra - Additional Petra day pass - JOD5
- Dahab - Blue Hole snorkelling - USD35
- Mount Sinai - Sunrise hike - Free
This trip generates 55 kg of CO2-e per person per day
Learn more about our climate commitment.
When you travel with us, The Intrepid Foundation gives you more opportunities to support important causes in destinations you visit.
Before you book you should know
- There is quite a bit of walking involved in visiting Jordan's historic sites, especially in Petra and Wadi Rum, so a reasonable level of fitness is required. Often there is little to no shade, so remember to bring sun protection and comfortable walking shoes. The sunrise hike to the summit of Mount Sinai is optional but you'll need to be an experienced hiker to do this activity. You'll need to bring a head torch with you as you'll be hiking up in the dark.
- Your desert camp stay in Wadi Rum may be simple, but it’s an incredible experience. There are tents and shared western bathroom facilities. Please be aware that while the desert may be very hot during the day, it will still be cool at night, so warm clothes and a sleeping bag are highly recommended – especially when travelling outside of the summer months.
- Winters can get quite cool in this region, so if you’re visiting at this time, don’t forget to pack warm layers.
- The Aqaba to Taba ferry travels across the Gulf of Aqaba. It’s a long travel day, but is the easiest way to travel between the two destinations. Your leader in Jordan will assist you until you reach the Aqaba port and you will be greeted by your new leader once you’ve crossed the border in Egypt. If you do experience sea sickness, please take appropriate precautions for the journey. This journey can often be held up due to scheduling or weather conditions.
- This is a great overland journey from Jordan to Egypt. We highly recommend spending extra time in Cairo after your trip. Please consults with your booking agent if you are interested in booking extra accommodation in Cairo.
The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline only and may change. On some occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our preferred accommodation. In these cases, we will use a similar standard of accommodation.
Throughout the trip, we request that our properties prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However, this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination or on some trips, have use of shared day rooms until all rooms are available.
OCCASIONAL ALTERNATIVE ACCOMMODATION
The style of accommodation indicated in the day-to-day itinerary is a guideline. On rare occasions, alternative arrangements may need to be made due to the lack of availability of rooms in our usual accommodation. A similar standard of accommodation will be used in these instances.
ACCOMMODATION STYLE
Some of the accommodation along the way is basic or simple, three and four-star accommodation in the Middle East (with the exception of Israel) is often not equal to same-star facilities in some western destinations. Rooms are clean and comfortable, however, you may note some small maintenance issues that have been overlooked, please assist us by bringing these to the attention of your group leader or local representative so that we can follow up with our hosts. Many restaurants and hotels do not serve alcohol for religious reasons or due to local laws. Breakfast is included in 95% or our hotels, pleaser refer to our daily itinerary for meal inclusions.
TWIN SHARE / MULTI SHARE BASIS
Accommodation on this trip is on a twin/multi-share basis.
CHECK-IN TIME
Throughout the trip, we request that our hotels prepare rooms in time for our arrival, especially if we're arriving prior to normal check-in time. However, this isn't always possible which means we won't be able to check-in immediately on arrival at some hotels. Instead, we can store our luggage and explore our new destination. Standard check-in time is 1400 hours.
PRE/POST TRIP ACCOMMODATION
If you've purchased pre-trip or post-trip accommodation (subject to availability), you may be required to change rooms from your trip accommodation for these extra nights.
SHOWERS
Showers at some hotels only have hot water at peak times (usually morning and evening). Outside of these times, you may need to speak to reception to obtain hot water.
HEATING AND AIR-CONDITIONING
As a desert region, this part of the world has extremes of weather. Winter months (approx December to March) can be very cold. All of our hotel accommodation contains suitable bedding, and simple light bedding is provided during camping activities such as an overnight felucca, desert camps or at the Red Sea Beach camp stay. Most of our travellers find the bedding provided here adequate, but for your own comfort and if you are particularly sensitive to the cold, consider bringing your own sleeping bag, thermals, scarf, gloves and a warm jacket. Some of our guesthouses/hotels don't supply heating. In many cases, this would be a major financial and environmental strain on our hotels and the local towns. Summer (approx June to August) can be very hot everywhere we travel, which means that it can be quite uncomfortable for those not used to the heat. Not all our hotels have air-conditioning, and in those that do, it's not always functioning.
ROOM ISSUES
If you have any issues with your room, please speak to the hotel and your group leader or local representative right away so that the problem can be addressed without delay.
The Signature Hotel
Building Number 29, Nemer Bin Edwan Street, Al Weibdeh,
Amman
JORDAN
Phone: 0096 2 6 465 09 99
Instructions
Intrepid can assist with pre-booking an arrival transfer from the airport - enquire with your agent. Please advise your flight arrival details at least 14 days prior to your departure.
For your confirmed arrival transfer, you’ll be met at Amman’s international airport (AMM) after clearing customs by a transfer representative holding an Intrepid sign. The driver will wait a maximum of one hour from the time the plane lands. In case of flight cancellations, changes, if you experience severe delays at immigration, baggage collection or customs, or if you are not able to find the driver, our transport provider, Payless, have a desk in the airport and you can approach them directly for assistance. You can also reach our local operations team on +962 79700 4051 for further assistance.
Alternatively, you can take a taxi from the airport to your hotel. The journey will take approximately 45mins, depending on the traffic, and cost approximately JOD25. We recommend using only authorised airport taxis.
Dates and prices
Important notes
1. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement excludes Day 4 where you will be in shared accommodation and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information.
2. Any camera with a resolution exceeding 50 megapixels, regardless of the camera type, including GoPro cameras, can be confiscated by the local authorities at Taba Port. Binoculars are also not allowed. We've had reports of such confiscation even if it's not on the official banned list. Please be aware of this possibility.
3. Some foreign travel advisories warn against all travel to North Sinai or the Northern part of South Sinai. This trip does not visit these regions and foreign travel advice has been consulted in planning our routes. Please ensure that your travel insurance covers you for all destinations included on this trip.
4. Please make sure you print a copy of your Jordan evisa for the border crossing checking.
Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.
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