Land in Cairo, where desert horizons meet a skyline of minarets. After Immigration and baggage claim, meet our representative just outside Arrivals for your private transfer to the hotel. En route, glimpse the broad ribbon of the Nile and, on a clear day, the distant outline of the Giza Pyramids.

Use the rest of the day to rest and acclimatise. For a gentle first look, stroll the riverside promenade or browse a nearby souk for spices and crafts. Save energy for tomorrow’s deep dive into Giza and the chronicles of ancient Egypt.

Day 3: Cairo – Pyramids of Giza & Sphinx (Half Day)

Breakfast at the hotel, then set out for Egypt’s most iconic ensemble: the Great Pyramids of Giza—Cheops (Khufu), Chefren (Khafre) and Micerinos (Menkaure)—and the enigmatic Eternal Sphinx with the adjacent Valley Temple of Chefren. Your guide unpacks 4,500 years of ingenuity, from precise stonework to funerary rites, while you take in desert horizons and the classic pyramid skyline.

Return to the hotel by early afternoon or continue with an optional guided extension to the Saqqara Necropolis—home to the revolutionary Step Pyramid of Djoser—and nearby Memphis, ancient capital of the Old Kingdom, to view statues and reliefs that illuminate the birth of pyramid building.

After your visits, return to the hotel to unwind. The remainder of the evening is at leisure—consider a Nile-side stroll or a relaxed dinner in Zamalek.

Begin with Egypt’s defining icons: the Great Pyramid of Giza and the enigmatic Sphinx. Your guide brings the plateau to life—royal tombs, alignment, and ancient engineering—before you continue to the Egyptian Museum (Tahrir) for a curated look at masterpieces spanning Pharaonic dynasties.

This evening, transfer to the station and board the overnight sleeper train to Aswan. Settle into your twin-berth cabin and watch Cairo’s lights give way to the dark ribbon of the Nile as dinner is served on board.

Wake in serene Aswan. This morning, choose your pace: wander the lively Aswan market for spices and crafts, or take a guided visit to the island-set Temple of Philae, sanctuary of Isis with graceful colonnades and lakeside vistas.

Later, travel by boat to a Nubian village along the Nile. Meet your hosts, learn about Nubian traditions and savour a home-cooked dinner—fragrant stews, fresh flatbreads and sweet tea—shared family-style in a welcoming courtyard.

After breakfast, board a traditional felucca and glide along the Nile to the Aswan Bridge. Disembark and transfer by road to Kom Ombo, tracing palm belts and village fields that fringe the river.

Explore the unique Temple of Kom Ombo, shared between Sobek (crocodile-headed) and Haroeris (falcon-headed Horus the Elder). Note reliefs of healing instruments and Nile deities before continuing by road to Luxor, ancient Thebes.

This evening, dive into flavours at a local market in Luxor: try koshari, grilled kebabs, fresh falafel and syrupy om ali. Your guide can suggest stalls and favourites for an easy, delicious dinner.

After breakfast, cross to the West Bank for a guided visit to the Valley of the Kings, where vivid wall scenes trace the pharaohs’ journey to the afterlife. Continue to the elegant, terraced Temple of Hatshepsut (El-Deir El-Bahari) before pausing at the sentinel Colossi of Memnon for photos and stories of ancient Thebes.

Savour a warm, home-style lunch with a local family on the West Bank—fresh breads, seasonal salads and slow-cooked stews—then stop by an alabaster workshop to see time-honoured carving techniques. Return to Luxor; the rest of the afternoon is at leisure for pool time, a riverside stroll or café-hopping.

After breakfast, sail by ferry to the West Bank to meet our student-guide. Together, cycle through palm groves and village lanes to the Funtasia Project Center to learn about the Planeterra initiative supporting youth and community development—shared over tea and conversation with your guide.

Cross back to the East Bank for an in-depth visit to Karnak Temple, once the spiritual heart of ancient Egypt. Walk the grand hypostyle hall, trace sacred barque routes and pause by the holy lake as your guide unpacks three millennia of worship and power. Later, enjoy free time in Luxor to browse the bustling bazaar for spices, textiles and keepsakes.

After breakfast, transfer to Luxor Airport for your flight to Cairo, then connect onward to Amman, Jordan. On arrival, complete formalities and transfer into the city. The remainder of the day is free to explore—stroll Rainbow Street cafés, sample knafeh, or catch sunset views from the Citadel (time permitting).

After breakfast, drive north to Jerash, one of the best-preserved Roman cities in the Middle East. Walk the oval forum, colonnaded streets and theatres as your guide connects Hadrianic arches, temples and mosaics to everyday life in the Decapolis.

Continue to the Dead Sea for a restorative stop at the Earth’s lowest point. Enjoy time to float in the mineral-rich waters and relax on the shore before returning to Amman for the evening at leisure.

After breakfast, drive south to Madaba for a guided look at its famed Byzantine mosaics, including the intricate Holy Land map. Continue to Mt Nebo for sweeping views across the Jordan Valley—on a clear day, the Dead Sea and hills of Palestine shimmer on the horizon.

Travel onward to the imposing Karak Crusader Castle, a labyrinth of halls, barracks and vaulted passages that guarded the ancient King’s Highway. After exploring, continue through dramatic highland scenery to Wadi Musa (Petra) for an evening at leisure and tomorrow’s deep dive into the Rose-Red City.

Start early for Petra. Walk the shadowed Siq as colours shift from rose to ochre, then emerge before the iconic Treasury (Al-Khazneh). Continue on a guided walking tour through façaded streets, rock-cut tombs and the theatre as your representative unpacks Nabataean trade routes and craftsmanship.

After the tour, explore at your own pace—perhaps take the established Al-Khubtha viewpoint path for a renowned panorama above the Treasury, or tackle the steps to the vast Monastery (Ad-Deir) for sweeping high-desert vistas (time/fitness permitting).

Morning at Siq al-Barid (Little Petra) (optional) to explore rock-cut façades and painted chambers that once hosted Silk Road traders. Continue south to the vast sandstone amphitheatre of Wadi Rum, where red dunes and weathered massifs set the scene for an unforgettable desert experience.

Head out on a guided 4x4 desert tour to natural rock bridges, narrow canyons with ancient petroglyphs and sweeping viewpoints. As the light softens, arrive at a Bedouin camp to share a traditional zarb dinner (earth-oven barbeque) under a sky bright with stars. Settle into your private tent for a peaceful night in the desert.

After breakfast, leave the desert silence of Wadi Rum for the Red Sea shores of Aqaba. Check in and choose your pace: stretch out on the beach, swim in clear waters, or join an optional glass-bottom boat or snorkelling outing to spot coral gardens and colourful reef fish.

Prefer to explore on land? Wander the waterfront promenade, browse the souk for spices and handicrafts, or visit the small but atmospheric Aqaba Fort before a sunset stroll along the bay.

After breakfast, depart the Red Sea coast for Amman, tracing desert highways and highland vistas. En route, pause at a Lumle-supported community café for a warm welcome and a freshly cooked lunch that champions local produce and supports meaningful livelihoods.

Continue to Amman for check-in and an evening at leisure—consider a stroll along Rainbow Street or a sunset viewpoint above the citadel.

Enjoy breakfast, then depart at any time. When ready, meet your driver for the transfer to Queen Alia International Airport. Keep passports, e-tickets and valuables in your carry-on and allow ample time for security and formalities.