18 to 35s Real Egypt & Jordan

The adventure

Tick off some bucket list icons on this epic 15-day adventure through Egypt and Jordan – both home to one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Start strong at the Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx in Cairo then wander through the Valley of the Kings in Luxor. Eat some koshari in a local downtown joint and explore a bazaar where you can meet with a perfume merchant. Kayak along the Nile, spend a night on a traditional felucca under starry skies and drink your body weight in mint tea. Find hidden bars and delicious falafel in Amman then hike through Wadi Rum, where you’ll watch the sunrise and explore the land in a 4WD. Witness the awe-inspiring site of Petra and soak away your worries in the Dead Sea. With all these epic sites and a small group of new friends to share it all with, what are you waiting for?

At a glance

Where you'll go

Day by day

Your journey through

Egypt

Showing Days 1-7

13-day itinerary

Day 1CairoAhlan wa sahlan! Welcome to Egypt. If you arrive in Cairo with time to spare, maybe immerse yourself in the madness of the bazaars, embrace the kitsch world of Dr Ragab's Pharaonic Village or wash down the dust with a sahlab (sweet, hot custard drink with nuts). Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight. After, put your tastebuds into overdrive as you head out with your new travel buddies for some koshari (vegetarian Egyptian chilli often with fresh lemon juice). Later tonight, maybe explore Cairo’s nightlife – your trip leader will know all the best spots!

Cairo

Ahlan wa sahlan! Welcome to Egypt. If you arrive in Cairo with time to spare, maybe immerse yourself in the madness of the bazaars, embrace the kitsch world of Dr Ragab's Pharaonic Village or wash down the dust with a sahlab (sweet, hot custard drink with nuts). Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm tonight. After, put your tastebuds into overdrive as you head out with your new travel buddies for some koshari (vegetarian Egyptian chilli often with fresh lemon juice). Later tonight, maybe explore Cairo’s nightlife – your trip leader will know all the best spots!

Day 2Cairo/Pyramids/SphinxAfter breakfast this morning, it’s time to tick something huge off your bucket list. Drive out to the edge of the desert and explore the Great Pyramids of Giza – one of the famed ancient Wonders of the World – and the nearby Sphinx (nobody's quite sure how it lost its nose). A guy called Khufu was responsible for building the Great Pyramid – it’s 4500 years old, 146 m tall, and made from 2.3 million blocks weighing around 2.5 tonnes each. He even got a 9 cm statue to commemorate him – lucky him! You can marvel at their size up close or take an epic pic from a distance, with Cairo in the background. Later, you’ll have free time to continue exploring how you’d like – maybe visit the Egyptian Museum, home to one of the world's greatest collections of ancient artefacts, or head to the Valley Temple of King Khafre (Chephren). In the evening, it's time for your sleeper train to Aswan where you’ll spend the night.

Cairo

After breakfast this morning, it’s time to tick something huge off your bucket list. Drive out to the edge of the desert and explore the Great Pyramids of Giza – one of the famed ancient Wonders of the World – and the nearby Sphinx (nobody's quite sure how it lost its nose). A guy called Khufu was responsible for building the Great Pyramid – it’s 4500 years old, 146 m tall, and made from 2.3 million blocks weighing around 2.5 tonnes each. He even got a 9 cm statue to commemorate him – lucky him! You can marvel at their size up close or take an epic pic from a distance, with Cairo in the background. Later, you’ll have free time to continue exploring how you’d like – maybe visit the Egyptian Museum, home to one of the world's greatest collections of ancient artefacts, or head to the Valley Temple of King Khafre (Chephren). In the evening, it's time for your sleeper train to Aswan where you’ll spend the night.

Day 3AswanHit the bazaar this morning on a tour with your leader. Among the friendly shouts of ‘welcome’ and ‘where are you from’ coming from the vendors, maybe visit an oil and perfume merchant to learn how aromatic botanicals have been used in Egypt throughout the ages. Later, choose whether to join an optional tour to the Philae Temple Complex, where you can see the Temple of Isis (the goddess of health, marriage and wisdom) that was rescued from the rising waters of the Nile and relocated in the 1960s. In the afternoon, grab a paddle for a kayaking adventure as you navigate the Nile. Float along the historic waters as you see the sights from a new perspective. For dinner, you can head to a Nubian village for an optional dinner with a local family.

Aswan

Hit the bazaar this morning on a tour with your leader. Among the friendly shouts of ‘welcome’ and ‘where are you from’ coming from the vendors, maybe visit an oil and perfume merchant to learn how aromatic botanicals have been used in Egypt throughout the ages. Later, choose whether to join an optional tour to the Philae Temple Complex, where you can see the Temple of Isis (the goddess of health, marriage and wisdom) that was rescued from the rising waters of the Nile and relocated in the 1960s. In the afternoon, grab a paddle for a kayaking adventure as you navigate the Nile. Float along the historic waters as you see the sights from a new perspective. For dinner, you can head to a Nubian village for an optional dinner with a local family.

Day 4AswanThis morning is yours to spend as you please in Aswan. If you can manage a (very) early start, the optional drive to the epic Abu Simbel is well worth the sleepy eyes – cut out of a solid rock cliff, this temple is a historic site built as a place of worship to Pharaoh Ramses II after his death. Renting a minivan with your fellow travellers is the cheapest option and it takes about 3 hours to drive there. You’ll want at least 2 hours to explore, before heading back to Aswan for a free evening to hit the best dinner and drink spots. Maybe try some ful wa ta’ameya (Egyptian falafel) with a warm pita and salad, followed by another cup of mint tea.

Aswan

This morning is yours to spend as you please in Aswan. If you can manage a (very) early start, the optional drive to the epic Abu Simbel is well worth the sleepy eyes – cut out of a solid rock cliff, this temple is a historic site built as a place of worship to Pharaoh Ramses II after his death. Renting a minivan with your fellow travellers is the cheapest option and it takes about 3 hours to drive there. You’ll want at least 2 hours to explore, before heading back to Aswan for a free evening to hit the best dinner and drink spots. Maybe try some ful wa ta’ameya (Egyptian falafel) with a warm pita and salad, followed by another cup of mint tea.

Day 5Nile FeluccaThis morning is yours to relax and recharge. Then you’ll board an overnight felucca – a bit like a floating tent, this traditional Egyptian vessel is the perfect way to explore the Nile. Spend the late afternoon amid tranquil scenery, either tucking into a good book or playing cards with your group. Depending on your group’s vibe tonight, you might like to have a little beach party under the starry night sky. Tonight, fall asleep to the gentle rocking of the boat, the warm breeze on your cheeks and the blanket of constellations above (there are no walls on a felucca, so your view will be totally undisturbed!).

Nile Felucca

This morning is yours to relax and recharge. Then you’ll board an overnight felucca – a bit like a floating tent, this traditional Egyptian vessel is the perfect way to explore the Nile. Spend the late afternoon amid tranquil scenery, either tucking into a good book or playing cards with your group. Depending on your group’s vibe tonight, you might like to have a little beach party under the starry night sky. Tonight, fall asleep to the gentle rocking of the boat, the warm breeze on your cheeks and the blanket of constellations above (there are no walls on a felucca, so your view will be totally undisturbed!).

Day 6LuxorDisembark your felucca this morning and head for the sweet release of a hotel shower. If you like, you can check out the Temple of Edfu along the way, where inscriptions give insight into life during the Hellenistic period when the temple was built. Continue to Luxor, where you’re free to explore this open-air museum at your own pace. Karnak Temple is a good first stop – wandering through this ancient village is a cool way to get a sense of what life was like here more than 3000 years ago. Legend has it that if you walk around the granite scarab west of the Sacred Lake seven times, you’ll meet your soulmate. Tonight, maybe kick back with some fiteer baladi (Egyptian pizza) or shawarma.

Luxor

Disembark your felucca this morning and head for the sweet release of a hotel shower. If you like, you can check out the Temple of Edfu along the way, where inscriptions give insight into life during the Hellenistic period when the temple was built. Continue to Luxor, where you’re free to explore this open-air museum at your own pace. Karnak Temple is a good first stop – wandering through this ancient village is a cool way to get a sense of what life was like here more than 3000 years ago. Legend has it that if you walk around the granite scarab west of the Sacred Lake seven times, you’ll meet your soulmate. Tonight, maybe kick back with some fiteer baladi (Egyptian pizza) or shawarma.

Day 7Luxor / Valley of the KingsThis morning, travel the short distance to the West Bank. Check out three burial tombs in the Valley of the Kings, with the option to explore the formerly lost tomb of Tutankhamun. Continue to the Colossi of Memnon, where two huge statues of Pharaoh Amenhotep III will have you pondering whether posting selfies twice a day is really the height of narcissism. You’ll also head over to our Intrepid Foundation partner, Animal Care in Egypt (ACE), a local NGO dedicated to providing free veterinary care for wounded working animals in the region. If your fellow travellers are up for it, you can choose to finish your West Bank adventure with an optional visit to the tomb of Hatshepsut – she became pharaoh when she married her half-brother (not all that uncommon at the time). If you’ve got any energy left, there will also be time to squeeze in a visit to Luxor Temple before your overnight train to Cairo.

Luxor

This morning, travel the short distance to the West Bank. Check out three burial tombs in the Valley of the Kings, with the option to explore the formerly lost tomb of Tutankhamun. Continue to the Colossi of Memnon, where two huge statues of Pharaoh Amenhotep III will have you pondering whether posting selfies twice a day is really the height of narcissism. You’ll also head over to our Intrepid Foundation partner, Animal Care in Egypt (ACE), a local NGO dedicated to providing free veterinary care for wounded working animals in the region. If your fellow travellers are up for it, you can choose to finish your West Bank adventure with an optional visit to the tomb of Hatshepsut – she became pharaoh when she married her half-brother (not all that uncommon at the time). If you’ve got any energy left, there will also be time to squeeze in a visit to Luxor Temple before your overnight train to Cairo.

Previous days1 / 2Next days

Your journey through

Jordan

Day 14MadabaThis morning after breakfast, drive down the King’s Highway towards Madaba. You’ll stop along the way to check out the famous Dead Sea – the lowest point on Earth – where you’ll go for a swim (or float) in its salty waters. If you’re feeling a bit sore after your Petra expedition, the Dead Sea’s mud has known healing properties and will be sure to bring back your youthful good looks! After, swing past Mt Nebo, where you’ll have the opportunity to view the Promised Land, just like Moses did. Arrive in Madaba – the city of mosaics – and take a leader-led orientation walk to get your bearings. This afternoon, visit St Georges Church, where you’ll see the intricate mosaic map containing the oldest surviving cartographic depiction of the Holy Land and Jerusalem. Later, maybe head out with the gang for dinner – there are some awesome places to eat in this city and your leader knows all the best spots.

Madaba

This morning after breakfast, drive down the King’s Highway towards Madaba. You’ll stop along the way to check out the famous Dead Sea – the lowest point on Earth – where you’ll go for a swim (or float) in its salty waters. If you’re feeling a bit sore after your Petra expedition, the Dead Sea’s mud has known healing properties and will be sure to bring back your youthful good looks! After, swing past Mt Nebo, where you’ll have the opportunity to view the Promised Land, just like Moses did. Arrive in Madaba – the city of mosaics – and take a leader-led orientation walk to get your bearings. This afternoon, visit St Georges Church, where you’ll see the intricate mosaic map containing the oldest surviving cartographic depiction of the Holy Land and Jerusalem. Later, maybe head out with the gang for dinner – there are some awesome places to eat in this city and your leader knows all the best spots.

Day 15MadabaYour Jordan exploration ends in Madaba after breakfast today. There’s plenty more to see and do in Madaba and Amman! If you would like to spend more time here, just speak to your booking agent ahead of time.

Madaba

Your Jordan exploration ends in Madaba after breakfast today. There’s plenty more to see and do in Madaba and Amman! If you would like to spend more time here, just speak to your booking agent ahead of time.

What's included

Discover Egypt

A glimpse of the destination you'll explore.