Essential Jordan & Egypt

Transcription

1 14 days Amman to Luxor Travelling from Amman to Luxor, discover the ancient wonders of Petra, the Pyramids and the Valley of the Kings. Camp out in the Wadi Rum desert, float in the Dead Sea and barter in Cairo's bustling bazaars on this two week tour that takes in the best of Jordan & Egypt. HIGHLIGHTS AND INCLUSIONS Trip Highlights Petra - explore this spectacular UNESCOlisted Nabataean city, which is one of the New Seven Wonders of the World Wadi Rum - explore this vast red desert with its rolling dunes and dramatic rock formations in a 4x4 and camp under a blanket of stars Dead Sea - bob around like a cork in the famously buoyant, mineral-rich waters and smother yourself in Dead Sea mud Mt Nebo - take in the incredible panoramic views across the Promised Land Karak - roam around this imposing Crusader castle, perched dramatically on a hill top Amman - visit the ancient hilltop citadel, the fascinating Archaeological Museum and bustling souqs Madaba - wander around this Christian market town, home to Jordan s finest Byzantine mosaics Cairo - marvel at the legendary Pyramids of Giza, explore the Necropolis of Saqqara and see King Tut's treasures at the Egyptian Museum Aswan - visit the romantic Philae Temple and sail to Elephantine & Kitchener Island on board a traditional felucca Nile felucca cruising - sail the River Nile on board a traditional felucca and spend two nights sleeping on deck, under a blanket of stars Kom Ombo - visit the Nile side Temple of Kom Ombo Edfu - explore Edfu Temple, dedicated to the falcon god Horus Luxor - experience the beautifully illuminated Luxor Temple at night (optional) and roam around the colossal Temple of Karnak Luxor's West Bank - discover exquisite tombs in the Valley of the Kings, the towering Colossi of Memnon and the beautiful Temple of Queen Hatshepsut What's Included 13 breakfasts and 1 dinner 5 nights 3 star hotels in Jordan and 7 nights 3-4 star hotels in Egypt 1 night - Wadi Rum desert camp Touring of Amman, Petra, Karak, Wadi Rum, Dead Sea, Mt Nebo, Cairo, Giza, Saqqara, Luxor, Aswan, Edfu & Kom Ombo 4x4 desert safari across the sand dunes of Wadi Rum Felucca excursion to Elephantine & Kitchener Islands Excursion to the Dead Sea Escorted by a licensed Jordanian tour guide and an Egyptian tour guide degree qualified in Egyptology English speaking specialist guides at some local sights Airport arrival and departure transfers on day 1 and day 7 and day 14 All transfers and transportation in private modern air-conditioned vehicles What's Not Included Tipping Kitty: USD$90-100, paid in local currency Entrance Fees: USD$ , paid in local currency International flights and visas. Local payment - GBP 150 (or USD equivalent) paid in cash upon arrival Tip for your tour guide. We recommend you allow $3-5 USD per day, per traveller. Tipping your guide is an entirely personal gesture Local Payment USD $200, paid in local currency DETAILED ITINERARY Day 1 : Amman Sunday. Upon arrival at Queen Alia International Airport you'll be met and transferred to our hotel - 1 -

2 in Amman. At 6pm this evening meet your guide and the rest of the group at a Welcome Meeting. If you are arriving after the meeting time your guide will catch up with you either tomorrow morning or in the evening. Included Activities: Welcome meeting Overnight - Amman Day 2 : Optional Jerash & Aljoun magnificent Crusader castle of Karak. Amman to Petra:288km, approx 4 hrs Included Activities: Amman city tour and Karak Castle Overnight - Petra (B) Day 4 : Petra on the optional Petra By Night excursion (payable locally). Included Activities: Guided tour of Petra Optional Activities: Petra by Night Overnight - Petra (B) Day 5 : Free time in Petra & 4x4 in Wadi Rum Today is free to independently explore Jordan's capital and perhaps enjoy a stroll along Rainbow Street to experience modern Amman with its hip bars, rooftop restaurants, art studios, bookshops or join our optional excursion to see the spectacular 2000-year-old ruins in the Graeco-Roman city of Jerash and explore the 12th century Aljoun Castle which sits atop a hill in the Jabal Ajlun district in northwest Jordan. Optional Activities: Excursion to Jerash and Aljoun Castle Overnight - Amman (B) Day 3 : Amman City tour & Karak Castle Amman - Karak - Petra. Our day starts with a guided tour of Amman, taking in the Citadel, which sits on the highest hill in Amman, and the National Archaeological Museum. From Amman we drive south to Petra, stopping en route to explore the crumbling remnants of the The remarkable rose city of Petra is one of the New Seven Wonders of the World and undoubtedly the jewel in Jordan's crown. We spend the whole day exploring this incredible UNESCO-Listed archaeological site, which dates back to 6th century BC and was once the thriving capital of the Nabataean empire. Nestled in a secluded valley surrounded by rugged mountains and a lunar-like rock formations, Petra was left deserted and hidden from the world for hundreds of years before being rediscovered in the 1800s. We access the hidden archaeological treasures of the Rose-Red City on a walk through a narrow siq, where the 200m high rocks finally give way to reveal the spectacular facade of the Kazneh (aka the Treasury). From the Treasury the hidden valley widens to reveal the remains of this ancient city where we'll see tombs, temples, an impressive amphitheatre and a Roman colonnaded street. After our guided tour there's free time to explore and those that are feeling energetic can climb the hundreds of rock-cut steps to Ad-Deir which is better known as the Monastery. The Monastery has a similar facade to the Treasury, but it's larger and more striking, with incredible views over the Petra Hills. This evening there's the opportunity to walk through back the Siq after dark and revisit The Treasury, illuminated by thousands of candles, Petra - Wadi Rum. This morning is free for you to spend at leisure or you can revisit Petra this morning on an optional hike, entering via the Al Madras secret road to see Treasury from above and visit the High Place of Sacrifice. This afternoon we drive to the striking Wadi Rum desert with its rolling red dunes and amazing rock formations. Boarding 4x4 jeeps, we take an exhilarating ride across the sand dunes to our desert camp where we spend the night. After a Jordanian dinner we spend the evening around the camp fire under an incredible blanket of stars, before bedding down for the night in permanent tents. Petra to Wadi Rum: 110km, approx 1.45 hrs Included Activities: Wadi Rum Jeep Safari Optional Activities: Al Madras hike. Cost: Difference between 1 day and 2 day Petra ticket, budget $7 Overnight - Wadi Rum (B, D) Day 6 : Dead Sea & Mt Nebo - 2 -

3 Wadi Rum - Dead Sea - Mt Nebo - Madaba. This morning consider waking early to watch an incredible sunrise over the desert. After breakfast at the campsite we bid farewell to Wadi Rum and travel north to the lowest point on the earth's surface - the Dead Sea. More than 400 meters below sea level, the mineral-rich Dead Sea is a hypersaline lake which is famous for its buoyancy. We spend a leisurely few hours at the Dead Sea bobbing about like corks in the therapeutic waters and smothering ourselves in some of the famous black Dead Sea mud to give our skin an invigorating boost. After our Dead Sea dalliance we travel on to Madaba, stopping en route at Mt Nebo, which is the site where Moses saw the Promised Land. From this wonderful vantage point, we can take in the amazing panorama which includes the Jordan River Valley, the Dead Sea, Jericho and the spires and domes of the Mt. of Olives and Bethlehem on the Judean hills just across the wide valley. We spend the final night of our tour in the ancient market town of Madaba which is renowned for its beautiful Byzantine-era mosaics. Included Activities: Excursion to Dead Sea & Mt Nebo Wadi Rum to Madaba: 340km, approx 5 hrs Overnight - Madaba (B) Day 7 : Fly Amman to Cairo Amman - Cairo. Today our Jordanian adventure comes to an end and our Egyptian escapade begins. Included transfer to Amman's Queen Ali Airport for your flight to Cairo in Egypt. Upon arrival our Egypt team will be there to meet you and transfer you to your hotel. Remainder of the day is at leisure. Overnight - Cairo (B) Day 8 : Pyramids of Giza After breakfast we have a short welcome meeting before travelling to the Giza Plateau to visit the legendary Pyramids of Giza, the sole survivors of the ancient Seven Wonders of the World. Known as Cheops, Chephren and Mycerinus the great pyramids were built over 4500 years ago to protect the mummies of the pharaohs and the treasures they took with them to the afterlife. Constructed from over 2.5 million limestone blocks, Cheops is the largest of the great pyramids and it is thought to have taken 100,000 workers more than 20 years to construct. For a real Arabian experience, you can opt to hire a camel for a ride across the sands of Giza. After exploring the pyramids and the iconic Sphinx we travel on to the necropolis of Saqqara to see Zhoser s step pyramid - which was constructed by Imhotep, the pharaoh s chief architect, in 2700 BC and became the template for all future pyramid construction. Included activities: Guided tour of Pyramids of Giza and Saqqara Step Pyramid Overnight - Cairo (B) Day 9 : Egyptian Museum & Khan el-khalili Cairo - Luxor. This morning we visit the famous Egyptian Museum, which is home to a mind boggling array of Egyptian relics and antiquities including the treasures of King Tutankhamun and his famous solid gold funerary mask. Then we stop for a spot of souvenir shopping at the bustling Khan el-khalili bazaar. This afternoon we board our coach to travel south to Luxor. It's a long journey today so we recommend stocking up on some snacks before hand and stops will also be made en route. Upon arrival this evening we check into our hotel by the River Nile. Cairo to Luxor: 735 kms, 9 hrs Included activities: Guided tour of Egyptian Museum & Khan el-khalili Market Overnight - Luxor (B) Day 10 : Valley of the Kings Luxor - Aswan. This morning we cross to the West Bank of the Nile for the day's touring. An early start allows us to avoid some of the fierce heat as we venture to the awesome Valley of the Kings. The first monument you ll see on the West Bank is the imposing 18m-high Colossi of Memnon, which represent the remains of the temple of the hedonistic Amenophis III. The Valley of the Kings is studded with often highly decorated pharaoh's tombs, some of which you can enter. Some of the tombs are so well preserved; the colours of the incredible pharaonic friezes are still as vibrant as when they were first painted. The best known tombs are those of Ramses II, Seti I, Amenhotep II and of course, the tomb of King Tutankhamen. Beyond the Valley of the Kings is Deir al- Bahri, otherwise known as the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut. Rising out of the desert plain, in a series of terraces, it is one of Egypt s finest and most photographed monuments. Later this afternoon we continue our journey, travelling south to Aswan. Luxor to Aswan: 247 kms, 4 hrs Included activities: Guided tour of the Valley of the Kings, Temple of Queen Hatshepsut & Colossi of Memnon Overnight - Aswan (B) - 3 -

4 Day 11 : Optional Abu Simbel & Philae Temple Day 12 : Elephantine & Kitchener Islands preservation fills in a lot of historical gaps because it is, in effect, a 2000 year old replica of an architectural style that was already age-old during Ptolemaic times. Optional early morning excursion to Abu Simbel. Travelling due south through the vast sandy desert we arrive at the site. Abu Simbel - the gargantuan rock-cut temple of King Ramses II, the Great Builder is possibly the most aweinspiring temple of all ancient Egypt, with its mammoth rock-cut façade. Abu Simbel was created to revere the mighty pharaonic ruler King Ramses II. Guarding the entrance to the temple, the four famous colossal statues of Ramses II sit majestically, staring out across the desert, seemingly since time began. In a multimillion dollar operation in 1972, the temple was famously re-located further up from the shoreline of Lake Nasser, which had threatened to erode the foundations of this monolithic temple complex. After the optional excursion we take a short boat ride out to Agilika Island for a guided tour of the beautiful Philae Temple which is dedicated to the goddess Isis and dates back to 4th century BC. The rest of the day is free to relax by the hotel pool, go shopping in the colourful souks and watch a beautiful sunset over the Nile. Included activities: Guided tour of Philae Temple Optional activities: Abu Simbel excursion Overnight - Aswan (B) Today we enjoy a relaxing sailing trip on the River Nile on board a traditional Egyptian felucca sailing boat. Sit back, relax and watch life along the riverbank as we sail to Elephantine and Kitchener Island. The rocks on Elephantine Island form the shape of an elephant's back and on the island we'll see an ancient Nilometer which measures the depth of the Nile and wander around the colourful Nubian Village. Kitchener Island was named after Lord Kitchener and is home to a spectacular botanical garden which we'll visit before returning to Aswan. Spend the rest of the day at leisure. Included activities: Felucca sailing to Elephantine & Kitchener Islands Overnight - Aswan (B) Day 13 : Kom Ombo, Edfu & Luxor Temple Kom Ombo - Edfu - Luxor. We bid farewell to Aswan this morning and travel back to Luxor, stopping en route to visit the striking riverside temple of Kom Ombo, which is dedicated to the crocodile headed god Sobek, and the Temple of Horus in Edfu, which is one of the best-preserved ancient monuments in Egypt. The Temple of Horus was one of the last monumental temples built on a large scale and although it is much newer than the temples of Karnak and Luxor, its excellent state of structural Arriving into Luxor opt to join our optional evening excursion to the spectacular Luxor Temple, which is best seen after dark when its incredible relief carvings, columns and statues are illuminated by hundreds of lights. To enter the temple we walk along the atmospheric Avenue of Sphinxes which was once 3kms long, connecting Luxor Temple and Karnak. Aswan - Luxor: 244kms, 4.5 hrs Included activities: Guided tour of Kom Ombo & Edfu Temple Optional activities: Luxor Temple by Night Overnight - Luxor (B) Day 14 : Luxor Our Egyptian adventure ends with a guided tour of the vast Temple of Karnak this morning. This incredible religious complex was an important pilgrimage site, dedicated to the Theban gods and built over a period of 2000 years, with the oldest buildings dating back 4000 years. Our tour ends with an included transfer to Luxor Airport for your onward flight. In order to visit Karnak Temple please book a flight departing after 2pm. Alternatively, if you'd like to extend your stay we can book post tour accommodation upon request. Included activities: Guided tour of Karnak Temple (B) KNOW BEFORE YOU GO Visas Please be advised that visa requirements are subject to change and that visa procurement is the responsibility of the traveller and not On The Go Tours. Please also ensure that your passport is valid for at least 6 months from your planned date of departure from Jordan. As a registered holiday operator we are able to obtain Jordan tourist visas free of charge for UK, EU, AUS, NZ, SA, CAN and USA passport holders travelling with us on a holiday including a stay - 4 -

5 of more than 2 consecutive nights in Jordan or if arriving via a land border staying more than 3 nights. If your holiday complies with these requirements we will arrange the visa for your stay/s and present it to you upon arrival. If we are obtaining a free of charge visa on your behalf, our airport representative will meet your PRIOR to immigration at Amman International Airport and escort you through immigration presenting your free visa approval letter to officials. If you are unable to make contact with our representative prior to immigration please do NOT proceed through immigration (as you will need to pay the visa cost) but instead call our emergency contact number. Please be sure to provide us with your full passport details at least 4 weeks prior to your arrival in order for the free visa to be arranged. Should you NOT wish to take advantage of a free visa or you are not staying in Jordan for more than 2 consecutive nights, UK, EU, AUS, NZ, CAN and USA passport holders can obtain a visa upon arrival at a cost of 40JD/USD$60/EURO42 for single entry. South African passport holders can obtain a visa upon arrival at no cost. If you are arranging your visa independently, our airport representative will meet you in the Arrivals Hall. (Representatives are not permitted to enter the immigration area to assist clients who have/will arrange their visa independently). It is no longer possible to get a multiple entry visa for Jordan. If planning to leave Jordan and travel to Egypt or Israel and re-enter Jordan at a later date you will need to arrange a second visa. If you are travelling with us and staying in Jordan for more than 2 consecutive nights, we will obtain this second visa for you. Alternatively, you can obtain a second visa at the border at the cost noted above. On departure (via land or sea), a 10JD departure tax of is applied to all visitors. If departing Jordan by air then the departure tax is included in the airfare. Mosques, Religion & Ramadan 93% of the population are Muslim. Others are Christians or followers of other faiths. All mosques are open to non-muslims but cannot be visited during prayer times. If visiting a mosque you will need to dress conservatively. Ensure limbs are covered and shoes removed when entering any Mosque. Men must refrain from wearing shorts, as must women. RAMADAN Ramadan is a month of fasting observed by Muslims throughout the world and adherents of the Muslim faith fast during daylight hours and break their fast with lavish meals and lively celebrations in the evening. Ramadan culminates a month later in a 3 day celebration called Eid al - Fitr. Many shops (excluding those which cater mainly to tourists) and attractions close earlier during Ramadan. As such we will start our tour earlier during this period to make the best use of time, leisure time will be offered in the late afternoon. Note: Traffic is exceptionally heavy during Ramadan, especially toward the time of breaking the fast. Forthcoming Ramadan dates are as follows, (approximate) - 16 May 14 June 2018, 05 May 04 June 2019 and 24 April 23 May Many shops (excluding those which cater mainly to tourists) and attractions close earlier during Ramadan, so our itinerary is slightly altered to ensure we visit all itinerary attractions. Non-Muslims are not expected to fast over Ramadan, but it is considered impolite to eat food or drink on the street. Wadi Rum Desert Camp On all group tours in Jordan we include a night in Wadi Rum at a Bedouin desert camp, where camping is the best way for us to experience the beautiful desert landscape. You can choose to spend the night camping under the stars or bedding down in our comfortable permanent tents with twin beds and linen provided, although you may want to bring your own sleeping bag liner. If visiting in winter (Nov - Mar) it can be very cold at night in the desert and you may wish to bring your own sleeping bag for warmth. There are environmentally friendly shared bathroom facilities with hot and cold running water, toilets and showers. Our communal tent furnished with small tables and cushioned seating area, is the place to gather at night where we enjoy a hearty Jordanian meal and some traditional Bedouin music. Shopping Jordan offers a range of quality souvenirs. Look out for high-quality artefacts including rugs, pottery, paintings, jewellery, embroidery and woven items produced by local Jordanian women under the auspices of the Noor- Al Hussein Foundation and the Queen Alia Fund. A popular form of ceramic ware is Jerusalem Pottery. Platters are highly decorated with biblically-inspired designs including fish, peacocks, grapes and goblets of wine. Known as Hebron glass, colourful handmade glassware in brilliant colours is a nice buy, as is silver jewellery crafted by the Bedouin people. Dead Sea products of all guises, olive oil and soaps, sweetmeats and olive wood objects are also uniquely Jordanian souvenirs. IMPORTANT: Set your budget and don t be swayed, remember the caveat Let the buyer beware. Any purchases made whilst on holiday with us, irrespective of whether the store is recommended by us or other, are at your own discretion. Please make sure that you are completely happy with the product you are purchasing and the delivery arrangements (we would recommend you take away with you any purchases rather than rely on shipping services). On The Go cannot be held responsible or accountable for items bought in country or shipping arrangements. Proceed with caution. Arriving to Jordan Upon arrival to Amman Queen Alia International airport and if we are arranging a visa for you, we will meet you PRIOR to immigration and fast track you through the process. If we are not arranging your visa please proceed through immigration, baggage claim and customs. As you exit customs into the public arrivals hall, please look for our representative who will be holding an On The Go Tours logo signboard. Our representative will introduce you to our driver, who will transfer you to your hotel. You will also be given a welcome letter at this - 5 -

6 time highlighting the departure time for your sightseeing program tomorrow. If for any reason you have trouble locating our representative (after waiting 20 minutes PRIOR to immigration, if we are arranging your visa) or your flight to Jordan is delayed, please call or send a text message (standard text, not messenger, what's App etc) to the emergency contact number as noted on your tour voucher. Entrance Fees & LP Entry fees to sites are not included in your holiday and are subject to change at the discretion of the Ministry of Tourism. There is no reduction for ISIC student card holders at Jordanian sites. A two day pass for Petra is currently 55JD (approximately USD$77) and a one day ticket is 50JD (approximately USD$70), included in the above budget. In Jordan, we collect entrance fees on Day 2 of the tour, the amount is noted under exclusions on page one of this document. On our Road to Jordan, Temples Tombs & Treasury and Pyramids Petra, Promised Land tours entrance fees will be collected upon your arrival to Petra or the following morning. You can take advantage of exchanging money and ATM facilities at the airport. All funds collected in Jordan are payable in Jordanian Diner (JD). If travelling onto Egypt, your entrance fees for this part of your holiday is payable in EGP and will be collected on the second day of arriving to Cairo If your tour includes a Local Payment of GBP 150 or USD equivalent (noted under exclusions) this amount will also be collected on Day 2 in Jordan. Tipping Kitty At the start of your holiday we will collect a tip kitty (the amount is noted under exclusions) from all participants on the tour to cover gratuities throughout your holiday. This saves you the hassle of knowing when and how much to tip bellhops, luggage luggers, bus drivers, antiquity guards, and other support staff throughout the tour. This amount does not include a tip for your tour guide. For a job well done, we would suggest USD$3-5 per day for your tour guide, however the decision to tip or how much is entirely up to you. If you are travelling on to Egypt, the tip kitty for this part of your holiday is collected in Jordanian Dinar (EGP) and you should allow USD$3-5 per day for your Egyptian tour guide, however the decision to tip or how much is entirely up to you. If travelling onto Israel we recommend you allow USD4-6 per day, per traveller for your guide and USD2-3 for your driver. Tipping your guide and driver is an entirely personal gesture. Petra Park Services Charge The cost of the entrance ticket to Petra includes a compulsory 7JD fee to ride an Arabian horse. This Government-approved directive is in support of the local Bedouin who own the horses and also live in the surrounding town of Wadi Musa. As you have paid this obligatory charge, you are indeed entitled to ride a horse 800 metres down to the entrance gate at Petra. However, please be aware that you'll need to tip the horse handler an extra 2JD. IMPORTANT- On The Go Tours only recommends that you do so if you are an experienced rider. The decision to ride a horse is a personal one. Health Requirements You should seek medical advice before travelling to Jordan from your local health practitioner and ensure that you receive all of the appropriate vaccinations. As a guide Tetanus, Diphtheria and Hepatitis A are strongly recommended. As tap water is not safe to drink in Jordan, only drink bottled mineral water which is readily available from hotels, shops and restaurants. Climate The maximum daily temperature in Amman ranges from 12 C in January to 32 C in August. The weather in the Jordan Valley (Petra) and south of the country is very hot during the summer months of April through to September. At this time of year daytime temperatures can exceed 38 C and increase to as high as 49 C. The sun can be fierce so it is advised to apply plenty of sunscreen, especially at the Dead Sea. In winter (December to February) temperatures can range from 0 C to 12 C. If visiting during winter you will need to pack warm clothes for sightseeing, although the Dead Sea region will still be quite warm. If your holiday includes a stay in the Wadi Rum desert, winter wear items such as hat, scarf and gloves are also advised. Currency The currency of Jordan is the Jordanian Dinar. Pound Sterling, US Dollars, Euro and other major currencies can be exchanged in Jordan. Exchange facilities are available at various bureau de changes and all major towns have ATMs. It's advisable to request bank notes in smaller denominations, as it can sometimes be hard to get change from large notes and smaller notes are handy for smaller purchases and gratuities. Traveller's Cheques are not recommended. Time & Voltage Jordan is 2 hours ahead of Greenwich Meantime (GMT). From the last Sunday in March to the last Sunday in October Jordan observes Daylight Saving and is 3 hours ahead of GMT. Standard voltage is 220 volts. Primary sockets require 3 pin UK and often European, 2 pronged variety. In Israel the preferred variety is European 2 prong. We recommend that you pack a universal travel adaptor. You will need a voltage converter, and plug adaptor in order to use U.S. appliances. Essential Packing Camping at Wadi Rum - All bedding (of a well-laundered standard) is provided at our Bedouin camp. It is of a personal choice should you wish to bring your own sleep sheet or sleeping bag. Pack insect repellent and a torch or headlamp if staying in Wadi Rum If visiting in winter pack warm clothes and an umbrella In summer bring lightweight clothing, sunscreen and a hat UK 3 pin and European 2 prong (European more so for Israel) electrical adaptors as the sockets vary from one hotel to another A copy of your travel insurance policy, spare passport photos and a photocopy of your passport - 6 -

7 Proper walking shoes (joggers/ trainers) for sightseeing in Petra If visiting Wadi Mujib Siq trail/canyon you'll need clothing and footwear that can get wet. Ideally a t-shirt & shorts or swimmers and trainers/walking shoes that will spend most of the walk submerged. Binoculars IMPORTANT - are considered as surveillance equipment. Should you be carrying binoculars expect that you'll be asked to hand these over briefly at times (with your passport) by police or military for inspection. You should not be concerned by the event, as this is merely a routine inspection of the item