Day-to-day schedule
Day 1: Cairo
Welcome to Egypt!
Your tour starts in Cairo, where you can use your hotel room from check in time (12.00 hrs at noon) on day 1. Most of your travel companions will arrive later this first day, the exact time will be depending on their flight schedule. You will meet your English speaking tour leader at 8.00 hrs A.M. on day 2 in the lobby of your hotel.
Enjoy the bustling metropolis of Cairo on foot or by coach if you wish. Visit the amazing pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx built some 4,500 years ago. Cheops' pyramid is 139 meters high, the equivalent of a 45-storey block of flats and 100,000 men must have worked for 20 years to pile up 2.3 million blocks of stone weighing 2.5 tonnes each to create it.
After visiting the pyramids, we will drive to the old citadel and see the large mosque of Mohammed Ali before visiting the ancient part of Cairo, including the beautiful "Coptic" hanging church. The immense Egyptian Museum, full of ancient sarcophagi, mummies and of course the treasures of that most famous pharaoh, Tutankhamun is also well worth a visit, as is the medieval market of Khan Al-Khalili with its herb bazaars and cosy teahouses. And in the evening enjoy a wonderful meal at one of the many restaurants along the Nile and have a go at smoking from a delicious shisha pipe.
Day 2: Cairo
Look around the soukhs or bazaars and find yourself a real bargain! Discover the ancient sites and culture of Coptic Christians on a tour through the old part of Cairo. Visit Abu Serga where the holy family sort refuge, and Ben Ezra, one of the oldest synagogues in all Cairo. Learn about Christianity in a country where it is a minority religion.
Day 3: Cairo - Aswan
After the day in Cairo board the air-conditioned night train in reserved seating carriages (although we don't sleep in bunks, the seating is very comfortable) and travel through the night arriving in Aswan the following morning.
Day 4: Aswan
Aswan is strategically located at the first cataract (rapids) of the Nile. Here, the valley is at its most beautiful with rocks and palm-covered islands in the river. There are numerous temples, tombs and obelisks, a colourful bazaar and a beautiful botanical garden and the immense Aswan Dam nearby.
A particularly interesting excursion you may like to consider is the temple of Philae dedicated to the goddess Isis, built on an island in the Nile. A walk through one of the Nubian villages on the other side of the river is also worthwhile, or you may choose to visit Abu Simbel (optional). With the financial support of Unesco, this immense temple was moved when the dam that created Lake Nasser was constructed. This magnificent temple can be reached by coach or plane.
Day 5: Aswan
Today will be our last in Aswan.
Day 6: Aswan - Felucca
In the morning we board a felucca, the traditional vessel in which the Egyptians have sailed the Nile since time immemorial. Float downstream at a very relaxed pace and enjoy the spectacle of life along the banks of the river. At night we will moor up at an island. You will eat and sleep on board the felucca. Dinner is included in the holiday price. Please be aware that the distance covered and therefore time spent sailing is always governed by the wind conditions.
Day 7: Felucca - Kom Ombo - Edfu - Luxor
We set sail early morning and head towards the remarkable double temple of Kom Ombo, which is dedicated to two gods: crocodile god Sobek and falcon-headed Horus. When we step off the felucca there is a coach waiting to take us to Luxor and on the way there is an opportunity to stop at the temple of Edfu. In the afternoon and the evening you are free to admire the many beautiful buildings and museums of Luxor.
Day 8: Luxor
You will have 2 full days in the fascinating city of Luxor. On the eastern bank of the Nile is the famous temple of Karnak which took 1,500 years to build and during the evening it hosts an impressive sound and light performance. Across the Nile lies the city of the dead, Thebes, with the Valley of Kings and the Valley of Queens. Here you can visit several tombs, including Tutankhamun's which contain beautiful relief surfaces and wall paintings. One of the most splendid and best-kept tombs is the temple of Hatshepsut, the only female pharaoh. The Memnon giants once formed the entrance to the temple of Amenophis are another impressive sight. You can also take a 3-hour sailing trip to Banana Island or rent beautiful Arab horses to ride through the desert. Less experienced riders can have their horse guided, while daredevils will be amazed by the speed these slender horses can reach.
Day 9: Luxor - Cairo
After the day in Lxuor we will board the air-conditioned night train in reserved seating carriages and will arrive back in Cairo the following morning.
Day 10: Cairo
Islamic Cairo is a labyrinth of narrow streets where you can lose your way and feel as if you are in the Middle Ages. Take some time to relax in a sunny pavement café with your first cup of shai (tea) or ahwa (coffee) and let the swarming energy of an ordinary weekday sink in. Coptic Cairo is the oldest part of the city; you can visit museums, monasteries, churches and a synagogue. Nearby is the potters' quarter, where many craftsmen are still working.
Day 11: Cairo - Dahab
After a 7 hour drive we arrive in Dahab in the afternoon of Day 11. We will have entered Sinai, an entirely different part of Egypt: Dahab is a Bedouin town on the Gulf of Aqaba. Enjoy the marine world or a bumpy camel ride. On Day 12 or 13 you can visit the southernmost part of Sinai: Ras Mohamed National Park. Here you will find one of the most beautiful coral reefs in the world. Alternatively, you may prefer the optional trip to Saint Catherine’s Monastery and Mount Sinai.
Day 12: Dahab
Dahab has evolved into a resort for the independent and active. There are many activities on offer here, such as windsurfing, kitesurfing, scuba diving and desert trekking to name but a few.
Day 13: Dahab
Your last day to enjoy the charm of Dahab before moving on to Jordan and the next part of our adventure.
Day 14: Dahab - Aqaba
Today we take the ferry to Jordan and arrive in the Jordanian seaside town of Aqaba in the late afternoon. Here, you will be met by your next tour leader and introduced to the friendly people of this country and have the chance to experience the difference between these two Islamic countries.
Day 15: Aqaba
In Aqaba take a refreshing dive in the Red Sea, sunbathe on the beach, rent a snorkel and mask or diving equipment and even take diving lessons. The Red Sea is famous for its beautiful coral reefs and enormous variety of tropical fish, so don’t miss out. At the end of the day, stroll along the boulevard or drink tea in the park with the locals, followed by dinner in one of the many seafood restaurants in town.
Day 16: Aqaba - Wadi Rum
It is less than a two hour drive to Wadi Rum, the desert region renowned for its splendid high rock formations in many changing pastel colours and the location for part of the legendary movie Lawrence of Arabia. Ancient inscriptions can be found in the rocks and the real Bedouin among us can visit the most beautiful parts of Wadi Rum by camel or Jeep. You will spend the night in a simple desert camp; Mattresses and blankets are provided and we recommend you bring your own sheet bag.
Day 17: Wadi Rum - Petra
We travel on to the world-famous, spellbinding city of Petra where we will stay for 2 nights. Available is an optional excursion to the excavations of Petra, cut out of the pink-red rocks by the Nabataeans in the fourth century BC. It is the ancient capital of the small but once-powerful Nabataean state, after being conquered by the Romans the city fell into decline, completely hidden in the mountains and known only to the local Bedouin until 1812 when the Swiss art historian Burckhardt discovered the city. The road to the heart of Petra can only be made on foot or horseback. It leads through a crevice, the Siq, which goes on and on and gets ever narrower. Finally you reach the first of more than a hundred temples, monasteries, tombs and other buildings cut out of the rocks. You have all day to look round this beautiful site and take in the breathtaking view of the Wadi Araba. The colourful rock formations make Petra into a unique place of interest, where you can still feel alone in a magical world.
Freedom is a key aspect of the Shoestring philosophy and you should never feel obliged to join an activity. It's great fun to explore Petra on your own and lose your way in this beautiful ancient city.
You can join an optional excursion to the Petra excavation site, arranged by your travel guide, or go there on your own. If you go in a group you will travel by horse to the Siq. (Note that the horse is obligatory, whether you ride it or not!) The rest of the trip is on foot. There are additional costs here. Groups have to pay an entry fee of around GBP 21 which includes the horse ride. Your local travel guide will also offer the alternative option of going on an organised tour. If you want to visit the Petra excavations on your own or don’t want to go on horseback, you can still go separately. If you do decide to go it alone, you cannot make use of the transportation arranged by the travel guide. This may seem childish, but the travel guide can forfeit his licence if there are people in the bus who cannot prove they are coming as part of a group. This is obviously not something we want to happen.
Day 18: Petra
Our second and final day in Petra which has so much to see that you will almost certainly not have covered every last piece during your first day!
Day 19: Petra - Dead Sea - Mount Nebo - Madaba - Amman
Today we journey along the beautiful old King's Highway, right across the highlands of Jordan. On the way we pass the crevice of Wadi al-Mujib, one of the country's most spectacular natural panoramas. If there is enough time we will also make a stop at Kerak which is on the old caravan trail from Egypt to Syria at the time of the biblical kings and was also used by the Greeks and Romans. The Crusaders put the town back on the map again and built an enormous castle there.
The Dead Sea is a place to drift afloat and relax for a while. The water contains 30% salt, so you can stay afloat without effort, lying on your back reading a newspaper. Or why not undergo "health treatment," where you will be rubbed from head to toe with wholesome mud, which dries slowly in the sun.
We will also go to the nearby mountain of Nebo with its monastic ruins, from where Moses looked out over the Promised Land. On a clear day you still have a beautiful view of the valley of the River Jordan. Eventually we come to Madaba, famous for its floor mosaics and its sixth-century Greek Orthodox church of Saint Gregory. It is now only a short trip (30 km) to the Jordanian capital of Amman. Today we will have travelled a distance of 310 km, which will take some nine hours because of the many interesting stops.
Day 20: Amman
Built on seven hills, Amman is a city full of atmosphere with many teahouses, where men exchange the latest gossip while smoking the water pipe and playing backgammon. You will have plenty of time to visit the various sights of Amman. Of particular interest are the museums, the Roman amphitheatre and the citadel.
From Amman you can make an optional excursion to Jerash (with a tour guide included if there are 6 or more passengers). The Hellenistic city of Jerash was destroyed in 78 BC and rebuilt by the Romans in a monumental way. Beautiful sights include the perfect colonnade, Hadrian's Arch and the temple dedicated to Artemis. The city has survived exceptionally intact; it doesn’t take much effort to imagine Roman street-life as it must have been.
After dinner at one of the many restaurants in Amman you could go to a nightclub for the few Arab elite, with belly dancers of course.
Day 21: Amman
The last day of your tour. You can use your hotel room in Amman until check out time (most times at 12.00 hrs noon). For your last day, why not shop in the Balad, a frenzy of activity from 8am-8pm. It is highly advisable to see the sunset from the vantage point next to the Citadel. But pay close attention as well to the time of the muezzin call. If you listen to it from this vantage point, where the whole city is before you, you get the unforgettable acoustic experience.
We wish you a comfortable journey home and are sure you will take with you some wonderful memories of Egypt and Jordan.
Your personal ‘my.shoestring’ page on our website is the perfect way to make contact with other travellers before and after your trip. You can read and create journals from trips and upload your photos onto the photo gallery. Visit my shoestring today.
When booking your tour, please check to see whether you need any post-tour nights, bearing in mind that accommodation for the night of the final day of the tour (day 21) is not included and flights normally depart Amman very late at night/very early in the morning.