Jordan to Egypt: Nabateans & Pharaohs

Visit Petra, the Pyramids of Giza and more on this highlight-filled adventure of a lifetime

Two historic lands, two world wonders (one new, one old) and countless adventures along the way – this trip across Jordan and Egypt explores the best of these fascinating countries. We’ll take in the cliff-carved Nabatean ruins at Petra, the wild desert of Wadi Rum, the salty waters of the Dead Sea, the Valley of the Kings and the iconic Giza pyramids. Along the way we’ll sail the Nile in a traditional felucca, sample local cuisine and pause at a few less visited spots that most travellers pass right by.

People, Places & Planet

We work hard to create trips that improve life for the people and places we visit and look after the planet we explore. Find out more about our sustainable travel ethos and practice here, and find out about the work of the Exodus Travels Foundation here.

In Jordan, we are very proud to work with a local partner who are Travelife certified. Travelife is a certification system dedicated to achieving sustainable practices in the global tourism industry. To receive the award, our Jordanian partner had to comply with more than 100 criteria related to corporate social responsibility. The Travelife standard is formally recognised for full compliance with the UN Sustainable Tourism Criteria.

Some sustainable travel highlights of this trip include:

People

How this trip helps improve life for local communities.

• This trip brings income and opportunity to the destinations through the inclusion of locally owned hotels and restaurants, the emphasis on eating locally produced food, and support of other local enterprises.
• The hotels we stay in are dedicated to hiring local staff, this helps to benefit the community by providing employment opportunities and income alternatives where they may be otherwise hard to come by.
• This trip stays one night in the Wadi Rum desert at the Exodus Private camp, which is owned and managed by a local Bedouin family. This not only provides a source of income for the family but is a wonderful opportunity for our guests to interact with local people and share aspects of their traditions.
• In Wadi Rum, we take a jeep safari, which provides another source of income for local people.
• At Abu Simbel, we stay at a Nubian-run lodge, which helps get money directly to local people.

Places

How this trip helps protect and conserve local landscapes and nature.

• Read about our commitment to nature protection and restoration here including our rewilding commitment for every customer who travels.
• By travelling in a small group, led by a local guide, we ‘tread lightly’ to minimise our impact on local resources and the environment.
• We visit nature reserves and heritage sites and the entrance fees included generates income used to upkeep and develop these important monuments and nature parks.
• Our trips adhere to ABTA’s industry-leading animal welfare guidelines to ensure the best possible practices with regard to working animals and wildlife viewing. Our animal welfare policy can be found here.
• In Petra, we do not recommend that guests ride horses or mules as we are not convinced their treatment is in line with industry-leading animal welfare guidelines.
• We work with our partners on the ground to proactively eliminate or reduce waste, for example eliminating all single-use plastic water bottles and instead providing refills for reusable bottles.
• It is standard practice in Jordan to distribute leftover restaurant food to people in need.

Planet

How we seek to keep the carbon footprint of this trip low.

• Read about our climate action here, including our carbon reduction and compensation commitments.
• Accommodation and restaurants in the itinerary use locally sourced food which has not been transported long distances.
• The Exodus Private camp in Wadi Rum uses solar power.

 Tips for sustainable travel on this trip

• Leave no trace: We do all we can to ensure we leave no rubbish behind in the wild and beautiful places we visit; we ask that you do the same. If there are no recycling facilities in-country, we’d ask you to consider bringing recyclable materials home with you.
• Plastic waste reduction: Please bring your own reusable water bottle on this trip; filtered water will be provided where tap water is not drinkable.
• Cultural respect:
  • Some Jordanians, especially women and elderly people, object to being photographed, so please ask first. In Egypt, photography is particularly sensitive, ask your Tour Leader for guidance on what is and is not permitted. Photography of children is illegal in Egypt and photography of adults requires written consent.
  • Jordanians and Egyptians are very proud of their country and can be offended if you take pictures of anything ‘negative’ or suggestive of poverty. Photography in military zones and strategic areas like public buildings is prohibited.
  • Handshaking is only between members of the same sex.
  • It’s polite to use only your right hand when eating without cutlery and when handing money and small objects to someone else.
  • It is common practice to remove shoes before entering a mosque or someone’s home and you should tuck them under if sitting on the floor. It is respectful for women to cover their heads with a scarf when entering a mosque. Please note, many mosques are not open for tourist visits.
  • Generally, clothing should cover shoulders and be on or below the knee.
  • During the holy month of Ramadan, Muslims refrain from eating, drinking, and smoking during daylight hours. Even chewing gum is considered haram (forbidden). Although foreigners are not expected to follow these practices, it is respectful to be discrete and not eat, drink or smoke in general public.
  • Making the effort to fit in is invariably appreciated so being aware of these aspects of cultural respect will assist you during your travels.

Is this trip for you?

This trip has been graded Activity Level 2 (Easy & Moderate). For more information on our trip gradings please visit the Activity Level Guidelines page. If you have any queries about the difficulty of the trip please do not hesitate to contact us.  

It is suitable for everyone with average health and fitness. No experience of any activity involved is necessary. However, please note:

• Some days involve early starts (especially in Egypt) but this allows us to get the most from our time and avoid the hottest parts of the day.
• Although this is a cultural trip, some days (such as those in Petra) can be long and tiring. To do the optional 850 steps up to the Monastery, you should have a reasonable level of fitness.
• Both countries can be hot, especially during summer, which can cause discomfort while travelling. Care should be taken to keep hydrated. The hottest months tend to be June to September when temperatures can reach 40C (104F) in the south of Egypt.

• Egypt is a poorer country than Jordan, and you will notice considerable differences between the two. Cairo in particular is chaotic and infrastructure is generally in poor condition. Persistent sellers are likely to be encountered in Egypt to a much greater extent than in Jordan, your tour leader can give advice on how to deal with this.

Accommodation: The hotels we use on this trip are of a mid-level standard, providing reasonable comfort. The night on the sleeper train is in compartments with shared bathroom facilities. See the accommodation section for more detail.

Sites: Please note, the new Grand Egyptian Museum is expected to open during 2023 but this is subject to change.

Ramadan is expected to run from approximately 28 February-29 March 2025. One of the most important periods in the Islamic calendar, it is a special time to visit a Muslim country. Each evening, the streets empty as people head home to break the fast, followed by an air of festivity upon their return. Our leaders and drivers choose to work at this time so we continue to run trips; however, their energy levels may be slightly lower than normal. Many tourist sites, restaurants and shops will have an amended schedule, but your tour leader will know how to adapt the itinerary to still experience all the inclusions on this trip and maximise your experience during this special time.

Following a review of all our trips we have categorised this trip as generally not suitable for persons of reduced mobility. However if you are a regular traveller on such trips, please contact customer services to discuss the trip and your personal condition.

Vaccinations and Health

Jordan

There are no required vaccinations. However, you may want to consider vaccinations for tetanus, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, rabies and typhoid. Please confirm all requirements with your doctor or travel clinic.

Egypt

There are no required vaccinations. However, recommended vaccinations include tetanus, polio, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, rabies and typhoid.

You will also need a yellow fever vaccination certificate if you’re arriving from a country with risk of yellow fever transmission or transiting for more than 12 hours through a country with risk of yellow fever transmission. Some travellers may also need proof of a polio vaccination. Please confirm with your doctor or travel clinic.

Visa

Visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.

Jordan
Visas are required by most nationalities and can be obtained at the border or Amman airport.

We will arrange a free visa (usually 40 Jordanian dinars) for travellers booking a tour and any pre-tour arrangements through us, provided we receive full passport and flight details at least two weeks before arrival.

You will need to pay for the visa if we do not have these details two weeks before arrival or you are making your own pre-tour arrangements (ie extra nights before the tour that are not booked through Exodus).

Our airport representative will meet and assist you with obtaining the free visa on arrival in Jordan at Customs & Immigration. They will be carrying an Exodus sign.

Egypt
We recommend you obtain your visa in advance, for e-visa eligible nationalities, apply here: www.visa2egypt.gov.eg.

Print two copies of your e visa and take them with you.

When obtaining your e-visa, ensure you have a scan of your passport ready. The file size should be very small and saved as a JPEG or PDF otherwise you might not be able to load it on the visa application.

You will need to provide your host’s information on the application – please use the following details:

5A, El Nasr Road
Tower(1) Building (2), 4^th Floor, Office (401)
Nasr city – Cairo, Egypt
https://www.yougo2egypt.com/
+2 02 2349 3187 / +2 02 2349 3077
info@yougo2egypt.com

Please note, Egyptian officials require tourists to carry a copy of their passport with them while in the country. Please also note, some prescribed medicines are controlled substances in Egypt.

Food & Drink

When not in half-board accommodation, we usually eat in local restaurants and the leader arranges bookings for those in the group who would like to join. We suggest you budget around US$20-US$30 per person for non-included meals. If you are vegetarian, please note that main meals are limited in choice. At the Wadi Rum camp, we enjoy a traditional dinner called zarb, which is cooked underground. This consists of rice with a selection including chicken, lamb and vegetables. Vegetables are cooked separately from the meat. In Egypt, meals are often buffets.

Alcohol is available in Jordan, but not widely. Many hotels do not sell alcohol but will often allow it to be brought in from elsewhere. It is best to plan ahead if you’ll want a drink, your tour leader can tell you what’s possible and may be able to arrange a stop at a supermarket or liquor store (depending on the location). In Petra, the unique Cave Bar in Petra Guesthouse is open to the public. A less expensive option is the bar in the Petra Palace Hotel which is also open to all. In Egypt, it is much easier to obtain alcohol.

Weather

Spring and autumn are very popular in Jordan as it is cooler, around 24C (75F) in the day and 8C (46F) at night. Rain is more likely, but protracted bad weather is unlikely. During summer, it is hot and dry, but not unpleasant. Daytime maximum temperatures are around 32C (89F) in Madaba.

Wadi Rum in summer is around 30C (86F) on average, though it can hit 40C (104F). It is usually cooler at night. In winter, it is much cooler and can dip to 10C (50F) during the day. In the evening, it can hit freezing point. There are occasions when there is rain or even snow in the desert. If weather conditions require, we may need to modify the itinerary or the camp location for your comfort and safety.

As with many countries in the world, seasons can go on longer than usual so it is advisable to always check the weather of the country you are travelling to a week or two before your trip so you can pack appropriately.