Egypt & Jordan
12 Days: November 5-16, 2010   $5120
This description is for the 12-day tour of Egypt and Jordan, without Ethiopia. Click below to go to the descriptions of the other tours with the same Egypt core program:

Ethiopia & Egypt
14 Days: October 31 - November 13, 2010   $5890

Ethiopia, Egypt & Jordan
17 Days: October 31 - November 16, 2010   $6590

Africa is not only where man was born, but where the first human empires arose. Those remarkable civilizations are preserved seemingly forever in the greatest Stone Cities mankind ever built.

Ethiopia, Egypt and Jordan are today where these amazing societies exploded, seemingly out of nowhere from the thousands of preceding years of loose bans of nomadic herdsmen. And as if recognizing their own greatness these societies erected gargantuan monuments to themselves that dwarf anything left by subsequent more modern societies. Their greatest achievements were the three Stone Cities of Lalibela (Ethiopia), Thebes now Luxor (Egypt), and Petra (Jordan).

EWT owner Kathleen Morgan has taken this journey several times before, and once again returns with a small group of enthusiastic travelers to the fantastic places of man's emergence from antiquity into empire.

There is of course much more to the touring than just the great stone cities, and a wonderful Nile Cruise is included in Egypt, while a comprehensive tour of Ethiopia's Historic Route is also included there.

The prices include: ** EWT owner, Kathleen Morgan, guiding throughout the entire program; ** Trained, professional local guides at each venue, including a certified Egyptologist; ** Private vehicles and personal transfers to/from the airport; **Luxury Nile Cruising, inclusive of all meals, teas and attractions; ** Meals as detailed in brackets following each day's description below; ** All entrance fees, VAT and other government taxes; ** Comprehensive pre-trip material with discount coupons for travel gear and equipment. Additional expenses not included: All international flights including those between countries, plus all necessary internal flights; The internal flight cost for this trip as of October, 2009, was $327, some of which might be included in certain international air fares; - Meals not included; - All beverages; - Requisite visas and other travel preparations like inoculations; - Tipping.

Contact EWT for the best international air fares and for recommendations on how to use your frequent flyer miles.

Friday, November 5, 2010
Whenever you arrive Cairo, you'll be personally met and privately transferred to the beautiful Mena House hotel within site of the pyramids. The remainder of the day is free.  [no meals]

Saturday, November 6
The morning is free. In the early afternoon the group meets our Egyptologist for a guided tour of the Pyramids & Sphinx of Giza. The evening is independent. Overnight at the Mena House hotel.  [b- - ]

Sunday, November 7
All day is spent touring Old Cairo. We begin with a guided visit to the old Coptic Church of St. George. The church is believed to have been built in the 7th century. In the 15th Century it was taken over by the Greek Orthodox. Visits are also scheduled to the Roman towers, the Babylon Fortress and the Hanging Church(Al Mu'allaka) which was dedicated to the Virgin Mary and built in the 3rd century. Despite its antiquity, it continues to be used by parishioners. Other ancient and restored churches can be visited in the area, including the famous St. Serguis church, reported to have been used by refugees fleeing King Herod. Finally, a visit is scheduled to the Ben Ezra Synagogue. Originally a church, the building was rebuilt by a Jerusalem Rabbi Abraham Ben Ezra in the 12th century. On our return to the hotel, you'll stop at the famous Khan El Khalili Bazaar (the old market), which is the main tourist bazaar. Its narrow passageways, lanes and alleys are lined with tiny shops, stacked floor-to-ceiling with caftans, brass, inlaid wood, leather cases, copper, goods, carpets, gold and silver jewelry and perfumes, a true tourist's Mecca. Return to the Mena House for an independent evening.  [b- - ]

Monday, November 8
The Nile cruise portion of the trip begins today with a morning flight to Aswan to board the M/S Iberotel Crown Princess, one of the finest ships sailing the river. After checking-in, the rest of the morning is spent visiting the Philae Temple which is near Aswan city. Through UNESCO efforts, the temple was saved from the inundation when the dam was opened. It was dismantled then reassembled on a higher hill. There may be time as well to visit the Kiosk of Trajan, a charming relic famous for its 14 pillars and The High Dam itself, a modern achievement of great magnitude in Egypt's history, built by the Russians in the 1960s. The dam continues to supply most of the country's electric power. After lunch on board, the afternoon touring includes a felucca trip to Kitchener's Island which contains the famous Khan Mausoleum. Dinner on board includes a Nubian folkloric show. Overnight aboard ship.  [b-l-d]

Morning Option to ABU SIMBEL. Most flights from Cairo to Upper Egypt leave in the morning, and the flights to Abu Simbel are the earliest. All tourists arriving Abu Simbel join government-organized tours. Afterwards there is time to explore the UNESCO museum before continuing on a 30-minute flight to Aswan scheduled to arrive in the early afternoon. This will give you plenty of time to visit the Philae Temple and enjoy the felucca trip before the Nile Cruise ship begins its evening sailing. Additional cost including air: $330 per person.

Tuesday, November 9
After further sailing during the night, this morning you'll visit Kom Ombo, with its fascinating temple that was dedicated to two gods at the same time, Sobek and Harories. The cruise continues over lunch, and in the afternoon you visit the Temple of Horus on Edfu Island. This is the best preserved Egyptian Temple from the early dynasties. The ship continues in the afternoon towards Luxor with a Captain's welcome cocktail party before dinner this evening. Overnight aboard the M/S Iberotel Crown Princess as it sails to what may be the most impressive Stone City on earth, the ancient Thebes now known as Luxor.  [b-l-d]

Wednesday, November 10
The morning is spent visiting the Valley of the Kings and Queens near Luxor, as well as the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, an elegant terraced monument and one of the most remarkable monuments from ancient times. After lunch on board the afternoon is spent touring the Karnak Temple as well as the Temple of Luxor, which was started by Amenhotep III and completed by Ramses II. Dinner tonight includes local entertainment on board the M/S Iberotel Crown Princess.  [b-l-d]

Thursday, November 11
Leave the cruise ship after breakfast for another comprehensive day of touring Luxor. After checking-in to the Sonesta St. George Hotel the morning will be spent on a guided tour of the fascinating Mummification Museum, a small museum that explains in great detail the process of mummification and its role in ancient Egypt. There are a number of actual persons and animals on display. The afternoon is spent at the Luxor Museum, another small but beautifully arranged museum that displays an impressive selection of rare artifacts from a variety of dynasties.  [b- - ]

Friday, November 12
This morning we fly back to Cairo and return to the Mena House for check-in. This afternoon we'll be accompanied by a certified Egyptologist to the amazing Egyptian Antiquity Museum, the most famous museum in the Middle East, the museum which which includes the fabulous treasures of King Tut-Ankh-Amon. Return to the Mena House for an independent evening.  [b- - ]

Saturday, November 13
Those continuing to Jordan depart this morning on an 11 a.m. flight to Jordan. Everyone will be personally transferred to the airport for their individual departures. The flight from Cairo arrives Amman in the early afternoon, and we immediately drive out of Amman along on the King's Highway to the great Stone City of Petra, in the path of all those who have followed it in the last 3000 years. Arrive in the late afternoon at the Crowne Plaza Hotel which is located just outside the entry to Petra.  [b- - ]

Sunday, November 14
Following an early breakfast, our guide will stroll with us down the narrow gorge into Petra, "a rose-red city half as old as time," built 2000 years ago on the cross roads of caravan trails. The Nabataeans carved out of colorful sandstone cliffs an extensive compound of tombs, temples and homes. Perhaps the most impressive is Al Khazneh, the treasury, a two story structure hewn from the side of a mountain. With classic rooflines and pillars, its facade is distinctly Hellenic, while other buildings show more eastern influence. At the far end of the town lies a 8000-seat amphitheater cut from solid rock. The afternoon is free to further explore the area, with the opportunity to hire a guide to take an extended hike through this desert area. Early this evening we'll enjoy a candlelight tour of Petra before an independent evening and overnight at the Crowne Plaza Hotel.  [b- - ]

Monday, November 15
On the drive back to Amman today, we stop at Moses' Spring where legend says Moses struck his rod into rock and brought forth water. This is an area of many Christian legends, and we'll also visit Bethany-beyond-the-Jordan, the settlement where it's believed John the Baptist baptized Christ. The routes continues via Mt. Nebo, said to be where Moses stood when he saw the promised land, and a brief stop will be made at Madaba to see the exquisite mosaic Map of Palestine in the ancient church of St. George. After lunch, we'll visit the Archeological Museum in Amman which houses antiquities from the region including the precious Dead Sea Scrolls. Overnight at Le Vendome Hotel in Amman.  [b-l- ]

Tuesday, November 16
Everyone will be personally transferred to the airport for their departure. Most returns to the U.S. will depart this morning..  [b- - ]

END OF EWT SERVICES