14-Day Best of Egypt, Jordan Tour with Nile Cruise from Cairo

Cairo, EGYPT Cairo, Egypt's sprawling capital, is set on the Nile River. Nearby, Giza is site of the iconic pyramids and Great Sphinx, dating to the 26th century B.C.E. In Gezira Island's leafy Zamalek district, 187m Cairo Tower affords panoramic city views.

• Great Sphinx of Giza The Great Sphinx rises above the desert majestically as the tallest monolith statue in the world. It was built during the Old Kingdom of Egypt, usually dated between 2558-2532 BCE, under the reign of Pharaoh Khafra.
• Pyramid of Khafre The Pyramid of Khafre is the second largest of the Giza Pyramids. It is estimated to have been built around 2570 BC. It was first fully explored in 1837 AD by John Perring.
• Pyramid of Khufu The oldest, largest, and most famous of the 3 pyramids at Giza, the Great Pyramid was built around 2560 BC in the 4th Egyptian Dynasty. For 3,800 years, it was the largest man-made structure in the world.

Memphis, EGYPT Memphis was the ancient capital of Aneb-Hetch, the first nome of Lower Egypt. Its ruins are located near the town of Mit Rahina, 20 km (12 mi) south of Giza. According to legend related by Manetho, the city was founded by the pharaoh Menes.

• Saqqara Saqqara was the most famous of the necropoleis, ancient graveyards, in Memphis, the capital city of ancient Egypt. It features some famous pyramids, including Djoser, the Step pyramid.

Cairo, EGYPT Cairo, Egypt's sprawling capital, is set on the Nile River. Nearby, Giza is site of the iconic pyramids and Great Sphinx, dating to the 26th century B.C.E. In Gezira Island's leafy Zamalek district, 187m Cairo Tower affords panoramic city views.

• The Egyptian Museum Containing an unparalleled collection of over 120,000 items, this museum opened in 1902 to show a detailed history of ancient Egyptian culture. Many languages can be found on the artifacts, including Egyptian, Greek, Roman, and Arabic.
• The Hanging Church This Coptic church in Cairo is one of the oldest in Egypt, with history dating back to the 3rd century AD. It gets its named because it is positioned above the gatehouse to the Babylon Fortress.
• Mosque of Muhammad Ali This mosque can be found at the very summit of the citadel of Cairo. Built under the rule of the Ottoman Empire, it was the largest mosque built in the first half of the 19th century.

Luxor, EGYPT Luxor is a city on the east bank of the Nile River in Egypt. It's on the site of ancient Thebes, the pharaohs' capital at the height of their power, during the 16th-11th centuries B.C.E.

• Karnak Temple This vast complex of ruined temples was once the great Egyptian city of Thebes. It is a vast, open-air museum where visitors can see a cross-section into many eras of ancient Egyptian culture.
• Luxor Temple This large temple complex was the grand monument in ancient Thebes. Constructed around 1400 BCE, various sections were built under the rule of the famous pharaohs Tutankhamen and Ramesses II.

Luxor, EGYPT Luxor is a city on the east bank of the Nile River in Egypt. It's on the site of ancient Thebes, the pharaohs' capital at the height of their power, during the 16th-11th centuries B.C.E.

• Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut Nestled into a set of cliffs in the ancient city of Thebes, now modern day Luxor, this ancient temple is dedicated to the god Amen-Ra. It is considered the closest ancient Egyptians came to the Calssical style of architecture.
• Valley of the Kings This valley is named because during a period of about 500 years, several Egyptian pharaohs were buried here. It is one of the most significant Egyptian archaeological sites.
• Colossi of Memnon These two massive stone statues near Luxor have stood for nearly 3,400 years, marking the entrance to the ancient Theban necropolis. Both statues depict the pharaoh Amenhotep III and are made of quartzite sandstone.

Aswan, EGYPT Aswan is a city in the south of Egypt, and is the capital of the Aswan Governorate.Aswan is a busy market and tourist centre located just north of the Aswan Dam on the east bank of the Nile at the first cataract.

• Temple of Kom Ombo This double temple was built between 180-47 BC during the Ptolemaic dynasty. The southern part of the temple is dedicated to Sobek, the crocodile god and creator of the world, while the southern half is dedicated to Horus the Elder.

Aswan, EGYPT Aswan is a city in the south of Egypt, and is the capital of the Aswan Governorate.Aswan is a busy market and tourist centre located just north of the Aswan Dam on the east bank of the Nile at the first cataract.

• High Dam This embankment dam sits on the Nile River in southern Egypt. Built between 1898 and 1902 to prevent the annual flooding of the Nile River, the dam also provides irrigation water and hydroelectric power.
• Temple of Isis on Philae This temple was built on the island of Philae, which sits downstream of the Aswan Dam, in the 4th century BC. The temple has been noted for its architectural prowess.

Amman, JORDAN Amman is the capital city of the country of Jordan in the Middle East. Amman is one of the oldest still-inhabited cities on the planet, and a center of politics, culture, and blossoming commerce for its home country.

Jerash, JORDAN Jerash, the Gerasa of Antiquity, is the capital and largest city of Jerash Governorate, which is situated in the north of Jordan. Jerash has developed dramatically in the last century with the growing importance of the tourism industry to the city.

Amman, JORDAN Amman is the capital city of the country of Jordan in the Middle East. Amman is one of the oldest still-inhabited cities on the planet, and a center of politics, culture, and blossoming commerce for its home country.

Dead Sea, ISRAEL This body of water that sits on the border between Israel, Palestine, and Jordan. The mineral-rich mud of the sea is said to have incredible therapeutic properties, and visitors are encouraged to cover themselves in it from head-to-toe.

Madaba, JORDAN Madaba is the capital city of Madaba Governorate in central Jordan, with a population of about 60,000. It is best known for its Byzantine and Umayyad mosaics, especially a large Byzantine-era mosaic map of the Holy Land.

Mount Nebo, JORDAN Mount Nebo is an elevated ridge in Jordan, approximately 817 metres (2,680 ft) above sea level, mentioned in the Bible as the place where Moses was granted a view of the Promised Land.

Petra, JORDAN Petra is a historical and archaeological city in the southern Jordanian governorate of Ma'an that is famous for its rock-cut architecture and water conduit system. Another name for Petra is the Rose City due to the color of the stone out of which it is carved.

Petra, JORDAN Petra is a historical and archaeological city in the southern Jordanian governorate of Ma'an that is famous for its rock-cut architecture and water conduit system. Another name for Petra is the Rose City due to the color of the stone out of which it is carved.

• Ad Deir Ad Deir, or the monastery at the ruins of Petra, is nestled deep within the cliffs of the desert which keep the ancient city concealed, a secret oasis amongst barren sands.

Amman, JORDAN Amman is the capital city of the country of Jordan in the Middle East. Amman is one of the oldest still-inhabited cities on the planet, and a center of politics, culture, and blossoming commerce for its home country.