PETRA & THE PYRAMIDS

Day 1
Fly to Amman.

Day 2
We start the day by travelling down the King's Highway and then descending to the lowest place in the world, the Dead Sea, for a 'float' in the thick saline waters. We continue on the King's Highway as it winds its way up and down many wadis, the largest being the spectacular Wadi Mujib. There are many stops of interest en route to punctuate the driving including Mt Nebo, Kerak and Madaba. Departing from Mujib, we head south to reach Jordan's premier historic site and one of the world's outstanding ancient cities, Petra.

Day 3
The 'Rose-red city, half as old as time' - Petra was hidden for centuries until the Swiss explorer Burkhardt made his great discovery in 1812. The Nabateans, an Arab tribe that arrived here in the sixth century BC, founded Petra. Building at Petra began in the third century BC and continued through the Roman period, financed by taxes levied on the desert caravans. Two features of Petra are unique: firstly, it is a city made defensible by being built down a series of chasms, rather than on a hilltop; and secondly, it is built directly into the rock - beautiful red and yellow sandstone carved into the most impressive facades which glow in the brilliant sunlight. After walking down the Siq, the narrow chasm that is the only entrance to the city, we come out directly in front of El Khazneh, the Treasury. Continuing to the centre of the city, we pass the houses and tombs of the rich citizens, and the amphitheatre. A long walk beyond the centre is El Deir, the monastery, with its superb facade topped by a huge urn. Please note that due to current Jordanian group regulations the journey to the Siq may have to be made on horseback - this costs US$10 per day and is included in the price. During our time at Petra we may take a walk to the 'High Places' where few other visitors visit. This can be quite arduous and is dependant on the group. It is not recommended for those who are unsure of their fitness, but donkeys can be hired locally if required.

Day 4
We join the modern Desert Highway and make our way to Wadi Rum, a stretch of beautiful sand and rock desert. This is where Lawrence of Arabia and Prince Faisal assembled the Arab tribes for the attack on Aqaba in the First World War, and also where the film of 'Lawrence' was shot. We take a 4WD drive safari to see the highlights of Wadi Rum (don't forget your camera). The night skies can be spectacular here and we enjoy them to the full, sleeping under the stars.

Day 5
We transfer to Aqaba in the morning for the ferry over to Nuweiba, which may be subject to delays. We will be changing from our Jordanian guide to an Egyptian one on this day. On arrival to Egypt we meet our Egyptian guide, who will help us obtain our visas (there is no leader while we are on the ferry). Leaving Nuweiba, we drive to St. Catherine's Monastery. On arrival we will be served breakfast, with the rest of the day free to relax at the auberge.

Day 6
This morning we get up very early for an ascent of Gebel Mousa, better known as Mount Sinai (2,285m), where Moses received the Ten Commandments. Rising at 1:30 am can be a shock but it will assure us of wonderful dawn views. We can climb to the summit via 3,750 steps cut into the rock, known as the 'Steps of Repentance', or alternatively you can hire a camel for most of the way, although it's difficult to say which is more uncomfortable. The views at dawn are magnificent as we look across the barren mountain range. On our descent, via the camel road, we visit Saint Catherine's Monastery, built around the putative Burning Bush, where God manifested himself to Moses (Exodus 3:5-6). It was once only accessible by being winched over the high walls, but we can now enter by more conventional means. The inside of the monastery is a fascinating collection of chapels, monks' cells and even a mosque. We will then take a walk through the white sandstone canyon towards the lush green oasis of Ein Khodra. The oasis lies on the old pilgrim route from Jerusalem to St Catherine's and is one of the sites which the children of Israel, led by Moses, came to rest in their journey across the Sinai. During our time at the White Canyon there may be times when you will have climb over rocks (there are ropes to assist) as there is no clear pathway in parts. Please be sure to take lots of water as this day is a busy one and it can get hot in the desert. Tonight we stay in the 4-star Elaria Hotel in Nuweiba.

Day 7
Another early start today as we transfer to the Coloured Canyon. Here the river has cut through sandstone layers exposing the beautiful yellow and red colours beneath. Depending on the season and the sea temperature, the afternoon can be spent swimming at Ras Abu Galum, one of the most beautiful protected areas in Egypt. Later we transfer directly to Sharm El Sheikh.

Day 8
In the morning we transfer to Sharm el Sheikh airport where we catch a short flight to Hurghada. From here we take a 30 minitue transfer to El Gouna where the rest of the day is free to relax on the beach or have a swim in the Red Sea, one of the finest places in the world for marine life. The reefs are home to a wealth of coral and fish and the water is clear and warm.

Day 9
This morning we drive to Luxor where we spend the next two days exploring the wonders of this city. On arrival we transfer to our hotel. During our time in Luxor we will visit the incredible sites on both the East and West banks. On the East bank we see Luxor Temple and the huge Karnak Temple Complex. Built over 1500 years, Karnak is a confusion of pylons, courtyards, halls and sanctuaries, claimed to be the largest religious building in the world. Its Hypostyle hall has 134 columns, 23 metres high and 15 metres in circumference!

Day 10
In the morning we cross the Nile to the West Bank. Here we see the Valley of the Kings, which contains the once hidden tombs of over 60 Pharaohs, including Tutankhamun, Seti I, Ramses III and IV. A discreet entrance in the hillside takes the visitor underground, through a series of corridors and anti-chambers that lead us down to the burial chamber and sarcophagus. The walls are covered in brightly painted images and hieroglyphs - a map of the afterlife to ensure the king's safe passage. One ticket allows us to see three tombs. Visits to tombs are now strictly controlled to halt further deterioration of wall paintings - each tomb is periodically closed for a number of weeks. Our guide will attempt to choose three tombs, which represent a range of styles. Tutankhamun's tomb is visited with a separate ticket. We then drive to Queen Hatshepsut's Temple at Dehr El Bahri. Cut from an east-facing cliff, the temple is famed for its carved reliefs and paintings, as well as its impressive proportions, best viewed from above. The half-day finishes with a visit to the Colossi of Memnon and a view of the Ramesseum - a now fittingly dilapidated epitaph to Ramses II, who built so much for his own glory. The late afternoon will be free to relax after the busy morning.

Day 11
Today is free to explore Luxor. You may wish to revisit some of the ancient sites or alternatively take an optional trip to the temples at Abydos. These are considered to be some of the most important archaeological sites where many tombs belonging to the 1st and 2nd Dynasties were found. In the evening we board the overnight sleeper train to Cairo.

Day 12
A memorable day visiting the pyramids at Giza on the western outskirts of Cairo. Home to the Great Pyramids of Cheops, Chephren and Mycerinus and the timeless and enigmatic Sphinx, these great monuments to the afterlife defy the imagination. Only the throng of sightseers, Egyptian and foreign, milling around their huge foundations, keep the visitor in the 21st century. In the afternoon we visit the incredible Egyptian Museum of Antiquities, which contains relics dating back to 4000 BC, including the fantastic riches of Tutankhamun's tomb. Here is the unique opportunity to survey the many fabulous treasures of Egypt.

Day 13
Fly to London.