Egypt and Jordan Trip: 7-Day Cairo to Petra Tour

We almost booked a shorter Egypt tour and I'm glad we didn't. Once you're there, you realize how different Cairo, Aswan, Luxor and the Red Sea actu...

We almost booked a shorter Egypt tour and I'm glad we didn't. Once you're there, you realize how different Cairo, Aswan, Luxor and the Red Sea actually are. The cruise was probably the best part for my wife, while I could have spent another entire day around the temples in Luxor. Hurghada worked well at the end because by that point we'd spent more than a week getting up for sightseeing and were ready for a slower few days. It felt like a complete vacation rather than just a tour.

Ancient Egyptian history was the reason for my trip, so I cared much more about the archaeological program than resort time. This itinerary suited ...

Ancient Egyptian history was the reason for my trip, so I cared much more about the archaeological program than resort time. This itinerary suited me very well. Abu Simbel was exceptional, but I would put Karnak and the Valley of the Kings at the same level for completely different reasons. Having explanations at each major site helped connect what we were seeing instead of treating every temple as an isolated monument. The Nile cruise also gave the itinerary some breathing room between visits.

We chose Egypt for part of our honeymoon because we wanted something more interesting than spending the whole holiday at a beach resort. It was a g...

We chose Egypt for part of our honeymoon because we wanted something more interesting than spending the whole holiday at a beach resort. It was a great decision for us. Cairo gave us the big sights we had always seen in photographs, while the cruise was much quieter and became our favorite time together. Sitting on board after visiting the temples and watching the Nile go by was probably the simplest part of the trip, but also one of the parts we remember most.

Like many first-time visitors, I mainly associated Egypt with Cairo and the Pyramids before going. They were every bit as interesting as expected, ...

Like many first-time visitors, I mainly associated Egypt with Cairo and the Pyramids before going. They were every bit as interesting as expected, but Luxor was what changed the trip for me. There is simply so much history concentrated there. Karnak gave me a much better sense of the scale of ancient Egyptian building, while the Valley of the Kings felt completely different again. I'm very glad the itinerary included proper time in both cities rather than trying to make Cairo the entire trip.

Five days was all we could fit into our schedule, and I was impressed by how much we managed to see without spending the whole trip in transit. The...

Five days was all we could fit into our schedule, and I was impressed by how much we managed to see without spending the whole trip in transit. The Pyramids were the reason we came to Egypt, but Luxor ended up being the place I wanted more time in. Karnak is enormous when you actually walk through it, and the Valley of the Kings was completely different from what I had imagined. If I returned, I would probably add another night in Luxor.

My wife wanted the Nile cruise and I was more interested in the historical sites, so this itinerary was a good compromise. As it turned out, I enjo...

My wife wanted the Nile cruise and I was more interested in the historical sites, so this itinerary was a good compromise. As it turned out, I enjoyed the cruise just as much as she did. You have fairly active sightseeing periods and then you're back on the ship with time to relax before the next stop. Edfu was particularly interesting, while my wife preferred Philae. By Luxor we felt we'd covered a lot without changing hotels every night.

Abu Simbel had been on my travel list for a very long time, so I wasn't interested in an Egypt itinerary that left it out. Seeing it in person just...

Abu Simbel had been on my travel list for a very long time, so I wasn't interested in an Egypt itinerary that left it out. Seeing it in person justified that decision immediately. What I hadn't expected was how much I would enjoy the other temple visits, especially Karnak and Philae. Having the cruise between several of the sightseeing days also gave us time to rest and talk about everything we'd seen instead of immediately moving to another hotel.

This is a good itinerary if your priority is sightseeing. There is quite a lot to fit into seven days, but I preferred that to having large empty p...

This is a good itinerary if your priority is sightseeing. There is quite a lot to fit into seven days, but I preferred that to having large empty periods when we'd travelled all the way to Egypt. Cairo, Aswan and Luxor each felt different, and the Nile cruise was a welcome change after the first part of the trip. Four stars from me only because I would have liked slightly more independent time in Luxor. Otherwise, the route itself was very well chosen.

We did this with a 13-year-old and a 16-year-old, and I expected at least some complaints about seeing too many temples. Surprisingly, that never r...

We did this with a 13-year-old and a 16-year-old, and I expected at least some complaints about seeing too many temples. Surprisingly, that never really happened. The guide explained enough history to make the places meaningful without turning every visit into a lecture. The sleeper train was something completely new for the kids and they loved having a cabin. For me, the best part was the cruise because everyone could relax together between the excursions.

I have travelled to Egypt before but had never reached Abu Simbel, which was the main reason I selected this program. It did not disappoint. The fo...

I have travelled to Egypt before but had never reached Abu Simbel, which was the main reason I selected this program. It did not disappoint. The four seated statues on the façade give you an immediate sense of scale, but I found the interior equally interesting. Karnak was the other standout for me. Even on a second visit to Egypt, having an Egyptologist explain the different construction periods made the site much easier to understand.

My husband and I wanted our anniversary trip to have both sightseeing and a few days where we didn't have to be anywhere at a particular time. This...

My husband and I wanted our anniversary trip to have both sightseeing and a few days where we didn't have to be anywhere at a particular time. This itinerary gave us that. The first part was packed with places we'd wanted to see for years, and I particularly loved Aswan. The cruise then slowed everything down before Luxor, and finishing in Hurghada meant the final days felt like a holiday rather than another sightseeing schedule. Twelve days was about right for us.

We couldn't decide between Egypt and Jordan, so doing both solved the problem. The Pyramids and Petra are obviously the two places everyone talks a...

We couldn't decide between Egypt and Jordan, so doing both solved the problem. The Pyramids and Petra are obviously the two places everyone talks about, but some of the smaller stops made the trip more interesting for me. I particularly enjoyed Madaba and the Dead Sea day in Jordan. Moving between two countries in only a week could have been complicated to organize ourselves, so having one itinerary connecting everything was a major advantage.

I was nervous about doing Egypt alone, especially because I hadn't travelled much outside Europe before. Having my main transportation and sightsee...

I was nervous about doing Egypt alone, especially because I hadn't travelled much outside Europe before. Having my main transportation and sightseeing arranged removed a lot of the things I would otherwise have worried about. I still felt like I was travelling rather than being moved around in a group all day. Aswan was probably my favorite city, while the Valley of the Kings was the archaeological site that stayed with me most. The Nile cruise was also a nice way to meet other travelers.

I normally organize our holidays myself, but Egypt was one of those places where I didn't want to coordinate trains, transfers, guides and accommod...

I normally organize our holidays myself, but Egypt was one of those places where I didn't want to coordinate trains, transfers, guides and accommodation separately. Having the route arranged made a real difference. Cairo felt busy with things to see, then Aswan and the Nile cruise changed the rhythm completely. I especially liked Edfu, which hadn't been high on my list before travelling. Luxor was the right place to finish because the Valley of the Kings and Karnak were two of the strongest visits of the whole trip.

Five days was all we could fit into our schedule, and I was impressed by how much we managed to see without spending the whole trip in transit. The...

Five days was all we could fit into our schedule, and I was impressed by how much we managed to see without spending the whole trip in transit. The Pyramids were the reason we came to Egypt, but Luxor ended up being the place I wanted more time in. Karnak is enormous when you actually walk through it, and the Valley of the Kings was completely different from what I had imagined. If I returned, I would probably add another night in Luxor.

My wife wanted the Nile cruise and I was more interested in the historical sites, so this itinerary was a good compromise. As it turned out, I enjo...

My wife wanted the Nile cruise and I was more interested in the historical sites, so this itinerary was a good compromise. As it turned out, I enjoyed the cruise just as much as she did. You have fairly active sightseeing periods and then you're back on the ship with time to relax before the next stop. Edfu was particularly interesting, while my wife preferred Philae. By Luxor we felt we'd covered a lot without changing hotels every night.

I had already compared several Egypt itineraries and knew roughly what I wanted, so being able to book online suited me much better than sending en...

I had already compared several Egypt itineraries and knew roughly what I wanted, so being able to book online suited me much better than sending enquiries back and forth. I could look through the itinerary and what was included before continuing with the reservation. For someone who likes to organize trips in the evening and get things sorted there and then, the instant booking option was very convenient.

What I appreciated most was being able to read through the tour details before making the reservation. I usually have several tabs open when compar...

What I appreciated most was being able to read through the tour details before making the reservation. I usually have several tabs open when comparing trips, so I don't want to contact every company individually just to understand how a package works. Once we'd chosen the itinerary we wanted, completing the booking online was straightforward.

My partner and I normally arrange trips independently, so we are used to booking hotels and flights online ourselves. We wanted an organized tour f...

My partner and I normally arrange trips independently, so we are used to booking hotels and flights online ourselves. We wanted an organized tour for Egypt but still preferred the same kind of direct booking process. We reviewed the itinerary together, checked the package information and completed the reservation online. It was much more practical for us than beginning with a quotation request.

I had already researched Cairo, Aswan and Luxor before choosing the package, so I didn't need a long consultation before booking. The important thi...

I had already researched Cairo, Aswan and Luxor before choosing the package, so I didn't need a long consultation before booking. The important thing for me was being able to see the itinerary and understand what I was reserving. Once I had compared the available information, I could move ahead with the booking rather than waiting for someone to prepare a separate proposal.

We were planning our Egypt holiday from Australia and the time difference made online booking especially useful. Instead of trying to coordinate ca...

We were planning our Egypt holiday from Australia and the time difference made online booking especially useful. Instead of trying to coordinate calls, we could go through the package information when we had time and make our decision together. I still recommend reading every part of the itinerary and inclusions carefully before confirming, but the process itself made arranging the trip much easier for us.

My friend and I were originally looking at separate Egypt and Jordan trips before finding an itinerary that combined them. Seeing Giza and Petra in...

My friend and I were originally looking at separate Egypt and Jordan trips before finding an itinerary that combined them. Seeing Giza and Petra in the same holiday was the obvious attraction, but I liked that the journey wasn't limited to those two places. Madaba, Mount Nebo and the Dead Sea made Jordan feel like a proper part of the trip rather than just a quick stop for Petra. It was a great choice for the amount of vacation time we had.

We didn't want to fly all the way to Egypt and only see Cairo, so the longer itinerary was a good fit for our family. We had the Pyramids and museu...

We didn't want to fly all the way to Egypt and only see Cairo, so the longer itinerary was a good fit for our family. We had the Pyramids and museums, then Aswan and the Nile cruise, followed by Luxor. Finishing with several nights in Hurghada was a great decision because everyone had time to relax by the Red Sea after the sightseeing portion of the trip.

My husband and I chose this because we wanted Cairo but also wanted to experience the Nile rather than spend the whole holiday moving between hotel...

My husband and I chose this because we wanted Cairo but also wanted to experience the Nile rather than spend the whole holiday moving between hotels. Great choice. We loved Philae Temple in Aswan and the cruise itself was probably our favorite part of the week. Waking up and seeing the Nile outside instead of another city hotel was something special. Edfu and Kom Ombo were also much more interesting with a guide explaining what we were looking at. Luxor at the end was the perfect finish.

Abu Simbel was the main reason I picked this particular tour and it was absolutely worth the journey. The scale of the temples is difficult to appr...

Abu Simbel was the main reason I picked this particular tour and it was absolutely worth the journey. The scale of the temples is difficult to appreciate until you're standing there. We also had three nights on the Nile cruise, which gave the trip a nice change of pace after Cairo and Aswan. My only advice would be to bring comfortable shoes because you see a lot in eight days! Very well organized overall and I appreciated not having to think about flights and transfers once we arrived.

We were already flying such a long way from Australia, so combining Egypt and Jordan made much more sense than visiting only one country. Seeing th...

We were already flying such a long way from Australia, so combining Egypt and Jordan made much more sense than visiting only one country. Seeing the Pyramids at the beginning and Petra near the end made this one of the most memorable weeks we've had travelling. I also really liked the day visiting Mount Nebo, Madaba and the Dead Sea because it was quite different from the archaeological sites. Petra was spectacular and the walk through the Siq before the Treasury appeared is something I'll remember for a long time.

Twelve days sounded long when we booked, but by the end I was glad we hadn't chosen a shorter trip. There is a lot to see in Egypt. We had Cairo, t...

Twelve days sounded long when we booked, but by the end I was glad we hadn't chosen a shorter trip. There is a lot to see in Egypt. We had Cairo, the train south, the Nile cruise and Luxor, and then Hurghada gave us a few days where we could finally slow down. That balance made a huge difference. After temples, museums and early starts, spending the last part of the holiday by the Red Sea was exactly what we needed. I would choose this itinerary again over a shorter sightseeing-only tour.

We did this trip as a family of four and our kids still talk about sleeping on the train and then getting on the Nile cruise. For them those were a...

We did this trip as a family of four and our kids still talk about sleeping on the train and then getting on the Nile cruise. For them those were adventures in themselves! For us, having everything organized made travelling around Egypt much easier. The Pyramids were the big moment everyone was waiting for, but we were surprised by how much we enjoyed Aswan. The cruise days were comfortable and gave us a bit of downtime between the temple visits. Our guide also did a great job keeping the history understandable for the children rather than overwhelming them with dates.

I booked primarily for the archaeological sites, so my expectations were quite specific. The itinerary delivered. Giza, the Grand Egyptian Museum, ...

I booked primarily for the archaeological sites, so my expectations were quite specific. The itinerary delivered. Giza, the Grand Egyptian Museum, Philae, Abu Simbel, Edfu, Kom Ombo, Karnak and the Valley of the Kings give you an impressive overview of different periods of Egyptian history. Having an Egyptologist guide was particularly valuable at the temple complexes where it is easy to miss important details if visiting independently. Abu Simbel and Karnak were the two outstanding sites for me. The Nile cruise also provided a welcome slower rhythm between visits.

We added Egypt to our honeymoon and honestly didn't know what to expect. It ended up being one of the best parts of the whole trip. Seeing the Pyra...

We added Egypt to our honeymoon and honestly didn't know what to expect. It ended up being one of the best parts of the whole trip. Seeing the Pyramids together was surreal, but the quieter moments on the Nile cruise were what made it feel really special for us. We would sit and watch the scenery from the ship after the excursions and it felt completely different from Cairo. Luxor was incredible too, especially the Valley of the Kings. Seven days was a good amount of time for us and the itinerary covered much more than we could have planned ourselves.

Overall this was an excellent holiday and we saw much more of Egypt than I expected. Cairo was intense but fascinating, the Nile cruise was fantast...

Overall this was an excellent holiday and we saw much more of Egypt than I expected. Cairo was intense but fascinating, the Nile cruise was fantastic and Luxor deserves every bit of its reputation. Some sightseeing days are quite full, so this is not a holiday where you sleep late every morning. For us that was fine because we came to see Egypt properly. Hurghada at the end was a smart addition because we had time to rest after all the touring. I gave four rather than five stars only because I personally found the overnight train tiring, but the itinerary itself was very good.

I had wanted to see a total solar eclipse for years, and the idea of combining it with Egypt immediately caught my attention. What makes this itine...

I had wanted to see a total solar eclipse for years, and the idea of combining it with Egypt immediately caught my attention. What makes this itinerary exciting for me is that the eclipse isn't treated as the entire holiday. Cairo, the Pyramids, Saqqara, Aswan, Abu Simbel and the Nile cruise make it a proper Egypt journey before reaching Luxor for the main event. Having the eclipse viewing built into a wider itinerary is exactly what I was looking for rather than trying to arrange transport and accommodation independently around such a major date.

This was my first visit to Egypt and five days worked perfectly with the time I had available. Giza was everything I hoped for, but Luxor surprised...

This was my first visit to Egypt and five days worked perfectly with the time I had available. Giza was everything I hoped for, but Luxor surprised me the most. The Valley of the Kings and Karnak were the highlights for me. Using domestic flights between Cairo and Luxor also meant we spent more time sightseeing instead of losing a day traveling between the two cities.

I booked this trip alone and appreciated having the main transportation and sightseeing already organized. I never felt like I had to work out what...

I booked this trip alone and appreciated having the main transportation and sightseeing already organized. I never felt like I had to work out what came next. The sleeper train was a new experience for me, and then spending several nights aboard the Nile cruise gave the trip a completely different pace. Karnak Temple and the Valley of the Kings were easily my favorite visits.

I traveled alone and was a little unsure about doing Egypt by myself, but this itinerary worked really well for me. Having the transfers, hotels, d...

I traveled alone and was a little unsure about doing Egypt by myself, but this itinerary worked really well for me. Having the transfers, hotels, domestic flights and guides already arranged took away most of the stress. Cairo and Luxor felt like two completely different sides of Egypt. The Pyramids were obviously a highlight, but I actually enjoyed the Valley of the Kings and Karnak even more than I expected. Five days went quickly, but I never felt like I had wasted a day getting from place to place.

Combining Egypt and Jordan was exactly what we were looking for. Seeing the Pyramids at the beginning of the trip and walking through the Siq towar...

Combining Egypt and Jordan was exactly what we were looking for. Seeing the Pyramids at the beginning of the trip and walking through the Siq toward Petra later in the week gave us two completely different experiences. I also really enjoyed the day covering Mount Nebo, Madaba and the Dead Sea. It was a very good choice for travelers who don't want to limit their holiday to one country.

I have been interested in ancient Egypt for years, so choosing an itinerary that included Abu Simbel was important to me. Seeing the temples in per...

I have been interested in ancient Egypt for years, so choosing an itinerary that included Abu Simbel was important to me. Seeing the temples in person justified the longer route immediately. I also enjoyed how the journey connected Cairo with Aswan and then continued along the Nile toward Luxor. Having a guide at the archaeological sites added a lot to the experience because there were details I would never have noticed on my own.

We traveled with our two children and they loved how different each part of the week felt. One day we were standing beside the Pyramids and a few d...

We traveled with our two children and they loved how different each part of the week felt. One day we were standing beside the Pyramids and a few days later we were sailing on the Nile. The temple visits were interesting without making the entire holiday feel like one long history lesson. For our family, seven days was a very manageable length for seeing Cairo and Upper Egypt together.

What attracted us to this package was the combination of cultural sightseeing and the Red Sea. The first part covered a lot, especially Cairo, Aswa...

What attracted us to this package was the combination of cultural sightseeing and the Red Sea. The first part covered a lot, especially Cairo, Aswan, the Nile and Luxor, so there was always something new to see. Hurghada then gave us a completely different final few days. I personally would have preferred a little more free time earlier in the itinerary, but overall the variety was excellent.

I originally thought the Pyramids would be the obvious highlight, but Luxor ended up being the part I talked about most when I returned home. Visit...

I originally thought the Pyramids would be the obvious highlight, but Luxor ended up being the part I talked about most when I returned home. Visiting the Valley of the Kings and then seeing Karnak and Luxor Temple gave me a much better understanding of how much there is beyond Cairo. I was glad we stayed overnight in Luxor rather than trying to squeeze it into a rushed day trip.

Four of us booked together and wanted to see the major sites without planning every transfer ourselves. Cairo, Aswan and Luxor gave us plenty of hi...

Four of us booked together and wanted to see the major sites without planning every transfer ourselves. Cairo, Aswan and Luxor gave us plenty of history, while the Nile cruise broke up the sightseeing nicely. Edfu was an unexpected favorite for our group, and the scale of Karnak was difficult to appreciate until we were actually there. The overall route worked very well for a first visit to Egypt.

We originally chose this itinerary because we wanted to see the Pyramids, but the Nile cruise ended up being the part my husband and I enjoyed most...

We originally chose this itinerary because we wanted to see the Pyramids, but the Nile cruise ended up being the part my husband and I enjoyed most. Aswan had a completely different pace from Cairo, and Philae Temple was one of my favorite visits. Sailing between the temple stops also gave us time to slow down instead of constantly packing and changing hotels. By the time we reached Luxor, I felt like we had seen several very different sides of Egypt in one week.

I spent quite a while comparing Egypt itineraries because Abu Simbel was something I definitely didn't want to miss. I'm glad I chose this one. Sta...

I spent quite a while comparing Egypt itineraries because Abu Simbel was something I definitely didn't want to miss. I'm glad I chose this one. Standing in front of the temples was probably the moment that lived up to my expectations most. Karnak was another highlight, especially with someone explaining what all the different sections were rather than simply walking through them. The cruise provided a nice break between some fairly full sightseeing days.

We travelled with our 11 and 14 year olds and I was slightly concerned that a history-heavy itinerary might become too much for them. It didn't. Th...

We travelled with our 11 and 14 year olds and I was slightly concerned that a history-heavy itinerary might become too much for them. It didn't. They loved the Pyramids, were surprisingly interested in the temples and thought the train and Nile cruise were part of the adventure. For my husband and me, the biggest advantage was having the transport and main arrangements handled in advance. We could concentrate on enjoying the trip rather than constantly working out the logistics for four people.

We had already visited several countries in the Middle East but never Egypt or Jordan, so combining the two appealed to us. The contrast worked ver...

We had already visited several countries in the Middle East but never Egypt or Jordan, so combining the two appealed to us. The contrast worked very well. Cairo was energetic and full of history, while Jordan felt completely different. Petra was obviously the visit we had been waiting for, but Madaba and Mount Nebo added more variety than I expected. It is a fairly active week, which suited us because our priority was seeing as much as possible with the time available.

I only had five days available before continuing to another country, so I was worried that Egypt would feel rushed. There is certainly a lot packed...

I only had five days available before continuing to another country, so I was worried that Egypt would feel rushed. There is certainly a lot packed into the itinerary, but flying between Cairo and Luxor helped enormously. I got the Pyramids experience I had wanted for years, then found myself even more interested in Luxor. The Valley of the Kings was my favorite place on the trip. For someone with limited vacation time who still wants more than Cairo, this route made sense.

We wanted a longer Egypt trip because coming from Spain just for Cairo seemed like a missed opportunity. The cultural part is quite comprehensive, ...

We wanted a longer Egypt trip because coming from Spain just for Cairo seemed like a missed opportunity. The cultural part is quite comprehensive, with Cairo followed by the south and several days around the Nile. By the time we reached Hurghada, we were definitely ready to put the sightseeing schedule aside for a while. Having the Red Sea at the end made the whole itinerary feel more balanced. I gave four stars because I would personally have added a little more free time in Luxor, but we came home very happy with the trip.