Recently home from Nov 2022 Jordan & Egypt trip
Time for our overview of J & E Petra to Pyramids highlights. 1st - amazing TD Siggy ( New Tauck TD icon, like retired Peter Tanner was). The entire journey is fabulous, and very ambitious. No sleep-ins, much to see, 3 in-tour flights (2 are charter, and that's great). Advise going into Jordan 2 days early and take IAD to AMM flight (4:50pm arrival vs 1:45am arrival). lots of annoying flies at Kempinski pool during day, so go in heated pool to avoid, or walk to Dead Sea beach and give yourself mud bath - it's fun. Blue Jeans was the dress of choice nearly every day for all. 
Jerash a nice surprise. Day 4 Petra a total treat, much more than Treasury and Monastery. Hike to Monastery can be a struggle for many (only 7 of our group made it), but so worth it (hydrate). Take the camel ride, something different. Little Petra tented party is fun night. Day 5-6 Aswan Sofitel is a stellar hotel - as is your room view ! Day 6 Abu Simbel is great. Day 7 felucca sunset ride fun time. Day 7-9 Nile Cruiser Zahra superb staff and food. (eat lunch on deck, enjoy view) .Day 9 is the max ! - Karnak, Luxor, then Nefertari tomb, and private Valley of Kings tomb tour - we saw 4 tombs, including Tut. Day 10 - Cairo Museum, lots to see, as GEM still not open. Day 11 - pyramid day is superb. climb up on Giza pyramid to say you did. Kabob lunch at Saqqara the best ! Eat dinner outside at Mena House and get treated to Whirling Dervish at your table ( bring camera ) . In Egypt, we had armed guard accompany coach and tours. Never felt the least bit concerned. Your drive to Cairo airport is crazy maze, but safe. You are met at airport and escorted through initial checkpoints - very helpful. hope some pix come thru. Go for it !!!
Comments
Beautiful pictures. Thanks for your comments
oops. forgot Whirling Dervish pic.
cuzin GJ Hi!
also, great pictures.
By the smiles, I can tell you had a great trip.
Thank you so much. Wish more people would come back to the forum after their tours. Really appreciate it.
The annoying flies at Kempinski pool during day, is mostly from Mid Sept. till Jan.
It's due to the Organic fertilizers, farmers around the area are using. The hotels have complained, but government cannot do anything about it, chemical fert. would be worse...
cuzin GJ. Amazing photos. Brings back lots of great memories. Thanks for sharing!
A whirling 'Dervish,' or whatever he was (Dervishes are primarily Sufi Muslims from Turkey), performed on the Philea one evening. The combination of the maneuvers he did with the "dress?" and the colorful, programmed, LED lights built in to it, were interesting.
cuzinGJ Great picture of the dervish peformance
Forgot to mention, the 3 local guides on trip were outstanding. A wealth of knowledge, entertaining, truly nice passionate people.
Cuzin GJ thank you so much for the pics and advice! I am heading out Friday to Jordan! Thanks all of you for your input and advice, it's greatly appreciated!
scarlettrosezz- have a safe and wonderful trip and PLEASE make sure to post to the forum all about it upon your return. Any input and advice is greatly appreciated.
If you can, perhaps you can mention to other people on your tour to please add to the forum about their thoughts also.
Unfortunately too few people add their advice after their travels.
Thank you
Just got back from this trip Dec 16. It was a fabulous trip and great weather. We also had Siggy for a td and he was amazing. Do not bring binoculars to Jordan. Security might confiscate them or at lease delay your entry. Not sure why. Old Cataract Hotel might be the most beautiful hotel I've stayed in and the Oberoi was also wonderful. We did buy some alcohol in the airport because drinks are very expensive unless they're included with dinner. The last day in Cairo we visited St Georges Church and 2 mosques. It was very interesting and the Imam sang the call to prayer for us. I could have skipped the visit to the El Kahlili market. It was too crowded and full of all the stuff we'd already seen. I would have preferred to visit the Civilization Museum or go back to the hotel and relax by the pool before dinner. Highly recommend this trip. Oh...dinner in the Bedouin tent was a blast.
On our Egypt: Jewels of the Nile tour in October half of the tour did just this. The TD arranged for the bus to bring the people that wanted to go back to the hotel to the hotel and then return and pick up the remainder of the people at the designated time.
SE travel. Glad you had a great trip. Yes, TD Siggy is the best ! We saw the video recently of the Petra flash flooding at the Treasury, due to sudden downpour. Yikes !!
Hi. cuzin GJ could you please tell me where to find that video? Thank you
https://www.bbc.com/news/av/world-middle-east-64107087
I just googled Flash flood Petra. It does happen there occasional as you can read. We go in April
Not uncommon in slot canyons. Also happens at Zion NP which has similar rock formations.
It happened when we were there (in Wadi Musa) in March 2020. Never made it to the ruins that were across the street on that trip -- they were closed the day because of the flooding, and then the following day because of Covid. Hope to make it to the ruins this March.
Petra flash flood clip from BBC was best. video of gushing stream by a tour guide went right past small restaurant we had stopped at for tea break . Yikes !! and yes, as BKMD stated, slot canyons can have flash floods.
Petra made it through the flash flood just fine - I was just there January 13 - they handled it all and its back to good! I am currently still on the Jordan -Petra trip and its fantastic. The reason they don't like the binoculars is they consider it "military equipment". Heh. I will post more when I get home!
Is it necessary for the men to bring a suit jacket? Trying to keep bags light and that definitely adds to weight.
No