A Practical guide to Petra to the Pyramids tour in January
What a great experience - this tour is very active and intense - and just amazing.
Clothes
In Jordan I wore long sleeved t-shirts, a vest and a hoodie most of the time - added a windbreaker for Petra and gloves and a hat. Jordan was cold. The Beduin dinner was super fun but also super cold - wear your long johns!
Egypt is warmer - I wore t-shirts and a light hoodie. Good walking shoes are essential on this tour - bonus points and saved time for you if they come off easily in the airport security.
Hotels
Great hotels here - the sprawling Kempinski is just amazing. Movenpick not as nice but amazing location. The Old Cataract is spectacular - probably the best hotel and view I have ever stayed at in 7 Tauck tours. I advise opting for the tours that stay in Aswan at Old Cataract for two nights. The Oberoi Zahra was lovely but has ridiculous cabin locks. The Mena House is nice, dated but amazing location. The food was great at all and the shower controls were sometimes harder to figure out than I wanted.
Flights and Security
Lots of flights - lots of security - so much patting down. Each flight in Egypt you go through security twice. Leaving Jordan they are concerned with “military equipment” and drugs - so leave your binoculars home. They want luggage unlocked for that flight from Jordan for easy searching. The charters were nice - Egyptair was not bad. Our guide in Jordan had a saying - “Got time to spare? Fly Egyptair!” Each hotel has security, the museum in Cairo has security coming and going.
What to bring
I had a lightweight backpack that I carried on day trips to peel layers into and carry water. Egypt is super dry and it’s lovely how Tauck supplies the bottled water. Take chapstick and lotion. Carry tissues with you and hand sanitizer. I have a phone lanyard that I got on Amazon to hang my phone around my neck - it’s my camera. I took along about $100 worth of Jordanian Dinar and Egypt pounds. I used most of the JD, not even half the EP.
Dina was our TD and honestly, she is the best TD I have ever had. She not only took care of all details well, and prepared us well, but she did it with LOVE. I would travel again with her anytime!
