Ancient Wonders of the World: Rome, Athens, Cairo Tour

Certain experiences leave an indelible imprint on our memories, and our 17-day private tour through Jordan and Egypt is poised to be one such experience. Our journey, meticulously crafted by our travel agency, a Cairo-based tour operator we found via Zicasso, unfolded into an exciting adventure that transcended temporal boundaries. This journey gave us the liberty to delve into the ancient lands, their rich civilizations, and grand dynasties at our leisure, allowing us to fully immerse ourselves in every mesmerizing moment. Our venture to Jordan and the land of the pharaohs was nothing short of a truly wonderful experience.

If Petra, the mesmerizing ancient city carved into the rose-red cliffs, left us awe-struck, then Karak Castle, the crusader fortress with its dungeons and secret passages, evoked a sense of timeless intrigue. The castle’s rugged stone walls whispered tales of a storied past, while bathing in the salty waters of the Dead Sea was an epic experience.

Cairo is the dominant center of lower Egypt. It is a city with over 1,000 years of history that is an enigmatic metropolis where the past and present coexist, creating a captivating tapestry of culture and heritage. Lose yourself in the labyrinthine alleys of the 700-year-old Khan El-Khalili Bazaar and ascend to the Saladin Citadel, where you’ll marvel at the magnificent Muhammad Ali Mosque, an architectural mastery, with its alabaster domes reaching towards the sky. Alternatively, embark on an evening cruise along the majestic Nile River, where you’ll discover a skyline full of 20th-century skyscrapers juxtaposed against timeless minarets. And if you venture just a few miles southwest of the city, against the backdrop of the desert, you’ll come face to face with the 4,500-year-old Giza pyramids, guardians of the pharaohs’ mysteries.

Upper Egypt is also steeped in beauty, history, and ancient wonders. From the southern reaches of the country to Luxor and beyond, majestic temples and relics of the pharaohs and ancient Egyptian civilization adorn the banks of the Nile River. These monuments stand sentinel along the river and their weathered stones tell stories of grandeur, rituals, and the eternal quest for immortality. That is why you cannot visit Egypt and not see Upper Egypt. You cannot visit Upper Egypt without seeing the temples of Abu Simbel, Kom Ombo, Edfu, or Philae. Each one of these temples has its mythical origin and unique bond with the divine.

Luxor remains the apex of our Egypt trip. It is an archeological treasure trove where temples, tombs, and monuments reveal the art, rituals, and beliefs of ancient Egypt. If you are visiting Luxor and desire to see its glorious past, you should plan to visit at least the following sites: the Valley of the Kings, where the pharaohs’ tombs are decorated with beautiful hieroglyphs that tell stories of transition to the afterlife; the temple of Hatshepsut, a breathtaking monument with its magnificent terraces and towering columns that stands as a testament to the ingenuity of ancient Egypt; or the majestic and enduring two-mile-long avenue of the sphinxes that connects two of the most iconic temples in Luxor and probably all of Egypt – the graceful and grand Temple of Luxor and the colossal architectural marvel of the great Temple of Karnak.

If you are interested in learning more about what made our journey extraordinarily delightful and unforgettable, read the testimonial below. These instances exemplify the exceptional service provided by our tour operators and reaffirm our decision to engage them on our next adventure in this part of the world.

Tour Co-ordinator: During the planning phase of our trip, we were fortunate to collaborate with our tour co-ordinator. He proved to be a true asset. Attentive to our preferences, he tailored itineraries and guaranteed our comfort at every stage of the journey. His commitment to our satisfaction was so profound that he made adjustments while we were in Egypt, ensuring our experience was thoroughly enjoyable.

Seamless Organization: While Cairo’s traffic may resemble “organized chaos”, our travel agents operate with the precision of a finely tuned machine. Everything proceeded without a hitch, from the instant we touched down in Amman or Cairo. They had every minutia thoughtfully orchestrated. Transfers, visas, and logistics were executed flawlessly, enabling us to concentrate solely on relishing our vacation. The journey was hassle-free, affording us abundant time and energy to immerse ourselves in the profound history and awe-inspiring landscapes.

Hotels: Our accommodations were in iconic hotels that epitomized luxury. These hotels were strategically located either along the banks of the majestic Nile River or, as in Aswan, on Elephantine Island, nestled in the heart of the Nile. Each location offered us a breathtaking view of the enchanting Nile River, often including the sunrise or sunset, and serving as delightful reminders of our truly magical vacation. After days of exploration, our hotels felt like tranquil oases of comfort.

Tour Guides: Throughout our journey, our agents consistently delivered exceptional service. Each day, we enjoyed the comfort of a spacious air-conditioned vehicle, including an experienced driver and an Egyptologist or a historian. Whether we were exploring the ancient wonders of Petra, standing in awe on the iconic Giza Plateau in Cairo, immersing ourselves in the vibrant city of Alexandria, or traversing the mystical landscapes of Upper Egypt, our drivers maintained impeccable vehicle cleanliness.

Our guides in Jordan, Lower Egypt, and Upper Egypt were more than courteous and engaging professionals; they were true storytellers. With a great sense of humor and a deep understanding of history, they masterfully wove together historical facts and gripping narratives about the Nabataean civilization, Ancient Egypt, and the pharaohs’ dynasties. Their fascinating storytelling made our trip informative and enjoyable.

My husband and I just returned from an anniversary trip to Egypt that we booked with our matched travel specialist. Mahmoud was so easy to work with throughout the planning process. He responded almost instantly to all of our emails and requests to discuss things over the phone, and he planned an amazing 9-day trip for us. He was also completely flexible when we wanted to push our trip back by two months (we thought the Covid situation may be better, turns out it wasn't). We started in Cairo with our guide Sultan, who was great! He showed us around the pyramids, Saqqara, and downtown Cairo. He shared a lot of information with us at each site!

We then traveled to Aswan and Luxor where we had Essam "Sam" as our guide for 5 days before flying back to Cairo. Sam was incredible! He had such a fun personality and shared many stories and so much interesting information about the temples and tombs that we visited. We loved his positive energy! 

While in Aswan with Sam we visited Philae Temple, sailed on the Nile to a Nubian village, and took a day trip to Abu Simbel. Then we visited Kom Ombo Temple and Edfu Temple on our way to Luxor. In Luxor, we visited the Valley of the Kings and Valley of the Queens (these spots were some of our absolute favorites!) as well as Queen Hatshepsut's Temple, Karnak Temple, and Luxor Temple at night! We took a day trip to visit Abydos Temple and Dendera Temple as well. We really lucked out at all of our sites-we essentially had each place to ourselves. 

After our time with Sam, we flew back to Cairo to spend one more day with Sultan touring the Egyptian Museum, the Citadel, and the Bazaar. We had such an amazing time on our trip, and our travel specialist made sure everything was perfect. They also added some special touches for our anniversary, which we really appreciated! We absolutely recommend this travel company. If you are hoping to travel to Egypt, this travel company is who you want planning it for you!

Outstanding customer service, attention to detail and prompt follow-up to any questions was a great start before we even arrived in Egypt. Our travel planner's 5 star service before we left the US was amazing. I feel very lucky that when researching a vacation to Egypt I found this travel agent. I don't think I could have asked for anything else. My family of 4 spent 9 days in Egypt. Cairo, Luxor and Aswan. My kids are 14 and 12 turning 13 on our trip and my daughter has type 1 diabetes. We were greeted in Cairo by a representative who was a wonder in the airport at getting our visa etc. He helped us 4 times during our trip which was very reassuring. Our guide for our entire trip really made the trip a huge success with his energy, knowledge and enthusiasm. We really saw the sites of Egypt in a way that not many get to experience. Traveling with our guide our trip was personalized and away from the crowds, catered to our family's needs and attention span. We feel like we really lucked out. 

I'm glad we spent a few days in Cairo before moving on to Luxor as we had originally talked about doing. Staying at the Mena House with a view of the pyramids was incredible for a first day. The Egyptian Museum is a must-see and it is incomprehensible the amount of artifacts it houses. We enjoyed eating at local restaurants and this is one of the reasons we decided not to do a Nile River boat cruise from Luxor to Aswan. We loved driving and seeing all the towns and people and we did not want to eat cruise food from the same kitchen for days. Plus we are able to stay at some outstanding hotels right on the Nile with gorgeous gardens and amazing pools for the kids. We felt safe the entire trip. 

I think a highlight for us in Luxor was entering Queen Nefertari's tomb. Definitely worth the extra money. If it is open you can not say no to this. It is like the walls were painted yesterday. AMAZING. And we were the only ones in it. Flying over Luxor in a hot air ballon at sun-rise was an incredible way to see the Nile and the contrast between green and desert. Landing in a farmers field was just as interesting (you never know where the wind with take you) and we were able to see up close the traditional farming methods still used today. We went to Luxor Temple at night. IMPRESSIVE. I would recommend going to one temple for a light show. They are so beautiful at night. 

In Aswan we stayed at a hotel and you could not beat the setting right on the Nile. You can watch the action of the Feluccas sailing the Nile or watch actual excavation taking place on the other side of the Nile. You have to pinch yourself that it is real. Philea Temple was interesting to approach by boat and see how it had been successfully moved when the damn was built. We all enjoyed swimming in the Nile which is clear and surprisingly VERY VERY cold in Aswan. I'm glad we went to the Nubian village and our guide avoided the real tourist traps of everyone riding a camel to the village. We had an outstanding meal off the beaten path. 

I really don't think we would change a thing. So many temples and tombs and cultural experiences. I was a bit worried that it would be too much for the kids but they enjoyed it as much was we did thanks to our guide.