A bucket list trip years in the making! A few years ago my mom and I decided to plan a total bucket list trip: Egypt and Jordan! A world pandemic got in our way but this Christmas we finally made it happen. We packed our bags and headed to the Middle East.
This trip look a LOT of planning. First up, being two female travelers, safety was our number one concern. If you have been reading my blog for awhile, you know that my mom Wendy is a total rockstar when planning trips! Our last trip to Croatia was AMAZING and we planned it completely ourselves.
This trip was a little different however. We ended up opting to use a tour group to help plan this trip. Except we had strict rules. We wanted everything to be private (hello corona!), all of our guides to be vaxxed, and we wanted to plan the itinerary. We ended up planning our trip with Kensington Tours. Morgan was our travel agent and she was a joy to work with. She made all of our crazy requests happen and made sure we had a seamless time overseas!
Now I will say that this trip did cost us a pretty penny. Normally we would not spend this much on a trip and if we planned it ourselves like our other trips it would have been more in our travel budget. However, with the location, language barrier, and pandemic we thought that it would be worth it. Let me tell you it was! We had someone meeting us right off the airplane, take us through customs, private drivers, and our guides were AMAZING! Like I said we felt nothing but safe.
I wanted to give a full trip itinerary, but I also have a few other blog posts about just Egypt, Jordan, etc.
Whether you’re concerned about the country’s safety or you just haven’t thought much about the Middle East, this guide will put it on the map for you and show you just how magical a trip to Egypt can truly be.
Egypt at a glance | What to expect
Egypt is one of the most mysterious destinations on the planet, and it had been on my bucket list for years! Between the Nile, the Red Sea, Alexandria, Cairo, and pyramids that date back to 2500 BC, there’s so much history and culture to experience.
Egypt is home to one of the world’s oldest civilizations, and thus holds such great history and ancient stories to discover. It is a land of pharaohs, pyramids, sphinxes, mummies, and sacred traditions.
I read this article many times to help prepare us for our trip!
WEATHER | As you may know, Egypt is a desert so it can get quite toasty. You’ll likely want to plan your trip around the weather, meaning the best time to visit is from October to April. When we went in December the weather ranged from low 70’s during the day to 50’s at night. It was very pleasant.
FOOD AND DRINK | Egyptian cuisine is very typical Middle Eastern cuisine. Lots of hummus, rice, grilled meats, and Middle Eastern spices. Honestly the food wasn’t my favorite, but we tried everything! Remember you cannot drink the tap water in Egypt due to bacteria. We also stayed away from vegetables and fruit that could not be peeled. We heard horror stories of people getting ill so we steered clear and thankfully neither of us got sick! *I will not be sharing restaurant recommendations because they were all included with our tour package.
CURRENCY | The official currency of Egypt is the Egyptian Pound (EGP). It is about 16 USD to 1 EGP.
LANGUAGE | There are several languages spoken in Egypt, but the primary language is Egyptian Arabic, however most people speak English as well. We had no language barrier issues.
SAFETY | After the revolution of 2011, tourism drastically dropped in Egypt. However, In recent years, the political situation in Egypt has stabilized, bringing higher tourism rates. Overall, it is a safe country, but there are a few things to keep in mind. If visiting the pyramids or other large tourist attractions, play it safe by taking a tour or hiring a private guide as I did.
CUSTOMS | 80% of Egypt is Muslim, so it is important to be respectful of their religion/culture. Women must be careful to cover themselves appropriately (knees/shoulders/no cleavage) as modest clothing is the norm. If you are visiting religious sights be sure to pack a scarf to cover your head as well.
Day 1: Cairo
We woke up to the most amazing view of the Pyramids in our room at the Marriott Mena House Hotel. We enjoyed a beautiful breakfast poolside with the pyramids in the background. It was truly an unbelievable way to start our vacation.
First things first was to cross off a major item on the bucket list: the Great Pyramids of Giza. They are the most iconic image when thinking of Egypt. We met our AMAZING guide Hana (she was with us our whole time in Cairo and I have so many good things to say about her!). We marveled at the breathtaking scenery of the only surviving site of the original Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. It was a total pinch me moment!
A camel ride is a must for all first-time Egypt travelers. We opted for the shorter 15 minute camel ride and let me tell you I will probably never ride a camel again. 15 minutes was plenty! Mel Gibson (my camel) didn’t drop me, but they are SO TALL it was kind of terrifying. Also the fact that my camel handler was a 8 year old kid. The views were worth it, and it all didn’t feel real!
A quick story that I just needed to share when we were visiting the Sphinx. Egyptian people love American tourists. They don’t see them often so they are super excited when they see you. Throw in my blonde hair and blue eyes, and I stick out. Our car pulled up to drop us off, and there was a group of 20 middle school girls. As soon as the driver opened the door I felt like it was the paparazzi. They were screaming and waving and taking pictures and trying to take selfies with me. I can’t even explain how it felt. Then some lady handed me her baby and walked away. It was so surreal I can even put into words. The whole trip people looked, waved, took pictures of us. It was actually funny, and I didn’t hate all of the attention!
We wanted to visit a perfumery because Egypt produces many of the scents used my international perfumeries. The nicest man show us his store, explain the different scents, oils and what each are used for. We got to sample lots and ended up coming up with pure Aragon oil for hair and body, Watercrest (arugula) oil for healthy, shiny, and fast growing hair, Sandalwood oil for warming, hydrating, and anti-inflammatory healing, and I left with one bottle of perfume called “Desert Secret” and it is supposed to lure all the men to me, so hopefully it works! LOL
Next up we went to buy our cartouche. A cartouche is an over pendant with a line of vertical text spelling out your name in Egyptian. It was such a special thing to bring home. I only did Britt, but here is what mine means:
B – leg – a big traveler
R – mouth – likes to talk, or has a loud voice
I – feather – is intelligent
T- loaf of bread – likes to eat
T- loaf of bread – likes to eat
I will say mine was SPOT on! Crazy to think that!
To end our first very busy day in Cairo we visited the vibrant Khan Khalili Bazaar. A maze of shops lined with souvenirs and antiques, restaurants and coffee shops, workshops, mosques, and food vendors. The sights and sounds are a true sensory overload.
The juxtaposition of everything in Cairo can be overwhelming. Try to imagine 10 lanes of traffic, with cars, pick up trucks with 10 people loaded in the back, scooters, buses, tuktuks, donkeys, and people crossing the street all at once. People communicate with their horns, it was a very bizarre situation, one I will never forget.
Day 2: Cairo To Luxor
We boarded a flight to Luxor very early in the morning. It is only about an hour flight, so we thought it was the easiest way to get to different parts of the country.
We were picked up by our guide (Mad-hat, but I always called him Mad Hatter), and headed to Karnak Temple. Luxor is a whole lot quieter than Cairo. Luxor is home to the temples and tombs of the Pharaohs and their queens. There are so many amazing things to see and experience in Luxor. Definitely do not skip out on this city!
Over the centuries many pharaohs left their mark on this fascinating and massive temple of Karnak. You enter by strolling down an avenue of sphinxes and immerse yourself back into ancient Egyptian time. Feel in awe of the massive sandstone columns that line the temple. We listened to Mad Hatter’s stories of this time period.
We checked into our hotel, Sofitel Old Winter Palace. The history of this old hotel is just incredible. Agatha Christie wrote her book Death On The Nile while staying at this hotel. Also many presidents like Jimmy Carter stayed here as well.
That evening we explored another temple, Luxor Temple and learned more history about the ancient Egyptian times. We then took a horse and carriage ride through the streets of Luxor, and let me tell you it was an unforgettable experience. The driver wanted me to sit up with him and lead the horse, so I hopped up and off we went. I swear it was like a parade. People were running towards us, waving, screaming, taking pictures, just wanting to get a look at us. It was hysterical!
Day 3: Luxor
We started today extremely early (like 4:30AM pick up time), to get a bird’s eye view of Luxor. Going on a sunrise hot air balloon ride was a trip highlight for me. It was spectacular! We heard some horror stories of people on the balloon ride, but our take off and landing was so smooth!
After our balloon ride we visited the first female pharaoh of Egypt’s temple: Queen Hatshepsut. She was a total badass. She would depict herself with a fake beard so she would fit in with the male pharaohs. Her temple was my favorite one we visited.
We enjoyed the most lovely lunch overlooking a farmer’s land with his camels and donkeys grazing in the field. It was so lush with all of the palm trees!
Next we visited the Valley of the Kings to explore the ancient tombs and visit a familiar face. The original colors on some of these tombs were unbelievable. These tombs were constructed for the kings and powerful nobles. They were filled with all of their treasures and their mummies. Imagine the feeling the people had when they discovered these tombs! The treasures and mummies are housed at the Egyptian museum now. The only mummy left is the one of King Tut! Definitely pay him a visit! The tombs are very hot, so if you are visiting during the summer please be aware!
Day 4: Luxor To Cairo
Since we added a second league of Jordan to the trip, we went back to Cairo before headed over. Today was our religious day. We learned all about the presence of Islam, Judaism, and Christianity in Egypt. All 3 religions are practiced and people are very open to whichever religion you practice.
I was mostly curious about the muslim religion because it was the newest for me. I honestly felt ignorant and this trip totally changed my perspective of this religion. Muslims and the Middle East in general do not have a good stereotype (especially after 9/11). Not going to lie I was a little uncomfortable in the beginning seeing women covered head to toe with only their eyes showing, or hearing people speak Arabic. But after learning about the religion and the customs and the why of things it completely turned my perspective around. It was very eye-opening and humbling.
We checked into the Ritz-Carlton of Cairo and enjoyed a massage to end our day.
Day 5: Cairo
Today was all about the museums. We joined Hana on a private tour of the Egyptian Museum. Here we saw all of the treasures found in the tombs. There is a new Egyptian Museum opening up this year that is supposed to be AMAZING, so unfortunately a lot of the artifacts have already moved over there, but it was still enough to see.
We also stopped at the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization. This is known for their Royal Mummy Hall, where some of the world’s most powerful people are now resting. There are about 20 mummies you can see. It was surreal to see the teeth, hair, eyes still intact from all of those years ago!
Since today was New Year’s Eve we wanted to be sure to celebrate. We took part in a Nile River cruise aboard the “Nile Maxim“. The Nile river is the world’s longest waterway, and where Moses was found floating in a basket. It was extremely touristy, but still a good time! We enjoyed entertainment from the Whirling Dervish as well as a Belly Dancer.
We had an early pick up to head to our next destination of Jordan!
Jordan at a glance | What to expect
For a relatively small country, Jordan has a lot to offer. A trip to Jordan is not complete without a visit to the most famous site, Petra, a trip to the Dead Sea, and exploring the Wadi Rum Desert.
WEATHER | March to May (spring) is the best time to travel to Jordan if you’re an avid hiker. The country’s desert landscape transforms into a blanket of wildflowers, and the forests are lush and green. It was chillier then we would have hoped. It was low to mid 60’s during the days and dropped down into the low 50’s at night.
FOOD AND DRINK | Jordanian cuisine is very typical Middle Eastern cuisine and Egypt.
CURRENCY | The official currency of Egypt isThe currency in Jordan is the Jordanian Dinar. It is 1 Dinar to 1.50 USD. Jordan is a very very wealthy country – thanks to oil.
LANGUAGE | The official language in Jordan is Arabic.
SAFETY | It’s a very safe destination overall, however, it can be a little hard to travel solo or as a couple because its highlights are spread out through the country and you’ll need to hire a driver or book a tour. The roads can be quite dangerous—but that’s the main safety issue.
CUSTOMS | Jordan is an Islam country so it is important to be respectful of their religion/culture. Women must be careful to cover themselves appropriately (knees/shoulders/no cleavage) as modest clothing is the norm. If you are visiting religious sights be sure to pack a scarf to cover your head as well. Women here were covered even more than in Egypt. Also the men wore traditional islam dress as well.
Day 6: The Dead Sea
Amman, Jordan is only an hour and a half plane ride from Egypt. We hopped off our plane and headed straight to the Dead Sea. The Dead Sea is the lowest place on planet Earth at 1,412 feet below sea level. The salt content is so high that you float no matter what. Another bucket list item to cross off!
We spent the day at the Zara spa at the Movenpick resort and enjoyed a spa treatment called 1,001 Arabic nights. We wanted to try something different, and boy were we in for a treat. They stripped us down naked, and put mom and I in a steam room. They then began a full body scrub to exfoliate, followed by two full body Dead Sea mud masks. To end the treatment they dumped buckets of ice cold water on us. It wasn’t the most relaxing experience, but one I will remember forever!
We also stopped at the place where Jesus was baptized. I never realized how many biblical events occurred in Jordan. Someone who is pretty religious it was really special to see these sites in real life!
Day 7: Petra
Petra is the treasure of the ancient world, and the rock-cared rose city is full of mysterious charm. Admired for its refined culture massive architecture this remarkable city of grand buildings carved into massive cliffs evokes wonder. Walking the grounds of Petra were surreal. It was so massive! Fun fact: Indiana Jones was filmed here, so you can dance around singing the theme song.
I paid a local Jordanian $5 Dinars to take me up to one of the special vantage points to get a few pictures. It was quite the dangerous hike, but the view was so worth it!
If you are up for an extra adventure. Climb up 816 steps to the Monastery. It is the largest tomb facade in Petra. It was quite the hike, and everyone was out of breath on the way up. You can opt for a donkey ride up, but it seemed quite dangerous. I trusted my own two feet more! But the views were worth it!
After we were done exploring (give yourself about 6-8 hours to explore) we headed to the Wadi Rum Desert to our Bubble Hotel.
One of the coolest experiences in the Wadi Rum desert is to stay in a Bubble Hotel. We stayed at the Bubble Luxotel and it was probably the coolest hotel I have ever stayed at. Each room consists of three bubbles, that offer the most amazing views. Sleeping under the stars was such an amazing experience. Each bubble has an outdoor hot tub that you can relax in while stargazing. This is the definition of glamping!
Day 8: Wadi Rum
The Wadi Rum Desert is something remarkable. A vast open space, virtually untouched by humanity. Many movies were filmed here including: Star Wars, Martian, and Aladdin. The weather and wind has carved the imposing, towering skyscrapers. The tranquility of the desert was something I was not expecting. It was so quiet and peaceful.
We headed on a jeep ride through the moonscape of Wadi Rum. We discovered valleys and gorges that were just stunning. This area is home to the Bedouin people. “Bedu” in Arabic means “desert dwellers”. They are the nomadic people who live in the Wadi Rum. We were so lucky that they opened up their community to show us their lifestyle and culture. They had such warm hospitality and it was such a unique experience to sit on their floor on their rugs and share tea.
Mr. Friday was our jeep tour guide, and he was a hoot. He was a little comedian cracking jokes and really made our ride unforgettable. One thing that was super special was that he took us to his sister’s house for lunch. It was very special and humbling. It was a meal that I will never forget, and let me tell you it was delicious!
Day 9: Amman
We started the day with a city tour of Amman. Amman is the capital of Jordan which is a fascinating city of contracts – a unique blend of old and new. We visited all of the important sites of Amman including the Roman Theater and Nymphaeum that reflect the historic decay of the city. The enchanting Citadel which has stood since ancient times.
We visited a spice shop, which was something on our list that we wanted to do. There were so many colorful spices that we got to sample. Some we have never even heard of before. We filled our bag with thyme, nuts, cinnamon and dried pineapple.
After our Amman city tour we drove out to Jerash, about a 50 minute drive north of Amman. This Roman city is full of intact ruins, temples, and rich of history.
We headed back to our hotel – Grand Hyatt Amman for a super late flight home at 3am. We spent the evening at the spa and ordering room service of pizza and champagne.
This trip was a DREAM! It was full of unforgettable experiences, and I came home with a bunch of memories. My perception of the Middle East was completely changed, and I am eager to travel back to more of those countries. If you have any questions about anything on our trip please feel reach to reach out or comment below.
Would you travel the Egypt and Jordan!?
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