Egypt, Jordan & Turkey: 17-Day Grand Tour

After breakfast you meet your private Egyptologist and drive to the Giza Plateau, where the last surviving wonder of the ancient world rises from the desert. Stand before the Great Pyramid of Khufu, a mountain of limestone raised more than 4,500 years ago, and marvel at engineering that still defies easy explanation. Continue to the enigmatic Great Sphinx, its lion's body and human face guarding the plateau, then step inside the beautifully preserved Valley Temple with its polished granite pillars. From here you visit the magnificent Grand Egyptian Museum, the largest archaeological museum on earth, home to the complete treasures of Tutankhamun and a grand staircase lined with colossal statues. Your guide brings each gallery to life with tales of gods, pharaohs and daily life along the Nile. This private guided tour of Giza and the GEM is an unforgettable opening to your Egyptian journey.

• Giza Pyramids — The iconic trio of pyramids on the Giza Plateau, the only surviving wonder of the ancient world.
• The Great Pyramid — Khufu's colossal tomb, built from over two million limestone blocks around 2560 BC.
• The Great Sphinx — The mythical limestone guardian with a lion's body and a pharaoh's face.
• The Grand Egyptian Museum — The world's largest archaeological museum, housing Tutankhamun's full golden treasures.
• The Valley Temple — Khafre's granite-columned temple linked to the mummification rituals of the pharaoh.

This morning you travel north to Alexandria, the Mediterranean city founded by Alexander the Great and once crowned by the legendary Pharos Lighthouse and Great Library. Descend into the Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa, a haunting three-tiered necropolis where Egyptian and Roman art blend beneath the streets. Admire Pompey's Pillar, a towering red-granite column standing amid the ruins of the Serapeum, then visit the strikingly modern Bibliotheca Alexandrina, a soaring reincarnation of the ancient library overlooking the harbour. Round out your day at Qaitbay Citadel, the 15th-century fortress built on the very spot where the fabled Pharos once stood, its ramparts washed by sea breeze and spray. Throughout, your private guide weaves together the Greek, Roman and Egyptian threads that make this coastal city so distinctive. Enjoy a fresh seafood lunch by the water before your explorations conclude. Overnight in Alexandria.

• Catacombs of Kom El Shoqafa — A three-level Greco-Roman necropolis carved deep beneath the city, blending two cultures in stone.
• Alexandria Library — The Bibliotheca Alexandrina, a dazzling modern tribute to the lost ancient library.
• Pompey's Pillar — A 27-metre red-granite column rising from the ruins of the Serapeum temple.
• Qaitbay Citadel — A seaside fortress built on the foundations of the vanished Pharos Lighthouse.

Leaving the coast behind, you journey west along the Mediterranean toward Egypt's vast Western Desert. Your first stop is El Alamein, where the Military Museum and nearby war cemeteries preserve the memory of the pivotal World War II battle fought across these sands. From here the landscape empties into open desert as you drive to the remote oasis of Siwa, one of Egypt's most magical and secluded corners. Arriving in the late afternoon, you wander the labyrinthine ruins of the Old Town of Shali, a fortress-village built from salt-and-mud kershef that glows amber at sunset. Then head to Fatnis Island, set amid a glassy salt lake, to watch the sun sink behind the palms in absolute stillness. Your private guide shares the traditions of the Berber Siwan people, whose language and customs remain gloriously distinct from the rest of Egypt. Overnight in Siwa.

• Alamein Military Museum — A museum honouring the decisive WWII desert battle, with tanks, weapons and war memorials.
• Village of Old Shali — The atmospheric ruins of Siwa's medieval mud-brick fortress town.
• Fatnis Island — A palm-fringed islet on a salt lake, famed for serene sunset views.

Today you delve into Siwa's ancient soul. At the hilltop Temple of the Oracle of Amun, you stand where Alexander the Great himself once sought the god's counsel and was declared a divine pharaoh. Nearby lie the weathered remains of the Temple of Umm Ubayda, also dedicated to Amun, its inscribed blocks scattered among the palms. You cool off at Cleopatra's Spring, a natural stone pool of crystal-clear water said to have refreshed the queen herself, and admire the dazzling salt lakes whose mineral shelves shimmer turquoise beneath the sun. As afternoon fades, buckle up for an exhilarating 4x4 safari deep into the Great Sand Sea, carving over towering dunes, sandboarding down their flanks and pausing for Bedouin tea as the desert blazes gold at sunset. Your private guide makes every stop effortless. Overnight in Siwa.

• Temple of Amun — The Oracle Temple where Alexander the Great was proclaimed son of Amun.
• Temple of Alexander — The ruined Temple of Umm Ubayda, dedicated to the god Amun near the oracle.
• Salt Lakes Siwa — Mineral-rich turquoise lakes ringed by dazzling white salt crystal shelves.
• Ain Cleopatra — Cleopatra's Spring, a clear natural stone pool fed by bubbling desert water.
• 4x4 Siwa Desert Safari — An adrenaline-filled dune drive and sandboarding adventure through the Great Sand Sea.

Another unhurried day lets you savour Siwa's living heritage. Begin at the House of Siwa Museum, where traditional dress, silver jewellery and handicrafts reveal the oasis's Berber way of life, then browse the local bazaar for embroidered textiles, dates and hand-pressed olive oil, the pride of Siwan farmers. Escape to the tranquil Taghaghien Island Resort on the salt lake, and soak in one of Siwa's celebrated hot springs, where warm mineral water bubbles up beneath a wide desert sky. Later, settle into the peace of a traditional Bedouin desert camp for tea and conversation as the stars emerge in staggering numbers, far from any city glow. There is no rush here, only palm groves, salt flats and the gentle rhythm of oasis life. Your private guide ensures you experience Siwa exactly as its people do. Overnight in Siwa.

• Siwan House — A traditional-house museum showcasing Siwa's Berber crafts, costumes and silverwork.
• Siwan Oasis Bazaar — A local market of embroidered textiles, dates, olive oil and handmade silver.
• Taghaghien Island Resort — A serene eco-retreat set on a salt lake amid the palms.
• Ali-Khaled-Camp — A welcoming Bedouin desert camp for tea, tradition and starlit evenings.
• Siwa Hot Spring — A natural warm mineral spring for a restorative soak under the desert sky.

After a final Siwan breakfast, you begin the long and scenic drive back toward the Nile Valley, retracing the desert highway as the oasis slips from view. The journey is a chance to relax in comfort, watching Egypt's vast Western Desert roll past your window and reflecting on the extraordinary places you have explored. Your private driver handles the road while you rest, read or simply take in the shifting horizon, where sand meets an endless sky. Arriving in Cairo by evening, you check back into your hotel and enjoy a quiet night to recharge. Tomorrow brings a very different kind of desert, the surreal rock gardens of the White Desert, so tonight is for gentle rest. Your guide confirms the next morning's early start and answers any questions about the days to come. Overnight in Cairo.

Today you set out for Bahariya Oasis and one of the most otherworldly landscapes on the planet. First comes the Black Desert, its ochre hills capped with dark volcanic dolerite, followed by Crystal Mountain, a natural ridge glittering with quartz. Nearby lies the Valley of the Golden Mummies, a Greco-Roman necropolis whose gilded discoveries stunned archaeologists. The highlight arrives at golden hour: the surreal White Desert, where wind-sculpted chalk formations shaped like mushrooms, tents and giant creatures rise from the pale sand like a dream. As the sun sets you make camp among these ghostly monoliths, dining beneath a canopy of stars with your Bedouin hosts while your guide traces the constellations overhead. Sleeping in the open desert, wrapped in a silence broken only by a crackling fire, is a night you will never forget. Overnight camping in the White Desert.

• The Black Desert — Rolling hills scattered with black volcanic rock over an orange desert floor.
• The White Desert — A dreamlike plateau of wind-carved chalk formations glowing white at sunset.
• Crystal Mountain — A natural ridge studded with sparkling quartz crystals along the desert road.
• Valley of the Golden Mummies — A vast Greco-Roman necropolis famed for its gilded, well-preserved mummies.

You wake to sunrise over the White Desert, its chalk sculptures blushing pink and gold in the first light, an unforgettable final scene before you strike camp. After breakfast in the open air, you journey back across the desert toward Cairo, pausing at Bahariya's palm groves and perhaps a refreshing dip in a warm spring along the way. Settle into your vehicle and let the miles pass in comfort as your driver returns you to the capital by mid-afternoon. The rest of the day is yours to relax at your hotel, freshen up and rest ahead of a full day exploring Cairo's historic heart tomorrow. Your private guide is on hand should you wish for recommendations, whether an evening stroll along the Nile Corniche or a felucca sail as the city lights flicker on the water. Overnight in Cairo.

Cairo reveals its many layers today. Begin at the century-old Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Square, a treasure house of pharaonic antiquities where your guide leads you to its most storied artefacts. Continue to the mighty Salah El Din Citadel, the medieval fortress crowning the city, and step inside the alabaster Mohamed Ali Mosque with its cascading domes and slender twin minarets. At the National Museum of Egyptian Civilization you meet the Royal Mummies in their dramatically lit hall, tracing 5,000 years of history in a single visit. Finally, wander the medieval lanes of Al-Muizz Street, lined with exquisite Islamic architecture, and lose yourself in the bustling Khan El Khalili bazaar, where coppersmiths, spice sellers and centuries-old cafés still trade. Sip mint tea where locals have gathered for generations. This rich private guided tour is a fitting farewell to Egypt's capital. Overnight in Cairo.

• The Egyptian Museum — The historic Tahrir Square museum brimming with pharaonic antiquities and royal artefacts.
• Salah El Din Citadel — The medieval hilltop fortress built by Saladin to defend Cairo.
• Mohamed Ali Mosque — The soaring alabaster mosque crowning the Citadel skyline.
• The National Museum of Egyptian Civilization — Home to the Royal Mummies Hall and 5,000 years of Egyptian heritage.
• Al Muizz Street — A living open-air museum of medieval Islamic architecture in old Cairo.
• Khan El Khalili Bazaar — A labyrinthine medieval market of spices, copper, jewellery and traditional cafés.

This morning you bid farewell to Egypt and transfer to Cairo airport for your short flight to Amman, the hospitable capital of Jordan. On arrival, our local representative welcomes you, assists with entry formalities and drives you to your hotel. Jordan is a land of biblical landscapes, rose-red cities and legendary desert valleys, and over the coming days you will experience its very finest. The remainder of the day is free to settle in and rest after your travels, perhaps venturing out to sample Jordanian mezze and the country's famous mansaf. Your guide briefs you on tomorrow's journey to Madaba, Mount Nebo and the therapeutic shores of the Dead Sea. Feel the pace shift as you swap the density of Cairo for Amman's breezy hillsides and warm Levantine welcome, a gentle prelude to the wonders that await further south. Overnight in Amman.

Setting out from Amman, you travel to Madaba, the famed City of Mosaics, where the floor of St George's Church holds the oldest known map of the Holy Land, a 6th-century masterpiece pieced from more than two million tesserae. Continue to Mount Nebo, the windswept summit where Moses is said to have gazed upon the Promised Land; on a clear day the view stretches across the Jordan Valley to Jericho and beyond. Descend to the Dead Sea, the lowest point on the earth's surface, where the mineral-rich water is so buoyant you float effortlessly on its glassy surface. Coat yourself in the famous black mud, prized for centuries for its healing properties, and drift beneath the sun. Your private guide enriches each stop with history and scripture. Afterwards you continue south toward Petra, checking into your hotel near the ancient city. Overnight in Petra.

• St. George’s Church — The Greek Orthodox church in Madaba housing the ancient mosaic map of the Holy Land.
• Mount Nebo — The hilltop where Moses is believed to have viewed the Promised Land.
• The Dead Sea — The earth's lowest point, where salt-rich waters let you float with ease.

Today you explore one of the New Seven Wonders of the World: the lost city of Petra, carved into rose-coloured sandstone by the ingenious Nabataeans over two thousand years ago. Walk through the Siq, a narrow mile-long gorge that opens dramatically onto Al-Khazneh, the Treasury, its ornate facade glowing amber in the morning light. Explore the towering Royal Tombs, the grand Roman-style Theatre hewn from solid rock, and the Qasr al-Bint temple at the ancient city's heart. In the afternoon you drive to Wadi Rum, the Valley of the Moon, whose crimson dunes and monumental rock bridges have doubled for Mars on the silver screen. Board a 4x4 for a thrilling desert excursion among the towering massifs, then settle into a Bedouin camp for a traditional zarb feast cooked beneath the sand and a sky ablaze with stars. Overnight in a Wadi Rum desert camp.

• Petra — The Nabataean rose-red city carved into desert cliffs, a New Seven Wonder of the World.
• Al Khazneh Temple — The Treasury, Petra's most iconic rock-cut facade at the end of the Siq.
• Royal Tombs Of Petra — A row of monumental tombs carved high into the sandstone mountainside.
• Theatre Of Petra — A Roman-style amphitheatre hewn directly from the living rock.
• Qasr al-Bint — One of the few free-standing structures at Petra's ceremonial centre.
• Wadi Rum — The Valley of the Moon, a dramatic desert of crimson sand and towering rock formations.

After a memorable night beneath the desert stars, you enjoy breakfast at camp before transferring to the airport for your flight to Istanbul, the enchanting city that straddles two continents. Landing in Turkey, our representative meets you and escorts you to your hotel in the historic heart of the old city. Istanbul, once Byzantine Constantinople and later the seat of the Ottoman sultans, is a dazzling collision of East and West, its skyline pierced by domes and minarets and its shores lapped by the Bosphorus. The rest of the day is yours to relax or take a first stroll through atmospheric streets scented with roasting chestnuts and freshly brewed Turkish coffee. Your guide outlines tomorrow's grand tour of the imperial monuments. Feel the excitement of arriving in one of the world's great historic capitals, where every corner holds another layer of empire. Overnight in Istanbul.

A full day immerses you in Istanbul's imperial splendour. Begin at the awe-inspiring Hagia Sophia, a 1,500-year-old marvel that has served as cathedral, mosque and museum, its vast dome seeming to float on light. Cross to the sumptuous Topkapi Palace, home to Ottoman sultans for four centuries, with its jewel-filled treasury and sweeping Bosphorus views. Admire the six graceful minarets and cascading domes of the Blue Mosque, resplendent with more than twenty thousand hand-painted Iznik tiles, then stroll the Hippodrome, the ancient chariot-racing arena still marked by an Egyptian obelisk and Byzantine columns. Finally, dive into the labyrinthine Grand Bazaar, one of the world's oldest and largest covered markets, where thousands of stalls glitter with carpets, lanterns, ceramics and spices. Your private guide navigates the crowds and shares the story behind each landmark. Take your time to bargain for a treasure to carry home. Overnight in Istanbul.

• Hagia Sophia — A 6th-century domed masterpiece that served as cathedral, mosque and museum.
• Topkapi Palace — The opulent Ottoman imperial palace overlooking the Bosphorus.
• The Blue Mosque — The Sultan Ahmed Mosque, famed for its six minarets and blue Iznik tiles.
• The Hippodrome — The ancient Byzantine chariot-racing square, home to an Egyptian obelisk.
• The Grand Bazaar — One of the world's oldest covered markets, with thousands of glittering stalls.

An early flight whisks you to Cappadocia, a fairy-tale region in central Anatolia where erosion has sculpted the volcanic landscape into a wonderland of surreal stone. Ascend to Uchisar Castle, a towering rock citadel honeycombed with tunnels and chambers, for panoramic views over the valleys below. At the Goreme Open-Air Museum you explore rock-cut Byzantine churches adorned with vivid medieval frescoes, a UNESCO World Heritage treasure. In the pottery town of Avanos, watch artisans shape clay on kick-wheels beside the Red River. Wander among the famous fairy chimneys of Pasabag, or Monks Valley, and marvel at the dramatically coloured formations of Devrent Valley, often called the Imaginary Valley for its animal-shaped rocks. Your private guide brings this dreamlike terrain to life at every turn. Tonight you rest in a distinctive cave hotel carved into the soft tufa, a fitting finale to your Turkish adventure. Overnight in Cappadocia.

• The Uchisar Castle — A towering rock fortress riddled with tunnels, offering sweeping valley views.
• Göreme Open-Air Museum — A UNESCO complex of rock-cut churches with vivid Byzantine frescoes.
• Avanos — A riverside town celebrated for its centuries-old pottery tradition.
• Pasabag — Monks Valley, famed for its striking multi-capped fairy chimneys.
• Devrent Valley — The Imaginary Valley, whose eroded rocks resemble animals and figures.

Your grand three-country odyssey draws to a close. After a leisurely breakfast, you savour a final look at Cappadocia's storybook landscape, perhaps catching the dawn spectacle of hot-air balloons drifting silently over the valleys. At the appointed time, our representative transfers you to the airport for your onward or homeward flight, assisting with check-in and warm farewells. As you depart, you carry with you the memories of an extraordinary journey: the timeless pyramids of Giza, the palm-shaded serenity of Siwa, the ghostly chalk gardens of the White Desert, the rose-red wonder of Petra, the crimson sands of Wadi Rum, imperial Istanbul and the fairy chimneys of Cappadocia. It has been our privilege to share the treasures of Egypt, Jordan and Turkey with you. We wish you safe travels and hope to welcome you back to this remarkable corner of the world before long.