Morocco, Egypt & Jordan: 16-Day Luxury Tour

After breakfast you meet your private guide for a full day exploring two of Morocco's most storied cities. Begin at the monumental Hassan II Mosque, whose minaret soars above the Atlantic and whose hand-carved cedar, marble and zellij tilework rank among the finest craftsmanship in the Islamic world. Follow the breezy Casablanca Corniche before driving north to Rabat, the elegant capital. Here you admire the unfinished Hassan Tower and the neighbouring Mausoleum of Mohammed V, where uniformed guards keep watch over royal tombs beneath a gilded ceiling. After lunch you wander the blue-and-white lanes of the Kasbah of the Udayas, perched above the river mouth, and pause at the gates of the Royal Palace of Rabat. Throughout this private guided tour your guide shares the history behind each landmark. You return to your Rabat hotel in the evening for a restful overnight.

• Hassan II Mosque — Vast oceanfront mosque with the tallest minaret in Morocco and intricate hand-carved detailing.
• Casablanca Corniche — Breezy Atlantic promenade lined with cafes and sea views.
• Hassan Tower — The unfinished 12th-century minaret towering over Rabat's esplanade of columns.
• Mausoleum of Mohammed V — Ornate royal tomb guarded around the clock beneath a gilded cedar ceiling.
• Kasbah of the Udayas — Blue-and-white hilltop citadel overlooking the mouth of the Bou Regreg river.
• Royal Palace of Rabat — The official residence of the Moroccan monarch, admired from its grand ceremonial gates.

This morning your private guided tour continues to Meknes, the imperial city founded by Sultan Moulay Ismail. Stand before the magnificent Bab Mansour, widely regarded as Morocco's most beautiful gateway, its arches wrapped in intricate mosaic. Step inside the serene Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail, then marvel at the vast Heri es-Souani granaries and Royal Stables, engineered to feed and house thousands of horses. Soak up local life on lively Place el-Hedim and browse the treasures of the Dar Jamai Museum. After lunch you drive to the UNESCO-listed ruins of Volubilis, the best-preserved Roman site in Morocco, where triumphal arches, colonnaded streets and remarkably intact floor mosaics recall a prosperous frontier town. As the afternoon light gilds the columns, your guide brings the ancient city vividly to life. You then continue to Fez for the night, gateway to Morocco's oldest and most atmospheric medina.

• Bab Mansour — The grand ceremonial gate of Meknes, celebrated for its mosaic and marble ornamentation.
• Mausoleum of Moulay Ismail — The tranquil resting place of the sultan who made Meknes an imperial capital.
• Heri es-Souani & Royal Stables — Cavernous 17th-century granaries and stables built to sustain the imperial court.
• Place el-Hedim — The bustling central square at the heart of the old medina.
• Dar Jamai Museum — A restored palace displaying Moroccan ceramics, woodwork and traditional arts.
• Volubilis — The best-preserved Roman ruins in Morocco, famed for their vivid floor mosaics.

Today belongs to Fez, Morocco's spiritual and cultural heart, and its labyrinthine medina is yours to discover on foot with your private guide. Visit the venerable Al-Qarawiyyin University, founded in 859 and often cited as the world's oldest continually operating university. Admire the exquisite carved plaster and cedar of the Bou Inania Madrasa, a masterpiece of Marinid design. Plunge into the sensory theatre of the Chouara Tanneries, where hides are still cured in stone vats using centuries-old methods, then pause at the beautifully tiled Nejjarine Fountain. Losing yourself among the thousands of alleys of Fes el-Bali, the walled old city, you encounter coppersmiths, weavers and spice merchants at every turn. After lunch there is time to shop for handcrafted ceramics and leather before returning to your hotel. Tonight you overnight in Fez, savouring the atmosphere of this remarkably preserved medieval city in the north of Morocco.

• Al-Qarawiyyin University — Founded in 859, widely regarded as the world's oldest continually operating university.
• Bou Inania Madrasa — A jewel of Marinid architecture with intricate stucco, cedar and zellij work.
• Chouara Tanneries — Historic open-air tanneries where leather is still dyed in traditional stone vats.
• Nejjarine Fountain — An ornately tiled fountain beside the carpenters' square in the old city.
• Fes el-Bali — The walled medieval medina, a UNESCO site and one of the world's largest car-free urban areas.

After breakfast you journey southwest from Fez to Marrakech, trading the medieval north for Morocco's vibrant Red City. The route unfolds across changing landscapes, from the cedar forests and Berber villages of the Middle Atlas to the apple orchards of Ifrane with its alpine-style chalets and the wide plains that lead toward the Haouz. Your driver pauses at scenic viewpoints and welcoming roadside stops so you can stretch, photograph the scenery and enjoy an unhurried lunch en route. It is a full but comfortable travelling day in a private air-conditioned vehicle, and the shifting terrain is a highlight in itself. You arrive in Marrakech in time to settle into your hotel and rest. Perhaps venture out for an evening glimpse of the floodlit Koutoubia minaret or dine at leisure. Tonight you overnight in Marrakech, perfectly poised to explore its palaces, gardens and legendary square tomorrow.

Your final Moroccan morning is devoted to the wonders of Marrakech before an afternoon flight carries you east to Egypt. With your private guide you tour the sumptuous Bahia Palace, its painted ceilings and tranquil courtyards evoking nineteenth-century royal life. Nearby rises the Koutoubia Mosque, whose 77-metre minaret has crowned the skyline for more than 800 years. Dive into the bustling Medina and Souk of Marrakesh, a maze of stalls selling lanterns, carpets, spices and argan oil, before reaching the legendary Jemaa el-Fna, the great square where storytellers, musicians and food vendors create an unforgettable spectacle. After lunch you transfer to Marrakech airport for your flight to Cairo. On arrival in the Egyptian capital, a Travel Joy representative meets you and escorts you to your hotel. Tonight you overnight in Cairo, on the threshold of the pyramids, the Egyptian Museum and your upcoming Nile cruise.

• Bahia Palace — A lavish 19th-century palace of painted ceilings, courtyards and fragrant gardens.
• Koutoubia Mosque — Marrakech's largest mosque, its 77-metre minaret a landmark for over eight centuries.
• Medina & Souk of Marrakesh — A warren of covered markets selling crafts, spices, leather and lanterns.
• Jemaa el-Fna — The famous main square alive with performers, musicians and open-air food stalls.

Today you come face to face with the only surviving wonder of the ancient world. Your private Egyptologist guide leads you onto the Giza Plateau, where the Giza Pyramids Complex rises from the desert edge. Stand beneath the colossal Great Pyramid of Khufu, built more than 4,500 years ago, and gaze up at the enigmatic Great Sphinx, its lion's body and pharaoh's face guarding the plateau for millennia. Explore the granite-lined Valley Temple to understand the rituals of royal burial. After lunch you visit the spectacular Grand Egyptian Museum, home to the complete treasures of Tutankhamun and thousands of artefacts displayed against a pyramid backdrop. Continue to Saqqara to admire the Step Pyramid of Djoser, the earliest monumental stone structure in Egypt and the ancestor of every pyramid that followed. Your guide unravels the stories behind each site on this private guided tour before you return to Cairo for the night.

• Giza Pyramids Complex — The plateau of the three great pyramids on the edge of the Western Desert.
• The Great Pyramid — The Pyramid of Khufu, the largest and only surviving wonder of the ancient world.
• The Great Sphinx — The colossal limestone lion with a pharaoh's head, guardian of the Giza plateau.
• The Valley Temple — A granite-clad temple linked to the funerary rituals of King Khafre.
• The Grand Egyptian Museum — The vast new museum showcasing the full Tutankhamun collection beside the pyramids.
• Saqqara Step Pyramid — The Step Pyramid of Djoser, Egypt's earliest monumental stone structure.

An early flight whisks you south to Aswan, Egypt's serene Nubian city on the banks of the Nile. Meeting your local guide, you visit the mighty Aswan High Dam, the twentieth-century engineering feat that tamed the river's annual floods and created Lake Nasser. At a nearby granite quarry you inspect the Unfinished Obelisk, which reveals exactly how ancient stonemasons shaped these giant monuments. A short boat ride then carries you to the enchanting island Temple of Philae, dedicated to the goddess Isis and rescued stone by stone from the rising waters. In the afternoon you board your elegant Nile cruise ship, your floating hotel for the next three nights. Settle into your cabin, enjoy lunch and dinner on board, and watch the timeless riverbanks drift past from the sun deck. Tonight you overnight aboard your Nile cruise, lulled by the gentle current of the world's longest river.

• Aswan High Dam — The monumental dam that regulates the Nile and formed Lake Nasser.
• The Unfinished Obelisk — A colossal abandoned obelisk revealing ancient granite-carving techniques.
• Philae Temple — The graceful island temple of the goddess Isis, relocated to save it from flooding.

Waking aboard your Nile cruise, you enjoy a leisurely breakfast as the ship glides through classic river scenery of palm groves, sandbanks and villages little changed for generations. Today's highlight is the unusual Kom Ombo Temple, dramatically set on a bend of the Nile. Your private guide explains its rare double design, dedicated simultaneously to Sobek, the crocodile god of fertility, and Horus the Elder, the falcon-headed god of healing. Perfectly symmetrical twin sanctuaries, corridors and courtyards mirror each other along a central axis. Look for the fascinating wall carvings of ancient surgical instruments and the adjacent collection of mummified crocodiles. Back on board, full-board dining and the passing panorama fill the hours as you continue sailing. Whether you relax on deck with a cool drink or take a dip in the pool, the pace is wonderfully unhurried. Tonight you again overnight aboard your Nile cruise beneath the Egyptian stars.

• Kom Ombo Temple — A rare symmetrical double temple honouring the gods Sobek and Horus the Elder.

This morning your Nile cruise brings you to Edfu, home to the magnificent Temple of Horus, the best-preserved ancient temple in all of Egypt. A short ride, often by horse-drawn carriage, delivers you to its towering pylon gateway, where colossal falcon statues stand guard. With your private Egyptologist guide you walk through the grand hypostyle hall and inner sanctuaries, remarkably complete thanks to centuries spent buried beneath desert sand. Detailed reliefs recount the mythic battle between Horus and Seth and the annual festivals once celebrated here, offering a vivid window into temple life during the Ptolemaic era. Returning to your ship, you settle in for lunch as the vessel sails onward toward Luxor, passing the Esna lock and endless green riverbanks. The afternoon is free for relaxation, perhaps ending with tea on deck as the sun sinks over the Nile. Tonight is your final overnight aboard the Nile cruise.

• Edfu Temple — The strikingly complete Ptolemaic temple of the falcon god Horus.

After breakfast you disembark in Luxor, the site of ancient Thebes and often called the world's greatest open-air museum. Crossing to the West Bank with your private guide, you descend into the royal tombs of the Valley of the Kings, where pharaohs including Tutankhamun were laid to rest amid dazzling painted walls. You then marvel at the terraced Temple of Hatshepsut, rising in tiers against sheer limestone cliffs, and pause before the towering Colossi of Memnon that once flanked a vanished mortuary temple. After lunch you cross to the East Bank to explore the vast Karnak Temple, a forest of colossal columns raised over more than 2,000 years to honour the god Amun. As evening approaches you transfer to Luxor airport for your short flight back to Cairo. On arrival you are met and transferred to your hotel, where you overnight in the Egyptian capital.

• Valley of the Kings — The desert valley of rock-cut royal tombs, including that of Tutankhamun.
• Hatshepsut Temple — The dramatic terraced mortuary temple of Egypt's famed female pharaoh.
• Colossi of Memnon — Two towering stone statues that once guarded a lost mortuary temple.
• Karnak Temple — A colossal temple complex with a hypostyle hall of 134 giant columns.

A full day in Cairo reveals the many layers of Egypt's capital with your private guide. Begin at the historic Egyptian Museum on Tahrir Square, a treasure house of pharaonic antiquities spanning thousands of years. Journey next through Coptic Cairo to the beautiful Hanging Church, suspended above a Roman fortress gate, and the venerable Amr Ibn Al Aas Mosque, the first mosque built in Egypt and on the African continent. After lunch you delve into the superb National Museum of Egyptian Civilization, where the Royal Mummies gallery presents the preserved pharaohs in reverent detail. As afternoon fades you stroll medieval Al Muizz Street, lined with illuminated mosques and mansions, and reach the labyrinthine Khan El Khalili Bazaar. Here you can haggle for spices, silver, lanterns and perfume, or sip Turkish coffee at a centuries-old cafe. Your guide brings each era to life before you return to your hotel to overnight in Cairo.

• The Egyptian Museum — The historic Tahrir Square museum of pharaonic art and antiquities.
• The Hanging Church — A revered Coptic church suspended above a Roman gatehouse in Old Cairo.
• Amr Ibn Al Aas Mosque — The first mosque founded in Egypt and Africa, dating to 641 AD.
• The National Museum of Egyptian Civilization — Home to the Royal Mummies gallery and 30,000 years of Egyptian heritage.
• Al Muizz Street — An open-air museum of medieval Islamic mosques, mansions and monuments.
• Khan El Khalili Bazaar — Cairo's historic labyrinthine souk for crafts, spices and souvenirs.

This morning you bid farewell to Egypt and board a flight to Amman, the hospitable capital of Jordan and the third country of your journey. On arrival, a Travel Joy representative assists with your entry formalities and accompanies you on a private transfer into the city. Built across a series of hills, Amman blends gleaming modern districts with ancient roots, and the afternoon is yours to relax after travelling. Depending on your arrival time you might take an orientation drive past the Roman Theatre and the hilltop Citadel, sample fragrant Levantine cuisine, or simply rest at your hotel ahead of the discoveries to come. Your guide outlines the Jordanian leg of the trip, from the mosaics of Madaba and the vast Dead Sea to the rose-red city of Petra and the desert of Wadi Rum. Tonight you overnight in Amman, comfortably settled in this warm and welcoming city.

Today you explore the biblical landscapes west of Amman with your private guide. In the ancient town of Madaba you visit St. George's Church to see its remarkable sixth-century mosaic map of the Holy Land, the oldest surviving cartographic depiction of Jerusalem and the region. You then drive to nearby Mount Nebo, the windswept summit from which, according to tradition, Moses first looked out over the Promised Land; on clear days the view stretches across the Jordan Valley to the hills beyond. After lunch you descend to the shores of the Dead Sea, the lowest point on Earth at more than 400 metres below sea level. Here you can float effortlessly on the mineral-rich waters, a sensation quite unlike any other, and coat your skin in the famously therapeutic black mud. As the sun sets over the water, you settle into your Dead Sea resort to relax and overnight.

• St. George's Church — Home to the celebrated 6th-century mosaic map of the Holy Land.
• Mount Nebo — The hilltop where Moses is said to have viewed the Promised Land.
• The Dead Sea — The lowest point on Earth, famed for its buoyant, mineral-rich waters.

Today you experience the crown jewel of Jordan, the rose-red city of Petra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Walking through the shadowy Siq, a narrow gorge over a kilometre long, you emerge before the breathtaking facade of Al Khazneh, the Treasury, carved directly into rose-coloured sandstone by the Nabataeans over 2,000 years ago. With your private guide you continue past the elaborate Royal Tombs, the grand Theatre hewn from the rock, and the imposing Qasr al-Bint temple, piecing together the story of this once-flourishing caravan capital. In the afternoon you travel south to Wadi Rum, the Valley of the Moon, where a 4x4 excursion carries you among towering sandstone massifs and crimson dunes made famous by Lawrence of Arabia. As night falls you enjoy dinner and overnight at a Bedouin desert camp beneath a brilliant canopy of stars.

• Petra — The ancient Nabataean capital carved into rose-coloured rock, a UNESCO wonder.
• Al Khazneh Temple — The iconic Treasury facade revealed at the end of the Siq gorge.
• Royal Tombs Of Petra — A row of monumental facades cut high into the sandstone cliffs.
• Theatre Of Petra — A large amphitheatre hewn directly from the rock by the Nabataeans.
• Qasr al-Bint — One of Petra's few free-standing structures, a major temple of the city centre.
• Wadi Rum — The dramatic Valley of the Moon, explored by 4x4 among red dunes and cliffs.

Your remarkable 16-day journey through Morocco, Egypt and Jordan draws to a close today. After a final breakfast and, if time allows, a last look at the desert dawn over Wadi Rum, you check out at your leisure. A Travel Joy representative accompanies you on a private transfer to the airport in good time for your onward flight, assisting with formalities along the way. As you depart, you carry with you the memories of three extraordinary lands: the imperial cities and souks of Morocco, the pyramids, temples and timeless Nile of Egypt, and the mosaics, mountains and rose-red rock of Jordan. Our team hopes this carefully crafted private tour has exceeded your expectations, and we look forward to welcoming you back to explore more of the region another time. Safe travels home, and thank you for journeying with Travel Joy Egypt.