Splendors of Egypt & The Nile

Upon your arrival at Queen Alia International Airport, you’ll be greeted by a Uniworld representative and transferred to The St. Regis Amman hotel for the night.

FEATURED EXCURSION: Amman Panoramic City Tour, Jerash and Dead Sea Visit
After breakfast, you’ll embark on a panoramic tour of dynamic and multifaceted Amman that will bring you to the Citadel, Archaeological Museum, Folklore Museum and Roman Amphitheater. Marvel at the 6,000-seat, 2nd-century landmark that today is home to the majority of the city’s cultural activities. Journey through the residential suburbs flanked by tree-lined avenues and white houses, then head into downtown for a look at traditional life.

Head off to the ancient city of Jerash, which has been inhabited since the Bronze Age. As one of the original 10 great Roman cities, Jerash is now the site of one of the best-preserved Roman provincial towns in the world. After being hidden for centuries in the sand and only uncovered in recent decades, Jerash features some of the finest examples of ancient Rome’s colonnaded streets, hilltop temples, theaters, spacious public squares and city walls.

Next, we’ll head to the Dead Sea, the lowest place on earth. Jordan’s coastline along the Dead Sea is one of the most miraculous natural and spiritual landscapes in the world and has enticed travelers for centuries.

FEATURED EXCURSION: “Rose-Red City” of Petra
Today, you’ll explore the “Rose-Red City” of Petra, with its massive red mountains and vast mausoleums. Although much has been written about Petra, nothing truly prepares you for this astonishing city. You’ll enter the city through the Siq, a narrow walkway that’s flanked by colorful, towering cliffs on both sides. As you reach the end, you’ll witness the stunning Al-Khazneh, one of the most intricate and iconic temples in the city. You’ll then enter the indescribable Petra Valley, with its overwhelming natural beauty and outstanding architectural achievements—there are hundreds of elaborate rock-cut tombs with intricate carvings. Here also sits a vast Nabatean-built, Roman-style theater—and high above rests the impressive Ad-Deir Monastery, accessible by a flight of 800 rock-cut steps. Later, you will travel to the Wadi Rum desert, where you will check-in, have dinner and spend a night glamping under the stars at Mazayen Camp Wadi Rum.

FEATURED EXCURSION: Bedouin Jeep Tour of Wadi Rum Desert
Climb aboard a Bedouin jeep for a tour of the Wadi Rum desert, a place seemingly untouched by the outside world. As you drive through a maze of canyons and rock-scrapes, you’ll uncover natural wonder after natural wonder among this sprawling wilderness. After lunch, you’ll venture to the coastal city of Aqaba, where you can spend your time exploring ancient sites, trying traditional food or shopping at local vendors. Later, check-in to your hotel for the night, the Al Manara—a Luxury Collection Hotel.

FEATURED EXCURSION: Madaba Visit with Saint George Church and Mount Nebo
FEATURED EXCURSION: MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experiences: Iraq al-Amir Women’s Cooperative Visit
Venture to one of the holiest sites of Jordan—Mount Nebo, where Moses was buried. Next up is a visit to Saint George Church, the home of the Madaba Mosaic Map. The map is the oldest surviving cartographic depiction of the Holy Land and Jerusalem. Only a quarter of the original map, which dates from the sixth century AD, still remains.

After lunch, you’ll pay a visit to the Iraq al-Amir Women’s Cooperative. This TreadRight Foundation-supported endeavor is where local women come together and share special skills with visitors, such as traditional weaving, paper making, ceramics and cooking. Your day then ends in Amman, where you will return to The St. Regis Amman for the night.

Today, you’ll check out of your hotel and transfer to the Queen Alia International Airport for your flight to Cairo, where you’ll embark on your Splendors of Egypt & the Nile cruise/tour.

Arrive at Cairo International Airport. If your cruise/tour package includes a group arrival transfer or if you have purchased a private arrival transfer, a Uniworld representative will be on hand to greet you and escort you to the opulent Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at Nile Plaza.

The ancient quarter of Cairo is intense—the colors, the sounds, the density of people—and it’s likely been this way for thousands of years. Your local expert will show you a 12th-century citadel, the beautiful Alabaster Mosque and an unsurpassed collection of priceless artifacts, including mind-boggling treasures once buried with the boy king Tutankhamen.

Featured Excursion:

Citadel of Salah al-Din, Alabaster Mosque and Egyptian Museum

Note: Dressing modestly is recommended as a show of respect for the culture and customs of the Egyptian people. In particular, women should ensure that shoulders are covered and legs are concealed at least to the knee on all shore excursions throughout this itinerary.

Prepare to be amazed at the legendary Temple of Karnak, a massive and absolutely astounding site, with gigantic columns, broad avenues lined with stone sphinxes and halls of truly epic proportions. This evening, you’ll revel in a Welcome Reception and Dinner onboard.

Featured Excursion:

Temple at Karnak

Note: Flights to Luxor depart early in the morning to take advantage of more favorable weather and traffic conditions, and to optimize tour scheduling.

Like its twin shrine, the Temple of Karnak, the Temple of Luxor stands on the site of ancient Thebes, the once flourishing capital of Egypt’s New Kingdom. It was built over hundreds of years and even in ruins it is still an extraordinary place. You’ll also visit the Temple of Hathor, dedicated to the goddess of love and beauty.

Featured Excursions:

Temple of Hathor

Temple of Luxor

The word “colossal” will take on a whole new meaning after today’s excursion to the gigantic twin statues known as the Colossi of Memnon. And that’s just the beginning—you’ll also visit the temple of one of Egypt’s rare female pharaohs as well as the Valley of the Kings, used as a royal burial place for nearly 500 years and where the mummified remains of Tutankhamen are on display.

Featured Excursion:

Colossi of Memnon, Hatshepsut Temple and Valley of the Kings

After visiting a temple dedicated to a crocodile god today (don’t miss the display of some of the 300 mummified crocs found in the local area), hop aboard a small boat for a bird-watching excursion along the Nile.

Featured Excursions:

Kom Ombo Temple

Bird watching boat ride

Today is an epic day, filled with wonders from start to finish. You’ll visit a marvel of modern engineering—the Aswan High Dam—as well as the Unfinished Obelisk and the beautiful Philae Temple complex, which was moved from one island to another back in the 1970s. But wait, there’s more. You’ll also take a ride in a felucca—a traditional Egyptian sailboat—and enjoy afternoon tea at a famous hotel depicted in Agatha Christie’s novel Death on the Nile.

Featured Excursions:

Boat ride in traditional Nile River felucca and afternoon tea at the Old Cataract Hotel Aswan

Aswan High Dam, Unfinished Obelisk and Temple of Isis

After dinner onboard this evening, you’ll be treated to an enchanting Nubian show featuring traditionally attired performers, live music and dancing.

Spend the day at leisure or join us for an optional excursion to see the magnificent temples of Abu Simbel.

On today’s excursion, you’ll learn how the Temple of Esna was buried under debris for many centuries and is one of the last great Egyptian temples ever built. Your Egyptologist guide will share all sorts of fascinating insights about this significant cultural site and show you the façade bearing the last known hieroglyphic inscriptions ever recorded in Egypt.

Featured Excursion:

Temple of Khnum

Later, savor the Nile’s majestic scenery as the ship cruises to Luxor.

Disembark in Luxor and transfer to the airport for your return flight to Cairo. Then, check in to the Four Seasons Hotel at Nile Plaza where you’ll have time to relax before dinner.

Note: Flights to Cairo depart early in the morning to take advantage of more favorable weather and traffic conditions, and to optimize tour scheduling.

It’s a day of Bucket List Moments today as we venture to Ancient Memphis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site with a number of amazing monuments to see—including the enigmatic Great Sphinx. After seeing the pyramids from afar last evening, you’ll have a thrilling opportunity to view them from an up-close perspective, the only way to fully appreciate their remarkable size and grandeur.

Featured Excursion:

Ancient Memphis sites, including the Pyramids of Giza with small pyramid entry, the Great Sphinx and Sakkara visit

Check out of your hotel and transfer to the Cairo International Airport for your flight home.