Discover Wonders Of Egypt And Jordan
Author: Nil Aykut

7 Wonders of the World… You may not name all of them but
probably you know that most of them were destroyed by
earthquake, fire, or other causes since Herodotus formulated his
list in mid 5th century BC. Today you may only see 2 monuments:
the remains of the Temple of Artemis at Ephesus in Turkey and
the Great Pyramid of Giza in Egypt, the only one fully standing.
Although Egypt has many to offer still thousands of tourists
visit Egypt every year to see the Great Pyramid. In 2001 a
corporation started an initiative to choose the New 7 Wonders of
the World. The results were announced in 2007 and one more
monument in the Middle East was selected as one of the new
wonders: Petra in Jordan. Since then Jordan became a booming
tourism destination. Although Egypt was not happy with the
results still Petra's selection increased the tourist flow to
the region, and both Jordan and Egypt benefited from this
traffic. The frequency and the short duration of the flights
between these countries motivate North American travelers to
visit both countries once they take the long flight to the
Middle East. You'll need at most 13 days to tour Egypt and
Jordan; you can cover the major highlights and return home with
mystical memories of the new and old wonders of the world.

It is suggested to begin with Cairo, the bustling city of North
Africa. Don't plan to begin touring on your arrival day, try to
rest, recover from jet lag and keep your energy for the next
day. Next morning why don't you start with the famous Giza
Pyramids? If you have booked a private tour in Egypt, probably
you'll meet your guide at your hotel and you'll drive to Giza
Plateau, located in the west bank of Nile, facing Cairo. Cheops,
Chepren and Mycerinus are the three pyramids you will see in
this plateau and their guardian Sphinx, the lion body human head
mythical statue. If you are planning to enter the Great Pyramid
you'll need to arrive the gate early as the number of visitors
is limited with 150. After Pyramids, visit the second highlight,
the world famous Egyptian Museum. The museum that houses the
largest Egyptian collection with more than 250.000 antiques
extending over the past 5000 years. The famous Tut-Ankh-Amon
collection is one of the most splendid parts of the museum. In
the museum you may purchase additional ticket to visit the Mummy
Room (cameras not allowed).

Your second day should begin early with a flight to Aswan or
Luxor to join the Nile Cruise. You may not be really a "cruise
type" but in Egypt, Nile cruise is the best way to visit Luxor,
Aswan and other sights in between. If you begin from Aswan
probably you'll want to take the expensive excursion to Abu
Simbel. It is a half day excursion but a must-see sight in
Egypt. Flights to Abu Simbel fly early morning from Aswan and
return by noon allowing ample time for cruise guests to board
their ship. In Abu Simbel you'll see the magnificent temples of
Ramses II and Nefertiti.

Then you can join your Nile cruise ship where you'll spend you
next 5 days. Most cruise excursions will take you to Aswan Dam,
to the Philae Temple and to a short sail by felluca's,
traditional sail boats to view the Agha Khan Mausoleum which is
currently closed to visitors. On the way to Luxor ship will stop
in Kom Ombo and Edfu. The Kom Ombo Temple was built in Ptolemaic
Roman era for the worship of god Haroeris and Sobek, the
crocodile god. Edfu Temple, located in the west bank of Nile, is
dedicated to god Horus, the falcon god. This temple is the
second largest temple after Karnak and its distinctive character
comes from its huge structure that blends Greek and Pharaonic
architecture. At the end of 3rd day on boat you will arrive
Luxor, the greatest open air museum in the world.

Luxor tours begin with the Valley of Kings and Queens. Some of
the most important tombs in the valley are the tombs of
Tut-Ankh-Amon, Ramses III, Set I (Kings), and Nefertiti (Queen).
Here you can also see the colossi of Memnon, Necropolis of
Thebes and the temple of Queen Hatshepsut, established by the
only woman who ruled Egypt. Three terraces of the temple are
impressive. Then you'll cross the river to the eastern bank of
Nile to see the temple of Karnak and Luxor. Luxor temple was
built for the worship of god Amon Ra. Karnak temples includes
several temples and it begins with the spectacular avenue of
Rams. Next morning you'll disembark and may spend the day in
Luxor to visit the Luxor museum or you can return Cairo via
flight or train.

For a complete Cairo experience you must visit the Khan Khalili
Bazaar, the most famous bazaar of Egypt built in 14th century.
The market has a medieval atmosphere and is famous for its
unusual, typically oriental souvenirs, and handmade crafts.

At the end of your 7 night in Egypt you've already covered the
most important highlights. On 8th day you can stay in Cairo to
visit Memphis and Sakkara or you can take a daily tour to
Alexandria, second biggest city and the largest port of Egypt.
The city was built by the order of Alexander the Great in 332
B.C and became the capital city of his reign in Egypt. Here you
should visit the Pompay Pillar, Catacomb, Montazah Garden,
National Museum and the Alexandria Library. You may stay a few
more days in Cairo to visit the old Cairo, mosques, citadel etc.
But if you have limited time I suggest you to take the early
flight next day to Amman, Jordan.

Amman, the modern and ancient capital of Jordan, is one of the
oldest continuously inhabited cities in the World. Although
Amman is the first step to visit Petra, Dead Sea or Wadi Rum
still it is advised to begin your journey from Amman where you
can visit the ancient Citadel, the Archaeological Museum and the
Roman Amphitheatre.

Next day you can drive along the King's Highway, the ancient
Silk Road, to Madaba that is famous with its Byzantine mosaics.
In the Greek Orthodox Church of St. George you can see the
earliest surviving original map of the Holy land in a mosaic
floor dating to 560 A.D. Ten kilometres west of Madaba is the
holly district of Mount Nebo, known as the site of the tomb of
Moses. Here you can enjoy the spectacular view across the Jordan
Valley and the Dead Sea, even the spires of the churches of
Jerusalem. Leaving Mount Nebo behind you are heading to Dead
Sea, to the lowest point on earth, and the world's richest
source of mineral salts. It's called the Dead Sea because
nothing lives in it. Its salt content is six times that of most
oceans. Plants or fish can not survive in the salty water but
humans can float in the Dead Sea which makes swimming here a
truly unforgettable experience. After this unique experience you
are ready to head to Petra, but before Petra you have to visit
Kerak, the city famous with the12th century hilltop fortress
including galleries, towers, chapels, and ramparts that vividly
recall the age of the Crusaders. Arrive Petra and enjoy a deep
sleep as you'll need your energy for the Indiana Jones adventure
of the next day.

Red Rose City Petra, built by the Nabeteans who settled Jordan
2000 years ago, impresses travelers from all over the world with
its desert rock carved monumental tombs, palaces, temples and
the treasury. You'll need to hike the 1.2 km canyon to reach the
magnificent treasury. At the end of the fissure passage widens
and you catch a glimpse of the astonishing monument that
dominates Petra, El Khazneh (The Treasury). The rock face in
which it is carved is sheltered from winds and rain so the
Khazneh is known as the best preserved of all the monuments. On
the way back you can enjoy the horse ride for a complete Petra
adventure.

It is the 12th day of your journey, knowing you are approaching
the end, you may prefer to slow down little bit. If so, I'd
suggest you to head to sunny Aqaba, the red sea resort area
where you can enjoy the sunshine and sea on your last day. But
before going to Aqaba, the last must-see is the Wadi Rum, also
known as Valley of the Moon; tourists explore the area in 4 X 4
vehicles. The landscape of Wadi Rum, with its immensity, colour
and awe-inspiring shapes, creates an almost supernatural
atmosphere. It was the setting for the film Lawrence of Arabia
as most of our guests would recall. Passing by the Bedouin tents
you will drive south to Aqaba, the red sea resort area where you
can lie on the beach, close your eyes and spend a few moments to
memorize the unforgettable mystical experiences you had in 12
days. The next day your final journey will be to Amman to board
your flight back home.


About The Author: Nil Aykut is the Marketing Manager of
Anatolia Travels. Anatolia Travels offer private and escorted
tours to Turkey, Greece Egypt, Jordan & Morocco. More
information at http://www.anatoliatravels.com