From the pyramids to Petra

Who it is for

For anyone who wants the Egypt of the pharaohs and Petra on the same trip.

Not for anyone traveling in summer, since the heat in Luxor and Petra pushes visits to early morning.

The strategy

Egypt comes first, from Cairo to Luxor, and a flight leads to Amman, three hours by road from Petra. The Siq is walked right at the start.

What you will see

• Giza pyramids and the Sphinx, Cairo. Three 4th Dynasty pyramids (about 2560–2510 BCE).
• Karnak, Luxor. Ancient Egypt's largest religious complex, with about 2 km² built and rebuilt over 1,500 years.
• Al-Khazneh, Petra. A facade about 39 m tall, carved between the 1st century BC and the 1st century AD, probably the tomb of King Aretas IV.

Day by day

Cairo

1. 1
   Day 1: Giza and the new museum

   1. 2Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM)Half a day or moreEssential
2. 2
   Day 2: Islamic Cairo on foot

   1. 3Mosque of Ibn TulunEssential
   2. 6Sultan Hassan and Al-RifaiUp to half an hourWorth a visit
   3. 5Saladin's Citadel and the Mosque of Muhammad AliOne to two hoursWorth a visit
   4. 4Al-Muizz streetEssential
   5. 7Khan el-Khalili and Al-FishawiWorth a visit
   6. 9Al-Azhar Park and Bab ZuweilaWorth a visit
3. 3
   Day 3: River, Copts, and Tahrir

   1. Egyptian Museum, TahrirOne to two hoursIf there is time
4. 4
   Day 4: Saqqara, Dahshur, and Memphis (day trip) · if you have more time

   

Luxor

1. 5
   Day 5: East bank: temples, museum and market

   1. 1Karnak (Ipet-isut)Essential
   2. 2Luxor Temple (Ipet-resyt)Essential
   3. 5Avenue of SphinxesOne to two hoursWorth a visit
   4. 8Abu al-Haggag MosqueUp to half an hourIf there is time
2. 6
   Day 6: West bank: Valley of the Kings and mortuary temples

   1. 6Valley of the KingsWorth a visit
   2. 3Deir el-BahariEssential
   3. Colossi of MemnonUp to half an hourIf there is time
   4. 4Medinet HabuEssential
3. 7
   Day 7: Workers, mud village and river · if you have more time

   1. 7Deir el-Medina and Valley of the QueensWorth a visit

Petra

1. 8
   Day 8: The Siq and the facade

   1. 1The SiqEssential
   2. 4Al-Khubtha TrailOne to two hoursEssential
2. 9
   Day 9: The heights and the Nabataean center

   1. 7Byzantine ChurchUp to half an hourWorth a visit
   2. Qasr al-BintUp to half an hourIf there is time
   3. 8Petra MuseumUp to half an hourWorth a visit