Jordan Egypt March 2023

[Askance]

Onto Wadi Rum

Trains used by the Turks before Jordan became a Kingdom. The history of foreign interference in the area blew my my mind, not that our guide referred it it as that.



From the Wadi Rum visitor centre

The camp we stayed at. I was expecting the bubble tents we'd seen elsewhere but these were quite comfy and and stood up well to the windy day

Dust storms like this are not the norm we just got lucky This is the view from our camp dining room

The Mushroom

As a fan of the movie (and book) The Martian, i loved seeing the areas used for filming. Wadi Rum has an eerie beauty.

 

[Askance]

Return drive to Amman, then visiting the citadel and roman ruins we missed on our first day due to massive amounts of rain

This was my fav photo in Jordan, gorgeous blue sky offsetting the ruins.

Looking down to the amphitheatre, with Amman sprawled behind





Random guy on a guitar hosting a singalong. Tourist, i think.

Off to a local restaurant for a cooking class in how to make the local speciality mansaf





And farewell Jordan, onto Egypt

 

[RooFlyer]

While I didnt experience the route from little Petra, my advice would be not to attempt the Monastery if you have a fear of heights. There are many other structures to visit in Petra, well worth your attention.

Agree that the Monastery is not necessarily a 'must see'.

There is a bunch of nice carved buildings in this pic, just to the right where the valley/main trail turns 90 degrees to the left. I thought the Monastery might be a bit beyond me so I I checked these out on my way back then kept walking along the base of the escarpment and found what I think was the Al-Khubtha trail which climbed via stairs (lots!) up to the plateau overlooking the Treasury.

 

[Steady]

View attachment 323621
Tourist, i think.

fanTAStic a two headed Tasmanian a long way from home

 

[Myrna]

While I didnt experience the route from little Petra, my advice would be not to attempt the Monastery if you have a fear of heights. There are many other structures to visit in Petra, well worth your attention.

kpc said the same thing ...

 

[Askance]

Flight from Amman to Cairo, courtesy Egyptair. My tip is dont attempt to eat their food. The only thing worse is Nile Air's food.
And onto the pyramids




Look, im on a camel!

stop in a handicraft store

Step pyramids of Sakkura




Marriott Hotel Cairo.




Continued in next msg

 

[Askance]

The new museum not being open yet, we crammed into the old one. No one seems to know when but there is a grand parade being planned from old to new. Apparently...

Our guide told us so many stories but i honestly spent the time in a daze, and remember very little of who is from what period

Note - the are multiple signs that no pics are allowed in the King Tutankhamen room, and they police this strictly as one of our tour group found out when they started shouting at him.

 

[RooFlyer]

The only thing worse is Nile Air's food.

We share similar tastes. From my flight on Nile Air last November

 

[Askance]

We share similar tastes. From my flight on Nile Air last November


View attachment 323840

That is exactly what Nile Air served us on the flight to Aswan. I was the only person in our group to open the packet and nibble it. Eurgh. Did you try it, Roo?

 

[kpc]

Flight from Amman to Cairo, courtesy Egyptair. My tip is dont attempt to eat their food. The only thing worse is Nile Air's food. View attachment 323809View attachment 323810
And onto the pyramids

We flew the opposite direction from Cai to Amm on MS...at the gate, my BP beeped and I got upgaded to J ; +1 retained her seat in the last row of Y...she slept the whole flight so didn't eat; I got served a rather nice meal as per below

 

[Myrna]

We flew the opposite direction from Cai to Amm on MS...at the gate, my BP beeped and I got upgaded to J ; +1 retained her seat in the last row of Y...she slept the whole flight so didn't eat; I got served a rather nice meal as per below

Surprised that you were still able to tell the story after the upgrade to J, while +1 was stuck in Y!

 

[RooFlyer]

That is exactly what Nile Air served us on the flight to Aswan. I was the only person in our group to open the packet and nibble it. Eurgh. Did you try it, Roo?

I opened it to see what was inside - that was enough!

 

[Askance]

Citadel of Saladin was a gorgeous mosque in Cairo, well worth visiting as were the Khan el Khalili markets.



Being the last day before Ramadan started the markets were popular with tourists and locals alike

 

[Askance]

Next morning an early start to catch the 0700 Nile Air flight to Aswan. By 0900 we were sightseeing at the Aswan Dam then onto Philae Temple which is accessed by boat.




The temple cats were most patient with intruders into their domain.




onto the Movenpick Hotel, Elephantine Island, with a view back to Aswan. Another early start the next day so i took time out to lay by the pool most of the afternoon until our felucca cruise in the early evening

 

[VPS]

Excellent photos - what are you using?

 

[Askance]

Excellent photos - what are you using?

My camera had issues from day one so all pictures have been taken with Samsung Fold 3

 

[Pushka]

Good to hear that Khan el Khalili markets are worth visiting. There's an Insta photo i need to find as well as shopping. We've booked a private tour to see Giza plateau, The markets, Felucca ride on the Nile and lunch. Decided against the Egypt Museum as I think after Luxor and Valley of the Kings and Queens we will be glazing over. It's a long drive from Port Said though.

 

[Askance]

Good to hear that Khan el Khalili markets are worth visiting. There's an Insta photo i need to find as well as shopping. We've booked a private tour to see Giza plateau, The markets, Felucca ride on the Nile and lunch. Decided against the Egypt Museum as I think after Luxor and Valley of the Kings and Queens we will be glazing over. It's a long drive from Port Said though.

Its kinda like when you're in Europe, you love historical buildings but you'll scream if you have to visit another bloody cathedral. Sounds like you're already fitting a lot into a short time, Pushka

 

[Askance]

Felucca ride, complete with singing crew. Personally i'd have preferred a silent cruise to enjoy the peace of sailing on the river but i'm a grump, I admit it.


Next morning up at 0500 to drive three and a half hours thru the Desert to Abu Simbel, and then back to Aswan to board the Nile cruise to Luxor


The Aswan McDonalds

 

[craven morehead]

My first trip report *clears throat nervously*. In March 2020 i was one week away from leaving for this same Jordan and Egypt trip when the government shut the Australian borders due to the Covid pandemic. Three years later, it finally happened.

Departing ADL on 12 March, flying Qatar airways through Doha to Amman. I was in business class for the flight but as i was attempting to earn Qatar gold I couldnt use my Qantas gold to choose a seat. From the time i booked to the day i left, every other seat was blocked out, but there are no bad seats when you have a QSuite , and i ended up in 8A, first window seat of the smaller business class cabin.

Arriving in Doha this was my first visit to the Al Safwa Lounge and while i enjoyed its facilities, i think it's a bit soulless compared to the Al Mourjan. The part where you entered your boarding bus for the next onward flight directly from the lounge was a great idea though. Connecting onto Amman, enjoyed some champagne and a few hours later arrived at Queen Alia airport to be met prior to immigration by my Bunnik tour rep, along with another couple who'd travelled on the same flight. Off to the Intercontinental Amman and a quick swim to shake off the 7 1/2 hour time differenceView attachment 323306View attachment 323307View attachment 323308View attachment 323309View attachment 323310

Good on you for having a go! I'm dialling in for your first TR