Wonders of the Middle East: An Exploration of Egypt & Jordan

After checking in to the hotel and getting your room, take some time to freshen up and relax before dinner.

At the hotel.

Orientation: 6:00 p.m. The Study Leader will greet everyone and lead introductions. We will review the up-to-date program schedule, discuss roles and responsibilities, logistics, safety guidelines, emergency procedures, and answer questions. We will have lectures by local experts. This program is led by two Study Leaders – one in Jordan and one in Egypt – who will provide educational content, lead field trips, and deal with logistics. Transportation will be via motorcoach with the exception of Wadi Rum, where we will use jeeps. Meals will feature traditional foods. Periods in the schedule designated as “Free time” and “At leisure” offer opportunities to do what you like and make your experience even more meaningful and memorable according to your personal preferences. The Study Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Program activities, schedules, personnel, and indicated distances or times may change due to local circumstances/conditions. In the event of changes, we will alert you as quickly as possible. Thank you for your understanding. Continue getting to know your fellow Road Scholars, settle in, and get a good night’s rest for the day ahead.

At the hotel.

We will board a motorcoach with our Study Leader for a field trip to Jerash. This modern city in northern Jordan was the site of ancient Gerasa. Although a place of human habitation for thousands of years, it was purportedly founded by Alexander the Great, circa 331 BCE, and flourished during the Greco-Roman era. Tradition says it was here that Jesus exorcised a demon. An earthquake in 749 CE destroyed much of the Roman city. It was covered by desert sands and not rediscovered until 1806. Archaeological excavations have revealed exceptional ruins, prompting comparisons with Pompeii. Regardless of the earthquake, this is still one of the biggest preserved Roman cities. We will walk along stunning colonnaded streets, admiring public squares and great temples.

At a restaurant in Jerash.

Next, we will reboard our motorcoach and ride to the Amman Citadel. The Citadel is situated in the heart of the modern Amman. Geographically, old Amman was built on seven hills, and the Citadel is one of them. This living, open-air museum contains the Jordan Archaeological Museum. Our Study Leader will give us an overview of Jordan’s past and the many civilizations that have held sway here. The small museum contains artifacts dating back to prehistoric times. We will learn about Jordan and its capital including Amman’s Roman heritage. We will also see the amphitheater, still in use today. During our panoramic drive, we will learn about the modern city of Amman.

At a local restaurant in Amman.

At leisure. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.

At the hotel.

We will check out, board a motorcoach, and start our way to Madaba in central Jordan. This ancient city has been inhabited for nearly 3,500 years. It contains the most impressive surviving work of art of the mid-6th century: a mosaic map of Palestine, located within St. George’s Church. We will enter, see the mosaic map, and learn from our Study Leader about Madaba as the center of Byzantine mosaics and its importance in economy and trade. Our day will continue with our field trip to Mt. Nebo. According to the Bible, God allowed Moses to look from here over into the Promised Land but he was not allowed to enter because of former disobedience. He died and God buried him, but no one knows where. We will see what many believe is the actual site of historical events and learn about Moses and biblical history. After the field trip, we will head to our hotel to check in and enjoy the beauty of the sceneries of the Dead Sea.

This meal has been excluded from the program cost and is on your own to have what you like. The Study Leader will be happy to offer suggestions.

Free time. This period of time has been set aside for your personal independent exploration to see and do what interests you most. Please refer to the list of Free Time Opportunities. The Study Leader will be happy to offer suggestions. Please note that the period scheduled for free time is subject to change depending on local circumstances and opportunities for independent exploration. Our hotel is situated on the northern shore of the Dead Sea, the lowest point on the planet. Its salt concentration is eight times that of ocean water. If you wish to “swim” — actually float — take your swimsuit and water shoes. Towels and lockers are available for a small rental fee.

At the hotel.

At leisure. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.

At the hotel.

After checking out, we will begin our transfer to Wadi Rum. We will take the scenic route along part of the Dead Sea shores through sandstone cliffs. Kerak was one of the largest Crusader castles in the Middle East, historically used to protect sites in the Latin Kingdom of Jerusalem. Its construction, east of the Dead Sea on the main trade routes from Damascus to Egypt and Mecca, dates from 1142. Due to its strategic position over the centuries, it was an important power base for many rulers, from Raynald (Reginald) of Châtillon and Saladin to modern times. Its structure with 16 towers atop the mountain was a model for many other fortified castles around the world melded with nature. Our Study Leader will illuminate the medieval history of the Middle East.

At a local restaurant.

We will continue our ride on a scenic road down to the one of the best-known desert sites in Jordan, Wadi Rum. Archaeological evidence has shown human habitation for thousands of years. We will check in to our Bedouin-style tented accommodations upon arrival.

At the camp.

At leisure. Prepare for check-out and transfer in the morning.

Glamping (modern upscale camping) breakfast.

We will have a morning sunrise walk led by our expert into Wadi Rum, the largest wadi in Jordan, covering nearly 300 square miles of harsh landscape with high mountains, deep valleys, canyons, caves, and sand. Over millennia, residents and travelers have left their mark in ancient petroglyphs, inscriptions, and in the ruins of temples. The Bedouin people who continue to live here are descendants of those who fought with T.E. Lawrence — popularly known as “Lawrence of Arabia.” As a nationally protected area, there is an intensive conservation program in place to protect the unique landscape. During our walk, we will learn about what has happened in this desolate terrain. We will move from Wadi Rum toward Little Petra via Desert Highway, as an introduction into the Wadi Musa area. It is part of the UNESCO site as part of the Petra Archeological site. We will start to learn about Nabataean tribes, culture and their heritage in the area.

At a local restaurant.

After lunch, we will head towards our hotel in Petra to check in. We will settle in to our hotel for an afternoon leisure before our dinner.

At the hotel.

At leisure.

At the hotel.

We will set out on a walking field trip with our Study Leader to explore the monuments and settlements of one of the most extraordinary places on earth: Petra. The name derives from Latin, “petrae,” meaning rock. Numerous archaeological excavations have taken place since its “discovery” in 1812 by Swiss explorer Johann Ludwig Burckhardt. Hidden in a great rift valley east of Wadi Araba, about 50 miles south of the Dead Sea, Petra was the principle city of ancient Nabetaea, though subsequently ruled by several other empires including the Roman, Byzantine, and Persian.

At the Basin Restaurant.

The hotel is situated at the entrance to the Petra site. We will have time for self-directed, independent exploration of Petra and its wonders at our own pace, returning when we like. We will gather later in the afternoon for a presentation by a local Bedouin on Bedouin life and culture in Jordan.

At the hotel.

At leisure. Prepare for check-out, transfer, and our flight to Cairo tomorrow.

At the hotel.

We will check out, board a motorcoach, and take a highway back to a suburb of Amman to have lunch before our flight to Egypt.

At a local restaurant.

After lunch, we will drive towards the airport in Amman – Queen Alia International Airport (AMM) – where we’ll say goodbye to our Jordanian Study Leader and board an international flight to Cairo, Egypt.

At the hotel.

Upon arrival in Cairo, we will be greeted by our Egyptian Study Leader and board a motorcoach to ride to our hotel for check-in.

At the hotel.

Led by our Study Leader, we will set out by motorcoach on a field trip to explore the Great Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx. The astonishing monuments of the Giza Plateau are marvels of ancient architectural prowess. The three largest pyramids are the Great Pyramid of Khufu, the Pyramid of Kafhre, and the Pyramid of Menkaure. Each is a tomb dedicated to these kings of Egypt. As we walk, we will take in the extraordinary sight of these ancient monuments, learn about great Egyptian dynasties, and why they were constructed. We will then descend the plateau to view the Great Sphinx and marvel at the presence of the guardian of this vast necropolis. An imaginary creature that shows the strength of the lion and the intelligence of a human, it was carved from a single gigantic block of limestone more than 4,600 years ago — though the actual date is a matter of scholarly debate. The Great Sphinx has been known as the “Father of Fear”. A wise man once said: “Everything fears time, yet time fears the Pyramids.” We will return to the hotel after our field trip.

At the hotel.

After some independent time, we'll gather with a scholar from Cairo University Giza for a lecture on Egypt and the Nile.

At the hotel.

At leisure. Prepare for check-out and early transfer in the morning.

Boxed breakfasts to go.

After early morning check-out, we will drive from Giza to the Cairo Airport, board a flight to Aswan. Upon arrival, we will board a motorcoach and ride to the Aswan High Dam. Completed in 1970, it has proven both beneficial and detrimental to Egypt. While the dam’s construction has been integral in generating electricity, a slew of environmental problems including erosion and poor silt deposition have developed. We will ride on to explore the Philae Temple. We’ll then ride to the dock and embark the M/S Blue Shadow for the start of our Nile study cruise.

Aboard ship.

We will gather for an orientation to the ship and our study cruise. After some time to relax, we will gather with our Study Leader who will give us an introduction to the temples Kom Ombo and Edfu.

Aboard ship.

At leisure. The ship will remain in port overnight.

Aboard ship.

Early in the morning, our ship will begin sailing downstream. We will then take carriages to explore the Kom Ombo and Edfu Temples. Dedicated to the gods Sobek and Haeroris, Kom Ombo was built during the Ptolemaic Dynasty in the second century BCE. Several hundred crocodile mummies were uncovered during initial excavations. The Horus Temple at Edfu, dedicated to the Falcon God Horus, is one of the largest in Egypt.

Aboard ship.

As the ship heads towards Luxor, we’ll gather with our Egyptologist for a lecture about the Valley of the Kings. The remainder of the afternoon will be free.

Aboard ship.

At leisure. The ship will reach Luxor port late in the evening and stay in port overnight.

Aboard ship.

We will board a motorcoach with our Study Leader for a full day field trip to explore the Nile’s West Bank Valley of the Kings and the tombs of King Tutankhamun, Queen Hatshepsut, and the colossal statue of Memnon. A plethora of tombs were constructed for ancient Egypt’s nobility between the 16th to 11th centuries BCE. Since the end of the 18th century CE, there have been significant archaeological investigations at the Theban Necropolis. Recent excavations, under the direction of the Theban Mapping Project, have unearthed additional tombs as well as provided a more meticulous and cautious approach to excavation.

Aboard ship.

Next, we will ride to the Karnak and Luxor temples and explore with our Study Leader. The temple of Luxor, known in the Egyptian language as “ipet resyt” (the southern harem), was built by King Amenhotep III who reigned 1390-1353 BCE. He dedicated it to Amon-Re, king of the gods, his consort Mut, and their son Khons. Although badly ruined, no site in Egypt is more impressive than Karnak. It is the largest temple complex ever built and represents the combined achievement of many generations of ancient builders. The Temple of Karnak is actually three main temples, smaller enclosed temples, and several outer temples. After returning to the ship, we will engage in an informal question and answer session with our Egyptologist about modern Egypt, family life, education, and more.

Aboard ship.

At leisure. Prepare for disembarkation and early morning transfer.

Early aboard ship.

We will disembark, board a motorcoach, and ride to the Luxor airport for our flight to Cairo. Upon arrival, we will explore the Citadel of Mohamed Ali which lies at the heart of Cairo, etched into the Mokattam hillside. It was initially constructed by the Ayyubid ruler Salah al-Din between 1176 and 1183 CE to resist Crusaders. Today, it houses several mosques and numerous museums.

At a local restaurant in Cairo.

With our Study Leader, we’ll spend some time exploring the Khan Al Khalili Bazaar. Dating back to 1382, the market is peppered with trinkets ranging from traditional jewelry and clothes to imitation western perfumes. We will then check in to our hotel with some time to freshen up. We’ll then be joined by a scholar from Egypt who is trying to bridge religions and who will give us a presentation on Islam.

At the hotel.

At leisure.

At the hotel.

We will board a motorcoach and ride to the Egyptian Museum where an Egyptologist will give us an introduction. We will then explore the museum and its many extraordinary wonders, first seeing the highlights with our Study Leaders before some time to explore independently.

At a local restaurant in Cairo.

We will set out on an expert-led walking field trip in Old Cairo. Among the highlights we will see are the Hanging Church and the Ben Izra Synagogue.

At the hotel. Share favorite experiences and enjoy camaraderie with new Road Scholar friends during our farewell dinner.

At leisure. Prepare for check-out and departure in the morning.

At the hotel. This concludes our program.

If you are returning home, safe travels. If you are staying on independently, have a wonderful time. If you are transferring to another Road Scholar program, detailed instructions are included in your Information Packet for that program. We hope you enjoy Road Scholar learning adventures and look forward to having you on rewarding programs in the future. Don’t forget to join our Facebook page and follow us on Instagram. Best wishes for all your journeys!