Ancient landscapes. Lively towns. Rich heritage. Whether you’re visiting Jordan or Egypt on your next tour, this region of the world represents the unforgettable history and iconic people. While yes, you’re going to get way too much sand in your shoes and probably watch a really good camel-spitting contest, there are a million things to see in each locale.
If you’re an avid explorer that wants to saunter through history in a rugged-kind-of-way, we think we can help you choose where to go.
| Jordan | Egypt | |
|---|---|---|
| Capital city | Amman | Cairo |
| Most popular destination | Petra | Giza |
| Natural attraction | Dead Sea | Nile |
| Nightlife destination | Amman | Sharm El Sheikh |
Jordan
When people think of travel to the Middle East, they often worry about safety, however, Jordan is a haven of peace and friendliness. If you’re looking for all the antiquities and less of the tourist crowds, Jordan is the perfect place for you.
Is it safe to visit Jordan?
Travelling independently within Jordan is relatively easy and very safe. The infrastructure is modern with paved roads, direct routes and expressways. It’s so safe that locals tend to emphasize it when you meet them. People tend to think because of conflict in Syria close by that the entire Middle East is iffy, but that’s quite untrue of Jordan. In general, it has low levels of crime.If you do have your doubts, however, this is when travelling on a group tour not only allows for you to meet other like-minded travellers, you can travel with greater peace of mind knowing a local tour guide is there to help out if needed.
Over the last 10 years, Jordan has also invested heavily in tourism. Now with so much at stake for revenue, there is a collective understanding among Jordanians to maintain a good reputation with foreigners as a safe destination.
How to get around Jordan
- Bus: Although there are local mini-buses taking locals where they need to go even in rural areas, it can be a bit tough for the independent traveller who may want to see places that are less visited. You can look at joining a short local day tour, however, but those don’t pick up passengers on the fly and have a fixed schedule. One bonus though – air conditioning.
- Car: Consider renting a car to see all of Jordan. The best place to get one is through reliable in Amman because it’s relatively affordable and is known for great customer service.
- Taxi: When in the city, shared or service taxis are common and can fit up to 8 people. Tuck those elbows in.
- Group tour: The always popular option, travelling around Jordan on a group tour means you neve rhave to worry about organising transport as its always included to ensure a hassle-free travel expereince.
Top highlights and experiences in Jordan
Petra
The intensity of your visit to Jordan won’t come from the political climate, but rather from the jaw-dropping beauty of the sites you can find here. You can make the journey to sites like Petra in almost total silence given the sheer size and scale of this great sight. Even if it was packed with visitors, there is plenty of room to move and enjoy the beauty.
The King’s Highway
You’re in the Holy Land, and there’s a lot of lands to cover – 280 kilometres, in fact. En route from Petra to Amman, The King’s Highway winds through mountain towns, small villages and skirts around the Dead Sea. Stop at the Byzantine churches, Roman Piazzas, Madaba mosaics, Machaerus Fortress and Mt. Nebo, which is also pretty ancient. As in, we’re talking Moses-was-there-kind-of-ancient.
The drive to each of the many sites will take some time. Luckily, there are road stops for snacks and accommodations throughout.
Amman
Heading to the capital and most populous city in Jordan, Amman has a lot of treasures hiding within it. Bustling markets, electrifying nightlife, shisha cafés, Turkish spas and seriously ancient caves, Amman is where the old meets the new.
For festival-types, bring your glow sticks to King Hussein Park or maybe scope out the graffiti talent at Baladk during the summer. If shopping is more your thing, there’s no shortage of souks where merchants are hawking their wares. Better put on your haggling hat. These folks are experts.
We loved plenty of aspects about Jordan but one thing that stood out was the organised chaos of Amman. Even though people were going in every direction, things seemed to keep flowing. The food alone will keep you there and if you can, try and meet up with locals, you will be spoilt!!
Make sure you are eligible to get the Jordan Pass. This is payment for your visa AND gives you access to most of the famous sites of Jordan for no extra charge. This is an absolute must if you are coming to Jordan and is a cool fully automated service that we have not seen anywhere else in the world. – Mitchell and Thuymi, Adventure Faktory
Must-try foods in Jordan
- Falafel: A combination of ground chickpeas, mixed with a variety of spices, then deep-fried into a mini patty like shapes.
- Moutabel: Eggplant dip that’s mixed with yoghurt, slightly different than baba ganoush.
- Fattet Hummus: A combination of bread, which has been soaked in broth to make it completely dissolvable, mixed with hummus, tahini, and lemon juice.
Egypt
From the enchanting sand dunes to the flourishing delta, Egypt is a land for storytellers. With a history that goes back thousands upon thousands of years, there are more wonders of the world here than you can imagine.
Not only is it home of one of the most famous ancient civilizations on the Nile, it also boasts unbeatable accommodations, plenty of activities and a non-stop sights to see. If you’d like a window into the lives of some of the most high profile, but also sort of dead celebs like Tutankhamen, King Khufu, Ramses II, Hatshepsut, you’ve come to the right place. There is no shortage of tombs, ruins, pyramids, temples and over-the-top, mind-blowing Ancient Egyptianness.
Is it safe to visit Egypt?
Egypt is a very welcoming country, however, it is hard to deny that it hasn’t been in the spotlight over the last decade for troubles in the area. But, to answer your questions and concerns, yes, despite what you may have heard Egypt is a safe place for tourists to keep on their bucket lists. If you are in need of any assistance, locals will generally try to help as much as possible and more than what you may be used to. When stopped at checkpoints, you will be asked where you are going to make sure you reach your destination on time. To reduce the chance of any trouble along the way, consider booking a group tour for greater peace of mind and to ensure a hassle-free journey.
The only thievery you may find is the doubling of prices for merchandise in tourist areas, but you can easily shop elsewhere. Or, just pay the asking price of the carpet as it is guaranteed to be a good deal regardless. The rural areas are friendly and excited to meet new faces and the cities are bustling and cosmopolitan. In reality, Egypt is probably safer than a lot of places in Europe because it relies so heavily on tourism. It’s even safe to walk through popular areas night and you can spend your evenings mingling at cafes and bars. Just avoid those dark, hidden streets and remain cautious and aware of your surroundings.
How to get around Egypt
- Plane: EgyptAir has a monopoly on internal flights. It’s best to book ahead of time.
- Bus: The majority of Egyptians travel via bus. Service is reliable, safe and divided up by regions. Check out West Delta, East Delta, Upper Egypt and Pullman. High-traffic destinations like Dahab, Sharm el Sheikh, Hurghada and Luxor use Super Jet.
- Taxi & Car: You can hire a driver or rent a car. We recommend hiring a driver as their reflexes are quick and they’re used to the roads, customs and habits of Egyptian drivers.
Top highlights and experiences in Egypt
The Pyramids of Giza
The Pyramids are probably one of the most famous and lasting ancient monuments and date back nearly 4,000 years. Built as massive tombs for the most VIP pharaohs, they were created by huge teams of workers and they stand as an inspiration to ancient ingenuity, achievement and how much work you can get done when you skip all those work meetings that could’ve been summarized with an email.
Most visitors will beeline to the Great Pyramids of Khufu, Khafre, Menkaure and of course, The Sphinx. Can you blame them? The architectural genius that surrounds these structures is unparalleled. You’ll also notice, they really liked cats.
Luxor
Luxor is exactly what it says it is. Luxe. As one of the biggest open-air museums in the world, it’s a place of grandeur, majesty and lots and lots of really old rocks. Still intrigued? Read on.
Luxor is your destination to see the ever-famous Valley of the Kings, which was the site of royal burials since around 2100 B.C.E. Once called The Great Necropolis, it showcases over 63 royal tombs. The tombs have (somehow) survived treasure robbers, floods and humidity.
Fact of the matter, there is so much to see in Luxor and often not enough time. The Tombs of the Nobles, Karnak and Luxor Temple are just some of the many amazing spots to put on your must-see list.
Saqqara, Memphis & Dahshur
Ready to hop on a camel and go for an adventure? Saqqara is the huge and ancient necropolis of Memphis that stretches across 7 kilometres of the Western Desert. Over 3,000 years old, the Old Kingdom Pharaohs, nobles, military greats and other very-important-Egyptians can be found in these tombs. Journey to the Imhotep Museum, The Step Pyramid, the Tomb of Kagemni when you’re there. It’s slightly more low-key than Giza and has a lot of Old Kingdom art to check out.
The Western Desert
Sand. So much sand. Okay, it’s way more than that. In the Western Desert, you can see the beguiling Crystal Mountain in White Desert National Park. Littered with crystal and quartz rock formations, it’s easy to see where they got their names. Siwa Oasis, Bahariya Oasis and Al Qasr are other Medieval and Ottoman towns you simply have to visit and you’ll be met with quite a few smiles.
Cairo
Cairo is a city that never stopped creating culture. By day, amble through the streets and take in the art and local flavour that everyone comes to Cairo for.
Must-try foods in Eygpt
- Ful wa Ta’meya: The original Egyptian fast food. Ful is made of simmered fava beans and the ta’meya is Egyptian falafel, which is a fried delight.
- Kushari: Rice, black lentils, spaghetti, round little pasta rings, hummus, caramelized onions, and thick tomato sauce. Don’t forget the hot sauce and vinaigrette.
- Kabab wa kofta: Grilled lamb or veal cubes, served with bread (baladi), tahini, baba ganoush and tzaziki
During my trip to Egypt, I visited Sharm El Sheikh and Cairo. Of course, Sharm El Sheikh is a very popular area for all-inclusive packages and for diving and snorkeling, but I found Cairo truly fascinating! At the beginning, Cairo might scare with its size, tempo, noise, and hustle. Crossing the road was a true challenge! Nobody cares about the traffic light, so we had to trust our intuition to find the perfect moment to cross the road. If you feel it, do it! But this was the first impression only, and as we know the first impression isn’t always right.
In the end, it is always the people who define the place. Cairo has become a true discovery to us and we enjoyed it a lot! We explored the old part of the city with magnificent Islamic architecture, saw the city waking up, explored the local market, stayed at the hotel at the footsteps of the Great Pyramid of Giza and enjoyed local wine at a restaurant overlooking the Pyramids.
During the whole trip, we were told that we should not move around without a guide, but we used public transportation and explored the area and I did feel safe. Of course, one should remember that visiting a foreign country with different culture, language and values might lead to certain risks, so I recommend using common sense, stay safe and respect the culture. – Veronica, Siniciliya
Feeling inspired to start the adventure? We know you’re going to love these tours travelling to Jordan and Egypt.
