12 Night Land and Cruise Package featuring a 3 night Nile River Cruise aboard Nile Adventurer.

The mysteries of ancient Egypt and Jordan unfold before you on this 13-day journey of discovery to revered temples, tombs and monuments that tell a story of 5,000 years of civilization. From hotels with incredible views, to a 3-night River Nile cruise, to behind-the-scenes insights by local experts, Tauck's Egypt and Jordan tour is unlike any other in these historic lands.

Day 1: Welcome to Cairo

Day 2 Cairo
Meet Tauck's expert Egyptologist as you prepare for a day of awe-inspiring wonders at the Pyramids and more! At Giza, see the Sphinx guarding the plateau, as it has for 4,500 years. Marvel at the Great Pyramid of Cheops (Khufu), a crowning architectural achievement, and smile for the camera as you ride a camel at the Pyramids. You'll also visit the Solar Boat Museum - whose main attraction is an ancient Egyptian cedarwood boat that was buried and preserved under the shifting sands for more than 4,000 years - then gain insights on modern Egypt and the 2011 "Arab Spring" from a guest lecturer prior to a welcome reception and dinner this evening.

Day 3 Cairo
Kick off your day with a special early-opening visit with our Egyptologist to the Egyptian Museum to explore its world-renowned collection of antiquities, many 5,000 years old - yet another memorable experience on Tauck's Egypt & Jordan tour! Behold treasures found in the tomb of the "Boy King," Tutankhamun, including his golden funeral mask, solid gold coffin, carved throne, and jewelry. "Meet" other ancient rulers, including the mighty Ramesses II, face-to-face in the Royal Mummy Room. Later, visit a local mosque and spend some time wandering through a local bazaar. This evening's elaborate sound and light show at the Pyramids and the Sphinx in Giza is a spectacular way to end this unforgettable day.

Day 4 Cairo
Travel to the site of ancient Egypt's first capital, Memphis, for a look at some of Egypt's oldest antiquities; you'll see the Alabaster Sphinx and an imposing statue of Ramesses II. See firsthand how Egyptian pyramid design developed through the ages on visits to several ancient sites this afternoon. In Sakkara, visit the Teti Pyramid, and view the Step Pyramid of Djoser, the world's first monumental structure built of stone. Continue off-the-beaten path to the less-often visited necropolis at Dahshur for a look at the numerous pyramids, temples and royal tombs there.

Day 5 Aswan (embark)
Take a private charter flight to Abu Simbel, in what was once the ancient kingdom of Nubia. Marvel at the Great Temple honoring Ramesses II - carved out of a cliff, with four 67-foot-high seated statues of the pharaoh at the entrance - and the adjacent Temple of Hathor, dedicated to his wife, Queen Nefertari. Cross part of the famous Sahara Desert to Aswan to visit the Aswan High Dam, completed in 1971. Embark the Nile Adventurer to start your cruise, then take a boat to the Philae Temple on Agilka Island; dedicated to Isis, it was moved to its present location to save it from the rising waters caused by the building of the new dam. Meet the Nile Adventurer's officers at the Captain's welcome cocktail reception followed by dinner tonight aboard ship.

Day 6 Kom Ombo and Edfu
Glimpse river life along the Nile while cruising aboard Nile Adventurer, a highlight of Tauck's Egypt and Jordan tour. Stop to visit the Temple of Kom Ombo, an unusual double temple; have tea at a replica of an ancient Nubian village, and perhaps try an Egyptian hookah, or water pipe. After a barbecue lunch topside, sail on to Edfu and visit the Temple of the Falcon God Horus, one of the best-preserved temples in Egypt. Return to the ship and don Egyptian garb for a festive Egyptian Night dinner featuring local cuisine and after-dinner music and dancing.

Day 7 Luxor
Your Egypt and Jordan tour continues in Luxor, site of ancient Thebes, starting with a visit to the vast Temple of Karnak with our Egyptologist; built over a span of 1,300 years, it is one of the world's largest temple complexes. Then tour the Luxor Museum, displaying rich archaeological finds from the region's temples and tombs. Ride a private horse-drawn carriage this evening to the spectacularly illuminated Temple of Luxor, noted for its avenue of sphinxes, grand colonnades, and colossal statues of Ramesses II. Finally, the Captain and crew of Nile Adventurer bid you a fond farewell with cocktails, dinner and a show aboard ship tonight.

Day 8 Luxor (disembark)
Disembark Nile Adventurer in Luxor, and set off on another major highlight of your Egypt and Jordan tour - an overland visit to the Valley of the Kings, where at least 62 ornately decorated tombs of the pharaohs were hidden; step into another world as you enter King Tut's tomb! Our Egyptologist accompanies your exploration of the Valley of the Queens, revealing 80 tombs of royal family members; see Medinet Habu. Later, enjoy wine, beer and snacks on a sunset cruise along the Nile aboard a traditional felucca, followed by dinner at your choice of restaurants at your Luxor hotel - where your room overlooks Egypt's timeless river!

Day 9 Jordan
Fly via private charter to Aqaba, Jordan, where you'll have lunch at a restaurant overlooking the Gulf of Aqaba before setting off for the next adventure on your Jordan tour - an excursion by four-wheel-drive vehicle through the stunning, lunar-like desert landscapes of Wadi Rum. Then continue through the desert to a two-night stay overlooking the dramatic Petra Valley, home of the amazing archaeological site, with its great sandstone facades thousands of years old.

Day 10 Jordan
A passage through a narrow canyon, the Siq, leads to yet another breathtaking moment - your first glimpse of one of the world's greatest archaeological sites - the 2,000-year-old city of Petra, which the ancient Nabataeans carved out of colorful sandstone cliffs. Explore this incredible site's tombs, temples and other structures by foot as well as by horse cart throughout most of the day. This evening, dinner at Sun City, a unique rooftop venue styled after a traditional Bedouin tent, features entertainment by local musicians and sword dancers!

Day 11 Jordan
Continue your Jordan tour amidst spectacular views of the Jordan Rift Valley as you wind your way along the 5,000-year-old King's Highway, one of the oldest continuously used roads on Earth; visit sites where, thousands of years ago, biblical history was made. Stop at Mt. Nebo, where Moses looked out on the "Promised Land," and visit a church dedicated to Moses that dates back to the 6th century. Continue on to Madaba, where you'll enjoy a lunch of traditional Jordanian specialties, and check out a 6th-century mosaic map of Biblical sites at St. George's Church. Your final destination today is your spa resort on the shores of the Dead Sea.

Day 12 Jordan
Take time to enjoy the amenities of your spa resort on the Dead Sea today, or set off to visit the site of Jerash in Jordan. Here you'll see some of the best-preserved remains of Roman architecture in the Middle East, in what was once the city of Gerasa. Explore its Roman temples, theatres, arches, walls and baths before returning to the resort for tonight's farewell reception and dinner - a festive conclusion to your unforgettable Egypt and Jordan tour.

Day 13 Jordan