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This trip is our two trips joined into one. The first eight days follow Backpacking Egypt, from the Pyramids to Aswan, Luxor and the desert. On day 9 we fly to Amman and pick up Backpacking Jordan from its second day, through Jerash, Petra, Wadi Rum, Aqaba and the Dead Sea.
It suits you if you want to see both countries in one go, with the flight between them sorted for you.
Spring (March to May) and autumn (September to November) are the most comfortable times, warm and sunny without the extreme heat. Summer is very hot in southern Egypt, often above 40°C in Aswan and Luxor, which is why the sightseeing days start early. Winter is mild in Egypt but cold at night in the Jordanian desert and in Petra.
Our guides Egypt weather and Jordan weather have the month-by-month detail.
The minimum age is 18 and the trip is designed for travellers aged 18 to 45, with most people in their twenties and early thirties.
Plenty of people join on their own, so you will be travelling with a group of like-minded people from the first night.
We highly recommend that you travel with insurance for complete peace of mind. Please click here.
Can’t convince your mates? No worries! Most of our travellers come solo, and it’s one of the best ways to experience a new destination.
You’ll join an instant crew, meet amazing people, and make new friends from day one. Plus, you can keep your travel plans flexible and fully your own.
Ready to roll solo? You won’t be alone for long.
Absolutely. Your payment is secure. Backpacking Tours is a licensed tour operator in Thailand (TAT Licence No.11/12642), and we use trusted international payment providers. Your booking is safe, and our team is here to support you every step of the way.
Your group leader will email you around 1 day before the tour starts.
Your passport must have at least six months’ validity and two blank pages. You should also have proof of onward travel.
15 breakfasts and 2 dinners are included. The dinners are in Aswan on day 3 and at the desert camp in Wadi Rum on day 13.
Other lunches and dinners are not included, which leaves you free to eat where you like, from koshari in Cairo to mezze in Amman. The group often eats out together and your tour leader will know the good local places.
You stay in twin-share hotel rooms for most of the trip, with one night glamping at a desert camp in Wadi Rum.
Two nights in Egypt are spent on overnight trains: Cairo to Aswan on day 2, and Luxor back north on day 5. They save two long days on the road and are part of the adventure.
Awesome! Once you’ve booked, just let us know who you’re travelling with and we’ll make sure you’re roomed together. Easy as that!
By plane. On day 9 we fly from Cairo to Amman together, and the flight is included in the price of your trip.
Everything else is included too: private transport in both countries, two overnight trains in Egypt and the felucca sail on the Nile.
Fly into Cairo International Airport (CAI) for the start, and home from Queen Alia International Airport (AMM) in Amman, which is around half an hour from Madaba where the trip ends.
International flights are not included. Because the trip starts in Egypt and ends in Jordan, book a one-way flight into Cairo and another out of Amman rather than a return.
Yes, UK passport holders need a visa for both countries, and both can be sorted easily. For Egypt you can apply for an e-visa before you go, or buy a visa on arrival at Cairo airport for 30 US dollars in cash. For Jordan you can buy a visa on arrival for 40 Jordanian dinars, or buy a Jordan Pass online before you travel, which includes the visa fee and entry to many sites. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months from the date you arrive in each country.
Rules differ by nationality and can change, so check the latest advice for your passport. Our guides Do I need a visa for Egypt? and Do I need a visa to enter Jordan? have the details.
Let us know as soon as you can. There is no airport transfer on this trip, so a late flight will not leave anyone waiting for you at the airport, but your group leader needs to know when you will reach the hotel.
If you miss the group meeting on the evening of day 1, your leader will fill you in when you arrive.
Once you've booked your flights, log in to My Account on our website and enter your flight arrival details. That is how your group leader knows when you are landing.
Arriving before the tour starts, or staying on at the end? Let us know as early as you can so we can check availability and pricing on extra nights.
There is no airport pick-up on this trip, so no driver will be waiting for you. Make your own way to the start hotel in Cairo: we send you its address before you travel, and a taxi or a ride-hailing app from Cairo airport is the easiest way to get there.
If you get stuck on the day, call your group leader on the number in your welcome email.
For group tours, your place is confirmed once enough travellers have booked, and always at least four weeks (28 days) before your tour starts. Most group tours are confirmed around six months before departure.
For volunteer or private bookings, please allow 2-3 working days.
If a tour does not run, you get a full refund.
Two: the Egyptian pound (EGP) for days 1 to 9 and the Jordanian dinar (JOD) for days 9 to 16. Cards work in most hotels and larger restaurants, but you will want cash for markets, snacks and tips, especially in Egypt.
ATMs are easy to find in Cairo, Aswan, Luxor, Amman and Aqaba, so there is no need to carry much from home.
Backpack or suitcase? Totally up to you. But here’s the golden rule: pack light! We recommend keeping it under 20kg.
A few quick tips:
Keep it simple. You’ll thank yourself later!
No. Everything on the itinerary is included, 20 activities in all, from the Pyramids of Giza and the felucca sail to Petra, the Wadi Rum jeep safari and the Dead Sea.
There is free time along the way, for example in Aqaba on day 14, where you can snorkel or try water sports at your own cost.
Most things are covered, including activities, transport, accommodation and some meals. You'll just need money for extra meals, drinks, shopping and any onward travel after the tour.
The trip starts in Cairo and finishes in Madaba.
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