Egypt and Jordan get sold together for a good reason. They are next to each other, the visas are manageable, and between them they hold two of the most photographed places on earth plus a desert most people have never heard of that is better than either. Thirteen days is about right for both without spending the whole trip in transit.
Who runs group trips to Egypt and Jordan from India
Well served. The Egypt and Jordan combination is a popular Indian itinerary, particularly over New Year, and most mid-size and traditional operators run some version of it.
One in the Orange Jacket runs a 13-day Egypt and Jordan group trip, graded Easy, in groups of 12 to 20, including a New Year departure.
Because the field is crowded, compare itineraries carefully. The big variables are how many days go to Jordan versus Egypt, whether Wadi Rum includes an overnight in the desert, whether the Nile section is a felucca or a cruise ship, and whether Dahab is included at all.
What the trip actually involves
Egypt first, usually. Giza, and the thing nobody tells you is that the pyramids are essentially inside Cairo rather than out in an empty desert. The photographs are all taken from one angle for a reason. It does not make them less astonishing, but it is worth knowing beforehand.
A felucca on the Nile is the slow, quiet counterweight to Cairo. Dahab on the Red Sea has the Blue Hole, one of the best-known dive sites in the world and a serious one, so listen to the briefing.
Then Jordan. Petra deserves two days rather than one, and the Treasury at sunrise before the crowds arrive is the single best hour of the trip. Wadi Rum is the surprise, a desert of red sand and sandstone that most people book for Petra and end up talking about instead.
Graded Easy. Lots of walking at Petra, and desert heat is the main physical factor.
- Length. 13 days
- Difficulty. Easy
- Highlights. Giza pyramids, Petra Treasury, Wadi Rum desert, Dahab Blue Hole, Nile felucca and New Year's Eve
How the days actually run
Cairo opens it and it is loud, enormous and not designed for visitors, which is part of why it works. Giza is the first morning and the honest framing is that the pyramids sit on the edge of the city rather than out in empty desert. The Egyptian Museum holds the context that makes the sites make sense, so doing it before rather than after helps.
South to Luxor and Aswan for the temples, and the felucca on the Nile is the slow day the itinerary needs. Then Dahab on the Red Sea, which is a different country in feel: low-rise, relaxed, and built around diving. The Blue Hole is world famous and genuinely dangerous for the unqualified, so the briefing matters.
Into Jordan, and Petra deserves two days. The Siq walk in, that first sight of the Treasury through the gap, is the trip's signature moment and it is much better before nine in the morning. The Monastery is a climb of around 800 steps and most day-trippers never see it.
Wadi Rum closes it. Red sand, sandstone towers, 4x4s and a night in a desert camp. Most people book this trip for Petra and talk about Wadi Rum afterwards.
Visas, permits and getting there
Both countries require visas for Indian passport holders. Jordan's process is generally straightforward, and Egypt's is manageable. Some routings and package types affect what you need, so let your operator confirm the current position for the specific itinerary.
The overland or short-flight connection between the two countries is one of the things operators handle that is genuinely fiddly to do alone.
When to go
October to April. The desert and the sites are comfortable, and this is when the New Year departures run.
Summer is genuinely punishing. Petra and Wadi Rum in July are not enjoyable, and Egypt in high summer is worse.
Egypt and Jordan or Turkey?
The other Middle East and Mediterranean option Indians weigh up. Turkey is easier, cheaper to reach, and combines Istanbul, Cappadocia and a coastline in one trip. Egypt and Jordan is heavier on ancient history and has two of the most famous sites on earth in Giza and Petra. If you want variety and comfort, Turkey. If you want the monuments, this one.
| Egypt and Jordan | Turkey | |
|---|---|---|
| The draw | Giza, Petra, Wadi Rum | Istanbul, Cappadocia, coast |
| Trip length | 13 days for both properly | 8 to 10 days |
| Visas | Two, both manageable | One, straightforward |
| Best for | Ancient history | Variety and comfort |
Who this trip is not for
Anyone who dislikes crowds at famous sites. Giza and Petra are busy, and no operator can change that. The mitigation is arriving early, and you should check whether an itinerary actually does that or turns up at eleven with everyone else.
Anyone expecting the pyramids to be remote. See above.
Frequently asked
Why are Egypt and Jordan sold as one trip?
They are adjacent, the visa position is manageable for Indian passport holders, and the connection between them is short. Combining them lets one trip cover the pyramids, the Nile, the Red Sea, Petra and Wadi Rum. Thirteen days is a common length because it covers both without spending most of the trip in transit.
How many days do you need at Petra?
Two is much better than one. Petra is far larger than the Treasury photograph suggests and involves a lot of walking. Arriving at the Treasury early, before the main crowds, is widely considered the best hour of the whole trip, so check whether an itinerary actually schedules an early start.
When should you visit Egypt and Jordan?
October to April. Desert temperatures are comfortable and this is when most New Year departures run. Summer is genuinely punishing, with Petra and Wadi Rum uncomfortable in July and Egypt hotter still.