Well, we haven't finished the blog from SE Asia/NZ/OZ and I'm already planning next year!

We're going back to our original plan of winter away from Toronto - going to spend approx 8 weeks in Barcelona but "on the way" go to Egypt and Jordan.

Following is a first cut at an itinerary based in part on an article in this month's Conde Nast magazine - other comments I've had are that it might be better to fly to Amman than take the fast ferry - also I think we should add a day to Petra?

Day 1 - arrive Cairo - transfer to Mena House - Garden View Room. (prefer to stay there and go into Cairo)
Day 2 & 3 - visit Sphinx, Pyramids, Sakkara, Dashour, Solar Boat, maybe Memphis (order all wrong I realize - just a list of things we want to visit)
Day 4 - Egyptian Museum and visit Bab Zuweila and Al Azhar Mosque in afternoon (walking)
Day 5 - up early - fly to Abu Simbel and then to Aswan - Old Cataract Hotel
Day 6 - St. Simeon's Monsastery and Nubian Museum and Aswan Bazaar
Day 7 - Morning to Elephantine Island and Kitcheners Island - PM tour Aswan High Dam/unfinished obelisk/Philae Temple.....board Sonesta Star Goddess
Day 8 - Star Goddess Itinerary - Temple of Two Gods, Temple of Horus
Day 9 - Hatchepsut's Temple/Valley of Kings/ Medinat Habu - PM Karnak and Luxor
Day 10 - Tut's Tomb/Ramasseum/Valley of the Queens. Al Moudira Hotel
Day 11 - Tombs of the Nobles/Dier al-medina/Colossi of Memnon
Day 12 - Fly Luxor to Sharm el Sheikh - drive to Nuweiba to catch fast ferry to Aqaba - transfer to Petra Movenpick
Day 13 - full day at Petra
Day 14 - Drive to Amman via Kerak Crusader Castle, Mt Nebo and Madaba - Meridien Amman
Day 15 - Jerash (morning) PM Amman - Citadel, Colosseum, Royal Palace
Day 16 depart Amman

Would appreciate any comments - itinerary/accommodation/restaurant suggestions/etc

We had a similar length trip in Egypt last year and did most of same things and you have obviously researched well. We found it a little rushed but it was not part of a longer holiday. We did not stay at either Mena House or Old Cataract hotels but visited both - one for lunch and the other dinner. They are both lovely and I remember my visit to Mena House so well as we went there in order to see a pyramid for the very first time and it was simply one of the most magical and wonderful moments of my life. We also did 3 nights on a boat which was very relaxing. Abu Simbel is worth all the hassle to get to - simply amazing. We didn't like Cairo at all and didn't spend much time there. The Nubian museum in Aswan is very good and so well organised after the Cairo museum. We went (very briefly) to the Winter Palace Hotel in Luxor which looks gorgeous but they wouldn't let my husband in in shorts!

We did enjoy the trip although I found the constant hassling by beggars incredibly irritating and marred the trip somewhat.

Hi Eliza3 - thanks for your comments.

I worry that it is rushed but we're doing it independently with private drivers/guides so we figure we can always make changes if we're tired.

So glad to hear your comments about Abu Simbel - it is a hassle to get there but worth it!

I read that Old Cataract may be closed for renovations - do you have another suggestion?

Thanks for your help - what are you doing in Afghanistan?

Okay everyone, what would you suggest to see if you only hade one day to visit Cairo? We will be docked on a cruise ship in late Nov. and have only one day to see everything! Not going to be easy. We will have to travel from Alexandria to Cairo (3 hr. trip each way) then have a limited amount of time to see the pyramids, etc. What should we prioritize for sightseeing?

Any help greatly appreciated.

Mary

Hi LizS

We stayed at the Movenpick Hotel in Aswan which is on a little island. The island does not make it difficult to get about - there is a regular boat taking you across. The hotel was quite acceptable but not in the same league as the Old Cataract. I must say I didn't notice any other hotels - although am sure there must be.

I am in Afghanistan on a development project as HR Adviser but right now am enjoying being home in Spain a lot more!

LizS - if there's any way to do it, I would definitely add another day at Petra. I think Petra is the most amazing sight I've seen in all of my travels (40+ countries including some other pretty amazing places) and I always regretted not having more time there. It's very high on my "must return" list.

Mary - if I only had one day in Cairo, I'd try to squeeze in the Pyramids and Sphinx and then spend whatever time remained in the Egyptian Museum. It's not the best organized, labeled, or lighted museum in the world, but the collections are beyond incredible. My next favorite site is Sakkara which is almost as incredible as the Giza pyramids and far less crowded, both with tourists and with touts and beggars, but I doubt you'll have time for that.

Eliza - I agree that the constant touting and begging detracted tremendously from my enjoyment of Egypt, almost to the point of making me not want to return. I probably will at some point and Kim certainly wants to go since she wasn't with me when I was there (on a business trip) but it isn't at the top of my list.

I agree with Kevin Clark. Petra is amazing! With a driver and guide you should be able to see the pyramids, Sphinx, and the Cairo Museum in one day but it will be rushed.
We had a tout come up and try to sell us some 'parchment' pictures (cheap paper) for 6 pounds. I said OK and then he said that is British Pounds not Egyptian pounds (11 Egy pounds = 1 Brit pound). I walked away and suddenly his price was Egyptian pounds. Beggars are hard to avoid but they are seldom aggressive.