Egypt and Jordan share a border at the Red Sea — a ferry crossing from Sinai’s coast to Aqaba that takes 90 minutes. This physical proximity makes a combined Egypt-Jordan itinerary one of the most logistically natural multi-country trips in the world. The two countries also complement each other culturally and historically: pharaonic civilisation versus Nabataean civilisation, the Nile Valley versus the Wadi Araba desert, Cairo’s dense urban energy versus Wadi Rum’s absolute silence.
Two routing options
Option A (used in this guide): Cairo → Sharm El Sheikh (fly or drive) → Nuweiba ferry → Aqaba → Petra → Wadi Rum → Dead Sea → Madaba → Amman → fly home.
Option B (simpler start): Fly directly Cairo → Amman, do Jordan first (south to north), fly Aqaba → Sharm or Cairo at the end. Easier logistically; misses the Sinai coast.
This guide follows Option A — the more scenic and geographically rewarding routing.
Egypt practicalities
Visa: Most Western passport holders get a visa on arrival at Cairo airport (25 USD) or in advance online (same cost, quicker processing). Check the current requirements for your nationality.
Currency: Egyptian pound (EGP). As of 2026, the exchange rate has stabilised post-devaluation at approximately 50 EGP = 1 USD. Street ATMs in Cairo and Sharm dispense EGP.
Safety: Cairo is safe for tourists in the areas covered by this itinerary (Giza, downtown, Islamic Cairo). The Sinai Peninsula (Sharm El Sheikh) is a separate security context — the UK and some EU governments maintain elevated travel advisories for Sinai due to historical Islamist activity in the interior. Sharm itself is a resort zone and has not experienced tourist incidents in years. The route from Sharm to Nuweiba is a coastal highway, not through the interior.
Day-by-day itinerary
Day 1–3: Cairo
Day 1: Arrival and orientation
Fly into Cairo International Airport. Transfer to downtown Cairo or Zamalek (the Nile island, quieter and pleasant). Cairo is a city of 20+ million people — expect heat, noise, traffic, and extraordinary energy.
Evening: dinner in Zamalek (recommended: Sequoia restaurant on the Nile corniche, or the simpler local kushari restaurants where a bowl of Egypt’s national carb-heavy dish costs 15–30 EGP). Cairo’s food scene ranges from street kushari (pasta, lentils, fried onions, tomato sauce — genuinely excellent and very cheap) to excellent restaurants in the five-star hotels along the Nile.
Day 2: Giza and Islamic Cairo
Morning — Giza Plateau: The pyramids, the Great Sphinx, and the mortuary temples are 20 km southwest of downtown Cairo — a 45-minute taxi ride (agree price before getting in, approximately 100–200 EGP). The Giza complex is massive; allow 3–4 hours minimum. The three main pyramids (Khufu/Cheops, Khafre, Menkaure) date from approximately 2560–2510 BCE. The scale is not comprehensible from photographs. Stand at the base of the Great Pyramid. The sphinx sits immediately east.
Sound-and-light show at the Giza Plateau (evenings, ticketed): less illuminating than the daylight visit but atmospheric.
Afternoon — Egyptian Museum (now transitioning to the Grand Egyptian Museum): The Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM) near Giza now holds the world’s largest collection of ancient Egyptian artefacts, including the complete Tutankhamun treasures (previously split between Cairo Museum and storage). Allow 3–4 hours. Book tickets in advance where possible.
Day 3: Islamic Cairo
Khan el-Khalili bazaar and Al-Muizz street — the finest medieval Islamic streetscape in the world, mostly intact since the Fatimid era. The Citadel (Saladin’s fortress, 12th century) and the Mohammed Ali Mosque provide the elevated view over the city.
Afternoon at leisure; dinner in Islamic Cairo or along the Nile.
Day 4–5: Sharm El Sheikh (Red Sea diving and snorkelling)
Day 4: Transfer to Sharm El Sheikh
Two options:
- Fly: Cairo to Sharm El Sheikh, approximately 1 hour, 40–80 USD (Egyptian domestic flights, EgyptAir and Air Arabia Egypt). Multiple daily departures.
- Drive: Approximately 6 hours via the Suez and Sinai coastal road. Scenic but long. Not recommended for the 12-day itinerary.
Sharm El Sheikh is an Egyptian Red Sea resort city at the tip of the Sinai Peninsula. It is purpose-built for tourism — hotels, dive centers, beaches, none of the authentic Egyptian character of Cairo. That is precisely why it works for the purpose: excellent diving and snorkelling in world-class reef conditions, simple logistics.
Day 4 afternoon — Naama Bay beach: Settle in and spend the afternoon at the beach. The Red Sea here has water temperatures of 22–27°C year-round, visibility of 20–30m on calm days, and some of the best coral diversity in the world.
Day 5: Diving or snorkelling
The Ras Mohammed National Park, 20 km south of Sharm, is one of the most biodiverse marine environments in the world — the meeting point of the Gulf of Aqaba and the Gulf of Suez creates extraordinary current conditions that support enormous fish populations. Shark Reef and Yolanda Reef are the signature dive sites.
For divers: Book through one of the reputable dive centres in Naama Bay (Camel Dive Club, Sinai Divers). A 2-tank boat dive to Ras Mohammed costs approximately 60–90 USD. PADI certification courses available if not yet certified.
For non-divers/snorkellers: Glassbottom boat tours to the reef cost 20–30 USD. The shallow reef areas of Naama Bay are accessible from shore (free, with rented equipment from beach shops at 10–15 USD/day).
From Sharm El Sheikh: day tour to Petra by ferryDay 6: Ferry Sharm El Sheikh/Nuweiba to Aqaba
The ferry logistics:
The ferry between Egypt (Sinai) and Jordan (Aqaba) operates from Nuweiba, not Sharm El Sheikh. Nuweiba is 90 km north of Sharm El Sheikh along the eastern Sinai coastal highway (1.5 hours by taxi or bus).
There is also a direct ferry from Sharm El Sheikh to Aqaba — operated seasonally and less frequently (check current timetables from FRS or other operators). If the Sharm direct ferry is running on your dates, it saves the Nuweiba transfer.
Nuweiba route:
- Take a morning taxi from Sharm to Nuweiba (approximately 200–300 EGP, 1.5 hours)
- Fast ferry Nuweiba to Aqaba: approximately 90 minutes crossing time, multiple departures daily
- Ticket cost: approximately 80–120 USD (varies by operator and season; book through the port or via operators like AB Maritime)
- Departure times: typically 10am–3pm (confirm before booking)
- Jordan visa: obtain a Jordan Pass before departing Egypt (buy at jordanpass.jo) — this covers your visa on the Jordan side
Arrival in Aqaba: Clear Jordan immigration at Aqaba port (Jordan Pass holders get the visa stamped here). Taxi from port to Aqaba city: 5–10 JOD.
Check into your Aqaba hotel for the night.
From Wadi Rum: jeep tour with overnight desert campingDay 7–8: Petra
Drive or take a bus from Aqaba to Petra (2 hours). The road climbs north from sea level into the sandstone highlands of the Hashemite Kingdom.
JETT buses run from Aqaba to Petra (approximately 8–10 JOD, departures in the morning). Taxi: 50–70 JOD.
Check in to your Wadi Musa accommodation and begin Petra immediately.
Day 7 — Main site: The Siq (1.2 km slot canyon entrance), the Treasury (Al-Khazneh — the Indiana Jones rock-cut facade), the Royal Tombs, the Roman theatre, the Colonnaded Street. Afternoon climb to the Monastery (Ad-Deir) — 850 steps but non-optional for anyone with reasonable fitness.
Day 8 — High Place and Little Petra: Morning: High Place of Sacrifice (2–3 hours, panoramic views). Afternoon: Little Petra (Siq al-Barid, 9 km north of Wadi Musa, taxi 5 JOD) — smaller and quieter Nabataean complex with painted ceiling in the dining room.
From Aqaba: Petra 1-day tourDay 9: Wadi Rum
Drive or take shared transport from Wadi Musa to Wadi Rum (1h45). The landscape shift from the sandstone canyons of Petra to the open desert valley of Rum is immediate and dramatic.
Jeep tour: Arrange at the Wadi Rum visitor centre on arrival. A 7-hour full-day jeep tour (35–50 JOD per person in a shared jeep) covers the major landmarks: Lawrence’s Spring, Khazali Canyon inscriptions, the red dunes, Burdah Rock Bridge approach, sunset view points.
Overnight camp: Bedouin camp accommodation ranges from 30 JOD (basic tent, communal facilities) to 300 JOD (luxury glamping with ensuite). The mid-range sweet spot (60–90 JOD) provides a comfortable experience with traditional food (zarb — slow-cooked underground lamb) without sacrificing the desert authenticity.
From Wadi Rum: jeep tour with overnight desert campingDay 10–11: Dead Sea, Madaba, and Mount Nebo
Day 10 — Dead Sea:
Drive from Wadi Rum north to the Dead Sea (3.5–4 hours via the Desert Highway). The Dead Sea is at 430m below sea level — the lowest place on Earth’s surface and the saltiest major water body in the world. Floating is effortless and genuinely strange.
Day pass at a resort hotel: approximately 22–30 JOD (includes beach, mud, and shower). The Kempinski Ishtar and Movenpick Dead Sea are the premium options with the best beach facilities.
Overnight at a Dead Sea resort or guesthouse in Sweimeh.
Day 11 — Madaba and Mount Nebo:
Drive 40 km north from the Dead Sea area to Madaba (30 minutes).
St George’s Church, Madaba: The 6th-century mosaic map of the Holy Land on the church floor is the oldest surviving cartographic representation of the biblical world — Jerusalem at the centre, with the Jordan River, Dead Sea, and surrounding settlements labelled. An extraordinary artefact in a modest but functioning Greek Orthodox church. Entry: small fee.
Mount Nebo (9 km from Madaba): The site where Moses viewed the Promised Land before his death (Deuteronomy 34). The Franciscan church on the summit preserves excellent 6th-century Byzantine mosaics. The view from the terrace extends across the Dead Sea to the hills of Judea — on clear mornings, Jerusalem is visible 46 km west.
Continue to Amman for the night.
Day 12: Amman and departure
Morning in Amman: the Citadel (Temple of Hercules columns, Umayyad Palace, Archaeological Museum) and the Roman Theatre below. Both are within walking distance in downtown Amman.
Departure: Fly from Queen Alia International Airport (AMM). 30–45 minutes from downtown Amman. Royal Jordanian connects to most major European and Middle Eastern hubs.
Alternative ending: Fly directly Amman → Cairo if returning home via Egypt. Royal Jordanian and EgyptAir both operate this route (1 hour, multiple daily). Useful if you need a final Cairo connection.
Transport summary
| Leg | Mode | Cost (approx.) | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cairo → Sharm El Sheikh | Domestic flight | USD 40–80 | 1 hour |
| Sharm El Sheikh → Nuweiba | Taxi | USD 20–30 | 1.5 hours |
| Nuweiba → Aqaba (ferry) | Fast ferry | USD 80–120 | 1.5 hours |
| Aqaba → Petra | Taxi or JETT bus | 8–70 JOD | 2 hours |
| Petra → Wadi Rum | Taxi | 30–50 JOD | 1h45 |
| Wadi Rum → Dead Sea | Taxi or rental car | 40–70 JOD | 3.5 hours |
| Dead Sea → Madaba → Amman | Taxi or car | 30–50 JOD | 1.5 hours |
Hotels
Cairo (3 nights):
- Budget: Dahab Hostel downtown (15–25 USD dorm) or Nile Zamalek Hotel (40–60 USD private)
- Mid-range: Marriott Mena House (250–350 USD, Pyramid view, the experience pays for itself)
- Luxury: Four Seasons Nile Plaza or Four Seasons Cairo at The First Residence (300–600 USD)
Sharm El Sheikh (2 nights):
- Budget: small hotels near Naama Bay (30–50 USD)
- Mid-range: Hyatt Regency Sharm (100–180 USD, excellent beach)
- Luxury: Four Seasons Sharm El Sheikh (250–500 USD)
Aqaba (1 night):
- Budget: budget hotels near city centre (25–40 JOD)
- Mid-range: Aqaba Gulf Hotel (80–120 JOD)
- Luxury: Kempinski Aqaba (200+ JOD, Red Sea views)
Wadi Musa/Petra (2 nights): Valentine Inn (budget, 25–35 JOD), Rocky Mountain Hotel (60–90 JOD), Movenpick Petra (200+ JOD).
Wadi Rum (1 night): Bedouin camps 30–150 JOD per person.
Dead Sea (1 night): Holiday Inn Dead Sea (100–150 JOD) or Kempinski Ishtar (250+ JOD).
Amman (1 night): Nomads Hotel or Landmark Hotel (50–90 JOD), Four Seasons Amman (300+ JOD).
Budget
| Item | Estimate per person |
|---|---|
| International flights (return, assuming Europe) | USD 500–900 |
| Egypt internal flight (Cairo-Sharm) | USD 40–80 |
| Ferry Nuweiba-Aqaba | USD 80–120 |
| Accommodation (12 nights, mixed) | USD 600–1,400 |
| Jordan Pass (visa + Petra + sites) | USD 100–115 |
| Egypt entry fee and museums | USD 80–150 |
| Transport within Egypt | USD 100–150 |
| Transport within Jordan | USD 150–300 |
| Food (12 days, mid-range) | USD 250–400 |
| Activities (diving, Wadi Rum jeep) | USD 100–200 |
| Total per person | USD 2,000–3,815 |
Realistic mid-range expectation for a couple: USD 2,500–3,000 per person.
Alternative Option B: Fly Cairo to Amman
If the ferry logistics feel complex, or if you want to prioritise Jordan time:
- Fly Cairo to Amman directly (1 hour, EgyptAir and Royal Jordanian, approximately USD 80–150 one way)
- Do Jordan south-to-north: Petra → Wadi Rum → Dead Sea → Madaba → Amman
- Fly Amman back to Cairo for a final night, or connect internationally from Amman
This Option B loses the Sharm El Sheikh Red Sea section and the ferry experience, but gains 1–2 days of Jordan time and eliminates the Sinai transit complexity.
Variations
Add Luxor or Aswan
If spending more than 3 days in Egypt, a flight to Luxor (Valley of the Kings, Karnak Temple) or Aswan (Abu Simbel) transforms the Egypt section from highlights-only to genuinely deep. Requires 15+ total days for the combined itinerary.
10-day version
Compress by: fly Cairo→Amman directly (skip Sharm + ferry), drop 1 Dead Sea day, combine Madaba and Mount Nebo into a half day. Creates a 10-day version with Cairo 3 days + Jordan 7 days.
Add Wadi Mujib
Between the Dead Sea stop and the Madaba/Mount Nebo day, add Wadi Mujib Siq Trail if visiting April–October (3–4 hours canyon wading, RSCN booked trail). Requires an extra half-day or compression elsewhere.
FAQ
Is the Nuweiba-Aqaba ferry reliable?
Generally yes, but it operates on an unofficial “departs when full” basis in addition to the scheduled times. In summer the boats fill quickly; in low season you may wait. Build buffer time around the crossing — do not schedule a tight connection immediately after the ferry. The fast ferry (90 minutes) is more reliable and comfortable than the slow car ferry (up to 4 hours).
Do I need a visa for Egypt?
Most Western passport holders get a visa on arrival at Cairo airport for USD 25, or can buy a similar e-Visa online before departure. Egyptian border officials at the Nuweiba port also issue visas (but have this confirmed before you arrive at the port to avoid delays).
Is Sharm El Sheikh safe in 2026?
The UK, US, and Australian governments maintain elevated advisories for the Sinai Peninsula (Level 2/ADVISE CAUTION), primarily due to historically elevated terrorism risk in the interior of Sinai — not in the resort areas. Sharm El Sheikh itself has had no major tourist security incident since 2005. The vast majority of travellers who visit Sharm do so without incident. Make your own risk assessment and check your government’s current advisory at the time of travel.
Can I buy my Jordan Pass after arriving in Jordan?
Technically yes (it is available on the jordanpass.jo website and some tourist offices in Jordan), but you must have it confirmed before entering the country for the visa benefit to apply. If you arrive without a Jordan Pass, you pay the standard visa on arrival (40 JOD for a single entry) and cannot retrospectively claim the visa through the pass. Buy online before departure.
What is the currency in Aqaba?
Jordanian dinar (JOD), pegged to the USD at approximately 0.71 JOD = 1 USD. Aqaba is a free-trade zone — some shops price in USD and accept dollar notes. ATMs dispense JOD.
Which Egypt sites are closest to the Jordan itinerary?
The Sinai Peninsula is geographically the closest Egypt region to Jordan — just across the Red Sea. The Sinai sites (St Catherine’s Monastery, Coloured Canyon) are inland. Cairo and Luxor are on the Nile Valley, 2–6 hours from the Sinai coast by road or 1 hour by air. There is no geographic shortcut between the Jordan sites and the deep Egypt archaeological sites — that is what the ferry connection provides.
Can I do this itinerary in winter?
Yes. Cairo and Sharm El Sheikh are pleasant in winter (20–25°C). Aqaba is warm (22–25°C water temperature). The Dead Sea is always warm at 430m below sea level. Petra in winter (December–February) can be cold with occasional snow — dramatically beautiful if it happens, bring warm layers. Wadi Rum nights are cold (near zero possible). The itinerary works year-round with appropriate preparation.