Jordan & Egypt – So Much to Do!  So Much to See!

Travel back in time to experience a world so different from our own.  Luxury Women’s Tours is taking a group in February for 15 days to see both amazing locations; Jordan and Egypt.  We will be doing so much and seeing even more.  

JORDAN

Before I outline some of the great things you can do and see in Jordan, I thought I’d share some interesting facts about the region:

• Jordan boasts over 100,000 tourist, religious and archaeological sites.   
• Western Jordan borders on the region known as ‘The Holy Land’
• The oldest dam (called the Jawa Dam) was built in 3,000 BCE and is in the direst area of the Black Desert in Eastern Jordan.
• The Death Sea is the lowest point on Earth and it has ten times as much salt as any other sea. 
• Petra is one of the oldest cities in the world and one of the New 7 Wonders of the World.  It’s listed along other wonders such as the Great Wall of China, the Colosseum in Rome and Machu Picchu.  You don’t get to be one of the 7 Wonders for nothing!  
• Another of Jordan’s cities, Amman was once called Philadelphia, a name that came from one of the Egyptian pharaohs, Ptolemy Philadelphus (283 – 246 BC). 
• If you see someone refusing a meal, it’s actually considered courteous to do so, three times.  It’s an Arabic tradition; the host having to offer three times, demonstrates their generosity.  
• Another unusual tradition is that it’s believed by the adults in Jordan that if you overpraise a child, you bring bad luck; so hence they do not.

So, when it comes to Jordan, there are many great things to do in this country, including:

• Float in the dead sea.  This is one of the many activities that we will be doing in our upcoming trip.  This is such an unusual experience; you don’t actually swim in the dead sea, you more float and bob – without the aid of a noodle or board.  With the water having so much of a salt content to it, it’s a completely unusual and unique experience. 
• You can visit the sacred mountain of Nebo, which is the death place of Moses, who of course received the Ten Commandments and led Israel out of slavery.
• We’ll also be visiting Wadi Rum (Wādī al-Qamar) which is also known as the Valley of the Moon.  This is the largest wadi in Jordan; a valley cut in the granite and sandstone rock in the south of Jordan and overlooks spectacular desert views.  Wadi Rum has been inhabited for a very long time, as far back as prehistoric times.  In more recent times, the 1962 movie Lawrence of Arabia made the area famous and is now a popular tourist spot.  
• Another place to visit is Aqaba, notably known as the ‘playground for the Middle East’.  With beautiful sweeping beaching, exciting nightlife, marinas, very opulent yachts and luxury resorts, it’s the place to rub shoulders with the rich and famous.  There is a tonne of things to do at this beachside location, including snorkeling, jet skiing, diving and kite surfing.  Be sure to finish off your day with a drink or cocktail and take in a spectacular sunset.   

EGYPT

So many of us know something about Egypt; after all it’s the place of pyramids, tombs of pharaohs, the Sphinx and the Nile River.  On our tour of this region, we’ll be seeing the pyramids and Sphinx, and doing so much more.  But first, here are some interesting facts about Egypt:

• Egyptians comprise over 99% of the population with a diverse range of ethnicity.  95% of the $102M population live along the Nile (or close to its banks).  Whilst much of the Nile River runs through desert, along its banks is somewhat lush and green.  Actually, try looking at the Nile River on Google earth; you’ll see all along its banks a strip of green … then it dramatically cuts to desert. 
• Ancient Egypt is known for producing history’s first peace treaties in 1259 BC. 
• Mount Sinai is where Moses climbed to receive the Ten Commandments and thus is an important pilgrimage site, standing over 2,285 metres in height. 
• Ancient Egypt also created the world’s first prosthetic limb; a toe made of leather, wood and thread.  It’s thought this occurred between 950 and 710 BC.  
• We’ve all heard of Cleopatra, a famous person in ancient Egypt; but she wasn’t actually Egyptian; she was Greek.  

So whilst there are definitely many interesting facts about Egypt, it’s the things that you can see and do there which makes it so interesting.  Here are just some:

• Ok, #1 of course is the Pyramids of Giza, and of course the Sphinx.  There are some great camel rides out beyond the pyramids, where you can take photos and photos of the pyramids in the background.  
• There are many other tombs and ancient ruins.  In fact, there are over 400 tombs in the area called ‘Tombs of the Noble’.  Within the tombs you can see ancient hieroglyphs, paintings, statues and artwork.  In some of the tombs, as you decent, the area becomes somewhat cooler and you can then take in more of the beauty of these ancient sites.  
• The Nile River is amazing.  You can travel via a number of means, including larger and somewhat more modern ships which have buffet dining, lovely cabins and a swimming pool on deck.  Want to do a bit of shopping?  The Egyptians along the route to Luxor have a different approach.  They will throw up bags of souvenirs to the deck of the boat, you can purchase and then throw the bag back down to them.  Buy or not, it’s still very interesting to watch the whole process.  Alternative travel on the Nile includes the more traditional and smaller vessels called Felucca.  These Mediterranean wooden sailing boats are smaller and often allow passengers to go for a swim.  Two things which might surprise you; the current in the Nile is actually very strong and the water is comparably quite cooler.  Along the Nile you can stop to see mosques, temples and many, many artifacts and statues including most notable King Tutankhamen.
• If you get a chance, visit the Egyptian Museum; there are so many treasures there that are restored, beautiful and amazing. 
• Finally, shopping is a must in Egypt; there is everything there from gold to spices to souvenirs and fabrics.  Be sure to make some time in your itinerary for some good old retail therapy.  Just walking around the city is an experience and opens a whole new world. 

As you can see, Jordan and Egypt have so much to offer and so much to see and do.  At Luxury Women’s Tours, we’re excited about this trip (well, we do get excited about every trip, because they’re all so awesome) and planning all the amazing things you’ll get to do and see.  All along the way you’re travelling in luxury, everything is taken care of, you’re kept safe and most importantly, you’re going to have a heap of fun travelling with like-minded ladies who will enhance the experience and make it one you’ll be delighted you did.   So, what’s stopping you?  Ready to travel in style, have everything organised and planned and all you’ve got to do is pack a bag?  Visit the tour Page here and Book Now!