Wilderness Travel 2018 Catalog of Adventures

From the treasures of the pharaohs to Jordan’s fabled “lost city” of Petra, our in-depth journey reveals the glorious monuments of the ancient world. Our five-day cruise from Luxor to Aswan aboard the Sun Boat IV , with its relaxed, yacht-style ambiance, is a wonderful way to explore Egypt’s riverside temples and enjoy the captivating beauty of life along the Nile, with its passing scenes of graceful feluccas , fishermen, and villages inhabited Pyramids to Petra A JOURNEY OF DISCOVERY IN EGYPT AND JORDAN

since the time of the pharaohs. At Abu Simbel, we see the four colossal statues of Ramses II gazing out over the Nile Valley, and at dazzling Petra, we feast our eyes on a 2,000-year-old metropolis carved from solid red sandstone in the 3rd century BC. For our grand finale, we overnight amid the sheer magnificence of the desert canyon of Wadi Rum, famed haunt of Lawrence of Arabia.

“It was like being whisked around on a magic carpet. Doors opened, every wish fulfilled, customs breezed through. Amazing service!”

Marney G. Montgomery AL

Days 1-8 Cairo / Nile Cruise / Aswan / Abu Simbel Many treasures await us in Cairo: the wondrous Great Pyramids, the enigmatic Sphinx, and the Egyptian Museum, with its golden treasures from King Tut’s tomb and famed Mummies Room. Flying down the Nile to Luxor, we walk among the massive stone columns of the Temple of Karnak and explore the legendary tombs of the Valley of the Kings and Queens. Aboard the Sun Boat IV, one of the most elegant ships plying the Nile River, we sail to the bewitching temples at Edfu, Esna, and Kom Ombo. At Abu Simbel, we take in the grand scale of the four massive statues of Ramses II hewn on the face of cliffs above the Nile. Days 9-12 Amman / Jerash / Kerak / Petra Outside Amman, Jordan, we enjoy lunch with a local family in their home, then explore the Roman city of Jerash and great Crusader fortress at Kerak. At the spellbinding “lost city” of Petra, set in a dramatic canyon on the edge of the Wadi Araba, we enter on foot through the narrow slot canyon called Al Siq and behold the lavish temples, theaters, and palaces chiseled into solid rock, including the iconic Al-Khazneh (“Treasury”), with its elaborate Greek-style façade. In the evening, we experience Petra by the light of a thousand candles. Days 13-15 Wadi Rum / Dead Sea The landscape of Wadi Rum, with its ever-changing palette of colors and awe-inspiring rock spires, creates an otherworldly atmosphere. Our comfortable Bedouin-style tented camp here offers the perfect retreat for optional hikes and camel rides in this extraordinary desert setting. Our journey ends at a lovely hotel on the shores of the Dead Sea, where we can take a dip in its therapeutic waters. Depart on Day 15 via Amman.

DAVE BARTRUFF

MICHAEL GLATT

Above: From the Great Pyramids to fabled Petra, our odyssey reveals the wonders of the ancient world. PHOTO: DAVIDE CAMESASCA

DETAILS • 15-day trip begins in Cairo, Egypt, and ends in Amman, Jordan • 4 nights aboard deluxe vessel with Nile-view cabins, 9 nights first-class hotels, 1 night tented camp • All meals included except 1 lunch and 2 dinners

DATES Nov 3-17, 2017 Jan 26-Feb 9, 2018

Mar 9-23 Nov 9-23

TRIP COST $6895 (10-15 members) $7295 (4-9 members) Single supplement: $1790 Internal airfare: $920 (subject to change) Alexandria extension: from $990

HIGHLIGHTS • 5-day Nile journey aboard the 40-cabin Sun Boat IV • Explore the Great Pyramids, Abu Simbel, see Petra by candlelight • Revel in the desert solitude and silence of Wadi Rum from a delightful tented camp • Enjoy lunch in the home of a Jordanian family, explore Jerash

TRIP LEVEL 1 + 2 3 4 5 6 7 Cultural exploration and walking tours

QUESTIONS? 1.800.368.2794 OR EMAIL AFRICA@WILDERNESSTRAVEL.COM 35