Egypt and Jordan for desert adventure and ancient history

In retirement, we’ve traveled extensively through the United States and much of Canada. Our worldwide travels thus far have been limited to five trips to Europe, including a marvelous river cruise from Amsterdam to Vienna, an Adriatic Sea cruise along the coast of Croatia, another river cruise from Switzerland to Belgium and a recent river tour from Paris to Normandy - all of them focused on north and western Europe.

When we find friends who have explored other areas of the world, we always seek their insights. Finding our Stockton friends Sally and Gary Kulik had just completed an eye-opening trip to Egypt and Jordan, they offered to share the highlights.

I asked Sally Kulik where they had previously traveled, and how they found their travel bargains. She notes, “One of our favorite trips was a cruise to Central America, through the Panama Canal culminating in a visit to Machu Picchu.

Another favorite was a cruise of the Baltic countries including three days in St. Petersburg, Russia (when it was still safe to visit). We've taken two trips to Ireland and one to China on Travel Zoo on unbelievably cheap costs which were totally worth it. They also offer trips closer to home. We get a weekly list of Travel Zoo's Top 20 travel offers, offering inspiration”.

I asked about their recent trip to Jordan and Egypt.

Sally offered, “We discovered the trip online through Jetline Vacations out of London. They made all the arrangements: airlines, hotels, guides and tours.

Jordan surprised us most with how so much of the country is desert sand and how many biblical sites there are in the country. We initially flew to Istanbul where we transferred to Amman, Jordan. After a week in Jordan, we flew from Amman to Cairo.

A few days later, from Cairo we flew to Luxor where we boarded a river boat to cruise the Nile. Then, from Aswan back to Cairo for another day of sightseeing before flying from Cairo through Istanbul back to San Francisco; a total of 33 hours of travel from the Cairo hotel to our front door, a bit too much.

Because of the huge lack of tourists visiting this year due to the war in Gaza we had a private driver the entire week in Jordan. He was able to educate us about not only his country but daily life for him and his family and what it's like to be Muslim, a very peaceful and spiritual religion.

We've never had a language problem. Many countries teach English in grade school and high school; if we encounter someone who doesn't speak English pantomime helps a lot."

Gary added, “We spent an entire week traveling throughout the majority of Jordan." The highlights were Petra (a huge site full of astonishing buildings carved out of the stone cliffs), the Jordan River where Jesus was baptized and which was just feet from Israel. Another highlight was riding through the desert crossing sand dunes and entering the cave where T. E. Lawrence (of Arabia) stayed during the Arab Revolt of 1917.

Egypt was awesome.

Our hotel room in Cairo looked out on the pyramids! Again we had a private guide. He took us to see numerous Temples, the Valley of the Kings where we were able to enter some open tombs to view the still vivid paintings on the walls and to visit the Egyptian Museum to see the treasures from King Tut's tomb. The food in Egypt was also very good - not so much in Jordan."

Gary continued, “We spent four nights on a river boat cruising up the Nile to the Aswan Dam, visiting a Nubian village with their own distinct, unwritten language and visiting more ancients sites including a visit to one of the 18 locations Joseph, Mary and Jesus had hidden in during a three year odyssey escaping Herod's slaughter of baby boys."

The Kuliks offered these surprises on the trip: locals asking where we were from and welcoming us to their country; that there are over 100 pyramids in Egypt; Muslims honor Friday as their holy day so schools are closed but are open on Sundays; children in both countries speak Arabic but study English in both grade school and high school.

Sally shares these travel suggestions: “Keep a journal every day on your trip to remember all your wonderful experiences. Be open to new points of view.  If you need assistance at the airport ask for wheelchairs or golf carts each time you initially check in for flights. Also be sure that there is enough time for transfers between flights. Our flight from Cairo landed in Istanbul after our connecting flight had left. Place a copy of your itinerary and contact information in all your luggage, in case it gets misplaced or delayed.

Also, beware of shopping at tour-sponsored stops at specialty shops or factories. Prices are usually much higher and guides often get a cut. Shop local bazaars and don't be afraid to negotiate”.

I asked the Kuliks where they are headed next.

Sally notes, “we are thinking closer to home. Maybe take the train across Canada and rent a car to tour through New England. And a fall trip to visit family and shop antiques in Texas”.

For more insight, travelzoo.com and jetlinevacations.com; and national travel bureaus for the countries.

Contact Tim, [email protected]; happy world travels!

This article originally appeared on Visalia Times-Delta: Egypt and Jordan for desert adventure and ancient history