This was our first experience ringing in a New Year in a different country from our own, and also our first time setting foot in the continent of Africa. What better way to start the 2023 year in the historic countries of Egypt and Jordan. These two countries are very special on their own right because of all the ancient history and their famous treasured UNESCO Heritage Sites. You can truly explore each of these two beautiful countries endlessly as there is just too much to see and do but with such limited time on hand, we’ve decided to narrow down our options to the “must-sees” for each respective destination. Here are our tips for family travel in Egypt & Jordan and where to stay!

1. Wadi Musa, Jordan

We flew into city of Amman in Jordan, and drove 3 hours to Wadi Musa, literally called “Valley of Musa”, also known as the “Valley of Moses” in Arabic. It is a town located in the Ma’an Governorate in southern Jordan and is the closest town to the world famous, archaeological site of Petra. The valley is home to many hotels and restaurants in the region as most of its economy relies on tourism. We took a moment to admire the most amazing views of the Wadi Musa mountains in our hotel’s backyard.

WHERE TO STAY:  Movenpick Nabatean Castle

…and why?

• The best bang for your buck, in our opinion!
• BEST indoor swimming pool with SUPER WARM waters to swim in at any time of the year!
• Both their breakfast and dinner can included as a half board, and offer delicious selection of food at their buffets.
• Stunning panoramic views of the Jordanian mountains!
• Only a 15-minute drive to the Petra Visitor Center

2. Petra, Jordan

Petra is one of the world famous UNESCO archaeological site, since 1985, in Jordan’s southwestern desert and voted in 2007 as one of the New 7 Wonders of the World! Dating to around 300 B.C., and was the capital of the Nabatean Kingdom. The visitor centre is the point entry of Petra. We walked approximately 2 km along the narrow canyons of Al Siq, and contains tombs and temples carved into pink sandstone cliffs, earning its nickname, the “Rose City.”

The Siq (narrow canyons), opens up to one of the most famous structure in the world, 45m-high Al Khazneh, a temple with an ornate, Greek-style facade, and commonly known as The Treasury. According to local legends, the urn that sits on top of the treasury hold many of Pharaoh’s treasure. Petra was a vital part of a major trading route specifically for frankincense, myrrh, and other spices, connecting Mesopotamia and Egypt.

Heads up! Here are some quick must-do tips about your journey through Petra:

We highly recommend wearing comfortable walking shoes and outfits as the main trail is a total of 8km and would need to set aside at least 4hrs to comfortably take in all the wonderful sights that Petra has to offer. Alternative transportation options (such as golf carts) are also available to those with mobility issues at an extra cost. Click HERE to book your Jordan pass in advance, which we also highly recommend, to save time and money since it covers your Visa costs to enter the country!

3. Cairo, Egypt

Cairo is the capital of Egypt and, with a total population in excess of 21 million people, one of the largest cities in both Africa and the Middle East (the regions which it conveniently straddles). It is also the 15th largest city in the world, and among the world’s most densely populated cities.

On the Nile river, Cairo is famous for its own history, preserved in the fabulous medieval Islamic city and Coptic sites in Old Cairo. The Egyptian Museum in the centre of town is also a must see if you have time, with its countless Acient Egyptian artifacts, as is shopping at the Khan al-Khalili bazaar. But no trip to Cairo or all of Egypt for that matter, would be complete without a visit to the super-famous Pyramids of Giza!

The majestic Pyramids of Giza

Growing up, we’ve read all about you in our history books at school, seen you in countless magazines, and has been a symbol that’s so synonymous with the word “TRAVEL” for ages….😱 but dangggg… it’s so surreal to finally see you in person!! You might not be part of the new 7 Wonders of the World, but in our books, you are still the OG of them all! The Great Pyramids are the last standing ancient wonder of the world. The three famous pyramids of Giza were built for the great Kings of Egypts – Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure.

Great Sphinx of Giza

The Great Sphinx of Giza is found in both Egyptian and Greek mythology. The mythological creature has the body of a lion and head of a human face . The face of the Sphinx appears to represent the pharaoh Khafre which has been carved by a whole limestone. The statue has been well preserved, despite major natural disasters that it has endured over the years. Many mysteries still surround this mythical creature, such as the disappearance of the statues nose and who is the builder of one of the oldest statues in the world. It is said to be a symbol of wisdom, power and strength.

The bustling streets of Old Cairo

Old Cairo is charming yet chaotic. The narrow golden-stone streets of the World Heritage Site have been captivating visitors for centuries. One of the oldest Islamic cities in the world, it is home to magnificent mosques, madrassas, hammams and fountains.

Wandering through the ancient streets of Old Cairo is enough to feel as though you’re travelling through time. Get lost in its charming alleyways, meeting locals, and letting yourself be captivated by everything from the most intricate details of the architecture to the atmosphere surrounding you. Here you are able to bargain for souvenirs, clothing, shoes, and jewellery.

WHERE TO STAY:  Marriott Mena House, Cairo

…and why?

• Location, location, location! This hotel is located right across (literally!) the Great Pyramids of Giza! You simply wake up to some gorgeous views of the pyramids!
• A huge swimming pool for a dip!
• This hotel is also equipped with a few great restaurants on site! Save time away from all that crazy Cairo traffic and simply enjoy your meals a few minutes walk away from your hotel room!
• You get to collect & redeem Marriott Bonvoy Points! As many of our avid readers already know, we’re BIG FANS of the Marriott hotel line as we get to enjoy FREE night stays at their many hotels (like this one!) using points! Read how we got a full week’s stay at a Walt Disney World hotel for FREE here using the Marriott Bonvoy points program. 😉

4. Aswan, Egypt

Aswan is the southernmost city of Egypt, some 870 km south of Cairo, just below the Aswan Dam and Lake Nasser, with a population of 275,000. The city of Aswan is far more relaxed and smaller than Cairo and Luxor. We decided to stay in Aswan for a few nights as it serves as a great starting point to the famous Abu Simbel archaeological site.

Abu Simbel was a 3-hour drive from Aswan but in order to beat the crowds, we had to wake up at the crack of dawn and drive….well, actually…. mostly sleep in our van and let our driver do all the work. 😅 It was tough waking up at 3:00am but surely has its perks! Ohhhh that famous reddish African sunrise is just a beauty! 😍

Abu Simbel

The site of Abu Simbel is one of the most recognizable ancient sites in Egypt. For 3,000 years, it sat on the west bank of the Nile River, between the first and second cataracts of the Nile. However, in a remarkable feat of engineering, the temple complex was dismantled and rebuilt on a higher hill to make way for the Aswan High Dam in the 1960s.

Built in 1244 B.C., Abu Simbel contains two temples, carved into a mountainside. The larger of the two temples contains four colossal statues of a seated pharaoh Ramesses II (1303-1213 B.C.) at its entrance, each about 69 feet (21 meters) tall. It was such a magical experience, seeing these gigantic statues for the first time and a must see when you’re in Egypt!

WHERE TO STAY:  Movenpick Aswan

…and why?

• Sitting at an island within the Nile River, this hotel gives you stunning panoramic views of the Nile as sailboats move passed by each and every day.
• It also serves as a “middle-point” stay between Abu Simbel and Luxor. So if you’re planning to visit both Abu Simbel and the city of Luxor, this offers a good starting point for each of those journeys.
• Breakfast is included with a great selection of food at their daily buffet.
• This hotel comes with a FREE ferry boat ride 24/7, from the main land dock to the hotel every 15 minutes, so it gives you a brief opportunity to sail the nile at the same time!

5. Luxor, Egypt

Luxor, a.k.a. ‘the palaces’, is a modern city in Upper (southern) Egypt which includes the site of the Ancient Egyptian city of Thebes. Luxor has also frequently been characterized as the “world’s greatest open-air museum”, as the ruins of the Egyptian temple complexes at Karnak and Luxor stand within the modern city. Immediately opposite, across the River Nile, lie the monuments, temples and tombs of the west bank Theban Necropolis, which includes the Valley of the Kings and Valley of the Queens. It is among the oldest inhabited cities in the world.

The Valley of the Kings

The Valley of the Kings, also known as the Valley of the Gates of the Kings, is a valley in Egypt where, for a period of nearly 500 years from the 16th to 11th century BC, with over 70 tombs were excavated for the pharaohs and powerful nobles of the New Kingdom.

This area has been a focus of archaeological and Egyptological exploration since the end of the eighteenth century, and its tombs and burials continue to stimulate research and interest. Since the 1920s, the valley has been famous for the discovery of the tomb of Tutankhamun, and is one of the most famous archaeological sites in the world. In 1979, it became a World Heritage Site, along with the rest of the Theban Necropolis.

This is also the place where you can endlessly gaze at all those cool ancient Egyptian hieroglyphs carved along the walls of the tombs! So amazing to see the detail and intricacies of each symbols in person.

Karnak Temple

The temple of Karnak was known as Ipet-isu—or “most select of places”—by the ancient Egyptians. It is a city of temples built over 2,000 years and dedicated to the Theban triad of Amun, Mut, and Khonsu. This derelict place is still capable of overshadowing many wonders of the modern world and in its day must have been awe-inspiring. While roaming the Karnak temple, you can capture many unique photo opportunities here alongside some of the most massive columns standing up to 70 ft in height.

Luxor Temple

Largely built by the New Kingdom pharaohs Amenhotep III (1390–1352 BC) and Ramses II (1279–1213 BC), this temple is a strikingly graceful monument in the heart of the modern town. Also known as the Southern Sanctuary, its main function was during the annual Opet celebrations, when the statues of Amun, Mut and Khonsu were brought from Karnak, along the Avenue of Sphinxes, and reunited here during the inundation.

Visit early when the temple opens, before the crowds arrive, or later at sunset when the stones glow. Whenever you go, be sure to return at night when the temple is lit up, creating an eerie spectacle as shadow and light play off the reliefs and colonnades.

WHERE TO STAY:  Hilton Luxor Resort & Spa

…and why?

• Amazing location as it is only a few minutes drive from both Karnak and Luxor temples!
• This hotel is equipped with a super-cool infinity pool and a swim up bar for those who want a drink or something to eat while swimming!
• This hotel also sits right on the Nile, so you’ll have amazing views of the river at any time of the day!
• After a long day of exploring Luxor, slip into that robe, relax and get a nice full body massage at the spa on site!
• Breakfast is included with a great selection of food at their buffet
• This hotel also has a bunch of small local shops for your shopping convenience, with an impressive selection of goods, I might add! 😉 Definitely no need to go out of the hotel with all these amenities!

In summary, we love it and you will too!

We highly recommend everyone adding both Egypt and Jordan to their dream bucket list for the many reasons we’ve listed and more! We barely scratched the surface on these two countries and would definitely welcome a second round if given the opportunity. Many people believe that Egypt/Jordan can be a dangerous place, but speaking from own experience completely dispels this preconceived notion 💯! With much research and preparation, your time in these two countries will completely exceed your expectations! Both Egypt and Jordan are countries begging to be explored, as they are filled with so much cultural and archeological history to learn so much about.