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The temples at Abu Simbel

Egypt and Jordan Pilgrimage

The Pyramids, the Nile, Petra and Mount Nebo

Twelve days across two countries, from the Pyramids of Giza and a four night Nile cruise to Aswan, on to Petra, Kerak, Madaba and the summit of Mount Nebo.

Departures

Current Tours to Egypt

Upcoming departures to Egypt. Each group has its own host, dates, and itinerary. The route below is our standard.

All current pilgrimages
The Route

Eleven stops across Egypt and Jordan

Cairo, Sakkara and Faiyum, then Luxor, Edfu, Kom Ombo and Aswan on the Nile, and Amman, Petra, Kerak and Mount Nebo in Jordan.

Itinerary · CM_EG-JO-CRUISE-12D-01

The Egypt and Jordan Itinerary

Three nights in Cairo for the Pyramids and the sites of Memphis, Sakkara and Faiyum, four nights sailing the Nile from Luxor to Aswan, then three nights in Amman for Petra, Kerak, Madaba and Mount Nebo. Your group travels on its own dates, and the itinerary can be adjusted to fit the time you have and the places that matter most to your pilgrims. Groups drawn to Jordan may also consider our Jordan and the Holy Land route, which pairs Petra and Mount Nebo with the Galilee and Jerusalem.

Day 1 – 4

Cairo and the Pyramids

The Treasury at Petra lit by candles at night, Jordan
The Pyramids of Giza and the Great Sphinx
Day 1

Departure from the USA

Our pilgrimage begins with an overnight transatlantic flight to Cairo, the first of twelve days across the lands of Scripture in Egypt and Jordan. Dinner and breakfast are served in flight.
Day 2

Arrival in Cairo

Our local tour escort meets us on arrival and accompanies us by motorcoach to our hotel. We gather in the evening for a welcome dinner to begin the pilgrimage together.Overnight in Cairo.
Day 3

The Pyramids of Giza

We spend the day among the wonders of the ancient world. We visit the Pyramids of Giza, including the Great Pyramid of Cheops, which rose 481 feet and is the last surviving Wonder of the Ancient World, and the Great Sphinx, carved from a single outcrop of limestone. We continue to the Egyptian Museum, and celebrate Mass in the evening at Our Lady of Heliopolis Co-Cathedral.Overnight in Cairo.
Day 4

Memphis, Sakkara and Faiyum

Mass at the hotel, then Memphis, founded about 3100 BC as the capital where Upper and Lower Egypt were united and traditionally associated with Abraham’s sojourn in Egypt and Joseph’s service to Pharaoh. At Sakkara we see the Step Pyramid of Djoser, among the oldest monumental stone structures in the world, before continuing to Faiyum, whose ancient irrigation works are linked with Joseph’s granaries.Overnight in Cairo.
Day 5 – 8

The Nile Cruise

A cruise boat on the Nile
A Nile cruise ship at Luxor
Day 5

Luxor and the Nile Cruise

We fly to Luxor and visit the Temple of Karnak, the largest religious complex ever built in the ancient world, from the period in which the biblical account places the bondage and Exodus of the Israelites. We board our cruise ship for lunch, then visit the Temple of Luxor, founded under Amenhotep III.Overnight onboard.
Day 6

The Valley of the Kings

Mass on board, then the Valley of the Kings, burial place of many of Egypt’s pharaohs, and the Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut, the female pharaoh sometimes associated with the princess who drew the infant Moses from the Nile. We sail south toward Edfu through the Esna lock.Overnight onboard.
Day 7

Edfu and Kom Ombo

We visit the Temple of Edfu, among the best preserved temples in Egypt, then sail on to Kom Ombo and its unique double temple, shared between the crocodile headed god Sobek and the falcon god Horus, before continuing toward Aswan.Overnight onboard.
Day 8

Aswan

Mass on board, then the Aswan High Dam and the Temple of Philae, moved block by block to Agilkia Island to save it from the rising water. The afternoon offers an optional excursion to Abu Simbel and the temples of Ramesses II and Nefertari, or a felucca sail on the Nile.Overnight onboard.
Day 9 – 10

Into Jordan and Petra

The Great Sphinx at Giza
The Treasury at Petra
Day 9

Aswan and Amman

We disembark and transfer to the airport for our flight to Amman, connecting through Cairo. Our local tour escort meets us on arrival in Jordan and accompanies us by motorcoach to our hotel, where we gather in the evening for dinner.Overnight in Amman.
Day 10

Petra

We travel to Petra, the lost city carved into the desert canyons and mountains of southern Jordan and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1985. We walk the Siq, a mile long gorge between towering rock walls, emerging before the famed facade of the Treasury, and continue through the former Nabataean capital to the Petra Museum.Overnight in Amman.
Day 11 – 12

Mount Nebo and Home

The temples at Abu Simbel
Mount Nebo above the Jordan valley
Day 11

Kerak, Madaba and Mount Nebo

We visit the Crusader castle of Kerak, one of the largest hilltop fortresses raised in the Levant, then Madaba, the city of mosaics, to see the sixth century Madaba Map at St. George’s Church, the oldest surviving map of the Holy Land. We end at Mount Nebo, from which Moses viewed the Promised Land, and celebrate Mass at the Memorial Church of Moses.Overnight in Amman.
Day 12

Return Home

We transfer to Amman Airport for our return flight home, filled with the peace and blessings of a pilgrimage through the lands of Scripture, from the pyramids of Egypt to the mountain of Moses.

Why leaders choose Canterbury

“Canterbury treats you like family! They handle everything, from creating exciting itineraries to managing calls, registrations, and payments.”

Patrick MadridPatrick Madrid
Catholic Speaker, Author & Host of The Patrick Madrid Show on Relevant Radio®
The Monastery at Petra
PetraThe facade of the Treasury, carved into the rock at the end of the Siq.
Dates

Your group travels on its own dates.

Tell us the window you have in mind and we will build the itinerary around it: the time you have, and the places that matter most to your pilgrims.

Your pilgrimage includes

Tour Package Includes

These inclusions can be easily tailored to the individual needs of your group

  • Daily Mass at the churches we visit
  • Round-trip group airfare
  • Airport transfers on arrival & departure
  • 4-Star hotel accommodations
  • Private motorcoach transportation
  • Breakfast & dinner served daily
  • Wine served with some dinners
  • Dedicated tour manager
  • Licensed guiding & admission fees
  • Porterage service at hotels
  • Whisper headsets when touring
  • Tips for hotel & restaurant staff
  • 9 – 5 PM (EST) reservation support
  • 24/7 travel emergency support
  • Canterbury Mobile App
For the group leader

What you get as the group leader

You travel free.

Every group earns complimentary places. The more pilgrims you bring, the more you earn. How complimentary places work

No financial risk.

If the group does not fill, deposits are returned. You owe nothing and neither do your pilgrims. What happens if a group does not fill

We produce the promotional materials.

Flyers, a registration page, and what you need to invite your people. Our guide to promoting a pilgrimage

We handle your pilgrims.

Registrations, rooming lists, payment plans and the phone calls. How leading a pilgrimage works

In your pocket

The Canterbury Mobile App

Every pilgrim in your group gets the app. Their itinerary, hotels and flights, the prayers of the day and a way to reach one another, all in one place and kept current as the pilgrimage unfolds.

  • Group chat

    Your whole group in one thread, so a change of plan reaches everyone at once.

  • Their itinerary

    The full day-by-day schedule, always current, in every pilgrim’s pocket.

  • Hotels

    Where the group is staying each night, with addresses and dates.

  • Flights

    Flight details kept alongside everything else, not in a separate email.

  • Daily prayers

    The prayers of the day, including the Liturgy of the Hours.

  • Shrine passport

    A keepsake record of the shrines your group visits along the way.

  • Live updates

    Times and meeting points pushed to everyone the moment they change.

Photographs
The Pyramids of Giza
The Pyramids of Giza
A rock-cut facade at Petra
The rock-cut facades of Petra
Photograph to come · The Valley of the Kings
The Valley of the Kings
Photograph to come · The Siq at Petra
The Siq at Petra
Photograph to come · The Crusader castle of Kerak
The Crusader castle of Kerak
Photograph to come · The Memorial Church of Moses on Mount Nebo
The Memorial Church of Moses on Mount Nebo

What group leaders say

“They’re big enough to handle any problem that arises, and small enough to craft truly unique experiences.”

Chris StefanickChris Stefanick
Founder & President of Real Life Catholic
Before you ask

Frequently Asked Questions

When is the best time to travel to Egypt and Jordan?

October through April suits both countries. Days in Egypt are warm rather than punishing, and Jordan is mild, though Amman and Petra can be cold and wet in January and February. Upper Egypt and the Jordanian desert both pass 40 degrees between June and September, which is hard going on a route walked largely in the open.

How physically demanding is this pilgrimage?

Moderate. Most days involve two to four hours on your feet, with walking on uneven ground, ancient stone, and steps at archaeological sites. Pilgrims who can manage a full day of sightseeing at their own pace do well. If anyone in your group has mobility limitations, tell us early and we will adapt the days around them. What activity level means.

What is generally not included?

Travel insurance, lunches, drinks beyond those served with included meals, personal expenses, and gratuities for your tour manager and driver. Any of these can be built into your package on request, so tell us what you would like covered and we will arrange it. Passports and visa fees are the one exception and remain the responsibility of each pilgrim.

Do I need a passport or visa for Egypt and Jordan?

A US passport valid for at least six months beyond arrival is required. Both countries require a visa. Egypt issues one on arrival, currently 30 US dollars in cash, or as an e-Visa arranged in advance. Jordan issues one on arrival, currently 40 Jordanian dinars, or through a pre purchased Jordan Pass, which also covers admission to Petra. Pilgrims are responsible for their own entry documentation.

Can our priest celebrate Mass at the churches?

Yes. Daily Mass is built into the itinerary, and we arrange times and locations in advance with each church. Your priest should travel with a celebret or letter of good standing from his bishop or superior. We handle the scheduling.

How many pilgrims do you need for a group?

Most of our groups are between 20 and 50 pilgrims, and we can arrange smaller tours as well. We have also organized pilgrimages for groups as large as 2,500, so whatever size your group turns out to be, we can build for it. Minimum group size for a group flight.

Enquire

Interested in Leading a Pilgrimage to Egypt?

A pilgrimage consultant replies within one business day. No deposit or commitment.

    Your Information

    Your Group

    First time? You are in good company. Many of our group leaders start right here, and we guide you through every step.

    Where You Would Like to Go

    Destinations of interest (check all that apply)

    These are some of our most popular destinations, but we build CUSTOM ITINERARIES anywhere in the world. If you do not see your destination, tell us below.

    Italy, Rome and AssisiFrance, Lourdes and ParisPortugal and FátimaSpain and the Camino de SantiagoPortugal, Spain and France togetherGreece and TurkeyThe Holy LandEgypt and Mount SinaiPoland, Prague and Central EuropeMedjugorje and the BalkansIreland and the United KingdomMexico and Our Lady of GuadalupeArgentinaPeruJapan, Nagasaki and AkitaUnited States and Canada shrinesA pilgrimage cruiseA choir pilgrimageChristmas markets and AdventWorld Youth Day Seoul 2027Somewhere else, or not sure yet

    When

    Group Size and Budget

    Complimentary places are arranged based on the size of your group. Let us know how many you expect so we can request them from our suppliers from the start.

    A Few Last Details

    Would you like sample itineraries emailed to you?

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