Egypt, Jordan and Israel itinerary on your own

In this series of articles that I will be publishing, I will tell you about the itinerary of the trip we took in 2020, which took us through Egypt, Jordan, and Israel, all on our own.

In the post of “A Journey through Istanbul, Malta, Egypt, Jordan and Israel” I had told you in advance how the planning went to visit all these destinations on a single trip, so far away for us in South America, but so interesting at the same time.

And when I talk about "faraway countries," I'm not just referring to the thousands of miles that separate us, but also to their customs, such as their lifestyle, religion, language, food, and architecture, among many other things.

Why travel to Egypt, Jordan and Israel

The question is, why not? We're talking about three countries that are home to so much history and ancient wonders, that it would be a shame, in my opinion, not to visit that region at least once in your life.

Egypt and Jordan are places that contain a wealth of archaeological and cultural treasures. That is to say, we can not only visit the wonders we already know, such as the Pyramids of Giza, the Pharaonic Temples from Luxor, the mummies, the hieroglyphics, the city of Petra among others, but we also have to talk about Arab and Muslim culture.

Years ago, when I had the opportunity to visit MalaysiaI experienced my first encounter with a country whose main religion was Islam (I say main because they coexist with other ethnic groups and religions). It was my first time hearing the five daily prayers that sound from megaphones atop mosque minarets. That time left me wanting to learn more about Muslim countries, and if we add that they're Arab, like Egypt and Jordan, even better.

Israel, on the other hand, also has a unique religious and historical legacy. Jerusalem is the city where Christianity was born. It's where Jesus died and was resurrected. But not only that, for Jews and Muslims, it is also a sacred place for other reasons. The three religions intersect in this city. Another historical element we can mention were the Crusades that took place to gain control of the so-called Holy Land.

I'm leaving out other places and facts, but more or less we have an overview of the wealth that this area of the world has in many aspects.

A trip to the past

So this trip would not only be about living experiences in the present of Arab and Jewish society, but we're also talking about touring and witnessing the region where vital events of utmost importance to our history took place.

We will encounter the traces of empires like the Egyptian, Roman, Byzantine, and Ottoman (among others) in these lands. Many of the events recounted in the Torah, the Bible, and the Quran supposedly took place in these lands.

Don't tell me that traveling to these lands doesn't sound super interesting a priori?

And why is it hesitant to travel to this region, when there is so much to see?

Having so much shared history and religious conflicts between neighboring countries doesn't come without a hitch in the present. Not long ago, this region was going through a rather turbulent time, especially in Egypt (now part of Israel). It was common to hear about protests and marches on the news, even attacks on tourists and historic monuments (such as the Luxor massacre of 1997 which claimed the lives of 58 visitors).

Back in the years 2010-2012, the so-called Arab Spring, bringing with it great instability in all the Arab countries in the region. And if we add to this unstable climate the fact that in certain areas of Egypt, such as the Sinai Desert, there were and still are (so they say) "terrorist" groups hiding, waiting for the moment to strike, one would be even less inclined to visit this country.

In this context, global tourism stopped visiting Egypt en masse for many years, and those who did, mostly did so with the "security" of an agency.

In Israel, on the other hand, it seems the conflict with Palestine/Gaza never ends. Every year, missiles fly back and forth, claiming victims on both sides. But if one looks closely, one sees that these incidents generally occur near the Gaza Strip and its surroundings. and far from conventional tourist sites such as Jerusalem and Tel Aviv for example (with the surprise attack that took place in Jerusalem in October 2023, nothing is certain anymore).

Visit Egypt, Jordan, and Israel in 2020 and 2025

While the stability of 2020 may have been shattered overnight, the reality is that things have calmed down for the time being. Fortunately, a different air is in the air, or at least that's what it seems. Beyond the corona virus which is ravaging the world left and right, protests and violence in Arab countries have slowed down considerably.

For some years now, we have only heard of 1 or 2 serious attacks a year in Egypt (something that also happens in many European countries). The government is trying to demonstrate the relative calm currently prevailing in order to be chosen again by the thousands of tourists who long to visit these places.

Meanwhile in Israel, with its newly developed anti-missile shield, has been intercepting most of the missiles launched from the Gaza Strip from time to time, thereby reducing the risk of impact on civilian areas and offering greater security to the population.

An event that raised alarm bells in Israel recently (early 2020) was when Iran threatened retaliation for the US killing of a general in its security forces. But it ultimately came to nothing after a Ukrainian commercial airliner was "inadvertently" shot down.

Jordan On the other hand, it's a world apart. It has no problems with anyone. It has no internal or external enemies, making traveling around the country very easy and safe.

¿Is it safe to visit Egypt, Jordan and Israel in 2025?

Things have changed a lot in recent years. Being such an unstable region in terms of security, it's advisable to take advantage of every moment of peace to travel to this area.

Egypt Egypt maintains a good level of overall safety for tourists, especially in major tourist areas like Cairo, Luxor, and Aswan. A few months ago, while traveling in Asia, I met many tourists who had recently been to Egypt, and they all told me the same thing: things were quiet there. However, it is recommended to avoid the border areas with Libya and North Sinai due to security risks. It is advisable to stay informed and follow the instructions of local authorities.

Jordan It is considered a stable and safe country for tourists. Although there is a certain risk due to the regional situation, Jordanian security forces are monitoring the country, and it is common to encounter roadblocks and security deployments at tourist sites. It is advisable to stay informed and follow the recommendations of local authorities.

Israel is another topic. Following the ceasefire agreements between Israel and Hamas in January 2025, and between Israel and Hezbollah in November 2024, the security situation has improved. The United Kingdom, for example, no longer advises against non-essential travel to Israel, although some areas, such as Gaza, certain parts of the West Bank, and areas near the borders with Syria and Lebanon, remain restricted due to potential risks. But we know the situation can change from one day to the next. Personally, I would try not to go for now, why take the risk? I would wait for the waters to calm down or for a slightly longer truce. In any case, travelers are always advised to remain vigilant, seek information from local media, and follow the instructions of the Israeli authorities.

Tour Egypt, Jordan, and Israel on an organized tour or on your own.

What a dilemma, right? A decision we all have to make before organizing a trip of this nature.

We all know the advantages and disadvantages of choosing one option over another. Safety and convenience are certainly the main selling points when choosing an organized tour. Nothing beats an experienced agency to arrange accommodations, transportation, guides, and the monuments we'll visit.

While if we choose to explore these countries on our own, we'll gain freedom of action and save money that we could surely spend on other things, the disadvantage is that we're more exposed to unexpected events.

Traveling independently in Egypt, Jordan, and Israel

We chose to do it freely, mainly for those two reasons. I've always liked to plan my trips my way. Everyone is different and likes different things than everyone else. Sometimes you want to spend more or less time somewhere, eat somewhere else, or manage things your way.

Although I must admit that there were times when being on our own was quite exhausting in Egypt. The crush of vendors and opportunists made me wish at times for a bit of peace and quiet with a tour.

The best example of what I mean was experienced just when we were happy and content to visit the wonder of Egypt, the Pyramids of GizaI'll tell you in your respective posts what we had to go through to get there safely, but I can tell you that if we had been in a group, the experience would surely have been different.

Transfers

Transfers can be another factor to consider when choosing one option over another. For example, getting around a city, especially in Egypt, requires haggling endlessly with taxi drivers to get a "decent" price. However, on a tour that takes you everywhere comfortably on a bus, you forget about it.

For long journeys, a tour can make it easier to travel between Alexandria, Cairo, Luxor, and Aswan, whether traveling by plane, train, bus, or cruise (Luxor-Aswan). It's up to you to decide which option best fits your budget and schedule. If you're taking a cruise (which we didn't), you can sometimes get better prices through an agency than booking directly from there.

Ultimately, everyone can tailor their trip to their liking. Several travelers we met were exploring Jordan and Israel (which are smaller, tourist-friendly countries) on their own and booking a tour to chaotic Egypt.

My contribution in this age of digital information will be to share our experience traveling independently in these territories. In the articles I write about each place, I'll tell you what you can visit, how much they cost, and what options there are for getting around on short and long journeys.

Egypt, Jordan and Israel Itinerary

Well, after all that introduction, let's get to the important stuff, the itinerary we followed in Egypt, Jordan and Israel.

In total, we spent 25 days in the three countries: 13 days in Egypt, 6 in Jordan, and 6 in Israel.

2 week itinerary in Egypt

We started from the capital of Egypt, Cairo. We spent a total of 3 days there, getting to know the city a bit, including its Islamic quarter, the chaotic market, the must-see museum and obviously the pyramids of Giza.

Cairo, city of chaos

How to visit the Pyramids of Giza on your own, and not get scammed in the process.

We then traveled on the local train that took us to the city of Aswan at night, after approximately 13 hours.

How to travel from Cairo to Aswan by train.

Aswan, Abu Simbel and Temple of Philae

Two days later, we traveled again on the local train to reach the ancient capital of the Egyptian empire, Luxor.

Luxor, the ancient capital of the Egyptian Empire.

After spending 5 days in Luxor, we took a plane to Sharm El Sheik airport to visit Dahab and the Red Sea.

Dahab and the Red Sea

A couple of days later, we left Dahab, which would be the last stop in Egypt, to cross the border into Israel (Taba – Eilat) and then cross into Jordan (Eilat – Aqaba).

How to get to Jordan from Egypt. (coming soon)

1 week itinerary in Jordan

In Jordan, we spent a day exploring the famous desert where so many movies have been filmed: Wadi Rum.

It's not Mars, it's the Wadi Rum desert

From there we went to the city of Wadi Musa, to spend two and a half days exploring one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen in my life, the city of Petra.

Petra, one of the 7 modern wonders.

And finally, the last 2 days in Jordan, we spent in its capital, Amman

Amman, capital of Jordan. (coming soon)

1 week itinerary in Israel

After crossing the border between Jordan and Israel, we spent three days visiting one of the holiest places in the world, Jerusalem.

What to see in Jerusalem: history, religion, and the Holy Land

A day dedicated to exploring the ruins of Masada and the Dead Sea.

Masada and the Dead Sea: Day Trip from Jerusalem

And at the end of the trip, we visited the ancient city of Jaffa (today Tel Aviv), the port of entry for pilgrims going to the Holy Land.

What to do in Tel Aviv: beaches, markets, Jaffa, and travel tips

If you have any questions about the Itinerary, please leave a comment below and I will respond as soon as possible.

Support The Prism of Fer!

Your support helps me continue creating free content on the blog. Thank you so much!