Petra or the Pyramids
Each country has one sight that justifies the flight. In Jordan it is Petra, the Nabataean city spread across miles of canyon. You walk the narrow Siq at opening time and turn the last corner to see the Treasury glowing pink. Two full days let you climb to the Monastery, see the Royal Tombs and visit Little Petra.
In Egypt it is arguably the whole Nile Valley. The pyramids and Sphinx at Giza, Saqqara's Step Pyramid, Karnak and Luxor Temple, the Valley of the Kings and the temple of Hatshepsut, Philae on its island and Abu Simbel in the far south. Egypt simply has more monuments and more famous ones.
If you want one jaw-dropper plus varied landscapes, Jordan. If you want to spend a week immersed in ancient history, Egypt is unmatched.
Safety Levels
Check the current US State Department advisory for Jordan before you book. Read the notes on specific areas as well as the headline rating, since advisories can single out particular regions. The classic route through Amman, the Dead Sea, Petra, Wadi Rum and Aqaba is well traveled and licensed guides and drivers are easy to arrange.
Egypt is rated Level 2, exercise increased caution, because of terrorism, with the Sinai Peninsula except Sharm el Sheikh by air, the Western Desert and border areas marked Do Not Travel. Cairo, the Nile Valley and Red Sea resorts like Sharm el Sheikh sit outside those zones and draw millions of visitors, but most honeymooners use an established operator, avoid self-driving and enroll in STEP.
Egypt's no-go areas and the case for an operator tip many couples toward Jordan. Check the latest advisories for both before booking.
Pace of the Trip
Jordan moves by car. A ten-day loop might run Amman and Jerash, Madaba and Mount Nebo, two days at the Dead Sea, the King's Highway south to Petra, a night in Wadi Rum and an afternoon in Aqaba. No drive is very long and you set your own schedule. Expect fast driving in Amman and unmarked speed bumps in villages.
Egypt moves by plane, train and boat. Domestic flights link Cairo with Luxor, Aswan and Sharm el Sheikh in about an hour each. The overnight sleeper train to Luxor is a fun alternative. Between Luxor and Aswan, a three or four night cruise covers Edfu and Kom Ombo on the way. Days start early to beat the heat and crowds.
Jordan feels like a road trip. Egypt feels like an expedition with someone else holding the map.
Where You Sleep
Jordan's stays are varied and fairly priced. In Wadi Musa, the town at Petra's gate, the Mövenpick Resort Petra sits right across the road from the entrance, Old Village Resort is a stone village of terraces and lanterns and the Petra Marriott faces west so the mountains turn red at sunset. In Wadi Rum, SunCity Camp has glass-fronted domes under the stars. Dead Sea resorts handle the spa side.
Egypt's stays come in three styles. Historic grand hotels in Cairo, Luxor and Aswan carry old-world atmosphere and riverside terraces. Nile cruise ships offer pools, buffets and fixed schedules, while traditional sailing dahabiyas have only a few cabins and stop at smaller sites. Red Sea resorts in Sharm el Sheikh range from simple to lavish, with all-inclusive deals that can be surprisingly affordable outside holiday weeks.
Seasons
Jordan is best in spring, March to May, when wildflowers bloom in the north and Petra is comfortable for walking. Fall, September to November, is almost as good. Summer passes 100°F in Wadi Rum, the Dead Sea basin and Aqaba. Winter can bring cold rain and even snow to Amman and Petra, though the Dead Sea and Aqaba stay mild.
Egypt is best from late October to early March. Luxor and Aswan sit in the 70s and low 80s Fahrenheit and evenings on deck call for a sweater. December and January are busiest, so book cruises months ahead. By April the south is hot. From May to September Aswan averages above 100°F.
So for a winter honeymoon, Egypt is the better bet. For spring or autumn, Jordan shines. Both are affected by Ramadan, which shifts about 11 days earlier each year.
Costs Compared
All figures are approximate and move with exchange rates.
Jordan is moderately priced. Mid-range hotels in Amman or Wadi Musa run about $80 to $200 a night for two, Dead Sea resorts roughly $200 to $500 and Wadi Rum camps from about $80 to $300 or more. Car rental costs around $40 to $80 a day. The Jordan Pass, at roughly 70 to 80 dinars, covers Petra and dozens of other sites and pays for itself fast.
Egypt can be good value. A comfortable trip with private guides, four or five star hotels and a good Nile cruise often runs roughly $350 to $700 a day for two before flights. Dahabiyas and grand hotels push that higher. Budget a few hundred dollars per couple for site tickets over ten days, plus a steady fund of small notes for tips.
One Trip or Two?
The two countries are close and combining them is tempting. Aqaba in southern Jordan and Sharm el Sheikh in Egypt both sit on the Red Sea and flights between Amman and Cairo are short. A two-week trip could cover Petra, Wadi Rum and the Dead Sea, then fly to Cairo for Giza and Luxor.
In practice, most honeymooners are happier choosing one. Each country already rewards ten days and squeezing both means predawn starts every day. Egypt in particular needs time for the river.
If you do combine them, start in Jordan, where you can set your own pace. End with a Nile cruise or a few lazy days on the Red Sea. Fly between the two rather than going overland, since the Sinai outside Sharm el Sheikh is marked Do Not Travel.
