Can't comment yet on whether to Aswan or not to Aswan, as our first trip will be in November. Most people don't seem to linger there?

But I can't imagine going to Jordan and not seeing Petra -- but not sure you need three nights though? Two might suffice. You can certainly go by land to Petra, then on to Aqaba; believe you can fly Aqaba-Luxor?

Also, since I haven't been yet, I'm not sure about the three nights in Amman; most tours seem to stay there only 1-2 nights for recovery from jet lag, half day city tour and a side trip to Jerash. Does Dead Sea appeal? That might be an alternative for most of those tasks....

The only reason to plan three nights at Petra was what will be a late arrival the first night and an early departure after the third night.

And the reason to plan three nights in Amman was to allow a good day of travel between Petra and Amman and then an early departure from Amman to Luxor but still more than just one day in Amman.

And unless someone has another idea, I couldn't find flights between Aqaba and Luxor except by two stops (Amman and Cairo). Apparently both Aqaba and Luxor are international airports but the flights are really for tourists to either place from Europe, not between them.

My 2 cents worth - I agree with ski-b on the Jordan without Petra? Why? Definately do Petra, or I suspect you will regret missing that a LOT more than you would miss seeing Aswan.
If you can reorganize your time and start in Aswan on a Friday you can do the cruise in 3 nights/4 days, giving yourself one more day on land. No difference in the sites you see.
New Years Eve in Egypt is no great shakes as a tourist, unless you are with a group of other tourists that you enjoy and celebrate with. It's not like it's a big deal for Egypt or most Egyptians. Most of them will have to go to work on Sunday the 1st. I don't know if they do more in Jordan or not.
I guess New Years Eve here or there will be memorable, no matter what, but if you can organize a desert tour for that night, sleeping out under the stars would probably be memorable for sure. Egypt has a champagne (sparkling wine) called AIDA. Get yourself a bottle of that to take along wherever you are that night and it will be a night to remember. Keep the cork or the lable with your other souvenirs.

I want to say I think you should give yourself no fewer than 3 full DAYS in Cairo to see it well...more if you can. There is loads to see and do.

Petra is a must see for me spend some time at the MovenPick
there a rose red city halfway lost in time.The Wadis and
and the ferry to Taba and Sharm were awesome beautiful especially if you love diving.Then on to Cairo and Luxor.Aswan if you can but the one thing I would lose if I did not have time would be Aswan.

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I went to Jordan last Sept 10 and would re-think 3 days in Amman.

We too were in Jordan & Egypt last Sept/October. If in Jordan don't miss Petre-also I agree with other posters & re-think 3 nights in Amman-stay at the Dead Sea-there is a lot to see in that area & just stay 1 night in Amman if you need to be at airport early.
I did love Aswan-The Movenpick was a wonderful hotel. Enjoy

Definitely three nights in Petra, there's plenty to see there. No reason to linger in Amman - just see Jerash and leave.

laurie-ann
We too are planning a trip to Egyopt / Jordan (starting 1st January). It seems we have a similar amount of time to you. This is what we have come up with ....
Madaba 1 night (arriving late and convenient stop)
Petra 3 nights (Spend 1st day seeing Madaba, Kerak, Wadi Muji enroute to Petra)
Dead Sea 1 night (Petra to Wadi Rum to Dead Sea)
Last day in Jordan we plan to do Dead Sea to Jerash and Ajloun and then to airport for late flight to Cairo
Cairo 3 nights
Nile Cruise 3 nights (fly Cairo to Abu Simbel to Aswan for cruise)
Luxor 1 night (we wanted an extra day to see Abydos and Dendera)
Cairo 2 nights

We were forced to split our time in Cairo as the cruise ships don't go every day.

Let us know what you decide.

PRLCH - It is a good idea to split your time in Cairo anyway, as it is NOT a good idea to be in Luxor, Aswan, Sharm el Sheikh or anywhere else where you will need to depend on a flight coming back to Cairo on time to catch your outbound flight home. Flights get delayed, or scratched with little notice sometimes (not often, but you NEVER want it to happen to you if you are dependent to get back to Cairo on time) and you will rest easier if all you have to fight is the local traffic to get to the airport on your departure day.

Split your time by doing the ancient sites in one stay, and then doing the more current ones of the Christian and Islamic period on the other.

Enjoy!

i think you need a whole change on your itinerary:
if you stay in Amman 3 nights you can do some nearby must sees like:
1. Jerash(best preserved roman city in the east)
2. mt. Nebo( a biblical site where Moses viewed the promised land and died)
you can do these two sites in one day then you can stay at the dead sea for one day.

the most beautiful desert is well known to be wadi rum (or the moon valley) in the south of jordan where you see the rosy sand dunes and the sandstone mountains, i am not better than T.E Lawrence of arbia in describing the place. in wadi rum you can stay in a bedouin camp and have a camel or jeep tour. a good typical camp is www.rumfriendscamp.com.

of course petra is a must see but it needs 2 not 3 days.