Israel Jordan and Egypt

Israel Jordan and Egypt Itinerary

• Day 1 Welcome to Tel Aviv.

  Your complimentary, private transfer takes you to your local departure airport. You will be met at Ben Gurion Airport and driven to your hotel in Tel Aviv. At 19:30 meet your travel companions for a Welcome Reception and a short introduction to your trip. Meals: Locations:

• Day 2 Exploring Vibrant Tel Aviv.

  Morning sightseeing showcases the highlights of this vibrant city including the Habimah National Theatre, Rabin Square and Carmel Market. Venture along the seashore to the ancient city of Jaffa to see the famous clock tower and the old harbour. Visit the artists' quarter with its galleries, boutiques and picturesque narrow lanes. At night, enjoy a traditional Shabbat dinner.(Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner with Wine) Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner with Wine Locations: Tel Aviv, Jaffa

• Day 3 Caesarea to Galilee.

  Travel from Tel Aviv, along the coastal road to Caesarea. Explore the ancient Roman and Crusader ruins, including the huge amphitheatre. Travel via Haifa to Acre, fought over for centuries and captured in turn by Saracens and Crusaders, including Richard the Lionheart. See the fortress, the old harbour area and Crusader crypt. Experience traditional cooking and flavours with a Dine-at-Home lunch before continuing to Nazareth. Visit one of Christianity’s most sacred places, the Church of Annunciation, built on the site where the angel Gabriel is said to have appeared to Mary. Head on to your hotel in Tiberias, which is located on the Sea of Galilee. The day concludes with a brief introduction to life on a Kibbutz.(Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner) Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Locations: Tel Aviv, Caesarea, Nazareth

• Day 4 To the Dead Sea.

  Visit the ancient wooden boat that dates back to when Jesus was alive, and enjoy a cruise on the Sea of Galilee. Visit Capernaum, where Jesus is said to have entered the Synagogue to teach, before heading to the Mount of Beatitudes, where he preached the Sermon on the Mount. Journey through ever-changing landscapes along the Jordan Valley, past ancient Jericho, to take a dip in the buoyant salt waters of the Dead Sea.(Breakfast / Dinner) Meals: Breakfast, Dinner Locations: Tiberias

• Day 5 Masada and the Holy City of Jerusalem.

  Take a cable car ride up to the fortress of Masada, where Jewish Zealots held out for three years against Herod's armies. Pass the caves where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found at Qumran. Travel through the Judean Hills to Mount Scopus for breathtaking views of Jerusalem. Visit King David's Tomb on Mount Zion, and the Room of the Last Supper. Enter the Old City and follow the winding cobbled alleyways to the magnificent Wailing Wall, the most sacred monument in Judaism.(Breakfast) Meals: Breakfast Locations:

• Day 6 Exploring Jerusalem.

  Visit Yad Vashem, a memorial for those who perished in the Holocaust. Continue to the Israel Museum and the Shrine of the Book wing which houses the Dead Sea Scrolls.(Breakfast) Meals: Breakfast Locations:

• Day 7 Optional Bethlehem Experience and Jerusalem.

  Enjoy a relaxed morning or alternatively choose to meet your Local Expert at the West Bank border and continue to the Holy city of Bethlehem. The Optional Experience includes visiting the Church of the Nativity, one of the oldest continuously operating churches in the world. The structure is built over the cave that tradition marks as the birthplace of Christ, and is considered sacred by followers of both Christianity and Islam. In the afternoon, all travellers will visit the Garden of Gethsemene and walk through the Old City to see the Temple Mount, one of Islam’s holiest sites. Continue along the Via Dolorosa past the Stations of the Cross, Ecce Homo Arch, and the Pool of Bethesda, to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. At night, toast your adventures over a hearty Highlight Dinner with wine.(Breakfast / Dinner with Wine) Meals: Breakfast, Dinner with Wine Locations:

• Day 8 from Jerusalem to Amman.

  Travel through the Judaean Desert to the border of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. You are met on the other side to journey through a landscape that has changed little in the last 2,000 years. Once at your Amman hotel, relax and settle in before joining your Jordanian Travel Director for drinks and dinner.(Breakfast / Dinner with Wine) Meals: Breakfast, Dinner with Wine Locations: Jerusalem

• Day 9 Exploring Amman and Jerash.

  After breakfast, depart for Iraq Al-Amir, for a visit to the Women’s Co-op to see the fantastic work they are doing providing training and work opportunities for women in the region. The Association is supported by Insight through The Treadright Foundation. Then, the journey to Jerash reveals the most beautifully preserved example of a Greco-Roman city still in existence. Enter through Hadrian's Arch, to explore the grand ruins of the Temples of Artemis and Zeus, where you can listen to the Whispering Column. Overlook the vast Oval Plaza and Cardo Maximus, the key Roman road.(Breakfast / Lunch) Meals: Breakfast, Lunch Locations: Amman, Jerash

• Day 10 Madaba, Mount Nebo and on to Petra.

  Continue to Mount Nebo, one of the most revered holy sites of Jordan, where Moses stood and saw before him the Promised Land. At Madaba, visit the famous Greek Orthodox Church of St. George with its amazing 6th century mosaic map depicting the entire Holy Land, stretching from Jordan and Palestine in the north, to Egypt in the south. Follow the King's Highway to visit Shobak, an authentic 12th century crusader fortress, perched on the side of a rocky mountain, standing guard over a barren and desolate land. Admire the towers and Arabic calligraphy on the external walls before discovering the original Crusader chapel, palace complex, and even a set of secret passages! Then head south for one of the highlights of your journey: the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Petra, voted one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.(Breakfast / Dinner with Wine) Meals: Breakfast, Dinner with Wine Locations: Amman

• Day 11 Exploring the Lost City of Petra.

  This day is devoted to the beautiful ‘rose-red city, half as old as time'. You enter this lost city through a narrow gorge, the Siq, with walls that rise up to 200 metres. Emerge from the path to see the magnificent Treasury, carved out of solid rock and standing over 40 metres high. Wind your way through the canyon to explore the Roman Amphitheatre, which once seated 3,000 spectators, and the ancient tombs. Tonight, dine with locals at the Ammarin Camp.(Breakfast / Dinner) Meals: Breakfast, Dinner Locations:

• Day 12 Wadi Rum with the Bedouin.

  Head to Wadi Rum — and the spectacular hospitality of the Bedouin, on the backdrop of beautiful desert. Enjoy beautiful vistas as you make your way on a jeep safari deep into the heart of Wadi Rum's majestic desert. Dine with locals under the stars and stay in elegant simplicity in a desert camp for the night.(Breakfast / Dinner) Meals: Breakfast, Dinner Locations:

• Day 13 Shobak and Amman.

  If you wish, start the day with sunrise yoga at the Bedouin camp. Visit the Citadel which is surrounded by a 1700m long wall and see the Temple of Hercules and the Ummayad Palace. Also visit the Archaelogical Museum and Roman Amphitheatre. Later, return to the Jordanian capital where you are at leisure.(Breakfast / Dinner) Meals: Breakfast, Dinner Locations:

• Day 14 Amman to Cairo.

  Transfer to the airport for your flight to Cairo. On arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Take some time to relax before joining your Travel Director, a professionally trained Egyptologist, as well as fellow guests for a Welcome Drink. Meals: Locations: Amman, Cairo

• Day 15 Fly to Luxor, Cruise the Nile.

  This morning, fly to Luxor and visit the huge temple complex of Karnak. Walk through the avenue of ram-headed sphinxes to stand among the columns of the Hypostyle Hall before transferring to your cruise ship. One of the most luxurious vessels on the Nile, it will be your home for the next six nights. After lunch on board, visit the Luxor Museum to see many ancient artefacts from Luxor Temple and two royal mummies. The evening is yours at leisure, enjoy dinner on the ship before relaxing in its lounge or in the comfort of your room.(Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner) Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Locations: Cairo

• Day 16 Exploring Dendera and Edfu.

  A day of legend and history awaits you today as you begin with a morning visit to the Temple of Hathor in Dendera. One of the best-preserved temples in Egypt, it contains a rare depiction of Cleopatra and her son Caesarian, whose father was Julius Caesar. Later, visit Luxor Temple. Located on the east bank of the Nile, it was built by the New Kingdom Pharaohs Amenhotep III and Ramesses II. It is known as ipet resyt “the southern sanctuary. In the evening return to your ship and enjoy a scenic journey via the Esna Lock to Edfu.(Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner) Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Locations:

• Day 17 Edfu to Aswan.

  You will start the day with breakfast as you cruise along the Nile to Kom Ombo and continue on to the city of Aswan. Famous for its archaeological sites such as the Philae Temple Complex and the Temple of Isis, Aswan is a vibrant destination that portray an agreeable mix of ancient and contemporary Egypt. In the evening, enjoy a fun-filled Egyptian dinner and galabeya party.(Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner) Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Locations:

• Day 18 Aswan’s High Dam & Temple of Isis.

  Today’s sightseeing includes a visit to Aswan's High Dam and Granite Quarries to see the enormous Unfinished Obelisk. Travel by motorboat to the Temple of Isis, rising from the waters of the Nile on the Island of Philae. The rest of the day is free to relax and enjoy the facilities on your cruise ship. Ask your Travel Director for recommendations on things to do onboard or perhaps ask for more insights into Egypt’s fascinating history.(Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner) Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Locations:

• Day 19 Feluccas and High Tea.

  Throughout your journey you’ll have seen many feluccas sailing along the Nile. Now it’s your time to explore one for yourself. On this traditional vessel, you’ll meet a local sailor who will teach you about the art of sailing this ancient craft. As the sun starts to fade, enjoy colonial-style high tea at the historic Old Cataract Hotel, just like Winston Churchill and Agatha Christie once did before you. The hotel is rumoured to be where Christie wrote her bestselling novel, “Death on the Nile.”(Breakfast / Lunch / Afternoon Tea / Dinner) Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Afternoon Tea, Dinner Locations:

• Day 20 Free time and on to Kom Ombo.

  With the morning free, perhaps join the optional experience of travelling to the temples of Abu Simbel by air? These temples overlook Lake Nasser and are made up of the Great Temple of Ramsses II and the Temple of Hathor. Located in a village in Nubia, they are found in Upper Egypt. Later, sail to Kom Ombo to visit the only double temple of Egypt, dedicated to two gods: the crocodile-headed Sobek and the falcon-headed Horus the Elder.(Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner) Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Locations:

• Day 21 Cruising the Nile to Luxor.

  Your cruise continues along the bustling waters of the Nile. Enjoy your facilities on board and have your cameras at the ready for the sites as you leisurely make your way to Luxor. In the evening, on arrival in Luxor there will be free time. Ask your Travel Director for tips on where to explore.(Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner) Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner Locations:

• Day 22 Explore Luxor and fly to Cairo.

  This morning, disembark from your cruise and travel by coach to the west bank of the Nile. See the Colossi of Memnon and visit both the Temple of Hatshepsut and the Valley of the Kings, where many Pharaohs, including Hatshepsut, Amenhotep I and Tutankhamun were buried. Visit a family home and witness the making of authentic Egyptian sun bread. You’ll be able to find out more about local life in the village and why baking this delicacy is so important to the family. Later, transfer to the airport for your return flight to Cairo.(Breakfast) Meals: Breakfast Locations: Luxor

• Day 23 Cairo and the Pyramids of Giza.

  Today you’ll head to Memphis, the famous capital of the ancient world. See the colossal statue of Ramses II and the Great Alabaster Sphinx. Continue to Sakkara, to see the Step Pyramid of King Zoser, the oldest pyramid in the world, dating back to 2,700 BC. In the afternoon, it's on to Giza with your Egyptologist to explore the magnificent pyramids, where you’ll come face-to-face with the enigmatic Sphinx. During your visit, venture inside one of these ancient wonders to see the chambers where the pharaohs were sent to meet their Gods in the afterlife. Later, drive to the pyramids to witness the magical Sound & Light Show - an unforgettable introduction to the world of Ancient Egypt.(Breakfast) Meals: Breakfast Locations: Cairo

• Day 24 Cairo Sightseeing.

  This morning, ascend to the Citadel, for breathtaking views over the city. While here visit the Alabaster Mosque, otherwise known as the Great Mosque of Muhammad Ali Pasha, regarded as the founder of modern Egypt. Continue to Tahrir Square, the focal point of the 2011 Egyptian Revolution, and the Egyptian Museum. Among the many exhibits found here, are the fabulous artefacts recovered from the tomb of King Tutankhamun.(Breakfast) Meals: Breakfast Locations:

• Day 25 Depart Cairo.

  It’s time to say goodbye to your fellow travellers as your journey comes to an end. A transfer will take you to Cairo International airport for your onward flights. On arrival at your home airport, your driver will greet and escort you to your waiting car for your private transfer home.(Breakfast) Meals: Breakfast Locations: