Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival
You'll arrive at the airport and transfer to your hotel. After getting settled in, take time to rest and adjust following your journey.
- Day 2
Bethlehem
Start with breakfast, then head into the New City to see the Museum of Israel with the Dead Sea Scrolls and a model of ancient Jerusalem. From there you'll visit the Hebrew University and walk through the Ein Karem neighborhood before seeing the Shrine of Saint John the Baptist. Later in the day, pay respects at Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum. In the afternoon, cross into Bethlehem with a Palestinian guide to visit the Church of the Nativity and Shepherd's Field, then return to Jerusalem by evening.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast buffet)
Included Activities
- Visit Museum of Israel and Shrine of the Book with Dead Sea Scrolls display
- See model of Jerusalem at time of Jesus
- Tour Hebrew University of Jerusalem
- Visit Ein Karem neighborhood and Shrine of Saint John the Baptist
- Visit Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum and Memorial
- Visit Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem
- Visit Grotto of the Manger and Shepherds' Field in Bethlehem
Landmarks/POIs Museum of Israel Shrine of the Book Hebrew University of Jerusalem Ein Karem Shrine of Saint John the Baptist Yad Vashem Church of the Nativity Grotto of the Manger Shepherds' Field - Day 3
Jerusalem
This morning explore the Old City, starting at Mount Scopus and the Mount of Olives for panoramic views of the walled Holy City. Continue to Gethsemane and the Basilica of the Agony. After that, walk through the Western Wall and along the Via Dolorosa to Calvary and the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. Finish your day on Mount Zion visiting the Tomb of King David, the Cenacle (Hall of the Last Supper), and the Abbey of the Dormition.
Included Activities
- Visit Mount Scopus and Mount of Olives with views of Holy City
- Visit Gethsemane and Basilica of the Agony
- Visit Western Wall (Wailing Wall)
- Walk Via Dolorosa to Calvary
- Visit Church of the Holy Sepulcher
- Visit Mount Zion
- Visit Tomb of King David
- Visit Cenacle (Hall of the Last Supper)
- Visit Abbey of the Dormition
Landmarks/POIs Mount Scopus Mount of Olives Gethsemane Basilica of the Agony Western Wall Via Dolorosa Calvary Church of the Holy Sepulcher Mount Zion Tomb of King David Cenacle Abbey of the Dormition - Day 4
Jordan
Depart early for the Israel-Jordan border at Sheik Hussein Bridge and go through border and visa procedures. Once in Jordan, explore the 12th-century Fortress of Ajlun and the historic Church of Saint Sergius in an area where Muslims and Orthodox Christians live together. After lunch, head to the Roman archaeological site of Jerash before traveling to Amman for the night.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch included in Jerash)
Included Activities
- Visit Fortress of Ajlun (12th century castle)
- Visit Church of Saint Sergius in Ajlun
- Visit archaeological site of Jerash
Landmarks/POIs Sheik Hussein Bridge Fortress of Ajlun Church of Saint Sergius Jerash - Day 5
Amman
Travel to the Desert Castles from the 7th-8th centuries, visiting the imposing Qasr Kharana and the UNESCO World Heritage Site Qusayr Amra with its remarkable frescoes. Head to Madaba for lunch, then explore the Archaeological Park via an ancient Roman road and see the Church of St. George with its 6th-century Holy Land mosaic map. Visit Mount Nebo where Moses viewed the Promised Land before returning to Amman.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch included in Madaba)
Included Activities
- Visit Qasr Kharana castle
- Visit Qusayr Amra castle (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
- Visit Madaba Archaeological Park
- Visit Church of St. George with 6th century mosaic map
- Visit Mount Nebo
Landmarks/POIs Qasr Kharana Qusayr Amra Madaba Madaba Archaeological Park Church of St. George Mount Nebo - Day 6
Dead Sea
Travel to Bethany on the banks of the River Jordan, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where John the Baptist baptized Jesus. Visit the Dead Sea Museum and its Panorama Complex. After lunch, arrive at your Dead Sea hotel and float in the saltiest sea and lowest altitude on earth. Dinner and accommodation are included.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch included at Dead Sea), Dinner (Dinner included)
Included Activities
- Visit Bethany UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Visit Dead Sea Museum and Panorama Complex
- Float in the Dead Sea
Landmarks/POIs Bethany Dead Sea Museum Dead Sea - Day 7
Petra
Travel the historic King's Road exploring the Moab Kingdom from the Bible. Visit Karak castle, an impressive 12th-century fortress between Jerusalem and Aqaba. Arrive at Dana, a stone town on a cliff, for lunch. Continue along the King's Route and stop to photograph Shobak's Crusader Castle before heading to Wadi Musa. Explore the Moses Spring and Petra Museum to learn about the Nabateans. Dinner and accommodation included, plus optional Turkish bath or Petra light and sound show.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch included in Dana), Dinner (Dinner included)
Included Activities
- Visit Karak castle
- Visit Moses Spring
- Visit Petra Museum
Optional Activities
- Visit Turkish bath
- Watch Petra light and sound show
Landmarks/POIs King's Road Karak Castle Dana Shobak Castle Wadi Musa Moses Spring Petra Museum - Day 8
Wadi Rum
Visit the archaeological site of Petra, accessing it through a narrow canyon to discover temples and tombs excavated on the cliffs of this 2,300-year-old city. After lunch, head to Wadi Rum desert and board 4x4 vehicles at the Visitor Centre to explore dramatic landscapes. Take a 45-minute camel ride and visit Khazali Canyon to see Arabic language engravings. Enjoy dinner and stay in a desert camp.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch included at Petra), Dinner (Dinner included in desert camp)
Included Activities
- Visit Petra archaeological site
- Ride in 4x4 vehicles in Wadi Rum
- Camel ride (45 minutes) in Wadi Rum
- Visit Khazali Canyon with Arabic language engravings
Landmarks/POIs Petra Wadi Rum Khazali Canyon - Day 9
Eilat - Saint Catherine
Leave Wadi Rum for Aqaba, Jordan's second city on the Red Sea, and walk through the city center. Cross into Israel and Eilat, a modern tourist city with excellent beaches where you'll have time to relax, have lunch, and stroll around. Continue to the Egypt border and into Sinai, passing by Pharaoh's Island with its fortress of Saladin, then head to Saint Catherine with dinner and accommodation included.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch included in Eilat), Dinner (Dinner included)
Optional Activities
- Swim in Eilat beach
Landmarks/POIs Aqaba Eilat Pharaoh's Island Fortress of Saladin Saint Catherine - Day 10
Cairo
Visit the walled monastery of Saint Catherine at the foot of Mount Sinai, a sacred site for Jews, Christians, and Muslims, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site where Moses saw the Burning Bush according to tradition. Explore the picturesque Sinai Desert landscapes and stop at the Well of Moses, a biblical oasis site. Leave Sinai through the tunnel under the Suez Canal and arrive in Cairo in the late afternoon.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch included in route)
Included Activities
- Visit Monastery of Saint Catherine
- Visit Well of Moses
Landmarks/POIs Monastery of Saint Catherine Mount Sinai Well of Moses Suez Canal - Day 11
Cairo
Spend the full day exploring Cairo's major attractions. Visit the Pyramids of Cheops, Kefren, and Micerinos, and the Sphinx sculpted from rock. Explore the Egyptian Museum with its ancient art collection and treasures from Tutankhamen's tomb. After lunch, visit the Citadel of Saladin and the Alabaster Mosque. Finish with a walk through the Coptic neighborhood to see the Hanging Church built above a Roman fortress.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch included in Cairo)
Included Activities
- Visit Pyramids of Cheops, Kefren, and Micerinos
- Visit Sphinx
- Visit Egyptian Museum with Tutankhamen treasures
- Visit Citadel of Saladin
- Visit Alabaster Mosque
- Visit Coptic neighborhood and Hanging Church
Optional Activities
- Go inside the pyramids (tickets not included)
Landmarks/POIs Pyramid of Cheops Pyramid of Kefren Pyramid of Micerinos Sphinx Egyptian Museum Citadel of Saladin Alabaster Mosque Hanging Church - Day 12
Menia
Leave Cairo early to discover a different Egypt with vast lakes in the desert. Stop at the Pyramid of Meidum from 2,600 years ago and climb to the burial chamber entrance. Visit the Oasis of Al Faiyum and see the Qarum Lake that irrigates the entire oasis. After lunch in Tunis village (famous for ceramics), continue through desert landscapes to Wadi Rayyan with its saltwater lake, rare birds, gazelles, and small waterfalls. Visit Wadi Al Hittan (Valley of the Whales), a UNESCO World Heritage Site with exceptional fossil concentrations, and tour the Fossilized Whales Museum. End the day in Menia on the Nile with dinner included.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch included at Tunis village), Dinner (Dinner included)
Included Activities
- Visit Pyramid of Meidum
- Visit Oasis of Al Faiyum and Qarum Lake
- Visit Tunis village
- Visit Wadi Rayyan and waterfalls
- Visit Wadi Al Hittan (Valley of the Whales) UNESCO World Heritage Site
- Visit Fossilized Whales Museum
Landmarks/POIs Pyramid of Meidum Al Faiyum Oasis Qarum Lake Tunis Village Wadi Rayyan Wadi Al Hittan Fossilized Whales Museum Menia - Day 13
Assiut
Continue exploring the Nile Valley, stopping at Zawiyyet Sultan with its peculiar vaulted adobe mausoleum architecture. Visit Beni Hassan necropolis on cliffs above the Nile valley with 39 tombs (4 visited) dating 2125-1795 BC, offering insights into daily life. Have lunch included, then continue to the Tombs of Mir with nine tombs from the Old and Middle Kingdom. Visit Deir el-Muhrraq monastery, a Coptic pilgrimage site where monks believe Mary and Jesus stayed in a cave. Continue to Assiut with dinner included.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch included at Beni Hassan), Dinner (Dinner included)
Included Activities
- Visit Zawiyyet Sultan necropolis
- Visit Beni Hassan necropolis (4 tombs visited)
- Visit Tombs of Mir
- Visit Deir el-Muhrraq monastery and church
Landmarks/POIs Zawiyyet Sultan Beni Hassan Tombs of Mir Deir el-Muhrraq Assiut - Day 14
Luxor
Travel from Assiut to Sohag, one of Egypt's main Coptic areas. Visit the White Monastery built in the fourth century with impressive walling constructed from pharaonic temple stone showing ancient gods and hieroglyphics. Tour the Red Monastery, one of Egypt's most impressive Christian buildings with a fourth-century chapel largely covered in restored frescoes. Continue to Abydos for lunch, the most important worship place of Osiris and pilgrimage site for over 4,500 years. Visit the impressive Temple of Seti before arriving in Luxor.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch included at Abydos)
Included Activities
- Visit White Monastery
- Visit Red Monastery
- Visit Temple of Seti in Abydos
Landmarks/POIs White Monastery Red Monastery Abydos Temple of Seti Luxor - Day 15
Luxor
Full day exploring one of the planet's most impressive ancient cities. Early morning, take a private boat across the Nile River to the west bank. Visit Deir el-Medina where builders and craftsmen lived, and the fantastic temple of Medinet Habu. See the Colossi of Memnon and the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut. Explore the Valley of the Kings with its hidden pharaoh tombs. Return to Luxor's east bank for free lunch time. In the afternoon, visit Karnak with the immense temple of Amun-Ra and the temple of Khinsu. Tour the Luxor Museum, then after dark visit the illuminated Luxor Temple. Free time in the souk area follows.
Included Activities
- Boat crossing of Nile River to west bank
- Visit Deir el-Medina (3 tombs)
- Visit Medinet Habu temple
- See Colossi of Memnon
- Visit Valley of the Queens
- Visit Temple of Queen Hatshepsut (Deir el Bahari)
- Visit Valley of the Kings with electric cart and Ramses tomb entrance
- Visit Karnak temple complex
- Visit temple of Khinsu
- Visit Luxor Museum
- Visit Luxor Temple (illuminated evening visit)
Landmarks/POIs Nile River Deir el-Medina Medinet Habu Colossi of Memnon Valley of the Queens Temple of Hatshepsut Valley of the Kings Tomb of Ramses Karnak Temple Temple of Khinsu Luxor Museum Luxor Temple - Day 16
Hurghada
Spend the morning with free time in Luxor for strolling, shopping, or sightseeing. Travel to Dendera, one of Egypt's best preserved complexes thanks to being buried by sand and mud until mid-nineteenth century discovery. Explore the 40,000 square-meter enclosure surrounded by 8-10 meter high brick walls. Visit the Temple of Hathor, goddess of love and fertility. After lunch, continue to the Red Sea through desert mountain ranges and arrive in Hurghada in late afternoon, Egypt's most popular resort with hotels stretching 50 kilometers.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch included at Dendera)
Included Activities
- Visit Dendera Temple Complex
- Visit Temple of Hathor
Landmarks/POIs Dendera Temple Complex Temple of Hathor Hurghada - Day 17
Hurghada
Spend the full day in Hurghada with free time in the morning to relax at hotel facilities or visit the large aquarium or museum on your own. After lunch, travel to El Gouna, Egypt's most luxurious holiday town with canals and lagoons connecting residences by yacht. Enjoy free time to walk around this exclusive place, then stop by Hurghada's mosque and walk to the marina, a lively tourist area with shops and restaurants. Return to hotel with all-inclusive accommodation.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch included)
Included Activities
- Visit El Gouna
- Visit Hurghada mosque
- Walk Hurghada marina
Optional Activities
- Visit large aquarium in Hurghada
- Visit Hurghada museum
Landmarks/POIs El Gouna Hurghada Mosque Hurghada Marina Hurghada Aquarium Hurghada Museum - Day 18
Cairo
Travel along the Red Sea coast to visit the impressive Monastery of St. Anthony from the fourth century, the oldest monastery in Christendom where monks settled in caves and cliffs at the foot of the Red Sea Mountain. Explore the walled monastery with its many buildings and adobe houses. Visit the Church of St. Anthony built on the saint's tomb with magnificent thirteenth-century Coptic murals. After lunch, continue to El Galala to see new cities Egypt is building in the desert and take the included cable car climb to El Galala, a new city begun in 2015. Return to Cairo arriving at the end of the day.
- Meals
- Lunch (Lunch included)
Included Activities
- Visit Monastery of St. Anthony
- Visit Church of St. Anthony
- Visit El Galala luxury resort
- Cable car ride to El Galala
Landmarks/POIs Monastery of St. Anthony Church of St. Anthony El Galala - Day 19
Cairo
After breakfast, transfer to the airport and end of tour services.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast buffet)
