Itinerary
- Day 1
Arrival
You'll arrive at the airport where someone will meet you and drive you to your hotel. Check in and get settled for the night.
- Day 2
Bethlehem
After breakfast, head to the Museum of Israel to see the Shrine of the Book with the Dead Sea Scrolls, plus a model of ancient Jerusalem and the campus of Hebrew University. Then walk through the Ein Karem neighborhood. Later you'll visit Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum. In the afternoon, a Palestinian guide takes you to Bethlehem to see the Church of the Nativity and Shepherds' Field before returning to Jerusalem.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast buffet)
Included Activities
- Visit Museum of Israel and Shrine of the Book with Dead Sea Scrolls
- Tour Hebrew University of Jerusalem
- Visit Ein Karem neighborhood and Shrine of Saint John the Baptist
- Visit Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum and Memorial
- Guided visit to Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem
- Visit Grotto of the Manger and Shepherds' Field in Bethlehem
Landmarks/POIs Shrine of the Book Museum of Israel Hebrew University of Jerusalem Ein Karem Shrine of Saint John the Baptist Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum and Memorial Church of the Nativity Grotto of the Manger Shepherds' Field - Day 3
Jerusalem
Spend the full day in the Old City of Jerusalem. Start at Mount Scopus for views of the walled Holy City, then move to the Mount of Olives and Gethsemane. Walk the Via Dolorosa to Calvary and the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. Later, head to Mount Zion to see 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
- Visit Gethsemane and Basilica of the Agony
- Visit Western Wall (Wailing Wall)
- Walk the Via Dolorosa
- Visit Calvary and 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
Jerusalem to Amman
You'll depart early toward the Israel-Jordan border at Sheik Hussein Bridge to handle border and visa procedures. Once through, check out the 12th-century Fortress of Ajlun and the Church of Saint Sergius. Then go to Jerash, a Roman archaeological site with lots to walk through. By evening you'll reach Amman for check-in.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast buffet), Lunch
Included Activities
- Visit Fortress of Ajlun
- Visit Church of Saint Sergius
- Visit Jerash Roman archaeological site
Landmarks/POIs Fortress of Ajlun Church of Saint Sergius Jerash Archaeological Site - Day 5
Amman
Head out to see the Desert Castles from the 7th and 8th centuries. Qasr Kharana has thick walls worth seeing, and Qusayr Amra is a World Heritage Site with notable frescoes. Then travel to Madaba to see the Archaeological Park and the Church of St. George, which has a 6th-century mosaic map of the Holy Land. Stop at Mount Nebo where Moses viewed the Promised Land, then return to Amman with time to yourself.
- Meals
- Lunch
Included Activities
- Visit Qasr Kharana castle
- Visit Qusayr Amra World Heritage Site
- Visit Madaba Archaeological Park
- Visit Church of St. George in Madaba
- Visit Mount Nebo
Landmarks/POIs Qasr Kharana Qusayr Amra Madaba Archaeological Park Church of St. George Mount Nebo - Day 6
Amman to Dead Sea
Travel to Bethany on the River Jordan, a UNESCO World Heritage Site where John the Baptist baptized Jesus. Visit the Dead Sea Museum's Panorama Complex. After that, arrive at your Dead Sea hotel and take a dip in the saltiest sea at the lowest altitude on earth.
- Meals
- Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Bethany on the River Jordan
- Visit Dead Sea Museum and Panorama Complex
- Dead Sea swimming
Landmarks/POIs Bethany on the River Jordan Dead Sea Museum Dead Sea - Day 7
Dead Sea to Wadi Musa
Take the historic King's Road through the Moab Kingdom. See the 12th-century Karak Castle sitting on a hilltop. Continue to the stone village of Dana on a cliff. Drive along the King's Route and photograph Shobak's Crusader Castle from outside. Check out the Moses Spring where Moses supposedly struck the rock, tour the Petra Museum, then settle in at Wadi Musa near Petra.
- Meals
- Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Karak castle
- Visit Dana village
- Visit Shobak Crusader Castle (photographs outside)
- Visit Moses Spring
- Visit Petra Museum
Optional Activities
- Turkish bath visit
- Light and sound show in Petra
Landmarks/POIs King's Road Karak Castle Dana Shobak Castle Moses Spring Petra Museum - Day 8
Wadi Musa
This is the highlight of your trip. Start at Petra, walking through a narrow canyon to find temples and tombs carved into cliffs from a city founded 300 years before Christ. Grab lunch, then head to Wadi Rum desert where you'll board 4x4 vehicles to see the landscapes, take a 45-minute camel ride, and visit Khazali Canyon with its Arabic language engravings.
- Meals
- Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Petra archaeological site
- 4x4 vehicles tour of Wadi Rum
- 45-minute camel ride through Wadi Rum desert
- Visit Khazali Canyon
Landmarks/POIs Petra Wadi Rum Khazali Canyon - Day 9
Wadi Rum to Aqaba
After breakfast, drive to Aqaba, Jordan's second city and a modern commercial port. The afternoon is free to relax at your hotel resort and go in the warm waters of the Red Sea.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast buffet)
Landmarks/POIs Aqaba Red Sea - Day 10
Aqaba to Cairo
You'll have breakfast, then depart via desert road to reach Amman airport for a flight to Cairo (just over an hour). Once you arrive, complete border procedures and transfer to your hotel. The evening is yours to explore Cairo.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast buffet)
Landmarks/POIs Cairo - Day 11
Cairo
Spend the full day seeing Cairo's major sites. Go to the Pyramids of Cheops, Kefren, and Micerinos along with the Sphinx carved from rock. Tour the Egyptian Museum to see ancient art and the treasure from Tutankhamen's tomb. Visit the Citadel of Saladin and the Alabaster Mosque. End with a walk through the Coptic neighborhood to see the Hanging Church built above a Roman fortress.
- Meals
- Lunch
Included Activities
- Visit Pyramids of Cheops, Kefren, and Micerinos
- Visit the Sphinx
- Visit Egyptian Museum and Tutankhamen's treasure
- Visit Citadel of Saladin
- Visit Alabaster Mosque
- Visit Hanging Church in Coptic neighborhood
Optional Activities
- Interior entrance to pyramids (not included)
Landmarks/POIs Pyramid of Cheops Pyramid of Kefren Pyramid of Micerinos Great Sphinx of Giza Egyptian Museum Citadel of Saladin Alabaster Mosque Hanging Church - Day 12
Cairo to Luxor
After breakfast, transfer from your Cairo hotel to the airport for an included flight to Luxor. Upon arrival, transfer to your cruise ship and get settled. You'll have full board accommodations, and this afternoon check out the temples of Luxor and Karnak.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast buffet), Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Luxor temples
- Visit Karnak temples
Landmarks/POIs Luxor Temple Karnak Temple - Day 13
Luxor to Esna
Visit the Necropolis of Thebes, starting with the Valley of the Kings to see pharaoh tombs like those of Ramses III, Seti I, and Amenhotep II. See the Colossi of Memnon statues and the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut (Deir el Bahari). Later, tour Medinet Habu temple. Spend time on the Nile riverbanks, relax on the boat, join activities, and enjoy evening disco music before heading to Esna for the night.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast buffet), Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Valley of the Kings
- Visit Colossi of Memnon
- Visit Temple of Queen Hatshepsut
- Visit Medinet Habu temple
Optional Activities
- Boat activities and evening disco
Landmarks/POIs Valley of the Kings Colossi of Memnon Temple of Queen Hatshepsut Medinet Habu Nile River - Day 14
Esna to Aswan
Arrive at Edfu to see the Temple of Horus, a well-preserved Ptolemaic-era temple that was partially buried by silt during Nile floods. Move to Kom Ombo and visit the Temple of Kom Ombo, which served two gods, Sobek and Haroesis, and features a Nilometer and mummified crocodile. In the evening, join the Chilaba party wearing local clothing (available for purchase at local markets). You'll cruise toward Aswan overnight.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast buffet), Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Temple of Horus at Edfu
- Visit Temple of Kom Ombo
- Chilaba party
Optional Activities
- Purchase Chilaba outfits at local markets
Landmarks/POIs Temple of Horus Temple of Kom Ombo - Day 15
Aswan
Reach Aswan where an optional tour to Abu Simbel is available (not in the base itinerary) with temples carved on cliffs by Ramses II featuring 20-meter high statues. Visit the Red Granite Quarry to see the 41-meter high Unfinished Obelisk. Tour the Aswan Dam, one of the world's largest, and see Lake Nasser. Visit the Temple of Philae dedicated to the goddess Isis on a small island, reached by boat. Later, take a felucca cruise on the Nile in traditional sailing boats to Kitchener island and its Botanical Garden.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast buffet), Lunch, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit Red Granite Quarry and Unfinished Obelisk
- Visit Aswan Dam
- Visit Temple of Philae
- Felucca cruise on the Nile to Kitchener island
Optional Activities
- Optional tour to Abu Simbel (approximately 280 kilometers from Aswan)
Landmarks/POIs Abu Simbel Temples Red Granite Quarry Unfinished Obelisk Aswan Dam Lake Nasser Temple of Philae Kitchener Island - Day 16
Aswan to Cairo
After breakfast, transfer to the airport to catch an included flight back to Cairo. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel. In the evening, go to the Giza Pyramids for a Light and Sound Show.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast buffet)
Included Activities
- Light and Sound Show at Giza Pyramids
Landmarks/POIs Giza Pyramids - Day 17
Departure
After breakfast, transfer to the airport where your tour services end.
- Meals
- Breakfast (Breakfast buffet)
