We would like to invite you to join our unique, fully escorted tour to Egypt, Jordan and Israel. While following the route of the biblical exodus this unforgettable tour will allow you to see, touch and explore all the major biblical and historical sites in one 14 days tour. Join Us and Start your Journey...
Tour Itinerary:
Day 1, Monday: Departure from the U.S to Cairo.
Day 2, Tuesday: "Ahlan Wa Sahlan" - Welcome to Egypt
Arrival Cairo international Airport to be met and assisted by our representative. Transfer to your Cairo hotel for check-in and dinner. Overnight: Cairo.
Day 3, Wednesday: Memphis and Sakkara / Pyramids / Sphinx.
After breakfast we start our first day touring with a visit to Memphis, where remnants of the nation's first capital and once the most cosmopolitan city in Egypt now lie scattered in the desert. We’ll also see the carved limestone Colossus of Ramses II. Nearby, we visit the necropolis at Saqqara, where King Zoser's Step Pyramid was "built to last till the ends of time".
Then visit the Pyramids of Giza. Nothing evokes the long and intriguing history of Egypt as powerfully as the pyramids. Visit the colossal statue of the Great Sphinx, which has stood guard over the pyramids for more than 4,500 years. Carved from an outcrop of rock, the Sphinx remains the ultimate symbol of Ancient Egypt with its lion’s body and human head. Return to the hotel for dinner. Overnight: Cairo.
* Optional evening activity: Pyramids Sound and Light show.
Day 4, Thursday: Old Cairo /Egyptian Museum / Citadel / Bazaar. After breakfast meet at the hotel’s lobby to join our Egyptologist guide for a special tour at the Museum of Antiquities in Cairo. The museum houses the greatest collection of pharaonic treasures in the world. We continue the visit with cultural landmarks that span three millennium of Egyptian history.
We begin with the Citadel commanding a complete view of the city. Completed in 1183, the Citadel was surrounded by sturdy walls and towers to withstand attacks from Christian crusaders. We move on to explore the lanes of Old Cairo and to visit Ben Ezra Synagogue dating from the 9th century. Ben Ezra is the oldest Jewish place of worship in Egypt.
We will also visit the 4th century Hanging Church built on the basin of the ancient Roman wall and "suspended" above the level of the Nile.Then stroll with your guide through the Khan El Khalili, a bustling warren of shops where you can bargain for rugs, copper and leather crafts, perfumes, and other goods both exotic and familiar. Return to the hotel for dinner. Overnight: Cairo.
* Optional evening activity: Nile dinner cruise with show.
Day 5, Friday: Cairo to Mount Sinai. After Breakfast depart Cairo and drive through the Sinai Peninsula to Mount Sinai area (233 Miles)about 6 hours drive. Rest of the day is free for rest. Dinner at the hotel. Overnight: St. Catrine village.
* Optional midnight climbing a top Mount Sinai (Camel ride). Just into the new day, those who desire and are physically capable will depart for a memorable early morning walk up to Mt Moses. You may choose to ride a camel part way, stop at one of the stations to take in the scenery along the climb to the summit (750 steps) for a sunrise to remember. Once at the top, enjoy a time of praise and then depart down the mountain for breakfast. Please do not forget to bring warm clothing for the climb.
Day 6, Saturday: Mount Sinai / St. Catrine Monastery / Eilat. After breakfast we will visit St. Catrina monastery - the oldest working Christian monastery. St. Catherine's Monastery which was constructed by the Roman Emperor Justinian (527 and 565 AD) is located at the foot of Mt. Sinai. It was built around what was thought to be Moses' Burning Bush.
The Greek Orthodox Church building is the oldest continuously used church building in the world. After Breakfast transfer to Taba Border and cross to Israel. Meet at the border with our representative and transfer to your hotel in Eilat. Rest of the day is free to enjoy Eilat-Israel’s southern most town and a desert resort on the shores of the Red Sea. Dinner at the hotel. Overnight: Eilat.
Day 7, Sunday: Full Day Petra Tour from Eilat. After breakfast take a full day tour to the city of Petra Transfer from your Eilat hotel to the Arava border point with Jordan, cross into Jordan and drive to Petra. Visit the wonders of of this ancient city carved by the Nabataeans out of solid rock. A visit to Petra is one of the true highlights of any tour to the Middle East. For hundreds of years, Petra was forgotten until it was rediscovered in 1812.
The entire city is carved into the sides of a deep gorge, which is entered on foot or by horse- drawn carriages. Visit the most famous monuments, carved in the red Sandstone and then eat lunch nearby. After a short city-tour in Aqaba we reach the Arava Borderand return to Eilat. Fly to Tel Aviv to meet with our representative and transfer to your hotel. Dinner at the hotel. Overnight: Tel Aviv.
Day 8, Monday:Caesarea / Megiddo / Haifa / Acre. Following a delicious Israeli buffet breakfast (which you will enjoy each morning prior to departing for your day of touring), depart Tel Aviv. Drive north along the coastal plain to Caesarea (Acts 9.30 Acts 10 24-48), capital of Judea under the Romans. Visit the excavations of this ancient city, the Roman theatre and aqueduct.
Continue to Megiddo, identified as the site of Armageddon. Visit the archaeological excavations at Megiddo,including the well-preserved water supply system. Drive to the beautiful port city of Haifa, nestled on the Mediterranean Sea. Visit the world famous Persian Gardens at the Bahai Temple. From Haifa, drive to Acre, capital of the Crusaders for more than a century.
Visit the ancient city and the harbor before continuing eastwards across the plains of the lower Galilee for our lodging in Kibbutz Lavi - not far from the Sea of Galilee. After dinner we will have an evening lecture by one of the kibbutz members to learn about the unique way of life in this Jewish community. Overnight: Kibbutz Lavi - Galilee.
Day 9, Tuesday: Tiberias / Capernaum / Banias. After breakfast we will take a short walking tour in the kibbutz. Then, drive to Tiberius, the capital of the Galilee, we take a boat ride across the Sea of Galilee to Capernaum . Visit the remains of the 2nd century synagogue. Proceed to Tabgha , the site of the miracle of fish and loaves, and visit the Church of Multiplication with its 4th century mosaic floor.
Continue to the Mount of the Beatitudes , where Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount. Drive to the Banias Spring and Waterfall, where Jesus was recognized as The Messiah by His Disciples. Tour the Golan Heights, with it’s valleys, grazing land and snow capped mountains. Return to Kibbutz Lavi for dinner. Overnight: Kibbutz Lavi - Galilee.
Day 10, Wednesday: Nazareth / Beit Shean /Jerusalem. Begin the day with a drive to Nazareth via Cana of Galilee. In Nazareth, we will visit the Church of the Annunciation, St. Joseph’s Workshop and Mary’s well. We continue to Yardenit - the Baptism site on the Jordan River. Drive to Beit Shean, one of the ancient Decapolis cities, and visit the Roman theatre. This is the city where Saul and his son Jonathan were nailed to the walls (1st Samuel 31.10). Judges 1.27 also mentions Beit Shean. Continue south along the River of Jordan and passing Jericho, we proceed westward and climb to theGolden City of Jerusalem. Check in and Dinner. Overnight: Jerusalem.
Day 11, Thursday: Old City Jerusalem. Today we visit the Old City of Jerusalem. Our appreciation of this Golden City begins with a panoramic view from the Mount of Olives, overlooking the walls of the old city and the ancient Jewish cemetery. Enter the Old City to begin exploring the wonders of Jerusalem. Visit the Church of All Nations. Proceed to Mount Zion to see the tomb of King David and the nearby Room of the Last Supper.
Walk through the Cardo, the main street of Jerusalem 2000 years ago. View the Temple Mount and the Western Wall. Walk along the Via Dolorosa, where Jesus carried His Cross. Continue to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. No visit to Jerusalem is complete without a walk through the colourful Arab bazaar (a chance to test your negotiating skills). We will end the day by visiting the Garden Tomb. Return to the hotel for dinner. Overnight: Jerusalem.
Day 12, Friday: New City Jerusalem / Bethlehem. Today’s program is dedicated to the new city of Jerusalem. Visit the model of ancient Jerusalem at the Holyland Hotel. Continue to Yad Vashem, Israel’s memorial to the victims of the Holocaust. Enter the site by walking along the Street of the Righteous Gentiles, dedicated to the non-Jews that risked their lives in order to save their Jewish neighbors. On to Ein Karem, the birthplace of John the Baptists.This Spanish style church and Mary’s well is where Mother Mary met her cousin Elizabeth. Proceed to * Bethlehem to visit the Church of the Nativity. Return to the hotel for dinner. Overnight: Jerusalem.
Day 13, Saturday: Dead Sea / Massada. Following breakfast, we will leave the city of Jerusalem and travel to the lowest place on earth - the Dead Sea. Our first stop will be Qumran, the site of the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls and an ancient Essene community. We will continue past the shores of the Dead Sea and arrive at Masada, the spectacular mountaintop fortress built by Herod, famous for being the last stronghold of the Jewish rebellion against the Romans after the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 A.C. Ascend Massada by cable car and visit the food storeroom, water irrigation system and Herod’s Palace. From the top of Masada the Roman camps and siege ramps can be seen as well. Return to Jerusalem for dinner. Overnight: Jerusalem.
Day 14, Sunday: Departure from Israel / Arrival in the U.S. Early transfer to Ben Gurion International Airport for your flight back home. Arrive this evening back in the U.S and start planning your next trip to the Holy Land.
Note: Tour cost is guaranteed during March 01, 2008 – Feb, 28, 2009.
Notes:
Airfare is not included in the tour price.
Price Includes:
- 3 Nights Cairo Hotel accommodation
- 1 night Sinai / St. Catrina
- 1 night accommodation in Eilat
Price Excludes:
- Camel ride - $25per person(The 5th day)
- 1 night Tel Aviv, 2 nights Galilee, 4 nights Jerusalem
- Buffet breakfasts and dinners daily;
- Meet and assist at Cairo airport and all borders;
- All escorted transfers
- 11 full days of private touring with top professional government licensed English speaking tour guide;
- 11 full days private transportation in deluxe A/C vehicle
- One way domestic flight Eilat Tel Aviv
- All entrance fees as per itinerary
- Service charges and local taxes
Also see tour packages in:
Africa
Egypt
Jordan
Israel
Archeology/History
Biblical Tours
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