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Day by Day
ITINERARY
DAY 1
THURSDAY
New York, Istanbul, Cairo
Depart USA arriving in Cairo the next day. Meals served on board.
DAY 2
FRIDAY
Istanbul, Cairo
Upon arrival we are met by our escort and board our bus for a transfer to our hotel for dinner and overnight.
DAY 3
SATURDAY Pyramids, Egyptian Musem After breakfast, we begin our tour by visiting the Pyramids of Giza. Cheops Pyramid, the largest of the three which was built in the 3rd dynasty about 2690 B.C. and is one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. In front of the Pyramids of Chephren, We find the Sphinx carved from a single piece of stone, it incorporates a lion with a Pharaoh’s head, thought to be a portrait of the Pharaoh Chephren son of Cheops. You take a camel ride by the Pyramids area and visit the Papyrus Institute. In the afternoon, drive to the Egyptian Museum famous for its antiquities from Egypt’s Pharaonic period, which dates back some 50 centuries and includes the fabulous treasures of king Tut –Ankh-Amon (Tutankhamen), followed by a visit to the medieval bazaars of Khan-El-Khalili. Return to our hotel for dinner and overnight.
DAY 4
SUNDAY Cairo, Suez Canal, St. Catherines Starting early from Cairo, we board our bus and drive towards Sinai crossing over the Suez Canal we drive through Sinai Peninsula enjoying the desert landscape, retelling the story of the Exodus and the delivery of the Israelites from the Pharaoh of Egypt. From here we head straight to the towering red granite mountains of the high range where both St. Catherine’s monastery and Mt. Sinai are found. Check into our hotel for our evening meal and overnight.
DAY 5
MONDAY St. Catherine's, Tabah, Petra For those who are physically capable and would like to climb, in the early morning hours we begin our ascent up Mount Sinai, walking in the footsteps of Moses and the devout pilgrims who have trodden this same route throughout earlier centuries until today. We should reach the summit just before dawn in time to witness its incredible sunrise and splendid views. At the summit is the traditional peak relating to the story of Moses’ encounter with God receiving the two tablets with the Ten Commandments knows as the basis of the Mosaic Laws. Descending the mountain we return to the hotel to rejoin the rest of the group for breakfast. We spend the later part of the morning touring St. Catherine Monastery, taking in its fascinating and unique sights and exceptional history traditional Burning Bush and the Chamber of the Skulls. After lunch we board our bus and head towards the eastern shores of the Sinai Peninsula on the Red Sea to Tabah where we cross into Israel at the southern tip of the country and make our way to the Jordan border. After crossing into Jordan we will meet our Jordanian guide and drive north for approximately 2 hours to the Nabtean city of Petra. Check into our hotel for dinner and overnight.
DAY 6
TUESDAY Petra Today we will spend time in one of the Seven Wonders of the World. Start the tour of Petra; you are in the heart of the rose red Seir mountains as mentioned in the Biblical Book of Genesis. This mountain range houses the Aaron Peak, which is the highest locality in Petra and the burial place of Aaron, brother of Moses. We take a walk through the narrow “Siq” passage, the main entrance to Petra, which first brings us to the Treasury, which was featured in the Indiana Jones’ movie. A walk further down through the outer ‘Siq’, which is encompassed by tombs and burial chambers, brings you to one of the largest theaters in Jordan. This theater is carved into the sandstone mountains of Petra at the bottom of the High Place of Sacrifice Mountain. Apparently, some sacrificial rituals used to take place here. Now, it is time to walk up hill to the Royal Tombs; The Urn, Corinthian, Silk, and Palace Tombs. You will have a great view of the lower part of Petra with all its Roman remains. We retrace our steps to the entrance and return to our hotel in Petra for dinner and overnight.
DAY 7
WEDNESDAY Madaba, Mt. Nebo, Bethany, Amman This morning we board our bus and drive along the Exodus route north along the famed historical King’s Highway. Arriving at Madab we will see St George’s Church with its 6th century mosaic floor showing a map of the Holy Land as Christian pilgrims knew it in that period. Continue to Mt. Nebo, from where God showed Moses the Promised Land. This afternoon we take a short drive to the recently discovered baptismal site of “Bethany beyond the Jordan” For us Christians, the most significant event associated with the River Jordan is undoubtedly the baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ by John the Baptist. It is strongly suggested that this took place very close to Beit Abara, where Joshua, Elijah and Elisha crossed the river. In the New Testament times, it became known as Bethany, the village of John the Baptist. (This Bethany is not to be confused with the village of Bethany near Jerusalem, where the Bible says Lazarus was raised from the dead) “ The Bible clearly records that Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist (Matthew 3: 13- 17), and that John the Baptist lived, preached and baptized in the village of Bethany, on “the other side of the Jordan” (John 1: 28). The baptism site, known in Arabic as al-Maghtas, is located at the head of a lush valley just east of the Jordan River. It is now protected and since 1999 it is accessible to visitors. After Jesus’ baptism at Bethany, he spent forty days in the wilderness west of the River Jordan, where he fasted and resisted the temptations of Satan (Mark 1: 13, Matthew 4: 1-11).” Continue to Amman where we are taken to our hotel for dinner and overnight.
DAY 8
THURSDAY
Amman, New York
This morning we go to the airport for our flight home.
Day by Day
PRE-TOUR: LUXOR 231112 (RETURN TO TRAVELING SPECIAL) $1,099
DAY 1
TUESDAY
Depart USA arriving in Luxor the next day. Meals served on board.
DAY 2
WEDNESDAY
This afternoon we arrive in Istanbul where we board our late night flight to Egypt. Upon arrival in Luxor we will be met and taken to our hotel for overnight.
DAY 3
THURSDAY This morning will be free to sleep in or to explore the area on your own. Breakfast is available at the hotel. We begin our late morning tour at the Luxor Temple on the bank of the Nile as well as the complex of temples at Karnak -- including Amun Temple, the largest columnar structure ever raised. Continue our exploration amid massive columns and inscrutable statues at Luxor’s fertility shrine of the sun god. Then horsedrawn caleches continue to the Avenue of the Sphinxes and Karnak’s colossal wonders. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight.
DAY 4
FRIDAY Nyon, Lake Geneva, Luxor, West Bank, Cairo After breakfast, a ferry boat takes us across the river to the West Bank of the Nile, to visit the fabled Colossi of Memnon. We then continue to the mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut, Egypt’s only female pharaoh, and the Valley of the Kings, where we step from a dramatic landscape of sun, sand and rugged mountain peaks into the dark silence of some of the sixty-four tombs discovered here to date. Return to the airport where we board our flight to Cairo. Upon arrival we will transfer to our hotel for dinner and overnight.
Day by Day
PRE-TOUR: NILE CRUISE
DAY 1
SATURDAY
New York, Istanbul
We depart the USA arriving in Istanbul the next day. Meals served on board.
DAY 2
SUNDAY
Istanbul, Cairo
This afternoon we arrive in Istanbul and board our flight to Cairo. Upon arrival we are met and taken to our hotel for dinner and overnight.
DAY 3
MONDAY Luxor, Karnak, Nile Cruise This morning after breakfast we return to the airport and board our flight to Luxor. Upon arrival we are met and taken to check in to our cruise ship. This afternoon we visit the Luxor Temple on the bank of the Nile as well as the complex of temples at Karnak, including Amun Temple, the largest columnar structure ever raised. We continue our exploration amid massive columns and inscrutable statues at Luxor's fertility shrine of the sun god. Then horse-drawn caleches continue to the Avenue of the Sphinxes and Karnak's colossal wonders. Dine aboard as we sail across the sunset.
DAY 4
TUESDAY Luxor, Esna, Edfu After breakfast, a ferry boat takes us across the river to the West Bank of the Nile to visit the fabled Colossi of Memnon. We then continue to the mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut (Egypt’s only female pharaoh) and the Valley of the Kings, where we step from a dramatic landscape of sun, sand and rugged mountain peaks, into the dark silence of some of the sixty-four tombs discovered here to date. Return to our cruise ship for lunch. Threading through the Esna Locks, we arrive at Esna an hour later. We go ashore to visit the ornately hewn Temple of Khnum with its gracious, colonnaded vestibule. Return to the ship where we enjoy dinner as we sail to Edfu.
DAY 5
WEDNESDAY
Edfu, Kom Ombo
This morning we explore the birth house at the Temple of Horus and other engaging sights. This afternoon we cruise the Nile, enjoying the splendid poolside facilities of our luxurious barge en route to Kom Ombo. In Kom Ombo, we see it’s unique and spectacular temple, dedicated to two gods: Horus the sun god, and Sobek the crocodile god. Tonight, we enjoy dinner aboard, followed by a lively Galabeya Party with a display of oriental dancing.
DAY 6
THURSDAY
Kom Ombo, Aswan
This morning we sail to Aswan where we see the Aswan High Dam. We then head for the quarries of ancient Thebes and a chance to walk on the Unfinished Obelisk. After a relaxing lunch on board, we take a sailboat cruise to Elephantine Island and the Aga Khan’s mausoleum. Here the tombs reveal the colossal space concepts of the early Memphis architects. Dinner on board the ship.
DAY 7
FRIDAY
Aswan, Cairo
This morning we will be at leisure before we leave our cruise ship and be taken to the airport for our flight to Cairo. This afternoon we will board our flight to Cairo. Continue to our hotel for dinner and overnight.
Day by Day
PRE-TOUR: LUXOR
DAY 1
TUESDAY
New York, Istanbul
We depart the USA arriving in Istanbul the next day. Meals served on board.
DAY 2
WEDNESDAY
Istanbul, Cairo
This afternoon we arrive in Istanbul and board our flight to Cairo. Upon arrival we are met and taken to our hotel for dinner and overnight.
DAY 3
THURSDAY Luxor, East Bank This morning after breakfast we return to the airport and board our flight to Luxor. Upon arrival we are met and begin our tour with a visit to the Luxor Temple on the bank of the Nile as well as the complex of temples at Karnak, including Amun Temple, the largest columnar structure ever raised. We continue our exploration amid massive columns and inscrutable statues at Luxor's fertility shrine of the sun god. Then horse-drawn caleches continue to the Avenue of the Sphinxes and Karnak's colossal wonders. We then check into our hotel for dinner and overnight.
DAY 4
FRIDAY
Luxor, West Bank, Cairo
After breakfast, a ferry boat takes us across the river to the West Bank of the Nile, to visit the fabled Colossi of Memnon. We then continue to the mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut, Egypt’s only female pharaoh, and the Valley of the Kings, where we step from a dramatic landscape of sun, sand and rugged mountain peaks into the dark silence of some of the sixty-four tombs discovered here to date. Return to the airport where we board our flight to Cairo. Upon arrival we will transfer to our hotel for dinner and overnight.
*The trip will take place in case of a group of 16 people
* * The route, as well as the order of visiting places, may be changed due to quarantine restrictions, as well as for safety reasons or due to the weather, road repair work etc.