Caravan-Serai Tours

Deluxe, Private 15 Day
Egypt & Israel Tour

Sample itinerary. Call us for pricing and complete details.

Day 1: Upon your arrival at Cairo International Airport you will be met and assisted by our representative, then taken to your hotel for dinner and overnight. (D)

Day 2: Breakfast will be followed by a visit to the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities. The Museum houses the world's greatest collection of Ancient Egyptian artifacts, including 12 rooms filled with golden treasures from the world-famous tomb of the boy-king Tutankhamen. Lunch will be served at a traditional restaurant. After lunch you will continue with a visit to the most famous of the Egyptian sphinxes, the Great Sphinx of Giza, followed by the Great Pyramid of Khufu (Cheops). Completed around 2600 BC, this pyramid was 146m (478ft) high and consisted of over 2 million limestone blocks weighing over 2 tons each. Return to your hotel for overnight. (B/L)

Day 3: After breakfast our representative will take you to the airport for your flight to Abu Simbel. You will be transferred to the Abu Simbel site on the shores of Lake Nasser. The temple, which you don't see until you walk around a large mound towards the shore, is famous for the giant statues of Ramses at the entrance as well as for the fact it originally was located much further down the slope under the current waterline. When the High Dam was being constructed the temple was going to be in the flood zone once the dam was complete. The temple was removed and reconstructed further up the bank, where it is now. Once you see the actual temple you will be amazed at this feat. After your visit you will be transferred back to the airport for your flight to Aswan, where you will be met and transferred to your Nile Cruise. Check in the have lunch aboard a felucca as it cruises around the island. Enjoy afternoon tea aboard the cruise ship and relax until dinner. Dinner and overnight in Aswan. (B/L/D)

Day 4: Enjoy breakfast, then see some of the sites in Aswan. Your tour will include the Philae Temple, The High Dam, and unfinished Obelisk at the granite quarry famous for its pink granite that you will see in many places on your tour of Egypt. Enjoy lunch and then sail on to Kom Ombo where we will have a visit to the Temple of Kom Ombo, shared by the two Gods Sobek and Haroeris. Sobek is depicted as a crocodile and you will find his image everywhere, as well as other signs of worship to this god. Reboard and continue on to Edfu, where you will have afternoon tea and dinner. Overnight in Edfu. (B/L/D)

Day 5: This morning we will visit the Temple of Edfu, belonging to the god Horus. The large well preserved temple complex was built between 237 BCE to 57 BCE, into the reign of Cleopatra VII. Built from sandstone blocks, the huge Ptolemaic temple was constructed over the site of a smaller New Kingdom temple, oriented east to west, facing towards the river. Return to the ship to sail on to Esna for lunch and a visit of Esna Temple and afternoon tea. Sail on to Luxor for dinner and overnight. (B/L/D)

Day 6: After breakfast we will depart for the West Bank of the Nile to the Valley of the Kings, and Queen Hatshepsut's Temple and Colossi of Memnon. In the Valley of the Kings we will visit several tombs that have been preserved. See the differing types of construction of the burial chambers located in this cut in the mountains. At Queen Hatshepsut's Temple, you will see the reconstructed temple of this fascinating ruler of Egypt. Her story is full of political intrigue and rivalry, a power struggle, murder, and more! Return to the cruise ship for lunch and relaxation. Explore some of the shops along the riverfront before afternoon tea. On your own, you may wish to visit the Luxor Museum. Dinner and overnight in Luxor. (B/L/D)

Day 7: Enjoy breakfast before disembarkation. Visit the East Bank's Karnak and Luxor Temples. Karnak, the largest religious complex in the world, has been added to by many of Egypt's rulers, each one trying to leave his mark on the complex, and in some cases, trying to remove or conceal any sign of a predecessor. Walk through the towering colonnades and visit the sacred lake, and learn how Karnak was connected to the Temple of Luxor. Continue to the Temple of Luxor, a smaller, yet still very impressive temple complex. Afterwards, transfer to the Luxor Airport, assisted by one of our representatives, and fly to Cairo. Upon arrival in Cairo, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. The rest of the afternoon is free for relaxation or shopping. Overnight in Cairo. (B)

Day 8: After breakfast you will transfer to the Cairo International Airport for your flight to Tel Aviv. Upon arrival at Ben Gurion Airport, meet our representative or your guide and transfer to your hotel, rest of the day is free. Overnight in Tel-Aviv. (B)

Day 9: Depart Tel Aviv and drive along the coastal plain to Caesarea, capital of Judea under the Romans. Visit the excavations of the 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 Haifa, visit the Persian Gardens at the Bahai Temple. From Haifa, drive to Acre to visit the ancient city and harbor. Continue to Tiberias. Dinner and overnight in Tiberias. (B/D)

Day 10: After a short tour of Tiberias, we take a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. Afterwards drive to Capernaum and 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 Mount of the Beatitudes, the place where Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount. Drive to the Banias Spring and Waterfall and tour the Golan Heights. Return to Tiberias for dinner and overnight. (B/D)

Day 11: Drive to Nazareth via Cana of Galilee. In Nazareth, visit the Church of the Annunciation, St. Joseph's Workshop and Mary's Well. After drive to Beit Shean, a newly excavated city, and visit the Roman theatre. Late afternoon drive along the Jordan valley to Jerusalem. Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem. (B/D)

Day 12: Today we visit the Old City of Jerusalem. Your tour includes Mount of Olives, Church of All Nations, Tomb of David at Mt. Zion, Room of the Last Supper. Enter within the walls of the city and visit the Cardo, Temple Mount (entrance to the mosques not included), Western Wall, Via Dolorosa, The Church of the Holy Sepulcher, Oriental Bazaar. Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem. (B/D)

Day 13: Drive to Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls where found. Visit the ancient city of Qumran and then drive along the shore of the Dead Sea, the lowest place on earth, to Massada, the last stronghold of the Jews after the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 A.D. Ascend Mt. Massada by cable car and visit the food storeroom, water irrigation system and Herod's Palace. Return to Jerusalem for dinner and overnight. (B/D)

Day 14: In the morning drive to Bethlehem* and visit the Church of the Nativity. Afterwards visit the Model of Jerusalem during the period of the Second Temple, The Shrine of the Book at the Israel Museum, which houses the Dead Sea Scrolls, then visit the Yad Vashem Memorial to the Holocaust. Afterwards go to the picturesque neighborhood of Ein Karem , site of the Church of Visitation. Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem. (B/D)

Day 15: After breakfast transfer to Ben Gurion airport for your flight. (B)

Please note: Prices, domestic flights, cruise schedules subject to change without notice due to circumstances beyond our control.

Price includes:
Accommodations in suggested hotels, based on double occupancy
All transfers, sightseeing tours and meals as per the attached itinerary
Greeting & assistance upon arrival at airports
6 full days tour in Israel in deluxe air conditioned private car
Services of English speaking licensed driver/guide
Driver/guide overnights where applicable
All entrance fees to sites listed on itinerary

Not included:
International air tickets
Domestic air ticket (Cairo/Aswan/Abu Simbel & Luxor/Cairo)
Entrance to Abu Simbel Temple - to be paid at entrance gate
Extra meals, drinks, snacks
Tips for guides and drivers - we recommend about $5 for drivers and $10 for guides, per person, per day
Items of personal nature such as mini bar, laundry, phone/fax use, room service
Fuel surcharges, if any

Suggested Hotels:

Cairo: Ramses Hilton Hotel (city view)
Nile Cruise: Movenpick Nile Cruises
Tel-Aviv: Prima Hotel (sea view rooms)
Tiberias: Holiday Inn (deluxe rooms)
Jerusalem: Prima Kings Hotel

Upgrade to 5 Star Hotels in Israel: $call Supplement (Dan Panorama in Jerusalem, Sheraton Moriah in Tiberias, and Dan Panorama in Tel Aviv)

*Excursion to Bethlehem will be contingent on security situation at the time of scheduled tour