Caravan-Serai Tours

Egypt, Israel & Jordan Tour

15 days / 14 nights Including:
4 days / 3 nights Nile Cruise
3 days/2 nights Jerusalem
4 days / 3 nights in Amman

Day 01 / Saturday
Arrival. Welcome to Egypt, Land of Pharaohs! Upon your arrival at Cairo International Airport, you will be met and assisted and transferred to your hotel. Check in, and overnight in Cairo.

Day 02 / Sunday
After breakfast depart for a full day of sightseeing on a guided tour starting with a visit to the open air museum in the necropolis of Memphis. Here you will find many examples of ancient Egyptian funerary art including sarcophagi, stele, statues, altars and sacrifice tables. This will be followed by a visit to the Step Pyramids of Sakkara, the architectural precursor to the great pyramids at Giza. Lunch will be served at a typical restaurant and afterwards you will visit one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World: the Pyramids, the Sphinx and Solar Boat at the Giza Plateau. You will be able to take a camel ride at the Pyramids and see these spectacular monuments from the perspective of a traveler arriving from the desert. Return to your hotel for overnight. (B/L)

Day 03 / Monday
Have breakfast at the hotel then transfer to visit Coptic Cairo where you will visit the Hanging Church that was built in the 4th century over the southern gate of the Fortress of Babylon, the Jewish Synagogue, which is the oldest synagogue still in use in Egypt, followed by a visit to the Citadel of Salah El Din and the Alabaster Mosque of Prince Mohamed Ali. Lunch will be served at a typical restaurant and afterwards you will visit Egyptian National Museum of Antiquities where you will see the fabulous treasures of the tomb of Tutankhamen. Return to your hotel for overnight in Cairo. (B/L)

Day 04 / Tuesday
You will have a very early breakfast then check out and transfer to the Cairo Domestic Airport for your flight to Abu Simbel via Aswan. Upon arrival in Abu Simbel you will transfer by the Egypt Air shuttle bus to the temple of Ramses II. This entire temple was once located below the level of Lake Nasr. In an effort to save as many archeological treasures as possible from the rising waters of the newly formed Lake Nasr in the 1970s (the construction of the Aswan High Dam was completed then) the original temple was dismantled block by block, moved to its present location, and carefully reassembled. After your visit to the temple you will transfer back to Abu Simbel Airport for your flight to Aswan. Once in Aswan transfer to your hotel to check in. In the afternoon visit the Nubian Museum and Nubian Village where you will be able to learn more about the Nubian civilization and history as well as of the efforts to save the many temples and other structures from the flood of Lake Nasr. Return to your hotel for dinner and overnight in Aswan. (B/D)

Day 05 / Wednesday
Check out after breakfast and transfer to the Nile Cruise Ship. Get settled in your cabin then depart for a tour of Aswan, including the High Dam, the Temple of Philae and the Unfinished Obelisk. The High Dam took over water control and electricity production from the smaller original Aswan dam and is responsible for the formation of Lake Nasser, the reservoir behind the dam. You will learn about the history of the construction of the dam and its effect on the country of Egypt. After visiting the dam you will go to the famous granite quarries where you will see the pink granite used in much of the temple and statue construction in Ancient Egypt. Afterwards, go above the High Dam and board a boat to take you to the Temple of Philae. The temple at Philae was constructed over a three-century period, by the Greek Ptolemaic dynasty and the Romans. The principal deity of the temple complex was Isis, but other temples and shrines were dedicated to her son Horus and the goddess Hathor. Return to the ship and sail to Kom Ombo. After lunch on board the cruise ship visit 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. Sail to Edfu, and enjoy dinner on board. The ship will dock in Edfu for overnight. (B/L/D)

Day 06 / Thursday
Enjoy breakfast on board then depart the ship and travel by horse drawn carriage to visit the Temple of Horus in Edfu. 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 and sail to Esna, cross through the Esna lock and continue sailing to Luxor. Dinner and overnight on board. (B/L/D)

Day 07 / Friday
This morning after breakfast visit the West Bank - The Valley of the Kings, the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut at El-Deir El-Bahari and the Colossi Memnon. In the Valley of the Kings you 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! Stop and see the giant statues called the Colossi of Memnon and learn how they got their name. Return to the ship for lunch on board and to relax a bit with afternoon tea. Later in the afternoon visit East Bank including the Karnak and Luxor Temples. The Temple of Karnak is the largest religious complex in the world. You will see the many efforts of successive rulers to put their individual mark on the temple, and efforts to remove the presence of others. After exploring this magnificent site, go to the smaller but just is beautiful Temple of Luxor with its elegant colonnaded hall and sculpture of King Tut and his wife. Enjoy dinner on board the cruise ship and overnight in Luxor. (B/L/D)

Day 08 / Saturday
Disembarkation after breakfast and transfer to the Luxor Airport for your flight to Sharm El Sheikh. (Either morning or afternoon flight according to availability) Arrive in Sharm El Sheikh and transfer to your hotel to check in. The rest of the day is free at your leisure. Overnight in Sharm El Sheikh. (B)

Day 09 / Sunday
Today is a free at your leisure for relaxing on the beach. At sunset transfer to the desert to attend a traditional Bedouin dinner in the desert. Return to your hotel for overnight in Sharm El Sheikh. (B/D)

Day 10 / Monday
After breakfast, check out and transfer to the Taba border crossing to Israel, where you will be met and assisted by your Israeli guide as you cross into Israel. Drive via Eilat and the Negev Desert to the Dead Sea, the lowest point on land in the world. Drive to Massada, the last stronghold of the Zealots in their war against the Romans and ascend by cable car to visit King Herod's winter Palace, the Bathhouse and storage halls. Descent the mountain by cable car then take a short swim in the Dead Sea before continuing to Jerusalem for overnight. (B)

Day 11 / Tuesday
In the morning after breakfast drive to the slopes of the Mount of Olives, and enjoy a panoramic view over the Old and New city of Jerusalem. Next drive to the Dung Gate and enter the walled city of Jerusalem. View the Temple Mount and the Wailing Wall, the most holy of sights for Judaism. Afterwards walk along the Via Dolorosa and the Stations of the Cross, following in the footsteps of Christ. The last visit will be to the Cardo - the colonnaded street and the Bazaar. Leave the Old City and continue to Yad Vashem, the Holocaust memorial for the six million Jews who perished during World War II. Afterwards drive via the Knesset - the Israeli Parliament - to the Israel Museum and visit the Shrine of the Book which houses the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Model of Jerusalem during the 2nd Temple period. Return to your hotel for overnight. (B)

Day 12 / Wednesday
After breakfast drive to Bethlehem in the West Bank to visit the Church of Nativity. Afterwards drive to the Allenby Bridge border crossing and cross to Jordan. You will be met and assisted upon arrival at the Allenby Bridge (visa required before arrival), then transfer to visit Jerash, to the north of Amman. Jerash is a very well preserved site where you will see the Elliptical Forum, the Amphitheater, Temple of Artemis, a nympheaum, and more. The amphitheater is still used today to host musical events. Head back to Amman for a short city tour, then have dinner and overnight at the Regency Palace Hotel. (B/D)

Day 13 / Thursday
Have an early breakfast then transfer to Petra via the Desert Highway. Once in Petra, spend the rest of the day exploring Petra, the "Rose Red City." This incredible hidden city, inhabited by the ancient Nabateans, lay concealed from 100 AD until it was re-discovered in the early 1800's. Take a horse ride to the "Siq" (Canyon) entrance then walk the rest of the way through the narrow, winding cut in rocks into the valley. Your first glimpse of the magnificence of the place will be of the Treasury as you round the last bend on the pathway. The Treasury and the other buildings have been carved out of the canyon walls in the pink sandstone. Continue past the Roman Theatre, the Corinthian Tomb and the Palace Tomb. Dinner and overnight at the Crowne Plaza Hotel. (B/D)

Day 14 / Friday
After early breakfast depart Petra for Madaba and visit Kerak, Madaba, and Mt. Nebo on the way. Your first stop will be at Kerak where you will visit the crusader fortress in the ancient land of Moab. The history during the Crusades of this fortress is filled with intrigue, treachery, and murder. But the history of this area goes back to the Iron Age and the ancient Nabateans. Continue to Madaba known for its mosaic crafts. Visit the Church of St. George to see the mosaic map of the Holy Land then go to Mt. Nebo where you will have a panoramic view of the Jordan Valley and the Dead Sea, just as Moses did. Moses was not allowed to enter the Promised Land across the Jordan River, and the site has a monument to Moses as well as a more recent monument to commemorate Pope John Paul II visit in 2000. Most recently Pope Benedict XVI visited on his visit to Jordan earlier this year. You will also be able to see the restored ruins of a Byzantine church with some impressive mosaics in the floor. Return to Madaba for dinner and overnight. (B/D)

Day 15 / Saturday
Depart to the airport for you flight home.

Prices:
2-3 people: $4182
4-5 people: $3720
Prices are per person, based on double occupancy, land only

If you have 6 or more people in your group, please call for additional pricing.

Included in Egypt