Itinerary

Day 1:  Arrival in Tel Aviv

A driver will be waiting at the Ben Gurion airport, to take you to your hotel in Tel Aviv.  Get a good night's rest, for you have a full day tomorrow.

Day 2:  Nazareth and the Sea of Galilee

After an early breakfast, at 06:40 am driver will pick you up.  Start traveling to Nazareth, and on the way stop at the Mount of Precipitation.  Continue on to the Church of Annunciation and the Church of St. Joseph beside it.  Drive to the Sea of Galilee to tour Capernaum and the Benedictine Church.  At the Sea of Galilee, for those who wish, there will be a chance to be baptized, for a fee (not included).  On the drive back, pass Mount Tabor.  Overnight in Jerusalem.

Day 3:  Caesarea, Acre, and Haifa

A driver will pick you up from the hotel at 06:40.  Drive to Caesarea, and tour the Roman Theater, and next to it the Hippodrome.  Continue on to Haifa, and see the Baha'i shrine and gardens.  Drive on to Rosh Hanikra, to ride a cable car down to the grottos.  In Acre, tour the Turkish prison, and the largest Crusader city in Israel.  Overnight in Jerusalem.

Day 4:  Masada and the Dead Sea

Don't forget to take your bathing suit and a towel with you.  At 07:40 a driver will take you to Masada.  Ride a cable car to the top, while the guide is explaining the views around you.  There is a whole city to tour, including a very well-preserved bath house, the remains of 2 palaces that were built by Herod for himself, Roman barracks, and an ancient synagogue.  We will stop for lunch, and continue on to the Dead Sea for a refreshing swim or float. Overnight in Jerusalem.

Day 5:  Jericho and Bethlehem

At 07:40 a driver will take you to Jericho.  View the Mount of Temptation, and tour the excavations.  Drive on to Bethlehem and walk across Manger Square to arrive at the Church of Nativity.  View the star which commemorates the birthplace of Jesus.  Tour the altar that is dedicated to the three Wise Men, and the manger.  There is a short walk to the Crusader Church and down to the grotto.  When leaving pass the Milk Grotto and Shepherd's Fields.  Overnight in Jerusalem.

Day 6:  Footsteps of Jesus

At 07:40 a driver will be waiting to take you to the Mount of Olives and tour the Church of the Ascension.  Walk on the Crusader cloister, the Pater Noster.  As we are walking down from the Mount of Olives stop at Dominus Flevit, and continue to the Garden of Gethsemane to tour the Church of All Nations.  Enter the Old City through the Lions' Gate, and stop at the Church of St. Anne and the pools of Bethesda.  We will tour the Sisters of Zion convent, and walk in the courtyard of the Praetorian.  Overnight in Jerusalem. Please note, that entrance fees not included on this day. (44 NIS per person)

Day 7:  Jerusalem Old and New City

A driver will collect you at 07:40. Start with an overview of the Mount of Olives, the Church of All Nations, and the Garden of Gethsemane.  Enter the Zion Gate, and walk through the Armenian Quarter to the Byzantine Cardo.  Continue on to the Jewish Quarter arriving at the Western Wall.  Join the pilgrims that are walking along the Via Dolorosa, following the Stations of the Cross, and finally arriving at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.  Walk through the markets of the Old City and we will continue on to the Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum, which commemorates the destruction of the six million Jews and the righteous people who helped them. After the tour bus driver will drop you off at a hotel in Jerusalem. 18:00 transfer from the hotel to the Dead Sea for overnight. 

Day 8:  Dead Sea 

Free day and overnight at the Dead Sea.

Day 9:  Petra

At 06:00 a driver will pick you up from your hotel and take you to the Arava border ( transfer from Dead Sea to Eilat city approx 2.3 hours).  You will be assisted with the border proceedings, and a driver will be waiting on the Jordanian side to take you to Petra.  Arrive at the visitors center to meet the guide and start the tour.  There is an option for a horseback ride for 800 meters.  Start by walking through the Siq and arrive at the famous Treasury (the largest of the facades, which is carved from sandstone). Take a walk to tour the Roman Theater, the temples, caves, and more.  Stop for lunch, and after the driver will take you to your hotel in Petra.  Overnight in Petra.

Day 10:  Petra

Sleep late, or wake up to go and explore more of Petra on your own.  There is also a chance to see Little Petra and the markets.  In the evening there is entrance to Petra by night ($15 not included).  Overnight Petra.

Day 11:  Wadi Rum transfer to Mt. Sinai

At about 09:00 a driver will take you to Wadi Rum for a desert tour in a 4x4.  See how the Bedouins have lived in the desert for hundreds of years, and how they live in their camel-haired tents.  View the beauty of the desert and the sandstone formations that arise out of the sand.

After the tour, you will be taken back to the Arava border and to Eilat.  The driver will hold your luggage while you explore Eilat.  With the many shopping malls, beach, and restaurants, there is plenty to do until your driver comes to take you to the Taba border at 21:00.  When arriving at the border you will be assisted with the border proceedings, and an Egyptian driver will be waiting to take you to  Mount Sinai.  On arrival, you will start climbing the mountain with your guide. Overnight climbing the mountain.

 Day 12:  Mt. Sinai and St. Catherine

As you are arriving at the top, view the beautiful sunrise, nothing like you have ever seen before.  As you are walking down, stop at Saint Catherine's Monastery.  Tour the ancient library and the church, that was built in the 6th Century.  Continue on to tour the Burning Bush and Jethro's Well.  Overnight in Cairo.

Day 13:  Cairo

A driver will pick you up from your hotel at about 08:00, and drive to the Giza Plateau.  Tour the pyramids of Chphren, Mycrenos, Cheops, and the Sphinx.  You will have a chance at a short camel ride.  Continue on to the Sakkara Valley, and tour the Step Pyramid of Djoser and King Titi.  Stop for lunch, and continue to tour the ancient city of Memphis, the Open Air Museum, and view the statue of King Ramses II.  Overnight in Cairo B/L

Day 14:  Nile Cruise Flight - Check-in Cruise - Philae temple- High Dam - Felucca around the islands

In the morning a driver will pick you up and take you to the Cairo airport for your flight to Aswan.  A driver will meet you at the Aswan airport and take you to check in to the ship.  There will be lunch on the ship, and then go for a tour of the High Dam, and the temple of Philae.  Back to the ship for dinner, and a Nubian show. B/L/D

Day 15:  Kom Ombo temple- Edfu temple- Luxor

After breakfast on board, visit the Sobek and Harores temple, then we sail to Edfu and tour the temple of Hours.  Back to the ship, and sail to Luxor overnight. B/L/D

Day 16:  West Bank - Hatshepsut - Memnon

After breakfast, start the touring day with the West Bank.  Tour Thebes Necropolis, and the Valley of the Kings.  Enter 3 royal tombs in the area.  Return to the ship for lunch, and a free afternoon.  Night entertainment on board.  B/L/D

Day 17: Karnak and Luxor temples - Flight

Breakfast, and then check out procedures from the cruise.  After check out, tour the East Bank, with the Karnak and Luxor temples.  Lunch at a local restaurant, and after lunch transfer to the Luxor airport for a flight to Cairo.  Arriving in Cairo you will be met and transferred to your hotel.  Overnight.   B/L

Day 18:  Egyptian Museum - Coptic Cairo - Citadel and Mosque

Tour the Egyptian museum.  Then go for a tour of the city center of Cairo, including the churches.  Visit the Citadel of Salah El Dien, and the Mosque of Mohamed Ali.  After the tour we take you back to your hotel.  There are optional tours, cruises, and shows, please ask your tour guide.  Overnight Cairo.  B/L

Day 19:  Cairo
Leisure day in Cairo, to walk around by yourselves, do some shopping, and relax after an exhausting trip.  Overnight Cairo.

Day 20: Cairo and Flight

Breakfast and transfer to Cairo airport for your international flight.

The order of the tour may vary according to the start day.  This tour can depart any day of the week.  This is a tour of the Christian sites, we also have a tour of the Jewish sites, for your preference