ОПИСАНИЕ ЭКСКУРСИИ

Day 1: Nazareth and Sea of Galilee

Pick up from your hotel in Tel Aviv, a driver will be waiting to take you to Nazareth.  Start with a view of Megiddo. On the way to Nazareth stop at the Mount of Precipitation. Drive on to tour the Church of Annunciation and the Church of St. Joseph located next to each other.  As we are driving to Capernaum, we will pass Cana, the place where Jesus turned water into wine.  Stop at Mount Beatitude and arrive at Capernaum, which is home to the Benedictine Church.  Drive along the Sea of Galilee, where if time permits you will have a chance to be baptized in the Jordan River. Returning past Mount Tabor. 

Day 2: Caesarea, Acre, and Haifa

After breakfast, the driver will be waiting to take you to Caesarea.  Start the day by touring the Roman Theater, which is still in use today.  Next to it is the hippodrome, and also tour the remains of a Roman temple.  Drive through Haifa, to tour the Baha'i gardens and shrine.  Continue on north to reach Rosh Hanikra, ride the cable car down to the grottos, and stroll through the caverns.  At the end of the day, our last stop will be Acre.  This is the largest Crusader City in Israel. 

Day 3: Jerusalem and Bethlehem

A driver will be waiting for you, to take you for a view of the Jewish burial tombs, the Mount of Olives, the Church of all Nations, and the Garden of Gethsemane.  We will enter the Old City by the Zion Gate, and go through the Armenian Quarter to the Byzantine Cardo.  Stroll through the Jewish Quarter for your first look at the very famous ancient Western Wall.  Then we will continue to walk along the Via Dolorosa and follow the Stations of the Cross and finally arrive at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. Before leaving the Old City, take a walk through the markets.  

Arriving in Bethlehem, take a walk across Manger Square, to arrive at the Church of Nativity, where it is said that Jesus was born.  See the star that commemorates Jesus' birth and the altar dedicated to the 3 wise men.  As we are leaving Bethlehem you can view the fields of Ruth in the distance. 

Day 4: Masada and Dead Sea

In the morning, start with a drive through the Judean Desert and arrive at the Dead Sea area.  We will drive by the Inn of the Good Samaritan, and stop at the sea level marker.  There will be a view of Jericho in the distance.  When arriving at Masada, ascend to the top by cable car.  Tour an ancient synagogue, Roman barracks, a very well-preserved bath house, the 2 palaces that Herod built for himself, and more.  After touring we will stop for lunch, and then continue on for a swim in the Dead Sea waters.

Day 5: Petra

There will be an early morning transfer from your hotel to Ben Gurion Airport. Take a flight to Eilat Ramon Airport. Upon landing take shuttle no #30 of Egged Company to the Central bus station (5 NIS - NOT INCLUDED). A driver will be waiting at Eilat Central bus station to take you to the Arava border and to Petra. Enjoy touring with a qualified guide, see the treasury, the amphitheater, and much more. Overnight Wadi Rum tent. 

Day 6: Wadi Rum

Start the day with a 4-hour jeep tour.  See how the Bedouins live, the great drawings on the sandstone that are over 2000 years old.  After the tour travel back across the border and you will have a few hours to walk around or go for dinner.  

At around 22:00 a driver will collect you for your tour to Cairo.  The driver will take you to the Taba border and help you with the border proceedings.  There will be an Egyptian driver waiting for you on the other side.  The drive to Cairo is about 10 hours so get some sleep.

Day 7: Cairo

When arriving in Cairo we will start the tour of the pyramids and the Sphinx.  Walkthrough one of the most famous markets the  Khan E Khalili Bazaar, where you can buy just about anything.  Tour the Egyptian Museum with its hundreds of thousands of artifacts, paintings, coins, mummies, statues, and much more.  Overnight in Cairo.

Day 8: Cairo

In the morning we will drive to the Saqqara Valley to see some of the most famous pyramids like the Djoser which is also called the Step Pyramid.  Tour the Old City of Cairo with its many fortifications, and Churches. Overnight in Cairo.

Day 9: Cairo flight to Aswan- Check in- Philae temple – High Dam -- Felucca

Take an early morning flight from Cairo to Aswan.  Check into the ship.  You will be met and assisted.  In the afternoon enjoy a city tour to Aswan, one of the most beautiful cities in Egypt.  Visit the High dam, and take a motorboat to Philae Island to tour the Temple of the Goddess Isis.  Enjoy Felucca around the Islands.  Return to the ship, for dinner.  Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included.

Day 10: Kom Ombo Temple- Edfu temple- Sail to Esna

Breakfast on board.  Sail to Kom Ombo.  Start the touring day and visit the temple that is shared by 2 gods Sobek and Harored.  Continue on to sail to Edfu and tour the Temple of Hours, which is the most well-preserved temple in Egypt.  Sail to Luxor and overnight.

Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included.

Day 11: West Bank- Valley of the Kings- Hatshepsut- Memnon

Breakfast and visit Thebes Necropolis, where the Valley of the Kings is located.  Enter 3 royal tombs in the area.  Return back to the ship for lunch.  In the evening there is an optional sound and light show at Karnak temples, upon request.  There will also be night entertainment on the ship.

Breakfast, lunch, and dinner are included.

Day 12: Karnak and Luxor temples.

Breakfast and check out from the cruise.  Tour the East Bank, the Karnak temple is the largest complex that was constructed in the world.  It covers an area of over 100 acres and is very impressive.  Continue on to tour the Luxor temple.  After the tour, you will be transferred to the airport for departure.