ОПИСАНИЕ ЭКСКУРСИИ

Tour Israel to see the main sites, including Jerusalem, Nazareth, and Masada, swim in the Dead Sea, and tour northern Israel.

In Egypt see the amazing pyramids, and take a cruise on the Nile.  Tour the famous temples, and see the breathtaking views.

Day 1: Arrival

A driver will be waiting at the Ben Gurion airport, to take you to your hotel in the Old City of Jerusalem.  Overnight Jerusalem.

Day 2: Nazareth and Sea of Galilee

Start the tour by being collected from your hotel in Jerusalem at 05:50 am. Drive past Netanya and Herzliya, traveling north, and drive through the Armageddon plain.  There will be a view of Megiddo, and we will stop at the Mount of Precipitation. When arriving in Nazareth the first stop will be the Church of Annunciation.  This church was built on the place where the angel Gabriel appeared before Mary.  Next to this is the church of St. Joseph.
Leaving Nazareth traveled to the Sea of Galilee, and pass Cana, where Jesus turned water into wine.  At the bottom of Mount Beatitude, tour Capernaum, which was the home of Peter, and the Benedictine Church that commemorates the miracle of the Multiplication of the Loaves and Fish.
As we continue, view the Golan Heights in the background, and pass Tiberias, the modern city that was built over 2000 years ago and was named after the Roman emperor Tiberius.
For those who wish there will be a chance to be baptized with the waters of the Jordan River.  
On the way back we will pass the site of the Transfiguration, at Mount Tabor.

Day 3: Jerusalem Old & New

Pick-up is at 07:15 a.m. from your hotel in Tel Aviv or 08:30 from Jerusalem.  Travel to Jerusalem in an air-conditioned minivan.  Start with a panoramic view from the Mount of Olives, and see the new city of Jerusalem and the Temple Mount of the Old City.  When driving you will be able to see the walls of the city and the Garden of Gethsemane.  Entering the Old City by way of the Armenian Quarter, arrive at the Western Wall.  Walk along to the Stations of the Cross, the Via Dolorosa, and arrive at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.  Continue on to the Byzantine main street which is over 1700 years old.  Visit the Cardo and the Jewish Quarter.  Walk up to Mt. Zion and only on Saturdays visit the Hall of the Last Supper and David's tomb, on all other days visit Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Museum.

Day 4: Bethlehem and Jericho

At 08:30 a driver will pick you up from your hotel in Jerusalem and drive you to the Dead Sea area, and continue on to Jericho to tour the many ruins and excavations. See Mount Temptation in the distance, where Jesus fasted for 40 days and nights.  Continue driving on to Bethlehem to tour the Church of Nativity.  Walk from Manger Square to reach the church.  See the place where Jesus was born.  View the altar dedicated to the three wise men.  Overnight Tel Aviv.

Day 5:  Caesarea, Acre, Haifa

At 07:15 a driver will collect you from your hotel in Tel Aviv.  Drive to Caesarea to tour the ancient part of the city.  Tour the Roman Theater and beside it the Hippodrome.  Pass through Haifa and stop at the Baha’i gardens and shrine.  Drive north and stop at Rosh Hanikra, take a cable car down to the grottos.  Drive on to Acre, the largest crusader city in Israel.  Tour the Crusader city and the Turkish Prison.  Overnight Tel Aviv.

Day 6:  Masada and the Dead Sea

At 07:15 a driver will collect you from your hotel in Tel Aviv.  Start the drive towards the Dead Sea.  The first stop of the day will be Masada, where we will ascend in a cable car to the top with the guide explaining everything we are seeing.  Arrive at the top to tour the palaces of Herod, the very well-preserved bathhouse, the ancient synagogue, the barracks of the Roman soldiers, and more.  After the tour, travel to the Dead Sea to soak in the therapeutic waters.  The water is 33% salt and is said to be able to cure most skin ailments. Overnight Tel Aviv.

Day 7: Tel Aviv - Eilat - Cairo

In the morning you will have a flight from Ben Gurion Airport to Eilat. From the airport, in Ramon Airport Eilat, a driver will take you to the Taba border and help you with the border proceedings. Continue the drive to Cairo, about 10 hours, with a few stops along the way. Arrive in Cairo in the evening and check into your hotel From the airport in Eilat a driver will take you to the Taba border and help you with the border proceedings.  Continue the drive to Cairo, about 10 hours, with a few stops along the way.  Arrive in Cairo in the evening and check into your hotel.

Day 8: Cairo

Breakfast and free day.

Day 9:  Pyramids and Sphinx

After breakfast your tour guide will be waiting to take you to the Giza Plateau, to see the pyramids of Cheops, Chphren, Mycrenos, and the Sphinx.  There will be a short camel ride in the area.  Continue on to tour the Step Pyramid of Djoser and the pyramids of King Titi and Sakkara.  There will be a stop for lunch at a local restaurant.  After lunch, we will tour the ancient city of Memphis, the Open Air museum, and see the statue of King Ramses II.  Back to your hotel, and overnight.  B/L

Day 10:  Flight - Check-in Cruise - Philae temple - High Dam - Felucca around the islands

After breakfast, a driver will take you to the Cairo airport, for your flight to Aswan.  You will be transferred to your ship and checked in.  Eat lunch on board and then start touring.  Visit the High Dam and the temple of Philae.  After the tour, it is back to the ship for dinner and a Nubian show. B/L/D

Day 11:  Kom Ombo temple - Edfu temple - Luxor

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

Day 12:  West Bank - Hatshepsut - Memnon

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

Day 13: 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 14:  Egyptian Museum - Coptic Cairo - Citadel and Mosque

After breakfast at your hotel, 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.  B/L

Day 15:  Cairo- Departure

Breakfast and transfer to Cairo airport for your international flight.