ОПИСАНИЕ ЭКСКУРСИИ

Day 1:  Arrival in Tel Aviv

There will be a driver waiting for you when your plane lands, to take you to your hotel in Tel Aviv.

Day 2:  Nazareth and the Sea of Galilee

A driver will collect you from your hotel at 07:15 a.m. to drive through the Armageddon plain, and see a view of Megiddo. Driving to Nazareth, there will be a stop at the Mount of Precipitation. Arriving in Nazareth, tour the Church of Annunciation, and next to it the Church of St. Joseph. Travel to the Sea of Galilee, and pass Cana, where Jesus turned the water into wine.  Tour Capernaum, at the bottom of Mount Beatitude, and the Benedictine Church that commemorates the Multiplication of the Loaves and the Fish.  There will be an opportunity to be baptized in the Jordan River waters, at Yardenit, the Sea of Galilee  Returning, pass Mount Tabor, which is the site of the Transfiguration.  Overnight in Tel Aviv.

Day 3:  Caesarea, Acre, and Haifa

Start the touring day at 07:15,  drive along the coast of the Mediterranean, and pass Herziliya and Netanya, to arrive at Caesarea.  Tour the amazing Roman Theater, and the hippodrome beside it.  Arriving in Haifa tour the beautiful Baha’i gardens and shrine.  Travel to Rosh Hanikra and ride a cable car down to the grottoes.  Finally arrive in  Acre, which is the largest Crusader city in Israel.  Walk through the Turkish prison, where the British used to hang the Jews after World War II.  Overnight in Jerusalem.

Day 4:  Jerusalem Old and New City

A driver will collect you at 08:30. 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. Overnight in Jerusalem.

Day 5: Jericho and Bethlehem

08:30 a driver will be waiting to take you to the Dead Sea.  Pass the Inn of the Good Samaritan.  Stop at the Sea Level marker for a brief explanation, and continue on to Jericho.  Jericho is the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world.  Above Jericho you can see Mount Temptation, where Jesus fasted for forty days and nights.  Leaving Jericho, travel on to Bethlehem, Jesus’ birthplace.  Walk across Manger Square to arrive at the Church of Nativity.  You can see the original mosaic floor from the 4th century.  See the place of Jesus’ birth with a star commemorating its place.  Take a tour of the Manger, and the altar that is dedicated to the 3 Wise Men.  Leaving the Church, take a short walk over to the Crusader Church that is dedicated to St. Catherine, inside go down to tour the grotto.  When leaving Bethlehem pass the Milk Grotto, and Shepherd’s Fields. Overnight Jerusalem.

Day 6:  Masada and Dead Sea

At 08:30 your driver will be waiting to take you to Massada.  Drive south through the Judean Desert to the Dead Sea.  Arriving at Masada, travel up by cable car,  see the snake path, that was used over 2000 years ago when King Herod built his palaces.  When arriving at the top, start touring the palaces, the well preserved bath house, the synagogue, Roman barracks, and much more.  When leaving Masada pass Ein Gedi, and the Qumran caves where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found.  Continue on to the Dead Sea, for a swim, or float, in the therapeutic waters.After the tour we will drop you off at Sde Dov airport for your flight to Eilat. Please note that Fridays it will be a transfer from Jerusalem to Eilat(no domestic flights Friday evening).   Overnight in Eilat. 

Day 7:  Petra

08:30 Pick up.  A driver will be waiting to take you to the Arava border.  You will be assisted with border proceedings, and on the Jordanian side a driver will be waiting to take you to Petra.  This is a 2 hour drive.  In Petra tour the Treasury, which gave Petra its status as one of the Seven Wonders of the World.  Continue touring the temples, the caves, the tombs, a Roman Theater, and much more. In the evening you can go to see Petra by night.  The entrance fee is about $15 (not included).  Overnight in Petra.

Day 8:  Petra-St. Catherine and Mt. Sinai

Wake up when you like. There is a chance to go back into the Petra sight on your own, take a walk in the market, or just relax at your hotel.  At about 16:00 a driver will take you back to the border and Eilat.  Arrange with the driver, where to meet him about 21:00, for pick up to Cairo.  You will have about 2 hours to grab a bite to eat or go for a swim in Eilat, before departing for Cairo.  Drive to the Taba border, you will be assisted with the border proceedings.  A driver will be waiting for you on the Egyptian side.  Drive to Mt. Sinai.  Climb the mountain and see the sunrise.

Day 9:  Mt. Sinai and St. Catherine

Climb the mountain at night and in the early hours of the morning tour the Church, dated back to the 6th Century and never destroyed since then, “The Burning Bush," and “Jethro’s Well."  St. Catherine's is one of the oldest working monasteries in the world.  You will see the worlds’ oldest library.  Around St. Catherine's there is a small town with hotels. After the tour continue driving to Cairo, and to your hotel for overnight.

Day 10: Cairo

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

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 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 12:  Kom Ombo temple- Edfu temple- Luxor

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

Day 13:  West Bank- Hatshepsut- Memnon

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 14: 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, after lunch transfer to the Luxor airport for flight to Cairo.  Arriving in Cairo you will be met and transferred to your hotel.  Overnight.  B/L

Day 15:  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.  B/L

Day 16:  Cairo
Leisure day in Cairo, to walk around by yourselves, and relax after an exhausting trip.  
Day 17: Cairo and Flight
Breakfast and transfer to Cairo airport for your international flight.