Egypt, Israel & Jordan - OLD Itinerary

Day 1  Depart Australia

Day 2  Arrive in Cairo
Today you arrive in Cairo, the sprawling capital of Egypt and largest city in Africa. Upon arrival we are welcomed by our local guide and taken to our hotel. This evening we enjoy a welcome dinner at a local restaurant. [D]

Day 3  Cairo
This is it! This morning you will be standing directly in front of the Great Pyramids of Giza! The Great Pyramids are the oldest structures in existence: work building them began around 4,500 years ago, and today they are the only remnants of the Seven Wonders of the World. Here we take the time to soak up the mystical power of these awe-inspiring structures before visiting the nearby Sphinx and the incredible step pyramid of Sakkara. The rest of your day is at leisure. [B]

Day 4  Cairo
Today we venture into the bustling heart of Cairo to visit the world-famous Egyptian Museum, home to Tutankhamen’s priceless treasures and many other historic artefacts. There will be time for an optional visit (entrance ticket not included) to the "Mummy Room", it has nine mummies on display including the newly discovered mummy of Queen Hatshepsut. This afternoon we visit the Citadel of Cairo and the Mohammed Ali Mosque, before trying out our bargaining skills at the 625-year-old Khan El Khalili bazaar. [B]

Day 5  Cairo - Nile Cruise* (see notes on Nile Cruise below)
This morning we fly to Luxor. In the afternoon we visit the Karnak Temple which is the largest and most impressive of all temples and the scene of the most important of ancient Egypt’s many religious festivals and ceremonies. We also visit Luxor Temple which was once linked to Karnak by a 3km avenue of sphinxes and contains evidence of early Christian occupation. After our sightseeing we board our Nile cruise ship where tonight we stay docked in Luxor. [B,L,D]

Day 6  Nile Cruise
After breakfast we set off to explore the West Bank, the world’s largest open-air museum. We also explore the Valley of the Kings, where we have the opportunity to go underground and experience the tombs first-hand. We then continue on to the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut; it was built of limestone, not sandstone like most of the other funerary temples of the New Kingdom period, and is therefore one of the most distinctive temples in the whole of Egypt. We end our day at the Colossi of Memnon before boarding our Nile cruise ship and setting sail on the mighty Nile. [B,L,D]

Day 7  Nile Cruise
Our day starts with a horse-drawn carriage ride to Edfu’s Temple of Horus. This is Egypt’s second-largest temple complex and one of the best-preserved. We then sail on to Kom Ombo. Sit back and relax as we watch the day to day happenings of rural Egyptian life on the riverbanks of the Nile. [B,L,D]

Day 8  Nile Cruise
A very early start as we cross the desert to the stunning temples of Abu Simbel. The twin temples were originally carved out of the mountainside during the reign of Pharaoh Ramses II in the 13th century BC, as a lasting monument to himself and his queen Nefertari. In the 1960s the complex was relocated in its entirety to an artificial hill, high above the Aswan High Dam reservoir. This afternoon we enjoy a relaxing felucca sailboat ride on the calm waters of the Nile. [B,L,D]

Day 9  Aswan - Cairo
This morning we enjoy a tour of Aswan where highlights include the High Dam, an engineering masterpiece built in the 1960s, the picturesque Temple of Isis on Philae Island, and the Unfinished Obelisk. We then fly back to Cairo where we enjoy a fun dinner cruise on the Nile. [B,D]

Day 10  Cairo - Jerusalem
Today we farewell Egypt and fly on to Israel, a land of amazing diversity, beauty and complicated history. On our arrival in Tel Aviv we transfer to our hotel in Jerusalem. [B]

Day 11  Old Jerusalem
A full day awaits exploring Old Jerusalem, the spiritual centre of Judaism, Christianity and Islam. Our tour includes the Mount of Olives, the Armenian, Christian and Jewish quarters, the Roman Cardo and the Western Wall. We then walk along the Via Dolorosa to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, before visiting Bethlehem. [B]

Day 12  Masada - The Dead Sea
Today our touring takes us up to the mountain fortress of Masada and down to the Dead Sea – the lowest point on earth! For those who want to take a dip, here there is an opportunity to swim - or float! - in this salty water. [B]

Day 13  Jerusalem
A full day at leisure to further explore this amazing and culturally rich city. [B]

Day 14  Jerusalem - Amman
This morning we enjoy a visit to the Israel Museum before we cross overland to Jordan. The Israel Museum was founded in 1965 as Israel's national museum. The museum has extensive collections of biblical archaeology, Judaica, ethnography, fine art, artefacts from Africa, North and South America, Oceania and the Far East, rare manuscripts, ancient glass and sculpture. Overnight in Amman. [B,D]

Day 15  Amman
We start our touring of Jordan with a visit to the beautifully-preserved Roman cities of Um Qais and Jerash and the impressive Ajlun Castle. The castle is located on the site of an old monastery and was built in 1184. It once controlled traffic along the road connecting Damascus and Egypt. [B,D]

Day 16  Amman - Petra
Our journey to Petra today is along the 5,000-year-old King’s Highway. On the way we discover Madaba, the city of mosaics, the Crusader fortress of Kerak and Mt Nebo – where Moses first saw the Promised Land. [B,D]

Day 17  Petra
Today will be a truly memorable experience as we explore one of the world’s greatest treasures: the famous lost city of Petra. Petra is without doubt Jordan’s most valuable treasure and greatest tourist attraction. It is a vast, unique city, carved into the sheer rock face by the Nabataeans, an industrious Arab people who settled here more than 2,000 years ago, turning it into an important junction for the silk, spice and other trade routes that linked China, India and southern Arabia with Egypt, Syria, Greece and Rome. Entrance to the city is through the Siq, a narrow, 800-metre long gorge, flanked on either side by soaring, 80-metre high cliffs. Just walking through the Siq is an experience in itself! The colours and formations of the rocks are dazzling. As you reach the end of the Siq you will catch your first glimpse of the Treasury. [B,D]

Day 18  Wadi Rum - Petra
A day of stunning scenery as we explore the unique desert landscape of Wadi Rum by jeep and camel. Our guides today are local Bedouin tribesman who still live in the traditional nomadic way. [B,L,D]

Day 19  Petra - Amman
This morning we drive to Amman where our city tour includes the ancient Citadel, the Amphitheatre and the Old City. [B,D]

Day 20  Depart Amman
Today we transfer to the airport to begin our journey home.  [B]

Day 21  Arrive Australia

*Note on Nile Cruises: The Nile cruises featured on all itineraries to Egypt operate between the cities of Luxor and Aswan. These cities lie only 240km apart which means this distance could easily be covered in only 1 or 2 days without stops. Due to logistical and scheduling reasons the cruises are offered only as 3, 4 and 7 night packages. This allows for extensive sightseeing along the way and, as such, much of the time is spent in port in Luxor, Edfu, Kom Ombo or Aswan. Each cruise itinerary will, however, have an element of day-time cruising - allowing you to relax and see life along the river.

Note on Esna Lock and Itinerary Schedule: Please note that due to the high volume of river traffic all cruise itineraries are subject to change without notice. The order and timing of sightseeing may therefore change, however all inclusions will remain the same. Similarly, travel through the Esna Lock is subject to river traffic and local conditions which means you may pass through the lock during the night or have an extended wait prior to entering the lock.

Egypt, Israel & Jordan - OLD

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