Itinerary

Day 1 (Thu) - En Route

Overnight flight from Toronto to Cairo.

Day 2 (Fri) - Cairo

Arrive in Cairo and transfer to your hotel.

Day 3 (Sat) - Cairo

Visit Memphis, the City of the God Ptah and the capital of the oldest kingdom in the world where the Alabaster Sphinx and the Statue of Ramses II exist, Saqqara, location of the Unas Pyramid, King Zoser Step Pyramid, and the Mastaba Tomb of Ti. In the afternoon, visit the great Pyramids of Giza, one of the seven wonders of the ancient world and the mysterious Sphinx, a colossal lion with a pharaoh’s head. Overnight at your hotel. (BL)

Day 4 (Sun) - Cairo

Visit the Egyptian Museum, which houses a magnificent collection of Pharaonic antiquities, especially the golden treasures of Tut Ankh Amun. Visit Old Cairo, the Citadel of Salah Al Din and Mohamed Ali Mosque, with its magnificent panoramic views of Cairo. Continue to visit the Moallaqa Church and the Ben Ezra Synagogue. If you wish to browse and shop, your tour will stop at the bustling Khan El Khalili Bazaar displaying and selling all types of oriental goods. Return to your hotel for overnight. (BL)

Day 5 (Mon) - Cairo / Luxor / Cruise

Transfer to Cairo airport for a flight to Luxor. The town of Luxor is located in Upper Egypt and lies on the right bank of the Nile. Upon arrival in Luxor, transfer to your Nile cruise for embarkation. In the afternoon, visit the great Luxor Temple and the magnificent Karnak Temple of Amun with its famous Hypostyle Hall, the Statue of Ramses II, the Obelisk of Queen Hatsheput. Even in the time of the Pharaohs, this great temple was regarded as the finest creation of an abounding in architectural accomplishments. Overnight in Luxor aboard your cruise.  (BLD)

Day 6 (Tue) - Nile Cruise

Sightseeing in Luxor including the West Bank, where some of the richest treasures in the world are located such as the Tomb of Tut Ankh Amun in the Valley of the Kings. Visit some of these tombs as well some of the beautiful tombs in the Valley of the Queens. Continue to visit Hatsheput’s Temple and the Colossi of Memnon. Overnight aboard your cruise. (BLD)

Day 7 (Wed) - Nile Cruise

Visit the Horus Temple of Edfu, one of the three beautiful temples of the Ptolemaic Period. Sail to Kom Ombo, and visit the Sobek Temple, which offers beautiful murals and reliefs. Sail to Aswan and overnight aboard your cruise.  (BLD)

Day 8 (Thu) - Nile Cruise

At Aswan, the Nile parts into many arms divided by immense granite rocks and islands, in particular the island of Elephantine. There is only a small area of fertile land producing what are considered the finest dates in all of Egypt. In the morning, you will visit the High Dam, the Granite Quarries and the Philae Temple.  In the afternoon, you will sail on the Egyptian felucca to view the Elephantine Island, the Botanical Gardens on Kitchen Island and the Aga Khan Mausoleum. Overnight in Aswan. (BLD)

Day 9 (Fri) - Nile Cruise / Aswan / Cairo

Disembark from your cruise and transfer to the Aswan airport for a short flight to Cairo. Arrive and overnight in Cairo. (B)

Day 10 (Sat) - Cairo

Day at leisure in Cairo. Optional tours available. Overnight at your hotel. (B)

Day 11 (Sun) - Cairo / Tel Aviv

Flight to Tel Aviv. Transfer to your hotel. (B)

Day 12 (Mon) - Caesarea / Megiddo / Acre

Depart Tel Aviv along the coastal plain to Caesarea which was once the Roman Capital of Judea. See the excavations of the Crusader city and Roman port. You will also see the Aqueduct and the Amphitheatre which has been restored to its former glory as a concert venue. Continue to Megiddo identified as the site of Armageddon where you will be able to see the excavations of King Solomon's stables and 20 layers of civilization, and the well preserved water supply system. Drive to the modern port city of Haifa where the tour will begin at the summit of Mount Carmel where you will take in breathtaking view of Haifa Bay and the Western Galilee, visit the Persian Garden at the Baha’i Temple. From Haifa drive to Acre to visit the ancient city of and it’s Harbor. Continue to Kibbutz and overnight. (BD)

Day 13 (Tue) - Tiberias / Capernaum

Start the day with a visit of Tiberias, take a boat ride to Capernaum where you will see the ruins of the synagogue. Proceed to Tabgha, the site of the miracle of fish and loaves, and visit the Church of Multiplication with its 4th century floor mosaic. Continue to the Mount of the Beatitudes, the place where Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount. Drive to Banias Spring and waterfall and the Golan Heights. Return to Kibbutz Levi and overnight. (BD)

Day 14 (Wed) - Nazareth / Beit Shean

Then proceed to Nazareth via Cana of Galilee. In Nazareth you will visit the Church of the Annunciation, St Joseph's workshop and St Mary's Well. Continue to Yardenit, the place where the Jordan River leaves the Sea of Galilee, and the baptism place. Drive to Beit Sheen a newly excavated city, and visit the Roman Theater. Continue along the Jordan River via Jericho, the world’s oldest city, to end the day in Jerusalem. Overnight in Jerusalem. (BD)

Day 15 (Thu) - Jerusalem Old City

Today you shall visit the Old City of Jerusalem including the Mount of Olive, the church of All Nations, the tomb of King David and the room of the Last Supper in Mt Zion. You will also be able to enter the walled city and walk through the newly restored Jewish Quarter. Continue to visit the Roman Cardo, The Herodian Quarter and the Western Wall. Walk along the Via Dolorosa to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, to Mount Scopus and then to the Mount of Olives for a magnificent panoramic view of the Old City. In the afternoon drive to Bethlehem, stopping at Rachel’s Tomb, Overnight in Jerusalem. (BD)

Day 16 (Fri) - Jerusalem / Bethlehem

Today you will visit the Church of Visitation in Ein Karem. Continue to Yad Vahem Museum, which houses a great memorial to the Holocaust and onto the Israel Museum to see the Shrine of the Book where the Dead Sea Scrolls are housed. You will also visit the miniature model of Jerusalem as it was during the Second Temple period. Continue to Bethlehem to visit the Church of Nativity. Return to Jerusalem and overnight. (BD)

Day 17 (Sat) - Qumran / Dead Sea / Massada

Drive through the Judean Desert to the Dead Sea, the lowest point on earth, almost 400 meters (1300 feet) below sea level. Stop at Qumran to visit the site where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found. Drive along the shores of the Dead Sea to Masada. Ascend by cable car to take a tour of the ancient fortress where the Zealots made their stand against the Romans before committing mass suicide in 73 AD. Descend by cable car. Return to Jerusalem for overnight. (BD)

Day 18 (Sun) - Jerusalem / Amman

Depart by road to Amman. Today you will start your sightseeing tour with a visit to Jerash, the most beautiful and preserved Roman city in existence. Overnight at your hotel. (B)

Day 19 (Mon) - Dead Sea

Drive south to the Dead Sea - the lowest spot on earth. Enjoy some time relaxing in the salty therapeutic waters. Overnight at your hotel. (B)

Day 20 (Tue) - Madaba / Mt Nebo / Petra

Drive towards Petra. See the Byzantine Mosaic map. Continue to Mt. Nebo and Kerak to visit the Crusader Castel. Overnight at your hotel. (B)

Day 21 (Wed) - Petra / Amman / En Route

After breakfast, enjoy sightseeing of Petra’s unique city: Red-Rose City. Start at the gate and make your way through the Siq to reach this city, built by the Arab Nabateans who carved their monumental tombs, palaces, temples and treasury (Al -Khazaneh) from the desert rocks sandstone in its natural hues of rose and gold. Return to the airport for your return flight to Toronto. (B)