Egypt, Jordan, Israel

Arrive into Cairo and have a transfer waiting for you at the airport to the Fairmont Nile City Hotel

Highlights: Full Day Egyptian Museum & Pyramids

Hit the ground running with a visit to the famous Egyptian Pyramids this morning! You will also visit the Egyptian Museum.

All with a private guide and air con vehicle.

Highlights: Citadel, Islamic Walking Tour & Bazaar

Enjoy another busy day touring Cairo. Sights include the Citadel & a walking tour visiting the markets. All with a private guide & vehicle.

Baab El-Fotouh to Baab Zuweila: Take a cultural walking tour down Muiz El-Din Allah Street, recalling the time when it was the main thoroughfare through the heart of Old Cairo. You'll start at Baab El-Fotouh, the massive fortified gate in the north wall of the historic city, and walk towards Baab Zuweila, the gate in the south, along the way seeing beautiful Islamic monuments and busy markets where Egyptians buy their everyday items. This street has more listed buildings per meter than any other in the world.

Khan El Khalili: The fascinating Khan El-Khalili Bazaar is reputed to be the largest bazaar in the Middle East. Originally founded as a watering stop for caravanserai in the 14th century, the bazaar has now grown to vast proportions. As one wanders through the labyrinth of narrow streets you will find workshops and stalls selling all manner of things from woodwork, glassware and leather goods to perfumes, fabrics and Pharaonic curiosities.

Highlights: Abu Simbel

Your Tour Coordinator will escort you to Cairo International Airport by air-conditioned vehicle.

Flight: Board your Egypt-Air flight to Aswan (not included)

Flight: Board your 40-minute flight to Abu Simbel (not included)

Abu Simbel: The two temples of Ramses II at Abu Simbel are each fronted by colossal statues up to 20 meters high, and are famed as the most impressive monuments remaining of Ancient Egypt in modern times. Recently the temples were threatened by the waters of Lake Nasser, and with the help of a UNESCO campaign they were cut into blocks, raised piece by piece, and reassembled in a new position higher up the hillside.

After the tour of Abu Simbel, you will be taken back to board your short flight to Aswan to board the cruise.

Arrive on board the five-star deluxe Nile cruise boat the Sanctuary Sun Boat IV, moored in a private dock in Aswan, where you will be welcomed by the reception staff. Lunch will be served on board and in the afternoon, visit the Granite Quarries, which supplied the ancient Egyptians with most of the hard stone used in pyramids and temples, and still hold a huge unfinished obelisk.

Enjoy afternoon tea served in the lounge and tonight you will be greeted by your Boat Manager as you enjoy a selection of canapés with some complimentary Egyptian wine and local beer. Gourmet dinner served on board.

Highlights: Philae, Kom Ombo And Edfu Temples

Breakfast buffet on board followed by a short motorboat ride to visit the romantic and majestic Philae Temple on the Island of Agilika. Later, an Egyptian cooking lesson will be presented on board.

Enjoy lunch, while you cruise to Kom Ombo and visit the magnificent Temple of Kom Ombo, dedicated to the crocodile-god Sobek. Afternoon tea will be served while you cruise to Edfu followed by a chance to explore the Temple of Horus at Edfu.

Tonight's dinner on board will be an 'Egyptian Night' costume party for all guests, with a chance to dress up in traditional Egyptian 'galabeyya'. Dinner will be a lavish buffet of Egyptian specialties, followed by oriental music and dancing for everyone.

Highlights: East And West Bank Of Luxor

Breakfast buffet will be on board whilst sailing to Luxor. This morning your Egyptologist will guide you around the strikingly graceful Temple of Luxor dedicated to the god Amun and then onwards to the Temple of Karnak.

After lunch, visit the Valley of the Kings. You will also have the chance to visit at least one tomb in the Valley of the Queens and visit the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut. On the way back to the river Nile, you will pass by the famed Colossi of Memnon, known in Ancient Greek times for their haunting voices at dawn.

Return to your cruise for afternoon tea on board. Tonight's farewell dinner will be a gala dinner (jacket required), with white-gloved waiters serving gourmet cuisine.

Highlights: West Bank Private Tour

This morning you will head back over to the West Bank for your private tour of the Valley of the Kings & Queens.

Valley of the Kings and Queens: The ancient Egyptians stopped building pyramids as royal tombs after robbers stole all the treasures inside, and instead they started burying their royalty in secret tombs at Thebes, today's West Bank of Luxor. Go there to explore the Valley of the Kings, where New Kingdom pharaohs were buried in hidden tombs which have maintained their richly painted hues and were filled with treasures for use in the afterlife. Then visit the Valley of the Queens, where the pharaohs' wives and children were buried.

You will also visit the Temple of Hatshepsut & the Colossi of Memnon.

Hatshepsut Temple: Rising out of the desert plain in a series of brilliant white terraces, the Mortuary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut merges with the sheer limestone cliffs that surround it. Forming a natural rock amphitheatre, the temple was an important religious and funerary site. Ancient Egypt's only female pharaoh dedicated the temple to the cults of Hathor, the cow goddess of beauty, and Anubis, god of mummification and leader of the king to the underworld. Numerous images and carvings depict Hathor with Hatshepsut, as well as details of the Pharaoh's voyage to the land of Punt, presumed to be present day Somalia. After her death, her jealous stepson and successor Tuthmosis III defaced many of these images in an attempt to curse her memory for eternity.

Colossi of Memnon: Enjoy a brief stop at the famed Colossi of Memnon, the two immense statues of Amenhotep III which, in Pharaonic times, guarded the entrance to his once great temple. They were renamed by the Ancient Greeks after the Trojan hero Memnon. The Greeks attributed the mournful cry once emitted by the statues at dawn to their sorrow for the loss of Memnon at the hands of Achilles. During the Roman period, the site became a resort spot where many prominent travelers left their own graffiti carved into the sandstone.

Highlights: Hot Air Ballooning

This morning you a hot air balloon ride over the West bank. You will be return to the Hilton for breakfast and a free day. Explore the Luxor Souq or even Karnak Temple ( if you are not 'templed' out yet!)

Hot Air Balloon: Get a spectacular bird's eye view of Luxor's ancient monuments and modern villages from the vantage point of a hot air balloon. This is a unique way to see the city's main sites and natural beauty as you'll never see it from the ground.

(A&K is committed to your safety but would like you to know that participation in this activity is at your sole discretion. If AT ANY TIME you do not wish to participate in any or all of the activity please let your Guide know)

Transfer by air-conditioned vehicle from Luxor Airport.

Flight: Board your Egypt-Air flight to Cairo (not included).

Transfer from Cairo Domestic to Cairo international Airport.

Upon arrival into Amman airport, you are met by our airport representative before you reach immigration. They assist you with your entry visa, through immigration and on to baggage reclaim. Once your luggage arrives, they take you through to the arrivals hall where you meet your driver and transfer to your hotel.

Highlights: Little Petra, Jordanian Chef meal, Petra by Night

Drive to Little Petra it takes 3 hours drives, Little Petra is an archeological site, located 12 km from the main entrance to the city of Petra. Beida is surrounded by beautiful, high pink mountains and divided into two main sites, which are connected by a narrow walkway. Each of these sites is featuring an amazing Nabatean monument.

UPon arrival, check into your hotel, head for lunch, then a visit to Little Petra. After your archeological tour, your driver will bring you to a local's house for a hands on meal:

With the Jordanian hospitality being legendary it is not surprising that food plays a big role in everyday life. Jordanians believe that to cook beautiful food you must feel inspired and content.

On arrival you will be greeted by your Local "Chef" for the Become a Jordanian Chef Experience. You will be served Jordanian tea on arrival.

Your Chef will assign tasks to you as the preparation for the meal gets underway. Enjoy the energy in the kitchen as you work together and take the chance to get to know your host as you chat with them about their life. Try your hand at learning the names of the ingredients in Arabic which is sure to impress your guests when you recreate the meal once you are back home.

Try as you might your host won't let you help clean up, so sit back and enjoy spending time with the host's family whilst the meal is cooking.

Then it will be time to enjoy the wonderful meal that you have just prepared. You will sit down with your host, your "Chef", and any of "Chef's" family members who are around, and eat until you think you are full. Only, the local family will insist that you eat more! Al-ḥamdu lillāh is a phrase you will want to remember, as saying this when your host is insisting you eat yet another serving will save your very satisfied stomach. You will be met with the response of Sahtein (to your health).

Jordanian tea will be served to finish off the experience.

Become a Jordanian chef experience takes around 3-4 hours.

You will be dropped at the entrance to Petra for your Petra by Night experience. ( perfect to walk off your meal!)

20:30 – 22:30 Enjoy the Magic of a candle lit visit to the Rose -Red city of Petra. The special aura of the ancient Nabatean trading empire comes to life as you enjoy a stroll through the mysterious Siq of Petra. At Al- Khazneh (The Treasury), music and stories will help you experience Petra, as the travel- weary traders of old must have known it.

Highlights: Full day in Petra

Walk to Petra’s Visitors’ Center to start your full day tour in the archaeological site. ( Your hotel is literally in walking distance)

Enjoy a full day walk around the rose city of Petra. You can start your walk with an optional horse ride from the main gate of Petra to the entrance of the old city. Then walk on foot along the “Siq “to visit the rose-red city. The ancient city of Petra was built from 800 BC to 100 AD by Nabatean Arabs. In this era Petra was a fortress, carved out of craggy rocks in an area which was virtually inaccessible. In the first and second century, after the Romans took over, the city reached the peak of its fame. Petra covers an area of about 100 square km, in which over 800 monuments can be found. When shipping slowly displaced caravan routes, the city's importance gradually dwindled; it fell into disuse and was lost to the world until 1812, when it was re-discovered by the Swiss explorer Johann Ludwig Burkhart. Nowadays Petra is Jordan's number one tourist attraction, known as the "rose-red city half as old as time". The Khazneh (the Treasury), was featured in ‘Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade’.

Highlights: 4x4 tour in Wadi Rum/ Bedouin meals, Wadi Rum night sky

Check-out from hotel and luggage will be stored in your vehicle. Board your vehicle and drive to Wadi Rum (approximately 2 hours’ drive).

Otherwise known as Valley of the Moon, the landscape of Wadi Rum with its immensity, color and awe-inspiring shapes creates an almost supernatural atmosphere. The setting for the film ‘Lawrence of Arabia’ and the actual location where T.E. Lawrence set his camp, whose book ’The Seven Pillars of Wisdom‘ was named after the seven natural columns varying in height located en route to Wadi Rum. Bedouin camps are evident in the Wadi. These are still home to a number of Bedouin families who welcome visitors with the hospitality and generosity that Bedouins are so famous for.

Explore the desert with a 4x4 driven by a local Bedouin for 2 hours before arriving at your Sun City Camp for the evening. This is the opportunity for late night star gazing!

Highlights: Optional hot air balloon ride / Dead sea

You will have the option this morning for the Hot Air Balloon Ride, return back to camp for breakfast, followed by your journey out of the Wadi Rum en route to the Dead Sea.

Hot Air Ballooning: Float silently over Wadi Rum and enjoy the breathtaking natural rock formations. See the seven pillars of wisdom and the natural dunes of the desert from 6,000 feet. This unique experience is enhanced by our experienced pilot and his dedicated staff who will make sure every part of your experience is safe and enjoyable. Flights take place in the early morning for optimal flying conditions.

DURATION: 45 min – 1 hour ( Allow 2 hours for the whole experience). 

The Dead Sea has an historical and spiritual legacy of its own. It is believed to be the site of five biblical cities: Sodom, Gomorrah, Admah, Zeboiim and Zoar (Bela). At 400 meters below sea level, the Dead Sea is infinite in what it has to offer. Ever since the days of Herod the Great, people have flocked to the Dead Sea in search of its curative secrets. Due to high annual temperatures, low humidity and high atmospheric pressure, the air is extremely exogenous, and the high content of oxygen and magnesium in the air make breathing a lot easier. With the highest content of minerals and salts in the world, the Dead Sea water possesses anti-inflammatory properties, and the dark mud found on the shores have been used for over 2000 years for therapeutic purposes.

Free day at to swim, float & relax and enjoy the resort at the Dead Sea.

Highlights: Mt Nebo, Madaba: Church of Moses

Depart your hotel and start your Tour in Mont Nebo, It is the mountain where Moses was allowed to see the Holy Land… and not allowed to enter it. Nowadays the mountain is a memorial site. Here is the "Church of Moses", built by the first Christians. Ever since the first days of Christianity this mountain has been a holy place and a destination for pilgrimage. Like Moses, you can have a great view over Jordan, the Dead Sea and Israel. When the weather is clear, you should even be able to see Jerusalem, which is about 60 kilometers away.

South of Amman proudly stands the "City of Mosaics", Madaba, perched on an archaeological site with more than 4000 years of history buried beneath it. The quality and quantity of mosaic flooring has made Madaba one of the most prominent cities in the world for mosaics. St. George's Church houses the world famous mosaic floor depicting a large mosaic map of Palestine. Centrally located on this mosaic floor is a detailed Map of Jerusalem as it was during the sixth century AD. At the Church of the Apostles, at the southern entrance of the city, is a mosaic floor attributed to the craftsman Salamanios, depicting the Sea, with the central figure of a woman encircled with a selection of creatures, vegetation and an inscription.

Then drive to Amman for City Tour before returning to your hotel.

The Citadel which towers above the city from atop Jabal al-Qala’a is a good place to begin a tour of the city. The Citadel is the site of ancient Rabbath-Ammon, and excavations here have revealed numerous Roman, Byzantine and early Islamic remains. The most impressive building of the Citadel, known simply as al-Qasr ("the Palace"), dates back to the Islamic Umayyad period. Its exact function is unclear, but it includes a monumental gateway, an audience hall and four vaulted chambers. A colonnaded street also runs through the complex. To the north and northeast are the ruins of Umayyad palace grounds.

Highlights: morning tour of Jerash / fly to Israel

Proceed to the Greco-Roman city of Jerash for a half day visit... (One hour drive from Amman).

Second only to Petra in tourist appeal, the ancient city of Jerash in remarkable for its long chain of human occupation. Here at a well-watered site in the hills of Gilead, remains from Neolithic times have been found, as well as Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Umayyad and others. Jerash’s golden age, however arrived with Roman rule. Today it is acknowledged as one of the best-preserved province cities of the Roman Empire. Jerash was a member of the Decapolis, a dynamic commercial league of ten Greco-Roman Cities.

Lunch at Lebanese House restaurant

Transfer to Queen Alia International Airport for your departure flight (not included).
The flight departs in the evening ( 1 hour flight).

Highlights: Old City ( Zion's Gate, Jewish Quarter, Western Wall, Dome of the Rock, Church of the Holy Sepulcher and more)

Leave for a full day tour of the Old City commencing with the Garden of Gethsemane with its ancient olive trees and where Jesus was betrayed and arrested. Enter the walled old city via Zion Gate and proceed to the Jewish Quarter. At the Cardo, see the ancient Roman road at the heart of the city and the restored Sephardic synagogues. View the unearthed main Roman thoroughfare and ancient marketplace lined with columns.

Proceed through the broad stone stairway down to the Western Wall - the Kotel. Here you may observe worshippers praying towards the Holy of Holies, and performing rituals such as that of placing written prayers into the seams of the wall. View the Dome of the Rock then walk along the Way of the Cross, through the markets of the Christian and Moslem Quarters.

The Via Dolorosa ends at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. Here you can observe the intense devotion and prayer, by many different denominations, at the site of the Crucifixion and the Tomb of Christ. Leave the walled city walking through the Moslem, Christian and Armenian Quarters. The Christian Quarter sits in the northwest corner of the Old City and can be accessed through the Damascus Gate, New Gate, and Jaffa Gate. The Church of the Holy Sepulcher is said to be the site of Jesus's crucifixion, burial, and resurrection.

Your guide will suggest a spot for a local lunch.

Highlights: Full day tour of the New City + Israeli side of the Dead Sea

Drive to the Israel Museum stop for a brief view of the Model of the City of Jerusalem at Jesus’ time. At the same location, we visit the Shrine of the Book, where we see the Dead Sea Scrolls on display. In the afternoon drive down to Qumran to visit the National park to be followed by swimming at the Dead sea in a private beach. And after that drive back to hotel in Jerusalem.

Qumran:

Qumran is an archaeological site in the West Bank managed by Israel's Qumran National Park. It is located on a dry plateau about 1.5 km from the northwestern shore of the Dead Sea, near the Israeli settlement and kibbutz of Kalya

Highlights: Mount of Olives – Garden of Gethsemane – Kidron Valley & Pool of Siloam.

Start the day with a visit to Mt. of Olives. For a view of the City overlooking Temple Mount or Al Haram el Sharif. Visit the garden of Gethsemane where according to the Bible Jesus prayed his disciples before his crucifixion. Crossing the Kidron Valley, we pass the tombs of Absalom, Zechariah and St. James then visit the Pool of Siloam.

Highlights: Bethlehem & Ein Karem

After breakfast visit to Bethlehem: Manger Square, the Church of the Nativity and the Shepherds’ Fields continue to the Mike Grotto.

Followed by a visit to Ein Karem picturesque village, birth place of John the Baptist, with the Church of John the Baptist, the Church of the Visitation and the Russian Orthodox Church.

Highlights: Caesarea – Sea of Galilee

After breakfast check out of the hotel drive to Caesarea National Park on the Mediterranean is your first stop today, where you’ll find the remains of former Roman capital home of Philip the Evangelist, and where Paul was imprisoned and appeared before Festus, Felix and King Agrippa. Tour the Roman theater, the hippodrome and promenade to the renovated Crusader city. Then, it’s on to Muhraka, the traditional site of Elijah’s confrontation with the prophets of Ba’al, with the Carmelite Monastery of St. Elijah.

Overnight: in the Sea of Galilee region

Highlights: Sea of Galilee – Capernaum – Benedictine church

Start the day with a visit to the Christian holy sites around the Sea of Galilee, including: The Mount of Beatitudes: The traditional site of Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount with its beautiful view of the lake and its sacred sites. Capernaum: Known as "Jesus' Town" in the New Testament, Capernaum on the Sea of Galilee is home to one of the earliest churches in the world as well as a monumental ancient synagogue. This was also Peter's home town where Jesus performed many miracles. Tabha: Jesus' miracle of the Multiplication of the Fish and Loaves is illustrated beautifully in an ancient mosaic of the Byzantine church that stood here.

Visit the renovated Benedictine church, built in the same style and along the same lines as the original one.

In the afternoon, drive to the Golan Heights for spectacular views. If you're lucky you will also see the Bird of Prey, Griffin Vulture which is known for their colonies in the Golan Heights.

Back to the Scots hotel for the evening.

Check out of the hotel transfer to Tel Aviv Airport. Approx 2 hour drive.