Egypt, Jordan, Israel Odyssey

A day to remember! Meet your private local guide and Egyptologist for your day tour. Visit the ancient capital of Memphis and the enduring monuments of Sakkara, prototypes for Ancient Egypt’s most enduring architectural legacy – the Pyramids. Explore the sand strewn temples and tombs before travelling to the incomparable Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx. The largest and oldest pyramid was built by Pharaoh Khufu over 3800 years ago.

Optional Sound & Light Show at the Pyramids.

Depart to Cairo Airport and fly to Luxor. On arrival you will be met by our local representative and transferred to your hotel for an overnight stay, This afternoon is free to explore Luxor at your own pace. This evening: Optional Sound & Light Show at the Temples of Karnak and Luxor.

This morning a visit to the Mummification Museum, dedicated to the art of Ancient Egyptian mummification. This boutique museum will provide fascinating insights into the preservation techniques to protect the afterlife for pharaohs, their families, and animals, later buried in secret tombs, deep in the Valley of Kings.

Later this morning embark on your cruise boat. After lunch begin exploring one of the world’s greatest open-air museums – Thebes. Visit the magnificent Luxor Temple; follow the Avenue of the Sphinx to the Temple complex of Karnak. This gigantic site was added to by approximately 30 different Pharaohs which goes some way to explaining its size and grandeur.

This morning cross the Nile to the West Bank. Today is full of highlights including the Necropolis of Thebes and the Valley of the Kings, home to the tombs of the Theban Ruler’s including Tutankhamun. Visit the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut and see the famed Colossi of Memnon facing the Nile. This afternoon sail to Esna and cross the lock.

Today visit Edfu where remains from the Old Kingdom can be viewed, as well as the Temple of Horus – one of the holiest of the Egyptian pantheon of gods. Sail to Kom Ombo and visit Kom Ombo Temple which was shared by the two Gods Sobek (with the head of a crocodile) and Horus (who has the head of a falcon) and was built in the Ptolemaic period between 237 and 57 BCE. See the beautiful preserved murals and bas relief whose inscriptions provide important information on language, myth and religion during the Greco-Roman period in ancient Egypt. Later sail to Aswan.

Visit the Aswan Dams at the end of Lake Nasser and the beautifully restored Temple of Philae. Dedicated to the goddess Isis (the mother of Horus), an international effort relocated the entire temple complex to save it from being submerged by the creation of Lake Nasser. Later sail by felucca around the lush islands of Aswan.

Disembark from your cruise. (Optional Abu Simbel tour).   Fly to Cairo for private transfer to your city location hotel. Time to relax and explore Cairo at your leisure in this vibrant and lively city.  

Optional: The Cairo Opera House features various Opera programs over the year or discover Egyptian cuisine in more depth at a Cairo Cooking School. To discover more about potential programmes, please enquire.

Today is your opportunity to discover Cairo, and to pursue your personal interests. Choose and prebook from three of six locations listed below and discover past and present history and culture of Cairo. (Min 2).

Discover the incredible glittering treasures on your private Egyptologist-guided tour

• The original Egyptian Museum in Tahrir Square
• The newly opened National Museum of Egyptian Civilization in Al-Fustat. Cairo
• The towering Citadel Mohamed Ali Mosque,
• Vibrant Khan El Khalili Bazaar
• Coptic Christian Cairo
• Heliopolis WW II Cemetery where the fallen lay buried (closed Friday)

Departure transfer to the airport for your flight to Tel Aviv. Arrive Tel Aviv Airport. Welcome to Israel. On arrival you will be met by a representative of our local operator after exiting the plane at the Jet Bridge prior to immigration, who will assist with your visa and other formalities. (Look out for your name on a sign). Transfer to your Tel Aviv hotel to begin your Coach Tour of Israel. Take time to explore this Mediterranean city with Museums, street art, galleries, arts and crafts, shopping, and cafes. This evening meet fellow travellers joining you on this leg of the journey. Dinner is included at your hotel. Detailed information on your tour will be given to you upon arrival.  

Please note: Flight not included in the package price)

Travel via the Judean Mountains and descend to the lowest place on earth. Drive along the shores of the Dead Sea to the high rock fortress of Masada and hear about the historic defence against the Roman Empire from this location.   Later, take the chance to for a float in the mineral rich waters of the Dead Sea. Continue to Jerusalem.

Start with a spectacular view of Jerusalem from Mount of Olives, and then onto the Garden of Gethsemane. Visit the tomb of King David and the Room of the Last Supper on Mount Zion. See the famous Dead Sea Scrolls at the Shrine of the Book. Visit Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial. Afternoon drive to Ein Karem where John the Baptist was born. Continue to Bethlehem (subject to security clearance) – the birthplace of Jesus at the Church of the Nativity and Manger Square.

Enter through one of the gates to the walled Old City to visit the renewed Jewish Quarter, Western Wall, and the Temple area. Walk along the Via Dolorosa (Stations of the Cross) to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, housing both the traditional site of the crucifixion and the Tomb of the Resurrection. Continue to downtown Jerusalem, and visit Mahane Yehuda to experience the flavors, aromas, colours, at the largest open market in Israel.

Depart Jerusalem via Jericho, the oldest city in the world. Explore the excavations of the beautiful Roman City of Beit Shean. Proceed to Nazareth to visit the Church of the Annunciation and the carpentry workshop of Joseph. On to Safed, city of the Kabala, for a walk through the narrow alleys. Visit to a synagogue and the artists’ colony.

Drive to the Golan Heights, passing by the Druze villages. Visit a former Syrian fortification on the heights. Pass by Banias, source of the Jordan River. Enjoy an Israeli wine country experience, with vineyards surrounded by breath-taking views. Become acquainted with the collection of fine and rare wines enjoying a tour, wine tasting and understanding of the wine production process. Descending to the shores of the Sea of Galilee, visit the Mount of Beatitudes and the ruins of the ancient synagogue and Peter’s house at Capernaum. Visit Tabgha, where the miracle of the fish and bread took place. Continue to Tiberias for a short tour of the old center of Jewish learning.

Optional: sailing in a boat across the Sea of Galilee to experience the tranquility and scenery that little has changed during the past 2000 years  

Depart for Akko (Acre) to explore the Knights’ Halls and the secret Crusader tunnels, continue to Haifa to view the magnificent Bahai gardens from atop Mount Carmel. Stop at ancient Caesarea, to visit the Roman Theatre and the Crusader Fortress. Continue to Tel Aviv and Jaffa for a short city tour.

Transfer to Ben Gurion Airport for your domestic flight to Eilat. Spend the next two days relaxing on the at the Red Sea resort of Eilat. Note: During public holidays in Israel, the Red Sea city of Aqaba in Jordan may be substituted for an Eilat stay.

Time to relax today at the Red Sea city of Eilat known for its marine coral nature reserve and calm sea, or take time to further explore the city.

Today you will be transferred from your Eilat hotel to the Araba border to enter Jordan.

On arrival at the Araba border, after border and immigration formalities, you will be met by your driver and transferred to Wadi Rum, called Valley of the Moon. This dramatic sandstone landscape features prehistoric inscriptions. Carving’s line rocky caverns and chasms. The natural watering hole of Lawrence’s Spring is named after the British soldier, later nick named Lawrence of Arabia. Take an off road 4WD ride through this impressive moon-like landscape with its dramatic canyons and dunes. (Duration of 4WD trip: 2 hours approx.) Later travel north to the majestic red rose city of Petra where you are based for two nights.

Petra nestled in the rocky red mountains is perhaps the most spectacular ancient city remaining in the modern world. The city was the capital of the Nabateans who dominated the lands of Jordan during pre-Roman times. They carved this wonderland of temples, tombs, and elaborate buildings hewn from solid rock. For centuries Petra fell into the mists of legend, its existence a guarded secret known only to the local Bedouins and Arab tradesmen. In 1812 a young Swiss explorer, Johann Ludwig Burckhardt, heard locals speaking of a lost city hidden in the mountains of Wadi Mousa. Burckhardt disguised himself as a pilgrim and discovered the secret of Petra, revealing it to the modern world.  Optional Petra by Night Tour

Today enter Petra, via the narrow, high Siq, hewn from rock, hundreds of feet high. This mile long pathway winds through a dramatic ravine. Finally, around the last corner, your first sight is of El Khazneh, the Treasury, carved high into the rock.   Continue to explore the Nabatean rock-cut tombs and temples of Petra. Other highlights include the 3000-seat theatre (1st C. AD) and a Palace Tomb in the Roman style. Lunch is included today at the Nabatean Tent Restaurant, a local collective. Optional cooking class and dinner at the Petra Kitchen

After breakfast travel via the Kings Highway to Madaba which is famous for its mosaics, the most stunning of in the St George Church which features a beautiful sixth century map of Jerusalem. This early church which has remained in use through the centuries. Continue to the Madaba Archaeological Park created to preserve Roman history, including ancient mosaics. Follow Moses footsteps to Mt Nebo, his traditional burial site. Later depart for the capital, Amman for a stay of two nights.

Today discover Amman. Called by many names over the centuries, including Rabbath Ammon in Hebrew, it became capital of the Ammonites and was also called Philadelphia by the Greeks. Residence of the king, Amman is constructed on many hills. On today’s tour visit the Citadel and Roman Theatre, continue to the Daret Al Funon Gallery in Jabel Al Weibdeh, and view artworks from both new and established local artists. This evening is at leisure. Option to attend the Beit Sitti Cooking School to discover the secrets firsthand of traditional Jordanian cooking.

After breakfast drive north to Jerash, nestled at the bottom of a green valley and widely regarded as one of the most beautifully preserved Roman cities in the world. Begin your exploration at the “South Gate.” Walk to the “Oval Plaza” and continue your way down through the “Street of Columns” until you reach the “Arch of Triumph” built on the honour of Emperor Hadrian in 129 AD. Continue to the Dead Sea, 75 kilometres long, it is fed by the Jordan River, with no outlet. These natural elements give the waters of the Dead Sea provide curative properties recognised since the days of Herod the Great over 2000 years ago. This evening relax on the last day of your tour, with dinner included at your Dead Sea Hotel.

Today you will be transferred to Amman Airport for your outbound flight.

TOUR INCLUSIONS:

• Welcome Meet and assist, inside immigration in Cairo
• Egypt visa on arrival for US, Canadian, UK, Australian and NZ citizens
• All Airport transfers
• Air-Conditioned transportation throughout
• 23 nights’ accommodation in your chosen tour category. Choice of Deluxe (5 star) or First Class (4 star) accommodation
• Daily breakfasts
• Giza/West Cairo 2 night stay & 2 nights downtown Cairo
• 4-night/5-day aboard fully serviced Nile Cruise on a full board basis Luxor/Aswan
• Flights Cairo/Luxor x Aswan/Cairo
• Private Transfers and sightseeing in Cairo and Luxor
• Small group sightseeing on Nile Cruise
• Egyptologist guide in Egypt
• Meet and assist ex the Airbridge, inside immigration at Tel Aviv Airport
• Coach Tour in Israel including 7 dinners
• Israeli wine country experience in the Galilee
• Flight Tel Aviv to Eilat
• Private transfers in Eilat
• Transfer via the Southern Yitzhak Rabin (Arava) tourist border, Ex Eilat to Jordan
• Private driver and local guides in Jordan
• Other meals as specified in Egypt and Jordan
• Entrance fees
• Sightseeing as specified including guide and entrance fees
• 24/7 local office support throughout the tour
• Travel Notes – issued by Innovative Travel

TOUR EXCLUSIONS:

• International airfares
• Flight: Cairo – Tel Aviv
• Optional tours and excursions
• Port Taxes and fuel surcharges
• Porterage
• Optional tours
• Tipping/Gratuities (please refer to tour notes for a recommended guideline)
• Personal Expenses
• Departure taxes
• Hotel charges for minibar or any extra charges
• Visas (unless specified)
• Covid 19 Test requirements as required

Any other services not clearly mentioned in the inclusions above