Epic Middle East
This Egypt, Israel and Jordan tour is suitable for first-time travelers and those who are keen to learn about the region's rich religious history. The journey gets through pharaoh's timeless Egypt, promised land Israel to the rosy Jordan, the natural beauty, religious history, and enriching city attractions of these regions are sure to leave you with memories of a lifetime.
Days
18
Price
US$9,020 p/p
Best For
first-timers
Best Time
Apr. and Oct.
Tour Highlights
Marvel at the Great Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx. Discover the hidden connection between the pyramids, the Sphinx, and the sun.
Experience a mixture of both modernity and tradition. See how Alexandria combines Eastern Islamic and Western cultures.
Witness the amazing scale of the temple and the great sculptures, columns, obelisks, murals, and pictographs.
Visit the Valley of Kings in Luxor. Read the stories told by the exquisite murals at the place where many pharaoh mummies were found.
Explore the holy city of Jerusalem and the Mount of Olives.
Witness Jewish believers praying at the Western Wall, believed to be closest to the original Holy of Holies.
Visit the birthplace of Jesus, Bethlehem, and experience the atmosphere of reverence today in the Church of the Nativity.
Marvel at the magnificence of Jordanian architecture preserved from two millennia ago.
Enjoy the thrill of driving in an other-worldly desert. See where the movie "The Martian" was filmed.
Visit the "belly button" of the earth. Experience the amazing buoyancy of the Dead Sea and a Dead Sea mud bath.
Visit Petra to see the wonder created by the ancient Nabateans.
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Itinerary Details
After landing at the airport, you will be met by your private guide and driver, who will escort you to a 5-star hotel. Your guide will assist you with the check-in process.
Start your journey with visiting the Great Pyramids of Giza and Sphinx. Enjoy a magnificent panorama view and then get close to them to feel how big they are. You can also explore the tomb chambers and appreciate the exquisite mural carvings.
In the afternoon, satisfy your curiosity in the Egyptian Museum, which features numerous exhibits, from the stone statues of different pharaohs, to the gold mask of Tutankhamun.
The last stop of the day is Khan el-Khalili Market. Explore this exotic bazaar to feel the old Cairo. Or you can enjoy some quality time over a nice cup of coffee in one of the oldest coffee bars in Cairo, El Fishawi.
Have a day tour to Alexandria. Visit the Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa, which feature a fusion of different religious cultures.
The next part of the trip is Pompey's Pillar, the emblem of Alexandria city. It is the only thing that remains after the temple of Serapis was destroyed. Have lunch at the local restaurant, then head to the Citadel of Qaitbay. It was built upon the ruins of the Lighthouse of Alexandria — one of the seven wonders of the world.
At the end of the day, you will return to your hotel in Cairo.
Fly from Cairo to Luxor. Go straight to Karnak after landing and enter the temple via the Avenue of Ram Sphinxes. Be amazed by its fantastic scale. Feel the power of pharaohs showed by the sculptures, pictograph and murals on the huge columns and walls.
Later, check in at the 5-star deluxe Nile cruise. Have lunch on board then head to the Luxor temple. Gaze up at the lofty obelisk and wander around the majestic peristyle courtyard. Notice the extraordinary reliefs on the pillars that vividly depict ancient battles.
Take an excursion to the other side of the Nile. That's where the Valley of Kings is located, which houses the tombs of 62 pharaohs, including the mysterious Tutankhamun II.
Then head to the temple of Hatshepsut. Sitting under the solemn statues of Hatshepsut, examine the relief frescoes and elegant architectural style of the temple.
On your way back to the cruise, stop by the Colossi of Memnon, the statues of Amenhotep III. After having lunch on board, you will set sail to Edfu via Esna Lock. Enjoy the night cruise.
Tour Edfu in the morning. Take a horse carriage to the temple of Horus, the falcon-headed god.
Have lunch on board and cruise to Kom Ombo, to see the temple of Sobek. In this temple, you will see some mummified crocodiles, which were thought to guide the souls of deceased pharaohs to Osiris, the god of underworld.
Head back to your cruise before sunset and enjoy the dinner on board and spend the night at Aswan.
Start your Aswan day trip with the Temple of Philae, one of the three well-preserved relics from the Ptolemy age. The temple is dedicated to Isis, the goddess of love and fertility.
Appreciate the unfinished obelisk that lies in an ancient quarry, it shows how the ancient Egyptians built this amazing obelisk.
After lunch, you will ascend to the top of Aswan Dam, and marvel at the spectacular scene from the viewing platform. Then return to the cruise for dinner and stay overnight in Aswan.
Check out from the cruise and head to Aswan airport, then fly to Tel Aviv-Yafo via Cairo.
Upon your arrival in Tel Aviv-Yafo, your private guide in Israel will meet you at the airport and escort you to the hotel.
Drive to Haifa. Visit the Bahai Hanging Garden. Ascend the garden stairs to admire the Shrine of the Báb and enjoy the refreshing panoramic views of Haifa city.
Head out to Nazareth, the birthplace of Virgin Mary and Joseph. There you will visit one of the holiest of churches, Basilica of the Annunciation.
At the end of the day, you will head to Tiberias and rest up for the night.
You will start your day with a sightseeing tour of Golan Heights which has been an important strategic area since ancient times. After enjoying a pleasant bird's-eye view from the top of Golan Heights, take a wine-tasting tour at Golan Heights Winery.
Later in the day, you will set sail on the Galilee Sea to appreciate the clear blue sky and azure water and hear legends of miracles. Afterward, visit a local church. Spend the night at Tiberias.
In the morning, you will visit Yardeint, the site where Jesus is believed to have been baptized. It is a sacred place for Christian pilgrims.
Cross the border via King Hussein (Allenby) Bridge. Your first stop in Jordan will be the ancient Roman city of Jerash. Wander along the stoa (free-standing colonnade or covered walkway) and gaze upon the majestic mountain temple and the ornate North Theater.
Continue to Amman, a lively city in the middle of the immense desert in the fertile Jordan River valley.
You will visit Citadel Hill on the fourth day of your tour. Explore the ancient domed palace, look through the remaining pillars of the temple of Hercules, and enjoy the impressive views of the Amman old city. Don't forget to pay a visit to the Jordan Museum. The numerous antiques there will help you understand the history of this ancient land.
Head to the southern desert and uncover the hidden treasure there — Petra.
Known as one of the Seven New Wonders of the World, the beauty of Petra is unmatched. A narrow rock canal called the Siq opens to Petra's hidden facade. When you get there, you will be awe-struck by a magnificent structure of rosy red. That's Al Khazna (The Treasury), which dazzles in the morning sunlight.
Hop on a jeep and commence an expedition into the Wadi Rum desert. The miraculous hand of nature created numerous uncanny shapes out of towering rocks and a 1,700 m (5,700 ft) high skyscraping rock. Enjoy a few moments of solitude and soak in the tranquility of the boundless sands.
Transfer to Madaba, the Mosaic City. This market town is well known for its collection of Byzantine-era mosaics. You will find tiles in churches, public buildings, and even local houses.
Later, visit Mount Nebo where Moses spent the last days of his life. You will learn more about the great prophet in the Memorial Church of Moses. Ascend to the mountaintop and look far to the west, and you will see the Dead Sea and Jordan River valley.
Drive to the Dead Sea. Check-in at the hotel there and rest up for the next day's tour.
Enjoy the fun of floating on the crystal-clear water. After visiting the Dead Sea, you will return to Israel via King Hussain (Allenby) Bridge.
On the way, admire the ancient stone fortress, Masada. The ruined walls and watchtowers in Masada reveal the story of the fearless Jews who stood against the Roman invasion in the ancient past.
Explore the birthplace of Jesus and King David, Bethlehem, and experience the holiness in this sacred city. There, you will visit the Grotto of Nativity. Afterward, walk around Manger Square to get close to one of the most important moments in Christian history. Appreciate the divine Chapel of the Milk Grotto.
Drive to holy Jerusalem at the end of the day.
Mount of Olives is where Jesus preached to his believers. Surrounded by verdant olive wood, Church of All Nations Gethsemane is another historical site you must not miss.
There are many more historical sites to explore, like the Church of Ascension, Tomb of Saint Mary, Church of the Pater Noster, and Pool of Siloah.
Later, Visit the Old City of Jerusalem to see a different side of the city. Follow the last path of Jesus, Via Dolorosa, from the Lion Gate to Golgotha Hill, and finally reach the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.
Visit Yad Vashem — the World Holocaust Remembrance Center. This place holds interactive displays recording the experience of Jews during the Holocaust.
Visit the National Museum. See the unique art collection and precious Bible artifacts, including the Dead Sea scrolls and the oldest manual script of the Bible.
Go back to Tel Aviv-Yafo for an exciting city tour. You will begin by experiencing the romantic Yafo old city and visit Carmel Market. There, you will be amazed by the achievements that Israel has made in agriculture.
Before the end of the day, you will visit Rabin Square. It was once called Tel Aviv's Kings Square.
At the end of your journey, your guide will accompany you to the airport. Bid farewell to Israel as you depart with an experience of a lifetime. We hope to have the honor of serving you again on your next tour!
Hand-picked Hotels
Price Includes
Price from: $9,020 (Tour code: gh-eg-8)
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