Egypt, Jordan and Israel Explored
Egypt, Jordan and Israel Explored
Egypt, Jordan and Israel Explored
25 Days
Visiting: Cairo, Giza, Alexandria, El Alamein, Luxor, West bank, Kom Ombo, Aswan, Abu Simbel, Amman, Jerash, Mount Nebo, Petra, Wadi Rum, Dead Sea, Tel Aviv, Nazareth, Galilee Mountains, Acre, Jordan Valley, Bethlehem, Mount of Olives, Jerusalem
Tour operator:
Tour code:
2001
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
12 - 28
Age range:
12-99
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Tour Overview
Witness the majestic legacy of Ancient Egypt, visit lost cities and Bedouin camps in Jordan, and immerse yourself in the fascinating history of Israel and Palestine, all on one unforgettable trip. See Egypt from top to toe, follow in the footsteps of Lawrence of Arabia in Jordan and explore the history-soaked sites of the Holy Land on this 25-day adventure. From a four-night Nile cruise to stargazing in Wadi Rum and experiencing sacred Bethlehem and Jerusalem, this is the ultimate introduction to the Middle East.
Itinerary
Day 1: Fly To Cairo
Location: Cairo
Meals Included: Dinner
Fly to Cairo and transfer to your hotel in the city centre.
Day 2: Pyramids Of Giza
Location: Giza
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Visit Egypt's most iconic sites: the Pyramids of Giza and the unblinking Sphinx, along with the atmospheric Egyptian Museum with its collections of statues, mummies and pharaonic treasures. Later, explore the Khan el Khalili Bazaar, a souk famed for its precious and semiprecious jewellery.
Day 3: Cairo City Tour
Location: Cairo
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Spend the morning exploring Cairo's oldest district, the Coptic Quarter, with its impressive churches and huge Christian artefact collection at the Coptic Museum. Later, continue to Sakkara, an ancient necropolis famed for its painted catacombs and the Step Pyramid of Djoser.
Day 4: Explore Alexandria
Location: Alexandria
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Take the desert road to Alexandria, on the coast. This afternoon, you'll discover Alexandria's many highlights, from the Roman theatre to the atmospheric Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa, dating back to the 2nd century. Pause for a photostop at the renovated 15th-century Qaitbay Citadel, once one of the most important defensive strongholds of Africa's Mediterranean coastline.
Day 5: El Alamein
Location: Cairo, El Alamein
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
This morning, we visit El Alamein, the site of two key battles in WWII. The Allied victory in the second battle was instrumental in ending the Axis threat to Egypt. Explore the military museum and war cemeteries before travelling southeast back to Cairo. Stop en route to visit the still-active Monastery of St Macarius, inhabited by Coptic Orthodox monks since the 4th century AD.
Day 6: Luxor's East Bank
Location: Luxor
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Take a short one-hour flight from Cairo to Luxor, where we transfer to the port and board your 5* Nile cruise ship for our four-night cruise. Refresh yourself before this afternoon's excursions around Luxor's East Bank. Begin at the Temple Complex of Karnak, famed for the majestic Hypostyle Hall with its 134 gigantic stone columns, along with the Avenue of the Sphinxes and the Sacred Lake.
Day 7: The West Bank
Location: West bank
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Explore the West Bank of Luxor, one of Egypt's most stunning landscapes. Admire the mysterious Colossi of Memnon statues en route to the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, the gigantic funerary complex of Egypt's second-ever female Pharaoh. This afternoon, visit the Valley of the Kings, resting place of many pharaohs of the New Kingdom. Here, visit the tomb of Tutankhamun along with other richly-painted tombs of your choice. Tonight, sail for Esna.
Day 8: Kom Ombo
Location: Kom Ombo, Aswan
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Enjoy a morning visit to the Temple of Horus at Edfu, one of Egypt’s most beautiful and well-preserved temples, dating back to the 3rd century BC. Return to the ship for lunch as you cruise on to the town of Kom Ombo, where we visit the unusual double temple of Kom Ombo, dedicated to Horus and Sobek. Sail on to Aswan, where we dock for the next two nights.
Day 9: Abu Simbel
Location: Aswan, Abu Simbel
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
This morning, journey southwest to the iconic twin temples of Abu Simbel, at Egypt's furthest edge. This atmospheric temple complex, perhaps the greatest in Egypt, is dedicated to Ramesses II, often considered the greatest pharaoh of the New Kingdom. Admire its many halls and imposing statues before returning to the ship in Aswan.
Day 10: Aswan - Cairo
Location: Cairo
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Discover the many highlights of Aswan on this full-day tour. Visit the 111-metre tall Aswan High Dam, see the Unfinished Obelisk in place at Aswan's ancient quarry, and visit the Temple of Philae on Agilkia Island. After lunch, embark on a felucca (traditional Nile sailing boat) for an afternoon of leisurely cruising. Enjoy a last dinner in Egypt before this evening's flight back to Cairo.
Day 11: Fly To Amman
Location: Amman
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Depart Egypt and take a short flight to Amman, the capital of Jordan. Transfer to your hotel before this evening's Jordan briefing.
Day 12: Roman Jerash
Location: Jerash
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Begin your explorations of Jordan with a visit to the Roman city of Jerash with its impressive archaeological remains. Continue to Ajloun, where we visit the 12th-century castle overlooking the Jordan Valley.
Day 13: Amman City Tour
Location: Amman
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Explore the old city of Amman, with its impressive Citadel and large Roman theatre, before exploring the Desert Castles outside the city. After lunch, return to Amman and explore the monuments of the ancient city centre.
Day 14: Mount Nebo
Location: Mount Nebo
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Visit Mount Nebo, one of the possible burial sites of Moses. The ruined 4th and 5th-century churches here are home to impressive Biblical mosaics. Continue to Madaba to visit the Orthodox Church of St George, famed for its mosaic map. Your evening ends in the town of Petra, where you’ll enjoy an authentic Levantine cooking class with a local chef.
Day 15: Petra By Day & Night
Location: Petra
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Petra, the Lost City of the Nabateans, is an iconic site. Carved directly into the rugged sandstone cliffs, it is approached through a deep canyon known as the Siq. Your guide will introduce you to Petra's many secrets before an afternoon at leisure. This evening, we'll return to Petra and experience the unforgettable sight of the Treasury lit by over a thousand candles.
Day 16: Wadi Rum Desert
Location: Wadi Rum
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Start with a visit to Little Petra before transferring to Wadi Rum, the Valley of the Moon. This wondrous desert is filled with ancient valleys, towered over by sandstone mountains. A comfortable 4x4 will whisk you into the heart of the wadi, where you’ll follow in the footsteps of Lawrence of Arabia and hear the desert's long history. This evening, stay in a unique desert camp with luxurious en-suite private tents.
Day 17: The Dead Sea (East)
Location: Dead Sea
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Depart your luxury desert camp and head to the Dead Sea, the lowest point on earth and famed for its spa-like minerals. Your afternoon is at leisure to float in its super-buoyant waters.
Day 18: Tel Aviv
Location: Tel Aviv
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Depart Jordan and transfer to Tel Aviv for your adventure in the Holy Land.
Day 19: Jaffa - Caesarea - Nazareth
Location: Nazareth
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Today you will visit Jaffa, the world's oldest active harbour, before travelling to Caesarea to view the fascinating Roman ruins on the shoreline. Drive to view the Holy Land at Mukhraga viewpoint before arriving at your hotel in Nazareth.
Day 20: Galilee And Acre
Location: Galilee Mountains, Acre
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Begin at Kibbutz Degania Bet to gain an insider's perspective on Israel's Kibbutz movement. Continue to Tabgha, held to be the site of the 'miracle of the loaves and fishes' as depicted in the site's wonderful mosaics. In Capernaum, visit the site where Jesus is said to have raised a woman from the dead. See the House of St Peter and the nearby Mount of Beatitudes, the site of the Sermon on the Mount. This afternoon, spend some time in the Crusader town of Acre.
Day 21: Jordan Valley
Location: Jordan Valley
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Drive through the scenic Jordan Valley into Palestinian Territory to visit Qasr El Yahud, the site of Jesus’ baptism. Continue to Jericho where you’ll take a cable car to the cliffside Quarantal Monastery on the Mount of Temptation. After lunch, return to the Dead Sea to experience its western shore.
Day 22: Bethlehem
Location: Bethlehem
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Drive to Masada and ascend to Masada Fortress by cable car. Admire the spectacular view and hear the story of the last stand of the Jewish rebels against the Romans. Enjoy lunch in Qumran and visit the caves in which the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered. Tonight, stay in Bethlehem and enjoy a Palestinian cultural dance performance.
Day 23: Mount Of Olives
Location: Mount of Olives
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Visit Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity, one of the most holy sites in the world. Continue to Jerusalem to visit the famous Western Wall, the last remnant of the original Temple Mount retaining wall, which supported the First and Second Temples of Jerusalem. Walk to the Stations of the Cross and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre before continuing to Temple Mount, site of the Dome of the Rock and Al Aksa Mosque.
Day 24: Jerusalem
Location: Jerusalem
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Visit Mt Zion to see King David's Tomb, the Dormition Abbey and the Cenacle. After lunch, visit the Mount of Olives and the Garden of Gethsemane, the site of Jesus’ arrest. Wander its atmospheric olive groves before this evening's Shabbat dinner, prepared by a local rabbi.
Day 25: Depart Tel Aviv
Location: Tel Aviv
Meals Included: Breakfast
Transfer from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv Airport (Ben Gurion) for your return flight.
Check out our Q&As
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What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?
If, after our confirmation invoice has been issued, you wish to change your travel arrangements in any way, we will endeavour to make these changes, but it may not always be possible. Any changes to confirmed bookings need to be sent to us in writing via your travel agent. Please refer to our booking conditions for further information and fees.
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Customers booking to travel solo can choose our ‘Happy to Share’ option, which may enable them to share a twin room with other solo customers of the same gender who also request Happy to Share, thus avoiding the need to pay single room supplements. Note that ‘Happy to Share’ requests can be received when you make your booking with us but will not be confirmed until your final payment due date.
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What documents will I receive before I travel?
Your Final Travel Documents are usually sent to you 2-3 weeks prior to your departure. Your travel pack will include your tour itinerary, hotel details, flight e-tickets and a travel guide. If you have booked with a travel agent, your tickets will be dispatched to your travel agent unless we have been otherwise informed.
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Will I be travelling with passengers from other countries?
Our passengers generally enjoy the mixture of British, Australian and American clients on tour. Occasionally we are joined by English-speaking passengers from other countries.
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What is 'Happy to Share'?
Customers booking to travel solo can choose our ‘Happy to Share’ option, which may enable them to share a twin room with other solo customers of the same gender who also request Happy to Share, thus avoiding the need to pay single room supplements. Note that ‘Happy to Share’ requests can be received when you make your booking with us but will not be confirmed until your final payment due date. If a share partner is found, the Single Supplement will be removed from your booking. If a share partner is not found, the Single Supplement will remain and is payable with your final balance in line with our normal booking conditions. Either way, our Operations Team will contact you around 75 days before departure to let you know whether a share partner has been found or not. We regret that Happy to Share requests cannot be accepted within 75 days of departure. Wendy Wu Tours reserves the right to change or withdraw this arrangement at any time.
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Do you allow children on your tours?
We allow children 12 years and over on our group tours. We recommend that families with children of any age take advantage of our private or tailormade tours. This will give you more flexibility while on tour.
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Book with Confidence
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Low Deposit
Wendy Wu requires a minimum deposit of 350 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 75 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of wendy wu charges.
Up to 75 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 74 days before tour starts: Forfeit 30% of booking price.
At 41 days before tour starts: Forfeit 60% of booking price.
At 27 days before tour starts: Forfeit 90% of booking price.
At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.