Itinerary
- Day 1
Cairo
You'll get picked up at Cairo Airport and taken to your hotel. After that, the day is open for you to rest and settle in. If you land early enough, there's an optional tour of Cairo's backstreets that leaves at 10am if you want to jump in right away.
Optional Activities
- Backstreets of Cairo tour (departs hotel at 10am)
- Pre-tour Day Trip to Alexandria
- Post-tour Day Trip to Alexandria
- Day 2
Giza - Aswan
You'll start the day at the Pyramids of Giza and the Sphinx, getting a close look at these structures before heading to the Grand Egyptian Museum. The museum houses an impressive collection of ancient artifacts, and you'll spend time with the Tutankhamun treasures that are on display there. After lunch, there's a stop at a government-supervised Papyrus Museum to check out traditional papyrus art and crafts. In the evening, you'll head to the train station and board an overnight train heading south to Aswan, so you can settle in for the journey.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Visit to the Pyramids of Giza and Sphinx
- Guided tour of the Grand Egyptian Museum including King Tutankhamun treasures
- Visit to government-supervised Papyrus Museum
Landmarks Pyramids of Giza Sphinx Grand Egyptian Museum 
- Day 3
Aswan
The train gets you to Aswan early, and after checking into your hotel, you'll take a scenic boat ride out to Agilika Island for a guided tour of Philae Temple dedicated to the goddess Isis. Back in Aswan, you'll stop at a perfume oil shop, then have the rest of your day free. You can relax by the pool, walk through Aswan's colorful souks, or watch the sunset over the Nile.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Scenic boat ride to Agilika Island
- Guided tour of Philae Temple
Optional Activities
- Visit perfume oil emporium
Landmarks Philae Temple 
- Day 4
Aswan
You have the option to book an early morning excursion by road to visit the Temples of Ramses II at Abu Simbel. Otherwise, you can take a leisurely morning in Aswan. The afternoon opens up with free time to explore Egypt's southernmost city on your own.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Optional early morning excursion by road to Temples of Ramses II at Abu Simbel
Landmarks Temples of Ramses II at Abu Simbel 
- Day 5
Aswan to Kom Ombo to Luxor
This morning you'll drive to Kom Ombo to see the ancient temple dedicated to Sobek, the crocodile-headed god. After that, you'll head on to Luxor, a 4,000-year-old city known for the Valley of the Kings and Temple of Karnak. The rest of your day is free to spend however you'd like.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Explore Kom Ombo temple
Landmarks Kom Ombo temple 
- Day 6
Luxor
The morning is yours to relax by the pool or explore Luxor independently, which many people call the world's greatest open-air museum. This afternoon brings a guided tour of Temple of Karnak, a massive religious complex built for the Theban gods. An optional evening tour of Temple of Luxor and the Avenue of Sphinxes is available, and it's particularly striking when lit up by hundreds of lights after dark.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Temple of Karnak
Optional Activities
- Optional tour of Temple of Luxor at night (book and pay locally)
Landmarks Temple of Karnak Temple of Luxor Avenue of Sphinxes - Day 7
Luxor to Hurghada
Head to Luxor's West Bank this morning for a guided tour of the Valley of the Kings with its beautifully decorated pharaohs' tombs (three are open to enter). You'll see the towering 18-meter-high Colossi of Memnon standing watch. After exploring the valley, you'll tour Temple of Queen Hatshepsut. By afternoon, you'll leave Luxor and drive east to Hurghada on Egypt's Red Sea coast for your next three nights.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Valley of the Kings
- Visit Colossi of Memnon
- Tour of Temple of Queen Hatshepsut
Landmarks Valley of the Kings Colossi of Memnon Temple of Queen Hatshepsut 
- Days 8 - 9
Hurghada
Spend the next two days at leisure soaking up the sun on the beach and swimming in the sea. You can use the hotel facilities and walk around Hurghada's town. There's an optional day trip to Giftun Island for swimming and snorkeling. Hurghada offers plenty of aquatic activities including windsurfing, deep-sea fishing, scuba diving, and snorkeling around the offshore reefs.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Breakfast
Included Activities
- Red Sea beach break
Optional Activities
- Optional day trip to Giftun Island for swimming and snorkelling (book locally)
Landmarks Giftun Island - Day 10
Hurghada to Amman to Petra
You'll get an early start heading to Hurghada Airport this morning. From there, you'll fly to Amman through Cairo. Once you arrive in Amman, you'll drive south to Petra, getting there near sunset. If you're interested, there's an optional 'Petra By Night' excursion for a candlelight walk through Petra's Siq tonight.
Optional Activities
- Petra By Night candlelight stroll through Petra's Siq (approx. USD$45 payable locally)
Landmarks Petra 
- Day 11
Petra
Welcome to the Rose City. You'll take a guided walk through Petra's famous narrow Siq to reveal the beautiful Treasury. From there, you'll walk down gravel tracks exploring ancient Nabatean tombs and Roman rock-carved streets with temples, royal tombs, staircases, and gates. You'll see a gigantic amphitheatre originally built for 3,000 people, later expanded by Romans to 7,000. After the guided part, you're free to explore more or rest. If you're up for it, hike up to the Monastery for nice views. Evening is free, or you can join an optional Petra Kitchen cooking class.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided walk through Petra's Siq
- Visit the Treasury
- Explore Nabatean tombs and Roman rock-carved streets
Optional Activities
- Continue to the Monastery
- Petra Kitchen culinary experience (add-on)
Landmarks Petra Petra Treasury Petra Monastery - Day 12
Petra to Wadi Rum
This morning you can go back to Petra for more exploring if you'd like. Then you'll drive to Wadi Rum, a wide desert landscape with pastel-colored sand and rock formations called jebels. You'll do a 4x4 desert safari and end the day with Bedouin dinner at a desert camp. You'll sleep under the stars or in tents.
- Meals
- Breakfast, Dinner (Bedouin dinner at desert camp)
Included Activities
- 4x4 desert safari through Wadi Rum
- Bedouin dinner at desert camp
Optional Activities
- Revisit Petra for further exploration
Landmarks Wadi Rum 
- Day 13
Wadi Rum to Shobak to Wadi Mujib to Dead Sea
After breakfast at the camp, you'll head north along the Desert Highway to see Shobak Castle, a hilltop fortress built by Crusader king Baldwin I in 1115. Next you'll descend 1,300 meters to the Dead Sea, Earth's lowest point on the surface. You'll float in the mineral-rich water and apply the famous black mud for your skin. For April-October trips, you'll go up the King's Highway to Wadi Mujib for a moderate two-hour trek along the Siq Trail (500 meters deep, 4 kilometers across). The canyon has sheer walls and sparkling water ranging from shallow to deep. Higher water means ladders, boulder scrambling, and wading. Those not interested can walk part of it or wait at the center.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Shobak Castle
- Float in Dead Sea mineral-rich waters
- Apply Dead Sea mud treatment
Optional Activities
- Wadi Mujib Siq Trail trek (moderate paced, approximately 2 hours) - available April-October
Landmarks Shobak Castle Dead Sea Wadi Mujib 
- Day 14
Dead Sea
Spend the whole day at the Dead Sea, a natural wonder on many travelers' lists. You'll bob in its mineral-rich buoyant water and cover yourself with a detoxifying mud bath. There's also an option to visit Ma'in hot springs or the site believed to be where Jesus was baptized by John.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Dead Sea leisure time
Optional Activities
- Visit Ma'in hot springs (book locally)
- Visit site where Jesus Christ is thought to have been baptised by John (book locally)
Landmarks Dead Sea Ma'in hot springs - Day 15
Dead Sea to Jerusalem
This morning you'll travel to the Jordanian border. After getting through immigration, you'll take a public shuttle bus across the border into Israel where a driver will pick you up and take you to your Jerusalem hotel. The afternoon and evening are free. It's the Sabbath today, which means fewer crowds, so it's a good time to explore the World Heritage listed city on foot.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Border transfer to Israel
- Day 16
Jerusalem and Bethlehem
You'll take a guided tour of Jerusalem and Bethlehem. Start at Mount of Olives for panoramic views of the old city. Then walk through the atmospheric old city, moving through the Armenian and Jewish quarters to the Cardo, an ancient Roman road. Continue through the Christian quarter to the Wailing Wall, one of the most revered Hebrew sites. You'll retrace Jesus's final steps along the Via Dolorosa to the Church of the Sepulchre. A short drive takes you to Bethlehem, Jesus's birthplace, where you'll see Manger Square and the Church of Nativity, thought to be the world's oldest church. The evening in Jerusalem is free.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Guided tour of Mount of Olives
- Walking tour of old city Armenian and Jewish quarters
- Visit Cardo (ancient Roman road)
- Visit Wailing Wall
- Walk Via Dolorosa
- Visit Church of the Sepulchre
- Visit Manger Square in Bethlehem
- Visit Church of Nativity
Landmarks Mount of Olives Wailing Wall Church of the Sepulchre Via Dolorosa Manger Square Church of Nativity - Day 17
Jerusalem to Caesarea to Jaffa to Tel Aviv
You'll leave Jerusalem today and head down the coast, stopping in historic Caesarea where Roman and Crusader ruins line the seafront. Continue south to Jaffa, an ancient port, for a walking tour of the fortified town and hilltop views. Then it's a short drive to Tel Aviv, a vibrant modern city where you'll spend your final night. Known as the city that never sleeps, Tel Aviv has trendy bistros, high-end restaurants, and street food stalls.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Included Activities
- Visit Caesarea historic ruins
- Walking tour of Jaffa
Landmarks Caesarea Jaffa 
- Day 18
Tel Aviv
Your tour ends with an included transfer from Tel Aviv to Ben Gurion Airport at your preferred time. Tel Aviv has plenty to offer like beautiful beaches, art galleries, and markets, so extending your stay is worth considering. Post-tour accommodation can be arranged if you request it.
- Meals
- Breakfast
Optional Activities
- Extend stay in Tel Aviv
