General
Day 01 USA – Egypt
Day 02 – Cairo Arrival at Cairo airport, meet, assist and transfer to your hotel.
Overnight
Day 03 – Cairo
Included: breakfast
Full day visit to the Pyramids of Giza & the Sphinx.
Evening at leisure and overnight.
The Pyramids: The 4500 year old pyramids are universally recognized as one of the Seven Wonders of the World. A single pyramid is built of 2,300,000 blocks, each weighing an average of two and one–half tons. In the face of such immensity, one cannot help but feel the wonder and awe that so many writers & artists have sought to convey over the centuries. The Cheops Pyramid is especially interesting since its interior burial chambers are open for inspection by the public. Not far from the Pyramids is the Great Sphinx of Giza, which dates from the time of Chephren (aka Khafre) (2558 BC). Hewn from natural yellowish limestone & standing 65 feet high & 187 feet long, this unforgettable statue combines the head of a human (Pharaoh Khafre himself?) with a lion’s body. Proceed with a visit to Memphis and Sakkara.
Memphis: served as the capital of Upper & Lower Egypt some 5,000 years ago during the 1st Dynasty. Menes, the first pharaoh of this dynasty, built a great white-walled palace & the Great Temple of Ptah here.
Sakkara (also spelled Saqqara sometimes): one of the most exciting historical & archaeological areas in all of Egypt, situated about 12 miles South West of Cairo. The site is dominated by the famous step pyramid of King Zoser. It was the first pyramid to be built in ancient Egypt, preceding those at Giza by many centuries, and is the work of the famous pharaonic architect, Imhotep.
Day 04 – Cairo
Included: breakfast
Half day visit to the Egyptian museum
Half day visit to Citadel of Saladin, Mosque of Mohamed Ali, and Mosque of Al-Rifai (where the members of the royal family of Egypt and Shah of Iran are buried). Evening at leisure and overnight.
The Egyptian museum: Is the most important depository of Egyptian antiquities anywhere in the world. It features artifacts from the Pharaonic and Greco-Roman periods, including the celebrated mummy and treasures of ancient Egypt’s King Tut Ankh Amun. Then we visit the 19th century Alabaster Mosque (Mohammad Ali Mosque). Finally, we drive to Al-Rifai Mosque which was built in the early 20th century and where the members of the royal family of Egypt and the Shah of Iran are buried.
The Citadel: Is situated on a spur of the Musqattam Hills. The citadel dominates Cairo’s Skyline and was the nerve center of the city and Egypt for almost 700 years. Its construction was initiated in 1176 by Saladin, and completed by Muhammad Ali. Mameluke sultans and Turkish governors later made it their residence, building palaces and mosques within the Citadel walls.
Day 05 – Cairo
Included: breakfast
Half day visit to the Khan el Khalili Bazaar.
Rest of day at leisure.
Day 06 – Cairo – Tel Aviv
Included: breakfast
Transfer to the airport for a short flight to Tel Aviv then transfer to your hotel.
Day 07 – Tel Aviv – Jerusalem Old & New city
Included: breakfast
Drive to Mount of Olives for a panoramic view of the city. Stop at Mount Zion to visit King David’s tomb, the room of last supper and the dormition abbey; Enter the old city and walk through the Armenian and Jewish quarters to the recently excavated and restored Cardo, the Roman road. See the Jewish Wailing Wall, the Kotel, and continue to the Christian quarter. Walk along the Via Dolorosa and visit the church of holy Sepulchre built in 335, 1500 years ago! Proceed to the new city and visit Yad Vashem, the memorial to the holocaust.
On Saturdays and Jewish holidays, instead of Yad Vashem, visit Yemin Moshe, the first neighborhood built outside the city walls; Stroll through Mishkenot Sha’ananim and view the Montifiore windmill
Day 08 – Masada & Dead Sea
Included: breakfast
Depart Tel Aviv via the Judean hills to the Dead Sea, the lowest place on earth. Visit a Dead Sea products shop. Drive along the shores of the Dead Sea to Masada where you will learn about the heroic story of the Jewish fighters. Ascend by cable car and tour the mountain fortress built by King Herod, where the zealots of the first century made their last stand against the Romans. Visit the remains of the walls, palaces, synagogue, water cisterns, mosaic floors, roman baths and other findings. Descend by cable car. Continue to the Dead Sea; Enjoy the unique opportunity to swim and float in the Dead Sea that many believe has its therapeutic effects. On the way back, view Qumran Caves, where the Dead Sea scrolls were found.
NOTE: Comfortable walking shoes, hats, sun screen, bathing suit and towel are recommended.
Day 09 – Caesarea – Haifa
Included: breakfast
Drive along the coastal road to Caesarea, the ancient Roman capital and port; enjoy a walking tour of the theatre and the archaeological ruins and excavations. Continue to Haifa for a scenic view of the city, the port and the Bahai gardens. Proceed via Nahariya to Rosh Hanikra to visit the limestone grottos on the border with Lebanon. Drive to Acre, to visit the crusaders and Turkish underground city and crypt. Walk through the old city and the oriental market, the Arab mosque and the old port.
Day 10 – Nazareth – Tiberias – Galilee
Included: breakfast
Depart Tel Aviv via the coastal road and the landscape of the lower Galilee to Nazareth, the town where Jesus spent his childhood. Visit the church of Annunciation and the church of St. Joseph. Continue, via Kana, to Tiberias, the lovely resort town.
Drive along the Kineret lake to visit Capernaum and view the ruins of the ancient synagogue where Jesus taught; Continue to Tabgha, the site of the miracle of fish and loaves located at the foot of the Golan Heights; Proceed to Yardenit, the famous baptismal site where the Jordan river leaves the sea of Galilee towards the dead sea.
Day 11 – Tel Aviv USA
Included: breakfast
Today we transfer to airport for your flight home arriving in the USA,
end of service.