TOUR 2 – FROM PHARAOH TO PROMISE: A BIBLICAL TOUR OF EGYPT & JORDAN

DEPART FROM THE U.S.

• Our journey begins today as we depart LAX International Airport on our way to Cairo Egypt, home of the Great Sphinx of Giza and Pyramids. Sit back relax and enjoy your flight. Get some rest…tomorrow you will be walking through Bible history!

• Meals: On Board
•    Accommodation: On Board

“AHLAN WA SAHLAN” – WELCOME TO EGYPT, LAND OF PHARAOHS”

• Today we arrive in Cairo Egypt. We will meet our tour escort and transfer to our hotel.  We check in and have dinner at the hotel.

• Meals:  Full Buffet Dinner at Hotel
• Accommodation: Cairo, Steigenberger Pyramids
•   Arrival Transfer:  Complimentary

MEMPHIS AND SAKKARA 

• After breakfast, we will meet your Egyptologist tour guide and start our Ancient Egypt exploration. We will depart in a comfortable, air-conditioned vehicle toward ancient Memphis, located south of Cairo.
• Memphis, the ancient capital of Egypt’s Old Kingdom was founded around 3100 B.C. Visit the open-air museum featuring the colossal statue of Ramesses II, lying on its back in impressive preservation and the Alabaster Sphinx, smaller but beautifully crafted.
• A short drive through the countryside will bring us to the vast necropolis of Sakkara. Here we will explore the Step Pyramid of Zoser. This pyramid was built around 2686 B.C for Pharaoh Djoser and it is the oldest pyramid in the world. It is also considered the earliest large-scale stone structure in history.
  
• We will return to our hotel for dinner.
   

PYRAMIDS / SPHINX / ENTER INSIDE THE GREAT PYRAMID / CAMEL RIDE / NEW GRAND EGYPTIAN MUSEUM 

• After breakfast, we begin our journey at the iconic Giza Plateau to see the legendary Pyramids of Giza. We’ll explore the Great Pyramid of Khufu—the oldest and largest of the three, and the only remaining Wonder of the Ancient World. Inside, we’ll walk through ancient passageways leading to the Grand Gallery, Queen’s Chamber, and King’s Chamber, experiencing the ingenuity of ancient Egyptian engineering.
• Next, we visit the Great Sphinx, a colossal limestone statue with a lion’s body and Pharaoh’s face, believed to represent Khafre. Standing for over 4,500 years, it remains one of Egypt’s most mysterious and enduring symbols.
• Discover the greatest collection of Pharaonic treasures in the world at the newly opened Grand Egyptian Museum. Visit the world’s only Hanging Obelisk, a dramatic introduction to Egypt’s grandeur. Explore the Grand Hall and ascend the Grand Staircase Gallery, lined with over 60 significant artifacts.
• In the Main Galleries, spanning twelve halls, trace Egypt’s history from prehistoric times to the Roman era. Discover highlights like Tutankhamun’s gold mask, a colossal statue of Amenhotep III and Queen Tiye, the grave mask of Amenemope, and a figurine of Pharaoh Khufu—an unforgettable journey through one of the world’s greatest civilizations.
• Dinner and Overnight at Cairo hotel.

SINAI DESERT / MARAH BY THE RED SEA / ELIM / REPHIDIM / MT. SINAI / DINNER IN A BEDOUIN TENT

• After breakfast we will trace the routes of the Biblical Exodus and travel from Cairo to the Red Sea.
• Stop at Marah, the desert spring where the children of Israel found the water bitter.Visit the desert oasis of Elim and Wadi Feiran, where you will see Mount Serbal, the possible site where Moses held his arms up for victory.
• Enjoy an authentic Bedouin dinner in a Bedouin tent.

Optional Climb to Mt. Sinai. For those who wish to climb Mt. Sinai, please bring warm clothing and comfortable walking shoes for the ascent. Optional Camel ride is available up to 1/3 of the Mt. and can be arranged at the spot with your tour guide for $25 per person.

*Please note: The options for accommodation in the remote area of Mt. Sinai are very limited. Although not equivalent in quality to the other hotels we use along this tour, the hotel we use is the best in the area.

• Meals: Full Buffet Breakfast & Dinner
• Accommodation: Mt. Sinai, Morgen Land Village Hotel *
• Activity Level: .5 to 1 miles of walking per day – might involve uneven surfaces such as cobblestones, stairs, unpaved walkways

FROM MT. SINAI TO THE RED SEA AND THE MOUNTAINS OF EDOM: CLIMB MT. SINAI / ST. CATHERINE MONASTERY / TABA BORDER / EILAT / CROSS TO JORDAN / AQABA

• At daybreak those who desire and are physically capable will depart for a memorable early ascent to Mt. Sinai, where they will walk in the footsteps of Moses and the devoted pilgrims who traveled this route centuries earlier. You may choose to ride a camel part way, stopping at one of the stations to take in the scenery along the climb to the summit. We should reach the summit just before dawn in time to witness its incredible sunrise and splendid views. We will enjoy a time of praise and unforgettable, breathtaking views of the Sinai Wilderness. As we read from the Book of Genesis we remember that this is the place where Moses met the Lord in the Burning Bush and where he received the Ten Commandments.
• Descending the mountain, we will return to the hotel to rejoin the rest of our group for breakfast.
• We will visit the Monastery of St. Catherine, constructed by the Roman Emperor Justinian (527 and 565 AD). It is built around what was thought to be Moses’ Burning Bush.
• We will head towards the eastern shores of the Sinai Peninsula and the Red Sea on our way north to the Taba Marine docks
• After passports formalities, we will enjoy a 50-minute-long ferry ride from Taba (Egypt) to Aqaba (Jordan) while we crossing the Red Sea.   
• Upon arrival in Aqaba and after passports formalities, we will meet our Jordanian tour guide – Welcome to Jordan! A short drive from the port  (10 minutes) lays our amazing resort hotel on the shore of the Red Sea.  
• We will check in at our 5 star resort hotel for dinner and overnight.  
• Use the free evening to enjoy the hotel’s facilities or just rest, relax, and enjoy the Red Sea and the tranquil town of Aqaba.

• Meals: Full Buffet Breakfast & Dinner
• Accommodation: Kempinski Hotel, Aqaba
•   Fast Ferry Taba to Aqaba
• Activity Level: 4 to 6 miles of walking per day (for those climbing Mt Sinai)- might involve uneven surfaces such as cobblestones, stairs, unpaved walkways

FREE DAY TO ENJOY THE AQABA RESORT – OPTIONAL 1/2 DAY TOUR OF WADI RUM

• After breakfast enjoy a free day at our resort hotel. Get some rest and enjoy the resort’s facilities and beach.

EXPLORING THE NABATEAN TREASURE CITY OF PETRA / DEAD SEA

• We will drive along the King’s Highway to Wadi Musa – the Jordanian village located at the entrance to the ancient city of Petra – one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. The 2,000-year old ancient city of Petra, known as the red rock city, was the ancient capital of the Nabateans from the 3rd century BC to the 2nd century AD. Petra was forgotten for hundreds of years until it was rediscovered in 1812. At the entrance to Petra, travelers are offered the option to ride a horse for about 875 yards – from the visitor’s center to the entrance of the dramatic “Siq” (canyon). We will explore Petra’s incredible structures: the field of tombs, the obelisks, the altar, and much more.

• We will then drive north to the Dead Sea (Jordan) where we will check in and enjoy dinner at our hotel.

• Meals: Full Buffet Breakfast & Dinner
• Accommodation: Dead Sea, Jordan Marriott Resort & Spa
• Activity Level: 2 to 3 miles of walking per day – might involve uneven surfaces such as cobblestones, stairs, unpaved walkways

MADABA/MT. NEBO/JERASH / FAREWELL DINNER / DEPARTURE FLIGHT BACK TO THE US

• After breakfast we will head to the biblical town of Madaba. Madaba is best known for its Byzantine and Umayyad mosaics and for its Greek Orthodox Church of St. George. Here we will view the earliest original map of the Holy Land.
• We will continue to the biblical Mt. Nebo, from which Moses viewed the Promised Land. Mt. Nebo, believed to be the site of the tomb of Moses, commands a spectacular view across the Jordan Valley and the Dead Sea.
• We will drive near Bethany Beyond the Jordan, where John the Baptist is purported to have baptized Jesus.
• We will end our tour driving to Jerash, one of the best-preserved Roman cities in the world. Upon arrival, explore the ancient city’s remarkable ruins . Highlights include Hadrian’s Arch, the massive Hippodrome, the stunning Oval Plaza, the Temple of Artemis, and the well-preserved South Theater. Stroll along the colonnaded streets and imagine life in this thriving Roman provincial city.
• We will drive to a local restaurant to enjoy our farewell dinner before continuing to the airport for the departure flight back to the USA.

• Meals: Full Buffet Breakfast & Dinner
• Accommodation: On Board flight
• Departure Transfer – Complimentary – Tour ends at Amman airport on Sunday at 8:00pm (for flights departing Amman Sunday Night 10:30pm-3:30am Monday morning)   
• * Please note that in case your flight departs early morning Monday or during the day on Monday , we can book your extra night at the Dead Sea Resort and Spa and private transfer to the airport

• Today you will arrive back and start planning your next trip to the Holy Land…