Days in Holy Land
Egypt – Jordan

Depart from either LAX or SFO Airport in the afternoon.

Arrive Cairo. Egypt’s sprawling capital is set on the Nile River, the largest city in the Arab world. At its heart is Tahrir Square and the vast Egyptian Museum, a trove of antiquities and gilded King Tutankhamun artifacts. Nearby, Giza is the site of the iconic pyramids and Great Sphinx, dating to the 26th century BC.

Your private Egyptologist tour guide will take you to Sakkara to see the prototype of the pyramids, the Step Pyramid, built for the 3rd Dynasty Pharaoh Djoser by the exalted architect Imhotep. Stop by a Carpet Institute and watch how the Grand Fathers of Egyptian used to wave carpets. Drive to Giza Plateau for a great photo leaning on, catching or kissing the famous pyramids. Visit from outside the Great Pyramids of Cheops (one of the original Seven Wonders of the World), Khafre and Menkaure, then the Valley Temple, and the Sphinx.

Early morning transferred to airport for your flight to Aswan. After arrive, continue to take the flight to Abu Simbel. Visit the temples that were built over a 25-year span and are one of the most prodigious feats of engineering in Egypt. The entire complex of temples was moved to its present location 90 feet above its old site to protect it from the rising water of the Nile when the Aswan Dam was built in the early sixties. Return to Aswan for check-in the cruise.

Afternoon taking a motor-boat ride to visit the Temple of Philae on the island of Agilka. The temple was dedicated to Isis, sister/wife of Osiris and patroness of the Ptolemaic rule.

Sailing to visit Kom Ombo temple, is an unusual double temple in the town of Kom Ombo in Aswan Governorate, Upper Egypt. It was constructed during the Ptolemaic dynasty, 180–47 BC. Back to your cruise, continue sailing to Edfou. Taking a horse carriage ride to visit to Edfou, is the site of the Temple of Horus and an ancient settlement, Tell Edfu.

Morning continue sailing to Luxor, on the site of ancient Thebes, the pharaohs’ capital at the height of their power, during the 16th -11th centuries B.C, surrounds 2 huge, surviving ancient monuments: graceful Luxor Temple and Karnak Temple.

Visit to Karnak Temple, called by some “the Temple of Temples.” It is the largest place of worship ever built. Its ancient name Ipet-isut means “the most sacred of places.” The temple, or, more correctly, the complex of temples, was built over more than two thousand years by generation after generation of pharaohs. Within the complex, the great “Hypostyle Hall” is an incredible forest of giant pillars covering an area larger than the whole of Notre Dame Cathedral. Then visit the graceful Temple of Luxor built by Amenhotep III and Ramses II for ritual and festivals and dedicated to the god Amun.
When the night comes and the moonlight covers the city, the ancient souls and spirits wake up and showcase the most hypnotic vision of heavenly allure. Under the calm and quite nature of the moon lie the essences of allure which can be explored by an amazing horse carriage ride through the surroundings of Luxor. Feel the warmth and the grace with a horse carriage ride around Luxor city.

You can try (as an option) for the Sunrise Hot Air Balloon Ride. Get a bird’s eye view overlooking one of the world’s most attraction-packed cities during this hot air balloon ride over Luxor. See ancient landmarks like the Statue of Thebes from above as you drift over the city, illuminated by the early morning sun.

Begin touring Luxor with a cross to the West Bank of the Nile and visit the wondrous Valley of the Kings, a vast city of the dead where the magnificent tombs of 62 pharaohs have been discovered. The tombs were carved deep into the desert rock, richly decorated and filled with treasures for the afterlife of the pharaohs. Visit several of the tombs. Next, visit the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut. This beautiful monument to the reign of the only female pharaoh rises out of the desert plain in a series of terraces and merges with the sheer limestone cliffs that surround it. On the way back to your Nile cruise, stop at the famed Colossi of Memnon. These colossal statures were known by the ancient Greeks to emit haunting voices at dawn. Though damaged by nature and ancient tourists, the statues are still impressive. Flight to Cairo.

Visit the Grand Egyptian Museum, which is filled with artifacts from thousands of years of Egyptian history, including treasures from the Tomb of Tutankhamun. Then, continue to Old Cairo with visit Hanging Church, Khan Khalili.

Morning transfer to the airport for the flight to Amman, is the capital and largest city of Jordan, and the country’s economic, political, and cultural center. Journey in Jordan begins with a PANORAMIC city tour of Amman, the capital of the Hashemite Kingdom. often referred to as the “White City” because of the white stone used to build houses.

Explore Amman’s historic heart by starting at the hilltop Amman Citadel for panoramic views. Walk down to the 2nd-century Roman Theater, dive into the bustling Downtown souks to experience local life, shop for traditional crafts, and taste authentic Jordanian street food. Drive to visit Mt. Nebo, is famously referenced in the Bible as the elevated ridge in Jordan where Moses viewed the Promised Land before he died. Visit the Moses Memorial Church to view intricately preserved Byzantine mosaics dating back to 530 AD. Outside, marvel at the Brazen Serpent Sculpture and enjoy panoramic views of the Jordan Valley, the Dead Sea, and on very clear days – Jerusalem. Continue to Petra.

Petra, is a famous archaeological site in Jordan’s southwestern desert. Dating to around 300 B.C., it was the capital of the Nabatean Kingdom. Famous for its rock-cut architecture and water conduit system, Petra is also called the “Rose Red City” because of the color of the stone from which it is carved. It has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1985. The city of Petra became one of the 7 New Wonders of the World when it was chosen in 2007 by a vote of 100 million people. The city’s carved rose-red sandstone rock facades, tombs, and temples became known around the world with its appearance in Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade in 1989.

Morning depart to the magical desert of Wadi Rum. A jeep 4×4 driven by a local Bedouin will tour you through the ochre-colored, moon-like landscaped desert as you visit the sites of Rum. These include Lawrence’s Spring named after T.E. Lawrence, of Lawrence of Arabia fame, who fought in the Arab revolt against the Ottoman Empire, and Khazali Canyon an iconic feature in Wadi Rum. The Canyon is an easy walk with Nabatean inscriptions and drawings.
The breathtaking Wadi Rum is a 74,000-hectare protected desert wilderness in southern Jordan. Also known as the ‘Valley of the Moon’, this expansive protected nature area has some of the most dramatic scenery in Jordan – you may even recognize its vistas from the film ‘Lawrence of Arabia’.

Following your tour of Rum, you will head directly to Your Luxury Camp with its unsurpassed sunset views. Uniquely tailored to blend with the natural surroundings perfectly, the camp offers you an authentic experience in the heart of this truly spectacular place without compromising on your comfort. Enjoy an evening around the campfire in the Star Lounge on one of the luxury sofas enjoying the desert night sky, looking out for constellations, shooting stars, and the Milky Way.

Your journey continues to the Dead Sea, a lake known for one of the saltiest formations of water in the world, bordered by Jordan to the east and Israel and the West Bank to the west. Enjoy free time for floating at Dead Sea.

The Dead Sea is a salt lake is bordered by Jordan to the east. It is an endorheic lake, meaning there are no outlet streams. The Dead Sea lies in the Jordan Rift Valley, a geographic feature formed by the Dead Sea Transform

Your hotel is the Mövenpick Dead Sea is a 5-star Resort and Spa with panoramic views of the Dead Sea, located on the Jordanian side of the Dead Sea, at the lowest point on earth. Enjoy your own time until dinner at the hotel before transfer to the airport for the departure at midnight.

Arrive in Los Angeles or San Francisco.