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Egypt, Jordan & Israel


Discover the diversity of this extraordinary region - visit the highlights and unearth the hidden treasures




Travel through time on this magical carpet ride through the Middle East! We enjoy an in-depth discovery of ancient Egypt, covering all the major sites and then relax on a four day riverboat cruise along the Nile. Medieval Cairo and Mount Sinai are also explored before we cross the border into Jordan. Here, we spend a night camping with the Bedouin in Wadi Rum, delve into a Crusader castle and enjoy a day in the extraordinary city of Petra. The Dead Sea, Jerash and the capital, Amman, are further treats, before we cross into Israel. Words cannot do justice to Jerusalem – it is a truly amazing city. We have plenty of time to discover its highlights and surrounds, including Bethlehem, Nazareth, Tiberias and the Sea of Galilee before arriving in lively Tel Aviv. This trip showcases the region’s fascinating history, intriguing cultures and greatest treasures.



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Tour Highlights

  • Desert camping with the Bedouin
  • Jordan's capital Amman
  • Wadi Rum's red earth desertscapes
  • Crusader castle at Shobak
  • 2000 year-old ruins of Jerash
  • UNESCO World Heritage-listed Jerusalem
  • UNESCO World Heritage-listed Petra
  • Red Sea resort of Aqaba
  • The Sea of Galilee
  • Bethlehem's Manger Square and the Church of the Nativity
  • Cairo Museum
  • Sunrise on Mt Sinai
  • Nubean Aswan
  • Edfu and Komombo temples
  • Luxor's open air museum
  • UNESCO World Heritage-listed Cairo
  • The Valley of the Kings
  • Nile cruise

Inclusions

  • • The services of Peregrine’s expert English-speaking local tour leader throughout the tour, and professional local guides at some sites.

    • Sightseeing (including entrance fees where applicable): Cairo’s Egyptian Museum, pyramids, Sphinx, Gayer-Anderson Museum, Ibn Tulun Mosque and Khan al-Khalili bazaar; Karnak Temple; Valley of the Kings; Temple of Hatshepsut and Colossi of Memnon; Edfu and Komombo temples; Petra; Shobak Castle; Amman; Jerash; Dead Sea; Jerusalem; Garden of Gethsemane; Bethlehem; Beit Shean; Nazareth; Tiberias; the Sea of Galilee; Tel Aviv; Golan Heights; Acre; and Caesara.

    • Four nights on a comfortable Nile river cruise boat sailing from Luxor to Aswan, with sightseeing stops along the way.

    • Horse-drawn carriage ride to Karnak.

    • Optional ascent of Mount Sinai.

    • Camel ride to a traditional Bedouin tented camp in the Wadi Rum for an overnight stay.

    • Overnight stay in a hotel on a Kibbutz.

    • Transport by air-conditioned sleeper train in a private, two-person sleeping berth with beds and linen, an ‘airline-style’ dinner and breakfast, and toilet facilities located at the end of each carriage.

    • Flight between Aswan and Cairo with all transfers on day 8.

    • Arrival transfer.

  • 4WD vehicle
  • Boat
  • Hydrofoil
  • Jeep
  • Plane
  • Private aircon bus
  • Riverboat
  • Sleeper train
  • 19 breakfasts, 4 lunches, 11 dinners

Egypt, Jordan & Israel

Day 1
Cairo
Meals Privided:
On arrival at Cairo International Airport, you are met by our representative and transferred to your hotel. This is simply an arrival day so you may arrive in Cairo at any time. Note that hotel rooms are generally only available after midday. The balance of the day is free to explore your surroundings, but normally a Welcome Meeting is held in the evening where you meet your tour leader and fellow travellers.
Day 2
Cairo - overnight sleeper train
Meals Privided:
Breakfast, Dinner
The Egyptian Museum is simply one of the world's great museums, home to a stupendous collection of antiquities and the perfect introduction to our tour, exhibiting many of the region's treasures. We head there after breakfast and our expert guide takes us through Egypt's rich and fascinating dynastic history. You will then have some free time to explore on your own; you may wish to visit the Royal Mummy Room (optional and at extra cost). We then drive out to Giza, home to perhaps the greatest iconic structures ever created by man - the Pyramids and the Sphinx. Instantly familiar yet retaining a mystique and power, getting up close to these incredible pharaonic tombs is captivating. For an additional charge you may be able to go inside the Great Pyramid of Cheops (or Khufu), although occasionally it may be closed to visitors. Afterwards we return to our hotel, where there is plenty of time to freshen up and pack before we are transferred to the railway station for the overnight sleeper train to Luxor. Sleeping berths (beds and linen) are provided in private cabins and an airline-style dinner is served. It is worth bringing additional snacks and your tour leader can help you to arrange this. A toilet is located at the end of each carriage.
Day 3
Luxor
Meals Privided:
Breakfast, Dinner
After an early breakfast on board, the train rolls into Luxor - a buzzing place with a great bazaar and situated close to some of ancient Egypt's most important and extraordinary sights. We transfer to our Nile cruise boat, which will be our home for the next four nights. We can relax by the pool on the boat or explore the town. Later in the day we take horse-drawn carriages to Karnak - one of the world's most celebrated temple complexes, built over a period of some 200 years. Our guided tour of the temple reveals the complex's finest sections. For the rest of the afternoon and evening we are free to relax, shop in the bazaar (open until quite late) or perhaps experience the atmosphere of a local tea house.
Day 4
Valley of the Kings - Luxor - Nile Cruise
Meals Privided:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
We rise early this morning (very much earlier during summer!) and head into the Valley of the Kings, where buried under the arid hills are over 60 tombs of pharaohs, many richly decorated with reliefs and paintings. It's a compelling place, vast and spectacular, and discoveries are still being made. Tutankhamun's final resting place is also located here, but entry to this small tomb is quite limited. It is at additional cost, but you will be given some free time when you will have the opportunity to visit it. Our guide explains the funerary rites of the ancient Egyptians and significance of the many paintings and hieroglyphics. We visit three royal tombs and then continue to the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, set in a spectacular natural amphitheatre. Our final stop is at the Colossi of Memnon - giant statues that were once part of an impressive colonnade. We return to our boat and enjoy lunch on board. There is time to relax on deck or in your cabin before we set sail for Edfu. Departure time may vary, depending on river traffic – please refer to the note regarding cruise schedules in the 'Other Information' section. We pass through Esna Lock, which can sometimes be a slow process depending on the number of vessels waiting to get through, and continue our journey upstream.
Day 5
Nile Cruise (Edfu - Komombo)
Meals Privided:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Morning finds us moored near Edfu, an excellently-preserved temple dedicated to Horus - the falcon-headed god. We disembark and explore the temple as well as experiencing the bustling town centre. Returning to our cruise boat we continue travelling upriver, relaxing on the sundeck and taking in the surrounding sights - desert hills forming a backdrop to lush riverbanks, fishermen casting their nets and farmers working their land. Arriving at Komombo, our short walk around the Temple of Sobek (the crocodile-headed god) that lies picturesquely ruined on the river's edge provides an interesting insight into the Greco-Roman period.
Day 6
Aswan
Meals Privided:
Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
We arrive in Aswan, Egypt's southernmost city and a place with an easygoing charm that is due in no small part to its large Nubian population. Depending on our arrival time, we may visit the beautiful Temple of Isis that was rescued from the rising waters of the Nile and relocated on Philae Island (alternatively we will visit it tomorrow). It is an absolute gem, its decorative pylons featuring some of Egypt's finest carvings - definitely one of the highlights of Upper Egypt. The rest of our day is free to wander – and Aswan is a great place for it. The Nubian Bazaar is a must, while the excellent Nubian Museum is recommended by many. The waterfront promenade, or Aswan's 'corniche', runs alongside the one of Nile's most appealing stretches and is the perfect place to stop for a mint tea. Aswan is a great little town and there are plenty of relaxing and interesting options here. Dusk is when the waterfront comes alive with families out strolling, socialising and relaxing along the corniche.
Day 7
Aswan
Meals Privided:
Breakfast, Dinner
We disembark our cruise boat and check into our hotel. The rest of the day is free for us to make our own discoveries. The visit to Abu Simbel will take place this morning for those of us who booked this option with our tour leader back in Cairo. This optional trip is well worth it. With the four gargantuan statues of Ramses guarding the Great Temple, this is one of Egypt's most memorable sights. A popular afternoon option in Aswan is a sailboat ride around the islands in a traditional felucca, stopping off at the botanical gardens on Kitchener's Island. Alternatively, take a camel ride to the Monastery of St Simeon - an abandoned 7th century fortress monastery located in the desert on the Nile's west bank. Our tour leader is on hand to help us arrange any excursions. Alternatively, you may just prefer to relax by the hotel pool or do some shopping in the friendly bazaar. In the evening we visit a Nubian village and enjoy the hospitality of our hosts as we dine out on some delicious local cuisine. We are also treated to some Nubian dancing and may even have the chance to perform some of the moves ourselves!
Day 8
Cairo
Meals Privided:
Breakfast
After breakfast we are transferred to Aswan airport for the short flight back to Cairo where we are transferred to our hotel. Today we dive into another layer of Egyptian history: medieval Cairo. We head to Khan al-Khalili Bazaar, Cairo's oldest mosque and the Gayer-Anderson Museum. The 'Khan', sprawling around an old area known as Al-Azhar, is a quintessentially Cairo experience - a warren of alleys with stalls serving up a succession of intoxicating scenes and retaining a distinctly medieval and sometimes carnivalesque feel. It's Cairo's finest area for you to practise your bartering skills! We explore the gold market, 'perfume street' and the spice market, where heady aromas hang in the air like a thick blanket of Damascene cloth (which can be purchased next door in the cloth market!). The beautiful 9th century Ibn Tulun Mosque is one of the oldest, largest and arguably the most beautiful mosque in Egypt – the perfectly proportioned courtyard and distinctive minaret both help to mark it out as a masterpiece of Islamic architecture, Nearby stands the Gayer-Anderson Museum, housed in two fine old villas (dating to the 16th and 17th centuries AD). Once owned by an English army officer, the two houses contain a fascinating collection of Arabic artefacts, furniture and memorabilia, giving us a great insight into Cairene life during the Ottoman period.
Day 9
Mount Sinai
Meals Privided:
Breakfast, Dinner
This morning we travel east towards Suez, where we drive through the Ahmed Hamdi Tunnel that takes us under the Suez Canal and then turn south towards St Catherine's, at the base of Mount Sinai. It's a long drive (around eight hours) and on the way we stop for a light lunch. We reach our hotel in the late afternoon, where there may be time to relax before dinner.
Day 10
Mount Sinai - Nuweiba - Aqaba
Meals Privided:
Breakfast
Those wishing to ascend Mount Sinai to watch the sun rise over the peninsula will be woken up between 2 am and 3 am (depending on the season). It is a fairly steep climb (with steps all the way) and as it is dark, most people take two to three hours to reach the summit. Unquestionably the view is worth the effort – the countless granite folds of the Sinai Mountains glowing in the gathering dawn are hauntingly beautiful. Afterwards, we return to our hotel for a well-earned breakfast. Note that during winter months (October to March) it can get very cold on the mountain and may even snow during the height of winter. Please ensure you have warm thermal clothes during this period. Around mid-morning we drive to Nuweiba to board the hydrofoil to Aqaba. It is important that you read the notes below regarding the ferry journey. On arrival in Aqaba we are transferred to our hotel for our first night in Jordan.
Day 11
Aqaba - Wadi Rum
Meals Privided:
Breakfast, Dinner
With our guide we take a brief orientation of Aqaba, Jordan's principal Red Sea resort. We can visit the old castle (time permitting) before driving to spellbinding Wadi Rum, a landscape of rugged sandstone mountains standing tall among an ochre desert floor. We head into this desolate, romantic protected area in rather rickety old jeeps, operated by the local Bedouin community. This is an attempt by the Jordanian Government to bring much-needed income into this region - an initiative we also support. After time for lunch in the small village of Rum and a browse around the excellent and informative visitor's centre, we visit several of Wadi Rum's distinctive rock formations and soak in the vast silence and spectacular desert landscapes. Wadi Rum is a truly beautiful place with towering sandstone mountains. It fully deserves the amount of time we spend here, with the wind-sculpted rock formations changing hue throughout the day from sunrise to sunset. We also meet our Bedouin friends and ride camels to our traditional Bedouin tent situated deep within Wadi Rum. The Bedouins live in scattered camps throughout the area. We enjoy an evening with them at one of their camps, which is set in an amazing location. Wadi Rum is probably best known because of its connection with the enigmatic British officer T.E. Lawrence, who was based here during the Great Arab Revolt of 1917-18. Much of David Lean's movie on his exploits, 'Lawrence of Arabia', was actually filmed in Wadi Rum.
Day 12
Wadi Rum - Petra
Meals Privided:
Breakfast, Dinner
It's well worth rising early and watching the cliffs change colour as the sun comes up. We enjoy a walk in the morning (the length of the walk will depend on how energetic we are feeling) and scaling one of the large dunes to enjoy sensational views of the surrounding area. Keen photographers will be delighted! We then take 4WDs from our camp back to the main entrance. The visitor's centre is also a great spot to buy some jewellery and knick-knacks, mostly made by a women's co-operative which is aimed at supporting traditional local industries. We then continue our journey to Petra. On arrival there is time in the afternoon to check out the town, withdraw or change money and just relax…ready for a big day of exploring Petra tomorrow.
Day 13
Petra
Meals Privided:
Breakfast, Dinner
A regular and fully justified contender for the '8th Wonder of the World' title, the iconic Petra view – the Treasury's glorious façade, glimpsed from the narrow cleft known as the Siq – is arguably the single most striking sight of the entire region. The first sight of the exquisite craftsmanship among such stark scenery is a moment that both manage to be eagerly anticipated and also be still an unlikely and almost surreal surprise. Petra's greatest surprise, however, is its size. With our guide we explore the old Roman road, amphitheatre and several old tombs. We also climb up to the Monastery – the site's second beautiful façade – from where we have a magnificent view of the entire site. This is a memorable day exploring a truly extraordinary destination and sure to be one of the highlights of our trip. There is a cafeteria on the site, where we can enjoy a light lunch. In the mid-afternoon we return to our hotel and our tour leader will try hard to persuade us to take a Turkish bath! It's perfect timing after a day exploring Petra, as well as being his a great experience - Petra is an excellent – and safe - place to try this tradition of the region. The rest of the day is at leisure.
Day 14
Shobak - Dana - Madaba - Amman
Meals Privided:
Breakfast
This morning we drive along the King's Highway, a road that pre-dates Old Testament times. We reach Shobak Castle, originally built to protect the eastern flank of the Latin Kingdom and its trade routes to the sea before it fell to Saladin in 1189. We stroll through the site and continue to the ancient village at Dana, where local artisans sell attractive silver jewellery and charms. We then reach Madaba, where we visit the Greek Orthodox Church of St. George that houses an ancient mosaic map. This is of particular interest as it clearly depicts Palestine and Lower Egypt around 550 AD. We expect to arrive in Amman in the late afternoon, where in the evening we can try one of its several fine restaurants. (Please note that Kerak Castle is not included in your tour, as it is often very congested and busy. However, if there is sufficient interest among members of the group, your leader can also arrange an optional visit to Kerak Castle. Many travellers however prefer to spend extra time in Amman.)
Day 15
Jerash - Dead Sea - Amman
Meals Privided:
Breakfast, Lunch
The Roman city of Jerash is one of the grandest ancient cities in the world, its archways and theatres, baths, public buildings and colonnaded streets constitute a striking collection and make it a beautiful place to explore. Grand ionic columns encircle the city's centrepiece, the Oval Plaza, a wonderfully atmospheric place to linger after exploring Jerash's riches. We visit the site in the morning and later drive down to spend the afternoon at the Dead Sea. Relax on the shore or take a dip like no other – the warm, highly saline waters make swimming difficult but bobbing on the water's surface a unique pleasure. Afterwards we return to Amman for the night.
Day 16
Bethlehem - Jerusalem
Meals Privided:
Breakfast
Today is an early start as we leave Amman and head for Israel, crossing into the country over the King Hussein/Allenby Bridge some 40 kilometres from Amman. It is important that you read the notes below regarding this border crossing. Once we have cleared immigration and customs, we are met by our driver and transferred to Jerusalem. In the afternoon we make the short journey south to Bethlehem, where we make our pilgrimage to Manger Square and the Church of the Nativity, built over the site that marks as the traditionally-accepted birthplace of Jesus Christ and a sacred place for both Christians and Muslims. From the impressive Constantine mosaics to the colonnaded ancient basilica and the small grotto that marks Jesus' birthplace, visiting the church is a humbling, powerful experience. Afterwards we drive to Beit Sahour to visit one of the most sacred places for Christians, the Shepherds' Field, identified in the New Testament as the site where the Angel of the Lord visited the shepherds and informed them of Jesus' impending birth. At the end of a long day we return to Jerusalem.
Day 17
Jerusalem
Meals Privided:
Breakfast
Jerusalem has one of the great urban skylines – the serried buildings and ancient ramparts of the Old City, the churches adorning the Mount of Olives and the iconic gold of the Dome of the Rock. We start the day taking in the city's extraordinary ensemble before driving via the Garden of Gethsemane to a gate through which we enter the Old City. We walk to the 'Cardo' in the recently restored Jewish Quarter, which was the old north-south axis in Roman times. We visit the Western (Wailing) Wall, Via Dolorosa (Stations of the Cross) and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. After lunch (not included) our tour continues with a visit to Yad Vashem (Israel's memorial to the Holocaust). Please note that Yad Vashem is closed on public holidays, so on those days we visit Mount Zion, the Cenacle and the Dormition Abbey instead.
Day 18
Beit Shean - Nazareth - Sea of Galilee - Tiberias
Meals Privided:
Breakfast, Dinner
This morning we drive through the Jordan Valley, whose fertile lands were chronicled in the Bible, stopping en route at Beit Shean to view a well-preserved Roman theatre and a unique Byzantine mosaic floor. Passing through Tiberias, one of Judaism's four holy cities, we stop at Yardenit - the new commemorative site of Jesus' baptism in the Jordan River. At Nazareth we visit the Basilica of the Annunciation, which incorporates, according to Roman Catholic tradition, the cave in which Mary received the news from Gabriel that she would give birth to Jesus. Afterwards we return to Tiberias to sail across the Sea of Galilee to Tabgha, where Jesus performed the Miracle of the Multiplication of the loaves and fishes. We stop off at the ancient settlement site of Capernaum situated on the banks of the Kinneret, where Jesus once lived and Peter's house still stands, before returning to Tiberias for our overnight stay in a hotel on a kibbutz.
Day 19
Tiberias - Haifa - Caesarea - Tel Aviv
Meals Privided:
Breakfast
We leave Tiberias and head north to the ancient crusader port of Acre, a World Heritage-listed site and a place alive with an eventful history from the crusades and through the Napoleonic battles to the present day. We visit the massive complex of buildings occupied by the Knights of St John as well as the Knight Templars' secret tunnel. We then head down the coast to Haifa where we visit the spectacular Baha'I Gardens. The perfectly manicured gardens are one of the holy places for the Baha'i faith, one of the world's youngest religions. After lunch, we arrive at Caesarea which served as the capital of Israel during the Roman and Byzantine eras and which nowadays holds some of the country's finest classical remains, including an aqueduct and a graceful theatre which overlooks the Mediterranean. Afterwards, we arrive in Tel Aviv where we spend our last night in Israel's liveliest city. With its lively cafe culture and relaxed beach scene, Tel Aviv makes for the perfect end point to our adventure.
Day 20
Tel Aviv
Meals Privided:
Breakfast
Your trip ends today after breakfast. Check-out time is usually around 12 noon and you are free to leave at any time. If you have arranged a private airport transfer you will be advised of the pick-up time. Additional accommodation can be pre-booked if you wish to spend more time exploring Tel Aviv.

IN A NUTSHELL

20 days
$5,390
15

TOUR INFORMATION

Start End Price
06/07/201325/07/2013 $5,390
19/01/201307/02/2013 $5,390
05/01/201324/01/2013 $5,390
22/12/201210/01/2013 $5,390
08/12/201227/12/2012 $5,390
24/11/201213/12/2012 $5,390
10/11/201229/11/2012 $5,390
27/10/201215/11/2012 $5,390
13/10/201201/11/2012 $5,390
02/02/201321/02/2013 $5,390
16/02/201307/03/2013 $5,390
02/03/201321/03/2013 $5,390
22/06/201311/07/2013 $5,390
08/06/201327/06/2013 $5,390
25/05/201313/06/2013 $5,390
11/05/201330/05/2013 $5,390
27/04/201316/05/2013 $5,390
13/04/201302/05/2013 $5,390
30/03/201318/04/2013 $5,390
16/03/201304/04/2013 $5,390
29/09/201218/10/2012 $5,390
15/09/201204/10/2012 $5,390
01/09/201220/09/2012 $5,390
17/03/201205/04/2012 $5,390
03/03/201222/03/2012 $5,390
18/02/201208/03/2012 $5,390
04/02/201223/02/2012 $5,390
24/12/201112/01/2012 $5,390
10/12/201129/12/2011 $5,390
12/11/201101/12/2011 $5,390
29/10/201117/11/2011 $5,390
31/03/201219/04/2012 $5,390
14/04/201203/05/2012 $5,390
28/04/201217/05/2012 $5,390
18/08/201206/09/2012 $5,390
04/08/201223/08/2012 $5,390
21/07/201209/08/2012 $5,390
07/07/201226/07/2012 $5,390
23/06/201212/07/2012 $5,390
09/06/201228/06/2012 $5,390
26/05/201214/06/2012 $5,390
12/05/201231/05/2012 $5,390
15/10/201103/11/2011 $5,390
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FURTHER ENQUIRIES