Compare The Grand Epic of Egypt, Jordan, and Israel by Odynovo vs 17 Day Crown of Egypt with 4 Day First Class Nile Cruise & Jordan by Gate 1 Travel
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| Trip |
5 | Excellent
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3.5 | Average
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| Duration | 14 days | 17 days |
| Price From | $ 4,781 | $ 5,409 |
| Price Per Day | $ 342 | $ 318 |
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| Trip Style | Private guided tour | Group tour |
| Lodging Level | Premium | Premium |
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| Flights & Transport | Internal airfare and ground transport included | Ground transport included |
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| Description |
The Middle East is a grand epic, a cradle of civilizations and complicated land. In the 14 days, we will take you to discover the mysterious pyramids, temples, and the Nile in Egypt, get lost in the lost city of Petra in Jordan, and trace the footsteps of Jesus in Israel and Palestine. |
5 Cairo, 4 Nile Cruise, 1 Aswan, 2 Dead Sea, 2 Petra, 1 Amman |
Day 1: Arrival - Cairo
Overnight: Cairo
Welcome to Egypt, once the mighty land of pharaohs!
Upon touchdown, you will be met by our airport representative and then transferred to your hotel with a private vehicle. Check-in and have the rest of the day at your leisure.
Day 2: Cairo
Meal: Breakfast
Overnight: Cairo
Begin your exploration from Memphis, the ancient Egyptian capital of the Old Kingdom, which is now an open-air museum sheltering the 10-meter-long statue of Rameses II. Your next stop, the Step Pyramid of Djoser in the Saqqara Necropoleis, is widely regarded as the oldest pyramid in the world. Finally, visit the most iconic pyramids complex at Giza and the Great Sphinx.
Day 3: Cairo
Meal: Breakfast
Overnight: Cairo
Step into the Egyptian Museum for a comprehensive understanding of Egyptian history from
the Predynastic Period to the Greco-Roman Era. Later, proceed to the medieval Citadel of Saladin in Old Cairo. The inside Mohammed Ali Mosque, which dominates the eastern skyline of Cairo, is the symbol of the citadel. Afterward, spend some time browsing and shopping in the vibrant Khan El Khalili Bazaar before returning to the hotel.
Day 4: Cairo - Aswan - Nile River Cruise
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight: On Board
Take a morning flight to Aswan.
Upon arrival, go straight to your Nile cruise ship to check in. Your shore excursion in Aswan includes the High Dam and the Temple of Philae. Late in the afternoon, take the chance to sail on the Nile with a traditional Egyptian Felucca and explore the Botanical Gardens on Kitchener Island.
Day 5: Nile River Cruise
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight: On Board
Cruise on, and when the ship arrives in Kom Ombo, go ashore to see the unusual double Temple of Kom Ombo with one side dedicated to the god Haroesis and the other to Sobek. Return to the ship and continue your journey to Edfu for the Temple of Horus. Also known as the Temple of Edfu, it is the second-largest temple in Egypt after Karnak Temple.
Day 6: Nile River Cruise
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
Overnight: On Board
Once the ship arrives in Luxor in the morning, disembark to explore the west bank of Luxor. Step into three tombs of the ancient Pharaohs in the Valley of the Kings to learn about ancient Egyptian beliefs and burial practices. Following it is the renovated Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut, an impressive terraced sandstone complex built into mountain cliffs. During the tour, you can also take pictures with the massive Colossi of Memnon, who guard the ruined Mortuary Temple of Amenhotep III for thousands of years.
Day 7: Luxor - Cairo
Meal: Breakfast
Overnight: Cairo
Disembark the cruise and continue to explore the east bank of Luxor. You will find two of Egypt's most important sites, the Temple of Karnak and the Luxor Temple. They were linked by a 3-kilometer-long avenue of Sphinxes, part of which is still visible today. You will gain more about Egyptian history through the massive columns with intricate carvings, great statues of quite impressive sizes, obelisks, and so on.
After the tour, transfer to the airport to catch your flight back to Cairo. On arrival, be picked up and transferred to your hotel.
Day 8: Cairo - Amman - Jerash - Amman
Meal: Breakfast
Overnight: Amman
Private transfer to the airport for your flight to Amman, the beating heart of Jordan. On arrival, our representative will welcome you and introduce you to your English-speaking
chauffeur for a private tour of the Roman ruins of Jerash. With a knowledgeable local guide, you will visit the spectacular forum, street, temple, and theater in this ancient Roman city. Afterward, return to Amman for quick sightseeing in the capital city with your chauffeur to see the citadel on its highest hill, the Roman theater, and the Archeological & Folklore Museums.
Day 9: Amman - Petra
Meal: Breakfast
Overnight: Petra
Leave Amman behind and move forward to Petra hidden in a basin surrounded by mountains in southern Jordan. There are three stops on the way, with the first at Mt. Nebo for a view of the Promised Land and the beautiful mosaics in the Moses Memorial Church. The next will be at the Greek Orthodox St. George's Church in Madaba to marvel at the mosaic map that depicts the holy land – Palestine of the 6th century. The last will be at a Jordanian handicraft shop for you to understand how to create exquisite mosaic artworks with Byzantine influence.
Day 10: Petra - Dead Sea
Meal: Breakfast
Overnight: Dead Sea
Take your time to explore Petra. In the first two hours, with a professional tour guide, you will click off the must-sees in the lost city and learn about the history and exotic life of ancient Nabataean, a branch of nomadic Arabs who built Petra into a prosperous trading hub in its time. Afterward, have some free time to discover more in the rosy city at your pace.
In the afternoon, turn north to the northeast shore of the Dead Sea for a relaxing night.
Day 11: Dead Sea - Allenby Bridge - Jerusalem
Meal: Breakfast
Overnight: Jerusalem
Have a leisurely morning to enjoy the legendary Dead Sea. Later, take the private transfer to Allenby Bridge Border. There, you need to take a shuttle bus or an authorized vehicle traveling about 5km to Israel to meet your Israeli driver at the parking lot in front of the exit of Israel Terminal for the private transfer to your hotel in Jerusalem.
Day 12: Jerusalem
Meal: Breakfast
Overnight: Jerusalem
Get known of Jerusalem with a panoramic view of Jerusalem from the top of the Mount of Olives, the location of biblical events. At the foot of it, you will visit the Church of All Nations and the adjacent Garden of Gethsemane. Then, enter the Old City from the Lion's Gate, the start of Jesus' last walk from prison to crucifixion. Walking along the Via Dolorosa, you will arrive at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, where Jesus was crucified, buried, and resurrected. Winding the way through the alleys in the holy city, you will reach the Wailing Wall and then Mount Zion to see the Cenacle – the site of the Last Supper and King David's Tomb.
Day 13: Jerusalem - Bethlehem - Jerusalem
Meal: Breakfast
Overnight: Jerusalem
About 10km south of Jerusalem, Bethlehem is said to be the birthplace of Jesus. Spend the morning exploring this Palestinian city, including the Church of the Nativity with a silver star marking the place where Jesus was born, the Manger Square connecting several streets related to Jesus, and the Shepherds Field where angels first announced the birth of Jesus.
In the afternoon, return to explore the New City of Jerusalem. Discover the model of the holy city in the time of the Second Temple and the Dead Sea Scrolls at Israel Museum, mourn for the prey at the Holocaust Memorial of Yad Vashem, and glance at local's life at the Machane Yehuda Market.
Day 14: Jerusalem - Tel Aviv - Departure
Meal: Breakfast
Leisure time until being picked up by your private driver and transferred to Ben Gurion Airport for your homebound flight. Say goodbye to Israel!
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Many domestic flights within Egypt, and regional flights to Jordan, depart in the early morning, requiring waking up before dawn. Please see the "Is This Trip Right for You?" section for more information.
DAY 1, Wednesday - Depart for Egypt
DAY 2, Thursday - Arrive in Cairo
DAY 3, Friday - The Pyramids & Sphinx of Giza
DAY 4, Saturday - Flight to Luxor, Temples of Karnak & Luxor, Nile Cruise Embarkation
DAY 5, Sunday - Full Day Luxor
DAY 6, Monday - Edfu Temples & Kom Ombo
DAY 7, Tuesday - Cruise to Aswan
DAY 8, Wednesday - Disembarkation, Aswan High Dam, Philae Temple
DAY 9, Thursday - Flight to Cairo
DAY 10, Friday - Full Day Cairo
DAY 11, Saturday - Flight to Amman, Travel to the Dead Sea
DAY 12, Sunday - Baptismal Site of Jesus Christ
DAY 13, Monday - Shobak Castle, Madaba, Mount Nebo
DAY 14, Tuesday - Petra City Tour
DAY 15, Wednesday - Kerak Castle Visit, Amman City Tour
DAY 16, Thursday - Jerash, Flight to Cairo
DAY 17, Friday - Depart Egypt Cruise sailing times are subject to change. At certain times of the year your itinerary may be amended to travel early in the morning and late afternoon to avoid the heat. Order or duration of some visits may be affected during official holidays. Due to regional laws, hotels and restaurants will not serve alcoholic beverages on certain holidays. On these days, no wine or beer will be included with dinner. |
