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14 Days Timeless Treasures Ancient Lands Luxury Tour Vacation Packages
Duration: 14 Days / 13 Nights
Priced From: $5,430 pp Dbl. Occ.
Dates: Jan - May, Aug - Dec /08
The mysteries of ancient Egypt and Jordan unfold before you on this 14-day journey of discovery to revered temples, tombs and monuments that are centuries old. From hotels with incredible views, to a 3-night River Nile Cruise, to behind-the-scenes insights by local experts, Our Egypt and Jordan tour is unlike any other in these historic lands.
Itinerary
• Indicates day of cruising
Day 1: Welcome to Cairo
Your Egypt and Jordan tour begins at Oberoi Mena House. A transfer is included from Cairo International Airport to Oberoi Mena House, a sumptuous former royal hunting lodge in the shadow of one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the Great Pyramid of Giza.
Meals: A snack in your hotel room upon late arrival
Lodging: Oberoi Mena House, Cairo, Egypt
Day 2: The Sphinx, Great Pyramid, and a camel ride
Prepare for a day of awe-inspiring wonders at the Pyramids! Visit the Solar Boat Museum, whose main attraction is an ancient Egyptian cedarwood boat dating back 4,500 years. At Giza, see the Sphinx guarding the plateau, as it has for the same 4,500 years. Marvel at the Great Pyramid of Cheops (Khufu), a crowning architectural achievement. Cap the day with a camel ride among the Pyramids. Attend a welcome reception and dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Oberoi Mena House, Cairo, Egypt
Day 3: Exploring and bargaining in Cairo
A walking tour visits the Church of St. Sergius, a 5th-century Coptic Christian Church; Ben Ezra Synagogue, built in 882; and the Amr ibn al-As Mosque, the first mosque on the continent of Africa. There are Roman fortress ruins, as well as modern buildings like the Parliament House. Check out the spices and silks in the medieval bazaar of Khan el-Khalili, one of the biggest bazaars in the Middle East.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Lodging: Oberoi Mena House, Cairo, Egypt
• Day 4: Temples for Ramesses, Nefertari and Isis
Take private charter flight to Abu Simbel to see the Great Temple honoring Ramesses II with four 67-foot-high seated statues of him at the entrance. The adjacent Temple of Hathor is dedicated to his wife, Queen Nefertari. Cross part of the famous Sahara Desert to Aswan to visit the Aswan High Dam, completed in 1971. Embark the Nile Adventurer to start your cruise, then take a boat to the relocated island temple complex of Philae dating from the 4th century BC, and dedicated to the goddess Isis. Enjoy welcome cocktails with ship officers aboard the Nile Adventurer.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Aboard Nile Adventurer
• Day 5: Nile cruising and temples
Glimpse river life while cruising the Nile. Stop to tour the Temple of Kom Ombo, an unusual double temple, and the Temple of the Falcon God Horus in Edfu, one of the best-preserved temples in Egypt. Enjoy the special shipboard Egyptian Night event.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Aboard Nile Adventurer
• Day 6: Temples of Karnak & Luxor
Your Egypt and Jordan tour continues at the vast Temple of Karnak, built over a span of 1,300 years, and one of the world’s largest temple complexes. Examine the Temple of Luxor, noted for the avenue of sphinxes, grand colonnades, and colossal statues of Ramesses II. Then visit the Luxor Museum, displaying rich archeological finds from the region’s temples and tombs, and ride a horse-drawn carriage through the Luxor bazaar. Enjoy a farewell dinner and folkloric show aboard the Nile Adventurer this evening.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Aboard Nile Adventurer
Day 7: Valley of the Kings, Valley of the Queens
Led by an Egyptologist, travel to the Valley of the Queens revealing 80 tombs of royal family members. View the 15th-century BC Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, designed in terraces at the base of a sheer limestone cliff. Then explore the Valley of the Kings, where at least 62 ornately decorated tombs for the pharaohs were hidden. Visit the fabled tomb of King Tutankhamun, discovered in 1922 with its glorious treasures intact, an Egypt and Jordan tour highlight. Stop in Luxor’s bustling street bazaar.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Nile Palace Hotel, Luxor, Egypt
Day 8: King Tut’s treasures at the Egyptian MuseumKing Tut's tomb
Fly to Cairo after a morning sail on a felucca, a traditional sailboat. Explore the Egyptian Museum’s world-renowned collection of antiquities, many 5,000 years old. Behold treasures found in King Tutankhamun’s tomb, including his golden funeral mask, solid gold coffin, carved throne, and jewelry. Meet ancient rulers face-to-face in the Royal Mummy Room.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at the First Residence, Cairo, Egypt
Day 9: Discover Ancient Memphis & Sakkara
Travel to the site of ancient Egypt's first capital, Memphis. In Sakkara, visit the Teti Pyramid, and the Step Pyramid of Djoser, the world's first monumental structure built of stone. After some time at leisure, the elaborate light and sound show at the Great Pyramids and the Sphinx in Giza is a spectacular way to cap your stay in Egypt.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch
Lodging: Four Seasons Hotel Cairo at the First Residence, Cairo, Egypt
Day 10: Egypt ends and the Jordan tour begins
Begin the next part of your Egypt and Jordan tour with a lecture on modern Egyptian history. Fly to Jordan’s capital, Amman – dating back nearly 8,500 years, it’s one of the world’s oldest cities, and was known as Philadelphia in Greco-Roman times.
Meals: Breakfast, dinner
Lodging: Le Méridien Amman, Jordan
Day 11: In history's footsteps along the River Jordan
Journey today along the River Jordan’s eastern bank to Petra, passing through sites where, thousands of years ago, biblical history was made. Visit Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John the Baptist is purported to have baptized Jesus, and Mt. Nebo, where Moses looked out on the “Promised Land,” present-day Israel. A basilica honoring Moses displays famous mosaics from the sixth century AD. Lunch in Madaba, the “city of mosaics,” precedes a drive through the desert to the amazing ancient sandstone city of Petra.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Mövenpick Resort Petra, Jordan
Day 12: Amazing Petra, a city carved from stone
A short walk from your hotel lies the entrance to one of the world’s greatest archaeological sites – the 2,000-year old city of Petra, which the ancient Nabataeans carved out of colorful sandstone cliffs. Explore this incredible site’s tombs, temples and other structures throughout most of the day. Later, meet a Bedouin family on a visit to their private home near Petra, and enjoy dinner and traditional entertainment at a restored 19th-century Bedouin village, now a resort.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Mövenpick Resort Petra, Jordan
Day 13: Along the King's Highway to the Dead Sea
Conclude your Egypt and Jordan tour amidst spectacular views of the Jordan Rift Valley as you wind your way north along the 5,000-year-old King’s Highway, one of the oldest continuously used roads in the world. Visit the new Panorama Visitor Center along the shores of the Dead Sea to gain insights into the natural history of the region, which is the lowest point on earth. Your final destination today is your luxury resort on the shores of the Dead Sea. Relax and take a swim in the therapeutic waters if you choose, then join us this evening for our farewell dinner.
Meals: Breakfast, lunch, dinner
Lodging: Jordan Valley Marriott Resort & Spa, Dead Sea, Jordan
Day 14: Bound for home
Tour ends: Jordan. A transfer is included from the Jordan Valley Marriott Resort & Spa to the Queen Alia International Airport in Amman and takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes. Allow a minimum of 2 1/2 hours for flight check-in. Most international flights depart in the early morning hours – you may want to stay an extra night at the Dead Sea Resort.
Meals: Breakfast
Save time, money and stress!
For reservations: Fill out the vacation planner to be contacted by our Egypt Vacation specialist
Contact: Travelwizard.com
Phone: 1-800-330-8820 or 1-415-446-5252
12/08
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