Jerusalem, Jordan and Eternal Egypt with Hurghada end Cairo

Arrival at the airport, assistance and transfer to the hotel. Accommodation.

Total distance: 32 km

Breakfast.

PICK UP AT THE HOTEL RECEIPTION BETWEEN 07:45 HOURS (AM) AND 08:00 HOURS (AM).

08.00 hrs.-: Excursion to visit the New City of Jerusalem, seeing the Shrine of the Book in the Museum of Israel, where the Dead Sea Scrolls are displayed, and the model that represents the city of Jerusalem at the time of Jesus. We will go through the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.

09.30 hrs.-: We going toward Ein Karen, a picturesque neighbourhood on the outskirts of the city to visit the Shrine of Saint John the Baptist.

11.00 hrs.-: We will also see Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Museum and Memorial.

12.30 hrs.-: In the afternoon, we will travel to BETHLEHEM, located behind the wall built in recent years to separate the two communities. We will take a Palestinian guide to visit the Church of the Nativity, the Grotto of the Manger and the Shepherds’ Field.

17.00 hrs.-: Return to Jerusalem and accommodation.

Total distance: 12 km


08.00 hrs.-: We include a visit to the old city of Jerusalem. Visit to the Western Wall (Wailing Wall).


09.00 hrs.-: We will continue along the Via Dolorosa to arrive at Calvary, the place where Christ was crucified, and to see the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.


15.00 hrs.-: We then go onward to Mount Zion to visit the Tomb of King David, the Cenacle (Hall of the Last Supper) and the Abbey of the Dormition


16.00 hrs.-: Excursion by Mount Scopus toward the Mount of Olives. There is an extraordinary view of the walled Holy City from the top.


17.00 hrs.-: We then continue to Gethsemane, the Basilica of the Agony.


18.00 hrs.-: Return to hotel and accommodation.

06.15 hrs.-: Early departure to the Israel-Jordan border. Arrival at Sheik Hussein Bridge to complete border and visa procedures.


11.00 hrs.-: Approximate departure time from Sheikh Hussein border. Welcome to Jordan.


12.30 hrs.-: Arrival at the Ajlun Fortress, an imposing castle from the twelfth century, which is located in the middle of a fertile valley of vineyards and pine forests that gives us a particular view of the green side of the Hashemite Kingdom. It is considered one of the greatest examples of Arab military architecture, has spectacular panoramic views of the Jordan Valley and the three wadis constituted a strategic defense in the defensive chain that existed in the area. In this area Muslims and Orthodox Christians have always lived together, we will visit the old CHURCH OF SAN SERGIO. Shall we all pray together for peace?.


13.30 hrs.-: End of the visit and departure to Jerash.


14.00 hrs.-: Arrival in Jerash and transfer to a local restaurant for lunch (included).


15.00 hrs.-: Visit of the Roman ruins of Jerash, one of the best preserved archaeological sites in the Middle East, it is called the Asian Pompeii and the second most visited attraction in Jordan.
Jordânia.


17.00 hrs.-: End of the visit to Jerash and return by road to Amman. Arrival in Amman in about an hour.


NOTE: The Sheik Hussein border must be crossed on a special bus for this purpose. This costs around $3 per person, which must be paid directly by the passengers themselves.


IMPORTANT NOTE: There are customs regulations upon arrival in JORDAN that prohibit the entry of religious objects. These objects can be withdrawn from the passenger without prior notice and without any compensation. Europamundo is not responsible if this happens.


FEES: Each country requires an entry/exit fee that passengers must pay directly at their destination. For guidance purposes, these are the fees/visa fees that may apply (prices subject to change without notice): Israel: $32 (Departure Fee to Jordan); Jordan: 40 dinars/$60 (Sheik Hussein Border visa).

Breakfast.


07.30 hrs.- Departure to the Desert Castles built between the 7th and 8th centuries. We´ll head to the first castle, Qusayr Amra.


09.00 hrs.- Depart for Qusayr Amra Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Built in the early 8th century as a holiday resort for the caliph, it is preserved as one of the finest desert castles in Jordan.


10.30 a.m.- End of the visit to Qusayr Amra Castle, we will arrive in approximately 30 minutes at Qasr Kharana Castle built by the Umayyads from the year 661 to become an oasis of rest for the caravans of merchants who crossed the desert transporting their goods.


11.30 a.m.- Once the visit to Kharana Castle is over, we will head to Madaba.


13.00 hrs.- Arrival in Madaba.
We´ll visit the Madaba Archaeological Park, crossed by an old Roman road and the Church of St. George, with its fantastic mosaic from the sixth century. where the map of Madaba is exhibited, the oldest cartographic representation of Jerusalem and the Holy Land that is preserved to this day.


13.30hrs.- End of the visit to Madaba and departure to Mount Nebo, being a place of great importance at a historical, religious and cultural level for being the place from which Moses contemplated the Promised Land before he died. You will have the opportunity to admire the beautiful views from the viewpoint where on a clear day you can see places as far away as Bethlehem, the Mount of Olives and the Dead Sea.


13.45 hrs.- Arrival at Mount Nebo and lunch included.


15.30 hrs.- Departure from Mount Nebo to Amman.


17.00 hrs.- Arrival at the hotel in Amman. Free time. Accommodation.

Breakfast.


07.30 hrs.- Departure from Amman and panoramic tour on the bus (without tickets) and continuation to Bethany.


09.45 hrs.- Arrival in Bethany on the banks of the Jordan River, declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO, it is the place where John the Baptist baptized Jesus Christ.


11.00 hrs.- Departure from Bethany.


11.30 a.m.-Arrival at the Dead Sea Museum, it is an impressive panoramic complex.


12.00 hrs.- Departure from the Dead Sea Museum.


12.30 hrs.- Arrival at the Dead Sea hotel and lunch included. Free time to take a dip in the salty sea at a lowest altitude on Earth. Dinner included. Accommodation.

Breakfast.


09.00 hrs.- Departure from the Dead Sea.


10.30 hrs..- Arrival at Kerak Castle, a former stronghold of the Crusaders, rising 900 meters above sea level, between the walls of an ancient city.


12.00 hrs.- Departure from Kerak and heading to the local restaurant where we will have lunch (included) until 14.00 hrs.


15.00 hrs.- Continuation to Dana, a small picturesque rural village of stone houses on a huge cliff located at the foot of the largest biosphere nature reserve in Jordan. We´ll take a panoramic tour where we´ll be able to take photos.


15.30 hrs.- Departure from Dana we will head towards Shobak.


16.00 hrs.- Arrival at Shobak Castle, built by the Crusaders in 1115 to control the trade routes between Egypt and Syria, as well as the passage permits for pilgrims and caravans. We will be able to take some photos to remember.


16.30 hrs.- Departure from Shobak, we will head to Wadi Musa where the Spring of Moses is located.


17.00 hrs.- Arrival and brief visit to the Spring of Moses, where Moses supposedly hit the rock with his rod and the water gushed out.


17.15 hrs.- Departure to Moses Spring.


17.30 hrs.- Arrival at the Petra Museum, an excellent exhibition that allows us to understand the history of the Nabataeans and learn about magnificent pieces found in the area.


18.00 hrs.- Departure from the Petra Museum.


18.15 hrs.- Arrival at the hotel. Dinner included. Overnight in Petra. Petra is the ancient capital of the kingdom of the Nabataeans. This civilization occupied the city in the 6th century B.C. and took advantage of the city´s location as a strategic lodging point for caravans during the Silk Road

Breakfast.


Known as the "Pink City", the "Lost City" or the "City of Stone", it is considered the jewel of Jordan and one of the Seven Wonders of the World since 2007.


07.00 hrs.-Departure from the hotel to visit Petra, we will access through the narrow canyon and discover the temples and tombs carved into the cliffs in this city founded 300 years before Christ. Lunch included.


14.00 hrs.- Departure from Petra to Wadi Rum, an impressive desert that is famous for being the setting for famous films where ´Dune´, ´Lawrence of Arabia´ or ´Star Wars´ have been filmed. We will be able to enjoy unparalleled sunsets and starry nights.


16.00 hrs.- Arrival at Wadi Rum- Valley of the Moon, a magical ecosystem of the Jordanian desert that has extensive red sand dunes and imposing sandstone arches, at the visitor center we take all-terrain vehicles to visit some of the most impressive landscapes. We include a ride of about 45 minutes on a camel through the desert. We will also visit the Khazali Canyon, in this spectacular place we will see the engravings that show us the origin of the Arabic language.


18.00 hrs.- End of activities in Wadi Rum.


18.15 hrs.- Arrival at the camp. Dinner included. Accommodation.

After breakfast.


08.00 hrs.-: we leave for AQABA, Jordan’s second city, lying on the banks of the Red Sea.


08.45 hrs.-: Arrival in the city of Aqaba.


09.45 hrs.-: Panoramic city tour of Aqaba.


10.00 hrs.-: Arrival at the Araba border crossing with ISRAEL, EILAT, and arrive in this modern and tourist city with its excellent beaches. There’s time to relax, have lunch and stroll around. Are you tempted to have a swim?.


14.00 hrs.-: We then continue towards the EGYPT border, and into Sinai. On the way, there’s chance to take photographs of the Pharaoh’s Island with the powerful fortress of Saladin. Continue to SAINT CATHERINE /TABA. Arrival, accommodation and dinner included.


Arrival time from Santa Catalina / Taba will depend on the duration of border crossing procedures.


FEES: At the border crossing from Jordan to Israel and from Israel to Egypt, every traveler must pay an entry/exit fee for the different countries. Jordan: $15 (exit fees), Israel: $32 (exit fee), Egypt: $45 (entry visa, which is actually $25 visa + $20.Approximate rates and subject to change without prior notice by the authorities of the country.
Drones and cameras with a 5,5 mtr zoom are prohibited as well as other types of professional equipment cameras ( Europamundo is not responsiblefor objects that may be seized at borders by the authorities of the countries)


IMPORTANT NOTE: Due to exceptional circumstances or due to a small number of participants, it may happen that we will cross directly from Jordan to Egypt by boat, taking the AQABA- TABA FERRY with a duration of just over two hours. During the ferry crossing, there will be no assistance from any guide.

Breakfast.


07.00 hrs.-: Departure from the hotel and drive to St. Catherine´s Monastery at the foot of Mount Sinai.
09.00 hrs.-: We visit the impressive walled monastery of SAINT CATHERINE. According to tradition, this is where Moses saw “the Burning Bush that burned without being consumed”. The monastery, which is a sacred place for Jews, Christians and Muslims, belongs to the Orthodox Church and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.


12.00 hrs.-: Stop at the WELL OF MOSES, a biblical site that looks like a small oasis.


16.00 hrs.-: Lunch included in route. After lunch, We will leave Sinai through the tunnel under the SUEZ CANAL.


20.00 hrs.- : Arrival in CAIRO at the end of the afternoon. Accommodation.

Note: In summer temperatures are higher, so visits to archaeological sites are made earlier in the day to avoid the hottest hours of the day. It is recommended to wear sports shoes, sunglasses, sunscreen and a hat or cap for these visits.

Breakfast.

07:00 hrs.-: We will visit the esplanade of the Pyramids, the most famous of which are those of the pharaohs Cheops, Kephren and Mykerinos (entrance to the interior of the pyramids not included), as well as the enigmatic Sphinx. Afterwards we will visit the Papyrus Institute for about 30 minutes, where we will see how the papyrus is handmade.


11:30 hrs.-: Visit the Coptic Quarter, which is nowadays one of the meeting places of the Egyptians and one of the oldest areas of the city. Visit the Hanging Church.


12:30 hrs.-: Visit the Citadel, built by order of Saladin in 1176 and completed in 1182. From 1218 until the 19th century it was the official seat of the Egyptian government. The history of this area is full of palace intrigues, assassinations, overthrows and massacres such as that of the Mamluks in 1811. Representative buildings include the Muhammad Ali Mosque, also known as the Alabaster Mosque, built on the model of Istanbul´s Hagia Sophia.


13.45 hrs.-: Lunch included in a local restaurant.


15:00 hrs.-: Visit the Egyptian Museum, which is about 10 km from the Pyramids and contains one of the most important and impressive archaeological exhibits in the world. The jewel of this exhibition is the treasure of Tutankhamun which occupies the entire upper floor. Remember that it takes at least a week to visit it in its entirety.


17:00 hrs-: Departure from the Egyptian Museum and return to the hotel.


18:00 hrs.-: Arrival at the hotel and accommodation.

Transfer to the airport first thing in the morning to depart by flight (included) to ASWAN airport. From the airport we continue directly by road towards ABU SIMBEL. The drive to Abu Simbel takes 3.5 hours one way and 3.5 hours return. We include a boat trip on Lake Nasser and from the lake we will contemplate its impressive architecture. Lunch included in a typical Nubian restaurant. We will visit the temples of Abu Simbel carved into the western cliff of the desert by Ramses II in the 12th century BC, with 20-meter-high statues, dedicated to the god Amon Ra, as well as visit the Temple of Nefertari, dedicated to the goddess Hathor. In the middle of the afternoon we return to ASWAN, overnight in our excellent hotel.

After breakfast at around 07.00 a.m. we start our full day in Aswan.


08.00 hrs.- We will visit the beautiful Temple of Philae dedicated to the goddess Isis and located on a small island that is only accessible by boat.


10.30 hrs-: Including a visit to the city and the Red Granite Quarry, where the famous Unfinished Obelisk is located. We´ll observe the ingenious procedure used by the ancient Egyptians for the extraction of granite blocks.


12:00 hrs.-: Lunh included.


13:30 hrs.- we´ll enjoy a felucca ride along the river, typical fishing boats.


14:15 hrs..-: In the afternoon (including arrival on felucca and a stretch of camel ride!) we will visit the Monastery of SAINT SIMEON, it was a large monastery in Roman times, then it was transformed into a caravanserail. We also pass by the modern Coptic church and the mausoleum of the Aga Khan (not visited).


16:45 hrs.-: We will visit the picturesque village NUBIAN VILLAGE, with its colorfully painted houses, its tourist and commercial life.


Afterwards, free time in our excellent hotel, where you can enjoy its large swimming pool and its facilities.


Note: the order of the views may be changed depending on the time of year.

After breakfast, around 07.00 hrs. We start our beautiful road stage following the Nile valley. Beautiful landscapes with the presence of the Nile, its immense palm groves, its small and very active populations.

08.30 hrs.-: We stop next to the temple of KOM OMBO, overlooking the Nile River, dedicated to two deities: Sobek, the crocodile god, and Horus, the falcon god. The temple is symmetrical and is divided into two identical parts, one dedicated to Sobek and the other to Horus. The temple is famous for its reliefs and hieroglyphs depicting daily life in ancient Egypt, as well as mythological and medical scenes. We also visit the impressive museum of the Crocodiles (several of them mummified).

09.30 hrs.-: Departure from Kom Ombo.

11.00 hrs.-: We continue to EDFU, we visit here one of the best preserved and most impressive temples in all of Egypt: the Temple of Edfu, also known as the Temple of Horus. Built 2300 years ago dedicated to Horus, the God of the sky.

13.00 hrs.-: Departure from the Temple of Edfu.


15.00 hrs.-: We continue to ESNA, its great temple is one of the few Egyptian temples that still retains its original roof, providing a unique view of the ancient architecture and original colors. The temple was buried under sediment and mud from the Nile for centuries, which helped preserve it from erosion and degradation. It was rediscovered in the 19th century. In Esna we can also see the restored caravanserai and from the outside we can see the floodgates on the Nile


16.00 hrs.-: Departure from the temple of Esna and continue our route to LUXOR, arriving at the end of the afternoon. Night at hotel.


Important remarks: On this day the lunch included will be picnic lunch provided by the hotel in Aswan. There are no toilets on the route between Edfu and Luxor.

Luxor, the city of 100 gates is located in ancient Thebes where it was the capital of Egypt during the New Kingdom for 1500 years. Luxor, Arabic for ‘palaces’ is considered ‘the best open-air museum’ in the world with immense cultural and architectural heritage.During our stay in Luxor we will get to know one of the most impressive ancient cities on the planet (tickets included to the places mentioned). Early in the morning (around 06.00 hrs.), from our hotel we will take a private boat to cross the Nile River, with its peace and impressive views early in the morning, we go to the west bank.

07.00 hrs.-: We stopped in front of the Colossi of the Memnon, two impressive statues of Amenhotep II. After that, we visit the fantastic temple of Medinet Habu, the temple of Ramses II, large and magnificently preserved, its scenes of wars will surprise us.


08.30 hrs.-: We visited the "Valley of the Artisans" Deir el-Medina, a little-visited place, here they lived and are the tombs of great builders and craftsmen who built and decorated the royal tombs of ancient Egypt. We will visit three tombs, their paintings show scenes of daily life at that time


10.30 hrs.-: We will visit the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut (Deir el Bahari) is located, considered the first woman to occupy the position of pharaoh.


11.30 hrs.- We also visit the famous VALLEY OF THE KINGS where the tombs of the main pharaohs are hidden. Among these tombs, composed of several rooms and corridors leading to the corresponding burial chambers (we include, in addition to the general admission, a ride in an electric cart to access the enclosure and tomb of Ramses -which requires additional entry-). Return to the east bank of Luxor. Free time for lunch.Lunch not included.


15.00 hrs.-: We visit KARNAK, it housed the most important religious complex in Ancient Egypt, highlighting the immense temple of Amun-Ra, our guide will take us to the little-crowded temple of Khinsu.


17.00 hrs.- visit the LUXOR MUSEUM, which shows us an impressive collection of objects and mummies found in this area.


18.30 hrs.- After sunset we include entrance to the Temple of Luxor, its illumination makes it magical at this hour. Time to stroll in the commercial area (souk) near the temple.


Note: The order of the visits will vary based on climatological factors and procuring to visit the different locations at times of less affluence.

Distance: 330 km
Landscapes: Arid deserts between mountains traveling towards the Red Sea. Free time in the morning to stroll on your own, shop or visit some other point in Luxor if you wish. Around 09.00 hrs. we will continue our trip.

10.30 hrs- Dendera, arrival at one of the best-preserved Egyptian temples thanks to the fact that it remained buried by sand and mud until it was discovered in the mid-nineteenth century. Entrance included. This impressive enclosure of 40,000 square meters, surrounded by a burly brick wall eight to ten meters high was dedicated to Hathor, goddess of love and fertility and mother of Horus, celestial god in Egyptian religion. We are surprised by its walls, its immense monumental doors and the quality and perfection of its details. After the visit lunch included.

14.30 hrs- Continuation to the Red Sea. Our highway crosses desert mountain ranges, interesting landscapes.
17.30 hrs- Hurghada, arrival in the late afternoon. We are located in an area with the most popular of Egypt´s resorts, its hotels stretch over a strip of almost 50 kilometers. Hotel accommodation on an all-inclusive basis.

Distance: 70 km

Full day in Hurghada. Free time in the morning to relax in the hotel facilities or to go on your own to visit the great aquarium or the museum of Hurghada.
15.30 hrs.- After lunch (included), an excursion to learn more about the area.

16.15 hrs.-: El Gouna. A short distance from Hurghada, we can find the most luxurious holiday resorts in Egypt where numerous canals and lagoons were opened to access most of the residences by yacht. Free time to stroll through this exclusive place.

16.45 hrs.-: From El Gouna, we return to Hurghada.

17.30 hrs.-: Hurghada- In the center of Hurghada, we visit its mosque (entrance included) and walk to the marina, a very touristic area full of life, shops and restaurants.

19.30 hr.-: After a free time in the Marina, return to our hotel. Stay on an "all included" basis.

Distance: 555 km
Landscapes: Desert, following in many sections the Red Sea.
Notes: Please dress appropriately for the visit of the monastery. On certain religious festivals monasteries may remain closed to tourist visits.


07.30 hrs.-: Hurghada. Departure. Following the Red Sea we travel to one impressive Coptic monastery, the Monastery of St. Anthony, the oldest in Christendom dating back to the fourth century. St. Anthony monastery is considered the holiest places of the Coptic church in Egypt.



11.30 hrs.-: Lunch included in service area.
13.00 hrs.-: After that we will visit the Monastery of Saint Anthony (entrance included) also walled with its numerous buildings and adobe houses, its atmosphere seems stopped in time. The church of St. Anthony, built over the tomb of the saint, houses magnificent Coptic murals of the thirteenth century.


14.00 hrs.-: We continue our route.

15.00 hrs- El Galala. Arrival at this new city that Egypt is building in the desert that will surprise us. We will go first to the luxury resort located next to the Red Sea, with its marina and water park; from where we include the cable car ride (the highest slope in Africa) to El Galala, a magnificently designed city, its construction began in 2015 and it houses a large university.


16.00 hrs- El Galala, departure.
18.00 hrs- Cairo.- Arrival at the end of the day.-

After breakfast, transfer to the airport and end of our services.