Ultimate Ancient Egypt, Israel & Jordan

Depart for Cairo, Egypt

Your journey begins on an overnight flight.

Arrive in Cairo, Egypt

Guests who booked their flight with YMT Vacations will be met by a friendly representative at the airport, who will help obtain a tourist visa required to enter Egypt and transfer you to the hotel. Meet your fellow guests tonight at an included hotel dinner. (D)

Cairo, Pyramids of Giza, Sphinx, Memphis, and Saqqara

Begin at the Pyramids of Giza, which stand as the ultimate display of the power, wealth, and brilliance of ancient Egypt. The Great Pyramid is the only remaining Wonder of the Ancient World, its 2.3 million limestone and granite blocks still awe-inspiring after 46 centuries in the desert sun.

Next to the pyramids lies the mysterious Sphinx. The world’s most famous statue was cut from the bedrock of the Giza Plateau in honor of the sun god and Pharaoh Khafre in the 25th century BCE.

Continue to the ancient capital city of Memphis to see ruined temples, ancient statues, and the 30-foot-tall Colossus of Rameses II. Finally, visit Saqqara, Egypt’s largest archaeological site. Here you will discover 11 pyramids (B, L, D)

Cairo & Egyptian Museum

Discover the secrets of the Egyptian Museum, home to the largest collection of Egyptian antiquities and artifacts in the world. The museum is focused on exhibitions with artifacts from the Predynastic Period to the Greco-Roman Era. It holds 120,000 pieces including coffins, golden burial masks, jewelry, and even food for the dead to enjoy in the afterlife. (B, L, D)

Fly to Luxor and Embarkation on the Nile River

After an included flight to Luxor, embark on your Nile cruise. Visit the massive temple complex of Karnak. The centerpiece of the site is the Temple of Amun-Ra, most famous for its vast Hypostyle Hall, a spectacular forest of giant papyrus-shaped columns constructed during the reign of Seti I. Discover the preserved Temple of Luxor. As you enter the temple, you’ll pass six massive statues of Rameses II and a granite obelisk. (B, L, D)

Luxor and Edfu via Esna (Depart at 1:00PM)

At the edge of the desert, just beyond the lush Nile floodplain, lies the Necropolis of Luxor. You will be welcomed to this archaeological goldmine by the Colossi of Memnon, twin statues of pharaoh Amenhotep III.

Continue to the Valley of the Kings, home of 63 magnificent royal tombs including the miraculously undisturbed tomb of King Tut.

The nearby terraced Temple of Hatshepsut is a carved into the limestone cliffs of the Deir el- Bahari. This lavish shrine to Queen Hatshepsut, one of the few women to ever be crowned as pharaoh, represents a highpoint in Egyptian art and architecture. (B, L, D)

Edfu, Kom Ombo & Aswan (Depart at 10:30 AM - Arrive at 5:00 PM in Aswan)

Start your day at Edfu Temple, an incredible hillside monument to the falcon god Horus. It was built in the classic golden era style and stands as the best-preserved temple in the Nile River Valley.

Continue to a beautiful temple complex perched grandly over a picturesque bend in the Nile. Guests are encouraged to wear a traditional loose-fitting robe, called a Galabeya, during this evening’s fun on-board soiree. (B, L, D)

Aswan

Start your day with a visit to the High Dam. The dam created a reservoir that flooded much of the area, which forced ancient sites including Abu Simbel and the Temple of Philae to be relocated.

Continue to the Temple of Philae, which was erected during the reign of Ptolemy II to honor Isis, Osiris, and Horus. Flanked by a duo of courtyards,the stunning Temple of Isis is renowned for its breathtaking and highly detailed carvings.

Take an afternoon ride on a traditional Felucca sailboat to Aswan Botanical Gardens, a lush sanctuary of rare and exotic plants. Watch a Nubian Show on the ship this evening to learn about the fascinating Nubian culture. (B, L, D)

Disembark in Aswan and Fly to Cairo

After checking out of your stateroom, spend the day relaxing aboard the ship or join an optional day trip to the Abu Simbel Temples at an additional cost. Take an included flight to Cairo later this afternoon. (B, D)

Cairo

Start your final day in Old Cairo. Visit the thousand-year-old churches of Coptic Cairo, then visit the dazzling National Museum of Egyptian Civilization. Discover civilizations and cultures stretching from prehistory to modern times, with exhibits focused on everything from the small moments of daily life through the preservation of one’s body in the face of death.

End the trip with an included authentic Egyptian farewell lunch. You can join an optional afternoon excursion to the Khan el-Khalili bazaar and souq (for an additional fee), a 14th century shopping destination that is the perfect place to explore and pick up authentic souvenirs. (B, L, D)

Arrive in Tel Aviv

Depart Cairo and fly to Tel Aviv, Israel. Meet your fellow guests tonight at a welcome dinner. (D)

Tel Aviv

Spend the day exploring Tel Aviv, one of Israel’s most vibrant cities. Nearly 9 miles of coastline border a metropolis known for its 1930s architecture, ancient port, and electrifying energy.
Your city tour includes the port city of Jaffa, whose history dates back at least 4,000 years. Then, visit the bustling Carmel Market. (B, D)

Caesarea, Nazareth & Akko

Today we visit the ancient city of Caesarea, built by King Herod as capital of Roman Judea. It was among the Mediterranean’s most vital ports, and the site of one of Herod’s palaces.

Next visit Nazareth, the home of Joseph and Mary, pass Mary’s Well, and visit the Church of the Annunciation and Nazareth Village that depicts the daily activities and culture the town Jesus grew up in.

Continue to one of the oldest continuously inhabited cites in the world, Akko, which dates back to the era of Egyptian pharaohs. Today, it is best known for its medieval fortifications. (B, D)

Sea of Galilee

This morning, explore some of places where the most important events in Jesus’ early life took place. Embark on a short boat trip on the Sea of Galilee, where Jesus gathered his first disciples. Next, see Capernaum where Jesus lived and performed miracles. Visit a synagogue of the Second Temple period & the house of Saint Peter.
Drive to Tabgha, the site where Jesus performed the miracle of the loaves and fish. After lunch on your own, visit the site where Jesus was baptized on the Jordan River. In Yardenit, you will have an opportunity to be baptized (please note robe & towels will need to be purchased on site). Overlooking the whole area is the Mount of Beatitudes, where Jesus gave the Sermon on the Mount. (B, D)

Old City of Jerusalem

Visit the Mount of Olives for a panoramic view of Jerusalem. From here, walk through the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus was betrayed by Judas.
Continue to the streets and alleyways of the Old City. Visit the Wailing Wall, one of Judaism’s holiest sites.
See Temple Mount. The revered 7th-century Islamic shrine, the Dome of the Rock is built here.
For members of the Jewish faith, Temple Mount covers the holy Western Wall.
Explore the winding path of Via Dolorosa, along which Jesus carried his cross. Finally, stop at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, which encloses the place where Jesus was crucified and buried. (B, D)

New City of Jerusalem, Bethlehem

Start your day at Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Memorial Museum. A guide will share images, survivors’ accounts, and artifacts that put human faces on the Holocaust. Next, visit the Israel Museum. The museum is best known as the home of the famous Dead Sea Scrolls. Cross the boarder into Palestine to Bethlehem to visit the Church of the Nativity. (B, D)

Qumran, Masada, Dead Sea

Get an early start this morning, driving down the Jordan Valley to the Dead Sea. The first stop is Qumran, the ruins where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered. Continue to Ein Gedi Nature Reserve, the oasis where David hid from Saul. Then travel by cable car to the cliff-top fortress of Masada. The day ends with a stop at Kalia beach on the salty shores of the Dead Sea. (B,D)

Travel from Israel to Jordan

Cross into Jordan today on a journey along the King’s Highway, the oldest trading route in the world. Traveling south through ancient biblical lands, stop first at Mount Nebo, where Moses looked out upon the Promised Land. On a clear day you can see Jericho, the Dead Sea, the River Jordan, and even Jerusalem.
Continue to Madaba, where you can find the oldest original cartographic mosaic map of Jerusalem and the Holy Land. (B, L, D)

Petra

Today, see the city of Petra. You will reach Petra through the narrow, high-walled canyon called the Siq. This caravan-city situated between the Red Sea and the Dead Sea was an important crossroads between Arabia, Egypt and Syria- Phoenicia.
You can join your fellow guests on an optional Jeep tour this afternoon in Wadi Rum. (B, L, D)

Petra to Amman via the Dead Sea

Bob like a cork in the Dead Sea, which is ten times saltier than the ocean and makes visitors float. Tour the picturesque capital city of Amman, then sit down for a farewell dinner. (B, D)

Depart for Home (B)

Note: Flights from Amman to USA may be red eye flights, departing in early morning.