Deluxe Middle East: from Egypt to Israel

Welcome to Egypt, the land of the mysterious pharaoh! A representative will greet you once you arrive in Cairo and help you with the visa process. After that, a comfortable vehicle will take you to your hotel. The Marriott Mena House, one of the top choices for first-timers to Egypt, will provide you with breathtaking views of the ancient pyramids in its rooms.

Explore Egypt's most iconic landmark this morning at the Giza Pyramid Complex with your private guide. A private golf cart is arranged inside the site for comfortable sightseeing and easy access between the pyramids, along with lounge use for short breaks.

Continue to the Grand Egyptian Museum (GEM), home to world-class ancient Egyptian artifacts, including the complete collection of Tutankhamun's treasures.

In the evening, enjoy dinner at 139 Pavilion at the historic Mena House Hotel, with pyramid views at sunset.

Optional: A more private visit to the Giza Pyramid Complex outside regular opening hours can be arranged upon request.

Visit Old Cairo this morning, starting with the Citadel of Saladin and the impressive Muhammad Ali Mosque. Then take a walk through Khan El Khalili Bazaar, Cairo’s most famous traditional market.

The afternoon is free for you to relax or explore the city at your own pace.

Wake up early for a private transfer to the airport to catch your flight to Aswan. Upon arrival, enjoy a guided tour of Aswan. See an impressive 1960s feat of engineering - High Dam filled with rock and clay. Visit the Temple of Philae while listening to how UNESCO did to protect this historic monument from being flooded. Ramble around the ancient quarry and try to decipher how ancient Egyptians carved gigantic obelisks from granite.

After sightseeing, board a luxury Nile cruise, like Movenpick MS Sunray, to follow in the footsteps of the pharaohs downward to Luxor. Elegantly decorated cabins with panoramic views of the Nile, an open swimming pool, and a sundeck with a recreational area, this cruiser will provide you with a relaxing way from Aswan to Luxor.

The boat will sail on in the early morning and leave some time for a shore excursion to Kom Ombo Temple, a short walk from the pier. Interestingly, this unusual temple is dedicated to two different gods, god Haroesis on one side and Sobek on the other.

Continue to Edfu, the site of the Horus Temple. Ride a horse-drawn carriage to the entrance and admire the temple covered in beautiful carvings and reliefs. Go back and enjoy a leisurely afternoon tea as the boat sails to Luxor via Esna.

Accommodation: Movenpick MS Sunray (Luxury 5-Star Cruise)

Spend the morning visiting the West Bank, where the ancient Egyptians buried the dead. In the Valley of the Kings, you will step into the tomb of Tutankhamun where Tutankhamun's mummy is still on display, explore the tomb of King Seti Ⅰ- the most spectacular of all the tombs with 11 beautifully decorated chambers, and enjoy the vaulted ceiling decorated with astronomical scenes inside the tomb of Ramses Ⅴ and Ramses Ⅵ. Continue to visit the Mortuary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut to discover the unique story behind this female pharaoh. After a photo stop at the huge Colossi of Memnon, go back to the boat for lunch and unwind by the open swimming pool.

Accommodation: Movenpick MS Sunray (Luxury 5-Star Cruise)

Disembark the boat after breakfast and go to the East Bank to explore the Temple of Karnak, along with the nearby Luxor Temple. Appreciate various religious buildings and statues in the Karnak, while in the Luxor Temple, the rich history covering the Pharaonic, Roman, Christian, and Muslim eras will delight you.

After the tour, transfer to the airport for a short flight back to Cairo. Le Meridien Cairo Airport, offering a convenient pedestrian bridge connecting to Terminal Three of the Cairo International Airport, maybe a good choice for your stay tonight.

Accommodation:JW Marriott Hotel Cairo (Luxury 5-Star Hotel)

Leave ancient Egypt behind for Jerusalem, which is regarded by Jews, Christians, and Muslims as the biblical Holy Land. Upon touchdown at Ben Gurion Airport, a private transfer will take you to the Waldorf Astoria Jerusalem, just about 500 meters from the Old City, you can spend the rest of the day unwinding at its rooftop garden overlooking the surrounding areas.

Accommodation: Waldorf Astoria Jerusalem (Luxury 5-Star Hotel)

Get a panorama view of the Holy City from the top of the Mount of Olives. The Garden of Gethsemane on the foot of the mountain is where Jesus frequently went with His disciples to pray according to the New Testament. From there, follow the stops of Via Dolorosa to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher while listening to your guide sharing related Bible stories.

Afterward, stroll around the narrow, winding streets and alleyways along with your private guide to get an insight into the daily life in the Muslim Quarter. Conclude the day with a visit to Mount Zion, the site of the Last Supper Room.

Accommodation: Waldorf Astoria Jerusalem (Luxury 5-Star Hotel)

Visit Yad Vashem in the morning. This World Holocaust Remembrance Center tells the history of the Holocaust from a unique Jewish perspective, through original artifacts, survivor testimonies, and personal possessions. After that, proceed to Bethlehem for a visit to the Church of the Nativity. Descend to its grotto, where you can see an inlaid silver star marking the birth of Jesus.

Return to the hotel in the afternoon and have the rest of the day at leisure.

Accommodation: Waldorf Astoria Jerusalem (Luxury 5-Star Hotel)

Drive out of the city and visit Masada by cable car. Rising about 400 meters above sea level, it is where Herod the Great built two palaces for himself and also where the Jews last stood against the Romans. Before descending, don't forget to take in the breathtaking view of the surrounding area. For the rest of the day, you can experience floating in the salty waters of the Dead Sea and lather yourself in a warm mud bath. After the tour, return to your hotel in Jerusalem.

Accommodation: Waldorf Astoria Jerusalem (Luxury 5-Star Hotel)

Relax at leisure until being picked up by your private driver and transferred to Ben Gurion Airport for your homebound flight.