Morocco, Egypt, Jordan and Israel

Itinerary

• Day 1: Arrival, Casablanca

  Your Middle East vacation will begin in Morocco. Upon arrival in Casablanca, your private chauffeur-guide will escort you to your hotel. In the afternoon, pay a visit to the Hassan II Mosque. It has the second tallest minaret in the world at 210 meters.

  • Casablanca

• Day 2: Casablanca - Fez

  Today, you will head to Rabat for a short city tour. This beautiful coastal city is one of four former imperial cities of Morocco, and you will visit the Hassan Tower, the Mausoleum of Mohammed V, the old medina and the New City. After the tour, your private driver will transfer you to Fez, another former imperial city.

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  • Fez

• Day 3: Fez

  After breakfast, you will visit the Fez medina, one of the best-conserved historic towns of the Arab-Muslim world. After that, catch a glimpse of the King's Palace, and then pay a visit to the tanneries and potters.

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  • Fez

• Day 4: Fez

  Your exploration will extend to three historic sites around the city. One is Volubilis, a partly excavated Roman city in Morocco. The other one is the holy city of Moulay Idriss, where Moulay Idriss I started a new dynasty. The last is Meknes, one of four former imperial cities.

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  • Fez

• Day 5: Fez - Marrakech

  After an early breakfast, your private chauffeur-guide will take you up into the Middle Atlas Mountains. Once arriving in Marrakech, you will check into your hotel and then wander around the Jemaa el-Fnaa, the amazing cultural heritage of Marrakech. In the evening, a quiet cup of tea on the terrace of an adjacent cafe provides you with a spectacular aerial view of the bustling square.

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  • Marrakech

• Day 6: Marrakech

  Marrakech, the most important of four former imperial cities, will take a full day to explore. The Palace of the Bahia shows the brilliant architecture in Islamic and Moroccan style. The Saadian Tombs offers extensive stunning decorations. Besides these, the tour also includes the magnificent Koutoubia Mosque and magical famous Jemaa el-Fnaa again.

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  • Marrakech

• Day 7: Marrakech - Casablanca

  This morning is free for you to explore the old medina by yourself. In the afternoon, you will be transferred to Casablanca for an overnight stay.

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  • Casablanca

• Day 8: Casablanca - Cairo

  After breakfast, you will be transferred to the airport for your flight to Egypt. Upon arriving in Cairo, clear customs with the help of an airport representative, and then be escorted to your hotel by your private driver. The rest of the day is yours to explore this city on your own.

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  • Cairo

• Day 9: Cairo

  This morning, your private guide will guide you to visit ancient Memphis and introduce the history of old Egypt. Continue to explore the Step Pyramid of Saqqara, the earliest pyramid built during the first dynasty of the Old Kingdom. Finally, you will marvel at the most iconic Pyramids of Giza and the mysterious Sphinx.

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  • Cairo

• Day 10: Cairo - Aswan - Abu Simbel - Aswan

  This morning, you will head to the airport and fly to Aswan. Upon arrival, you will be transferred to Abu Simbel for a visit of the fabulous Temples of Abu Simbel. They are considered to be the masterpieces of ancient Egypt, reflecting the glory and grandeur of the new Kingdom. When the tour is complete, drive back to Aswan and check into your hotel.

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  • Aswan

• Day 11: Nile River Cruise

  Enjoy a leisure morning and then board your Nile Cruise ship. After settling into your cabin, you will enjoy a shore excursion to the High Dam and the Temple of Philae. In the late afternoon, you will take in a natural beauty on the Egyptian Felucca and step ashore to visit the Botanical Gardens on Kitchener Island.

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  • Nile River Cruise

• Day 12: Nile River Cruise

  Your Nile Cruise continues. Enjoy a visit to the Greco-Roman Sobek Temple when the ship passes Kom Ombo. After the tour, your ship will sail to Edfu. Here you will step ashore to visit the Temple of Horus (also known as the Temple of Edfu), the second-largest temple after Karnak.

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  • Nile River Cruise

• Day 13: Nile River Cruise

  Your ship will reach Luxor this morning. Disembark to visit the west bank of the Nile. Start with the Valley of the Kings, where you will have the chance to explore three tombs of the ancient Pharaohs. Later, you will appreciate the statues and sphinxes of the queen in the Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut. The tour also includes a visit to the huge Colossi of Memnon.

  Note: When visiting the Valley of the Kings, the tombs for Ramesses VI, Tutankhamun and Ay are subject to an additional charge of USD30 per person.

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  • Nile River Cruise

• Day 14: Luxor - Cairo

  After breakfast on board, you will start your day with a visit to the Temples of Karnak. Though badly ruined, no site in Egypt is more impressive than Karnak. Continue to the Luxor Temple, which was once joined to the Temples of Karnak by a two-kilometer-long Avenue of Sphinx. After the tour, you will fly to Cairo to stay overnight.

  Optional: Early Morning Luxor West Bank Hot Balloon at USD130/pp is highly recommended.

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  • Cairo

• Day 15: Cairo

  After breakfast, you will enjoy a city tour of Cairo. Learn about the history of ancient Egypt in the Egyptian Museum, and then take in the medieval Islamic architecture in the Citadel of Salah El Din. After that, observe the local life closely in the bustling Khan El Khalili Bazaar.

  Optional: Shisha (Arabian hookah) experience can be arranged at the Khalili Bazaar at an additional USD15 per person.

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  • Cairo

• Day 16: Cairo - Alexandria - Cairo

  After breakfast, take a 3.5-hour journey drive to Alexandria for a city tour. The tour includes the Pompey's Pillar, the Catacombs of Kom El-Shoqafa, the Elshawary, the Alexandria Library and the Qaitbay Citadel. After the tour, your private driver will transfer you back to Cairo for your last night there.

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  • Cairo

• Day 17: Cairo - Amman - Jerash - Amman

  This morning, you will say goodbye to Egypt and fly to Jordan. When your flight lands in Amman, pass through customs to meet your private English-speaking driver. Head north to Jerash for its well-preserved Roman architecture, and then back to the city to visit the Citadel, the Roman Theater, and Archeological & Folklore Museums.

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  • Amman

• Day 18: Amman - Petra

  After breakfast, your private driver will escort you south to Petra. On the way, you will visit Madaba which is famous for its Byzantine and Umayyad mosaics, and Mt. Nebo from where you can get a panoramic view of the holy land. Before reaching Petra, make a stopover at a Jordanian handicraft shop.

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  • Petra

• Day 19: Petra

  Petra is a historical city hidden in the desert. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and described as "one of the most precious cultural properties of man's cultural heritage". The buildings in this city are almost carved into the rose-red rocks. You will have a 2-hour guided tour to learn about the history of the main highlights, and then time to explore on your own.

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  • Petra

• Day 20: Petra - Wadi Rum

  After exploring mysterious Petra, your journey will continue with the natural wonder - Wadi Rum, also known as the Valley of the Moon. The endless colorful sand plains and the huge sandstone mountains might call to remembrance scenes from the film "The Martian". It will take about 2 hours riding a jeep head to your camp in the desert for an overnight stay.

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  • Wadi Rum

• Day 21: Wadi Rum - Dead Sea

  Today, you will head to the Dead Sea to enjoy a relaxing time. It is one of the most spectacular natural and spiritual landscapes in the world. You might want to spend remaining time sunbathing or floating on the salty water.

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  • Dead Sea

• Day 22: Dead Sea - Allenby Bridge Border - Jerusalem

  After breakfast, your private driver will escort you to Allenby Bridge, the border between Jordan and Israel. Pass through the border on your own and then meet your private driver on the Israeli side. After meeting, you will be transferred to your hotel in Jerusalem for an overnight stay.

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  • Jerusalem

• Day 23: Jerusalem

  Jerusalem is one of the oldest cities in the world, and considered as the holy city of Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. Today, you will walk around the old city of Jerusalem to experience the sacred atmosphere. Your private guide will guide you to visit the highlights of this city, including the Mount of Olives, the Gethsemane, the King David's Tomb, the Wailing Wall, and the Church of the Holy Sepulcher.

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  • Jerusalem

• Day 24: Jerusalem - Bethlehem - Jerusalem

  Time to travel around Bethlehem. First, visit the silver star in the cave under the Church of the Nativity, the birthplace of Jesus Christ. After that, explore some of the many churches and chapels within this compound. Next, experience the bustling Manger Square, where all the Christmas celebrations in the city are held; then visit the Shepherds Field, where the angels first announced the birth of Jesus.

  Return to Jerusalem and stop at the Israel Museum in its New City. There are artifacts associated with Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. Don't miss the city model in the Second Temple period and the Dead Sea Scrolls uncovered in Qumran. Later, visit the Holocaust Memorial of Yad Vashem. End your tour with the famous Machane Yehuda Market before back to your hotel in Jerusalem.

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  • Jerusalem

• Day 25: Jerusalem - Tel Aviv, Departure

  All good things come to an end. Enjoy your breakfast before your personal driver escorts you to Ben Gurion Airport for your return flight.

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