|
FROM
THE PYARMIDS & ST. CATHERINE TO PETRA
Countries
visited: Egypt & Jordan |
 |
Between
Egypt & Jordan, half of the world’s history has
its origin. However, for whatever reason, a combination
of the two civilizations centres in one journey has hardly
ever
been offered. This 15-day journey traces the historical
routes of the Exodus, the trade routes from the times of
Moses as
well as covers the wonders of the pyramids and sphinx,
the treasures of ancient Egypt, which we discover as we
cruise
the Nile, Mount Sinai and it’s famous St Catherine,
Wadi Rum, Petra and Amman.
This then will be a historical journey into history!
|
Tour
Summary
|
Map |
Day
|
Place
|
|
01
|
Cairo
(EGYPT) |
|
02
|
Cairo
/ Aswan |
| 03 |
Arrive
Aswan |
|
04
|
Nile
Cruise |
|
05
|
Nile
Cruise |
|
06
|
Luxor
/ Sharm-el-Sheik |
|
07
|
Sharm-el-Sheik |
|
08
|
Sharm-el-Sheik
/ St.
Catherine |
|
09
|
St.
Catherine / Aqaba (Ferry) - JORDAN |
|
10
|
Aqaba |
|
11
|
Aqaba
/ Petra |
|
12
|
Petra |
|
13
|
Petra
/ Amman |
| 14 |
Amman |
| 15 |
Depart
Amman |
|
|
 |
UNESCO
World Heritage Sites Visited
This tour has been tailored to include the following World
Heritage Sites |
| Jordan |
|
| Petra
(1985) |
Inhabited
since prehistoric times, this Nabataean caravan-city, situated
between the Red Sea and the Dead Sea, was an important crossroads
between Arabia, Egypt and Syria-Phoenicia. Petra is half-built,
half-carved into the rock, and is surrounded by mountains
riddled with passages and gorges. It is one of the world's
most famous archaeological sites, where ancient Eastern traditions
blend with Hellenistic architecture. |
| Egypt |
|
| Memphis
and its Necropolis - the Pyramid Fields from Giza to Dahshur
(1979 |
The
capital of the Old Kingdom of Egypt has some extraordinary
funerary monuments, including rock tombs, ornate mastabas,
temples and pyramids. In ancient times, the site was considered
one of the Seven Wonders of the World. |
| Ancient
Thebes with its Necropolis (1979) |
Thebes,
the city of the god Amon, was the capital of Egypt during
the period of the Middle and New Kingdoms. With the temples
and palaces at Karnak and Luxor, and the necropolises of
the Valley of the Kings and the Valley of the Queens, Thebes
is a striking testimony to Egyptian civilization at its height. |
| Islamic
Cairo (1979) |
Tucked
away amid the modern urban area of Cairo lies one of the
world's oldest Islamic cities, with its famous mosques, madrasas,
hammams and fountains. Founded in the 10th century, it became
the new centre of the Islamic world, reaching its golden
age in the 14th century. |
| Saint
Catherine Area (2002) |
The
Orthodox Monastery of St Catherine stands at the foot of
the Mount Horeb of the Old Testament, where Moses received
the Tablets of the Law. The mountain is known and revered
by Muslims as Jebel Musa. The entire area is sacred to three
world religions: Christianity, Islam, and Judaism. The Monastery,
founded in the 6th century, is the oldest Christian monastery
still in use for its initial function. Its walls and buildings
are very significant in the study of Byzantine architecture
and the Monastery houses outstanding collections of early
Christian manuscripts and icons. The rugged mountainous landscape,
containing numerous archaeological and religious sites and
monuments, forms a perfect backdrop for the Monastery. |
| Detailed
Itinerary |
|
Day
1 (WED): Arrive Cairo (EGYPT)
Ahlan wa sahlan! Welcome in Arabic. We are warmly received
at Cairo Airport and transferred to our hotel.
Overnight: Safir Hotel (1 night)
Day 2 (THU): Cairo/Aswan (Overnight train)
This is a day to go back in time, starting with a visit to
the most famous of the Egyptian sphinxes, the Great Sphinx
of Giza, followed by the Great Pyramid of Khufu (Cheops).
Completed around 2600 BC, this pyramid was 146m (478ft) high
and consisted of over 2 million limestone blocks weighing
over 2 tons each. We the visit the Egyptian Museum of Antiques.
The Museum houses the world's greatest collection of Ancient
Egyptian artifacts, including 12 rooms filled with golden
treasures from the world-famous tomb of the boy-king Tutenkhamun.
Transfer to the train station for an overnight train
ride to Aswan.
Overnight: On board the train (1 night) (B, D)
Day 3 (FRI): Arrive Aswan
Morning arrival in Aswan where we are warmly received and
transferred to your boat, home for the next three nights.
This is also a day for those who may want to take an optional
flight excursion to Abu Simbel to see the temples of Ramses
II and Queen Nefertari. Visits in Aswan include the famous
and monumental Aswan High Dam and the romantic and majestic
Philae Temple on the Island of Agilka then sail to Kom Ombo
to visit the Temple of Kom Ombo, dedicated to the crocodile-god
Sobek. It stands at a bend in the Nile where in ancient times
sacred crocodiles basked in the sun on the riverbank. Continue
to Edfu.
Overnight: M/S Sherry Nile Cruise (3 nights) (B, L,
D)
Day 4 (SAT): Nile Cruise
Morning we will be visiting the well-preserved Greek built
Temple of Horus. This temple, built during the reigns of six
generations of Ptolemy’s, is not only the best-preserved
ancient temple in Egypt, but also the second largest after
Karnak. We then sail to Esna. Cross the lock and continue
to Luxor. (B, L, D)
Day 5 (SUN): Nile Cruise
We begin our day with a visit to the West Bank of Luxor to
explore the Valley of the Kings, a vast City of the Dead where
magnificent tombs were carved into the desert rocks, richly
decorated and filled with treasures for the afterlife by generations
of pharaohs. Our visit will also includes Queen Hatshepsut
Temple and the Colossi of Memnon. (B, L, D)
Day 6 (MON): Luxor / Sharm-el-Sheik (Flight)
After breakfast we disembark from our cruise ship and visit
the Karnak and Luxor Temples. The ancient Egyptians knew the
Temple of Karnak as Ipet-isut. It is a city of temples built
over 2000 years and dedicated to the Theben triad of Amon,
Mut and Khonsu. This derelict place continues to overshadow
many of the wonders of the modern world. It is the mother
of all religious buildings and a place of pilgrimage for nearly
4,000 years. Luxor Temple was connected to Karnak Temple by
an avenue of sphinxes in ancient times. Unlike Karnak, Luxor
is mainly the work of one pharaoh - Amenhotep III, and was
added to by Tutankhamun, Horemheb, Ramses II and Alexander
the Great. During Akhenaten’s reign, all religion other
than the worship of Aten was rejected and development at Luxor
stopped. When Akhenaten died, the old religions returned,
along with the priests, so the temple began to expand again.
After the tour we are transferred to the airport for a flight
to Sharm via Cairo. Meet & transfer to the hotel.
Overnight: Sheraton Sharm Hotel (2 nights) (B, L)
Day 7 (TUE): Sharm-el-Sheik
Sharm is world renowned for its beautiful beaches and offers
several sea sports that one can enjoy or sunbathe. The day
is free to enjoy the surroundings or just simply rest from
the previous full touring day. (B, D)
Day 8 (WED): Sharm-el-Sheik / St. Catherine (Drive)
This afternoon we drive to the Sinai desert to prepare for
our ascend on the historical and holy site of St Catherine.
Overnight: Wadi El Rha Hotel (1 night) (B, D)
Day 9 (THU): St. Catherine/Aqaba (Ferry) -JORDAN
A pre dawn climb on the biblical Mountain of Moses. The feeling
to stand on the spot where Moses is reputed to have received
the Ten Commandments, with spectacular sunrise view of the
Sinai, is something that cannot be described but has to be
experienced. After descending, we have breakfast at a local
hotel before visiting yet another historical place –
the St. Catherine’s Monastery, constructed on order
of Emperor Justinian in the area of what is believed to be
Moses' Burning Bush. Drive to Nuweiba to have lunch then transfer
to the pier to catch the speed ferry to Aqaba in Jordan. Meet
& transfer to our hotel.
Overnight: Aqaba Gulf Hotel (2 nights) (B, L, D)
Day 10 (FRI): Aqaba
Aqaba, the most southern port of Jordan on the Red Sea is
full of life and activity. It is a place for sea cruising,
sea food, bazaars and souqs. This day is free to catch up
for the long previous day. (B, D)
Day 11 (SAT): Aqaba / Petra (Drive)
Morning we take a short drive northwards to Wadi Rum. We change
vehicles and get into our 4X4’s open top jeeps and take
an adventurous ride visiting the Wadi Um Eshreen, the Moving
Sand, Al Khazali, Abu Aineh and Rum Mountain. We see the trail
of Lawrence and the famous Red Mountains. This is the scene
of any desert at it’s best. After an interesting safari
we proceed north to the spectacular city of Petra.
Overnight: Panorama Hotel (2 nights) (B, D)
Day 12 (SUN): Petra
The highlight for today is Petra – the most magnificent
site in the Middle East. After passing the main gate we take
a horse ride for about 700 meters to the entrance of the SIQmand
walk along the SIQ until the most astonishing monuments of
Petra, the Treasury, appear all of a sudden. We wander among
the tombs, temples, water cisterns, the Roman Theater, street
of Facades, the Royal Tombs, the massive Courthouse, Roman
Street and Triumphal Arch and end at Qasr Al-Bint. (B,
D)
Day 13 (MON): Petra / Amman (Drive)
Continue northwards to Amman with stops to visit the Dead
Sea and the Christian town of Madaba to visit St. George’s
Apostle Church that houses the earliest original mosaic map
of the ancient Middle East. Continuing to nearby Mount Nebo,
we visit the church on top of the hill where it is believed
that Moses viewed the Promised Land.
Overnight: Days Inn Hotel (2 nights) (B, D)
Day 14 (TUE): Amman
Amman, the capital of Jordan, offers both the old and new.
Our day tour starts with a visit first to see the Roman Amphitheater
followed by the Citadel, the Archeological Museum, the beautiful
King Abdullah Mosque. We then spend time at the local souq
and also visit the newly built high-class area of Abdoun.
We then go out of town to see the huge site at Jerash where
we also cover the Triumphal Arch, the Hippodrome, the Temple
of Zeus and the Forum, the mile long street of Columns, the
Nymphaeum, the Temple of Airtimes and the Viaduct Church.
(B, D)
Day
15: (WED): Depart Amman
After a journey into antiquity and Biblical times, we bid
farewell as we are transferred to the airport for our departure
flight. Check out time is by 1100 hrs. (B)
|
|
B
= Breakfast
|
L
= Lunch
|
D
= Dinner
|
|
Back
to top
|
Departure Dates |
|
2010
Aug 04, Sep 22, Oct 13, Nov 03, Dec 15
2011
Jan
12, Feb 23, Mar 09, Apr 13, May 18, Jun 15, Jul 13, Aug
31, Sep 21, Oct 12, Nov 09, Dec 14
|
| Prices |
| Season |
Tour
Price US$ |
Single
Sup US$ |
| 2010
/ 2011 |
3850 |
695 |
| For
April & December dates: Supplement high season surcharge
of US$ 480.00 per person sharing Twin. Please
contact us for quotes. |
| Tour
Price Includes |
Tour
Price Does Not Include: |
- Accommodation/cruise
mentioned or similar including taxes
- Meals
as mentioned (B=Breakfast L=Lunch D=Dinner)
- All
sightseeing and transfers
- Services
of local English speaking guide & driver in Egypt.
While in Jordan driver cum guide with local English speaking
guide in Petra & Jerash.
- Entrance
fees to museums and sites included in the itinerary
- Domestic
air/ferry tickets
|
-
International Airfares
-
Border/Departure/Airport taxes
-
Insurance
-
Visa fees
-
Beverage/Tips
- Entrance
fees into the Pyramids, the visit to the Solar Boat Museum,
the Mummies Room at the Egyptian Museum, entrance into
Tout Ankh Amoun & Ramses the 6th Tomb in the Valley
of Kings & the Outdoor Museum at Karnak Temple
|
| Domestic
/ Regional Airfare INCLUDED in Tour Price |
| Cairo
/ Aswan & Luxor /
Sharm-el-Sheik |
| Estimated
International Airfare(not
included in tour price) |
| East
Coast |
US
$ 1200 |
| West
Coast |
US
$ 1400 |
| Please
note:
This tour operates with a minimum of 02
and a maximum of -
participants. |
| Other
Dates / Customized Itinerary / Languages |
In addition to our set programs we are also pleased
to offer customized tours.
Please do not hesitate to contact us to discuss your
individual needs.
Customized tours can be conducted in English, French,
German, Spanish or Italian. Each departure is conducted
in the designated language only. |
| Contact
Information |
|
|
Fax:
+1-604-264-7774
|
| 2068678
Greenall Ave |
Phone:
+1-604-264-7378 |
| Burnaby
B.C., Canada |
Toll
Free (US & Canada): 1-800-663-0844 |
| V5J
3M6 |
Email:
bestway@bestway.com |
|
30
years in small group journeys
|
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Site
updated Jun 01, 2009
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