Egypt, Jordan & Israel Explored

Fly overnight to Cairo via Dubai. You will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel. The remainder of the day is at leisure.

Visit Egypt's most iconic sites: the Pyramids of Giza and the unblinking Sphinx, along with the atmospheric Egyptian Museum with its collections of statues, mummies and pharaonic treasures. Later, explore the Khan el Khalili Bazaar, a souk famed for its precious and semiprecious jewellery.

Spend the morning exploring Cairo's oldest district, the Coptic Quarter, with its impressive churches and huge Christian artefact collection at the Coptic Museum. Later, continue to Sakkara, an ancient necropolis famed for its painted catacombs and the Step Pyramid of Djoser.

Take the desert road to Alexandria, on the coast. This afternoon, you'll discover Alexandria's many highlights, from the Roman theatre to the atmospheric Catacombs of Kom el Shoqafa, dating back to the 2nd century. Pause for a photo at the renovated 15th-century Qaitbay Citadel, once one of the most important defensive strongholds of Africa's Mediterranean coastline.

This morning, we visit El Alamein, the site of two key battles in WWII. The Allied victory in the second battle was instrumental in ending the Axis threat to Egypt. Explore the military museum and war cemeteries before travelling southeast back to Cairo. Stop en route to visit the still-active Monastery of St Macarius, inhabited by Coptic Orthodox monks since the 4th century AD.

Take a short one-hour flight from Cairo to Luxor, where we transfer to the port and board your Nile cruise ship for our four-night cruise. Refresh yourself before this afternoon's excursions around Luxor's East Bank. Begin at the Temple Complex of Karnak, famed for the majestic Hypostyle Hall with its 134 gigantic stone columns, along with the Avenue of the Sphinxes and the Sacred Lake.

Explore the West Bank of Luxor, one of Egypt's most stunning landscapes. Admire the mysterious Colossi of Memnon statues en route to the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, the gigantic funerary complex of Egypt's second-ever female Pharaoh. This afternoon, visit the Valley of the Kings, resting place of many pharaohs of the New Kingdom. Here, visit the tomb of Tutankhamun along with other richly-painted tombs of your choice. Tonight, sail for Esna.

Enjoy a morning visit to the Temple of Horus at Edfu, one of Egypt’s most beautiful and well-preserved temples, dating back to the 3rd century BC. Return to the ship for lunch as you cruise on to the town of Kom Ombo, where we visit the unusual double temple of Kom Ombo, dedicated to Horus and Sobek. Sail on to Aswan, where we dock for the next two nights.

This morning, journey southwest to the iconic twin temples of Abu Simbel, at Egypt's furthest edge. This atmospheric temple complex, perhaps the greatest in Egypt, is dedicated to Ramesses II, often considered the greatest pharaoh of the New Kingdom. Admire its many halls and imposing statues before returning to the ship in Aswan.

Discover the many highlights of Aswan on this full-day tour. Visit the 111-metre tall Aswan High Dam, see the Unfinished Obelisk in place at Aswan's ancient quarry, and visit the Temple of Philae on Agilkia Island. After lunch, embark on a felucca (traditional Nile sailing boat) for an afternoon of leisurely cruising. Enjoy a last dinner in Egypt before this evening's flight back to Cairo.

Depart Egypt and take a short flight to Amman, the capital of Jordan. Transfer to your hotel before this evening's Jordan briefing.

Begin your explorations of Jordan with a visit to the Roman city of Jerash with its impressive archaeological remains. Continue to Ajloun, where we visit the 12th-century castle overlooking the Jordan Valley.

Explore the old city of Amman, with its impressive Citadel and large Roman theatre, before exploring the Desert Castles outside the city. After lunch, return to Amman and explore the monuments of the ancient city centre.

Visit Mount Nebo, one of the possible burial sites of Moses. The ruined 4th and 5th-century churches here are home to impressive Biblical mosaics. Continue to Madaba to visit the Orthodox Church of St George, famed for its mosaic map. Your evening ends in the town of Petra, where you’ll enjoy an authentic Levantine cooking class with a local chef.

Start today visiting Petra's many caves and tombs. Surrounded by imposing mountains and accessible through a deep, narrow cleft, Petra is a unique and unforgettable place. You have the afternoon to yourself before your evening tour of Petra where you'll see it lit up by candlelight.

Start with a visit to Little Petra before transferring to Wadi Rum, the Valley of the Moon. This wondrous desert is filled with ancient valleys, towered over by sandstone mountains. A comfortable 4x4 will whisk you into the heart of the wadi, where you’ll follow in the footsteps of Lawrence of Arabia and hear the desert's long history. This evening, stay in a unique desert camp with luxurious en-suite private tents.

Travel north along the Jordanian/Israeli border to the Dead Sea - the lowest point on earth. After lunch enjoy some free time to finish off your Jordan experience.

Make your way by road to Tel Aviv. On arrival you will check in to your hotel and take the opportunity to relax before your explorations begin tomorrow.

Today you will visit Jaffa, the world's oldest active harbour, before travelling to Caesarea to view the fascinating Roman ruins on the shoreline. Drive to view the Holy Land at Mukhraga viewpoint before arriving at your hotel in Nazareth.

Begin at Kibbutz Degania Bet to gain an insider's perspective on Israel's Kibbutz movement. Continue to Tabgha, held to be the site of the 'miracle of the loaves and fishes' as depicted in the site's wonderful mosaics. In Capernaum, visit the site where Jesus is said to have raised a woman from the dead. See the House of St Peter and the nearby Mount of Beatitudes, the site of the Sermon on the Mount. This afternoon, spend some time in the Crusader town of Acre.

Drive through the scenic Jordan Valley into Palestinian Territory to visit Qasr El Yahud, the site of Jesus’ baptism. Continue to Jericho where you’ll take a cable car to the cliffside Quarantal Monastery on the Mount of Temptation. After lunch, return to the Dead Sea to experience its western shore.

Drive to Masada and take a cable car to the top of Masada Fortress, where as well as the wonderful view, you will learn of the last stand by Jewish rebels against the Romans. Drive to Qumran for lunch and a visit to where the Dead Sea scrolls were discovered. Continue your journey to Bethlehem, in Palestinian Territory, for a one night stay. Enjoy a Palestinian dancing show during dinner this evening.

Visit Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity, one of the most holy sites in the world. Continue to Jerusalem to visit the famous Western Wall, the last remnant of the original Temple Mount retaining wall, which supported the First and Second Temples of Jerusalem. Walk to the Stations of the Cross and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre before continuing to Temple Mount, site of the Dome of the Rock and Al Aksa Mosque.

Head out of the city to Mount Zion to visit the Cenacle, King David's Tomb and Dormition Abbey. After lunch continue to Mount of Olives to visit Pater Noster Church and the Church of Ascension, and admire the impressive view over the Holy City. Visit the garden of Gethsemane, the site of Jesus' arrest by the Romans before his crucifixion. End the day with a Shabbat dinner prepared by a local Rabbi.

Fly to Australia, arriving home the next day