Compare Adventures of Israel, Jordan and Egypt 17 Day Tour by Noah Tours vs Best of Egypt, Jordan and Jerusalem Tour by Memphis Tours

Day 1: Arrival

Arrival to Tel Aviv International Airport. A Noah Tours representative will meet you after passport control and accompany you to your transfer to your hotel.

Day 2: Jaffa - Caesarea - Haifa - Nazareth - Cana - Galilee

After breakfast drive through Jaffa, an ancient port city and the oldest part of Tel Aviv. Continue on to the ancient city of Caesarea that was built by King Herod the Great while driving along the beautiful Mediterranean coast. We will then proceed to Haifa, passing by Mt. Carmel to see the famous Bahai Gardens. From Haifa, we will drive to Nazareth and the Church of Annunciation. Drive to Cana, where the miracle of Jesus turning water into wine took place and visit the “Wedding Church”.  End the day with an overnight in Tiberias/Galilee Sea.

Day 3: Galilee - Mt. Beatitudes - Capernaum - Tabgha - Golan Heights

Start the day with an exciting boat ride on the Galilee Sea. Continue to see the “Jesus Boat”, the ancient boat found sunk in the Sea of Galilee from the time of Jesus. Ascend up to Mt. Beatitudes, where Jesus gave the “Sermon on the Mount”.  Continue the day in Capernaum, known as “The Town of Jesus”, visit the synagogue and Peter’s house. Take a lunch break with a delicious St. Peters fish lunch. Next, we will visit Tabgha, the place where the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes took place. You will also have the amazing opportunity to see the famous mosaic under the alter of the ancient church of Tabgha. Proceed to the Golan Heights and have an overview from above. End the day at your hotel in the Galilee Sea for your overnight.

Day 4: Jordan River - Qumran - Masada - Dead Sea

Begin the morning driving along the Jordan River to Yardenit Baptismal Site. Visit Qumran and see the caves where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found. Travel on to Masada where you will take a cable car up to the fortress. The history of the famous Jewish fortification will unfold before your eyes; the palaces built by King Herod, the synagogue and bathhouses used by the Jews. Descend Masada by cable car and drive to the Dead Sea for some relaxation and a dip in the water. Overnight at a Dead Sea hotel and spa where you will be able to take advantage of the spa facilities.

Day 5: Dead Sea - Mt. of Olives - Bethlehem

Take advantage of some extra sleep or an early spa treatment, since check out isn’t until 11:00 AM. Go up to the Mt. of Olives, a cemetery that once was covered in olive groves, where you will have a magnificent panoramic view of Jerusalem. Depart for Bethlehem to see the Church of Nativity located at Manger Square. Overview of the Judean Desert and Shepherd's Field. Finish the day back in Jerusalem for your overnight.

Day 6: Jerusalem (New City) - Mahane Yehuda Market

The morning will begin with a visit to Israel’s official memorial to the Holocaust, Yad VaShem, located on Mt. Herzl. Drive past The Knesset and the Israeli Supreme Court, on your way to the Israel Museum, Israel’s national museum, where you will see the Dead Sea Scrolls as well as a model of the Second Temple. Continue the day with an exciting tour of the Mahane Yehuda Marketplace (Shuk) and experience life as an Israeli. Overnight in Jerusalem.

Day 7: Jerusalem (Old City) - Arava Border - Aqaba

Today will begin with a tour of the Garden of Gethsemane, the place where Jesus prayed and his disciples slept the night before his crucifixion. Make your way to Mt. Zion where you will visit David’s Tomb and the site of the Last Supper, also known as the “Upper Room”. We continue to the Christian Quarter where you will enter the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, where Jesus was crucified. From there, walk where Jesus walked and make your way down Via Dolorosa (Stations of the Cross). The day will continue with a trip to The Cardo, what used to be a main street in the Old City during the time when Judea was under Roman rule. Go down to the Western Wall and spend some time in reflection and/or prayer.  Transfer to Arava Border where a Noah Tours representative will meet you on the other side and transfer you to the beautiful city of Aqaba. Overnight in Aqaba.

Day 8: Aqaba - Petra- Fly from Amman to Cairo

Drive to Petra through the scenic Jordanian desert and the Wadi Rum area. Enter the Rose City of Petra through the Siq, a narrow passage through the mountains that has inspired people for centuries. Travel up to the treasury which suddenly appears at the end of the gorge, leaving the visitors breath-taken by its size, color and beauty. Continue into the heart of this ancient city carved into the mountains, passing hundreds of tombs and monuments and a spectacular Amphitheatre, which once held 3,000 spectators. Stop for a sit-down lunch before leaving Wadi Mussa - the new town of Petra. Transfer to Amman airport for your flight to Cairo.

Day 9: Cairo - Memphis - Saqqara - The Great Pyramids of Giza

We begin our day with a tour of the ancient city of Memphis that lies some 12 miles south of Cairo. The ancient city is now an open air museum testifying to the magnificence of its four thousand years of history. Near Memphis lies the necropolis of Saqqara, a vast, ancient burial ground, featuring numerous pyramids, including the world famous Step Pyramid of Djoser. We then proceed to the Great Pyramids and the Sphinx located, on the Giza Plateau. The Great Pyramids of Giza are considered one of the seven wonders of the world. The Valley Temples surrounding the pyramids provide an insight to dominating religious motives of the era. Return to hotel for overnight.

Day 10: Cairo City Tour

Visit the Egyptian Museum, with its fantastic display of ancient civilization. Next, see the Mosque of Mohammad Ali, the Citadel, the old city and the Ben Ezra Synagoue also known as the Geniza Synagogue. Its store rooms were found to contain over 2,000 medieval manuscripts, a collection known as the Cairo Geniza. After, visit one of the oldest and most famous Coptic Churches in Egypt, the El Mullakah Church (Hanging Church). Continue to the City of the Dead, a four mile long grid of tombs and mausoleums where people live and work amongst their ancestors. End today's tour at  Bazaar Khan el-Khalili. Overnight in Cairo.

Day 11: Alexandria City Tour

With an early morning drive from Cairo to Alexandria, start by visiting Catacomb Kom El Shoqafa, the largest and most important burial site in Egypt. Next, Pompey's Pillar, a memorial column made out of red Aswan granite erected by the Roman ruler of Egypt in honor of Emperor Diocletian. Conclude at the Bibliotheca Alexandrina, a major library and cultural center located on the shore of the Mediterranean Sea. It is a commemoration of the ancient Library of Alexandria that was destroyed centuries ago. Overnight in Cairo.

Day 12: Fly to Luxor - Board Cruise - Luxor East Bank Tour

Fly to Luxor where you will be transferred to your Nile River cruise. See the Karnak Temples, which are the largest Pharaonic temple complex in the world, with some parts constructed by Ramses II. Continue to the Temple of Luxor, another startling temple which was established around the 14th century BC. After the tour, return to the boat for  afternoon tea and dinner. Overnight on board.

Day 13: Luxor West Bank Tour

Explore the West Bank of Luxor, also known as the City of the Dead. The first visit will be to the Valley of the Kings, the richest and most fascinating ancient tombs in Egypt. We will then visit the Temple of Deir el-Bahari, which was constructed during the reign of Queen Hatshepsut. Finally, we will visit the Colossi of Memnon, these two huge statues are the only remaining items of the great funerary temple of Amenhotep III constructed in 1350 BC. After the tour, return to the boat for afternoon tea and dinner. Overnight on board.

Day 14: Edfu - Kom Ombo

The cruise will dock at the port in the city of Edfu. Take a short drive to the Tempel of Horus, the finest preserved ancient Egyptian temple. Return to the ship for lunch while sailing to the city of Kom Ombo. Once there, you will visit the Temple of Kom Ombo, dedicated to the local deities. After the tour, return to the boat for afternoon tea and dinner. Overnight on board.

Day 15: Aswan City Tour - Aswan Dam

After breakfast, explore the city of Aswan. Our first stop of the day will to the High Dam, constructed in the 1960's to protect Aswan from flooding. Ride in a motorboat to reach Agilkia Island, where we will visit the Temple of Philae, the center of the worship of the Goddess Isis. Proceed to the Unfinished Obelisk, which was discovered in the granite quarry in the southern part of Aswan. After the tour, return to the boat for afternoon tea and dinner. Overnight on board.

Day 16: Aswan - Fly to Cairo

After breakfast, disembark from the cruise, and have a day of leisure in Aswan (Optional: tour to Abu Simbel). Fly to Cairo for your final overnight.

Day 17: Departure from Cairo Airport

After breakfast, check-out of the hotel and drive to Cairo Airport for departure.

Day 1: Arrival Cairo - Welcome to Egypt

Welcome to Cairo, Egypt (Around The Clock)

Your tour manager will meet and assist you at Cairo International Airport (Arrival procedures) and then he will escort you to the hotel by exclusive air-conditioned deluxe vehicle. At hotel the tour manager will assist with a smooth check-in and review your holiday itinerary with you to establish and confirm pick-up times for each tour. Overnight in Cairo.

Welcome Drink

Day 2: Pyramids Tour

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Breakfast at your hotel in Cairo and then met by your personal guide who will accompany you to Giza Plateau to visit the Great Pyramids of Cheops, Chefren and Mykerinus - Famous Sphinx and Valley temple facing the great statue. Lunch will be served in a local restaurant. Proceed to Sakkara area to visit Sakkara Complex and first pyramid ever built (Djoser Pyramid). Overnight in Cairo.

Day 3: Cairo Sightseeing - Fly to Aswan

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch

Check-out after breakfast and then you will be escorted by your private guide to visit: Egyptian Museum where you will see many fascinating artifacts. Lunch will be served in a local restaurant. Continue to Coptic Cairo to visit the Hanging Church and Ben Ezra Synagogue. Continue driving to Islamic Cairo, where you will be able to explore Khan El Khalili, Cairo’s old bazaar. In the evening transfer to Cairo Airport for flight to Aswan. Overnight in Aswan.

Day 4: Tour to Abu Simbel Temples

Meals: Breakfast , Lunch

Breakfast at your hotel in Aswan, then you will take a group tour to enjoy one of Egypt's top tourist attractions, Abu Simbel temple, which were originally carved out of the mountainside during the reign of Pharaoh Ramesses II approximately in the 13th century BC, as a lasting monument to himself and his queen Nefertari. From Aswan to Abu Simbel is about a 03 hours and half drive one way. Overnight in Aswan.

Day 5: Aswan Nile Cruise Tours

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Breakfast at your hotel in Aswan. Then transfer to embark your Nile River Cruise before Lunch at 11:00 a.m, then enjoy visiting the world famous High Dam, The awesome Philae temple, which is devoted to the two goddesses Isis and Hathor , and the largest known ancient obelisk, located in the northern region of the stone quarries of ancient Egypt, the Unfinished Obelisk. Dinner on board and overnight in Aswan.

Day 6: Kom Ombo and Edfu Temples

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Sail to Kom Ombo, have breakfast on board and Visit the Temple shared by two gods Sobek and Haeroris in Kom Ombo. Sail to Edfu, lunch on board after that Visit the best-preserved cult temple in Egypt, Horus Temple in Edfu. Take afternoon tea during sailing to Esna. Dinner and overnight on board.

Day 7: Luxor Nile Cruise Excursions

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Sail to Luxor, have breakfast on board then Visit the West Bank, take an excursion to the royal cemetery for 62 Pharaohs, Valley of the Kings, then to mortuary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut, which was built by the architects of the New Kingdom Pharaoh Hatshepsut approximately in the 15th century BC , at El-Deir El-Bahari and the Colossi Memnon. Lunch on board. Enjoy afternoon tea during sailing. Dinner on board Overnight in Luxor.

Day 8: Luxor Nile Cruise - Fly back to Cairo

Meals: Breakfast

Breakfast on board, Disembark from your Nile cruise after breakfast at 08:00 a.m. Then transfer to visit Karnak and Luxor Temples. Then transfer to Luxor Airport for flight to Cairo then transfer to your hotel and overnight .

Day 9: Cairo to Jordan – Amman

Meals: Breakfast

Memphis Tours Representative will transfer you to Cairo Airport for your flight to Amman where we will meet you then transfer to your hotel and overnight.

Day 10: Jerash and Dead Sea Tour

Meals: Breakfast

On the Second day of your Jordan tours After breakfast, we will drive towards north to Jerash, situated in the foothills of the mountain of Gilead, the ancient city is reminiscent of the Roman Empire. Being one of the largest and well-preserved sites of Roman Architecture outside of Italy its grandeur can be seen in the colonnaded street, Oval Plaza the Nymphaeum and the Temple of Artemis. After this we will drive towards the Dead Sea, Being the lowest point on earth and filled with a variety of minerals with medicinal properties the site has developed into a health spa-like hotspot. The mineral concentration in the mud is used for therapeutic and beauty treatments. Queen Cleopatra and Sheba both were said to have known the value of the site and used it. Due to high salinity the water supports no form of life hence the name the Dead Sea and floating is very easy. Be sure to prepare to swim and relax in the mud before heading back to Amman for Overnight

Day 11: Petra Tour

Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast of this Petra Tours, drive about 2.5 hours to the Rose Red City of Petra, Jordan’s largest attraction. First started in the 6th century B.C. by Nabataean Arabs the city boasts beautiful facades carved directly into the walls of the mountainsides. Arriving at the visitor’s center it’s a 700-meter walk to the Siq entrance which is an impressive 1200 meter long gorge of a kaleidoscope of colors the towers more than 80 meters above you and it will lead you to the wonderful treasury. As you exit the chasm you’re instantly transfixed by the beauty of Petra, chosen as one of the New World Wonders, the place speaks for itself. After your time at Petra, you make your way back through the Siq before returning to Amman for overnight.

Day 12: Tour to Jerusalem

Meals: Breakfast

At 7:00 am pick up from your Amman hotel to head for the Allenby Bridge/King Hussein Border to leave Jordan. Your tour guide welcomes you, then drive via the Judean desert to the Holy City Jerusalem. We start with a panoramic view from the Mount of Olives, and walk down to the Garden of Gethsemane and the Church of All Nations. In the old city we view the Wailing Wall, which represents the last remnants of the Jewish Temple, destroyed by the Romans. If open to visitors, we ascend to the Temple Mount to look at the famous Dome of the Rock. Then we continue to the Via Dolorosa, which leads us to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, where Jesus Christ was crucified and buried. Then, back to Amman.

Overnight in hotel in Amman

Day 13: Amman - Fly Back Home

Meals: Breakfast

After breakfast, transfer to Amman (Queen Alia's) International Airport for final departure.