Compare Adventures of Israel, Jordan and Egypt 17 Day Tour by Noah Tours vs The Grand Epic of Egypt, Jordan, and Israel by Odynovo

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

Overnight: Cairo

Welcome to Egypt, once the mighty land of pharaohs!

Upon touchdown, you will be met by our airport representative and then transferred to your hotel with a private vehicle. Check-in and have the rest of the day at your leisure.

Day 2: Cairo

Meal: Breakfast

Overnight: Cairo

Begin your exploration from Memphis, the ancient Egyptian capital of the Old Kingdom, which is now an open-air museum sheltering the 10-meter-long statue of Rameses II. Your next stop, the Step Pyramid of Djoser in the Saqqara Necropoleis, is widely regarded as the oldest pyramid in the world. Finally, visit the most iconic pyramids complex at Giza and the Great Sphinx.

Day 3: Cairo

Meal: Breakfast

Overnight: Cairo

Step into the Egyptian Museum for a comprehensive understanding of Egyptian history from

the Predynastic Period to the Greco-Roman Era. Later, proceed to the medieval Citadel of Saladin in Old Cairo. The inside Mohammed Ali Mosque, which dominates the eastern skyline of Cairo, is the symbol of the citadel. Afterward, spend some time browsing and shopping in the vibrant Khan El Khalili Bazaar before returning to the hotel.

Day 4: Cairo - Aswan - Nile River Cruise

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight: On Board

Take a morning flight to Aswan.

Upon arrival, go straight to your Nile cruise ship to check in. Your shore excursion in Aswan includes the High Dam and the Temple of Philae. Late in the afternoon, take the chance to sail on the Nile with a traditional Egyptian Felucca and explore the Botanical Gardens on Kitchener Island.

Day 5: Nile River Cruise

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight: On Board

Cruise on, and when the ship arrives in Kom Ombo, go ashore to see the unusual double Temple of Kom Ombo with one side dedicated to the god Haroesis and the other to Sobek. Return to the ship and continue your journey to Edfu for the Temple of Horus. Also known as the Temple of Edfu, it is the second-largest temple in Egypt after Karnak Temple.

Day 6: Nile River Cruise

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner

Overnight: On Board

Once the ship arrives in Luxor in the morning, disembark to explore the west bank of Luxor. Step into three tombs of the ancient Pharaohs in the Valley of the Kings to learn about ancient Egyptian beliefs and burial practices. Following it is the renovated Mortuary Temple of Hatshepsut, an impressive terraced sandstone complex built into mountain cliffs. During the tour, you can also take pictures with the massive Colossi of Memnon, who guard the ruined Mortuary Temple of Amenhotep III for thousands of years.

Day 7: Luxor - Cairo

Meal: Breakfast

Overnight: Cairo

Disembark the cruise and continue to explore the east bank of Luxor. You will find two of Egypt's most important sites, the Temple of Karnak and the Luxor Temple. They were linked by a 3-kilometer-long avenue of Sphinxes, part of which is still visible today. You will gain more about Egyptian history through the massive columns with intricate carvings, great statues of quite impressive sizes, obelisks, and so on.

After the tour, transfer to the airport to catch your flight back to Cairo. On arrival, be picked up and transferred to your hotel.

Day 8: Cairo - Amman - Jerash - Amman

Meal: Breakfast

Overnight: Amman

Private transfer to the airport for your flight to Amman, the beating heart of Jordan. On arrival, our representative will welcome you and introduce you to your English-speaking

chauffeur for a private tour of the Roman ruins of Jerash. With a knowledgeable local guide, you will visit the spectacular forum, street, temple, and theater in this ancient Roman city. Afterward, return to Amman for quick sightseeing in the capital city with your chauffeur to see the citadel on its highest hill, the Roman theater, and the Archeological & Folklore Museums.

Day 9: Amman - Petra

Meal: Breakfast

Overnight: Petra

Leave Amman behind and move forward to Petra hidden in a basin surrounded by mountains in southern Jordan. There are three stops on the way, with the first at Mt. Nebo for a view of the Promised Land and the beautiful mosaics in the Moses Memorial Church. The next will be at the Greek Orthodox St. George's Church in Madaba to marvel at the mosaic map that depicts the holy land – Palestine of the 6th century. The last will be at a Jordanian handicraft shop for you to understand how to create exquisite mosaic artworks with Byzantine influence.

Day 10: Petra - Dead Sea

Meal: Breakfast

Overnight: Dead Sea

Take your time to explore Petra. In the first two hours, with a professional tour guide, you will click off the must-sees in the lost city and learn about the history and exotic life of ancient Nabataean, a branch of nomadic Arabs who built Petra into a prosperous trading hub in its time. Afterward, have some free time to discover more in the rosy city at your pace.

In the afternoon, turn north to the northeast shore of the Dead Sea for a relaxing night.

Day 11: Dead Sea - Allenby Bridge - Jerusalem

Meal: Breakfast

Overnight: Jerusalem

Have a leisurely morning to enjoy the legendary Dead Sea. Later, take the private transfer to Allenby Bridge Border. There, you need to take a shuttle bus or an authorized vehicle traveling about 5km to Israel to meet your Israeli driver at the parking lot in front of the exit of Israel Terminal for the private transfer to your hotel in Jerusalem.

Day 12: Jerusalem

Meal: Breakfast

Overnight: Jerusalem

Get known of Jerusalem with a panoramic view of Jerusalem from the top of the Mount of Olives, the location of biblical events. At the foot of it, you will visit the Church of All Nations and the adjacent Garden of Gethsemane. Then, enter the Old City from the Lion's Gate, the start of Jesus' last walk from prison to crucifixion. Walking along the Via Dolorosa, you will arrive at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, where Jesus was crucified, buried, and resurrected. Winding the way through the alleys in the holy city, you will reach the Wailing Wall and then Mount Zion to see the Cenacle – the site of the Last Supper and King David's Tomb.

Day 13: Jerusalem - Bethlehem - Jerusalem

Meal: Breakfast

Overnight: Jerusalem

About 10km south of Jerusalem, Bethlehem is said to be the birthplace of Jesus. Spend the morning exploring this Palestinian city, including the Church of the Nativity with a silver star marking the place where Jesus was born, the Manger Square connecting several streets related to Jesus, and the Shepherds Field where angels first announced the birth of Jesus.

In the afternoon, return to explore the New City of Jerusalem. Discover the model of the holy city in the time of the Second Temple and the Dead Sea Scrolls at Israel Museum, mourn for the prey at the Holocaust Memorial of Yad Vashem, and glance at local's life at the Machane Yehuda Market.

Day 14: Jerusalem - Tel Aviv - Departure

Meal: Breakfast

Leisure time until being picked up by your private driver and transferred to Ben Gurion Airport for your homebound flight. Say goodbye to Israel!