Embark on an extraordinary journey through the lands of pharaohs and prophets with our meticulously designed Egypt and Israel tours, enhanced by a luxurious Nile cruise. These tours offer a unique blend of ancient history, religious significance, and stunning landscapes, providing an unforgettable experience for every traveler.
Image of Nile River Cruise
Flights and Arrival
When booking your land tour with us, we can also assist with your flights, ensuring a seamless travel experience. To combat jet lag and fatigue from long flights, we recommend arriving in Cairo one day before your tour starts. This allows you to rest, relax, and adjust to the new time zone, ensuring you start your tour refreshed.
To help you take advantage of this optional extra day in Cairo, we include private transfers from Cairo International Airport to your hotel, along with a one-night stay with breakfast and dinner at a premium hotel.
Optional Evening Activities in Cairo
- Pyramids Sound & Light Show: Experience the magic of the Giza Pyramids illuminated in a spectacular sound and light show.
- Nile Cruise Dinner with Show: Enjoy a delightful dinner cruise on the Nile River, complete with entertainment and stunning views of the city.
Day 1: Cairo - Pyramids, Sphinx, and Old Cairo
After your buffet breakfast, meet your Egyptologist guide to start the "Where it all Began" Tour, and visit one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World, the three Pyramids of Giza. The oldest and largest of the three is the Cheops Pyramid built 3rd dynasty about 2690 B.C. Next is the Pyramids of Chefren and visit the majestic Great Sphinx, which is the largest single block sculpture located at the foot of the grand Pyramid Chefren. In the area of the Pyramids making for a great picture take an opportunity to ride a camel with the Pyramids in the background.
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Continue to visit the famous New Grand Egyptian Museum, where we offer a brief, colorful insight into Egypt's 5,000-year history and its fascinating treasures. Afterwards we visit Old Cairo, and the City’s cultural landmarks that span three millennium of Egyptian history. We begin with Coptic Church, where you will visit the Hanging Church, dating to the late 4th and early 5th century. This basilica was named "Al-Mu'allaqah" because it was built atop the south gate of the Babylon Fortress.
Continue to the Church of St. Sergius, a 5th century Coptic Church. This basilica is built on the cave in which the Holy Family stayed and is regarded by visitors as a source of blessing. As we stroll along, we'll come to the recently restored Synagogue of Ben Ezra - the oldest Jewish synagogue in Egypt built in 882 AC. Next, we'll explore the spices and silks in the medieval bazaar of Khan el-Khalili, one of the biggest bazaars in the Middle East and North Africa’s most famous bazaar. Lunch will be served during the tour at a local restaurant.
Day 2: Journey to Mount Sinai
After breakfast, depart by private air-conditioned mini-coach or bus to Saint Catherine Monastery via the tunnel underneath the Suez Cannel to the west branch of the Red Sea, following what is thought to be the route of the Biblical Exodus (Genesis 16-18). Our drive through the Sinai Peninsula and the biblical Land of Goshen to the Mount Sinai area (233 miles) takes about 6 hours. Marah by the Red Sea the desert springs along the shore of the Red Sea where the children of Israel found the water bitter (Exodus 15:22-23).
Continue to Alim visit the desert oasis continue to Wadi Feiran (Rephidim), the desert valley where the children of Israel fought against Amalekites. Then to Mount Serbal, the possible site where Moses held his arms up for victory we continue inland heading towards the granite mountain of Mount Sinai (Exodus 19) and Wadi El Raha where according to traditions is the area where the Israelites camped and the golden calf was forged (Exodus 32). Overnight in hotel near Mt.
Optional night activity: Climb Mt Sinai. For those who wish to climb Mt. Sinai, please bring warm clothing for the ascent. Ride a camel 2/3 of the way up the Mount. Your tour guide can arrange this at the location.
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Day 3: Mount Sinai and St. Catherine's Monastery
At day break, those who desire and are physically capable, will climb-up Mount Sinai Jabal Musa (6,900 ft) climb to the summit (750 steps) walking the Footsteps of Moses and enjoy a time of praise and incredible views of the Sinai wilderness, we read from the Book of Genesis God revealed himself to Moses in the Burning Bush and where he received the Ten Commandments. Descending the mountain we return to the hotel to rejoin the rest of the group for Breakfast.
Touring the Saint Catherine Monastery with its History, constructed at the foot of Mt. Sinai the oldest working Christian Monastery. St. Catherine Monastery was built in (527 and 565 AC) by the Roman Emperor Justinian, and where it’s believed God appeared to Moses in the form of a burning bush. The Greek Orthodox Church building is the oldest continuously used church building in the world.
Lunch will be provided in Taba at local restaurant prior to crossing border in to Israel. Leaving Mount Sinai area toward the eastern shores of Sinai Peninsula and on the Red Sea north to Taba Border Crossing (Egypt Israel border), lunch provided in Taba prior to crossing in to Israel. After crossing meet our Israeli representative and welcome to Israel. We will take short city tour in Eilat Israel’s southernmost town on the Red Sea.
Day 4: Petra, Jordan
We'll arrive at the Araba Border (Israel Jordan southern border). Exploring the Nabatean Treasure City of Petra. A short drive from our hotel lays the entrance to one of the world’s greatest archaeological sites - the 2,000-year-old city of Petra, known as the red rock city. It was the ancient capital of the Nabateans from the 3rd century BC to the 2nd century AC.
Carved by the Nabataeans out of solid rock, Petra was forgotten for hundreds of years until it was rediscovered in 1812. At the entrance to Petra, travelers are offered the option to ride a horse for 800m - from the visitor center to the entrance of the dramatic “Siq” (canyon). From the entrance to the Siq there is a 1,250 meters walk to the 1st monument “ The treasury”
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Throughout most of the day we will explore Petra’s incredible structures; Bab Al Siq or in Arabic the “ gateway to the Siq,” the Treasury, the Royal Tombs, the obelisks and the High Place of Sacrifice, the Theatre carved into the side of the mountain, the Church built in the 5th century AD, the Colonnaded Street, the Lion Triclinium with it’s two lions on it’s entrance, Ad Deir the large monastery monument, the Great Temple complex, and much more.
Image of Petra Treasury
Day 5: Madaba, Mount Nebo, and Crossing to Israel
After breakfast we head to the biblical town of Madaba. The town is best known for its Byzantine and mosaics and for its Greek Orthodox Church of St. George. Here we'll view the earliest original map of the Holy Land. We continue to the biblical Mount Nebo (Deuteronomy 34) from which Moses viewed the Promise Land. Mt. Nebo, believed to be the site of the tomb of Moses, commands a spectacular view across the Jordan Valley and the Dead Sea.
We'll drive by Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John the Baptist is purported to have baptized Jesus and cross to Israel via the Allenby Bridge. As we enter into Israel we remember Joshua as he led the children of Israel on this exact path into the Promised Land. We continue to drive by Jericho and to the Mediterranean Sea on our way to Tel Aviv. Israel’s largest and most modern city. Check in at our hotel and dinner. Free time to rest, relax and enjoy your first evening in Israel.
Border Crossing not Included: Crossing Jordan Border tax currently US $16.00 (subject to change without notice).
Day 6: Caesarea, Mount Carmel, Megiddo, and Nazareth
In the morning visit to the Old Town Jaffa, walk through the narrow passages of Old Jaffa, believed to be the oldest port city in the world and where cedars from Lebanon arrived to build Solomon's Temple (2 Chronicles 2:16), see St. Peter's Church and take a spectacular view of Tel Aviv Shoreline from Jaffa Hilltop. Peter came to Jaffa (Joppa) from Lydda to raise Tabitha (Dorcas) from the dead (Acts 9:36-43). While in Jaffa, the apostle stayed at the house of Simon the Tanner. St. Peter's Church marks the traditional site of Peter’s vision of the Great Sheet (Acts 10:9-16).
Depart Tel Aviv driving north along the coastal plain to Caesarea Maritima (Acts 9:30 Acts 10:24-48) which was the center of early Christians, and capital of Judea under the Romans. Visit the excavations of this ancient city, the Roman theatre and aqueduct, here where Paul made his defense before Festus and King Agrippa prior to his final journey to Rome (Acts 25-26). We'll stop at Mount Carmel(Muchraka), where Elijah issued his challenge to the False Prophets (1 Kings 18:16-24). We continue and enjoy a breath taking panoramic view of Haifa Bay and the Western Galilee region.
Continue to Megiddo (Joshua 12:21, 1 Kings 9:15, 2 Kings 23:29 & Revelation 16:16), the site of Armageddon (Revelation 16) where it is prophesied the gathering of the armies for the end of times will take place. See the remains from Solomon’s days, view the valley where the Battle of Armageddon will be fought (Revelation 16:14-16). Visit the archaeological excavations at Megiddo, including the well preserved water supply system.
Continue along the Jezerel Valley to visit the town of Nazareth (Luke 1:26, Luke 4:16, Luke 4:29 & Matthew 2:23) we will take a beautiful view from the top of Mount Precipice, also known as Mount of Precipitation, or Mount of the Leap of the Lord. It's believed to be the site of the rejection of Jesus (Luke 4:29 Luke 4:30), continue to the Basilica of Annunciation the church and site that celebrates the news from Gabriel that Mary would give birth to Jesus (Luke 1). If time permits, and we'll drive to Cana of Galilee where Jesus performed his first public miracle, the turning of water into wine at the wedding feast (John 2:1 John 2:11), and the Lower Galilee region to the beautiful Sea of Galilee to the town of Tiberias.
Day 7: Sea of Galilee, Golan Heights, and Caesarea Philippi
The Sea of Galilee - Land of the Bible - s07 e09
We begin this Holy Land touring day with a visit to Magdala (Matthew 15:39), known as the home of Mary Magdalene. Here we'll explore a first century Jewish city where Jesus' healed the afflicted, and the oldest excavated synagogue in the Galilee from the time of Jesus' ministry where surely he taught. After we board a wooden boat and sail on as the disciples did 2,000 years ago on the Sea of Galilee where the Lord calmed the storm (Luke 8:22-25), and where He made one of the most dramatic miracles, walking on water (Mark 6:47-52), and it was here along the shores of the Sea of Galilee where Jesus appeared for a third time after being raised from the dead, and asked his disciples to throw their net to the right side of the boat and caught many fish, and where the Lord made the disciples breakfast (John 21).
We'll dock at Kibbutz Nof Ginosar and visit the "Ancient Jesus Boat" the remains of a 2,000 years old boat that was discovered in 1986. This boat was used at the time of Jesus and his disciples. We will drive to the beautiful Golan Heights. Visit Banias- ancient Ceasarea Philippi (Matthew 16:13 and Mark 8:27) where Jesus said “On this rock I will build my Church” (Matthew 16:18).
Day 8: Early Jesus Ministry around the Sea of Galilee
Today we'll visit early Jesus Ministry around the Sea of Galilee, visiting Mount of Beatitudes (Matthew 5, Matthew 6, Matthew 7, Matthew 8) where Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount, see the famous Church of the Beatitudes chapel, constructed between 1936 and 1938 by the noted architect Antonio Barluzzi and enjoy the view. Visit Tabgha- the site of the Feeding of the 5,000 and Primacy of Peter (Matthew 13, Mark 33, Mark 45, & John 21), Church of Multiplication with its 4th Century Mosaic floor, Capernaum(Matthew 4:13, Matthew 13:54, Matthew 17:24, Luke 7, Mark 1:2, John 4:46 John 4:54) where is believed to have been Jesus' home and the center of his ministry, here we can stand in what is left of the synagogue in which Jesus ministered, and where he preformed many miracles, and it's in Capernaum where Peter’s mother-in-law lived and was healed (Luke 4:38-40).
Day 9: Beit She'an, Dead Sea, and Jerusalem
Journey through the Valley of Beit She'an to the ancient city of Beit She'an (Mark 5:20, Mark 7:31), view the archeological site. It was here that after defeating Saul and his sons on Mount Gilboa, the Philistines hanged their bodies on the walls of Beth Shean (2 Samuel 21:12-14), continue through the Jordan Valley past the city of Jericho and arrive to the Dead Sea, the lowest place on earth.
Today on your Holy Land tour will visit the 1500 feet mountaintop fortress of Masada famous for being the last stronghold of the Jewish rebellion against the Romans. We will ascend to Masada by cable car and discover the first century Synagogue, King Herod’s Bathhouse and other sites atop of Masada, descend and continue to the oasis of Ein Gedi, where David hid in a cave when running from Saul (1 Samuel 23), it was here that David composed several of his Psalms, next visit to Qumran where a cache of ancient biblical texts the Dead Sea Scroll were discovered in 1947.
Continue to the Golden City of Jerusalem, and proceed to a panoramic view of Jerusalem from Mount Scopus, and take time for prayer.
Day 10: Jerusalem - Mount of Olives and Gethsemane
From the top of Mount of Olives where the Lord ascended into heaven (acts 1) we will have a view across the Kidron Valley to the Eastern Gate where the prince of Peace will enter (Ezekiel 43). We pass by Pater Noster Church standing on the traditional site of Christ's teaching of the Lord's Prayer (Luke 11:2-4), and visit Dominus Flevit where "The Lord wept" as he beheld the Holy City (Luke 19:41-44). Through Palm Sunday Road proceed down to the Gethsemane (Mark 14:32, John 18:1 & Matthew 26:36) where you will see 2,000 year old Olive trees that date back to the time of Christ. In the Garden of Gethsemane the place that Jesus prays (Luke 22:39) and his disciples customarily visited, which allowed Judas to find him on that fateful night of his arrest (Luke 22:47-52), and it's in Gethsemane where an angel from heaven appears to strengthen Jesus (Luke 22:43), and where he found his disciples sleeping and awakes them and tells them to get up and pray (Luke 22:46).
Then to the Western Wall- The holiest site in Judaism and one of the original walls that retained the Temple. We will visit the Western Wall Tunnels running along the base of the Western Wall will lead us through the Second Temple era and reveal the amazing construction of the Temple Mount, water supply and Roman street where our Lord was led to judgment. Continue to St. Anne Church and the Pool of Bethesda, where Jesus performed the famous miracle of healing of the paralytic (John 5). We will walk the Stations of the Cross- the Via Dolorosa including Station 2 Judgment Hall of Pilate (John 18:33), located at the Church of the Flagellation and Church of the Condemnation and Imposition of the Cross, all the way to the final Station 14 inside Church of the Holy Sepulcher (Matthew 27, Matthew 33:57, Matthew 28:10). In the afternoon you will enjoy time to shop the colorful bazaars (markets).
Day 11: Mount Zion and Departure
We begin the day going to Mount Zion, visit the Upper room (Luke 22), Lord’s Supper, visit King David Tomb, and walk through the Jewish Quarter.
Nile Cruise Itinerary
Extend your journey with a luxurious Nile cruise, exploring ancient Egyptian temples and antiquities. This tour extension is offered before or after our 'Into the Promised Land' tour.
Included in the Price
- Flights within Egypt
- 5-star Nile Cruise (4 nights and 3 meals per day)
- 5-star lodging in Cairo
- 2.5-star lodging in Mt. Sinai
- Good 4-star lodging in Jordan and Israel
- Expert Biblical guides
- Admissions
- Baggage handling
- Sightseeing
- Breakfast & dinner daily on land portion
- Border taxes
- Jordan entry visa for most countries
Day 1: Arrival in Cairo and Transfer to Luxor
We arrive in the land of the Pharaohs, Jacob, Joseph and Israel during the famine! Upon arrival at the airport we meet our guide and are immediately transported into Cairo, the capital of Egypt. This morning we transfer to the airport for our flight to Luxor. Upon arrival in Luxor we board our lovely river cruise boat and have free time for lunch. This afternoon we visit the Temple of Karnak (temple of the New Kingdom period) and the East Bank of the Nile. It was during this period that the bondage and Exodus occurred. Karnak second to Giza’s Pyramids, is one of Egypt’s most important Pharaonic sites. We visit the famous Temple of Luxor, which was founded in the reign of Amenhotep III, grandson of the pharaoh of the Exodus.
Day 2: Valley of the Kings and Temple of Hatshepsut
Today we visit the Valley of the Kings (where many ancient pharaohs were buried) and the famous Temple of Hatshepsut, the princess who perhaps pulled baby Moses out of the Nile River. This temple may have been designed by Moses.
Day 3: Edfu and Kom Ombo
Breakfast is served on board before we spend time touring Edfu, the location of one of the best preserved Egyptian Temples. This afternoon we visit the remains of Kom Ombo Temple, situated on the riverside. Unlike most, this temple is dedicated to two gods - the crocodile god of Sebek and the solar god of war, Horus the Great.
Day 4: Aswan and Philae Temple
While docked in Aswan, the morning is free to enjoy breakfast, relax on the sun deck, and shop along the waterfront. You may also choose an early departure optional tour to Abu Simbel, part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the "Nubian Monuments." Our Egyptologist guide discusses the relevance of this spectacular site from Egyptian history. We will also try to put in perspective the long history of Egypt. Here we visit the massive temple of Pharaoh Rameses II, perhaps the greatest builder of temples in ancient Egypt (13th Century BC) and a second one of Queen Nafertari, Rameses' most beloved wife. This afternoon, we take time to visit the High Dam, built from 1960 - 1971, a major factor in Egypt’s agricultural success. We also spend time at Philae Temple on the Isi-Island. This complex was moved from upriver due to the impending destruction upon the completion of the High Dam.
Day 5: Memphis and Sakkara
This morning we take a flight back to Cairo and then a short ride to Memphis. Founded around 3,100 BC, Memphis is the legendary city of Menes, the King who united Upper and Lower Egypt. From a Biblical perspective, Memphis is most likely where Abraham lied to Pharaoh about his wife Sarah being his sister and where Joseph served as second in command. While in Memphis we will view a very large and well preserved statue of Ramses II. Next is Sakkara, which is one of the most extensive archaeological sites in Egypt! Sakkara is dominated by the Step Pyramid of King Zoser, dating back to 2700 BC. It is one of the oldest stone structures in the world! Enjoy a stop to see how local Egyptian carpets are made before a short drive to the south finds us in Faiyum, the region created by the divinely inspired wisdom of Joseph. Here you will find ancient storehouses and a man-made lake created by a canal, whose construction was ordered by Joseph. It was this lake that provided irrigation for a desert land and supplied the food needed to survive his prophesied seven year famine.
Important Information
Please note the following important information regarding your tour:
- Egypt visa fee is payable upon arrival at the Cairo airport and does not need to be purchased in advance (except for Canadian citizens).
- Jordan visa payments are not required for Pilgrim clients originating from USA, Canada, Europe, Australia, & New Zealand.
- Airport transfers are included only when airfare is purchased from us.
- The cost of the ETA permit is approximately 7 USD, and it permits stays of up to 90 days. The permit remains valid for up to two years or until your passport expires, whichever occurs first.
- Customers traveling to Israel that do not provide their full passport information will incur an additional fee to cover the Israel VAT.
Clothing Suggestions
Your journey through Egypt is casual. Comfortable, cotton clothing is suggested. Dress for comfort and convenience with a wardrobe that is adaptable and allows for layering. Please be aware that some of the sights we visit, require both men and women to have their knees and shoulders covered, and in some cases wear long pants.
Contact Us
We, the management and employees are pleased and honored that you have chosen us. We are committed to doing all we can to insure that this most wonderful of adventures - the adventure of approaching the Lord’s own shrine - is comfortable and pleasant.
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