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Land of the Prophets (Winter 2012/13) - Insight Vacations - I955WC07
Price from: for 21 Days

Description

Welcome to a tour of the Holyland of epic proportions incorporating Biblical sites, colossal structures, lost cities and stunning panoramas. Tour Pace: A well paced tour of nearly three weeks duration, comprising of three separate itineraries in Jordan, Israel, and Egypt. Transfers and flights between the countries are relatively short giving you ample time to settle in to your new environment before the excitement begins. Hotels: Insight is an Eastern Mediterranean specialist. This means our purchasing power in the region allows us to negotiate with prestigious world-famous hotels such as the Marriott and Sheraton and pass the savings back to you. Cruise the Nile in style aboard your traditional Nile cruiser with its spacious cabins, bars, shops, lounge, restaurant and swimming pool.

Itinerary
Land of the Prophets (Winter 2012/13)
Day 1 DEPART CANADA

Board your overnight flight (not included).

Day 2 AMMAN AT LEISURE

Welcome to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, a landscape that has changed little in the last 2,000 years. On arrival at Amman Airport, you are met and transferred to your hotel. Later join your Jordanian Tour Director for a Welcome Reception with drink and a light meal.(Welcome Reception)

Day 3 AMMAN - JERASH - PETRA

The trip to Jerash reveals the most beautifully preserved Greco-Roman city still in existence. Explore the ruined temples of Artemis and Zeus, the Whispering Column, Forum, Hadrian’s triumphal arch and Street of Columns. Return to Amman for a city tour seeing the huge Roman Amphitheatre and the Citadel Hill. After some free time, continue south to Petra.(Buffet Breakfast / Dinner)

Day 4 PETRA SIGHTSEEING

Spend the whole day visiting Petra. The approach to this lost city is through a narrow gorge, the Siq, whose walls rise up 200 metres. Emerge from the path to see the magnificent Treasury, carved out of solid rock and standing over 40 meters high. Wind your way through the canyon to explore the Roman Amphitheatre and the ancient tombs.(Buffet Breakfast / Dinner)

Day 5 PETRA - AMMAN

Follow the Kings Highway to visit Shobak, an authentic 12C crusader fortress whose galleries, chapels and ramparts recall the gallantry of the Crusaders themselves. Continue to Mt Nebo where Moses saw the Promised Land. At Madaba see the mosaic map in St George’s Church, dating from around AD560. Return to Amman.(Buffet Breakfast / Dinner)

Day 6 AMMAN - TEL AVIV

Transfer by land to Tel Aviv. Tonight enjoy a ‘Welcome to Israel’ drink.(Buffet Breakfast)

Day 7 JAFFA EXCURSION

A sightseeing tour of this lively city reveals all the highlights: the Habimah National Theatre, Rabin Square and the Carmel market. Then drive along the seashore to the ancient port of Jaffa to spend some time in the flea market and explore the artists’ galleries. Visit Mini Israel, a miniature park featuring 330 replica models which showcase Israel’s cultural, historic and religious diversity. Tonight enjoy a Shabbat dinner at your hotel.(Buffet Breakfast / Highlight Dinner)

Day 8 TEL AVIV - GALILEE

Drive along the coastal road to explore the Roman and Crusader ruins at Caesarea. Travel via Haifa, Israel’s northern port to Acre. See the fortress, the old harbour area and Crusader crypt before continuing to Nazareth. Visit the Church of the Annunciation, on the site where the angel is said to have appeared to Mary. The day concludes with a visit to a Kibbutz for a brief introduction to this communal way of life.(Buffet Breakfast / Dinner)

Day 9 GALILEE - DEAD SEA

Start the day with a morning boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. Visit the ancient wooden boat, dating back to the time of Jesus. Visit Capernaum where Jesus is said to have entered the Synagogue and taught, and then head to the Mount of Beatitudes, where He preached the Sermon on the Mount. Now journey along the Jordan valley to take a dip in the therapeutic and mineral-rich waters of the Dead Sea.(Buffet Breakfast / Dinner)

Day 10 DEAD SEA - JERUSALEM

In the cool of the morning, take a thrilling cable-car ride up to the awe-inspiring hill top fortress of Masada. It was here in 73 A.D that 960 Jewish Zealots held out against the Romans, until they finally chose mass suicide rather than slavery. Later, pass the caves of Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered, before driving through the Judean hills to Jerusalem. Begin your sightseeing with a breathtaking view over this most hallowed of cities from Mount Scopus. Visit King David’s Tomb on Mount Zion, the Room of the Last Supper and the Western Wall, Judaism’s most sacred site.(Buffet Breakfast)

Day 11 JERUSALEM SIGHTSEEING

Tour Yad-Vashem, the moving museum commemorating the victims of the Holocaust. Continue to the Shrine of the Book, housed in the Israel Museum which also contains the Dead Sea Scrolls. Later, you have the opportunity of joining an optional excursion to visit Manger Square and the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem.(Buffet Breakfast)

Day 13 JERUSALEM - CAIRO

Transfer to the airport for your flight to Egypt - a land of wonder and mystery. You are met at Cairo airport and transferred to your hotel.(Buffet Breakfast)

Day 14 CAIRO SIGHTSEEING

After a detailed pre-tour briefing, begin your city sightseeing with Tahrir Square - the sprawling urban space that became famous over 18 historic days of protests. Continue to the Egyptian Museum where, Tutankhamun’s magnificent treasures are on display. Then visit the Citadel for a breath taking view of the city of Cairo. Salah El Din started the Citadel in the 12th century, but it owes its present outline to Mohammed Ali, whose great Mosque you will visit next. Then free time to enjoy as you wish. Later, enjoy the magical Sound & Light Show which literally illuminates the ancient history of Giza!(Buffet Breakfast)

Day 15 CAIRO - LUXOR - JOIN CRUISE

Fly to Luxor and transfer to your cruise ship. After lunch on board, visit Luxor Temple unearthed by Mariette in the 1860’s. Continue to Karnak, the largest temple complex ever built by man. Walk through the avenue of Ram-headed sphinxes to stand among the huge columns of the Hypostyle Hall.(Buffet Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner)

Day 16 Day 18 - ON BOARD SHIP

Relax as you gently cruise along the Nile, past palm fringed villages and irrigated fields, to exotic Aswan. But before leaving Luxor, there is an excursion by coach to the west bank, which includes a photo stop at the Colossi of Memnon and visits to the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut as well as some of the royal tombs in the Valley of the Kings. As you drift up-stream stops are made at ancient sites along the way. These include the Temple of Horus at Edfu as well as the Kom Ombo Temple. On arrival in Aswan, an included sightseeing tour shows you the High Dam and unfinished obelisk in the granite quarries. It also includes a motorboat ride to the Philae Island Temple complex and sailing in a traditional Nile felucca. A sunset high tea is also included. While cruising breakfast, lunch and dinner (BB,L,D) are served daily and one night you get to celebrate Egyptian style at a galabeya party and dinner.(Buffet Breakfast / Lunch / Dinner / Highlight Dinner)

Day 19 ASWAN - CAIRO

This morning, why not join an optional excursion by air to the magnificent Temples of Rameses II at Abu Simbel, cut from their hillside origin in the 1960’s and repositioned in their new home above the waterline of the newly created “Lake Nasser”? Otherwise, spend the morning in Aswan as you wish. There is lots here to enjoy; the Botanic Gardens, Elephantine Island, the mausoleum of the Aga Khan or hunt for bargains in the African atmosphere of the Nubian bazaar. Later, transfer to the airport for your return flight to Cairo.(Buffet Breakfast)

Day 21 RETURN TO CANADA

The tour ends after breakfast with transfers to the airport.(Buffet Breakfast)

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Dates & Price
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Highlights
What's Included
A Welcome Reception with light meal (WR)
Friday night Shabbat dinner at the hotel (HD)
Celebration Dinner at a Jerusalem restaurant (CD)
Egyptian dinner and galabeya party with entertainment (HD)
19 Buffet Breakfasts (BB), 4 lunches (L) 8 dinners (D) plus bottled water, tea or coffee while cruising
In each country you are escorted by one of Insight’s professional multilingual Tour Directors
Headsets for all guided visits and walking tours
Sightseeing and Travel by air-conditioned coach or minibus
Insight Hotels include all service charges, taxes and porterage
4 night Nile cruise on MS Medea or MS Sapphire or La Boheme (or similar) with all cruise boat gratuities included
Scheduled flights between Jerusalem/ Cairo, Cairo/Luxor and Aswan/Cairo
Services of Insight’s Representative in Egypt
Insight Traveller Welcome pack
All arrival & departure transfers between the airports and your Insight tour hotels
WhatsIncluded
In each country you are escorted by one of Insight’s professional multilingual Tour Directors
Headsets for all guided visits and walking tours
Sightseeing and Travel by air-conditioned coach or minibus
Insight Hotels include all service charges, taxes and porterage
4 night Nile cruise on MS Medea or MS Sapphire or La Boheme (or similar) with all cruise boat gratuities included
Scheduled flights between Jerusalem/ Cairo, Cairo/Luxor and Aswan/Cairo
Services of Insight’s Representative in Egypt
Insight Traveller Welcome pack
All arrival & departure transfers between the airports and your Insight tour hotels
A Welcome Reception with light meal (WR)
Friday night Shabbat dinner at the hotel (HD)
Celebration Dinner at a Jerusalem restaurant (CD)
Egyptian dinner and galabeya party with entertainment (HD)
19 Buffet Breakfasts (BB), 4 lunches (L) 8 dinners (D) plus bottled water, tea or coffee while cruising
Amman: See the Roman Amphitheatre and Citadel Hill.
INCLUDED HIGHLIGHTS
Jerash: Visit the finest surviving example of a Greco-Roman city in the world.
INCLUDED HIGHLIGHTS
Petra: Journey through the winding dark passageway between rock walls 300 and 600 ft high to the ancient hidden city.
INCLUDED HIGHLIGHTS
Shobak: Visit the Crusader fortress.
INCLUDED HIGHLIGHTS
Madaba: View the mosaic that is believed to be the earliest surviving map of the Holy Land.
INCLUDED HIGHLIGHTS
Mount Nebo: Look down upon Moses’s Promised Land.
INCLUDED HIGHLIGHTS
Tel Aviv: Visit Mini Israel, a miniature park. See Habimah National Theatre, Rabin Square and Carmel market.
INCLUDED HIGHLIGHTS
Jaffa: Visit the ancient port.
INCLUDED HIGHLIGHTS
Nazareth: Visit the Church of the Annunciation.
INCLUDED HIGHLIGHTS
Galilee: Enjoy a morning boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. An insight into the history and contemporary life on a Kibbutz. Visit Capernaum and the Mount of the Beatitudes.
INCLUDED HIGHLIGHTS
Dead Sea: Enjoy a dip in the mineral rich waters. See where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered.
INCLUDED HIGHLIGHTS
Masada: Take a thrilling cable-car ride up to the fortress.
INCLUDED HIGHLIGHTS
Jerusalem: Walk the Stations of the Cross and visit the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Garden of Gethsemene, Room of the Last Supper, Pool of Bethesda, Ecce Homo Arch. See the Temple Mount. Visit the Jewish sites of King David’s Tomb, Western Wall, Holocaust Museum and Shrine of the Book.
INCLUDED HIGHLIGHTS
Cairo: See Tutankhamun’s treasure in the Egyptian Museum. Visit Tahrir Square, the ‘beating heart’ of the 2011 Revolution. Visit Mohammed Ali Mosque and view Cairo from the Citadel.
INCLUDED HIGHLIGHTS
Giza: Enjoy a Sound & Light Show at the Great Pyramids. See the Sphinx and venture inside one of the Pyramids
INCLUDED HIGHLIGHTS
Memphis: See the statue of Rameses II & Alabaster Sphinx.
INCLUDED HIGHLIGHTS
Sakkara: See the Step Pyramid of Zozer, oldest in the world.
INCLUDED HIGHLIGHTS
Luxor: Visit the awe-inspiring Temples of Luxor and Karnak. See the Colossi of Memnon, visit the Temple of Hatshepsut and some of the Pharaoh’s tombs in the Valley of the Kings.
INCLUDED HIGHLIGHTS
Kom Ombo & Edfu: Visit the riverside temples.
INCLUDED HIGHLIGHTS
Aswan: Enjoy the sunset and high tea in colonial English style at at Agatha Christie’s Old Cataract hotel. Sail on a traditional ‘felucca’ around the Botanical gardens . Visit the Aswan High Dam and the unfinished obelisk. Board a motorboat to the Philae Island temple complex.
INCLUDED HIGHLIGHTS
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