Every step of this tour is steeped in history from the early pyramids - dating from about 2630 BC to the birthplace of Christianity. Tour Pace: A perfect balance of touring, cruising and sightseeing. Israel is quite a small country, so it is often surprising how much sightseeing can be achieved in a day. The touring days are not too long, with plenty of visits along the way. And with two and three night stays in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem and Cairo, you will not have to pack and unpack every night. Not to mention four fabulous nights relaxing on your Nile cruise. Hotels: Sheraton and Marriott are two of the most revered hotel brands in the world. The two Leonardo hotels in Jerusalem and Tiberias are both modern, elegant and superbly located, whereas the Hod Hamidbar hotel on the shores of the Dead Sea, offers the perfect pampering experience in their modern spa. Cruise the Nile in style aboard your traditional Nile cruiser with its spacious cabins, bars, shops, lounge, restaurant and swimming pool.
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Day 1
DEPART CANADA
Board your overnight flight (not included).
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Day 2
TEL AVIV AT LEISURE
Welcome to Israel. You are met at Ben Gurion airport and transferred to your hotel.
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Day 3
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)
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Day 4
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)
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Day 5
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)
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Day 6
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)
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Day 7
JERUSALEM
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)
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Day 9
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)
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Day 10
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)
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Day 11
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)
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Day 12
Day 14 - 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)
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Day 15
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)
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Day 17
RETURN TO CANADA
The tour ends after breakfast with transfers to the airport.(Buffet Breakfast)
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Friday night Shabbat dinner at the hotel (HD)
Celebration Dinner at a Jerusalem restaurant (CD)
Egyptian dinner and galabeya party with entertainment (HD)
15 Buffet Breakfasts (BB), 4 lunches (L) 5 dinners (D) plus bottled water, tea or coffee while cruising
You are escorted by one of Insight’s multilingual Tour Directors in Israel and a professional Egyptologist in Egypt
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
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You are escorted by one of Insight’s multilingual Tour Directors in Israel and a professional Egyptologist in Egypt
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
Friday night Shabbat dinner at the hotel (HD)
Celebration Dinner at a Jerusalem restaurant (CD)
Egyptian dinner and galabeya party with entertainment (HD)
15 Buffet Breakfasts (BB), 4 lunches (L) 5 dinners (D) plus bottled water, tea or coffee while cruising
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INCLUDED HIGHLIGHTS
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INCLUDED HIGHLIGHTS
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INCLUDED HIGHLIGHTS
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INCLUDED HIGHLIGHTS
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INCLUDED HIGHLIGHTS
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INCLUDED HIGHLIGHTS
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INCLUDED HIGHLIGHTS
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INCLUDED HIGHLIGHTS
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INCLUDED HIGHLIGHTS
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INCLUDED HIGHLIGHTS
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INCLUDED HIGHLIGHTS
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INCLUDED HIGHLIGHTS
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INCLUDED HIGHLIGHTS
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INCLUDED HIGHLIGHTS
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