Lebanon, Israel & Egypt Program (with Siwa Oasis & Nile Cruise)12-Day

You arrive at Beirut–Rafic Hariri International Airport, where you are met by a representative and transferred by private car to your hotel in central Beirut. After check-in, you have time to relax and freshen up. Later in the afternoon, you take a short orientation drive around the city, passing through the reconstructed downtown, Martyrs’ Square, and the seaside Corniche, with a stop at Pigeon Rocks for photos. In the evening, you enjoy a leisurely Lebanese dinner in a local restaurant in the Gemmayzeh or Mar Mikhael area before returning to the hotel for the night.

After breakfast, you depart Beirut with your guide and driver for a full-day excursion to Baalbek in the Beqaa Valley, driving through changing mountain and valley landscapes. On arrival, you explore the magnificent Roman ruins, including the Temple of Jupiter with its towering columns, the remarkably well preserved Temple of Bacchus, and the smaller but elegant Temple of Venus. Following your visit, you stop at a local restaurant in the Beqaa Valley for a traditional Lebanese lunch. In the afternoon, you drive back to Beirut and have the remainder of the day free to stroll along the Corniche or relax at your hotel before dinner at leisure.

This morning, after breakfast and check-out, you are transferred to Beirut Airport for your flight to Tel Aviv. Upon arrival at Ben Gurion Airport, you pass through immigration and meet your driver in the arrivals hall. You then travel by private car to Jerusalem, a scenic journey of about one to one-and-a-half hours. After checking in at your hotel, located either near the Old City or in the modern city center, you have time to rest. Later, you may enjoy an easy walk through the Mamilla pedestrian area and get your first view of the Old City walls from Jaffa Gate, followed by dinner at a nearby restaurant and a relaxing evening.

Following breakfast, you set out with your local guide for a full day exploring Jerusalem. You begin in the Old City, wandering through the Jewish Quarter and descending to the Western Wall for a moment of reflection. You then continue through the Christian Quarter, walking portions of the Via Dolorosa and visiting the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. As you move through the bustling market streets, you gain a sense of the city’s layered history and living cultures. In the afternoon, you drive or walk up to the Mount of Olives for a sweeping panoramic view of the Old City, and, time permitting, you visit either Yad Vashem or the Israel Museum. The evening is free for dinner in the city and perhaps a gentle stroll through the Old City after dark.

After breakfast and check-out, you leave Jerusalem by private car and drive back to Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport. On arrival you check in for your flight to Cairo and, after a short journey, land in the Egyptian capital. A local representative meets you at Cairo International Airport and assists with arrival formalities before you are transferred to your hotel, either in Giza near the pyramids or along the Nile in central Cairo.
You have time to rest and settle in, and if you wish, you can take a short early-evening felucca ride on the Nile or simply enjoy a relaxed dinner at or near the hotel.

Today is devoted to the great monuments of Cairo and Giza. After breakfast, you head to the Giza Plateau, where you visit the Great Pyramid of Khufu, the pyramids of Khafre and Menkaure, and pause at a viewpoint for sweeping photos of all three. You then walk or drive down to the Sphinx and the Valley Temple, learning about the history and symbolism of these ancient wonders. In the afternoon, you return to central Cairo to visit either the Grand Egyptian Museum (if open and recommended at the time of
travel) or the Egyptian Museum in Tahrir, where your guide shows you the most important collections,
including highlights from the treasures of Tutankhamun. In the evening, you may return to the hotel to
relax or attend the Sound and Light Show at the pyramids before dinner.

After breakfast, you transfer to Cairo Airport for your flight to Luxor. Upon arrival, you are met and transferred directly to your Nile cruise vessel, where you check in and have lunch on board. In the afternoon, you visit the East Bank sites, beginning with Karnak Temple, exploring its vast hypostyle hall, obelisks, and sacred lake. You then continue to Luxor Temple, especially atmospheric in the late afternoon or early evening when the stones begin to glow in the changing light. After your visit, you return to the boat, enjoy dinner on board, and spend your first night on the Nile.

This morning, after breakfast, you cross the Nile to the West Bank to explore the necropolis of ancient Thebes. You visit the Valley of the Kings, entering several royal tombs and, if you wish, the tomb of Tutankhamun (supplement may apply). You then continue to the terraced Temple of Hatshepsut at Deir elBahari and stop for photos at the Colossi of Memnon. Returning to the ship by midday, you have lunch on board as the cruise sets sail southward. The rest of the afternoon is spent relaxing on deck, watching life unfold along the riverbanks as you cruise toward Edfu. Dinner and overnight are on board.

After breakfast, you arrive at Edfu, where you transfer (often by horse-drawn carriage or vehicle) to the
impressive Temple of Horus, one of the best-preserved temples in Egypt. Following your guided visit, you
return to the ship and continue sailing. Later, you stop at Kom Ombo to explore the unique double temple
dedicated to Sobek, the crocodile god, and Horus the falcon. You visit the small crocodile museum if time
allows, then reboard the ship and sail on to Aswan. You arrive in Aswan by evening, enjoy dinner on board, and have time to relax in this tranquil stretch of the Nile.

After breakfast, you disembark your Nile cruise in Aswan. Depending on timing and interest, you may have a brief orientation of Aswan—perhaps seeing the High Dam or the beautiful setting of the Philae Temple (if not scheduled on the previous evening)—before transferring to the airport. You then take a flight from Aswan back to Cairo. On arrival, you are transferred to your Cairo hotel and have the remainder of the day at leisure to rest, do a bit of shopping, or enjoy a final evening stroll along the Nile before your desert journey the next day.

An early breakfast prepares you for a long but fascinating drive across the Western Desert to Siwa Oasis.
You depart Cairo with a private driver and guide in a comfortable vehicle, following the highway toward the northwest. Along the way, you make rest stops as needed and watch as the landscape shifts from urban outskirts to open desert. By late afternoon or early evening, you arrive at the lush, palm-filled oasis of Siwa.
After checking in at your eco-lodge or local-style hotel, you can take a short walk in town to get a first feel for the oasis atmosphere, then enjoy a simple, home-style dinner and a peaceful night under the desert sky.

Today is devoted to discovering the unique culture and scenery of Siwa. After breakfast, you visit the ruins
of the Shali Fortress, the old mud-brick citadel that dominates the town, and then continue to the Temple
of the Oracle of Amun, associated with Alexander the Great. You may stop at Cleopatra’s Spring for a refreshing dip or photo stop, and explore local lanes and gardens. In the afternoon, you head out by 4×4 into the surrounding desert and the Great Sand Sea, where you may try sandboarding on the dunes and
watch the sun set over the golden landscape. In the evening, you return to your lodge for dinner and a final night in the oasis, with the option to extend your stay or plan the overland return to Cairo and international departure on the following day.