Minarets and  Menorahs 

A Private Tour of Egypt , Palestine and Israel All in 14 Days

Here's the best of Egypt , Palestine and Israel in only 14 days : Join us for a journey to these ancient lands, and an unsurpassed array of sights, sounds and memories, from the ever mysterious Sphinx , to a Nile cruise, to a walk along the ancient byways of Jerusalem and much more, all arranged in every detail.

SUGGESTED ITINERARY

DAY 1 - DEPART NEW YORK- Saturday - Weekly - Year Round
Board your British Airways or Air France wide-body jet at New York's John F. Kennedy International Airport for your transatlantic flight to London or Paris , on the first stage of our journey. Handling your own air fare , please click here

Day 2 - CAIRO - Sunday
We'll arrive early in the day at London or Paris, where you'll proceed to board your connecting flight to Cairo. In Cairo our representative greets you at the airport, helps with formalities, and whisks you to your hotel .Complimentary visa is issued upon arrival for the following nationalities; American, Australian, NZ, EU , Canadian & Japanese, your passport must be valid and in order .

Visa will be issued upon arrival.
As you exit the gate, you will pass through a door or two , down some stairs , then walk for 2-5 minutes , until you pass the duty free shops, at the end of a wide corridor , you will see the security officers. There you will be met by a local representative, who will be holding a sign with the name you prefer to use for the sign .

Our local representative will then take your passport to obtain a stamp from the cashier / bank window and escort you to speak with the passport officer. He will escort you through another last check on your passport as you exit the passport control, into customs area, he will assist you in collecting your luggage and clearing customs . After exiting the terminal, our local representative will escort you (private vehicle) to the hotel

DAY 3- CAIRO (BLD) - Monday
On your first full day in Egypt we show you the Egyptian Museum, including the Mummy Room and the fabulous treasures Tutankhamon, the Pyramids of Giza, the Sphinx, the Citadel of Saladin, and the Mohammed Ali Mosque, made of alabaster. Dinner is included at the hotel

DAY 4 : CAIRO/ LUXOR- Board your Nile Cruise (BLD): Tuesday
After an early breakfast at the hotel, we fly to Luxor , air fare is always included , in economy class, tax included.
We arrive Luxor (or Aswan depending on cruise confirmation & availability at the time of booking) , upon arrival we proceed to cross the Nile to visit the magnificent tombs in the Valley of the Kings , including that of King Tut , on to Valley of the Queens to tour the great funerary temples of Queen Hatshepsut., and then off to the Ancient Workers Village at Deir El Medineh, we'll have a brief stop at the Colossi of Memnon on the way back to board our Nile cruise , in time for lunch , a complimentary fruit basket awaits you in your cabin . In the afternoon get ready for the visits to Luxor and Karnak Temples. In the evening your guide will call on you to explore Luxor local markets riding in a horse-drawn carriage.

DAY 5 : LUXOR - Esna (BLD) - Wednesday
We set sail to go through Esna locks. A grand day of sailing on the Nile , you'll see scenery that changed little since Biblical times. Cruise itinerary is subject to change without notice , subject to the weather , water level in the Nile and the wait time to get through the locks on the Nile.

DAY 6 : ESNA /EDFU (BLD) - Thursday .
Sail further south to Edfu, climb aboard horse-drawn carriages, and clip-clop through town to the Temple of Horus, Egypt’s best preserved temple. Re-embarking, dock at Kom Ombo for the night.

DAY 7 : KOM OMBO (BLD) - Friday
Visit the twin temple at Kom Ombo then re-embark and sail to Aswan. Afternoon leisure cruise on the Nile by felucca. If you wish try your hand at camel riding, with our compliments ! We'll take a traditional caravan to enjoy tea with Nubian Villagers. We are proud to offer this opportunity for insight into local ways.

DAY 8 :ASWAN / CAIRO (B) - Saturday
Today we visit Aswan dam, the unfinished Obelisk, and Philae Temple dedicated to the Ancient Goddess Isis . Because of her wisdom and skill at protection, she was admired as a good magician capable of healing the sick and protecting the dead in their journey to the Underworld.

Isis is portrayed regally, as a queen seated on a throne (which may be the meaning of her name), often holding her son Horus as a baby. Other images show her with broad, magnificent gilded wings able to protect the world. Heading back to the airport, we board your return flight to Cairo, and your hotel.

DAY 9 - CAIRO- At Leisure (B) - Sunday.
We've set aside this day at the midpoint of our journey for you to program as you wish . Explore Cairo on your own or ask us for available optional tours. And there are so many choices! Perhaps you'll visit the Khan El Khalili bazaar with its spice merchants and craftsmen. The Pyramids of Dahshour. The Beni Ezra Synagogue. Or enjoy a day of rest.

DAY 10- Tel Aviv (B)- Monday
Our representative escorts you to the airport for your flight to Tel Aviv to start our Jerusalem Mini Package. You will be met by our Israel - based representative who will be at hand to assist with your transportation to your hotel in Jerusalem . You'll have the rest of this day to discover Jerusalem on your own. The crowds along Ben Yehuda Street, the new city Hall, the walls of the Old City illuminated at dusk, the gleaning Dome of the Rock. Jerusalem surpasses every expectation!

Day 11 - Tuesday. OLD CITY OF JERUSALEM, BETHLEHEM (B)
Our visit to the Old City includes the reconstructed Jewish Quarter. Visit the newly excavated Cardo and continue to the Western Wall , the only remaining portion of the Second Temple. Nearby is the Dome of the Rock , one of the holiest places of Islam. We will follow in the footsteps of Jesus along the Via Dolorosa to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher and through the colorful bazaars. We'll depart Jerusalem in the afternoon to Bethlehem , birthplace of King David. Visit Rachel's Tomb and the Church of Nativity , before returning to Jerusalem.

Day 12 - Wednesday . NAZARETH, TIBERIAS (B)
Drive north from Jerusalem to Nazareth to see the Church of the Annunciation. Then continue to the Sea of Galilee and ride the waters to Tabgha. Traveling overland again, we'll stop at Cana, and stroll through lively waterside Tiberias. At Capernaum, on the Sea Of Galilee, to see the ruins of the Synagogue and Church of St. Peter. We'll return to Jerusalem via the baptismal site on the Jordan River.

Day 13 - Thursday . MASSADA, EIN GEDI, DEAD SEA, (B)
Travel along the shores of the Dead Sea , the lowest spot on earth, to Massada. Ascend by cable car to the last stronghold of the Zealots in their struggle against the Romans. Visit the excavations, Herod's Palace, synagogue and bath houses. Return to Jerusalem

Day 14- Friday , Departure (B).
Our representative escorts you to the airport for your homeward flight via London or Paris . ( We keep the right to choose any IATA accredited international Air Line)

Rates per person in USD $

Christmas / New Year : Supplement applies :
Dec 15 - Jan 05 : and Easter Seasons ( Two weeks ), Passover Season : April 15-30 : Please note that a 15 % supplement applies.

Air fare notes: ( doesnt apply when you handle your own air fare )

• For departures from Atlanta, Dallas/Ft. Worth, Los Angeles, Phoenix, San Francisco, San Diego or Seattle, please add US$ 350 per person to the rates.
  
• Summer Season Dates : For May through end of Sep departures, please add a summer airline surcharge of $350 per person to the rates.
  

Deluxe :

• Cairo : Ramses Hilton. Sonesta. J. W. Marriott ( or similar)
  
• Nile Cruises :
  Monaco , Monte Carlo , Mojito , Beau Soleil , Florence, Royal Ruby , Adonis or similar
  
• Jerusalem : Regency ( modest 5 stars) or Deluxe Room at the Olive Tree Hotel ( superior first class yet great hotel, great location)
  
  

First Class :

• Cairo : Oases. Novotel. ( or similar)
  
• Nile Cruises : Nile Dream , Ruby or Similar
  
• Jerusalem : Superior Room at the Olive Tree Hotel ( superior first class yet great hotel, great location)

Upgrade to the Ultra Deluxe Nile Cruises:
Sonesta M/S Moon Goddess , Sonesta M/S Star Goddess, Sonesta M/S St. George ( all state   rooms are Junior Suites do offer private balconies) . The Ultra Deluxe all suites M/S Amarco :
Supplement : 20 % applies to be added to the deluxe rate

The all suites M/S Amarco

The Ultra Deluxe all suites M/S Amarco :

Your tour includes:

• Round-trip transatlantic airfare, including air taxes, from New York to Cairo and return in economy class, tax included , we keep the right to use any IATAN accredited airline such as British Airways, Lufthansa , KLM, Swiss etc. , subject to seat availability at the time of reservation.
  
  
• All domestic airfares in Egypt; passengers booking the deluxe rate will be upgraded to business class on flights within Egypt at no additional charge, subject to availability.
  
  
• Air fare: Cairo / Tel Aviv in economy class, tax included .
  
  
• All transfers in Egypt and Israel.
  
  
• Hotel accommodations, including tax and service charges.
  
  
• Nile cruise; the sequence of sights visited between Aswan and Luxor is subject to change according to vessel requirements, and the cruise may begin in either Aswan or Luxor.
  
• Complimentary welcome drink upon arrival on board the Nile Cruise.
  
  
• Complimentary welcome fruit basket on board the Nile Cruise.
  
  
• Large bottle of water ( per person ) delivered to you cabin daily while you are on board the Nile Cruise.
  
  
• Tea or coffee an bottled water with each / every meal while you are on board the Nile Cruise.
  
  
• Meals as indicated in the tour itinerary: B = continental breakfast; L =set-menu lunch; D = set-menu dinner.- Guided sightseeing by private air-conditioned motor coach or car as per itinerary, including all entrance fees.
  
• Complimentary Lonely Planet travel guidebook to Egypt/Jerusalem.
  

• Complimentary visa for Egypt : issued upon arrival for the following nationalities; American, Australian, NZ, EU , Canadian, Mexican , Singaporean & Japanese, your passport must be valid and in order . For Israel , no visa is required for USA , Canadian and EU citizens, for other countries please check with the consulate nearest you .

DRESS CODE :

All of our Nile cruise vessels are fully air conditioned. Onboard dress is casual except at dinner, when smart casual is the rule. Lightweight cotton and other natural fiber clothing is best, with swimsuits and sun hats for the sundeck and pool. Bring a light sweater or light jacket for cool mornings and evenings, but most days are warm to hot, with very little rain. Comfortable walking shoes are essential for shore excursions.

Nile Cruise :
DINING NOTES
The set-menu meals included in your tour are indicated in the itinerary: B = Breakfast, (or cB, Continental Breakfast), L = Lunch, D = Dinner. On our luxury Nile cruise vessels, our spacious dining rooms accommodate all passengers at one seating, so there is no need to worry about making reservations , one less thing to worry about while you are on the Nile. Enjoy the cosmopolitan atmosphere with several different languages being heard at dinner.

Do we get sea sickness while sailing the Nile ?
This is river sailing, so do not expect any waves , no rough seas ! Your Nile cruises is actually a floating hotel that moves from place to place along the Nile. Actual cruising times are short and pleasant.