ARTHEMA TOUR

A trip to discover the
Middle East prestige
EGYPT & HOLY LAND

Special Tour 10 Days - 9 Nights
Egypt - Cairo Airport JORDAN & EGYPT CULTURAL EXTENSION TOURS, Cultural Tours

Through the tales that the great storyteller Scheherazade, you will explore the hidden side of the Middle East through successive discoveries of your own throughout this journey.

This journey allows you to explore the history from the Nile to the Mediterranean, crossing the Sinai Desert, then proceeding to the Holy Land. The journey starts from Cairo, where history is read and discovered on the walls of the pyramids and continue to Sinai desert; the most beautiful sites. A desert landscape that begins from early morning sunrise and lasts until sunset, and which will take you to the Holy Land. In Israel and Palestine, you will explore archaeological treasures, which make it a coveted, conflicted land throughout the story of mankind.

Highlights
Itinerary
Practical Info
Tour Map
Dates And Prices
Reviews
Highlights
  • Giza, the three Pyramids; Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure and the Sphinx
  • Visit the National Museum of Cairo and the famous treasure of Tutankhamun
  • Nile cruise and dinner
  • Visit the Suez Canal, a famous canal connecting Africa to Asia
  • In the early Morning climb Mount Sinai, which is 2280 meters high.
  • Saint Catherine Monastery, located in the middle of the desert- Sinai.
  • The Masada fortress dating back over 2000 years.
  • Giza, the three Pyramids of Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure, and the Sphinx.
  • The National Museum of Cairo and the famous treasure of Tutankhamun.
  • Nile cruise and dinner.
  • The Suez Canal.
  • Early morning climb to Mount Sinai.
  • Saint Catherine Monastery located in the middle of the desert- Sinai.
  • The Masada fortress dating back over 2000 years.
  • The old city of Jerusalem and the Shops
  • Via Dolorosa, Church of the Holy Sepulcher, Wailing Wall and Al-Aqsa
  • Mount of Olives and its panoramic view
  • Bethlehem and Nativity Church.
  • Jericho; Hisham Palace and Mt of temptation
  • Dead Sea Swimming time.
  • Baha’i Gardens in Haifa and its terraces overlooking the Mediterranean Sea
  • The fortifications of Acre.
  • Nazareth and the Basilica of the Annunciation.
  • Lake Tiberias and the Mount of Beatitudes.
Itinerary

Day 1:  Cairo
Welcome at Cairo International Airport by a member of the team. Transfer, dinner and overnight at hotel in Cairo.

Day 2:  Cairo
The day will be entirely spent visiting Cairo, starting with the Giza plateau, home of Egypt’s signature attractions. Three Pyramids Khufu, Khafre and Menkaure guarded by the famous Sphinx with the body of a lion and the head of a pharaoh. Then visit to the Egyptian Museum, where you find the greatest collections of Egyptian antiquities in the world. Place of exceptional memory of the various pharaonic dynasties. It houses more than 250,000 pieces, including the famous treasure of Tutankhamun. It is a immersion in the history of ancient Egypt through five millennia. In the old city of Cairo, visit to Khan El Khalili and the Bazaar to find bargains for souvenirs and other items. Evening and oriental dinner aboard the Nile cruise and be entertained by a belly dancer and enjoy watching other skilled performers as well. Back to hotel in Cairo for overnight.

Day 3: Cairo – St. Catherine
Check out for long drive towards the Sinai and the St. Catherine monastery, passing by the Suez Canal, a world-famous canal that connects Africa to Asia. Passing by Moses Springs, where the prophet found fresh water during the exodus from Egypt. Arrival at the end of the day in St Catherine. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Day 4: St. Catherine – Eilat – Masada – Qumran – Jerusalem
Early morning before sunrise, proceed to Mt. Sinai, which overlooks the St. Catherine monastery in the middle of a mountainous desert area. It rises to an altitude of 2280m. It is the traditional site where Moses is said to have received the Ten Commandments. Arrival at the summit where the ocher and pink colors of the mountains will offer you an exceptional panorama. Back to hotel for breakfast and check out, then drive towards Taba for crossing to the Holy Land via Taba/Eilat border crossing, and meet with our representative and proceed to the Dead Sea, Visit Masada, located at the top of a gigantic 2000-year-old cliff, and the largest castle built by King Herod. Climb by cable car to the summit to discover the ancient rock fortress. Continue to visit the Qumran Caves where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered. Visit the Jordan River Baptismal Site where John the Baptist baptized Jesus. Drive to Jerusalem, dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Day 5: Jerusalem
Start the visit with the Old City of Jerusalem. In the Old City, you will encounter oriental charm and be plunged into the colourful alleys of the market, which take you to the meeting places of the three major monotheistic religions: The Via Dolorosa believed to be the path that Jesus walked on the way to his crucifixion. In addition, the Holy Sepulchre which houses both the place of Calvary and the tomb of Christ. Passing through the Christian, Jewish, Muslim and Armenian districts, you can contemplate the vestiges and the religious and architectural imprints left by the different peoples who lived there. Continuation the visit by taking the ancient Roman road, the Cardo, located in the heart of the Old City up to Mount Sion where you will discover the Dormition Abbey, the cave of the last Supper and the tomb of King David. We visit Saint-Peter-in-Gallicantu Church, also known as the "Church of the Rooster". We end the day with a stroll through the Armenian Quarter to the Jaffa Gate. Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Jerusalem.

Day 6: Jerusalem – Bethlehem
Visit the Wailing Wall, the holy place of Judaism, then the esplanade of the mosques the third holiest religious site in Islam. It contains the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Dome of the Rock, an architectural gem emblematic of the Holy Land, with its golden dome shining brilliantly on the Jerusalem skyline. Visit the Mount of Olives, which at 827m above sea level, offers a wonderful panoramic view of the Old City of Jerusalem and hold places of great importance for the three monotheistic religions. Visit the chapel of Dominus Flevit, which recalls the Gospel passage in which Jesus wept over the future of Jerusalem. Descent from the Mount to the Garden of Olive Trees with the Church of All Nations at Gethsemane, the place where Jesus prayed before his arrest. Departure for Bethlehem located 10 km to the south of Jerusalem, to discover the Church of the Nativity, one of the oldest churches in the world, built above the cave where Jesus was born. Visit Milk Grotto and the historic city center; walk through the old quarters and market. Dinner and accommodation at the hotel in Bethlehem.

Day 7: Bethlehem – Jericho – Dead Sea
In the morning, depart for a green oasis near the Dead Sea: Jericho, which was made famous by the discovery of one of the oldest cities of the Levant dating from the eighth millennium BC. Cross the canyon of Wadi Qelt to admire the monastery of St. George, situated on the ochre-colored cliffs of the mountain. Continue to Jericho to see the Monastery of the Temptation. It was built on the slopes of the Mount of Temptation 350 meters above sea level, situated along a cliff overlooking the city of Jericho and the Jordan Valley. Visit Tell Al Sultan, the archaeological site of the first settlement of Jericho dating from the 10th millennium BCE. Then visit Hisham Palace, built in the 8th century, which holds the pride of Jericho, an 850 square meter floor mosaic from the Umayyad Era, the largest and best-preserved mosaic floor in the Middle East.  Head to the Dead Sea, the lowest point on earth at 400m below sea level, where you will have the opportunity to enjoy the indescribable feeling of floating on its exceptionally dense water.  Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Bethlehem.

Day 8: Jaffa – Haifa – Acre – Nazareth
Drive along the Mediterranean coast for the legendary Jaffa, southern and ancient part of Tel Aviv, dating back over 5000 years. Then head north towards Haifa, a port city located at the top of Mount Carmel, a coastal mountain overlooking the Mediterranean coast. The Baha'i Gardens are one of the emblematic sites of Haifa with its hanging terraces, sculpted in the mountain, connected by a series of stairs, with, in its centre, the golden dome mausoleum of the Báb, the spiritual centre of the Baha'i religion. Continue to Acre, the ancient town of St. John of Acre. The Crusaders made the city an important base and its final seat of government in the Holy Land. Its high, fortified walls overlooking the sea, the El Jazzar Mosque, the caravanserai and oriental bazaar dating back to the nineteenth century CE are some of the highlights of the visit.  If schedules and conditions permit, free time and swimming in the Mediterranean Sea. Dinner and overnight at the hotel in Galilee.

Day 9: Nazareth – Lake of Tiberias – Bethlehem
Visit the Basilica of the Annunciation, established at the site believed to be where the Archangel Gabriel announced to Mary that she would give birth to a son named Jesus. Continue to Lake Tiberias to visit the Mount of Beatitudes for a gorgeous view of the Sea of Galilee and to visit the church that was built atop this hill, where Jesus is believed to have delivered his “Sermon on the Mount” speech. Continue to the ruins of Capernaum, where Jesus lived and preached, and where many apostles, including Peter, made their home. Visit to the church of Tabgha, which is remembered because of the miracle of the Multiplication of Loaves. Drive via Jordan valley to Bethlehem. Diner and overnight at the hotel.

Day 10: Bethlehem – Tel-Aviv
After breakfast, transfer to Tel-Aviv International Airport for departure.

 

 

Practical Info
1- Guaranteed departure
2- Budget
3- When you arrive at the airport
4- Cancellation fees
5- Visa – Passport
6- Transport and transfer
7- Accommodation
8- Child conditions
9- Flight and insurance
10- Tours – Guide – Tips
11- Languages - Currency
12- Level – Health
13- Weather
14- Time - Customs
15- Telecommunications
16- Electricity

1- Guaranteed Departures: Many of our tours are guaranteed departure with a minimum of 4 paying customers.  All tours offered with a guaranteed departure and insured will have the minimum numbers clearly indicated on each tour costing that we provide. If a departure is not marked as guaranteed, we invite you to register with the free and non-binding option. Once the number of participants on an offered program reaches the minimum number, you will receive an email inviting you to validate your registration. In this case, only then will your credit card will be charged. However, if you book a confirmed tour with a guaranteed departure your reservation and payment will be automatically approved. Our guaranteed departure tours are not private; we bring travellers together from different backgrounds and nationalities on the same tour.

Travel Agencies & Independent Groups: Travel agencies & tour operators may contact us for your unique website access code and special conditions. Independent groups may be offered discounts on posted rates depending on their numbers, tour itineraries and requested services.

2- Budget

Our quoted price for any tour includes the following:

  • Reception and transfer: airport / hotel / airport.
  • Transfers according to the program, such as private tourist transportation in an AC-equipped van or bus.
  • Accommodation in 4 Star or 4 Star + hotels with half board, breakfast and dinner included. From dinner on the first day served until 9:00 p.m. to breakfast on the last day.
  • Professional guides for visits as per program.
  • Entrance to all the sites listed in the program

Our quoted price for any tour does not include the following:

  • All personal expenses such as drinks, etc.
  • Optional excursions or meals not specified in the program.
  • Tips for driver and guide.
  • Visa fee to Egypt around 25USD
  • Flights & accident, health, luggage or repatriation insurance.
    Unless otherwise noted, our packages concern only land arrangement: hotels, transfers, and visits.

3- Arrival at Ben Gurion International Airport: After customs and passport procedures, you will be greeted by one of our staff holding a Travel Jerusalem sign, waiting for you in the reception hall after you have collected your luggage. Your group will be then transferred to your hotel.  Ben Gurion International Airport has free wifi; program tour leaders will be put into contact with our staff contact stay in touch via WhatsApp prior to departure.

Customs: In most cases with both arrivals and departures, tour participants will proceed through customs and security inspections as they do in any other international airport without significant delay.  On occasion, however, Ben Gurion Airport security may select program participants for questioning or luggage inspection.  This is a common occurrence at Ben Gurion security and is no cause for alarm. For more information please click here.

4- Cancellation Fees
If you choose or are obliged to cancel your trip before it begins (as determined by your arrival date on your program itinerary), you must inform us as soon as possible.

Cancellation fees will apply as follows:

  • Cancellation fee of 30% charged for notification up to 30 days in advance.
  • Cancellation fee of 50% charged for notification from 29 to 7 days in advance.
  • Cancellation fee of 75% charged for notification less than 7 days up to 24h in advance.
  • Cancellation fee of 100% charged for notification of less than 24h in advance
  • Cancellation on any day tour will result in no refund.
  • No-show for any tour will result in no refund.

Cancellation fees during high season: The months of March, April, May, October and November, as well as Christmas and New Year, are designated as high season periods. During these periods, the following cancellation fees are applied: 

  • Cancellation fee of 50% charged for notification up to 30 days in advance.
  • Cancellation fee of 70% charged for notification up to 7 days in advance.
  • Cancellation fee of 80% charged for notification up to 3 days in advance.
  • Cancellation fee of 100% charged for notification less than 3 days.

The above conditions do not apply in case of natural disaster, pandemic, and the outbreak of war. For geopolitical or logistical reasons, the tour operator has the right to cancel a departure or propose alternative date. In this case, full amount paid to the trip organizer will be refunded
If a specific day tour is canceled due to security reasons or natural disaster, it is replaced with an alternate tour for the day, and no refund would be offered.

 5- Visa & Passport
Passport: To receive an on-arrival visa, your passport must be valid up to 6 months after your return date. An on-arrival visa at Ben Gurion International Airport covering both Israel and Palestine: will be issued for passport holders of the European Union, the United States, Canada and the United Kingdom, as well as dozens of other nations.  The visa is given in the form of a slip of paper rather than a passport stamp. You must keep this paper within your passport for the duration of your stay.  For other nations outside the European Union, Canada, the United States and the United Kingdom, check the visa information and requirements. For more information please click here. 

For extension tours with Jordan: additional visa and borders taxes will apply. For more information please click here.

For extension tours with Egypt: additional visa and border taxes will apply. For more information please click here

6- Transport and transfer
as well as additional transport and transfer services.  These services will be offered by van or bus, depending on the number of participants, and offered through a vetted and trusted third party transport provider.

Transfers, arrival and departure from the airport: Regarding the organization of transfer on arrival and departure: For more information please click here.

7- Accommodation
The level and standard of accommodations offered in each tour always will be upheld, the categories indicated by local standards. These include double/twin/triple/family rooms, or in a single room with single supplement. All rooms will include private bathrooms.
Standard times for hotels check-in are at 14:00, with check out at 11:00. Breakfast is served usually between 06:30 until 09:00, and dinner from 06:30 until 09:00: For more infromation please click here

8- Child conditions
Babies under 2 years of age travel free of charge, sharing their parents' room without an extra bed.
Children from 2 to 6 years old pay 50% of the adult price, sharing their parents' room with an extra bed.  
Children from 6 to 12 years old pay 70% of the adult rate, sharing parents' room with an extra bed.

9- Flight and insurance
Travel Jerusalem is a reception-only tour operator. We do not organize flight bookings. The customer is responsible to book the appropriate flights, and bear in mind that our prices include only land services of their trip. For accident, health, luggage or repatriation insurance; the customer should locate and pro the insurance in his /her country.

10- Tours – Guide – Tips
Our tours and visits: The tour operator may modify your itinerary where reasonably required at their discretion; for example, a tour may be done in reverse to adjust to sudden, unforeseen circumstances. For reasons of weather or other factors, a tour may be modified or even replaced to a large extent. Please be aware that certain sites can sometimes be cancelled at the last moment. Indeed, some sites are managed by military authorities, free to block access to the sites. In such circumstances we will ensure that your value for cost of the program will be honored. 
Follow the guide: Our local guides are professionals and knowledgeable of the culture and history of the land that you are touring. Generally, a single guide accompanies the group for the duration of the tour. However, for logistical reasons, unavailability and due to the local situation, two or three guides may be used during your program. Our local guides are chosen for their knowledge base, professionalism, ethical standards and willingness to communicate with their tour groups and are always ready to answer questions!
Tips: We recommend a tip of $6 -10 per participant per day, to be shared between the guide 60% and the driver 40%.  Tips are not included in your program costing, and while not compulsory, we do ask that you strongly consider setting aside the suggested amount

11- Languages - Currency
Currency: In both Palestine - Israel, the currency is the shekel. Please check for daily exchange rate: www.x-rates.com. US Dollars and Euros can also be used for all major payments. There are automated teller machine throughout the country, and credit cards are accepted in many places.
Languages: The official language in Palestine is Arabic, while the official and language of Israel is Hebrew. The unofficial second language of the Holy Land is English, with French and Russian spoken in much of Israel as well.

12- Level – Health
Level: Our cultural and religious tours; including transfers by bus, walks and cultural visits are considered to require basic health and stamina.  For extension tours including Egypt, a good physical condition is required for the hiking up Mount Sinai/Saint Catherine’s monastery. For hiking and mountain biking programs, see the program description and information regarding physical difficulty requirements.

Health and vaccines: No vaccines are required

13- Weather
Palestine & Israel: Summer is long (from April to October), hot (25° to 35°) and with no rain or overcast skies. Winter (from November to March) is moderate (5° to 18°), but it can be cold, especially at nights. On occasion, snow falls in Jerusalem during December and January in Jerusalem, Bethlehem and other high-altitude parts of the Holy Land. Protection from the sun is important. Remember to cover yourself with long, light, loose-fitting clothing, and to wear a hat. Use pharmacy-purchased sunscreen to protect your body, especially if you wish to swim in the Dead Sea.

14- Time - Customs
Time: Jerusalem is GMT +2/+3, depending on time zone changes per year.
Customs: Israel and Palestine are multi-faith lands. In Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Nazareth and Hebron, which are considered the centers of pilgrimage for the region, an attitude respectful of local customs is required. In particular, during visits to religious attractions, proper clothing is required. Avoid high-cut clothing and short shorts

15- Telecommunications
Israel and Palestine have modern and functional mobile phone networks. Similarly, accessibility to the Internet is available almost everywhere, notably via WIFI in hotels.

16- Electricity
The electric current is generally 220V, utilizing European-regional sockets (round plugs). An adapter is required for UK-regional appliances.

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Dates And Prices
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A trip to discover the
Middle East prestige
EGYPT & HOLY LAND.

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