12 days from $3,395  Visiting
 Fly to Amman via London. Day 2 Sun Arrive Amman (B) Connect in London to your flight to Amman, arriving late this evening. Imperial Palace Day 3 Mon Madaba-Mount Nebo-Kerak-Petra (B) This morning, we drive out of Amman and stop first in Madaba, the fifth largest city in Jordan. It is perhaps most well known for it's mosaics - and particularly the Map of Madaba Mosaic. Constructed in the 6th to 7th century AD, the mosaic represents the biblical land from Egypt to Lebanon, including Sinai, Israel, Palestine and Transjordan. It is believed to be the best toographical representation of the Biblical Lands. Our drive then continues to Mount Nebo, the presumed site of Moses' death and burial place. It is believed that Moses climbed the 3,300 foot mount and saw the Promised Land. We pass through the town of Karak, and ancient Crusader stronghold before arriving at our hotel in Petra. Later this evening, experience a visit to the famous Red City by candlelight. Beit Zaman Day 4 Tue Petra (B) A highlight awaits as you spend the day at Petra, the city carved out of the craggy rock mountains south of the Dead Sea. Petra was "rediscovered" in 1812 by Swiss explorer Johann Ludwig Burckhardt. UNESCO has described it as "one of the most precious cultural properties of man's cultural heritage." Petra was the capital of the Nabataeans and it was their ability to control the water supply that led to the rise of Petra. You enter the city by dark narrow gorge that is only 9-13 feet wide in some spots. The journey is worth it as you exit the gorge and face the Treasury, probably Petra's most elaborate ruin. After exploring the area, return to the hotel this afternoon. Beit Zaman Day 5 Wed Petra-Wadi Rum-Amman (B) Set in south Jordan, Wadi Rum is 720 square kilometers of stunning dramatic and protected desert wilderness. Huge mountains rise up from the desert sands and narrow canyons hold ancient rock drawings etched out over the millennia. Bedouin tribes still live in the mountains of Rum and their goat-hair tents are a fixture on the horizon. As you drive through Wadi Rum, visions of Lawrence of Arabia might come to mind, as many scenes from the famous film were shot here. While some believe Lawrence might have actually fought here during the Arab Revolt of 1917-1918, it has not actually been proven. However, Lawrence does refer to Wadi Rum several times in his book, "The Seven Pillars of Wisdom." We arrive back in Amman late this afternoon. Imperial Palace Day 6 Thu Amman-Cairo (B) We fly to Cairo today where you will be met and escorted to your hotel where the remainder of the day is at leisure. Sheraton Dreamland Day 7 Fri Cairo-Aswan (Abu Simbel) (BLD) A morning flight takes us to Aswan where you embark on your Nile Cruise vessel, your floating hotel for the next 3 nights. A short flight takes you to Abu Simbel. Judging from the position of the temples, the imposing colossi of Ramses II would have greeted travelers as they tried to enter Egypt and sent a message of Egypt's strength. Ramses II chief queen, Nefertari is celebrated in the Temple of Hathor, which Ramses II dedicated to her "Nefertari for whose sake the very sun does shine." Return to Aswan later this afternoon. Day 8 Sat Aswan-Kom Ombo-Edfu (BLD) After breakfast, visit the High Dam. Construction was completed in 1971. The stone and metal used could have built 17 pyramids the size of Cheops Pyramid and 15 Eiffel Towers! You'll also visit the unfinished obelisk. If it had been finished, the obelisk would have weighed 2.3 million pounds -- the largest piece of stone ever handled! On to Philae and the Temple of Isis. Isis was the sister and wife to Osiris, son of Re. After Osiris was killed and dismembered by his brother Seth, Isis found all of the parts and miraculously put them together. On to Kom Ombo, where you visit the Temple of Sobek and Haroeris. This twin temple has its left side dedicated to falcon-headed Haroeris and the right dedicated to the crocodile-god, Sobek. Continue to Edfu for the night. Day 9 Sun Edfu-Luxor (BLD) After visiting the Temple of Horus, the Falcon God, sail to Luxor and visit the Temple of Luxor, built under Amenophis III and Ramses II, primarily to celebrate the Festival of Opet. Then on to the massive temples of Karnak, built over a period of 1300 years. Day 10 Mon Luxor-Cairo (B) Begin the day on the West Bank and the Valley of the Kings. So far, 62 tombs have been discovered in the Valley of the Kings - most famous perhaps being that of King Tutankhamun. Continue to the Valley of Queens where more than 70 tombs have been discovered. One that stands out is that of Nefertari, the wife of Ramses II. On to the Mortuary Temple of Queen Hatshepsut at Deir el Bahri. Then fly back to Cairo. Sheraton Dreamland Day 11 Tue Cairo (B) Today's full day tour begins at the Egyptian Museum. The Museum was built in 1902 and contains one of the most impressive and comprehensive collections of artifacts in the world. Of the more than 120,000 objects, at least 44,000 are on display at any one time. It could take months to see each exhibit on display in the museum -- we'll spend a few hours visiting some of the most well known. We continue to Giza with to visit the Great Pyramid of Cheop, one of the seven wonders of the world. This is the oldest and largest of the pyramids found in Giza. Sheraton Dreamland Day 12 Wed Cairo-New York Your journey of discovery ends today as you board the flight back to New York. Welcome Home!
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