We will be on tour in the Middle East from 2 October, 2009 - 28 October, 2009.
There are 2 options:
- Arrive Beirut in Lebanon on 2 October. 27 days to explore Lebanon , Jordan , Israel and Egypt.
- Arrive Amman in Jordan on 8 October. 21 days to discover Jordan , Israel and Egypt.
Accommodation is in 3 and 4 star hotels. Breakfast (B), Lunch (L) and Dinner (D) are provided where specified.
Airfare discount available on a group fare with Emirates for those flying from Christchurch, New Zealand. Or fly on your preferred airline to arrive in Lebanon 2 October or Jordan 8 October.
Questions about the tour are being answered by Brigitta Moore at Northlands House of Travel in Christchurch.
Iraq Optional Extension is being investigated by Brigitta Moore with Hinterland Travel in England. They finished the first official tourist trip back to Iraq since the war in March 2009.
The Itinerary is as follows:
OPTION 1: 27 day grand tour begins 2 OctoberLEBANON, JORDAN, ISRAEL, EGYPT | |
Friday 2 Oct - BeirutArrive in Beirut. Transfer to hotel where a welcome dinner is provided. O/N at the Napoleon Hotel in Beirut (D) |
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| Saturday 3 Oct - BeirutDay at leisure. O/N at the Napoleon Hotel in Beirut (B) |
Sunday 4 Oct - BaalbekDepart for Baalbek to visit its legendary temples. The temple dedicated to the Phoenician god Baal gives the site its name. Also see the Temple of Bacchus and the Roman built Temple of Jupiter with its six colossal columns. Travel to the fortified city of Anjar, once a hunting resort for the Omayyad Dynasty. O/N at the Napoleon Hotel in Beirut (B) |
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Sidon | Monday 5 Oct - Tyre & SidonTravel south to the port of Sidon, one of the ancient Phoenician city-states. At Maghdouche see the statue of the Virgin Mary. Later continue to Tyre which was founded in the 3rd millennium BC and is well known for its Roman ruins. The ruins include a well preserved road which is lined on one side with an aqueduct, and on both sides there are hundreds of ornate and intricately carved stone and marble sarcophagi. O/N at the Napoleon Hotel in Beirut (B) |
Tuesday 6 Oct - Beirut - BecharreIn the morning explore the highlights of the cosmopolitan city of Beirut. Continue north to the Old City of Tripoli to visit the Crusader Castle of Raymond of St Giles. Continue to the cedar forests of Becharre, birthplace of one of Lebanon's greatest poets, Kahlil Gibran. O/N at the Chbat Hotel in Becharre (B) |
Cedar forests of Becharre |
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Byblos | Wednesday 7 Oct - Becharre - JouniehVisit the "Holy" cedar forests which date back to the biblical times. Continue to Byblos, the oldest Phoenician inhabited city, then to the amazing Jeita Grotto. Continue to Jounieh and take the cable car to Harissa to see the mountain top basilica and statue of the the Virgin Mary. O/N in Jounieh (B)
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OPTION 2: 21 day discovery adventure begins 8 OctoberJORDAN, ISRAEL, EGYPT | |
Thursday 8 Oct - Jounieh - Beirut - AmmanTransfer overland from Lebanon to Amman in Jordan for overnight. Join with the Group 2 members for dinner. O/N at the Larsa Hotel in Amman (B, D)
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| Friday 9 Oct - Amman - Jericho - JerusalemMorning transfer to the border at King Hussein Bridge. After immigration procedures, depart for Jericho (subject to security). Continue to Jerusalem to experience a spectacular view from the Mt of Olives. O/N at the Ramat Rachel Hotel in Jerusalem (B) |
Saturday 10 Oct - JerusalemDay at leisure. O/N at the Ramat Rachel Hotel in Jerusalem (B) |
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| Sunday 11 Oct - JerusalemFull day in Old Jerusalem. Start with a spectacular view of Jerusalem from the Mt of Olives. Walk down the Palm Sunday Road and visit the Church of all Nations at the Garden of Gethsemane. Pass through Ecce Homo Arch to the Via Dolorosa and visit each Station of the Cross to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Explore the renewed Jewish Quarter and include a visit to the Burnt House. See the Western Wall and the Temple Mount (subject to security). In the afternoon visit Bethlehem and the Church of the Nativity (subject to security clearance). O/N at the Ramat Rachel Hotel in Jerusalem (B, D) |
Monday 12 Oct - JerusalemFull day in New Jerusalem. Visit the Israel Museum and the Shrine of the Book with the original Dead Sea Scrolls. See an accurate replica of the city of Jerusalem from the Second Temple period. Experience a moving visit to Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial. O/N at the Ramat Rachel Hotel in Jerusalem (B, D) |
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| Tuesday 13 Oct - JerusalemVisit Qumran and the site where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered. Drive to Masada, the ancient Herodian fortress, then return to the Dead Sea, the lowest point on earth at 1300 feet below sea level. Lunch (at own expense) at the Ein Gedi Botanical Gardens with the possibility of a swim or a hike to Ein Gedi Waterfall (time permitting). O/N at the Ramat Rachel Hotel in Jerusalem (B, D) |
Wednesday 14 Oct - Jerusalem - GalileeTransfer to the Galilee area. Enroute explore Beth Shearim's burial catacombs, see Megiddo and walk through the bazaar of Nazareth to visit the Church of the Annumciation. O/N at the Ginnosar Inn in Galilee (B, D) |
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| Thursday 15 Oct - GalileeMorning at leisure. See the Jesus boat at the Kibbutz. In the afternoon sail along the Sea of Galilee to see Kursi, Hazor and Tabgha where Jesus multiplied five loaves and two fish. O/N at the Ginnosar Inn in Galilee (B, D) |
Friday 16 Oct - Galilee - Tel AvivExplore Capernaum, the centre of Jesus' ministries. Ascend to the top of the Mt of Beatitudes, visit Elijah's Mt Carmel and Caesarea enroute to Tel Aviv. O/N at the Metropolitan in Tel Aviv (B)
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| Saturday 17 Oct - Tel Aviv |
Sunday 18 Oct - Tel Aviv - PetraTravel south of Amman via one of the oldest highways on earth, the King's Highway. This fascinating road into history will include hightlights of Madaba where you can view the oldest known map of the 'Holyland' inlaid in mosaics, Mt Nebo and Kerak Crusader Castle. O/N in Petra (B) |
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| Monday 19 Oct - Petra |
Tuesday 20 Oct - Petra - Aqaba - Nuweiba - St Catherine'sTransfer from Petra to Awaba Port for the ferry to Nuweiba. On arrival you will be met and transferred to St Catherine's for overnight. Time permitting you will be able to climb Mt Sinai. O/N at the Wadi El Raha in St Catherine's (B, D) |
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| Wednesday 21 Oct - St Catherine's - Sharm El SheikhVisit the monastery. Transfer to Sharm El Sheikh. O/N at the Maritime Golf in Sharm El Sheikh (B)
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Thursday 22 Oct - Sharm El Sheikh - LuxorTransfer to the airport for the flight to Luxor. Drive to Luxor Temple, built by Amenophis III and Ramses II. After touring the temple, continue to Karnak Temple, the main centre of worship in Ancient Egypt. O/N at the Mercure in Luxor (B, D) |
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| Friday 23 Oct - LuxorStart the day by crossing the Nile to the West Bank. Visit the Necropolis of Thebes and the Valley of the Kings which includes the tombs of the Theban rulers, including Tutankhamun. Tour the Mortuary Temple of Hatchepsut, the only female Pharaoh to rule ancient Egypt. See the famed Colossi of Memnon facing the Nile and visit the Mummy Museum. O/N at the Mercure in Luxor (B, L, D) |
Saturday 24 Oct - Luxor - CairoDepart on a full day tour of Dendarah and Abydos. Visit the temple where the Egyptians worshipped Hathor, the goddess of love and joy. At Abydos explore the tomb of Osiris. Evening flight to Cairo. O/N at the Shepheard in Cairo (B) |
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| Sunday 25 Oct - CairoA full day tour beginning with a visit to Memphis which served as the capital of Upper and Lower Egypt some 5000 years ago. Continue to Sakkara, one of the most exciting historical and archaeological areas in all of Egypt, which is dominated by the famous Step Pyramid of King Zoser. Visit the Pyramids and Sphinx at Giza where the great pyramid built by Cheops, containing more than 2.3 million cubic metres of stone, stands. O/N at the Shepheard in Cairo (B) |
Monday 26 Oct - FayoumThe peacefulness of this area is a relief from the hustle and bustle of Cairo. Bird life still abounds around Lake Qaroun, bordered by semi-nomadic Bedouin settlements and fishing villages. Here on the edge of the desert sailing, windsurfing, swimming and fishing is available. Also visit El-Lahun Pyramid before relaxing in a green area. O/N at the Shepheard in Cairo (B, L) |
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| Tuesday 27 Oct - CairoVisit the Egyptian Museum where the treasures from the Tomb of the Boy King Tutunkhamun is on display. A farewell dinner is provided. O/N at the Shepheard in Cairo (B, D) |
Wednesday 28 Oct - CairoTransfer to the airport for the flight home. (B)
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Beirut
Beirut
Baalbek
Jerusalem
Jerusalem
Gethsemane
Shopping in Jerusalem
Dead Sea
Nazareth Tunnel
Galilee
Mt Beatitudes
Quaram Caves
Mt Nebo
Petra
Mt Sinai
Sharm El Sheikh
Luxor
Colossi of Memnon
Dendera
Pyramids
Bedouin
Egyptian Museum
Dubai
