Where It All Began: 15-Day Egypt, Jordan & Israel Christian Holy Land Tour

Departure on your way to Egypt — The Land of the Pharaohs.

Welcome to Egypt. Upon arrival at Cairo International Airport you will clear immigration and customs and be met outside by our representative for private transfer to your hotel in Cairo for an evening at leisure and overnight.

Overnight Cairo — Dinner included.

After breakfast, meet your Egyptologist guide to begin the Where It All Began tour. Visit one of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World — the three Pyramids of Giza. The oldest and largest is the Cheops Pyramid, built about 2690 BC. Next, the Pyramid of Chefren and the majestic Great Sphinx — the largest single-block sculpture in the world, guarding the pyramids below. Take a camel ride with the Pyramids as your backdrop.

Continue to the New Grand Egyptian Museum, offering a vivid insight into Egypt’s 5,000-year history and its extraordinary treasures.

Visit Old Cairo and its cultural landmarks spanning three millennia. Begin with Coptic Cairo, visiting the Hanging Church and the Babylon Fortress.

Continue to the Church of St. Sergius — a 5th-century Coptic church built over the cave where the Holy Family (Mary, Joseph, and the infant Jesus) are believed to have rested during their flight from Herod (Matthew 2:13-15). Visit the recently restored Synagogue of Ben Ezra — the oldest Jewish synagogue in Egypt, built in 882 AD.

Explore the medieval bazaar of Khan el-Khalili — one of the biggest and most famous bazaars in the Middle East. Lunch included at a local restaurant during the tour.

Overnight Cairo — Full Buffet Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner included.

After breakfast, depart by private air-conditioned coach to Saint Catherine’s Monastery via the tunnel beneath the Suez Canal to the west branch of the Red Sea, following what is believed to be the route of the Biblical Exodus (Exodus 16-18). The drive through the Sinai Peninsula and the biblical Land of Goshen to the Mount Sinai area (233 miles) takes approximately 6 hours.

Along the route pass Marah by the Red Sea — the desert springs where the children of Israel found the water bitter (Exodus 15:22-23) — then the desert oasis of Elim, and Wadi Feiran (Rephidim), the valley where the Israelites fought against the Amalekites. Continue to Mount Serbal, the possible site where Moses held up his arms for victory in battle.

Continue inland toward the granite mountain of Mount Sinai (Exodus 19) and Wadi El Raha — the plain where tradition holds the Israelites camped and the golden calf was forged (Exodus 32). Arrive at the hotel near Mount Sinai and St. Catherine’s Monastery.

Overnight near Mt. Sinai — Full Buffet Breakfast and Dinner included.

At daybreak, those who desire and are physically capable will climb Mount Sinai Jabal Musa (6,900 ft, 750 steps to the summit), walking the footsteps of Moses to enjoy a time of praise and the incredible views of the Sinai wilderness — where God revealed himself in the Burning Bush and gave Moses the Ten Commandments (Exodus 3, 19-20). Descend to rejoin the group for breakfast.

Tour Saint Catherine’s Monastery — constructed at the foot of Mount Sinai between AD 527 and 565 by the Emperor Justinian, it is the world’s oldest continuously working Christian monastery. The Greek Orthodox church building within is the oldest continuously used church building in the world. The monastery was built on the site traditionally believed to be where God appeared to Moses in the Burning Bush.

Depart toward the eastern shores of the Sinai Peninsula and north along the Red Sea to the Taba Border Crossing — the Egypt-Israel border. Lunch provided in Taba at a local restaurant prior to crossing.

After crossing, meet our Israeli representative. Take a short city tour of Eilat — Israel’s southernmost town on the Red Sea.

Arrive at the Wadi Araba Border — the Israel-Jordan southern border — and cross into Jordan. Meet our Jordanian guide and welcome to Jordan. Visit the city and port of Aqaba along the King’s Highway to Wadi Musa and on to the ancient city of Petra (Numbers 20:18-21, Isaiah 34:5-8, Jeremiah 49:16-18).

Overnight Petra — Full Buffet Breakfast and Dinner included.

A full day exploring the Nabatean Treasure City of Petra — one of the world’s greatest archaeological sites and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A short drive from the hotel brings you to the entrance of the 2,000-year-old city of Petra, known as the rose-red rock city and ancient capital of the Nabateans from the 3rd century BC.

At the entrance, travelers are offered the option to ride a horse 800 meters to the dramatic “Siq” (canyon), from which a 1,250-meter walk leads to the first great monument — The Treasury. Throughout the day explore Petra’s extraordinary structures: the Bab Al Siq (gateway to the Siq), the Treasury, the Royal Tombs, the obelisks, the High Place of Sacrifice, the Theatre carved into the mountain, the 5th-century Church, the Colonnaded Street, the Lion Triclinium, the monastery monument (Ad Deir), the Great Temple complex, and much more.

In the late afternoon drive north to Amman — Jordan’s capital and largest city.

Overnight Amman — Full Buffet Breakfast and Dinner included.

After breakfast head to the biblical town of Madaba, best known for its Byzantine mosaics and the Greek Orthodox Church of St. George, where we view the earliest original map of the Holy Land.

Continue to the biblical Mount Nebo (Deuteronomy 34) — from which Moses viewed the Promised Land. Mt. Nebo commands a spectacular view across the Jordan Valley and the Dead Sea.

Drive by Bethany Beyond the Jordan, where John the Baptist baptized Jesus, and cross to Israel via the Allenby Bridge. As we enter Israel we remember Joshua leading the children of Israel on this exact path into the Promised Land (Joshua 3-4). Drive past Jericho and on to Tel Aviv — Israel’s largest and most modern city. Check in and enjoy your first evening in Israel.

Overnight Tel Aviv — Full Buffet Breakfast and Dinner included.

Visit Old Jaffa and St. Peter’s Church (Acts 10:9-16). Drive north to Caesarea Maritima (Acts 9:30, Acts 10:24-48), then Mount Carmel (1 Kings 18:16-24). Continue to Megiddo (Revelation 16:16), then through the Jezreel Valley to Nazareth (Luke 1:26, Matthew 2:23). View from Mount Precipice (Luke 4:29-30) and visit the Basilica of the Annunciation (Luke 1). If time permits drive to Cana of Galilee (John 2:1-11), then arrive at the Sea of Galilee and Tiberias.

Overnight Sea of Galilee — Full Buffet Breakfast and Dinner included.

Visit Magdala (Matthew 15:39). Board a wooden boat and sail the Sea of Galilee — where the Lord calmed the storm (Luke 8:22-25), walked on water (Mark 6:47-52), and appeared after the resurrection (John 21). Dock at Kibbutz Nof Ginosar and visit the Ancient Jesus Boat. Drive to the Golan Heights and visit Banias — ancient Caesarea Philippi (Matthew 16:13-18). Continue through the Hula Valley and visit Yardenit on the Jordan River (Matthew 3:13-17).

Overnight Sea of Galilee — Full Buffet Breakfast and Dinner included.

Visit the Mount of Beatitudes (Matthew 5–8), the Church of the Beatitudes, Tabgha, and the Church of the Multiplication with its 4th-century mosaic floor. Continue to Capernaum (Matthew 4:13, Luke 7), then Beit She’an (Mark 5:20, 2 Samuel 21:12-14), and arrive at the Dead Sea — the lowest point on earth. Float on the remarkably buoyant salt water or enjoy optional spa treatments.

Overnight Dead Sea — Full Buffet Breakfast and Dinner included.

Ascend by cable car to Masada — the 1,300-foot mountaintop fortress. Explore the synagogue, King Herod’s Bathhouse, and sweeping views. Continue to Ein Gedi (1 Samuel 23), then Qumran where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered in 1947. Continue to Jerusalem with a panoramic view from Mount Scopus.

Overnight Jerusalem — Full Buffet Breakfast and Dinner included.

From Mount of Olives — where the Lord ascended into heaven (Acts 1) — look across the Kidron Valley to the Eastern Gate (Ezekiel 43). Visit Dominus Flevit (Luke 19:41-44) and descend to the Garden of Gethsemane (Mark 14:32, John 18:1) where 2,000-year-old olive trees still stand.

Visit the Western Wall and the Western Wall Tunnels, revealing the Temple Mount. Visit St. Anne’s Church and the Pool of Bethesda (John 5). Walk the Stations of the Cross along the Via Dolorosa from Station 2 at the Church of the Flagellation and Church of the Condemnation, to Station 14 inside the Church of the Holy Sepulchre (Matthew 27, Matthew 27:57, Matthew 28:1-10). Afternoon bazaars, then Shabbat Dinner.

Overnight Jerusalem — Full Buffet Breakfast and Dinner included.

Begin at Mount Zion, visiting the Upper Room (Luke 22), King David’s Tomb, and the Jewish Quarter. Drive to Ein Karem (Luke 1:57-80) and visit the Church of the Visitation (Luke 1:39-56). Continue to Bethlehem (Matthew 2:1-5), the Church of the Nativity, and the Shepherd’s Field (Luke 2:8-20). Afternoon visit to The Garden Tomb (1 Corinthians 15, Luke 24:6-7) with time for prayer. Farewell Dinner.

Overnight Jerusalem — Full Buffet Breakfast and Dinner included.

After breakfast, check out by 12 noon and store your luggage with the hotel to enjoy a free morning in Jerusalem.

Revisit holy sites, explore the bazaars, or visit Yad Vashem, the Davidson Center, Ben Yehuda Street, Mahane Yehuda Market, the Israel Museum, or the Shrine of the Book.

Transfer from your hotel to Ben Gurion International Airport 4 hours prior to your departure flight.

Arrive home and begin planning your next memorable journey to the Holy Land.

Please note: The itinerary may be subject to changes or adjustments to prioritize the safety, security, and comfort of our travelers in response to unforeseen events.