Day 17, Mon. May 26 – Red Sea, Eilat, Taba

From Eilat Israel we travel by bus late afternoon to the border at Taba, Egypt where we meet our Egyptian guide and then travel a short distance to our seaside resort hotel for a relaxing time on the beach and optional swim in the Biblical Red Sea. Many call Egypt part of the Holy Land as Abraham, Joseph, Jacob, Israelites, Moses, Aaron, Joshua, Jeroboam, Joahaz, Jeremiah, Joseph, Mary and Jesus all lived there.

Day 18, Tue. May 27 – Nuweiba Red Sea Crossing, Egyptian Mount Sinai, St. Catherine Monastery

By bus we drive south along the shores of the Red Sea and arrive at Nuweiba. The Israelites possibly crossed the Red Sea from this large sandbar beach and where Pharaoh’s army drowned over three millennia ago. We view the Wadi Watir canyon road where the Israelites might have traveled as they fled Egypt, where the pillar of fire protected them from the Egyptians held back in the canyon, the large sandbar where they camped and were boxed in by the Red Sea, and the granite column believed to have been placed by King Solomon to commemorate the Red Sea crossing from here. We continue driving a short distance to the traditional Mount Sinai or Mount Horeb, the Mountain of God, where Moses received the Ten Commandments, Jewish Laws, and Tabernacle Plans. Elijah fled from Jezebel and King Ahab to a cave there. At its base our tour begins with St. Catherine Monastery that has a live unburnt bush and stores some of the oldest manuscript copies of the Greek New Testament in existence today. For those who are able, the group will ascend to the 7,500-foot summit of the second highest mountain in Egypt either by camel or by walking. We get a panoramic view of the mountains that have changing shades of colors as the sun crosses the sky. After a terrific view of the Sinai desert and hidden patches of grass used by grazing flocks, we descend by walking back down the conquered mountain and retire to our nearby hotel.

Day 19, Wed. May 28 – Sinai Desert, Suez Canal, Bitter Lakes, Ismailia

We leave Mount Sinai for our long drive in an air conditioned motor coach across the Sinai Desert, Wilderness of Paran, Wilderness of Sin, and Wilderness of Shur, the path the Israelites possibly used when fleeing Egypt during the Exodus. Our visits along the way are at the traditional stops of the Israelites at Rephidim where Moses struck the rock to get water and where they battled the Amalekites, the Oasis of Elim along the Gulf of Suez, the site of many springs and palm trees, and Marah Springs, where bitter waters were turned sweet for Israelite consumption. We turn and cross under the manmade Suez Canal connecting the Gulf of Suez with the Mediterranean Sea. We then head north passing the Canal connected southern Small Bitter Lake and much larger northern Great Bitter Lake where ships are able to pass each other, park, or turn around. We arrive for an overnight stay in Ismailia which is located on Lake Timsah and the west bank of the Canal at the halfway point for ships passing by.

Day 20, Thu. May 29 – Goshen, On, Cairo, Cave & Hanging Churches

This morning we drive thru the fertile Land of Goshen where Joseph settled his family and Hebrew brethren. We stop to see where many believe is Biblical Succoth which was the first staging area of the Exodus for the Israelites after they left Avaris/Pi-Rameses. Next we stop to see remains of the ancient storage city of Biblical Pithom and the island city of Pi-Rameses built by Pharoah Ramesse II (1279-1213BC) to be his new capital and the third religious capital city of Egypt after Memphis and Thebes. Next we visit the nearby more ancient city of Avaris which was the capital of the invader Hyksos kings (1750-1521BC) until their defeat by native Egyptian Pharoah Ahmose I. These two ruling groups were the enslavers of the Hebrews until the Exodus (1446BC). We depart on the bus and continue driving thru the green Nile Delta toward Cairo. We arrive at the suburbs of the capital city of Cairo and go to the Old City to take a picture of the red granite obelisk of Biblical On, where Joseph’s father-in-law Potiphera was a priest. We then drive into Cairo by Saladin’s fortress, Mohammed Ali mosque, and residences of many government officials to visit The Cave Church nearby. From there we drive to visit The Hanging Church. Heading west, we cross the famous Nile River flowing thru the middle of the city, the centerpiece of Egypt’s long history. We see busy boat traffic, lush vegetation, palm trees and hearty crops created by millenniums of irrigation practices and methods. Our long distance travel ends at the hotel in Giza for a three nights stay. After dinner we see the Sound and Light Show at the Giza Pyramids.

Day 21, Fri. May 30 – El Faiyum, Memphis, Sakkara, Abusir, Dahshur

Our morning drive takes us to Lake Qarun believed to be built by Joseph to prepare for the seven years of famine, then we go to pyramids at Hawara and El Lahun, where we see his water canal and grain storage silos. We return north and drive along Nile fed canals and lush vegetation, farms and farm animals. Our next stop is at the ancient capital of Memphis that dates back to 3100 BC. We see a female Sphinx carved out of Alabaster Stone and the famous Colossus of Ramses. Our bus then takes us to neighboring Sakkara. Suddenly the vegetation stops and is contrasted by totally barren desert and the presence of the majestic pyramids and tombs. These were built as early as 2560 BC and have intrigued engineers ever since on how they did it. We view the Step Pyramid built in 2650 BC, which is the oldest of the 97 Pyramids found in Egypt. The afternoon is ended with visits or a view to the many Pyramids and tombs at Abusir, Dahshur, Abu Ghauob, El-Lisht, and Maidum.

Day 22, Sat. May 31 – Giza Pyramids/Sphinx,Egypt Museum,Nile River

Our final day of touring is spent around Cairo by driving to see the Giza Pyramid Complex and the Great Pyramid of Khufu, or Cheops, originally at 482 feet, was the tallest human structure on the Earth until the 1800’s AD. It is the only remaining structure of the Seven Wonders of the Ancient World. Renovations now allow entrance to this ancient tomb in the heart of the Pyramid through original tunnel shafts. Next to the large Giza Pyramids, we visit the famous male Sphinx statue with a lion’s body and human face. This mammoth statue was carved out of the original bedrock as early as 2550 BC. Though the Sphinx has been covered numerous times by the desert sand, it is completely exposed today for our enjoyment. We then drive to the world famous Egyptian Museum that has the largest collection of Egyptian artifacts in the world. Realistic statues of Pharaohs, queens, and officials are there with eyes that make them look alive. Ancient weapons of war and expensive items laden with gold, gems and ivory are on display, plus many well preserved mummies. Most of the items were recovered from Pyramids and tombs. Our next visit is to the Pharaonic Village for a boat tour seeing displays and actors of ancient Egyptian life. Afterward we end the day with a short relaxing felluca sailboat ride on the Nile River.

Day 23, Sun. Jun 1 – Cairo, return flight home

We leave the ancient sites in our memories as we return to modern times, departing from the Cairo airport for our return flight home.

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Price Per Person (based on double occupancy): (Rates based on minimum of 10 passengers)
Land Only	$1,395.00
Single Supplement	$295.00
Limited Space – Reserve Early!
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For additional information, contact John Hodges by e-mail at: hodges777@gmail.com or by telephone:    708- 331- 4440 or by cell:    708- 606- 4441

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Price Includes:   First class lodging, full time tour escort, breakfast & dinner daily, guides, gratuities, Jordan, Israel, and Egypt visa & border taxes, all entrance fees, and transportation as appear on itinerary with services of long distance deluxe motorcoach.

Not Included:   Air flight departing from Cairo, air taxes, lunches, and optional travel insurance.