Day 1 •  Overnight Flight 
Our life-changing journey begins this evening as we board our overnight flight to Cairo, Egypt.

Day 2 •  Cairo
We arrive in the land of the Pharaohs, Jacob, Joseph and Israel during the famine!  Upon arrival at the airport we meet our guide and are immediately transported into Cairo, the capital of Egypt. We transfer to our hotel to settle in and start soaking up the atmosphere of this exciting city.

Day 3 • Cairo Pyramids & Tutankhamen’s Treasures
Egypt highlights many wonders of the ancient world, some of which date back to 1000+ years prior to Abraham.  We spend time at one of the seven wonders of the world- the pyramids.  Cheops, with an original height of 496 feet, is the most colossal pyramid ever built. Today, we will also see the Sphinx and tour the Egyptian Museum, location of Tutankhamen's treasures and ancient remains. 

Day 4•  Memphis, Sakkara, Alabaster Mosque & Grand Bazaar
We enjoy a day of touring in and around Cairo with a short bus ride to Memphis.  Founded around 3,100 BC, Memphis is the legendary city of Menes, the King who united Upper and Lower Egypt.  From a Biblical perspective, Memphis is most likely where Abraham lied to Pharaoh about his wife Sarah being his sister and where Joseph served as second in command.  While in Memphis we will view a very large and well preserved statue of Ramses II.  Next is Sakkara which is one of the most extensive archaeological sites in Egypt!  Sakkara is dominated by the Step Pyramid of King Zoser, which goes back to 2700 BC. It is one of the oldest stone structures in the world!  This afternoon we enjoy a visit to the Alabaster Mosque of Muhammad Ali.  Completed in 1848, the Ottoman-style Muhammad Ali Mosque is the most noticeable in all of Cairo and has dominated the skyline for the past 150 years.  We conclude our day at the Khan El-Khalili Market for those who wish to purchase a few souvenirs.

Day 5 • Transfer to Luxor & Karnak Touring
This morning we transfer to the airport for our flight to Luxor.  Upon our arrival in Luxor we will enjoy a morning tour of the Temple of Karnak (temple of the New Kingdom period) and the East Bank of the Nile. It was during this period that the bondage and Exodus occurred. Karnak second to Giza’s Pyramids, is one of Egypt’s most important Pharaonic sites.  We will check into our Luxor hotel, enjoy lunch and then enjoy the rest of the day at leisure to enjoy an optional Felucca ride on the Nile River, or Sunset Hot Air Balloon ride over the Valley of the Kings. 

Day 6 • Valley of the Kings
Then we will visit the Valley of the Kings (where many ancient pharaohs were buried) and the famous Temple of Hatshepsut, the princess who perhaps pulled baby Moses out of the Nile River. This temple may have been designed by Moses. We re-embark for lunch, traveling to a PM at the famous Temple of Luxor, which was founded in the reign of Amenhotep III, grandson of the pharaoh of the Exodus.  This evening we will enjoy a light show at Karnak Temple.  Overnight on board.  Nile Cruise Boat

Day 7 • Free Morning in Luxor,  Esna to Edfu
After breakfast we enjoy a free morning to rest on our ship or enjoy an optional camel ride or you may want to visit a local residents home with time to enjoy coffee or tea and discussion.  Re-board our ship for lunch and continue sailing towards Edfu, having dinner as we cross through the Esna lock.  Overnight on board. 

Day 8 • Edfu, Kom Ombo, Aswan
This morning after breakfast we visit Edfu, the location of one of the best preserved Egyptian Temples. This site was initially developed 1000 years before Abraham came to Egypt!  Lunch and sailing to Kom Ombo, where we visit the remains of Kom Ombo Temple, situated on the riverside. Unlike most, this temple is dedicated to two gods - the crocodile god of Sebek and the solar god of war, Horus the Great.  Overnight on board.

Day 9 •  Optional Abu Simbel & Nubian Village & Aswan High Dam
We depart Aswan early this morning and travel to Abu Simbel, part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the "Nubian Monuments." Our Egyptologist guide will discuss the relevance of this spectacular site from Egyptian history. We will also try to put in perspective the long history of Egypt. Here we will visit the massive temple of Pharaoh Rameses II, perhaps the greatest builder of temples in ancient Egypt (13th Century BC) and a second one of Queen Nafertari, Rameses's most beloved wife. Around lunch time we return from Abu Simbel. For those not taking part in the optional Abu Simbel tour we will have a free morning to sleep in and relax on the sun deck or take part in an optional Nubian Village excursion. Our Nubian Village visit will begin with a Felucca (Sailboat) ride across the Nile to the Nubian village to discover the simple and natural life of the very kind and hospitable Nubian people. Here we will visit a local home and enjoy a drink with time to interact and better understand the life of a Nubian Villager. This afternoon come together as a group and enjoy an afternoon tour of the modern city of Aswan. Included will be a visit the High Dam, built from 1960 - 1971 and is a major factor in Egypt's agricultural success. We then also spend time at Philae Temple on the Isi-Island. This complex was moved from up river due to the impending destruction upon the completion of the High Dam.

Day 10 • Mt. Sinai
This morning we depart Aswan early on a charter flight and fly to St. Catherine.  Upon our arrival at Mt. Sinai (Mt. Horeb), we will either have free time or enjoy an optional afternoon hike to the top of Mt. Sinai. You may choose to ride a camel part way, stop at one of the stations to take in scenery along the climb to the summit (750 steps) for a sunset along the Sinai desert to remember.  Once at the top, enjoy a time of praise and then depart down the mountain for our dinner and overnight. For those that do not take part in the Mt. Sinai hike, a tour of Mt. Sinai Monastery will be provided.

Day 11 • Red Sea Crossing, Aqaba
We depart this morning early for a short ride to the Red Sea.  Gazing across the Gulf of Aqaba, we can begin to imagine the miracle of the parting of the sea.  We board a catamaran ferry for a scenic crossing to Aqaba, Jordan which is biblical Ezion Geber - the lovely seaport of King Solomon.  We arrive in Aqaba mid day and enjoy the remainder of the day free in this lovely coastal city.  You may choose to relax and simply enjoy the hotel facilities.  Of special interest is the Aqaba Marine Park and Coral Reef. 

Day 12 ∙ Free day in Aqaba or Optional Tours
After breakfast our day is free to enjoy at our leisure in Aqaba.  We will have a few optional excursions to choose from today.

Day 13 ∙ Petra 
This morning we turn north toward the amazing mountain fortress of Petra, known to be inhabited by the Edomites - the descendents of Esau. Begin the tour with a walk through the "Siq," an immense crack in the Nubian sandstone, to the city of Petra carved out of the rose red rock. The Treasury, El Khazneh, is one of the most elegant remains of antiquity. Beyond El Khazneh we are surrounded on both sides by hundreds of Petra's carved and built structures. Departing Petra, we travel northward on the King's Highway where to the east we view the hilltop palace/fortress of Machaerus, the place where John the Baptist was beheaded.  We enjoy a farewell dinner and overnight in Amman.

Day 14 ∙ Homeward
We transfer to the Amman airport very early this morning for our return flight to the US.