Wings Over Israel, Jordan & Egypt

Arrive in Tel Aviv, where you are met and privately transferred to your hotel in Jerusalem.

Choose to rise early for a guided walk on the Temple Mount then explore the Old City of Jerusalem, from the Jewish Quarter past the Burnt House, to the Western Wall, Judaism’s most sacred site, and discover the underground Western Wall tunnels. After lunch, visit major Christian sites and the Stations of the Way of the Cross, to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. View the Tomb of King David and the Upper Room at Mount Zion, then gather at a local restaurant for a welcome dinner.

Today is an adventure through the Judean desert wilderness. Travel to Masada, where you take the cable car up to the last stronghold of the Zealots. Many of their fortifications, originally built by King Herod, still stand today and are worthy of closer investigation. Stop for lunch at a hotel beside the Dead Sea. If you wish, take advantage of this visit for a dip in its buoyant, mineral-rich waters before returning to Jerusalem.

Transfer to the Tel Aviv airport to board your privately chartered flight to Jordan, landing in Aqaba, where you enjoy lunch before continuing to Petra. During tonight’s dinner, enjoy entertainment provided by a local folkloric band, followed by an exclusive private lecture on Petra by an archaeologist.

Today is all about exploration and discovery. In Petra, you have plenty of time to marvel at the once-thriving desert capital carved into red rock. Take time to wander and discover the Siq, the Treasury, the Temple of the Winged Lions and the Palace Tomb. This afternoon, continue to Wadi Rum, the so-called ‘Valley of the Moon’ and your private desert camp. Later, gaze in awe at the sunset as you sit down to a Bedouin meal at your camp, followed by a discussion on local Bedouin life. district. Later, you can learn about the turbulent history of the magnificent Osaka Castle.

After breakfast, head to the airport and fly from Aqaba to Abu Simbel via Aswan. A champagne brunch will be served on board the Aqaba–Aswan flight. At Abu Simbel you will discover the towering twin temples of Ramses II and his wife, Queen Nefertari, commissioned over 3,000 years ago. From here, fly on to Aswan, where you board exclusively chartered Sanctuary Zein Nile Chateau for a luxury cruise. This evening, ride by motorised boat to the island of Agilika and view the Philae Temple, saved from almost certain destruction by UNESCO and the Egyptian Government in the 1960s.

Disembark your vessel and go ashore at Kom Ombo to visit the Greco-Roman temple dedicated to both Haroeris (the sun god) and Sobek (the crocodile god). Here you are able to view the mummified remains of several crocodiles that once basked along the ancient Nile shore. Back aboard, continue cruising north to Edfu, visiting the recently discovered and less-frequented Selsela Tombs — rock-carved crypts of men, women and children who were members of elite, ancient families.

Begin in Edfu, to view the stunningly well-preserved Temple of Horus, built in 230 BC by Ptolemy III and pass under the 36 metre high pylon or gateway, guarded by two statues to Horus, son of Isis and Osiris. Wander through its halls and chambers to glimpse into the life of Egyptians of old. This afternoon, sail to Esna, a city sacred to ancient Egyptians and historically a vital stopping point on the camel-caravan trail. Visit the Temple of Khnum, known for its towering vertical columns and stone relief interiors.

Cruise to Luxor and visit the Valley of the Kings, burial ground of the pharaohs and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In 1922, the tomb of ‘the boy king’, Tutankhamun, was found by British archaeologist Howard Carter here. Discover it yourself, setting foot inside its 35-century-old walls. At the Valley of the Queens, visit Queen Nefertari’s tomb, famous for colourful, well preserved artwork adorning its walls. After lunch, visit the Temple of Karnak and the Great Hypostyle Hall, then the Temple of Luxor to marvel at the Colonnade and Court of Amenhotep III.

Today, bid farewell to Sanctuary Zein Nile Chateau, disembarking to fly to Cairo for the next leg of this cultural journey. Explore the newly opened Grand Egyptian Museum to view a vast trove of artifacts, some displayed for the first time. Then, check in at your hotel located along Cairo’s Corniche.

Tour the Giza Plateau and have a wonderful opportunity to explore the interior of a legendary pyramid. You can also visit the tombs of the pyramid builders and see the Solar Boat Museum housing a barge that was buried near a pharaoh’s tomb, for transportation in the afterlife. Then, explore the Great Sphinx, enjoying special private access to the paws of this enigmatic monument, close enough to touch them. This evening, gather for a farewell dinner with your fellow guests.

After breakfast, privately transfer to the airport for your departing flight.