Egypt and Jordan Photo Tour Itinerary - November 9th to 25th, 2022

Welcoming fully vaccinated guests on all our tours.

Day One: Wednesday November 9th, 2022  Our motor coach departs London around 1:00 p.m. Wednesday afternoon for Pearson International airport offer guest pick-ups along the 401 corridor. Guests departing from the Toronto region will meet the group at Pearson International. Our Lufthansa flight departs for Ciaro at 6:00 p.m. connecting via Frankfurt, Germany

Day Two: Thursday November 10th, 2022  Our flight arrives into Cairo at 6:40 p.m. Ahlan wa sahlan! - Welcome in Arabic. Welcome to Egypt, the birthplace of civilization. We will meet our guide who will assisted with our transfer to our hotel, the Steigenberger El Tharir. We will check in freshen up and have dinner. 3 Nights Steigenberger El Tahrir Hotel, Cairo.

Day Three: Friday November 11th, 2022  Breakfast meet our coach for a 9:00 a.m. and head out for our visit Memphis considered the most ancient capital of Egypt established by King Mina. Of its monuments are the Colossal statue of Ramses II exhibited in the museum; the Alabaster statue of the Sphinx for King Tuthmosis; and the Serapeum temple of mummification of Apis the sacred bull.

We will continue to Saqqara the ancient site of Memphis city; hence it abounds in monuments, antiques and tombs. It is the most ancient burial ground in ancient Egypt. Situated on a desert plateau crowned by Zoser step pyramid and its funerary complex including temples and tombs distinguished by glamorous wall engravings established by the architect Imhotep for King Zoser (III dynasty). It is the most ancient stone building in the world. The most important place to visit in Saqqara is the pyramid of unas, the Serapeum and mastabas which are known as the tombs of Nobles, the most famous of which is the tomb of Ptah Hotep, the tomb of Kagemni and the tomb of Mereruka. Lunch then return to our hotel for time to relax before dinner and this evenings activities. This evening Evening, depart for a viewing of the spectacular Sound and Light Show at the foot of the Great Pyramids. Please note the Sound and Light show may be the following evening depending on the weather. After to the show return to our hotel. 3 Nights Steigenberger El Tahrir Hotel, Cairo. (B) (L)

Day Four: Saturday November 12th, 2022  Breakfast then depart our hotel to visit to the most famous of the Egyptian sphinxes, the Great Sphinx of Gizah, followed by the Great Pyramid of Khufu (Cheops). Completed around 2600 BC, this pyramid was 146m (478ft) high and consisted of over 2 million limestone blocks weighing over 2 tons each. We also examine the Chephren and Mycerinus Pyramids. Then on to visit the Solar Boats of Cheops – they are made of cedar wood to be at the King’s disposal on his last journey to the sun god “Ra” in the other world. Night photography. (B) (L)

Day Five: Sunday November 13th, 2022  Cairo to Luxor After breakfast - check out of our hotel and transferred to the airport to board our flight to Luxor. On arrival in Luxor, we will meet our guide and transfer from the airport to the Mirage Nile Rive Cruise ship our home for the next four nights. We will sail from Luxor to Aswan visiting various off-shore sites.

This afternoon visit Karnak and Luxor Temples.

The Karnak Temple Complex—usually called Karnak—comprises a vast conglomeration of ruined temples, chapels, pylons, and other buildings, notably the Great Temple of Amen and a massive structure begun by Pharaoh Ramses II (ca. 1391–1351 BC). An ancient sacred lake is part of the site as well. It is located near Luxor, some 500 km south of Cairo, in Egypt. The area around Karnak was the ancient Egyptian Ipet-isut ("The Most Selected of Places") and the main place of worship of the eighteenth dynasty Theban Triad with the god Amun as its head. It is part of the monumental city of Thebes.

The Karnak complex takes its name from the nearby and partly surrounded, modern village of el-Karnak, and some 2.5 km north of Luxor. Luxor Temple is a great temple complex in modern Luxor dedicated to Amun, a creator god often fused with the sun-god Ra into Amun-Ra. Luxor Temple is a large Ancient Egyptian temple complex located on the east bank of the River Nile in the city today known as Luxor (ancient Thebes) and was founded in 1400 B.C.E. , Known in the Egyptian language as ipet resyt, or "the southern sanctuary", the temple was dedicated to the Theban Triad of Amun, Mut, and Chons and was built during the New Kingdom, the focus of the annual Opet Festival, in which a cult statue of Amun was paraded down the Nile from nearby Karnak Temple (ipet-isut) to stay there for a while, with his consort Mut, in a celebration of fertility – whence its name.

Late this afternoon we will return to our boat. Dinner enjoy the onboard activities and overnight. Overnight in Luxor on board the M/S Tuya Nile Cruise (B )(L) (D) 

Day Six: Monday November 14th, 2022  Breakfast then depart this morning to visit Luxor’s West bank. We will visit and photograph the burial places of the Pharaohs - the Valley of the Kings - where Howard Carter discovered the tomb of Tutankhamen in 1922. Then visit Thebes Necropolis, El Deir El Bahari of Hatshepsut and Colossi of Memnon facing the Nile. Late afternoon return to our ship for time to relax and dinner. Tonight sailing to Edfu via Esna  Overnight in Luxor on board the M/S Tuya Nile Cruise (B) (L) (D)

Day Seven: Tuesday November 15th, 2022  Breakfast on board. Then depart for our visit to the Temple of Horus - dedicated to the falcon headed god; it was built during the reigns of six Ptolemies. We have a great deal of information about its construction from reliefs on outer areas. It was begun in 237 BC by Ptolemy III Euergetes I and was finished in 57 BC. Most of the work continued throughout this period with a brief interlude of 20 years while there was unrest during the period of Ptolemy IV and Ptolemy V Epiphanes. This is not only the best preserved ancient temple in Egypt, but the second largest after Karnak. It was believed that the temple was built on the site of the great battle between Horus and Seth. Hence, the current temple was but the last in a long series of temples build on this location. It is said that the original structure housing a statue of Horus was a grass hut built in prehistoric times.

We will then retun back to our ship & sail to Kom Ombo. After lunch we will visit the Temple shared by the two Gods, Sobek & Haroeris. Located in the town of Kom-Ombo, about 28 miles north of Aswan, the Temple, dating to the Ptolemies, is built on a high dune overlooking the Nile. The actual temple was started by Ptolemy VI Philometor in the early second century BC. Ptolemy XIII built the outer and inner hypostyle halls. The outer enclosure wall and part of the court were built by Augustus sometime after 30 BC, and are mostly gone. There are also tombs from the Old Kingdom in the vicinity of Kom-Ombo village.

The Temple known as Kom Ombo is actually two temples consisting of a Temple to Sobek and a Temple of Haroeris. In ancient times, sacred crocodiles basked in the sun on the river bank near here. The Temple has scant remains, due first to the changing Nile, then the Copts who once used it as a church, and finally by builders who used the stones for new buildings. This afternoon back on board & sail to Aswan. Tonight Egyptian Galabeya Party.  Overnight in Luxor on board the M/S Tuya Nile Cruise. (B) (L) (D)

Day Eight: Wednesday November 16th, 2022  Breakfast then visit the High Dam, located near Aswan, this world famous Dam was an engineering miracle when it was built in the 1960s. It contains 18 times the material used in the Great Pyramid of Cheops. The Dam is 11,811 feet long, 3215 feet thick at the base and 364 feet tall. Today it provides irrigation and electricity for the whole of Egypt and, together with the old Aswan Dam built by the British between 1898 and 1902`, 6km down river, wonderful views for visitors. From the top of the two Mile long High Dam you can gaze across Lake Nassar, the huge reservoir created when it was built, to Kalabsha temple in the south and the huge power station to the north. The High Dam created a 30% increase in the cultivatable land in Egypt, and raised the water table for the Shara as far away as Algeria.  The electricity producing capability of the Dam doubled Egypt's available supply.

We will also visit the Unfinished Obelisk. Much of the red granite used for ancient temples and colossi came from quarries in the Aswan area. Around these quarries are many inscriptions, many of which describe successful quarrying projects. The Unfinished Obelisk located in the Northern Quarry still lies where a crack was discovered as it was being hewn from the rock. Possibly intended as a companion to the Lateran Obelisk, originally at Karnak but now in Rome, it would have weighed over 2.3 million pounds and would have been the worlds largest piece of stone ever handled. However, a crack in the stone occurred, which caused it to be abandoned. Tools left by it's builders have given us much insight into how such work was performed. The site has recently been renovated and equipped with tourist facilities. Nearby is the Fatimid Cemetery.

We will also visit the Philae Temple. Philae in Greek or Pilak in ancient Egyptian, meaning 'the end,' defined the southernmost limit of Egypt. It was begun by Ptolemy II and completed by the Roman Emperors. The Temple was dedicated to the goddess Isis, the wife of Osiris and mother of Horus.

Back onboard and sail on the Nile by Felucca around Kitchener’s island, and visit Botanical island. Then return to our ship dinner on board and tonights entertainment (Nubian Show) Overnight in Luxor on board the M/S Tuya Nile Cruise. (B) (L) (D)

Day Nine: Thursday November 17th, 2022  Breakfast on board our ship. Settle up our cruise incidentals and disembark and transfer to our hotel. We will have some time to relax this afternoon and then this evening experience the Sound & Light Show at the Philae Temple. Overnight: Moevenpick Aswan (B)

Day Ten: Friday November 18th, 2022  Breakfast at the hotel. Check out of our hotel and transferre to Aswan airport for our flight to Abu Simbel. On arrival in Abu Simbel board our bus and travel to the temple site. On arrival visit the Temple of Ramses II and the temple of his beloved Queen Nefertari, both temples carved out of a hillside beside the Nile in the 13th century BC. These two temples attracted world-wide attention when they were threatened by inundation by the waters of the High Dam. In response to an appeal by the Arab Republic of Egypt, UNESCO, in 1959, initiated an international donations campaign to save the monuments of Nubia, the relics of the oldest human civilization. The salvage of the Abu Simbel temples began in 1963, and cost some 36 million dollars. Once again the Abu Simbel temples were relocated on the plateau to greet the sunrise every morning.

At the end of the tour continue to the airport and board the flight to Cairo via Aswan.

On arrival in Cairo, we transfer to our hotel for check-in. Some free time this afternoon to do some shopping, and a photo walk through the city’s fascinating streets. Overnight: Steigenberger El Tahrir Hotel  (B)

Day Eleven: Saturday November 19th, 2022  Breakfast at the hotel. Then at 7:00AM we will be picked up by your guide and drive via our air-conditioned vehicle to Alexandria. Known widely as the "Pearl of the Mediterranean", Alexandria is Egypt's second largest city and center of industry. Greek warrior Alexander the Great ruled Egypt from his base in the coastal and cosmopolitan city in the fourth century BC, making Alexandria the capital of Graeco-Roman Egypt. On arrival we will visit the Alexandria National Museum: The museum comprises more than 1800 archaeological pieces that narrate the Pharaonic, Greek, Roman, Coptic, Islamic, and modern history of Egypt.

Then on to photograph the panoramic view of fort Qaitbay: This fort was built in the 1480s by Sultan Qaitbey, at the site of Alexandria's ancient lighthouse. Remnants of the lighthouse can be seen in the construction of the old fort. One of the seven wonders of the ancient world, the lighthouse was an astonishing 125 meters high, containing some 300 rooms for workers.

Alexandria Library: Shaped like a massive, partly hidden, tilted disc rising up from the Mediterranean, the Bibliotheca Alexandrina evokes the image of a rising sun, a source of light and enlightenment. Bibliotheca was inaugurated in 2002 as a resurrection of the ancient Great Library of Alexandria, which had formed the cornerstone of ancient intellectual life.

Then we will vist El Montazah Gardens: This 114-acre complex belonged to the family of Mohamed Ali, which ruled Egypt from the mid-19th century until 1952. It is surrounded by great walls from the south, east, and west, a beach to the north. The complex is adorned with beautiful gardens and palm trees, making it an ideal stop in Alexandria. This area used to belong to the Mohamed Ali family that ruled Egypt from the mid-19th century until 1952. The construction was started in 1892 by King Abbas II, who built a large palace inside the complex called the Salamlek. In 1932, King Fuad built a larger palace and called it the Haramlik. His son, King Farouk, built a bridge to the sea to act as a waterfront. The rest of the 115 acres is nothing but beautiful gardens. Palm trees and gazelles cover the area. This is a wonderful spot to enjoy the beauty of Alexandria. Lunch today is included at a local restaurant. This evening we will return to Cairo to our hotel this will be a late evenig arrival. Overnight: Steigenberger El Tahrir Hotel.  (B) (L)

Day Twelve: Sunday November 20th, 2022 This morning after breakfast meet in the lobby at 8:00AM we shall start our day with a fascinating tour of 7,000 years of Egyptian history with a visit to the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities. The Museum is located at Al-Tahrir Square in the heart of Cairo. It houses about 250,000 antique pieces covering the whole history of ancient Egypt, which extends over the past five thousand years. The exhibits of this museum are famous for their historical and artistic value (entrance fee to mummies room is not included).

Then we will drive to Old Cairo, viewing along the way the city of the Dead, visit the Ben Ezra Synagogue and the Hanging Church (al-Mu'allaqua): Originating in the 4th century, the hanging Church was built over the southern gate of the fortress of Babylon. Dedicated to the Virgin Mary, its treasures include a 14th-century wall-painting of the Nativity.

After lunch we are off to the fascinating part of Islamic Cairo, including the beautiful and graceful Mohamed Ali Mosque and the ancient Citadel, a spectacular medieval fortress perched on a hill above the city.

Our last stop is at the awesome Khan El-Khalili Bazaar, one of the earliest and greatest markets in the Middle East. Built in the 14th Century A.D. and contains many stores that exhibit wonderful collections of Jewelry, wooden products engrafted with mother of pearl, leather ware, embroidered dresses and attractive hand-made products that make a great selection of souvenirs. Then return to our hotel. Overnight: Steigenberger El Tahrir Hotel.  (B) (L)

Day Thirteen: Monday November 21st, 2022  Breakfast then check out of our hotel and transfer to the airport for flight check in and fly to Amman, Jordan.

On arrival at Amman Queen Alia International Airport, we will clear customs get our Jordan tourist visa  meet by another guide and transfer to our hotel in Amman for check in. Tonight we will enjoy dinner at our hotel. Overnight: The House Boutique Suites Amman (Studio Superior Suite. (B) (D)

Day Fourteen: Tuesday November 22nd, 2022  Breakfast & check out from our hotel. We will enjoy a city tour of Amman (Citadel, Museum, Amphitheatre, Folklore Museum and Jordan Museum) and then proceed to visit the desert castles (Kharraneh, Amra & Azraq). Continue via desert highway to Wadi Rum to enjoy 2 hours Bedouin jeep tour and proceed to Petra hotel for dinner & overnight.

Amman city tour; The Citadel, Archeological Museum, Roman Amphitheatre, and Folklore Museum,  Due to the city’s modern-day prosperity and temperate climate, almost half of Jordan’s population is concentrated in the Amman area. The residential suburbs consist of mainly tree-lined street and avenues flanked by elegant, almost uniformly white houses, in accordance with a municipal law, which states that all buildings must be faced with local stone. The downtown area is much older and more traditional with smaller businesses producing and selling everything from fabulous jewelry to everyday household items. The people of Amman are multi-cultural, multi-denominational, well-educated and extremely hospitable. They welcome visitors and take pride in showing them around their fascinating and vibrant city.

Jordan's Desert Castles, beautiful examples of both early Islamic art and architecture, stand testament to a fascinating era in the country's rich history. Their fine mosaics, frescoes, stone and stucco carvings and illustrations, inspired by the best in Persian and Graeco - Roman traditions, tell countless stories of the life as it was during the eighth century. Called castles because of their imposing stature, the desert complexes actually served various purposes as caravan stations, agriculture and trade centers, resort pavilions and outposts that helped distant rulers forge ties with local Bedouins. Several of these preserved compounds, all of which are clustered to the east and south of, can be visited on one - or two - day loops from the city. Qusair Amra, one of the best preserved monuments, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its interior walls and ceilings are covered with lively frescoes, and two of the rooms are paved with colorful mosaics. Qasr al – Kharrana has been restored and are all in excellent condition… The black basalt fort at, in continuous use since Late Roman times, was the headquarters of Lawrence of Arabia during the Arab Revolt. Qusair Amra is a UNESCO world heritage site.

Wadi Rum: This is a stupendous, timeless place, virtually untouched by humanity and its destructive forces. Here, it is the weather and winds that have carved the imposing, towering skyscrapers, so elegantly described by T.E. Lawrence as “vast, echoing and god-like”.. A maze of monolithic rock-scapes rises up from the desert floor to heights of 1,750 meters creating a natural challenge for serious mountaineers. Hikers can enjoy the tranquility of the boundless empty spaces; explore the canyons and water holes to discover 4000 year old rock drawings and the many other spectacular treasures this vast wilderness holds in store. Overnight  The Old Village Hotel & Resort (B) (D)

Day Fifteen: Wednesday November 23rd, 2022  Breakfast then our full day visit of Petra city.

Visit of Petra; Perhaps the words of Dean Burgon’s famous poem: ‘Match me such a marvel save in Eastern clime / A rose-red city half as old as time…’ reflect some truth about Petra. Yet words can hardly do justice to the true magnificence that is Petra. Some archeologists have ranked ancient Petra as the eighth wonder of the ancient world – a truly justifiable claim. Petra is unique in every respect, having something to offer to the historian, anthropologist, archeologist, geologist, architect and the naturalist, all of whom regularly come to Petra to conduct their studies and be in touch with the ancient past. You do not have to be a specialist in any field though to appreciate Petra because, once inside of it, you will be quickly awe-struck and you will want to know the how, why and where about it. This remote dead city is one of the great archeological treasures in the world, undoubtedly; it is the most important famous attraction of Jordan. Much 0of Petra’s appeal comes from its awesome, multicolored sandstone high mountains; it is a secluded site of steep rocky slops , towering craggy mountain tops and high cliffs, into which most of the celebrated tombs, facades, theaters and stairways are carved… Nature and architecture concur into conferring a mythical aura to the site. Overnight at The Old Village Hotel & Resort (B) (D)

Day Sixteen: Thursday November 24th, 2022  After breakfast we will check out from Petra hotel and travel to Mount Nebo & Madaba (Saint George Church) for a visit and then continue to Amman hotel for dinner & overnight.

Mount Nebo, one of the most revered holy sites of Jordan and the place where Moses was buried. A small Byzantine church was built there by early Christians, which has been expanded into a vast complex. During his visit to Jordan in 2001, the Late Pope John Paul II held a sermon here that was attended by some 20,000 faithful. Overnight  The House Boutique Suites Amman (Studio Superior Suite) (B) (D)

Day Seventeen Friday November 25th, 2022 Breakfast to go and check out from Amman Hotel. We will transfer to Amman airport for our flight home. We will be flying Lufthansa via Frankfurt Germany arriving in Toronto at 6:05 p.m. After clearing customs say goodbye to our transfering & GTA guests and board our coach returnig to London arriving approx 8:00 p.m. (B)

 Egypt and Jordan offers up some of the most spectacular photo opportunities and landscapes. The temperatures in Egypt and Jordan in November have an average daily temperature of 15 C to 26 C with slightly cooler temperatures on the coast. Jordan is very similar in temperature. November is a great time to year to travel to Egypt and Jordan.

----------------------------

Updated December 06, 2021 - Potential Istanbul Pre or Post Tour Option - Price TBA

DAY 1  ISTANBUL ARRIVAL Upon arrival at Istanbul Ataturk International Airport you will be met by our representative and transferred to the hotel for check in. Overnight at Ciragan Palace Kempinski.

DAY 2 ISTANBUL FD TOUR After breakfast, we start our day with a visit to the impressive Topkapi Palace (Harem not included), which served as the palace of the Ottoman Sultans between the 16th and 19th centuries. It has a superb position overlooking the Bosphorus. Visit the fascinating and impressive Blue Mosque (Sultan Ahmet Camii), famous for its six minarets, its beautiful blue Iznik tiles, unique architecture and marble latticework. Visit the magnificent Haghia Sophia (St Sophia’s Basilica) built by Constantine the Great and reconstructed by Justinian in the 6th century. It is one of the world’s greatest architectural marvels. Then visit the Byzantine Hippodrome, the centre of Byzantine life for 1000 years, where chariot races and competitive athletic events took place. Finish the day with a visit to the Grand Bazaar, the world’s biggest and oldest shopping venue. Optitional visit to St. Johns Basilica Cistern. Overnight at Ciragan Palace Kempinski. (B)

DAY 3 ISTANBUL HD TOUR This morning you will be met by your guide for the Half-day Bosphorus cruise: We begin with a brief visit to the 17th century Spice Bazaar one of Istanbul’s most colorful and bustling attractions. Next, we take an unforgettable cruise along the Bosphorus, the majestic strait that runs through Istanbul, linking Europe and Asia.

From our cruise boat, we view the dramatic sights lining the Bosphorus’ wooded shores: mosques, a bridge that for a time was the world’s longest and the massive Rumeli Hisarı (no entrance), and a fortress built by Fatih the Conqueror in just three months as he prepared to take Istanbul. Also noteworthy are the 19th century mansions of the Ottoman elite and the Sultan’s fanciful gingerbread palaces and hunting lodges. Afternoon return to your hotel and the rest of the day is at leisure. Overnight at Ciragan Palace Kempinski. (B)

DAY 4 ISTANBUL – Depart Istanbul Today you will drive to the airport for your onward flight.

Updated January 23, 2022 - Potential Israel Pre Tour Option - Price $2,850 CAD (based on 10 guests)

Day 03 Monday Nov 7th, 2022: After breakfast proceed to Nazareth Village, the replica of the original village in the times of Jesus. Continue, passing by Mt. Precipice, believed to be the site of the rejection of Jesus described in the gospel of Luke, Proceed to Cana of Galilee where you will visit the Wedding  Church where Jesus performed his first miracle of changing the water into wine on the wedding fest. Continue to the Sea of Galilee area. Visit Capernaum, town of Jesus with the ruins of the ancient synagogue there. Proceed to Tabgha, the site of Multiplication and arrive at Mt. of Beatitudes where, Jesus gave his sermon. Take a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee and visit the site of wooden boat from the times of Jesus at Yigal Alon Museum.

Day 06 Thursday November 10th, 2022:  Early breakfast at hotel. Transfer to Ben Gurion airport  for your flight to  Cairo

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Egypt and Jordan Registration  Contact Us  Terms & Conditions  Privacy Policy

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

The cost of our Egypt & Jordan Photo Tour is $6,889.00 per person CAD double occupancy including air via Lufthansa Airlines, plus air taxes of $825.13 CAD & $12.08 HST. Single supplement available for an additional $1475.00 CAD.

A non refundable deposit of $650.00 CAD is required at time of booking. Balance due 60 days prior to departure.

You may also choose to pay over 12 monthy payments through our Uplift finance program estimate -  $688 per month. You select 12 month payment option under the payment section during registration.

We recommend the purchase of travel and health insurance as this tour takes us out of the country.

Your tour includes:

• • Round trip motor coach via Cherrey Coach Lines to Pearson Airport, Toronto
  • Departures from London & Woodstock, other pick up points please inquire
  • Round Trip Airfare via Lufthansa Airlines
  • Internation Airfare between Cairo and Amman
  • All Airprt Transfers.
  • 06 Nights in Cairo meals per itinerary
  • 04 Nights  Nile Cruise all meals onboard (B) (L) (D)
  • 01 Night at Moevenpick Aswan Hotel meals as per itinerary
  • Full Day Pyramids, Sphinx, Memphis, Sakkara, Solar Boat Including Lunch
  • Full Day Egyptian Museum, Citadel, Mosque, Bazaar Including Lunch.
  • Over Day Alexandria Including Lunch
  • Abu Simbel excursion
  • Domestic Airfare Cairo/ Luxor – Aswan / Abu Simbel / Aswan / Cairo
  • Jordan Includes
  • 20 pax  A/C medium bus
  • A National English speaking Guide on touring days.
  • Accommodation as per itinerary
  • 2 hours Bedouin Jeep tour at Wadi Rum.
  • Entrance fees to the mentioned sites as per the program.
  • Bottled water on board of the vehicle.
  • Tour hosted and escorted by photographer James Cowie

   

• Excludes:

• Tips to guide, driver
• Any expense of personal nature
•  Alcoholic beverages, laundry and tips.
•  Tourist Visa Fees (we will assist with applications and processing)

**Times may vary according to traffic and weather

          --------------------------------------------------------------------------