Our wonderful biblical adventure begins with an evening flight from Australia (Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth) through to Dubai and onto Cairo, Egypt.

Overnight: On Flight

We arrive in Cairo, Egypt’s bustling capital that is one of the largest cities in Africa and the Middle East. Located on the Nile River, it is best known for the Giza pyramids that still stand as a symbol of Egypt’s ancient civilization.

The Nile River was critical to the development of Ancient Egypt – irrigation methods increased agriculture and these abundant crops could support a thriving population as well as be traded.
Today, 95% of Egyptians still live within a few km of the Nile. At the airport we will be met by our local hosts who will assist us with the speedy transfer through customs before we transfer to our hotel. After check-in we can freshen up and enjoy our first group dinner together.

Overnight: Cairo

Our first Sunday on tour begins with worship at an English-speaking church. We then have a full day of touring the wonders of the ancient Egyptian civilization, some of which date back to 1000+ years prior to Abraham. We visit Cheops, the most colossal pyramid ever built. It was the tallest man-made structure in the world for over 3,800 years. This Great Pyramid of Giza is the oldest of the Seven Wonders of the World, and the only one to remain largely intact.

In the afternoon we will stop by a papyrus factory. Cultivated around the Nile, papyrus was used to make the chief writing material in Ancient Egypt. This paper was adopted by the Greeks and used extensively in the Roman Empire. Today over 130 papyri survive as the earliest witness to the original text of the New Testament including a fragment from the Gospel of John dating to the first half of the 2nd Century.

We end our day with a panoramic view of Cairo. A truly memorable day!

Overnight: Cairo

After breakfast we fly to Luxor, a city with a history going back 250,000 years! Located on the fertile banks of the Nile, it was the site of ancient Thebes, the pharaohs’ capital during the 16th – 11th Centuries B.C. when they were at the height of their power. We visit the burial place of the pharaohs, the famous Valley of the Kings, the Temple of Hatshepsut and the Colossi of Memnon.

Then we embark on our 5-star ship for a leisurely lunch before a late afternoon visit to the Temple of Luxor. Stroll through the illuminated columns and past vast stone statues within the temple and city corniche before returning to our ship for dinner.

Our accommodation for the next 4 nights is on the beautifully appointed, 5-star MS Royal Lily.

Overnight: On Cruise

A beautiful night’s sleep and a hearty breakfast will have you ready for today’s sightseeing and cruising.

Today we will visit the Temples of Karnak, covering approximately 200 acres, it is the largest religious building ever made, and was a place of pilgrimage for nearly 2,000 years. The enormous ruins are still capable of overshadowing many wonders of the modern world and in its day it must have been awe-inspiring.

It is here in Karnak that the world’s first monotheism (worship of a single god) developed under the pharaoh Akhenaten. For the relatively short period of his rule, 1367 – 1350 B.C., the pantheon of Egyptian gods was replaced by a single deity, Aten, who was represented by the sun-disc.

We return to our ship, sailing upstream on the Nile through the Esna Lock to our destination, Edfu.

Overnight: On Cruise

Travel in style as we visit the Temple of Edfu by horse drawn carriage. The size of the temple reflects the prosperity of the time and today is regarded as one of the best preserved shrines in Egypt.

After returning to the Royal Lily, we continue our upstream sailing to Kom Umbo and visit one of the Nile Valley’s most beautifully sited temples; located on a promontory at a bend in the river. The Temple of Kom Ombo is unique in Egypt in that it is dedicated to two gods – Sobek and Haroeris. Visiting such a temple reminds us how radical monotheism, worship of a single god, must have seemed to many ancient societies. The belief in only one true God was, for many years, confined to Abram and his descendants. It wasn’t until Christ’s Ascension, and the growth of the Christian church in the greater Mediterranean region, that this “new” belief became the norm, fundamentally changing our society forever. Back on board for dinner we continue sailing towards Aswan.

Overnight: On Cruise

Enjoy some free time in Aswan this morning before we travel overland to the incredible Abu Simbel; originally carved out of the mountainside in th e13th Century B.C. the twin tempes of Pharaoh Ramesses II and his Queen Nefertari are stunning. Even so it is the UNESCO campaign that saved them from flooding by the Aswan Dam, and the actual engineering feat that moved them to their present site, that is truly awe-inspiring. Ramesses II (also known as Ramses II) is known to us as the oppressive pharaoh of the Exodus. We visit the island-based Temple of Philae, also moved under the UNESCO initiative, and the Aswan High Dam before returning for our last night on board the Royal Lily.

Overnight: On Cruise

A wonderful overland adventure as we travel by train along the River Nile; see the real Egypt as we travel past palm trees, feluccas, camels and fellahin working in the fields. The fertile soil along the Nile creates a small strip of green either side of the river before the desert resumes. Packed snacks and light meals will be provided for our journey. We arrive in Cairo in the early evening and will be transferred to our hotel.

Overnight: Cairo

A leisurely breakfast and then we will enjoy a short ride to the ancient capital of Memphis; founded before 3,100 B.C., Memphis is the legendary city of Menes, the King who united Upper and Lower Egypt. Here we will see a colossal statue of the renowned King Ramesses II – it is 3,200 years old and weighs 83 tonnes! 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.

We visit Saqqara, the necropolis of ancient Memphis; housing many tombs of kings and high officials it is one of Egypt’s most extensive archeological sites. Saqqara is dominated by the Step Pyramid of King Djoser (2,700 B.C.), the oldest complete stone structure in the world!

Overnight: Cairo

The Exodus is possibly the most pivotal event in the history of God’s chosen people. Today we leave Cairo behind and begin following in the footsteps of Moses. We pass Ain-Musa (The Wells of Moses) Marah, Elim and Rephidim on our way to St Katherine, a small village at the foot of Mount Sinai. Our 3-star accommodation in St Katherine is simple yet adequate, and the location is superb with views of the nearby monastery.

This will be a very special Sunday as we conduct our own service of worship in sight of Mount Sinai. One of the most significant of the Stations of the Exodus, Mount Sinai is of huge importance to Christians as it is where Moses received the Ten Commandments from God.

Overnight: Mount Sinai

An early morning wake-up call for those who wish to climb Mount Sinai for sunrise; it is a very special experience to stand on the mountain where God spoke to His prophet Moses – Then the LORD said to Moses, “Write down these words, for in accordance with these words I have made a covenant with you and with Israel.” Exodus 34:27.

After watching the sunrise we will descend the mountain and visit the Monastery of St Katherine; located on the site where God appeared to Moses in the Burning Bush this is the world’s oldest continuously inhabited Christian monastery and has a history that can be traced back over seventeen centuries.

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, it predates the divisions of the Christian world and offers an insight into late antiquity with the distinctive qualities of its Greek and Roman heritage preserved intact.

This afternoon we drive to Taba on the border of Israel.

Overnight: Taba

Bruch Ha-ba (Welcome) in the Holy Land! We cross into Israel and a short drive brings us to Eilat, a busy port and resort it is Israel’s southernmost town. We check-in at our hotel and then you have an afternoon at leisure to enjoy the hotel’s facilities or explore Eilat.

Overnight: Eilat

Located on the northern edge of the Sea of Aqaba, an extension of the Red Sea, Eilat is an ideal spot to relax – enjoy a leisurely breakfast, enjoy a swim in the hotel pool or shopping in the nearby village. In the early afternoon we will drive to nearby Paran in the Timna Valley where we will visit the Tabernacle in the Wilderness, a life size reproduction of the biblical tabernacle used by the people of the Exodus. “Let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them.” Exodus 25:8. In the Tent of Meeting we will learn more about the book of Exodus before we return to Eilat.

Overnight: Eilat

Today we are exploring a region that was part of the wilderness wanderings of Moses in the Exodus. The area is also historically important for trading routes used by the Nabataeans, a tribal people best known for their magnificent capital of Petra. Enjoy a scenic drive of stark beauty as we tour a dramatic landscape carved by the water draining from the foothills of Mount Sinai. Be amazed by the huge Ramon Crater, the world’s largest erosion crater; shaped like an elongated heart, the crater is an impressive 40km in length and 2 – 10km in width. We travel to Sde Boker, the kibbutz famous as the home of Ben Gurion, Israel’s first Prime Minister. We visit the tomb of this important world leader before returning to Eilat.

Overnight: Eilat

We travel across the border to the Kingdom of Jordan and journey to Wadi Rum; this unique moonscape terrain of ancient river beds, wind sculpted mountains and vast desert vistas is famous as the home of “Lawrence of Arabia.” Long skirted legionnaires will offer us cardamon-spiced coffee at the “Beau Geste” outpost before we enjoy a 2-hour jeep tour of the “Wadi” (valley). We finish with dinner and overnight accommodation at the Wadi Rum Bedouin camp – a truly memorable experience and a fitting end to a marvellous day.

Overnight: Wadi Rum

This morning we leave Wadi Rum, passing by Mount Edom and Ain Mousa (Moses Springs) on our way to the archeological marvel of Petra; carved from the rose-red stone of Sharah Mountains it is famously known as the “Rose City” of Jordan. Dating back to around 300 B.C. Petra was the capital of the Nabatean Kingdom but was lost for centuries to the western world. The Crusaders were the last westerners to visit before it was “rediscovered” in 1812 by Swiss Burckhardt. You are sure to be as overwhelmed as he was by its extraordinary beauty as you walk through the Siq, a narrow and winding fissure between the cliffs, to have the dramatic Treasury building revealed before you. Be amazed as you explore this UNESCO World Heritage site – the Roman theatre, the Courts, Qasr Bint Pharaoun, Temple of the Winged Lion and other monuments, which in 2007, were named one of the new Seven Wonders of the World!

Overnight: Petra

Today’s drive takes us along the ancient trade route of the Kings Way, passing through Moab country and as such features very significantly in the Exodus wanderings. We journey to the Bronze-Age archeological site of Tall el-Hammam, believed to be Sodom, the biblical “city of sin”; this ancient metropolis, along with its neighbouring city of Gomorrah, were described in the Old Testament as being destroyed by fire and brimstone.

We pass by the great Herodian fortress of Macherud – now called Wukawir – best known as the location of the imprisonment and execution of John the Baptist. The royal courtyard of the palace is considered one of the best existing archeological parallels to the Herodian Gabbatha in the Jerusalem Praetorium, where Pontius Pilate judged Jesus of Nazareth.

Our destination tonight is the fascinating Dead Sea, the salt lake whose banks are made more than 400m below sea level, the lowest point on dry land. Its famously hypersaline water makes floating easy, and its mineral-rich black mud is used for therapeutic and cosmetic treatments. After lunch you can enjoy time at leisure to float in the Dead Sea or take a refreshing dip in the waters of the hotel’s pools.

Overnight: Dead Sea Resort (Jordan)

After breakfast we travel to Al-Maghtas, the Baptism site believed to be the original place where John the Baptist baptised Jesus. From here we drive to Madaba, home to some of the finest Byzantine mosaics in the world. View the 6th Century mosaic Map of Jerusalem, possibly the oldest map of the Holy City in existence. We continue on to Mount Nebo; the highest point in the Moabite mountain range it offers a remarkable view of the Jordan Valley, the Dead Sea and the spires of Jerusalem. The Bible tells us that Moses viewed “the Promised Land” from this peak and dies on Mount Nebo. Our home for the next three nights will be Amman, Jordan’s Capital city.

Overnight: Amman

Situated on a hilly area between the desert and the fertile Jordan Valley, Amman is a fascinating city of contrasts, a modern metropolis co-existing amongst numerous ancient ruins. After breakfast we will tour the old city of Amman exploring the Citadel and the Roman Theatre, two of the most popular archeological sites in the city. Settlement of this site dates back to 3500 B.C. and the Bible telling us that King David sent his Israelite army to besiege the city, then known as Rabbath Ammon This afternoon you will have time to relax, explore and shop.

Overnight: Amman

After breakfast we drive to Jerash, the best preserved of the provincial Roman towns and often called the “Pompei of the East.” Wander around its colonnaded main street, see the Cardo, South Theatre, Temple od Zeus, Hadrian’s Arch, the Artemis Temple and the Nymphaeum. The city’s 14 churches date from Byzantine time and are filled with fine mosaics. From Jerash we continue westward to Saladin’s 12th Centurt Arab castle, Qalaat al Rabad (Ajloun), one of the finest examples of military architecture. On our return journey we will pause on the edge of the River Jabok, important in the early life of Jacob, before returning to Amman.

Overnight: Amman

This morning we cross over into Israel where we meet our coach and guide for the Israel section of the tour. We drive south through the Jordan Valley to our first stop, Qumran. It was here that the famous Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered; these 981 texts were found in eleven different caves and are believed to date from 300 B.C. to 100 A.D.

We make a short stop at the Springs of Ein Gedi, the place where David hid from King Saul, before we drive up to the rocky fortress of Masada. This majestic UNESCO heritage listed fortress was built by King Herod and was the site of the historical last stand of the zealots against mighty Rome.

Our day’s final destination is a resort on the Dead Sea where you can swim (or really float) in the resort’s own salt water pools.

Overnight: Dead Sea Resort (Israel)

Today is a full day of leisure at the resort.

Overnight: Dead Sea Resort (Israel)

From “Dan to Beersheba” is a biblical phrase used to refer to the settled areas of the Tribes of Israel between Dan in the North and Beersheba in the South. Today we visit the southern part of the Promised Land, Beersheba (Beersheva), an area known also for the Australian Light Horse Cavalry attack in World War I. Our itinerary takes us through Beersheva to Hebron, first mentioned in the Old Testament in connection with Abraham and an important city in the very early days of the history of the Bible. We travel through the Elah Valley where the battle of David and Goliath was fought, then to Netanya on the Mediterranean.

Overnight: Netanya

Today we travel to Caesarea, an important link for non Jewish people (Gentiles) to the Bible Story, and then we step back in time to when the prophet Elijah challenged the prophets of Baal on Mount Carmel. This area is also famous for events such as the battle of Gideon and Deborah, along with the prophesied Battle of Armageddon.

Our drive from Mount Carmel will take us past Nazareth, Jesus’ boyhood village, as we drive to our accommodation on the shore of the Sea of Galilee.

A sunset boat trip on the Sea of Galilee will be a most memorable experience to finish another wonderful day in the Holy Land.

Overnight: Sea of Galilee

We will visit many sites today important to Jesus’ ministry including Capernaum, the centre of Jesus’ activities in Galilee. Here, Jesus taught in the local synagogue and it was the home town of the apostles Peter, James, Andrew and John, and the tax collector Matthew. At the Sea of Galilee Boat museum we will view an ancient fishing boat from the 1st Century A.D. like those used by the fishermen in the Gospels. A short stop in Tabgha, site of the miracle of the Loaves and Fishes, will take us to St Peter’s Primacy where Jesus appeared to his disciples after his resurrection.

We then travel to Mount Beatitudes, where Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount, and explore Caesarea Phillipi where Jesus brought his disciples to ask, “Who do people say that I am?”

Overnight: Sea of Galilee

This morning we travel to the River Jordan and a traditional Baptism site. We will pass Mount Tabor, the traditional Mount of Transfiguration and follow the Jordan Valley to Jericho, believed to be one of the oldest inhabited cities in the world and is where Jesus healed the blind beggar. When we visit the Holy Land we make sure we go “up” to Jerusalem, and excitement mounts as we drive into this very special city with an overview of Mount Scopus.

Overnight: Jerusalem

From the Mount of Olives we will enjoy looking down upon Jerusalem before visiting the Church of the Pater Noster, the site on which Jesus taught his disciples the Lord’s Prayer. To commemorate the Ascension, Emperor Constantine built a church over a cave here in the 4th Century and today we can see it partially reconstructed. Together we will walk the Palm Sunday Path and visit the little teardrop shaped Church of Dominus Flevit, recalling the Gospel incident when Jesus wept over the future fate of Jerusalem.

We will visit the Garden of Gethsemane where our Lord prayed and his disciples slept the night before his crucifixion. The Basilica of Agony enshrines a section of the bedrock where Jesus prayed before his arrest. We enter the Old City through the Lion’s Gate and visit the Pools of Bethesda. We then walk the Stations of the Cross on the Via Dolorodsa.

We will be inspired by Christendom’s holiest of sites, the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, the site of Jesus’ crucifixion and resurrection. From here we go to Mount Zion and marvel at the Cenacle or “Upper Room”, the site of the Last Supper, before visiting the beautiful Dorminton Abbey.

Overnight: Jerusalem

This morning we visit the Western Wall and the Cardo in the ancient heart of Jerusalem. We will view the Knesset, Israel’s Parliament, before visiting the Israel Museum. See a model of Jerusalem in the Time of Jesus as well as the Dead Sea Scrolls in the Shrine of the Book. We travel to Bethlehem, the birth place of our Saviour, visit the Church of the Nativity and Shepherd’s Fields. A wonderful conclusion to this journey through the Land of the Bible as we make a guided visit to the Garden Tomb and we finish the day with the Tower of David Sound and Light Show in the evening.

Overnight: Jerusalem

We farewell Jerusalem and transfer to Dubai.

Overnight: Dubai

Today is a full day of leisure in Dubai to explore as you wish. You might like to choose one of many optional tours or do some shopping. Tonight will be a fitting end to your holiday as we enjoy a farewell dinner together.

Overnight: Dubai

After breakfast we will be transferred to the airport for our final flight home to Australia.

A morning arrival in Australia blessed with a new knowledge of the region in which significant Bible stories actually occurred, a greater cultural understanding of the Land of the Bible as well as a deeper appreciation of the Bible itself.