WALK WITH MOSES
14 days / 13 nights including Cairo, Nile Delta, Sinai and Jordan
This is an incredible experience. You will be retracing the path of the Exodus, one of the Bible's most famous episodes while enjoying the stark landscape of the desert mountains, discovering fossils from millions of years ago in unique geological areas and being introduced to the lifestyle of a nomadic culture that today is same as it was a 1,000 years ago.
Weekly departures available from October through mid-April with a minimum of 2 travelers.
Difficulty: Moderate with some climbing and extensive walking, some over rough terrain.
Tour Outline:
Day 01: (Sunday) Arrive Cairo, clear immigration and customs then staff will transfer you to the Pyramids Park resort or Movenpick Pyramids hotel. Overnight Cairo.
VISAS: All travelers to Egypt must have a visa. Citizens of most countries can obtain one on arrival. Please let us know what passport you are traveling with and we will confirm whether you can get your’s on arrival.
Day 02: (Monday) A full day tour of the Pyramids at Giza, the Sphinx and the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities featuring King Tut’s treasures. Overnight Cairo (B)
Day 03: (Tuesday) A visit to Old Cairo where you will see the famous churches and synagogues plus a visit to the Citadel of Salah el Din and Alabaster Mosque plus the Khan el Khalili Bazaar where travelers have been finding bargains since the middle ages. Overnight Cairo (B)
Day 04: (Wednesday) After breakfast, check out and depart Cairo in the morning traveling northeast toward the Suez Canal for Tanis. Though no longer, Tanis was an important City in the pharaonic period. Many believe that this was the Biblical city from which the Exodus began, but many will also remember it as the location where Indiana Jones discovered the 'Lost Ark' in the movie. Cross the Suez canal and proceed to visit Moses Springs, the first stop in the Sinai for the Israelites. From here on to Wadi Feiran, steeped in biblical mystery. It was here, according to locals, scholars, and legend, that Moses struck a rock with his staff, bringing forth a spring so his people could drink. Feiran is also the site of Rafadim, the fabled oasis where the Hebrews camped and battled the Amelecites. A journey through Feiran is to pass through an entire chapter of the Old Testament itself, Exodus 17. Continue to the foot of Mt. Sinai to overnight at St. Catherine's Plaza. (B,L,D)
Day 05: (Thursday) Depart the hotel about 3AM to climb to the crest of Mt. Sinai and watch the sunrise then return to the base to visit St. Catherine's Monastery and the Chapel of the Burning Bush. We proceed to Wadi Hudra (a bus ride of about one hour) where our 'ships of the desert' (camels) await us. The camels are led and accompanied by Bedouin camel herders who will be with us during the entire hike. The camels will carry the water and heavy equipment, such as sleeping bags, cooking utensils and backpacks. In addition to helping us with our luggage, this interaction will provide you with a glance into the exotic culture of the nomadic trips of the deserts of the Middle East. Their way of life and traditions still closely reflect the descriptions of the life of the Children of Israel, according to the Books of Exodus and Numbers. We will walk today to the Oasis of Ein Khudra, a hike of about 3 hours, following burial sites left by the Israelites during their 40 years in the desert. We enter Wadi Gazala, the Valley of the Gazalles, and hike for two hours on a sandy desert ground. Overnight Camp (B,L,D)
Day 06: (Friday) We continue our walk following the footsteps of the Children of Israel, who walked from East to West (the Gulf of Suez to the Gulf of Aqaba) stopping for lunch by Jabal Baraka (the Mount of Blessings). This is thought to be one of the sites where Moses blessed his people. From here, there is an outstanding view of the whole of the Southern Sinai, and with the aid of a map, we can examine several alternate routes they took. We continue on to the Oasis of Ein Um Achmad. This is possibly the site where God sent manna for the Israelites and is considered by scientists to be one of the places where they remained for an extended period. The hike today is about six hours duration. Overnight Camp (B,L,D)
Day 07: (Saturday) We continue today along Wadi El Abyad, the White Valley, passing by the tents of the nomadic people of the Tarabean tribe (The home tribe of the Bedouin who will be escorting us). Today we overnight in the Oasis of Bir Zayed (Zayed's well). Possible site of Moses striking the rock to obtain water for his flock. Overnight Camp (B,L,D)
Day 08: (Sunday) Our hike today brings us to top of Jabal Baraka North and another possible site for the receiving of the Ten Commandments. Once at the summit of the mountain, we will have a panoramic view including the Gulf of Aqaba on one side and the traditional Mt. Sinai on the other. This is a good place to discuss the location of the real Mt. Sinai, according to the Bible and archaeological data. We descend from the mountain top and arrive by evening to the Oasis of Bir Biryea (the Small Well). This may be the site of the Waters of Marah (the Bitter Waters, Exodus 15:22), where God and Moses punished the Children of Israel by providing bitter water. Overnight Camp (B,L,D)
Day 09: (Monday) Today we walk through the sandstone plateaus of East Sinai, through narrow, colorful canyons which provide for an exciting and shady walk. Here and there we will have to use hands as well as feet to climb in and out of the canyons. Overnight Camp (B,L,D)
Day 10: (Tuesday) Departing the Devil's Head we travel the coast road to Nuweiba where we overnight at the Hilton Coral Reef Resort. Overnight Nuweiba (B,L, D)
Day 11: (Wednesday) After breakfast, check out and staff transfers you to board a ferry for Jordan. Arrive Aqaba, clear immigration and customs. Staff transfers you to the Movenpick resort. Overnight Aqaba (B)
Day 12: (Thursday) Drive to Petra, marvel at the Rose city, to which Moses was refused entry. Overnight Movenpick Petra (B)
Day 13: (Friday) Drive along the 5000 year old Kings Highway passing beside the Dead Sea and Lot's Sanctuary (where archaeological discoveries cause many to feel this was where Lot and his daughters sought refuge after God destroyed Sodom) to Madaba (the city of Mosaics) and Mt. Nebo where Moses looked on the promised land. Then on to the Marriott Jordan Valley Resort, right on the Dead Sea. Overnight Jordan Valley. (B)
Day 14: (Saturday) After breakfast, check out and visit Jerash, one of the most famous and well preserved cities of the Roman Decapolis. In the evening staff transfers you to the airport, assists with exit formalities and checking in for a short flight to Cairo. Arriving staff will transfer you to the Fairmont Heliopolis hotel. Overnight Cairo (B)
Day 15: (Sunday): Staff will transfer you to the airport, assist with exit formalities and checking in for your international departure. (meals on the flight)
Tour Includes: Minimum of 2 and maximum of 16 travelers.
NOTE: During any of our small group tours people may join or leave at various times, however at no time would any group be larger than 16 travelers. We can provide private tours with an additional supplement. The cost depends on the tour chosen.
EGYPT PORTION INCLUDES: OPERATES WITH NO MINIMUM AND A MAXIMUM OF 16 TRAVELERS. All transfers by air-conditioned vehicle relating to the tour program starting with arrival to Cairo. Baggage handling of no more than 1 piece of luggage per person however baggage and personal effects are at the owner's risk at all time during the tour (baggage handling does NOT include tips for bellmen, porters, etc.). Hotels (based on double occupancy). Meals as outlined by B for Breakfast, L for lunch and D for dinner. Fees for visiting antiquity sites and museums. Services of an English speaking licensed Egyptologist. Service charges and taxes.
NOT included are: INTERNATIONAL AIR, items of a personal nature such as tips, entry visa (available at the airport on entry for USA and Canadian citizens. Other nationalities should check with the nearest Egyptian consulate), phone calls, laundry, bar bills, beverages during meals, any items not specifically covered in the included items.
JORDAN PORTION INCLUDES: Transfers by air-conditioned vehicle related to the tour. Ferry from Egypt to Jordan. Baggage handling of no more than 1 piece of luggage per person however baggage and personal effects are at the owner's risk at all time during the tour (baggage handling does NOT include tips for bellmen, porters, etc.). Hotels (based on double occupancy). Meals are outlined B for breakfast, L for lunch and D for dinner. Fees for visiting antiquity sites and museums. Tours with the services of an English speaking licensed guide. Hotel service charges and taxes.
NOT included are: Items of a personal nature such as air, tips, entry visas, entry or departure taxes, phone calls, laundry, bar bills, beverages during included meals, any items not specifically covered in the included items.
Tour Cost:
Minimum of two travelers to operate
Maximum of 16 travelers on one tour
(October through April) $2195 per person, double occupancy at hotels.
Single supplement: +$495 hotels only
Air from Amman to Cairo NOT included
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