A-List

Jody Bear's 20-day Itinerary Around Egypt, Israel, and Jordan

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Published on August 1, 2018

Sailing boats on Nile river near Aswan, Egypt — Photo: Jaroslav Frank/Getty Images

Jody Bear is a member of Travel + Leisure’s A-List, a collection of the top travel advisors in the world, and can help plan your perfect getaway. Below is an example of the type of itineraries she creates. To work with Jody, you can contact her directly at jodyb@beartvl.com.

Day 1: Arrive in Cairo

Meet your guide at the airport and transfer to your hotel.

Stay: Four Seasons Nile Plaza or the new Kempinski Nile Cairo

Day 2: Giza

Spend a full day touring Giza, with stops at the Sphinx, the Great Pyramids, and the Solar Boat Museum. You can enter Khufu's Pyramid and the step pyramid at Sakkara before a camel ride to a panoramic viewpoint.

Stay: Four Seasons Nile Plaza or the new Kempinski Nile Cairo

Day 3: Cairo

Take a full-day city tour to the Egyptian Museum, Mummies Room, and Sultan Hassan Mosque. Walk through the streets of Islamic Old Cairo to Bab al-Futuh (the famous North Gate) in the Khan el Khalili Bazaar.

Stay: Four Seasons Nile Plaza or the new Kempinski Nile Cairo

Day 4: Aswan

Fly into Aswan. Spend the afternoon sailing on a traditional felucca to Elephantine Island (where you can visit the Nubian village) and the Kitchener's Island Botanical Gardens.

Stay: Sofitel Legend Old Cataract Hotel

Day 5: Aswan

Take a morning camel ride to St. Simeon's Monastery before an afternoon tour of the Nubian Museum.

Stay: Sofitel Legend Old Cataract Hotel

Day 6: Abu Simbel and Nile Cruise

Take a morning air excursion to the temples at Abu Simbel before boarding the Oberoi Philae for a 4-night Nile cuirse. In the evening, visit the Aswan High Dam, Unfinished Obelisk, and Philae Temple.

Stay: Oberoi Philae

Day 7: Nile Cruise

Cruise to Kom Ombo, to visit the Temple of Two Gods. Then, stop at Edfu for a tour of the Temple of Horus, before cruising to Esna.

Stay: Oberoi Philae

Day 8: Nile Cruise

Cruise to Luxor in the morning for an afternoon visit to the Karnak Temple. Dine at Luxor Temple with a sunset private dinner, accompanied by a harpist.

Stay: Oberoi Philae

Day 9: Nile Cruise

Tour the Medinat Habu Temple and the Valley of the Kings, including King Tut's tomb and the tomb of Seti I. Then, head to the Valley of the Queens to visit the tomb of King Nefertari, as well as the tomb of Ramses VI and the Colossi of Memnon.

Stay: Oberoi Philae

Day 10: Fly to Jerusalem

Disembark and transfer to the airport for your transfer to Jerusalem via Tel Aviv. That afternoon, you will be taken to a view point over the Temple Mount and the Dome of the Rock.

Stay: King David Hotel

Day 11: Jerusalem

Tour the underground tunnels and hidden springs of the City of David, visiting newly opened archeological sites which are not yet open to the public. Spend a full day touring the Old City of Jerusalem, including holy sites the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and Mount Zion. Enjoy iconic views over Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives before a private dinner.

Stay: King David Hotel

Day 12: Jerusalem

Visit the Dead Sea Scrolls at the Israel Museum,with a curator-led tour. Visit the Mahane Yehuda market with an expert culinary guide, followed by a hands-on cooking workshop in which you will learn to make some traditional foods.

Stay: King David Hotel

Day 13: Masada and Ein Tamar

Head into the Judaean Desert to visit Masada (a UNESCO World Heritage site) and have private picnic lunch in the desert scenery. Then, visit the JoJo gallery in the small village of Ein Tamar; this gallery exhibits work by JoJo (Yosef Ohayon),
an artist who combines Western and Middle Eastern design elements.

Stay: King David Hotel

Day 14: Jerusalem, Rehovot, Jaffa, and Tel Aviv

Visit Yad Vashem before heading out to Rehovot, and then continuing to Tel Aviv to explore the ancient city of Jaffa — one of the oldest ports in the world.

Stay: The Norman

Day 15: Sea of Galilee, Golan Heights, and Acre

Take a private helicopter flight to the north of the country; upon landing near Capernaum, tour ancient communities around the Sea of Galilee. Then, fly northwards towards the Golan Heights. Land at one of the one the award winning wineries in the area before taking a Jeep ride through a working agricultural kibbutz. In the afternoon, take another private flight west to the coastal town of Acre (a UNESCO World Heritage site).

Stay: The Norman

Day 16: Tel Aviv

Visit Neve Tzedek, Tel Aviv’s prettiest (and oldest) neighborhood, stopping at the Carmel Market and Rothschild Boulevard. Tour the Tel Aviv Museum with an expert art guide, who will then take you to a few art galleries representative of the contemporary art scene in Tel Aviv. Enjoy an evening performance of the Batsheva Dance Company.

Stay: The Norman

Day 17: Negev Desert and Petra

Take a private helicopter flight from Tel Aviv to Mitzpe Ramon, flying the scenic route along the Tel Aviv coastline over Beersheva, Sde Boker, and the Ramon Crater. Upon arrival, board your private Jeep to explore the Ramon Machtesh. Following a private desert picnic, fly over the Negev desert to Eilat. You will then cross the border into Jordan and be driven to Petra.

Stay: Movenpick Petra

Day 18: Petra and Shaharut

Visit the ancient site of Petra with a private guide. Following lunch, you will be assisted across the border back into Israel and then be driven to Shaharut.

Stay: Six Senses Shaharut