13 Days/ 12 Nights
or
15 days/14 nights including 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
1000 years ago.
Available from October through mid-April.
Difficulty: Moderate with some climbing and extensive
walking, some over rough terrain.
Friday: Depart
New York at 11PM on your non-stop flight to Egypt.
Saturday: Arrive Cairo, be met
by our staff who will assist with clearing immigration and customs
then transfer to hotel where you will have an introduction to your
guides and a overview of the tour. O/N Sonesta.
Sunday: A full day tour of the
Pyramids of Giza, the Sphinx and the Egyptian Museum. O/N Sonesta.
(B)
Monday: 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 the Khan el
Khalili bazaar. O/N Sonesta. (B)
Tuesday: 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 Plaza. (B,L,D)
Wednesday: 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. O/N Camp. (B,L,D)
Thursday: 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. O/N Camp (B,L,D)
Friday: 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. O/N Camp (B,L,D)
Saturday: 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. O/N Camp. (B,L,D)
Sunday: 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. O/N Camp (B,L,D)
Monday: Today's hike takes us through
the magmatic stone (granite) area of Wadi Malacha and brings us to
the Gulf of Aqaba, to a place called the Devil's Head. After
a brief time for snorkeling/swimming this beautiful reef, we
depart for Cairo and go directly to the airport where staff will
assist with departure formalities and checking in for our
international departure.
Tuesday: Depart Cairo at 1:30AM
for New York.
JORDAN EXTENSION TEA-118JE
Monday: Departing the Devil's Head we
travel the coast road to Nuweiba where we overnight. (B,L, D)
Tuesday: Board the ferry for Jordan.
Arrive Aqaba, clear immigration and customs and overnight. O/N
Radisson Aqaba. (B)
Wednesday: Drive to Petra, marvel at
the Rose city, to which Moses was refused entry. O/N Movenpick
Petra (B)
Thursday: 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 Amman. O/N Hyatt Regency
Amman (B)
Friday: A free day to enjoy Amman or
an optional tour to 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 where you will change
planes and continue non-stop to New York arriving at 7AM.
GROUP TOURS INCLUDE:
Maximum of 16 travelers. Round trip air from JFK (add on air from
other U.S. cities available). All transfers by air-conditioned vehicle relating to the tour
program starting with arrival to Cairo. Baggage handling of no more than 2 pieces of luggage per person
however baggage and personal effects are at the owner's risk at
all times during the tour. 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.
Tips for ground personnel except guide. Travel Insurance for those departing from the USA or Canada.
Not included are: items of a personal nature such as tips for
guide, 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.
Walk in Moses Footsteps TEA-118
Groups: $2195 p.p. (dbl. occ)
Single supplement (hotels only): $180
Jordan Extension: $655 p.p. (dbl. occ)
Group Departures: 2001: Oct. 19, Nov. 23
2002: Jan. 18, Mch. 01
