Shining Cities Grand Tour

Touring Paris , Jerusalem , Cairo
All in 14 days - weekly departures

This itinerary includes a tour of Egypt's top sights, a free day for shopping in Cairo's bazaars, a sleeper-train ride up the Nile, a 5-day cruise to the temples along the Nile, and two free nights in Paris-topping it all with a 4 day stay in Jerusalem-all in 14 days, at unbeatable rates. (Extend your stay with extra nights in Jerusalem, Paris, Cairo, Luxor, or in the Red Sea resorts of Hurgada or Sharm El Sheikh--ask us how.)

Day 3 - Wed PARIS (cB)
Come with us on a half-day panoramic motorcoach tour of the city. We'll stop by the Place DE l'Opera, Place de la Concorde, Champs-Elysees, Arch de Triomphe, Trocadero, Eiffel Tower (tickets to the first level), Le Bastille and Notre Dame. Then we'll take a short cruise on the Seine before we let you go to find your own favorite Parisian haunts, led there by your Lonely Planet guidebook.

Day 4 - Thu PARIS TO CAIRO (cBD)
After breakfast, we escort you to the airport to catch your nonstop Air France or Egyptair flight to Cairo. During the flight, study your Lonely Planet guidebook to Egypt, which we present to you with our compliments. Upon landing in Cairo, our staff meets you, assists with entry formalities, and whisks you your hotel. Dinner is included at your hotel

DAY 5 - Fri CAIRO (BLD)
Today we show you the greatness of Cairo on a full-day tour: the Egyptian Museum, Pyramids of Giza, the Great Sphinx, the Citadel of Saladin, and Muhammed Ali's splendid Alabaster Mosque. In the evening we escort you to Cairo's railroad station to board your first-class sleeping car for the trip up the Nile, with dinner served onboard as you ride beneath the cloudless Egyptian sky.

DAY 6 - Sat LUXOR & NILE CRUISE (BLD)
Your train arrives in Luxor and we take you to your deluxe Nile cruise vessel. After dropping our bags and freshening up, we set out to see the best first: the gigantic, awesome Great Temple of Karnak and the smaller but still  mammoth Temple of Luxor. After lunch on our cruiser, we cross the Nile to tour the incomparable monuments of ancient Thebes: the Valley of the Kings, the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut in the Valley of the Queens, and the Colossi of Memnon I  the evening, relax on deck as our luxury riverboat casts off and gently cruises upstream to the Esna locks. 

DAY 7 - Sun EDFU & KOM OMBO (BLD)
Our first stop today is Edfu, home of the best-preserved temple on the Nile. We board horse drawn carriages for the short clip-clop ride through the town to the majestic Temple of Horus. After our visit, we return to our vessel for the leisurely cruise to Kom Ombo, where we dock for the night. 

DAY 8 - Mon KOM OMBO & ASWAN (BLD)
We tour the fascinating twin temples of Kom Ombo, one of which is dedicated to Sobek, the sacred Nile crocodile (complete with mummified crocs)! We continue upriver to Aswan, where we board a Felucca (traditional Nile sailboat) for a cruise among the rocky islands in the shadow of the huge Aswan High Dam. Later we visit the Temple of Philae, raised from the flooding lakebed and moved to a high island when the dam was under construction.

DAY 9 - Tue ASWAN & CAIRO (B)
This morning, catch your breath, take it easy, wander in Aswan's tidy bazaar and shop for souvenirs. If you wish, come with us on our optional excursion by air to Abu Simbel to see the beautiful Temple of Ramses. In the afternoon we return by air to Cairo, and to our hotel.

DAY 10 - Wed CAIRO/TEL AVIV (B)
Today, Cairo is yours: shop to your heart's content in Khan el Khalili's labyrinthine bazaars; return to your favorite museums. Late afternoon flight to Tel Aviv & transfer to Jerusalem.

DAY 11-Thu OLD CITY OF JERUSALEM, BETHLEHEM (B
Enter the Old City walking through the reconstructed Jewish Quarter. Visit the newly excavated Cardo and continue to the Western Wall, the only remaining portion of the Second Temple. Walk along the Via Dolorosa to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher and through the colorful bazaars. Continue to Bethlehem, birthplace of King David. Visit Rachel's Tomb and the Church of the Nativity. Return to Jerusalem by the end of the day.

DAY 12 - Fri MASSADA, EIN GEDI, DEAD SEA (B)
Travel along the shores of the Dead Sea, to MASSADA. Ascend by cable car to the last stronghold of the Zealots in their struggle against the Romans. Visit the excavations, synagogue and bath houses. Return to Jerusalem via EIN GEDI. Overnight: Jerusalem

DAY 13 - Sat MEGIDDO, NAZARETH, TIBERIAS (B) 
Drive to Nazareth to see the Church of the Annunciation. Drive to the Sea of Galilee and ride the waters to Tabgha. Visit Cana. Continue to Tiberias for a short tour. Visit Capernaum, on the Sea Of Galilee, to see the ruins of the Synagogue and Church of St. Peter. Stop at the renewed baptismal site on the Jordan River. Overnight Jerusalem. 

DAY 14 - Sun JFK (B)
Our staff escorts you to the airport for your flight back to JFK. 

Rates are per person in US$:

This tour departs every Monday from the USA, For December 20, through January 4, as well as Easter week, please add 25% supplement to the rates.

Your Hotel in Paris are at a simple, clean, comfortable, centrally located 3-star hotel, such as the Primotel Empire, Fertel Etoile or Tilsitt. If Paris hotels are heavily booked for a major exposition or trade show during your visit, we may be required to add normal 3-star hotel rates to the tour rates; contact us for exact dates and details.

"Deluxe," "First Class" and "Tourist Class" categories refer to your hotel accommodations in Egypt & Jerusalem. The optional excursion from Aswan to Abu Simbel and return (Day 8) is available for US$ 225 per person if reserved and paid for along with your tour. If you plan to make your own arrangements for your flight (You may deduct $700 from the listed rate ), please remember to send your flight details to our office.

Your tour includes:

* Airfare between Paris, Cairo and Tel Aviv, and one-way airfare from Aswan to Cairo. And one Way air fare Cairo Tel Aviv in economy class

* All transfers within Egypt, as well as the transfer to board your Egyptair or Air France flight to Cairo in Paris.

* Guided sightseeing according to the itinerary, including all entrance fees.

* Meals as indicated in the itinerary: cB = continental or Israeli breakfast, B = breakfast; L = set-menu lunch; D = set-menu dinner.

* One-way first-class sleeper train ticket from Cairo to Luxor.

* Five-day deluxe Nile cruise including all meals and shore excursions.

* Hotel accommodation as indicated, including all taxes and service charges.

* Complimentary Lonely Planet guidebooks to Paris, Jerusalem and Egypt.