Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, and Israel, 19 days

**Day 1 | Sunday | ISTANBUL**

Arrival at Istanbul Airport (IST). After the reception at the airport, we proceed to the hotel. Accommodation in Istanbul. Dinner not included.

**Day 2 | Monday | ISTANBUL - ANKARA (Breakfast and Dinner)**

Breakfast. Departure to Ankara passing through the Bolu Mountains. Upon arrival, we will take a panoramic tour with our bus to explore the capital of the Turkish Republic and the second most populous city in Turkey (Ankara), a modern and cosmopolitan city rich in history and ancient culture. Later, we will visit the Mausoleum of Anitkabir, a symbol of Ankara, as it is the resting place of the founder of the Turkish Republic. In the late afternoon, arrival at our hotel. Dinner at the hotel included. Accommodation.

**Day 3 | Tuesday | ANKARA - CAPPADOCIA (OPTIONAL JEEP SAFARI IN CAPPADOCIA) (Breakfast and Dinner)**

Breakfast. Departure to Cappadocia. On the way, we will see the second-largest lake in Turkey, Lake Tuz, and a 13th-century caravanserai (medieval inn). Arrival in Cappadocia. Optionally, you can hire a Jeep Safari excursion through Cappadocia, one of the most exciting adventures in Cappadocia that will allow you to explore the region in an off-road vehicle, where you can reach unique landscapes of the formations and valleys of this region. Arrival in Cappadocia. Dinner at the hotel included. Accommodation.

**Day 4 | Wednesday | CAPPADOCIA (Breakfast and Dinner)**

Breakfast. Visit this fascinating region and original landscape, formed by lava expelled by the Erciyes and Hasan volcanoes 3 million years ago. We will visit the Goreme Valley, an incredible Byzantine monastic complex formed by churches carved into the rock with beautiful frescoes. Next, we will visit Avcilar Valley and Pasabagi and Gόvercinlik Valleys, where you can admire the best view of volcanic formations called "fairy chimneys." We will visit typical workshops of carpets and onyx and turquoise stones. Dinner at the hotel included. Accommodation.

**Day 5 | Thursday | CAPPADOCIA - KONYA - PAMUKKALE (Breakfast and Dinner)**

Breakfast. Early departure to Konya, the capital of the Seljuk sultans. We will visit the Mausoleum of Mevlana, a poet and philosopher who founded the mystical and religious sect of the Whirling Dervishes. Continuing the journey to Pamukkale. Arrival and visit to Hierapolis, an ancient Hellenistic city now in ruins. Visit the famous Cotton Castle, a natural wonder of giant white waterfalls, stalactites, and natural pools formed over the centuries by the flow of water loaded with limestone salts from thermal springs. Arrival at the hotel. Dinner at the hotel included. Accommodation.

**Day 6 | Friday | PAMUKKALE - EPHESUS - IZMIR - FLIGHT - ISTANBUL (Breakfast)**

Breakfast. In the morning, depart for Ephesus, a Greco-Roman city, the ancient capital of Asia Minor and one of the best-preserved from antiquity, where you will find the Temple of Hadrian, the Temple of Trajan, the Theater, and the Library of Celsus. Visit the House of the Virgin Mary, where she spent the last years of her life. Continue to Izmir airport for a domestic flight to Istanbul. Arrival in Istanbul. Transfer to the hotel. Accommodation. Dinner not included.

**Day 7 | Saturday | ISTANBUL - SULEYMAN, THE MAGNIFICENT - REST OF THE DAY FREE (OPTIONAL VISIT TO HISTORICAL PART WITH LUNCH) (Breakfast)**

Breakfast. Departure to visit the Suleiman the Magnificent Mosque, located on the third hill of Istanbul, with one of the most well-known panoramic views of the city. Built by order of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent, it was built by the famous imperial architect Sinan. After the visit, free time to explore the city on your own or optionally hire a full-day visit to the historical part of Istanbul where you can visit the Hagia Sophia, the pinnacle of Byzantine art, and the Pearl of Istanbul, the famous Topkapi Palace, the residence of the Ottoman sultans for four centuries, enjoy a typical lunch in a local restaurant in the Sultanahmet area, contemplate the Blue Mosque, a marvel of harmony, proportion, and elegance, and the Hippodrome that preserves the Obelisk of Theodosius, the Serpentine Column, the Emperor William Fountain, and the Egyptian Obelisk. In the late afternoon, we will visit the famous Grand Bazaar where we will have free time to get lost among its 4,000 shops. Return to the hotel. Accommodation. Dinner not included.

**Day 8 | Sunday | ISTANBUL - BOSPHORUS CRUISE - SPICE BAZAAR (OPTIONAL VISIT TO THE ASIAN PART WITH LUNCH) (Breakfast)**

Breakfast. Departure to do one of Istanbul's most famous activities, a boat trip on the Bosphorus, a channel that separates Europe from Asia. During this trip, you will appreciate the Palaces of the Sultans, old and typical wooden houses and enjoy the history in a different way. Next, we will visit one of the star attractions, the Spice Bazaar, founded by the Ottomans 5 centuries ago and used since then. Our included visit ends at the bazaar where you can enjoy its atmosphere and variety of shops. In the afternoon, you can optionally take a visit with lunch to the Asian part of the city, visiting the "Beylerbey" Palace located on the Asian side of the Bosphorus; former summer residence of the sultans of the Ottoman Empire. Also, we can see the famous Bosphorus Suspension Bridge that connects the European part with the Asian part of the city. After lunch, we will visit Camlica Hill located in the underrated district of Uskudar, on the Asian side, one of the seven hills of Istanbul and the highest point in the entire city. At 268 meters above sea level, Camlica Hill offers panoramic views of both sides of the city. Return to the hotel. Accommodation. Dinner not included.

**Day 9 | Monday | ISTANBUL - CAIRO (Breakfast)**

Breakfast. Transfer to Istanbul Airport (IST) for a flight (not included) to Cairo. Arrival at Cairo Airport. Assistance at the airport by our representative. Transfer to the hotel. Accommodation in Cairo. Dinner not included.

**Day 10 | Tuesday | CAIRO**

Breakfast. Departure to visit the Three Pyramids of Giza: Khufu, Khafre, and Menkaure, the Eternal Sphinx, and the Valley Temple of Khafre (does not include entry into the interior of the Pyramids). Free afternoon, the possibility of an optional visit to the Necropolis of Saqqara and the city of Memphis, the capital of the ancient empire. In the evening, the possibility of an optional visit to the Sound and Light Show of the Pyramids. Accommodation in Cairo. Dinner not included.

**Day 11 | Wednesday | CAIRO**

Breakfast. Full-day visit to the city of Cairo, including the Museum of Pharaonic Art, the Citadel of Saladin with its Alabaster Mosque, the Coptic Quarter, and the Khan El-Khalili Market. In the evening, the possibility of an optional Dinner with Folk Show on the floating boat on the Nile. Accommodation in Cairo. Dinner not included.

**Day 12 | Thursday | CAIRO - MOSES SPRINGS - SAINT CATHERINE**

Breakfast. Departure for the Sinai Peninsula, through the Ahmed Hamdy Tunnel under the Suez Canal, crossing the Sinai Desert from the African continent to the Asian continent. Stop to visit Ayun Musa or Moses Springs (Mara). We will continue to Saint Catherine. Accommodation in Saint Catherine. Dinner included.

**Day 13 | Friday | SAINT CATHERINE - MOUNT MOSES - TABA - EILAT - ARAVA - WADI RUM**

Breakfast. In the early morning, departure to Mount Moses or Mount Sinai (Mount Horeb) at 2,285 meters high, where the prophet Moses received the Tablets of the Law from God while the Hebrew people camped at the foot of the mountain. From the top of the mountain, we can see the sunrise and Mount Saint Catherine, which is the highest peak on the peninsula at 2,637 meters. Descending the mountain, we will visit the Monastery of Saint Catherine (if possible) located at 1,570 meters with its impressive walls. Return to the hotel, and at the scheduled time, departure to the border where we will leave Egypt. Arrival in Arava, via Eilat, transfer to the border with Jordan. Entry into Jordan, after completing immigration formalities. Continue to Wadi Rum. Visit to the Wadi Rum Desert. It is a 2-hour 4x4 Jeep tour led by Bedouins through huge mountains with unique shapes emerging from the green areas of the desert. Accommodation in Wadi Rum. Dinner included.

**Day 14 | Saturday | WADI RUM - PETRA - AMMAN**

Breakfast. Departure for a visit to Petra, the ancient capital of the Nabateans since the 3rd century B.C. Visit monuments carved in Pink Rock such as El Khazne (Tomb of the Nabatean Kings), obelisks, tombs, the altar (Al Madbah). Continue to Amman. Accommodation in Amman. Dinner included.

**Day 15 | Sunday | AMMAN - MADABA - MOUNT NEBO - JERUSALEM**

After breakfast, meet with the guide and depart from the hotel to Madaba to visit the ancient Byzantine city and see the ancient mosaic map of the Holy Land and the ruins of historical sites. We continue approximately 10 kilometers to Mount Nebo, where Moses admired the promised land. There, we will enjoy a magnificent panoramic view of the Jordan Valley, Jericho, and the Dead Sea. We will contemplate the remains of a Byzantine Church with its mosaic floor. Continue to the Allenby Bridge border. After immigration procedures, we head to Jerusalem. Accommodation. Dinner not included.

**Day 16 | Monday | JERUSALEM OLD CITY (OPTIONAL NIGHT TOUR OF SOUND AND LIGHT SHOW AT DAVID'S TOWER) (Breakfast)**

After breakfast, meet with the guide and depart for the Mount of Olives to enjoy a magnificent view of the city. We continue to the Garden of Gethsemane and the Basilica of Agony. We head towards the Old City, climb to the Temple Mount (if possible), and visit the Western Wall. We will walk the Via Dolorosa to reach the site of Jesus' crucifixion and the Holy Sepulcher. Visit Mount Zion, where the Tomb of King David, the Cenacle (place of the Last Supper), and the Dormition Abbey are located. Continue to the modern part of the city to visit the Mahane Yehuda Popular Market (Shuk), the most famous popular market in Jerusalem, where you can experience the true variety of Israeli cuisine. The main charm of the market, in addition to its products, is the interculturality that is breathed in its busy stalls. Accommodation in Jerusalem. Dinner not included. Optional Night Tour Sound and Light Show at David's Tower. 4,000 years of Jerusalem's history are reflected in a fascinating audiovisual show, illuminated by impressive virtual reality images projected on the walls of the David Tower complex. Accommodation in Jerusalem. Dinner not included.

**Day 17 | Tuesday | JERUSALEM MODERN CITY (OPTIONAL BETHLEHEM) (Breakfast)**

After breakfast, meet with the guide and depart for the Shrine of the Book at the Israel Museum, where the Dead Sea Scrolls are exhibited, and where the Model of Jerusalem from the time of Jesus is located. Panoramic view of the Israeli Parliament. We continue to the picturesque neighborhood of Ein Karem, where we will visit the Church of St. John the Baptist. We go to Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Museum, and Memorial. Accommodation in Jerusalem. Dinner not included. Optional Bethlehem - Visit to Bethlehem with lunch (included), we will visit the Church of the Nativity, the Grotto of the Manger, and the 14-pointed Star (place of Jesus' birth). Return to Jerusalem. Note: We recommend booking the Optional Bethlehem Tour one week before the start of the program. Accommodation in Jerusalem. Dinner not included.

**Day 18 | Wednesday | JERUSALEM (OPTIONAL MASADA AND DEAD SEA) (Breakfast)**

After breakfast, a free day. Possibility to take the Optional excursion to Masada and the Dead Sea. Meeting with the guide (in Spanish) and departure to the Dead Sea region, the lowest place on earth – cable car ascent to Masada, the last stronghold of the Jews in the struggle against the Romans. Visit the excavations, Herod's Palace, and the Ancient Synagogue. Panoramic view of the Roman Field and the Dead Sea. If the weather allows, we will have free time to enjoy a bath in the medicinal waters of the Dead Sea. Return to Jerusalem. Accommodation in Jerusalem. Dinner not included. Note: The Optional excursion to Masada and the Dead Sea must be booked one week before the start of the program.

**Day 19 | Thursday | JERUSALEM - TEL AVIV**

After breakfast, at the scheduled time, transfer to Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv.​