Middle East Tour from Casablanca to Tel Aviv

Itinerary

• Day 1: Casablanca, Arrival

  Welcome to Casablanca, the cosmopolitan heart of Morocco. After checking in the hotel, you will afterwards be impressed by the incredible Hassan II Mosque built partially on water in huge size and unique design.

  • Casablanca

• Day 2: Casablanca - Fez

  On route to Fez, you'll stop by Rabat along the coastline, the political center of Morocco, to have lunch and visit the Hassan Tower, Mausoleum of Mohamed V, Medina (Ancient Town) and the New City. In the late afternoon, you will go on to Fez, the Moroccan cultural center.

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  • Fez

• Day 3: Fez

  In the morning, you'll begin a guided adventure with exploring the Fez Medina, a medieval wonder with beautifully overwhelmed handicrafts, over 1,200 little roads turned and twisted, hustle and bustle, which gives you a head start to learn about Moroccan culture and history. The King's Palace and the tanneries and potters are also must-see later. After lunch, you can do some shopping or keep on your exploration in this fantastic city as you wish before returning to your riad for the night.

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  • Fez

• Day 4: Fez

  Today, you'll first visit the breathtaking Roman Ruins of Volubilis, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, and the Moulay Idriss, a Muslim sacred land. In the afternoon, be driven to explore Meknes before going back to Fez.

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  • Fez

• Day 5: Fez - Marrakech

  In the early morning, you'll get a wonderful relief by driving through the Middle Atlas Mountains with heavily forested slopes. Upon arrival at Marrakech, check into your hotel before rambling about in the amazing Jemaa el-Fnaa which is a vast plaza with crazy performers and yummy snacks. You'll get a splendid bird's eye view of the bustling square when enjoying a cup of coffee on the balcony of a nearby café at night.

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  • Marrakech

• Day 6: Marrakech

  This day comes with visits to the Palace of the Bahia and the Saadian Tombs before seeing the spectacular Koutoubia Mosque and the amazing Jemaa el-Fnaa again. A probe into the souk (market) will be the last tour of today.

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  • Marrakech

• Day 7: Marrakech - Casablanca

  Time is on your own to have some adventure or shopping in Marrakech until you are escorted back to Casablanca after lunch.

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  • Casablanca

• Day 8: Casablanca - Cairo

  After breakfast, you'll be driven to the airport (3 hours) for flight to Cairo. Our representative is waiting for you at the Cairo Airport and will help you accelerate the visa procedures (fee excluded) and go through the customs and immigration. Afterwards, pick up your baggage and meet your private driver who will escort you to your hotel (1 hour). It's up to you to wander around or relax after check-in.

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  • Cairo

• Day 9: Cairo

  During the whole day, you'll be accompanied by your guide and driver to discover the historic Memphis which was governed by godlike pharaohs as the state capital in ancient Egypt. It's also the place where the Alabaster Sphinx and the statue of Ramses II were found. Next, continue on to the Step Pyramid of Saqqara before exploring the humbling but majestic pyramids of Giza and the mystical Great Sphinx.

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  • Cairo

• Day 10: Cairo - Aswan - Abu Simbel

  Take an early flight to Aswan. Odyssey local team is ready to pick up and transfer you to the marvelous rock Temples of Abu Simbel, which were originally carved out to permanently commemorate Pharaoh Ramesses II and his queen in the 13th century BC, now are part of UNESCO World Heritage Site. After about 1.5 hour-tour, you'll return to Aswan by private car and check into the hotel.

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  • Abu Simbel

• Day 11: Nile River Cruise

  It's on your own to wander around Aswan city before embarking the ship. Later along the Nile River, you'll go ashore to visit the High Dam and the Temple of Philae that was a sacred pilgrimage center for the cult of the Goddess Isis and was saved from watery grave by local government and the UNESCO. After lunch, go sightseeing the Elephantine Island by an Egyptian felucca (a local small boat), and step onto the Kitchener Island for the Botanical Gardens.

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  • Nile River Cruise

• Day 12: Nile River Cruise

  After early breakfast, go to visit the Greco-Roman Sobek Temple, which is a symmetrical twin temple with the northern half for falcon god Horus and the southern part for crocodile god Sobek. The next gorgeous site will be the Temple of Horus, which is a relatively younger and very well preserved Egyptian temple. A horse carriage ride between the pier and the temple would be impressive.

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  • Nile River Cruise

• Day 13: Nile River Cruise

  Today you'll set sail to Luxor in the early morning and visit some amazing spots in this city. The Valley of the Kings is a must-see miracle where so many exquisitely detailed tombs are buried underground by rock and sand. Three tombs of the ancient Pharaohs are available for your access. Go on to visit the mortuary temple of Queen Hatshepsut. On the way, Colossi of Memnon consisted of two giant stone statues of Amenhotep III is worth your short stay.

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  • Nile River Cruise

• Day 14: Luxor - Cairo

  Get started from the Temples of Karnak. Go down the two-kilometer magical Avenue of Sphinx to enter this second largest ancient religious site in the world. Afterwards, you'll be guided through the magnificent Luxor Temple painted and drew with various pharaohs symbols and characters on the walls. When the tour ends, you'll be escorted to catch your flight to Cairo. Upon arrival, Odyssey team will pick you up and help you check into the hotel for the night.

  Optional: Riding a hot air balloon above Luxor's West Bank to enjoy an aerial perspective of vast temples and tall statues is at USD130/PP. Availability of this activity depends on actual weather of that day.

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  • Cairo

• Day 15: Cairo

  In the morning, you'll be inspired by the giant and fascinating Egyptian Museum full of the history of ancient Egypt. Afterward, go on to explore the Citadel of Salah El Din and the Mohammed Ali Mosque of Old Cairo. You can also roam around the Khan El Khalili Bazaar and do some shopping after the tour.

  Optional: Shisha (Arabian hookah) experience at the Khalili Bazaar is at an additional USD15/PP.

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  • Cairo

• Day 16: Cairo - Alexandria - Cairo

  You'll spend most of the day in the beautiful coastal port city-Alexandria (3.5 hours by car from Cairo) exploring the Pompey's Pillar, the Catacombs of Kom El-Shoqafa, the Elshawary, the Alexandria Library and the Qaitbay Citadel. After that, you'll be driven back to Cairo.

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  • Cairo

• Day 17: Cairo - Amman - Jerash - Amman

  You'll travel to Amman by flight today. After passing through customs, proceed to Jerash, one of the best preserved and the most complete Roman provincial towns in the world. Probing into the spectacular Forum, Roman colonnaded street, the Nymphaeum, the Temple of Artemis and South Theater, and you'll be inspired by the blend of Greco-Roman, ancient Arabs and the Orient cultures. After returning to Amman, you'll be guided to the Citadel, the Roman Theater, and Archeological & Folklore Museums.

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  • Amman

• Day 18: Amman - Madaba - Petra

  Start a mental journey to Madaba which is best known for its Byzantine and Umayyad mosaics. The incredible old Mosaic Map of Holy Land and beyond created artfully with over 2 million pieces of colored stones is on the floor of St. George Church. Enjoy the ride going up the Mt. Nebo from where you can view the vast panorama of the Jordan River Valley, the Dead Sea, Jericho and Jerusalem on a clear day as if what Moses once saw. Afterwards stop at a local handicraft workshop to experience the Jordanian unique tradition and culture. Keep up to Petra by car for the night.

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  • Petra

• Day 19: Petra

  This morning, make sure that you're well equipped and vigorous before discovering Petra, the fabled "rose red city, half as old as time". The entrance to Petra is a long, winding sandstone canyon known as the Siq (about 2km). After about 2 hours' introduction, you'll get familiar with the essence of the history, fantastic architectures, and local people's life of this city. Except for Al Khazneh (the Treasury), you'll also be impressed by the terracotta pipes, the facades of various tombs, massive theaters, etc.

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  • Petra

• Day 20: Petra - Wadi Rum

  Welcome to this mesmerizing "planet", Wadi Rum (also known as the Valley of the Moon), where is a filming location of "The Martian". Various rock formations in a myriad of colors unfold when you go deeper into the desert. Taking a 2-hour drive will be an unforgettable experience in this utterly wonderful landscape. Our camp in Wadi Rum is prepared for you to pass the night.

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  • Wadi Rum

• Day 21: Wadi Rum - Dead Sea

  Today, you'll go to the Dead Sea by car, where plants and animals can hardly live because of its extremely high salinity and density. Nevertheless, this deepest hypersaline lake in the world contains various minerals beneficial to human bodies. Thus, have good rest and enjoy the sunshine floating in this incredible sea on Earth.

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  • Dead Sea

• Day 22: Dead Sea - Jerusalem

  In the late morning, you'll be escorted through the Alenby Bridge which stretches across Jordan and Israel. After passing the border, your private driver in Israel will send you to Jerusalem and help check into the hotel.

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  • Jerusalem

• Day 23: Jerusalem

  Jerusalem is an ancient and revered place best known for its profound historical, cultural and religious significance. Just spend whole day simply immersing in the daily life of this holy city and exploring the Mount of Olives, Gethsemane, King David's Tomb, Wailing Wall, Church of the Holy Sepulcher and Golgotha (where Jesus was crucified) with your guide. The Church of the Holy Sepulcher is gorgeous and very interesting with different chapels inside decorated beautifully, where Jesus was buried and resurrected.

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  • Jerusalem

• Day 24: Jerusalem - Bethlehem - Tel Aviv

  Your guide and driver will transfer you from hotel to Bethlehem in the morning, in which you can visit the Church of the Nativity complex, come across the hustle Manger Square, and see the Shepherds Field. Next, go on to visit Tel Aviv (2-hour drive) and discover the magical Jaffa Old City that is as if a beautiful romantic aria for long walks with little streets, shops, tasty restaurants and lots of art galleries. The Jaffa Flea Market (Shuk Hapishpishim) and the Jaffa Port are also two wonderful places worth visiting.

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  • Tel Aviv

• Day 25: Tel Aviv, Departure

  You're at your own leisure until you are picked up to Ben Gurion Airport (driver only) for your flight home.

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