The day has arrived, and we board our motorcoach at Sherwood Oaks Christian Church and drive to Chicago’s O’Hare Airport (ORD). Once there, we will board our flight and begin our overnight journey to Egypt.
Today we arrive at Cairo International Airport (CAI). We are greeted by our guide and driver and transfer to our hotel. Overnight Cairo. Gewan Cairo or similar. D.
Early domestic flight to Aswan. Time permitting, we visit the High Dam — one of the largest embankment dams in the world — and the Unfinished Obelisk, then the Temple of Philae, on an island in the Nile dedicated to the goddess Isis, before boarding our cruise ship. Lunch is served on board, and the afternoon is free to relax and settle in. Dinner and entertainment aboard this evening. Overnight aboard ship. Jaz Crown Prince or similar. B, L, D.
We sail to Edfu, on the Nile’s west bank, to visit the Temple of Horus, one of the best-preserved monuments of ancient Egypt (237–57 BC). We continue to Kom Ombo, on the Nile’s eastern bank, for the Temple of Kom Ombo, dedicated to the gods Sobek and Haeroris and known for its unique dual design and mummified crocodiles. Dinner and entertainment aboard this evening. Overnight aboard ship. Jaz Crown Prince or similar. B, L, D.
Today we sail toward Luxor, enjoying the cruise and its onboard entertainment. This evening we arrive in Luxor and visit Luxor Temple, beautifully lit at night. Overnight aboard ship. Jaz Crown Prince or similar. B, L, D.
After breakfast and disembarkation, we explore Luxor and its surroundings. On the west bank, we visit the Valley of the Kings, burial site of generations of pharaohs including King Tut, and the Valley of the Queens, where Queen Nefertari — theorized by some to be the pharaoh’s wife of the Exodus narrative — was laid to rest. We also visit the Temple of Hatshepsut, built for one of Egypt’s female pharaohs. On the east bank, we visit the massive Karnak Temple complex. Overnight Luxor. Steigenberger Achti Luxor or similar. B, D.
After breakfast and check-out, we transfer to the airport and fly to Cairo, where we merge with the main Footsteps of Moses group. B.
The day has arrived, and we board our motorcoach at Sherwood Oaks Christian Church and drive to Chicago’s O’Hare Airport (ORD). Once there, we will board our flight and begin our overnight journey to Egypt.
Today we arrive in Egypt at Cairo International Airport (CAI). Upon arrival we will be met by our guide and driver, who will bring us to our hotel. Whatever remains of the day will be spent at leisure. Overnight Cairo. Radisson or similar. D.
Today we visit the Great Pyramids and Sphinx at the Giza plateau, then continue on to the Grand Egyptian Museum, the largest archaeological museum in the world dedicated to a single civilization. Overnight Cairo. Radisson or similar. B, D.
Breakfast at the hotel in Cairo. We visit the Step Pyramid of Sakkara, the first pyramid ever built. We continue to the Old Cairo churches, including St. Sergius (Abu Serga), where tradition holds the Holy Family lodged while fleeing Herod; the Hanging Church; and the Ben Ezra Synagogue, believed by some to mark the site where the infant Moses was found among the reeds of the Nile. Overnight Cairo. Radisson or similar. B, D.
Today we drive (approximately 3 hours) to the region of Goshen, where the Hebrews lived during the time of Moses and from which they fled during the Exodus. We visit the city of Tanis, possibly the site of the biblical city of Zoan and the place where Pharaoh dwelt at the time of the Exodus — the setting for Moses’ meetings with Pharaoh (Psalm 78:12, 43). Overnight Ismailia. Mercure El Forsan or similar. B, D.
Today we depart Ismailia and drive towards the traditional site of Mount Sinai. If this is truly the site of Mount Sinai, we will be driving approximately along the route that the Israelites took on their way to the mountain. Overnight Traditional Mt. Sinai area. St. Catherine’s Monastery or similar. B, D.
Very early this morning we will climb the traditional Mount Sinai. We will descend the mountain and enjoy breakfast together. We will then drive to Taba and take a ferry to Aqaba, in Jordan. Once there, we will drive on to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. (Please note that, if for any reason the ferry is not operational, we will fly from Sharm El Sheikh to Tabuk via Cairo). Overnight Tabuk. Swiss Inn or similar. B, D.
After an early breakfast, we transfer by 4×4 SUV to Al Bad, where we see the tombs traditionally known as Jethro’s Caves, and visit Beer Musa (Moses’ Well) and Ain Mousa (the Oasis of Moses). In the afternoon, we plan to visit the Tayyab al Ism Oasis, believed by some to be the biblical Elim, where the Israelites found palm trees and twelve wells of water after crossing the Red Sea. Overnight Tabuk or area. Swiss Inn or similar. B, L, D.
After breakfast, we transfer to Jabal Laws to see the Split Rock of Horeb — the massive rock some identify as the one Moses struck, from which water poured forth for the Israelites (Exodus 17). We return to our hotel in the afternoon. Overnight Tabuk or area. Swiss Inn or similar. B, L, D.
After breakfast and check-out, we transfer to Jabal Maqla, a proposed site of the biblical Mount Sinai, where we visit the Altar of Moses and see the Golden Calf rock carvings. Afterward we transfer to the Saudi-Jordan border, crossing at the Durra Border Crossing, where we meet our Jordanian bus and transfer to our hotel. Overnight Aqaba area. DoubleTree by Hilton or similar. B, L, D.
Today we visit Petra, one of the wonders of the ancient world, built by the Nabateans around the 2nd century BC. We enter the city through the gorge known as the Siq, arriving at the iconic Treasury. We also see the Roman Theater, the Nabatean burial caves, and the Byzantine basilica. Overnight Petra area. Petra Moon or similar. B, D.
Continuing north, we come to Medaba, home to a famous 6th-century Byzantine mosaic map of the Holy Land. We then visit Mount Nebo, where Moses stood and viewed the Promised Land he would never enter. Your flight home may depart late tonight or tomorrow; if an overnight is required, we stay in Amman. Overnight Amman (if required). Amman International or similar. B, D.
Your flight home may depart either the previous night or today. If today, and time allows, breakfast is included. Either way, later today we arrive back in Chicago (ORD) and take a motorcoach back to Sherwood Oaks Christian Church.
