Highlights of Saudi Arabia Jordan and Egypt

Welcome to Saudi Arabia! Upon arrival at the Medina International Airport, prepare for a meet and greet followed by a transfer to your hotel.Welcome to the holy city of Medina! After your hotel transfer, youll explore this sacred destination, one of Islam's two most revered cities, where millions of pilgrims gather each year. Respect for its residents and beliefs, as well as proper attire, is essential. After lunch, youll visit the Prophet's Mosque (Al Masjid an Nabawi), a stunning mosque built by the Prophet, housing his tomb. youll also see UHUD Mountain, an important pilgrimage site, and the Quba Mosque, where the first mosque was established in 622. Nearby, youll visit the garden and well of Ethiq, where the Prophet and his followers were welcomed by local tribes. Enjoy free time in the city center or visit the Hejaz Railway Museum. In the afternoon, youll explore the Al Madinah Museum. At dusk, youll return to the Prophets Mosque to witness the powerful prayer gathering and its beautiful illuminations. Dinner is included.
Overnight in Medina ...more ...less

After breakfast, you will continue your journey to some of the worlds most stunning desert regions. In a volcanic area with breathtaking landscapes, you visit KHAYBAR, a historically significant region that was once a Jewish settlement on the Arabian Peninsula in the 7th century. It is famous for the Battle of Khaibar in 628 AD, during the Prophet Muhammad's lifetime, where Muslim forces defeated the Jewish tribes. You will explore its historic fortress and stroll through its beautiful oasis (entrance fees included). You will then head towards Al-Ula, one of the most spectacular places on Earth. This open-air museum, surrounded by nature, is home to rock formations, canyons, and ravines, rivaling the magnificent treasures carved by its ancient inhabitants. Upon arrival, youll visit the Elephant Rock, “Jabal Al Fil,” a striking 52-meter-high rock formation shaped like an elephant.
Overnight in Al Ula

Start your day after breakfast at the hotel. In the Al-Ula region, you will visit the HEGRA enclosure (Madain Saleh), a UNESCO World Heritage site. Known as \"the Other Petra,\" this Nabataean site captivates with its rock-cut tombs set in a mysterious desert landscape. Lunch is included. Afterward, youll have free time to explore the commercial streets and relax in the beautiful oasis. In the afternoon, you will depart for TABUK.
Overnight in Tabuk

The day starts with a buffet breakfast in the hotel. Today, you will enter a country that has only recently opened up to tourism. Just 120 km separates us from the Saudi Arabia border (Halat Ammar). Along the way, youll enjoy stunning desert landscapes. After border procedures, you will continue to TABUK, a region known for its flower exports to Europe. Youll stop at a farm to explore various plant and flower crops.In TABUK, a city of over half a million people and one of the oldest in the country, youll visit the old train station, now a museum that houses the steam engines that once connected Damascus with Medina. Youll also explore a castle dating back to 3500 BC, where a museum inside tells the story of the castle and city, highlighting famous explorers like Ibn Battuta and pilgrims who passed through on their way to Mecca and Medina. Afterward, youll visit the Mud House Museum, which recreates the interior of a traditional adobe home, offering insight into past life in this region. Finally, youll stroll through the bustling commercial area of the city center.
Overnight in Petra

Today promises to be the most exciting day of the trip! You will begin with a visit to the awe-inspiring archaeological site of PETRA, accessed through a narrow canyon. Here, youll explore the temples and tombs carved into the cliffs of this ancient city, founded over 300 years before Christ. After lunch (included), you will head to the stunning desert of WADI RUM. At the Visitor Centre, youll board 4x4 vehicles to experience some of the most breathtaking landscapes. A 45-minute camel ride through the desert is also included. Youll end the day with a visit to the Khazali Canyon, where youll see engravings that reveal the origins of the Arabic language.
Overnight in Wadi Rum

After breakfast, you will depart for AQABA, Jordans second-largest city, located on the Red Sea coast. Youll take a walk through the city center before heading to the ISRAEL border at EILAT, where youll arrive in this modern, tourist-friendly city known for its beautiful beaches. Youll have some free time to relax, enjoy lunch, and perhaps even take a swim. Then, you continue towards the EGYPT border and into Sinai. Along the way, there will be an opportunity to take photos of Pharaohs Island, home to the impressive fortress of Saladin. You will then proceed to SAINT CATHERINE.
Overnight in St. CatherineFEES: At the border crossing from Jordan to Israel and from Israel to Egypt, every traveler must pay an entry/exit fee for the different countries. Jordan: $15 (exit fees), Israel: $32 (exit fee), Egypt: $45 (entry visa, which is actually $25 visa + $20.Approximate rates and subject to change without prior notice by the authorities of the country.Drones and cameras with a 5,5 mtr zoom are prohibited as well as other types of professional equipment cameras ( Europamundo is not responsiblefor objects that may be seized at borders by the authorities of the countries)IMPORTANT NOTE: Due to exceptional circumstances or due to a small number of participants, it may happen that we will cross directly from Jordan to Egypt by boat, taking the AQABA- TABA FERRY with a duration of just over two hours. During the ferry crossing, there will be no assistance from any guide.

After breakfast at the hotel, you'll visit the impressive walled monastery of SAINT CATHERINE, located at the base of Mount Sinai. According to tradition, this is where Moses saw the \"Burning Bush that burned without being consumed.\" The monastery, a sacred site for Jews, Christians, and Muslims, belongs to the Orthodox Church and is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. You'll then continue through the breathtaking Sinai Desert, with lunch included along the way. A stop will be made at the WELL OF MOSES, a biblical site resembling a small oasis. Finally, you'll exit Sinai through the tunnel beneath the SUEZ CANAL, arriving in CAIRO by late afternoon.
Overnight in Cairo

Today is a full-day tour where youll explore the iconic Pyramids of Cheops, Kefren, and Micerinos (entrance to the pyramids is not included), as well as the impressive rock-carved Sphinx. Youll also visit the Egyptian Museum, home to ancient artifacts, including the treasure of Tutankhamuns Lost Tomb. Lunch is included. Youll then visit the Citadel of Saladin and the stunning Alabaster Mosque. Finally, youll take a stroll through the Coptic neighborhood and visit the Hanging Church, built above a Roman fortress.
Overnight in Cairo

You will depart Cairo and head to the WADI NATRUM region, known for its ancient Coptic monasteries. These monasteries were founded by Christians fleeing Roman persecution in the 4th century. Fortified over time due to various attacks, they are now important pilgrimage sites that offer a glimpse into Coptic traditions. Coptic popes are chosen from the monks of these monasteries. Your first stop is SAINT MACARIUS, established in 360, where a monk will guide us through the monastery. Next, you will visit the ANBA BISHOY monastery, founded in 340, where well access the fortified tower via a drawbridge. A monk will also guide us through the church, refectory, and fortress, which is the burial site of several Coptic popes. Youll have time to explore the area and visit the impressive new cathedral. You will then continue our journey to ALEXANDRIA, a port city with over 5 million residents, arriving in time for lunch. In the afternoon, youll visit the QAITBEY fortress, built in 1480 on a narrow peninsula where the famous Hellenistic lighthouse once stood, considered one of the seven wonders of the ancient world. Afterward, youll drive along the corniche, passing through various neighborhoods that range from chaotic and commercial to elegant. Free time to explore.
Overnight in Alexandria

You will continue our exploration of ALEXANDRIA with a visit to the impressive CATACOMBS OF KOM ASH SHUQQAFA, the largest Roman cemetery in Egypt, where the blend of Pharaonic and Greco-Roman styles is truly surprising. From there, youll take a walk through narrow, lively alleys to the COLUMN OF POMPEY, a towering 30-meter-high column standing on the ruins of an ancient temple. Next, youll stop for a photo op outside the modern LIBRARY OF ALEXANDRIA, opened in 2002, which honors the citys historical role as a major center of knowledge in ancient times. The original Library of Alexandria once housed over half a million papyrus scrolls. After lunch, youll continue our journey to ROSETTA. In this small city near the mouth of a Nile tributary, the famous Rosetta Stone was discovered. This stone, just over a meter high, was key in deciphering Egyptian hieroglyphs, as it features the same text in hieroglyphics, demotic, and ancient Greek. Youll see a replica of the Rosetta Stone at the Rashid fortress, located in a charming village with vibrant streets full of local life and colorful fishing boats along the Nile.Youll then take a stroll through Rosettas center, admiring the old Ottoman houses with their distinctive brick and wood architecture. A boat ride on the Nile will offer beautiful views and a chance to watch the activity of local fishing boats. Youll return to CAIRO in the evening, arriving at the end of the day.
Overnight in Cairo

Today after breakfast, you will be transferred back to the Cairo International Airport to check-in for your return flight home.