Epic Egypt, Jordan and Israel

Welcome to Cairo, where we'll meet you at the airport and take you directly to your luxurious hotel, set along the famous Corniche on the banks of the mighty Nile. Celebrate the beginning of your adventure this evening with a welcome dinner, the perfect chance to get to know fellow travellers. Stay Two Nights: Cairo, Four Seasons Nile Plaza (D)

• You may feel like exploring the city's religious diversity with a visit to the majestic Islamic citadel of Salah El-Din, before searching for treasures at the Khan El-Khalili Bazaar. Or perhaps wander through the streets of Coptic Cairo, home to The Hanging Church, Abu Serga and Ben Ezra Synagogue. For those more inclined towards art and design, the Gayer Anderson Museum displays a patchwork of Islamic form and style. This option also finishes with a walk through Khan El-Khalili Bazaar.

You'll bid a temporary farewell to Cairo as you take a flight to Luxor, where you'll explore the East Bank sites of Karnak Temple and Luxor Temple. Later, board your luxury floating home for the next seven nights, the MS Sun Goddess, settling in and enjoying lunch and afternoon tea.

Tonight, enjoy a belly dance show before your first delicious dinner on board. Stay Seven Nights: aboard the MS Sun Goddess (B/L/D)

Wake early and see the rising sun cast a golden glow over the Nile. Today's adventures will immerse you deep into Egyptology. On the West Bank and the Valley of the Kings and Queens, explore tombs constructed for Tutankhamun and the Temple of Queen Hatshepsut.

Later, visit stone statues the Colossi of Memnon.

This afternoon, enjoy lunch on board and time to relax as your ship sails on to the ancient city of Esna Lock. Tonight, savour a captain's welcome cocktail before dinner. (B/L/D)

Along the banks of the Nile, remnants of ancient civilisations blur the lines between the past and the present. Stunning examples to be seen this morning include the Temple of Edfu, dedicated to Horus the falcon god, regarded as the best preserved temple of the ancient world. Your ship will then set sail towards Kom Ombo. Time on board can be as luxurious and relaxing as you like. From watching the sunset on the top deck, spa treatments, or delicious dining, a view of the mighty Nile is never more than a glance away.

Tonight, you'll have the chance to sport traditional Egyptian ceremonial clothing at an onboard Galabeya party. (B/L/D)

The modern world beckons with a visit to Aswan High Dam, Egypt's biggest dam and one of the world's largest embankment dams. The multi-purpose dam was built to assist with flooding controls and irrigation, and to provide hydroelectric power.

Later, immerse yourself back into ancient times on the island of Agilkia and pay homage to the goddess Isis at the relocated Philae Temple. A short boat ride to access the island offers a unique perspective of one of the nation's most picturesque temples. (B/L/D)

This morning, a short flight takes you to the town of Abu Simbel. Here you'll discover the World Heritage-listed temples dedicated to Ramesses II and his beloved Nefertari, which are carved into a soaring mountainside and date to the 13th century BC.

After returning to Aswan, you'll admire the picturesque scenes and take in the laid-back nature of the charming city aboard a traditional wooden felucca sailboat as you glide along the Nile. Visit Kitchener's Island on the eastern bank, home to Aswan Botanical Garden. The entire island is dedicated to lush plantings of native and exotic species, including rare Egyptian palms. To discover more about this region and its culture and traditions, you'll enjoy a Nubian folkloric show before dinner this evening. (B/L/D)

This morning you'll reach the town of Kom Ombo, home to the unusual double temple of the same name. The temple is dedicated to two deities: the crocodile-headed god Sobek and the falcon-headed god Horus the Elder. Take in the well-preserved relief scenes as you wander through the remarkable temple. Return to your ship as you sail north and once again pass through Esna Lock. Originally dating back to 1908, this engineering marvel boasts an elevation of eight metres and is some 221 metres long. (B/L/D)

Overlooking the East Bank, the modern and impressive Luxor Museum holds plentiful carefully curated treasures. Discover artworks, statues, hieroglyphic tools and more among the collection today.

Tonight, venture back on land to enjoy the Karnak Sound and Light Show, where the spectacular Karnak Temple comes to life in a beautiful display exploring the history of the ancient Egyptian city of Thebes. (B/L/D)

Today you'll bid farewell to your ship as you leave the Nile River and fly back to Cairo. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant before an evening at leisure. Stay Two Nights: Cairo, Four Seasons First Residence (B/L)

At the World Heritage-listed Giza Necropolis, you'll be able to touch and explore the three pyramids and get incredible views of the Sphinx. (B/L/D)

Today you'll fly to the Jordanian capital, Amman. Soak up the amazing atmosphere of this cosmopolitan city, where modern architecture and crumbling ruins exist side by side. There'll be much anticipatory chatter about the Jordanian adventures ahead during dinner at the hotel this evening. Stay Two Nights: W Hotel Amman (B/D)

• Discover the flavours of Jordan with a special cooking class at a local home. Learn to make traditional recipes such as maaloubeh (stewed meat, rice and vegetables), mutabel (eggplant dip), tabbouleh and muhallebi (milk pudding), then savour your creations for dinner.

Set off early this morning on a road trip down the 5,000-year-old King's Highway towards Petra. Pause along the way to visit Mount Nebo, the place where it is believed Moses had his last view over the Holy Land. Take in spectacular views over the Jordan Valley before continuing to the Byzantine Saint George's Church in Madaba, where you will see the Christian mosaics of Madaba – one of the oldest maps in the world.

Later, arrive in Petra. Stay Two Nights: Movenpick Resort Petra (B/L)

Today you'll explore the legendary Petra, with its awe-inspiring temples, tombs and caves. Walk through the Siq, winding your way through the canyon with 80-metre walls soaring either side, a location you may recognise from the movie ‘Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade'. See The Treasury, the first historical building within the site and be given the option to walk up to The Monastery, a huge carved temple reached by 900 steps. (B/D)

• In Wadi Rum, a soul-enriching stay awaits at Sun City Camp, where you'll feast on traditional Arabic delights. As evening falls, board a Jeep and journey out into the Wadi Rum desert. The lunar-like desert landscape provides the perfect backdrop for stargazing. Learn all about the stars and be given the opportunity to view them up close with telescopes.

Your epic desert exploration continues on today, looping back towards Amman and on to the lowest point on earth, the Dead Sea. The Dead Sea is an enormous inland salt lake spanning over 600 square kilometresand is nearly 10 times saltier than the ocean. The water and mud are full of minerals, and the air is rich in oxygen. One of the world's first ever health resort areas, it has attracted visitors for thousands of years. Stay Two Nights: Dead Sea, Kempinski Hotel Ishtar (B/L)

• You might like to visit the Ma'in Hot Springs and soak in the thermal mineral waters before enjoying lunch. Alternatively, visit the Dead Sea Panoramic Complex and Museum, where you'll learn more about the natural and cultural history of the Dead Sea. The complex offers incredible views over the Jordan Rift Valley and the Dead Sea.

• Set out on a 4WD adventure through the orchards and vineyards of the Golan Plateau. Savour a delightful lunch at a local boutique winery.

Discover Acre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and city of the Crusaders. Walk in their footsteps in the templar tunnels a visit the Hospitaller Fortress. In the exotic garden town of Haifa, an orientation tour leads you to stunning views from Mount Carmel in Bahai Gardens. After lunch, reach Nazareth and visit the Church of the Annunciation before returning to your hotel. (B/L)

• A special experience awaits tonight as you savour a traditional Shabbat dinner with a local family. A five-course meal is just a part of the unforgettable evening, where you'll also share in Jewish customs including a prayer, blessing and storytelling.

Discover Jerusalem, a holy city of high importance to people of Christian, Jewish and Islamic faiths. The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, which was first consecrated in the year AD335, is believed to have been built up around the sites of Jesus' crucifixion and resurrection. Then visit the holiest site in Judaism, the Western (or Wailing) Wall. Here, you'll have the opportunity to descend into the labyrinth of limestone tunnels built beneath the old city. (B/L)

Today, visit Israel Museum's Shrine of the Book, which houses the Dead Sea Scrolls and other rare manuscripts. Adjacent is the model of the Second Temple, a reconstruction of what the city looked like before its destruction by the Romans in AD66. Head out to Yad Vashem – The World Holocaust Remembrance Center before visiting the leafy neighbourhood of Ein Karem for lunch.

This evening is yours at leisure. (B/L)

• Tonight, be welcomed into a local household as you join them for dinner and hear their stories. This unique experience offers a deeper insight into modern Israel's melting pot of cultures and cuisine.

Enjoy a morning exploration of Tel Aviv, including a wander through the Zodiac Alleys, picturesque, restored alleyways home to many art galleries.

Afterwards, travel at your own pace with the afternoon at leisure.

This evening, celebrate your adventures with fellow travellers at a farewell dinner. (B/L/D)

Your epic journey comes to an end this morning with a transfer to Tel Aviv Airport. (B)