GRAND CAPITALS OF THE MIDDLE EAST19 DAYS ■ SEPTEMBER 8, 2023

AAA EXCLUSIVE HIGHLIGHTS

■ Luxury Hotel accommodations for 18 nights

■ Economy domestic air, Cairo -Abu Simbel-Aswan &Luxor-Cairo

■ Economy inter-regional international air Cairo-Amman and Tel Aviv-Abu Dhabi

■ Pyramids of Giza and the Egyptian Museum

■ Abu Simbel

■ Valley of the Kings, Karnak & Luxor Temples

■ Petra, Jordan, Treasury, hands on cooking class

■ Wadi Rum and Amman, authentic Bedouin lunch witha local family

■ Jerusalem & the Sea of Galilee

■ Qumran Caves and Masada

■ Louvre Abu Dhabi

■ Dubai’s Burj Khalifa & Palm Island

■ 37 Meals: 18 breakfasts, 15 lunches, 4 dinners

■ Services of expert professional guides

AAA Travel invites you to discover the amazing Capitals of the Middle East on this

luxury immersive guided tour. Egyptian experts will help you explore the mysteries of

the Pharaohs, from Cairo all the way to Abu Simbel and along the Nile to Luxor. See the

incredible sites of Petra, Jordan and enjoy a meal with a local family. Visit Jerusalem, Israel

and the Dome of the Rock, built in the 7th Century. Enjoy a dip in the Dead Sea and stop at

the Qumran Caves, famous for the 1947 discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls. Take a tour of Tel

Aviv before heading to the United Arab Emirates with stays in Abu Dhabi, the Empty

Quarter Desert and Dubai. This is an incredible and comprehensive experience, and one not

to miss!

From $16,704 per person, based on double occupancy

(AAA Member Rate)

GRAND CAPITALS OF THE MIDDLE EASTITINERARY

Day 1 Welcome to Cairo, EgyptUpon arrival, you will be assisted with securing your

visa and help through immigration and customs. You

will then be transferred to your luxury hotel on the

Nile. Four Seasons First Residence – 2 nights

Day 2 Pyramids and the Egyptian MuseumYour journey will begin today with a visit to the

Great Pyramids of Giza and the amazing Sphinx. A

camel ride across the desert may strike one as a

bit touristy, but we guarantee you’ll never forget

the experience. Visit the Museum of Egyptian

Antiquities with the greatest repositories of

ancient Egyptian treasures in the world. In the

evening, we’ll enjoy a delightful welcome dinner.

(B, L, D)

Day 3Temples of Abu Simbel & EdfuThis morning, we’ll fly south to Abu Simbel and the

two temples of Ramses II. Originally on the southern

frontier of Ancient Egypt, these nearly 3,000-year old

temples are still intact and carved from solid rock.

From Abu Simbel we’ll fly to Aswan where our private

transportation will meet us for our drive up the Nile to

the Temple of Horus at Edfu, another of Egypt’s most

spectacular ancient monuments. This 2,000-year-old

temple complex is renowned for its monumental

reliefs and exquisite hieroglyphics. We’ll then continue

on to Luxor. (B, L) Steigenberger Nile Palace – 2 Nights

Day 4 Valley of the Kings, Karnak & Luxor TemplesToday, we’ll cross the Nile and drive west to the

fabled Valley of the Kings. We’ll arrive early, before

any crowds, to admire the vivid frescoes that adorn

each tomb in miraculous condition, visiting the most

elaborate tombs of Ramses III, Ramses IX and King

Tutankhamen. In the neighboring Valley of the Queens,

we’ll visit the elegant Tomb of Queen Hatshepsut, one

of two female pharaohs. With our skilled Egyptologist

in the lead, we’ll next stand in front of the massive

pillars of the great Karnak Temple and walk the

Avenue of the Sphinxes. (B, L)

Day 5Cairo & Khan al KhaliliWe’ll fly back to Cairo and visit the Khan al-Khalili

Bazaar, which since the 15th Century has been

Cairo’s major center of crafts, foreign goods and

jewels. We’ll have lunch in an atmospheric restaurant

with time to roam the extensive alleyways of the

market. (B, L)

Four Seasons First Residence – 2 nights

Day 6Antiquity outside CairoToday, we’ll drive to Memphis, Egypt’s ancient

capital, to marvel at the formidable Colossus

of Ramses II. Nearby we’ll see the Alabaster

Sphinx before heading to Sakkara at the edge

of the Egyptian desert to visit the impressive

Step Pyramid of King Zoser, the oldest standing

stone structure in the world. We’ll also enter the

4,000-year-old Tomb of Mehu, a wealthy merchant,

with its vibrant drawings of daily life that adorn

the walls. (B, L)

Day 7 Jordan – Kings Highway to PetraThis morning, we’ll take an hour flight to Amman,

Jordan’s capital and head south toward Petra along

the King’s Highway with our professional Jordanian

trip leader.

We’ll enjoy a home-cooked meal in a restored

century old residence before ascending Mt. Nebo, the

traditional burial site of Moses with panoramic views

of the Jordan River Valley. Continuing to Petra, our

introduction to the city will be in the evening when

we follow the Siq, a jagged path through 100-foot cliffs

illuminated by candles. The opening of the Siq to the

Treasury in candlelight will surely be one of the most

memorable moments of this journey!

(B, L) Hotel Moevenpick Resort Petra – 2 Nights

Day 8A Day in PetraBuilt two thousand years ago, Petra achieved

strategic importance and became wealthy. We

will be guided through the Siq once again to

explore the city’s many monuments and some

time on your own. In the evening, we’ll take you

to the Petra Kitchen for a hands-on culinary

experience. Working alongside local villagers under

the supervision of a skilled chef, you’ll prepare a

variety of traditional Jordanian dishes that will

result in a well-earned dinner. (B, L)

Day 9Wadi Rum – AmmanTravel deep into the other-worldly landscapes of

Wadi Rum, memorialized in the epic film Lawrence

of Arabia. We’ll discover a remote region where

sandstone and granite mountains rise sheer-sided

from wide sandy valleys to reach heights of 4,000

feet and more. We’ll have a simple, authentic Bedouin

lunch with a local family before heading back to

Amman. (B, L)

The Fairmont Hotel – 1 night

Day 10JerusalemToday, we’ll drive to the Allenby Bridge to cross the

Jordan River to the West Bank. Overlooking Jerusalem

and the Old City, the luxurious King David Hotel is our

home in the heart of the city for the next four nights.

It has participated in the history of Jerusalem since

its opening in 1931, hosting many world leaders in

exile and featured prominently in films like Exodus.

We’ll gather this evening for an atmospheric dinner

nearby. (B, L, D) King David Hotel – 4 Nights

*Rates are per person, land and inter-country air, based on double occupancy. A Non-Refundable deposit of $1000 per person (double) $2000 (single) is due at time of booking. Non-AAA Member rate is $16,819 per person, double occupancy. Rates, itinerary, hotels, events, terms and conditions are subject to change. AAA Member Benefits are valid for passengers who book through AAA Travel only. Benefits listed may be substituted/eliminated and have no cash value. This tour includes moderate physical activity, walking slightly longer distances, upstairs or on uneven walking surfaces should be expected. Passports are required for US citizens (Passport must be valid 6 months beyond return date.) Passport fees are not included. Visa required, check with your travel consultant. Other restrictions may apply. The Auto Club Group is not responsible for any errors or omissions in the promotion of this tour. 19-TR-0295

Day 11Sea of GalileeOn our way to the beautiful Galilee, we’ll visit

Capernaum, a 2nd Century synagogue that helps

illuminate the religious life of Jesus time. Next, we’ll

go to Tabgha to visit the Church of the Multiplication,

the site of the ‘loaves and fishes,’ as well as the spot

where the third resurrection appearance occurred.

Close by is the Mount of Beatitudes, the gathering

place where Jesus delivered the Sermon of the

Mount. Before returning to Jerusalem, we’ll end with

a boat ride across the waters of the Sea of Galilee.

(B, L)

Day 12Masada – Dead SeaWe’ll head east today toward the Dead Sea region,

stopping first at the Qumran Caves famous for the

discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls. The secret life of

the Essenes was revealed along with hand-written

copies of many books of the Hebrew Bible. Next

is Masada where we ascend by cable car to the

dramatic ruins of King Herod’s fortress-palace on a

barren mountaintop. Here the Jewish Zealots made

their last heroic stand against the Romans in 73 AD.

Later, we’ll enjoy lunch and a dip in the Dead Sea and

in the evening, we’ll attend a sound and light show

at the Tower of David in the Old City. (B, L)

Day 13JerusalemToday, we’ll explore the holy city revered by Judaism,

Christianity and Islam, starting at the Western Wall.

This remnant of the Second Temple, destroyed by

the Romans in 70 AD, is a holy place of prayer for

Judaism. Above this Wall is Temple Mount which we’ll

visit, subject to the authorities that control access.

This is the site of the Al-Aqsa Mosque and the Dome

of the Rock. Built in the 7th Century, the Dome is

the oldest monument in Islam and covers the stone

where it’s thought that Abraham nearly sacrificed

Isaac as well as the spot from which the Prophet

Muhammad ascended to heaven. We’ll visit King

David’s tomb as well as the traditional Room of the

Last Supper. Tonight is our farewell to Israel dinner.

(B, L, D)

Day 14Tel Aviv – Abu DhabiAfter breakfast, we’ll drive to Jaffa, the picturesque

ancient port of modern Tel Aviv. Our trip leader will

provide an orientation tour of Tel Aviv including the

White City. We will have a non-stop flight to Abu

Dhabi, a new route between the capitals of Israel and

the United Arab Emirates. Our trip leader will greet us

and escort us to the St. Regis Hotel on the Corniche

for a casual dinner and overnight. (B, L) The St. Regis

Hotel – 1 night

Day 15Abu DhabiToday, we’ll visit the new Louvre Abu Dhabi for a

guided tour and then on to the Presidential Palace.

As we leave the city, we’ll be guided through the

astonishing Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, one of

the world’s most stunning landmarks. Holding up

to 40,000 worshipers at one time, it has 82 white

marble domes, 1,096 exterior columns and seven

24-carat gold plated Swarovski crystal chandeliers.

Then we’re off to the secluded Qasr al Sarab resort

with our trip leader for two nights. (B, L) Qasr al

Sarab Desert Resort -2 Nights

Day 16Empty Quarter DesertToday is free for you to enjoy the luxury of this

beautiful property, surrounded by towering dunes

and recognized as one of the finest resorts in the

Middle East. Relax on your private terrace with

panoramic views of the infinite desert, take a camel

trek across the dunes, enjoy a falcon demonstration,

swim or luxuriate in the spa. (B)

Day 17Dubai Our trip leader will introduce us to some of Dubai

most unique sites, including the man-made Palm

Island, Jumeirah Beach and the iconic Burj al Arab.

Later, we’ll check into our 5-star hotel, the Address

Marina. The evening is free to enjoy as you wish. (B)

Address Marina Hotel – 2 Nights

Day 18DubaiToday, we’ll visit the Gold and Spice Souk as well

as the Burj Khalifa soaring above Dubai, the world’s

tallest freestanding structure. We’ll zoom to the top

Observation Deck by fast elevator for unfettered

views of the city and Gulf. Then, spend some free

time underground at the Dubai Mall, the city’s

largest. Returning to our hotel, we’ll gather at a fine

restaurant for this evening’s farewell dinner. (B, L, D)

Day 19Farewell DubaiYour amazing adventure comes to an end today.

At the appropriate time, you’ll be escorted to Dubai

International Airport for your onward journey. (B)

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