During this eleven-day tour, discover the incredible highlights of Israel and Jordan. Arriving in the vibrant city of Tel Aviv, go ‘low’ and see the Dead Sea, visit ancient archaeological ruins and charming villages. Then discover Jerusalem and its history and enjoy a wine tour and a local Israeli winery. Select between a basic bed-and-breakfast basis or enjoy included dinners on the half-board option.
TOUR HIGHLIGHTS
Jerusalem: Israel’s capital city is a city of tradition, religion and history, but also of modern culture and heritage.
Beit She’an: One of the oldest cities in Israel, over 20 layers of human civilisation are tucked away inside its large ancient mound.
Nazareth: Nazareth, located in Israel’s Galilee region, not only has over a dozen important Christian sites, but as Israel’s largest Arab city, has some fascinating cultural sites and experiences to discover.
Galilee: One of the most beautiful regions of Israel, Galilee is characterised by its beautiful landscape, amazing natural formations, historic sites, and charming villages.
Tel Aviv: This city that never sleeps combines sandy Mediterranean beaches with top-notch nightclubs, a buzzing cultural and culinary scene, fascinating architecture and an international mindset.
Amman: Considered as the most liberal and modern Arab city and the major tourist destination in the region, Amman is reach in culture and history, from the Neolithic, crossing the classical period, Islamic era, to the modern era.
Petra: The “Rose City”, due to the colour of the stone, is a historical and archaeological city in southern Jordan. It’s emblematic buildings are recognised as UNESCO World Heritage since 1985.
Day 1: ARRIVAL TEL AVIV
Upon arriving at Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport, meet your tour representative before hopping onto the transfer to your hotel in Tel Aviv for your first night in Israel. Spend the rest of the day at leisure, becoming acquainted with your vibrant new surroundings.
Overnight in Tel Aviv.
Day 2: TEL AVIV – MASADA & DEAD SEA – JERUSALEM (305 Kms – 4.5 hrs)
Meet your tour guide in the morning and set off from Tel Aviv, driving south to Masada, Israel’s foremost archaeological park. Ascend via cable car for a thorough visit that gives insight into the rituals, politics and culture of the people who inhabited this desert fortress, the last stronghold of the Jewish Zealots in their war against the Romans. Visit the excavations, Herod’s palaces, the synagogue, bathhouse and cisterns, and enjoy the breathtaking view of the Roman camps and the Dead Sea. Descend to the lowest place on earth – the Dead Sea, to experience the mineral-rich black mud and float in its salty waters. Passing by the oasis of Ein Gedi, proceed through the Judean Desert to Jerusalem.
Overnight in Jerusalem.
Day 3: JERUSALEM
Start the day at the Israel Museum’s Shrine of the Book, which contains the famous Dead Sea scrolls, then a visit to the beautifully renovated model of the Herodian city of Jerusalem, dating back to the time of the Second Temple. Enjoy Ein Karem: a picturesque village in the southwestern outskirts of Jerusalem. This small village has great significance in Christian traditions, since this is where according to tradition John the Baptist was born. Visit Yad Vashem the official memorial to the Jewish victims of the Holocaust, established in 1953, located at the foot of Mt. Herzl. Then travel to Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus, commemorated at the Church of the Nativity and Manger Square. Return to your Jerusalem hotel.
Overnight in Jerusalem.
Day 4: JERUSALEM: OLD CITY
Enter the Old City of Jerusalem, where you’ll see the Western Wall and the actual site of the Second Temple, the Temple Mount. Walk along the Way of the Cross, the Via Dolorosa, to Calvary and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, housing both the traditional site of Crucifixion and the Tomb of the Resurrection. To the southwest, just outside the Old City, is Mount Zion, with the traditional tomb of King David and the Room of the Last Supper. From atop the Mount of Olives, enjoy the spectacular panoramic view of Jerusalem, a holy city for the world’s three Abrahamic religions, Christianity, Judaism and Islam. Visit the Garden of Gethsemane, where Judas betrayed Jesus. In the heart of a neighbourhood in downtown Jerusalem, visit Mahane Yehuda to experience the flavours, aromas, colours and the traders' interaction with the crowds, at the largest open market in Israel. Return to your Jerusalem hotel.
Overnight in Jerusalem.
Day 5: JERUSALEM – BEIT SHE’AN – GOLAN HEIGHTS – TIBERIAS (270 Kms – 4 hrs)
Leave Jerusalem after breakfast and drive north passing by Jericho, the oldest city in the world. Travel through the Jordan Valley and the new settlements to Beit She’an, and visit the excavations of this beautifully preserved Roman city. Drive up to the Golan Heights to enjoy an Israeli wine country experience, enjoying wine tasting and understanding the wine production process. Travel through the Golan, with its Druze villages, former Syrian fortifications and panoramic views of Mount Hermon and into Syria. Descend to the Hula Valley and drive to Tiberias on the shores of the Sea of Galilee - regarded as one of the four Holy cities in Judaism, where the Jewish Talmud - the primary source of Jewish religious law - was compiled, with tombs of Rabbis scattered across the city.
Overnight in Tiberias.
Day 6: GALILEE: AROUND THE SEA OF GALILEE & NAZARETH
In the morning, drive along the shores of the Sea of Galilee and proceed to Capernaum, to visit the ruins of an ancient synagogue, the Mount of Beatitudes, the traditional site of the ‘Sermon on the Mount’ and Tabgha, the traditional site of the ‘miracle of the loaves and the fish’. Optional sailing on a boat across the Sea of Galilee to experience the tranquillity and scenery little changed during the past 2000 years (subject to conditions and fee). Next, drive to Nazareth to visit the Church of the Annunciation and Christian holy sites before returning to Tiberias.
Overnight in Tiberias.
Day 7: TIBERIAS - ACRE – HAIFA – CAESAREA – TEL AVIV (124 km – 2 hrs)
After breakfast drive through the hills of the Galilee, westwards to Acre for a visit of its old Crusader stronghold and mediaeval fortifications. Continue to Haifa, ascending Mount Carmel for a panoramic view of the city, and visit the Baha'i Shrine, the Persian Garden and the bay. Proceed along the Mediterranean coast to Caesarea to visit the Roman Theatre and the Crusader fortress known as the ‘masterpiece of Herod the Great’. End the day with a short city tour of Tel Aviv and the ancient port of Jaffa.
Overnight in Tel Aviv.
Day 8: TEL AVIV - JORDAN – JERASH – AMMAN (260 km - 5 hrs)
Drive from Tel Aviv to the Sheikh Hussein border crossing to enter the neighbouring country of Jordan. Proceed to Jerash, the city of the Decapolis, located about 45 kilometres north of Amman in the fertile heights of the Gilad. Visit the ancient Roman city with colonnaded streets, and see its ancient baths, the temple on top of the hill and much more. Drive then to the capital city of Amman and enjoy a panoramic guided tour of this history-rich Jordanian city with a modern soul.
Overnight in Amman.
Day 9: AMMAN - PETRA (230 Km - 3 hrs)
After an early breakfast, leave the hotel and travel south to the desert region of Wadi Musa. There you’ll find the modern village of Petra. Feel like Indiana Jones as you approach the ‘siq’ (canyon), also known as the ‘red rock city’, which used to be the ancient capital of the Nabateans from the 3rd century BC to the 2nd century AD. Marvel at the breath-taking beauty of this city carved in rock, listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 1985. Visit its most interesting monuments, such as the Treasury, El Khazneh (a tomb of a Nabatean king), the field of tombs, the obelisks, the altar and Al Madhbah, a point from which you can view the whole of the rock city. Then prepare for an unforgettable night as you make this stunning site your abode and go to sleep in the ancient city.
Overnight in Petra.
Day 10: PETRA - MADABA – MOUNT NEBO – TEL AVIV (452 km – 7 hrs)
Drive northwards to Madaba to visit the remains of its famous Byzantine church, which contains an ancient mosaic floor map, the oldest surviving original cartographic depiction of the Holy Land and Jerusalem. Continue then for about 10 kilometres to Mount Nebo, from where Moses viewed the Promised Land. From there you will indeed be able to see the Jordan Valley, Jericho and the Dead Sea, which today lie on the other side of the border, in Israel. Drive across the border and return to Tel Aviv.
Overnight in Tel Aviv.
Day 11: DEPARTURE TEL AVIV
We have reached our final day on this tour! Enjoy one last breakfast before your transfer takes you to the Ben Gurion airport for your flight back home.
Breakfast included
Comfortable and light clothing is best suited to travel in the warm months and warm clothing in the colder months in Israel. Visitors should not wear sleeveless shirts, shorts, short skirts or sparse clothing when visiting temples, religious or official buildings or at the Western Wall. Sun protection, sunglasses and a hat can be very useful during your stay.
