Itinerary Details
Israel & Jordan Escape
Day 1 ARRIVE IN TEL AVIV, ISRAELWelcome to Tel Aviv! This evening, meet your Tour Director and traveling companions for a welcome dinner. (D)
Day 2 TEL AVIV–JAFFA–CAESAREA–NAZARETH–CANA–HAIFAMiraculous Sites & Ancient Wonders JAFFA Take a walking tour of the ancient port.
CAESAREA Visit the Roman Amphitheater and the Crusader fortress.
NAZARETH Visit the Church of the Annunciation.
CANA Visit the site of Jesus’ first recorded miracle. (B,D) 124 mi/200 km
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
HISTORY & MYSTERY Explore the ancient port of Jaffa, where biblical stories of Jonah, Solomon, and St. Peter took place. The Israeli city traces its roots to 1800 BC, with mythological tales of Andromeda and Perseus. Today Jaffa features picturesque alleys, art galleries, unique boutiques, ancient buildings, and wonderful landmarks.
Day 3 HAIFA. EXCURSION TO THE MOUNT OF BEATITUDES–CAPERNAUM–SEA OF GALILEEHoly Water & Wondrous Miracles HAIFA Visit the Baha’i Shrine.
MOUNT OF BEATITUDES Explore the site where Jesus delivered his iconic Sermon on the Mount.
CAPERNAUM Visit the site where Jesus recruited his followers.
RIVER JORDAN Visit a baptismal site.
SEA OF GALILEE Take pictures of Lake Tiberias from the panoramic point before embarking on a [LF] scenic cruise. (B,D)
66 mi/107 km
LOCAL FAVORITE
EPIC RIDE The Sea of Galilee (Lake Tiberias) is the background to many biblical events and miracles, it is where Jesus walked on water. Take a cruise on the historic waters of the lowest freshwater lake in the world, just over 200 meters below sea-level, and enjoy the panoramic views.
Day 4 HAIFA–VALLEY OF ELAH–LATRUN–BETHLEHEM–JERUSALEMGiant Victories LATRUN AREA Take pictures at the site of David’s victory over Goliath, and visit the Monastery of the Trappist Monks.
BETHLEHEM Take an orientation tour and visit the Church of Nativity. (B) 140 mi/ 225 km
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
HISTORIC SITE The Emperor Constantine and his mother St Helena commissioned the first Church of the Nativity in the 4th Century, it was built over a grotto widely recognized to be the birthplace of Jesus. In the following centuries the church was rebuilt and renovated. Today the guardianship of the Church is shared by three Church Authorities – Armenian Apostolic, Greek Orthodox and Roman Catholic.
Day 5 JERUSALEM. EXCURSION TO THE ISRAEL MUSEUM, YAD VASHEM, AND MOUNT ZIONMoving History JERUSALEM Visit the Israel Museum and Yad Vashem Memorial. Guided walking tour of Mount Zion, visit the Upper Room and the Tomb of King David. (B,D)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
IN MEMORIUM Yad Vashem (the World Holocaust Remembrance Center) takes its name from the biblical verse, ?And to them will I give in my house and within my walls a memorial and a name (a yad vashem)” – (Isaiah, 56; 5). Here, roughly one million visitors come to remember the millions who were persecuted during WWII. Housing a remarkable collection of historic and personal artifacts, stories, and memorials to the Jewish people who suffered at the hands of the Nazi regime, Yad Vashem leaves a deeply profound impression of remembrance and conviction in the souls of all who visit.
Day 6 JERUSALEM. EXCURSION TO THE OLD CITYPrayerful Places JERUSALEM Guided walking tour of the Old City includes Mount of Olives and the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus prayed. Visit the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Stop at the Western Wall. (B)
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
ICONIC FOOTSTEPS Jerusalem is totally unique; there is no place like it. A city of tradition, religion, and history, but also increasingly of modern culture and heritage. Take in all this while you wander around the maze of streets listening to the story that made it so special even astronaut Neil Armstrong when visiting said, “I am more excited stepping on these stones than stepping on the moon.”
Day 7 JERUSALEM. EXCURSION TO MASADA AND THE DEAD SEAUplifting Waters & Unforgettable Wonders MASADA Take a cable-car ride to visit the cliff-top fortress.
DEAD SEA Experience the feeling of buoyancy while floating on the waters of the Dead Sea. Dinner at your hotel. (B,D) 64 mi/103 km
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
NATURAL WONDERS Feel weightless as you float effortlessly on the waters of the Dead Sea. This legendary salt lake in the Jordan Rift Valley is fed by the Jordan River, with its salty surface lying 430.5m below sea level – the lowest land-based shores on Earth.
Day 8 JERUSALEM, ISRAEL–ALLENBY BRIDGE–JERASH, JORDAN–AMMANBridging History ALLENBY BRIDGE Cross the border to Jordan.
JERASH Visit the Greco Roman ruins. (B,D) 111 mi/178 km
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
ART & ARCHITECTURE Explore the remarkable Roman ruins of Jerash’ ceremonial gates, colonnades, temples, and auditoriums. Considered one of the world’s largest and best-preserved sites of Roman architecture, Jerash gives a glimpse into a world of chariots racing before 15,000 spectators in the Hippodrome, and religious sacrifices carried out in the Temple of Zeus.
Day 9 AMMAN–WADI RUM–PETRARed Roving in Wadi Rum WADI RUM [LF] Four wheel drive tour in the red sandstone landscape of Wadi Rum and receive a complimentary keffiyeh (traditional headscarf). (B,D) 273 mi/440 km
LOCAL FAVORITE
EPIC RIDE Climb aboard for a visually thrilling 4-wheel drive you’ll never forget. Explore a spectacular Mars-like landscape spanning nearly 200,000 acres in the painted desert and rocky masterpieces of Wadi Rum.
Day 10 PETRACinematic Treasures PETRA Guided walking tour of [LF] the Siq, the narrow gorge made famous in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Free time for lunch. Sip tea in a Bedouin tent. (B,D)
LOCAL FAVORITE
PICTURE PERFECT Enjoy an unforgettable experience as you walk down the Siq, the narrow gorge made famous by Indiana Jones. Stand in awe in front of the iconic and famed treasury. See spectacular temples and tombs created out of the rose-hued sandstone, and sip tea in an authentic Bedouin tent.
Day 11 PETRA–KERAK–WADI MUJIB–DEAD SEAA River Wild KERAK Visit the Crusader castle. Free time for lunch.
WADI MUJIB Photo stop. (B,D) 200 mi/322 km
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
NATURAL WONDERS Stop for a photo opportunity at the spellbinding canyon of Wadi Muji. Towering above Jordan’s Mujib River on its way to the Dead Sea, the Mujib Biosphere Reserve is home to fascinating and rare wildlife species who call this spectacular natural landscape their home.
Day 12 DEAD SEA. EXCURSION TO MADABA, MOUNT NEBO & BETHANY BEYOND THE JORDANThe Promised Land MADABA Visit St. George’s Church & the Madaba Archaeological Museum.
MOUNT NEBO Visit the site where Moses saw the promised land.
BETHANY BEYOND THE JORDAN Orientation walk. Free time this afternoon before afarewell dinner at your hotel. (B,D) 29 mi/46 km
TOUR HIGHLIGHT
ART & ARCHITECTURE Explore the market town of Madaba, home to a bounty of breathtaking Byzantine mosaics. See the most famous of these ancient works discovered amid the rubble of the floor of St. George’s Church – revealing a treasure of early Christianity and the oldest existing map of Palestine.
Day 13 DEAD SEASafe travels until we meet again! Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (The nearest airport is Amman). (B)
