11 DAY ISRAEL AND JORDAN TOUR
Day 1: The Holy Week
Welcome to Israel! Today you will explore the final week prior to Jesus’ crucifixion. You will begin at the Mount of Olives. Despairing of corruption in Jerusalem, Jesus instead camped out on the mount, then just outside the city.
You will see:
- where Jesus wept over the wickedness of the people;
- where He taught the Lord’s prayer;
- where He was betrayed and arrested; and
- where He ascended to heaven 40 days after the Resurrection.
Entering the walls of the Old City, you will continue to the site of the trial by Pontius Pilate, and see the Stations of the Cross leading to the church of the Holy Sepulcher where Jesus was crucified, buried.
Overnight: Jerusalem
Day 2 - Bringing the Bible to Life
This morning you will tour the Jewish quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem. You will see the Tower of David, the tomb of King David, the broadwall built by King Hezekiah as described by the prophet Isaiah, the room of the Last Supper, the Roman marketplace and the Western Wall.
Exiting the Old City, you will continue to the City of David, where you will see the earliest Jewish settlement site in Jerusalem. Your tour will include what many scholars believe to be the remnants of David’s palace, the water tunnel of King Hezekiah, and a street connecting you to the main thoroughfare of Jerusalem at the time of Christ.
Overnight: Jerusalem
Day 3 - Masada and Dead Sea
This morning you will travel south into the Judean desert. You will pass the site of the Good Samaritan, Jericho where Satan tempted Christ, Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found, and Sodom, destroyed by God because of its wickedness. Your first stop will be Masada, the cliff top fortress of Herod the Great, the king who sought to murder all male babies to prevent prevent Jesus’ salvation.
Ascending Masada you will view the magnificent suspended palace, the Roman bathhouses, the Jewish ritual baths, the enormous storage rooms, the ancient synagogue, the UNESCO listed Roman military siege system, and the destroyed walls. You will also hear the tale of the heroes who chose death over forced idolatry.
Departing Masada you will continue to the Dead Sea, where you will enjoy the unique sensation of floating on water. In the evening, you will return to Jerusalem.
Overnight: Jerusalem
Day 4 - Little town of Bethlehem
This morning you will travel to Bethlehem, birthplace of Jesus. You will see:
- Manger Square;
- The Church of the Nativity where Jesus was born;
- The Milk Grotto where Mary nursed Jesus; and
- The shepherds’ field.
In the afternoon you will return to Jerusalem to visit the Israel museum. You will see the Dead Sea Scrolls and a large scale model of Jerusalem from Jesus’ time.
Overnight: Jerusalem
Day 5 - The Hashemite Kingdom
This morning you will travel to the Allenby border crossing and make your way into Jordan. From there you will continue to Madaba, where you will see the famous map of the Holy Land from the middle ages, and Mt Nebo, final resting place of Moses
You will then make your way to one of the world’s great wonders, Petra
Overnight: Petra
Day 6 - Nabbatean Wonder
Today you will explore the world famous city of Petra, carved into the desert rock. You will see:
- The treasury;
- The monastery;
- The sikh;
- The royal tomb
Many other wonders also await.
In the evening you will make your way to Wadi Ram, Jordan’s second most visited attraction
Overnight: Wadi Ram
Day 7 - The Red Desert
Today you will explore Jordan’s second most visited site, Wadi Ram. Guided by a local Bedouin desert expert, you will see unique canyons, crevices and formations normally inaccessible to outsiders. Your tour will include a jeep ride over the famous red dunes, and a Bedouin hospitality experience.
In the afternoon you will make your way back to the border crossing and return to Israel. We will then travel to the Galilee.
Overnight: Tiberias
Day 8 - Galilee - Home of Jesus
Today you will explore the Galilee, the home of Jesus. You will see:
- Capernaum where Peter lived and Jesus stayed and preached;
- The Mount of Beatitudes where Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount; and
- Taghba where Jesus performed the miracle of the fishes and the loaves.
Crossing the Galilee, you will pass Kfar Qana where Jesus turned water into wine, before arriving in Nazareth where Jesus grew up. You will see the Basilica of the Annunciation where the angel Gabriel informed Mary of her forthcoming pregnancy.
You will spend the night in Israel’s third largest city, Haifa.
Overnight: Haifa
Day 9 - Coastal wonders
This morning you will explore the area around Haifa. You will start at the spectacular Bahia gardens for which the city is famous. You will then make your way to Stella Maris, the monastery associated with the prophet Elijah.
Continuing south, you will visit Caesarea. Built by Herod in the first century BC, Caesarea is home to:
- A large Roman theater;
- A chariot racing arena;
- The ancient world’s largest artificial harbour;
- The remains of an ocean front palace;
- The ancient world’s largest artificial harbour.
Caesarea is also significant to Christians. You will see the Pilate stone, an engraving providing non biblical evidence of the historic Pontius Pilate.
You will finish in Tel Aviv, where you will spend the night.
Overnight: Tel Aviv
Day 10 - Tel Aviv
This morning you will explore Jaffa, the ancient city from which Tel Aviv grew. You will see:
- The ancient port from which Jonah attempted to flee;
- The home of Simon the Tanner;
- St Peter’s Church where Peter is believed to have had one of his most significant visions;
- The gate of the old walls of Jaffa.
Continuing into modern Tel Aviv you will visit Rothschild Boulevarde where the city was founded, and the lively Carmel markets.
Overnight: Tel Aviv
Day 11 - Farewell
Enjoy a day at leisure before departure.
HOTEL LIST
We work with the following hotels:
Jerusalem:
3* – Montifiore Hotel, Ibis Jerusalem City Center, Jerusalem Tower Hotel, Shani Hotel
4* – Grand Court, Prima Park Hotel, Ramada Hotel, Jerusalem Gardens Hotel & Spa, Caesar Premier Hotel, Eldan Hotel
5* – Leonardo Boutique, Harmony Hotel, American Colony, Dan Hotel, Herbert Samuel Hotel
5* plus – Mamilla Hotel, David Intercontinental Hotel, King David Hotel
Petra:
3* – Amra Palace
4* – Petra Moon Hotel
5* – Petra Marriott Hotel
5* plus – Movenpick Hotel – Petra
Tiberias:
3* – Prima Hotel Tiberias, Jacob Hotel Tiberias
4* – Rimmonim Galei Kinneret Hotel, Ron Beach Hotel, Leonardo Tiberias Hotel
5* – Shirat Hayam Boutique Hotel, Leonardo Plaza Hotel, Caesar Premier Tiberias
5* plus – Scots Hotel
Tel Aviv
3* – Olympia Hotel, Maxim Hotel, Seanet Hotel, Gilgal Hotel
4* – Cinema Hotel, Prima Hotel, Rothschild 22, Leonardo Boutique Hotel
5* – Rothschild 71, Sheraton, Dan Hotel, Dan Panorama Hotel
5* plus – Carlton Hotel, Hilton, Norman
We reserve the right to place guests in hotels not set out above
COSTS
The cost of this tour varies greatly by season and the number of passengers traveling together. Please contact us for a custom quote
INCLUSIONS
- private tour guide daily
- all site entry
- all ground transport
- Arranging Jordan entry visa (and waiving of cost for select countries)
- breakfast daily
- hotel of the chosen class