Highlights Of Israel & Jordan

Overnight Standard Hotel (H+)

This morning we visit the cultural heart of the Hashemite kingdom with a tour of its vibrant capital. The origins of this remarkable city have been traced back some 9,000 years but it was the arrival of the Ammonites in 1200BC that saw the city begin its rise to prominence as the great city of Rabbath Ammon. The intervening centuries saw it fall under the influences of the Israelites, Assyrians, Babylonians, Ptolomids, Seleucids and the Romans, under whose auspices it thrived as one of the 10 cities of the Decapolis. Our tour this morning will take in some of the highlights of ancient Amman (Philadelphia), including the Citadel and the Temple of Hercules, the 8th century Ummayad Palace and the Roman Theatre and Nymphaeum. This afternoon we depart the city and head north, towards ancient Jerash, located in the Gilead Hills. One of Jordan’s major attractions, this beautifully preserved Roman city is considered to be the best preserved of the Decapolis, a confederation of ten Middle Eastern cities under the Emperor Pompey. One of the highlights of the Middle East, a triple arch gateway gives way to colonnaded streets, theatres, temples and baths and it is estimated that this represents only about 10% of the entire city, the rest is still to be uncovered. We will tour this magnificent site this afternoon with a local guide.

Overnight Standard Hotel (H+) Included meals: Breakfast

Today we drive across the Jordanian River into Israel and the Palestinian Territories. Leaving Amman after breakfast we head for Sheikh Hussein and cross the border, to continue on to the important Christian sites of Tabgha and Capernaum including a short boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. It was at Tabgha, or rather on the nearby slopes of the Mount of the Beatitudes, that it is believed that the Sermon on the Mount took place, where one of the most significant events of the New Testament saw the feeding of the 5,000. We will take an opportunity to visit the Church of the Multiplication of the Loaves, the Church of the Primacy of St Peter and the Mount itself, before continuing on to Capernaum, the birthplace of St. Peter and the site believed to be where Jesus started his ministry. From here we head for the town of Nazareth and a brief stop to visit the Basilica of the Annunciation and St. Joseph’s Church. Believed to have been the site where the Angel Gabriel appeared to Mary, the Basilica is one of holiest sites in Christendom, whilst St. Joseph’s is said to occupy the site where Joseph’s carpentry shop once stood. Following this visit we then head for our kibbutz, close to the historic city of Tiberias. Following the Bar Kochba Revolt in the 2nd century AD and the exile of the Jews from Jerusalem, Tiberius became the centre of Jewish life in Israel. The Mishnah and the Palestine Talmud holy books were completed here and the Hebrew alphabet further developed, elevating Tiberias to the status of one of the four Holy Jewish towns. Overnight kibbutz

Overnight Kibbutz (H) Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Today we drive  to Bethlehem where we will have the chance to visit the Church of the Nativity. Journeying to Jerusalem from here we take the opportunity to visit the new Western part of the city, spending time at the Israel Museum and Parliament House. From here we journey to Ein Karem to visit the Church of St John the Baptist and the church of the Visitation before returning checking into our Hotel in Jerusalem.

Overnight Standard Hotel (H+) Included meals: Breakfast

This morning we drive by bus up to the Mount of Olives for a superb view down over the Old City, before descending down into the Josaphat Valley to visit the Pater Noster Church, the Garden of Gethsemane and the Church of All Nations. Returning to the city we then take a walking tour of this most hallowed of settings, passing through Herod’s Gate and making our way along narrow winding streets that overflow with street vendors and shops to the Via Dolorosa, traditionally believed to be the route taken by Christ on the day of his execution. We will follow the ‘Stations of the Cross’ to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the holiest site in Christendom itself and the reputed place of the crucifixion, burial and eventual resurrection of Jesus Christ. Jerusalem is unique in that it is a place held sacred by the three great monotheistic religions of the world and after having visited Christendom’s most sacred site we move on to that of Judaism, the Western Wall. Believed by Jews to be the last remaining remnant of the second Temple, the wall is considered the most revered of all sites for the Jews and is a place of constant prayer. From here we continue, if access is allowed, onto the Dome of the Rock and Islam’s claim to this holy trinity. This is believed to be the site of Mohammed’s ascension to heaven and is the third holiest site in Islam, not to mention one of the most impressive examples of Islamic architecture in the world.

Overnight Standard Hotel (H+) Included meals: Breakfast

Leaving Jerusalem behind this morning we travel through the Jordan Valley to the ancient city of Jericho, lying amidst the hotly contested settlements of the West Bank. This was the first city to fly the flag of the newly formed Palestinian state and its antecedents stretch back some ten millennia, making it not only one of the oldest cities on earth, but at 250m below sea level also the lowest. Our next stop on the journey from Jerusalem takes us to Qumran, home of the Essenes, a strict and devout Jewish sect who lived in the area until early in the 1st century AD and who are believed to have been the authors of the 2,000 year old manuscripts found amongst the hillside caves in 1947. The Dead Sea scrolls are amongst the most important biblical records ever discovered, providing historians and archaeologists with an incredible insight into the development of the Bible and its historical context. Whilst we are in the area we will also take some time to enjoy a float in the remarkable saline waters of the Dead Sea. At 418m below sea level this salty expanse of mineral rich water has been revered for centuries for its beneficial properties, and we will have an opportunity to experience a little something of its remarkable buoyancy as we enjoy a dip in its unique waters. After lunch we head towards the western shores of the Dead Sea and the isolated hilltop fortress city of Masada, the last stronghold of the Zealots against the Romans during the First Revolt in AD 70. Originally fortified by Herod the Great the fortress gained renown when, following the crushing of the Jewish resistance in Jerusalem, Masada held out for a further two years, before the Romans finally breached the walls. Rather than surrender to their oppressors the entire population of Masada (some 1000 people) committed suicide. Taking a cable car up to the citadel we get some stunning views of the surrounding desert, including the mountains of Moab and the Dead Sea. After exploring the ruins, including the bathhouses, great underground cisterns, store houses and Herod’s Winter Palace, we continue our journey to Ein Gedi Nature Reserve, on the shores of the Dead Sea. Renowned since Biblical times, the oasis has been famed for its dates since Roman times and today is a nature reserve where you can walk amongst lush vegetation in search of Ibex and Rock Hyraxes.  From here, we carry on to Ein Bokek for our overnight stop.

Overnight Standard Hotel (H+) Included meals: Breakfast

The Negev is a vast desert wilderness, covering almost half of Israel and the Palestinian Territories' entire landmass, encompassing canyons and wadis, high plateaus and fertile plains and today we have an opportunity to explore something of its staggering majesty with a half day’s 4WD safari across its landscapes. Our drive then brings us to Israel and the Palestinian Territories' southernmost frontiers, where we cross into Jordan via the Arava crossing then travelling on to our overnight stop on the Red Sea town of Aqaba.

Overnight Standard Hotel (H+) Included meals: Breakfast

Our morning is left free for you to relax and enjoy Jordan's Red Sea before we vernture north, crossing a landscape of sandstone mountains and white and pink coloured sands towards the haunting vistas of Wadi Rum. Turning off the main road we enter another world, one inhabited by the nomadic Bedouin peoples for generations and steeped in the legend of Lawrence of Arabia, whose exploits have become stuff of legend. Indeed scenes from the remarkable film of his life were shot here, deep in the fabulous purpleblack mountains that rise from the sand of the desert. On arrival we head out to explore the outlying canyons of this stunning setting in the time honoured fashion of the Bedouin, taking an unforgettable trek (or optional camel trek) through the dramatic desert landscape, to marvel at the panoramas of what must surely be some of Jordan’s most dramatic wilderness. Words struggle to adequately convey the beauty of this special place and, as dusk settles on our tiny Bedouin camp, dwarfed by the surrounding mountains, we can understand why this landscape was for Lawrence of Arabia so humbling and yet so inspiring an experience. Arriving at our camp late this afternoon there will be time to relax and soak up the enchanting ambience of this magical setting, perhaps taking a walk to a viewpoint to watch the golden glow of the sunset cast its pall over the desert landscape.

Overnight Basic Camping (C) Included meals: Breakfast, Dinner

Taking the old Roman road north we continue by 4WD vehicles to Petra this morning, exploring the lesser-known northern areas of Wadi Rum, passing natural rock bridges and viewing the incredible rock sculptures on the way. Abandoned centuries ago Petra was the rock cut stronghold of the Nabateans, a fortress city built to protect the lucrative levies its citizens imposed on the rich caravans heading north. Surrounded by imposing mountains and approached through a deep, narrow cleft in the rocks, known as the Siq, it is a unique and unforgettable place and, enhanced by the play of light and shadow, an altogether overwhelming experience. Entering the Siq on foot we follow its towering sandstone walls towards the site of the captivating and iconic splendour of the beautiful Khazneh (The famous Treasury). A guided orientation tour will then take us to some of the key parts of this remarkable and ancient site, one of the most impressive and exciting anywhere in the world, where we’ll take in the Colonnaded Street and the Royal Tombs and enjoy the site of its amazing theatre, with its 8,000 seats carved from the solid rock.

Overnight Standard Hotel (H+) Included meals: Breakfast

Today you have a full free day at Petra (‘rock’ in Greek). Returning to the city you can climb steep paths to the sacrificial ‘High Places’ (altars) and hike to the top of Jebel Harin (1396m) for a stunning view over Wadi Araba and the Negev Desert. The Monastery is the largest of Petra’s monuments and certainly worth the steep climb up to it. Towering to a height of 40m its doorway alone measures 8m in height, dwarfing anyone framed within it. It is a place to lose oneself in the atmosphere of the past. We also recommend a trip to El Beidha (or ‘Little Petra’ as it is known) or to an excavated Stone Age village where you can see the remains of houses, fireplaces and workshops dating from around 6000BC. And after a full day’s sightseeing, what better way to relax than with a traditional Ottoman Bath, or perhaps return to the city this evening and enjoy an enchanting tour of the city by night ( both optional).

Overnight Standard Hotel (H+) Included meals: Breakfast

Included meals: Breakfast