Israel and Jordan Highlights Tour itinerary 10 DAY ITINERARY ISJ18ITIN 250517 Tour commences in Tel Aviv and concludes in Jerusalem. DAY 1: Tel Aviv Arrive in Tel Aviv and check in to your hotel. The rest of the day is free time to relax or explore. There are beautiful beaches and great architectural sites to discover in and near Tel Aviv as well cafes wand other shops. This evening you'll have the option to join your tour representative on an outing to experience Tel Aviv's nightlife. Olympia Hotel Gordon Inn and Suites Sea Side Hotel Margosa Hotel DAY 2: Jaffa - Tel Aviv - Free Afternoon This morning starts with a walking tour of Jaffa, the ancient port city that inspired the biblical story of 'Jonah and the Whale'. Then to the flea market - one of the city's most vibrant neighbourhoods.. This afternoon there s time for you to explore the city.
Experiences: Jaffa walking tour: The port city of Jaffa is the Biblical settlement featured in the tale of Jonah and the Whale. See the clock tower built in honour of Turkish Sultan Abdul Hamid, St Peter's Church, the old Armenian monastery and the fascinating Ramses II's Gate Garden. Tel Aviv: Enjoy some free time to explore Tel Aviv at your own pace. Foods: Hummus is enjoyed throughout the middle east and forms part of many traditional Arab meals. It is made from chickpeas or other beans, blended with tahini, olive oil, lemon juice, salt and garlic, mashed and mixed. Olympia Hotel Gordon Inn and Suites Sea Side Hotel Margosa Hotel DAY 3: Tel Aviv - Jerusalem - Bethlehem Jerusalem Early start today to travel through the striking Judean Hills on our way to Jerusalem. At the Mount of Olives we stop to view the City of Gold from above and visit the Church of all Nations. Next up is the Old City of Jerusalem. We visit the Wailing Wall, Mount Zion, the Via Dolorosa and more. Our next stop is Bethlehem, where we visit the Church of Nativity and see the famous Shepherd's' Fields. This evening we discover the Machane Yehuda Market back in Jerusalem. Experiences: Mount of Olives: Rising to the east of Jerusalem, the Mount of Olives separates the Holy City from the Judean Desert, which starts here and ends at the Dead Sea. It provides a panoramic view over the surrounding landscape and is home to the Church of All Nations, a Roman Catholic church next to the Garden of Gethsemane. Old City of Jerusalem: The Old City of Jerusalem comprises sites holy to Jews, Muslims and Christians, and its four bustling quarters have a distinct atmosphere. We explore a few of the more famous sites, including the Western Wall (AKA the Wailing Wall) where Jews come to pray; the Via Dolorosa - the path that Christ followed to his crucifixion; and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre that commemorates the hill of crucifixion. Bethlehem: Bethlehem is a major Christian pilgrimage destination and the birthplace of Jesus - now in the Church of Nativity. The Shuk - Machane Yehuda Market is a renown open-air market in a buzzing network of alleys and stalls. Experience everything from freshly traditionally brewed coffee and local delicacies, to clothing and souvenirs. Jerusalem Gold Hotel Caesar Premier Jerusalem The Post Jerusalem
Jerusalem Gate Hotel DAY 4: Jerash - Mount Nebo - Madaba Petra Today we drive through the Jordan River Valley and into Jordan, where we meet our local guide. We tour the ancient Roman city of Jerash. Then to Mount Nebo - where Moses first saw the Holy Land, then to Madaba to see the famous Byzantine Mosaics, before continuing to Petra for overnight. Experiences: Jerash - inhabited since the Bronze Age is best known for the ruins of Gerasa (including Hadrian's Arch and the Temple of Artemis). Mount Nebo - the point considered to be where Moses first glimpsed the Holy Land after walking 40 years in the desert. Byzantine Mosaics: The city of Madaba is best-known for its priceless Byzantine and Umayyad mosaics, especially a mosaic map of the Holy Land in the Church of St George. This map of the Middle East is the oldest surviving depiction of the Holy Land and dating from the 6th century AD. Entrance fees and border crossing fees are additional. Alanbat Hotel Candles Hotel DAY 5: Petra - Wadi Rum Today it s Petra - Jordan's most famous archaeological site and one of the 7 Wonders of the Ancient World. Discover the many tombs and temples carved into the sandstone cliffs including Al Khazneh with its impressive Greek facade. Your guide will show you all the main highlights of the site and
there will be plenty of time for personal exploration. Afterwards transfer to Wadi Rum for overnight at a Bedouin campsite. Experiences: Petra - from 300 BC, Petra was the capital of the Nabatean Kingdom. The site lay hidden for centuries until rediscovered in 1812. The 'Rose City' of Petra due to the colour of the stone. Bedouin campsite - experience a slice of life in the desert where Lawrence of Arabia once fought the Bedouins against the Ottoman Empire. Gather in the community tent to watch the sunset and enjoy tasty Bedouin tea, traditional foods and retire to a private tent to sleep under the stars. Entrance fees additional. Bait Ali Camp or similar DAY 6: Wadi Rum - Aqaba Eilat After breakfast we leave on a desert jeep safari with local Bedouin guides who escort us through the breathtaking landscape. After a short break back at camp, we continue to the port city of Aqaba, to enjoy a walking tour and explore the city's markets. We cross back into Israel at Arava, and continue to Eilat. We overnight in Eilat. Experiences: Desert Safari: A two-hour desert jeep safari through some of the world's most breathtaking desert landscapes. It's spellbinding terrain has been used in many movies. Aqaba: Take a short tour of Jordan's only coastal city, and free time to explore the souk markets. With a history dating back 40,000 years, Aqaba is now a thriving seaside resort destination. Eilat - Israel's southernmost city, a busy port and one of the most popular resorts on the Red Sea. Entrance fees additional. Comfort Hotel Americana Hotel Soleil Boutique Hotel Blue Hotel DAY 7: Eilat Today discover Eilat at your own pace. Explore the beaches, go diving, visit Dolphin Reef, or visit Timna Park and the Underwater Observatory. This evening we head out into the desert for a traditional bonfire experience. You have the option to head back to the hotel or spend the night under the stars at the Avara Desert camp.
DAY 8: Mount Masada - Ein Gedi - Dead Sea - Jericho - Qasr el Yehud Jerusalem We drive through the Arava Valley of the Negev Desert to Mount Masada to watch the sunrise over the Dead Sea and the Jordanian Moab Mountains. Visit the ruins of King Herod's Palace, then on to the Ein Gedi Nature Reserve - a beautiful desert oasis. The rest of the day is spent relaxing by the Dead Sea and visiting Jericho. We stop at Qasr el Yehud, the site on the banks of the Jordan River where Jesus was baptised by John the Baptist, before returning to Jerusalem. Experiences: Mount Masada: We arrive at the foot of Mount Masada as the sun rises, ascending via the serpentine walkway to see the sun rise across the Dead Sea and the Moab Mountains of Jordan on the other side. Tour the site and visit the ruins of King Herod's Palace. Herod the Great fortified Masada between 37 and 31 BCE against the Romans. Ein Gedi Nature Reserve: Ein Gedi is a lush oasis and nature reserve and one of the most beautiful places in Israel. The Dead Sea - more than 30% salt and also the lowest place on earth (417 feet below sea level). Jericho - history back more than 10,000 years, and the world's oldest continually-inhabited city. Entrance fees additional. Jerusalem Gold Hotel Caesar Premier Jerusalem The Post Jerusalem Jerusalem Gate Hotel DAY 9: Caesarea - Haifa - Akko - Rosh Hanikra Jerusalem On our last full day of tour, we visit no less than four of Israel's most famous travel destinations. Heading north to the western coastline, we first stop to explore Caesarea, King Herod's renowned
port on the Mediterranean. In the Crusader city of Akko walk through the markets, then see the grottoes at Rosh Hanikra. We overnight in Jerusalem. Experiences: Caesarea - King Herod's port on the Mediterranean. This fishing port was transformed into a Roman Capital by the powerful monarch and retains an air of splendour despite the fact that most of it ended up being covered by desert sands. Bahá í Gardens - these UNESCO-accredited gardens comprise 19 terraces of flowers, trees, sculptures, water fountains and pools. Akko - AKA Acre on Israel's Mediterranean coast is a 4,500-year old Crusader city offering everything from ancient fortresses and Turkish baths to colourful marketplaces filled with spices, seafood and local crafts. Rosh HaNikra - a spectacular geological formation on the coast where Israel and Lebanon meet. Entrance fees additional. Jerusalem Gold Hotel Caesar Premier Jerusalem The Post Jerusalem Jerusalem Gate Hotel or similar DAY 10: Jerusalem Your tour ends in Jerusalem after breakfast.