Heritage of Israel and Jordan

• Round trip economy class airfare from New York to Tel Aviv
• 8 nights hotel accommodation in Israel (Tel Aviv 2, Tiberias 2, Jerusalem 4) with buffet breakfast daily
• 2 nights hotel accommodation in Jordan (Amman), with breakfast daily
• 1 night hotel accommodation in Petra with breakfast
• 6 days escorted tour of Israel as per itinerary
• 3 day escorted tour of Jordan as per itinerary
• All transfers in Israel
• Sightseeing by air-conditioned vehicles and English speaking professional tour guides
• All entrance fees on included sightseeing
• Meals as per itinerary: B= breakfast (11)
• Host service in Israel and Jordan
• Hotel service charges and taxes
• FreeGate document portfolio
  

Itinerary

DAY 1- WED: USA-TEL AVIV
Depart New York via overnight transatlantic flight to Tel Aviv.

DAY 2 - THU: TEL AVIV
Upon arrival at Ben Gurion Airport you will be met, assisted and transferred to your hotel. The remainder of the day is at leisure. Overnight in Tel Aviv.

DAY 3 - FRI: Tel Aviv - Sea of Galilee - Tiberias (B)
The tour guide will pick you up from your hotel. You will drive for a short visit of the city of Jaffa (Joppa) where you will take a short walking tour in picturesque alleys of the old, fortified town. Pass by the house of Simon the Tanner and marvel at the views from the hill top. Than you will drive up north along the coast to the archaeological ruins of Caesarea, built by Herod the Great in honor of Augustus Caesar. From there continue on to visit Megiddo where the book of Revelation mentions a great battle at the place called "Armageddon". It is an ancient city inhabited continuously for more than five millennia (6000-500 B.C.). After exploring the ancient ruins you will drive toward the Sea of Galilee, Arrive at Tiberias and check-in to your hotel.

DAY 4 - SAT: Sea of Galilee (B)
Start the day from historic Tiberias, where Jesus lived, sojourned, and preached on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. Your next destination will be Capernaum, the center of Jesus ministry. Tabgha, just north of Tiberias, is the site of Christ’s miracle of feeding the 5,000 and at the Church of Multiplication the mosaic floor depicts a basket with loaves and two fishes. Drive on to the Mount of Beatitudes overlooking the Sea, where Jesus preached the “Sermon on the Mount” and it is believed that Jesus picked his 12 apostles. You will ascend to the Golan Heights to view the panoramic view of the peaks of Mt. Hermon and the rugged plateau of the Golan Heights, and beneath it the green pastoral Huleh valley. Return to Tiberias for another lovely night in town.

DAY 5 - SUN: Sea of Galilee - Jordan River - Jerusalem (B)
This morning you will travel to Cana to visit the Wedding Church where Jesus performed his first miracle, turning water into wine. Proceed to Nazareth, where Jesus spent his childhood, and the Church of Annunciation, built on the site where archaeologists believe the Archangel Gabriel appeared to the Virgin Mary. You’ll also see Mary’s Well and Joseph’s Church. Continue through the Jordan Valley to Beit Shean with its recently excavated amphitheater Visit the excavations of this beautiful preserved Roman City which was destroyed in an earthquake and then onward to Jerusalem, where you check-in to your choice of hotel.

DAY 6 - MON: Dead Sea & Masada (B)
Travel to Massada through remarkable scenery of the Dead Sea. Massada is situated right on an isolated cliff in the Judean Desert. The site has been declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001. Ascend by cable car to the fortress, which was the last stronghold of the Jewish Zealots in their war against the Romans. Visit the excavations, King Herod’s palace, the synagogue, bathhouse and much more. Enjoy the breathtaking view of the Roman camps and the Dead Sea. En route to the Dead Sea, you’ll see the site of the Qumran Caves where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered. Nearly 1,300 feet below sea level, the Dead Sea is the lowest point on the earth’s surface. Bring your swimsuit as if weather permits it’s possible to “float” on the salty, mineral rich water. Return to Jerusalem for an overnight.

DAY 7 - TUE: Jerusalem (B)
Start the day at Mt. Scopus. Enjoy the spectacular panoramic view of Jerusalem. The holy city for each of the world’s three great religions – Christianity, Judaism and Islam – Jerusalem occupies a unique place in the world. Your tour includes the Mount of Olives, a stop at the site where Jesus first gave the Lord’s Prayer, and the Garden of Gethsemane where Judas betrayed Jesus. In the Old City you’ll see the Western Wall and the actual site of the Second Temple, the Temple Mount. Walk 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. Return to hotel.

DAY 8 - WED: Jerusalem (B)
Today’s tour includes Yad Vashem the official memorial to the Jewish victims of the Holocaust established in 1953, located on the foot of Mt. Hertzel. Enjoy Ein Karem; a picturesque village on the south western outskirts of Jerusalem. This small village has great significance in Christian traditions, since this is where according to the tradition John the Baptist was born. Visit the Israel Museum with a detailed model of Jerusalem from the time of the Second Temple and the Shrine of the Book, which houses the Dead Sea Scrolls. Drive by the Knesset (House of Parliament) and the campus of Hebrew University. Situation permitting, you will visit Bethlehem to see Rachel’s Tomb and the Church of the Nativity. Return to your hotel for overnight.

DAY 9 - THU: Jerash - Amman (B)
Departure from Jerusalem towards the Jordanian border.  After border crossing procedures enter Jordan. Drive to Jerash – city of the Decapolis, located about 45 km. north of Amman in the fertile heights of Gilead.  Visit the Roman city with colonnaded streets, the ancient theater, the baths, the hilltop temple and the triumphal arc.  Then drive to Amman for a city tour of the Jordanian capital.  Overnight in Amman.

DAY 10 - FRI: Madaba - Mt. Nebo - Wadi Musa (B)
After breakfast drive to Madaba to see the ancient mosaic map of the Holyland and the ruins of the historical site. Continue about 10 km. to Mount Nebo, from where Moses viewed the Promised Land. From there you will see the Jordan Valley, Jericho and the Dead Sea. Visit the remains of a Byzantine church with a mosaic floor. Proceed via the Crusaders’s castle – Shobak – to Wadi Musa, the modern village of Petra, for overnight.

DAY 11 - SAT: Petra (B)
After breakfast leave the hotel and ride on horseback from the Visitors’ Centre to the entrance of the dramatic “Siq” (Canyon), then walk through it to Petra - known as the red rock city – the ancient capital of the Nabateans from the 3rd century BC to the 2nd century AC. Visit the most interesting carved monuments such as the Treasury (El Khazneh – the tomb of a Nabatean king), then the field of tombs, obelisks and the altar (Al Mashbah). From this point you can view the whole of the rock city. After the visit leave Petra and drive back to Amman for overnight.

DAY 12 - SUN: Amman - Tel Aviv (B)
After breakfast leave the hotel and drive to Allenby bridge. Cross the Jordan river and drive back to Tel Aviv for overnight

DAY 13 - MON: Tel Aviv - Departure (B)
Transfer to the airport for your flight home.

Accommodations	OPTION A	OPTION B
TEL AVIV	Metropolitan / Mercure / Grand Beach	Dan Panorama / Crowne Plaza
GALILEE	Leonardo Tiberias / Royal Plaza	Holiday Inn / Gai Beach
JERUSALEM	Leonardo Jerusalem / Grand Court / Royal	Crowne Plaza (dlx rooms)/ Dan Panorama
AMMAN	Golden Tulip Grand Palace / Amman International	Regency Palace / Radisson SAS
PETRA	Golden Tulip Kings Way	Crowne Plaza / Nabatean Movenpick

Departure Dates & Prices

Rates are per person sharing a double/ twin room, in US dollars. All prices are subject to change witout notice.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Rates do not include border crossing fees. US citizens are required to have a valid visa in order to enter Jordan.

Competitive airfares from most USA cities are available - please inquire.