Israel & Wonders of Jordan

Welcome to Tel Aviv! This evening, meet your Tour Director and travel companions for a welcome dinner at your hotel. (D)

Giant Victories Start your journey of discovery with a visit to the Latrun Area to see the site where David was victorious over Goliath and visit the Monastery of the Trappist Monks. Continue to Jaffa and join a guided walking tour of the ancient port city. Free time this evening to explore more of Tel Aviv. (B) 82mi/ 132km 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.

Crusaders & Legendary Leaders Your journey starts today as you depart Tel Aviv to reach Caesarea for a guided sightseeing tour that includes the Roman Amphitheater and Crusader fortress. Continue to Acre and visit the Underground Crusader City with its Crusader Halls and passages. Reach Haifa and visit the UNESCO-listed site of extraordinary beauty - the Baha’i Shrine. (B,D) 62mi/ 100km TOUR HIGHLIGHT LEGENDARY LIVES Born Sayyed ?Alí Mu?ammad Shírází, “The Báb” was the founder of Bábism, and endures as the central figures of the Bahá'í Faith. He was executed in 1850 along with thousands of his followers by the Persian government which opposed this new movement. The magnificent shrine and ethereal gardens of Baha’i stand as a testament to the revered religious leader where his remains are laid to rest.

Faithful Sites & Service A multitude of biblical locations await you today. This morning, visit the Mount of Beatitudes, where Jesus delivered his Sermon on the Mount. Continue to Capernaum to visit the site where Jesus recruited his first followers before arriving at the Jordan River to visit a Baptismal site. Later, at the Sea of Galilee (Lake Tiberias) enjoy a [LOCAL FAVORITE] scenic cruise, then visit a Kibbutz to hear a [LOCAL FAVORITE] lecture about Kibbutz life. (B,D) 107mi/ 173km LOCAL FAVORITE EPIC RIDE Cruise on the historic waters of Lake Tiberias (Sea of Galilee) with panoramic views of the area. Later, hear about the traditions of the Kibbutz. Hebrew for ‘gathering,’ Kibbutz life dates back thousands of years with quiet and collaborative communities of volunteers from around the world who work to enhance industry or agriculture in a peaceful and harmonious setting.

Miraculous Sites & Ancient Wonders A fascinating day awaits! First travel to Nazareth and visit the Church of the Annunciation and St. Joseph’s Church in the city where Jesus lived and worked as a carpenter. Continue to Cana and visit the site of Jesus’s first recorded miracle, when he attended a wedding and changed water into wine. Later, visit Bet She’An and explore the ancient city with its Roman and Byzantine relics. (B,D) 147 mi / 235 km TOUR HIGHLIGHT ARCHAEOLOGICAL WONDERS Bet She’an is one of the best-preserved archaeological sites of this region and well worth some time to wander around. Ongoing excavations at this UNESCO World Heritage site reveal time-worn colonnade-style streets, bathhouses, and an auditorium with perfect acoustics.

Uplifting Waters & Wonders Today, travel through the Judean wilderness towards the Dead Sea. Admire the views as you ascend by cable car to the spectacular clifftop fortress of Masada. Continue to a Dead Sea resort and [LOCAL FAVORITE] float in the saltwater of the Dead Sea and receive a salt scrub gift. Later, return to Jerusalem. (B) 64 mi / 103 km LOCAL FAVORITE 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.

Moving History This morning, participate in a moving visit to Yad Vashem, Israel’s National Holocaust Museum. Continue to the Israel Museum, a cultural institution featuring art and archaeology. Later, drive to Bethlehem and visit the Church of the Nativity, built on the site where Jesus was born. (B,D) 6 mi / 10 km 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.

History & Mystery Today is dedicated to Jerusalem. Follow your Local Guide for a guided walking tour of the Old City featuring the Garden Tomb, believed to be the tomb from which Jesus rose from the dead, the Mount of Olives, the Garden of Gethsemane, and the Via Dolorosa. Visit the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, see the Western Wall, Mount Zion, the Upper Room, and the Tomb of King David. The rest of the day is at leisure. (B,D) TOUR HIGHLIGHT ICONIC FOOTSTEPS Jerusalem is totally unique; there is no place like it. A city of tradition, religion, and history, but also increasingly 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.”

Bridging History Today, depart Jerusalem, cross the Jordan River via the historic Allenby Bridge, and reach Jerash for a fascinating visit of the magnificent Greco-Roman archaeological site. Later, arrive in Amman, the capital of Jordan, and the world’s oldest continuously inhabited city. (B,D) 111mi / 178km 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.

Red Roving in Wadi Rum Admire the scenery as you depart Amman and arrive at the spectacular red-stone desert landscape of Wadi Rum. Enjoy a [LOCAL FAVORITE] fascinating 4-wheel drive tour in the stunning desert landscape and see the Seven Pillars of Wisdom made famous by Lawrence of Arabia. Receive a keffiyeh (traditional headscarf) as a keepsake. Later, reach Petra and enjoy some free time. (B,D) 272mi/ 437km LOCAL FAVORITE EPIC RIDE Climb aboard a four-wheel drive for a visually thrilling ride 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.

Cinematic Treasures Take a guided walking tour of stunning Petra, featuring the Siq and the Treasury, which may look familiar from Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. Enjoy free time for lunch, followed by [LOCAL FAVORITE] traditional tea service 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.

A River Wild This morning drive to Kerak to visit the formidable Crusader Castle, the largest, best-preserved castle in Jordan. Enjoy free time for lunch before continuing to Wadi Mujib for a fantastic opportunity to capture photos of the impressive canyon with its dramatic rock formations and scenic riverscape. Later, arrive at your Dead Sea hotel. (B,D) 187mi/ 301km 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.

The Promised Land A fascinating day awaits! Drive to Madaba, known as the “City of Mosaics.” Visit St. George’s Church, home to an exquisite mosaic map of the Holy Land, and explore the Madaba Archaeological Museum. Continue to Mount Nebo for an orientation walk on the legendary mountain ridge. Reach Bethany Beyond the Jordan, where Jesus is believed to have been baptized by John the Baptist, and follow an orientation walk. Later, return to your Dead Sea hotel for a farewell dinner. (B,D) 29mi/ 46km 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.

Safe travels until we meet again! Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. The nearest airport is Amman. (B)