Jordan & The Holy Land

Fly via Istanbul
Let's begin our adventure to Jordan! Today we travel to Jordan's capital, Amman, via Istanbul.
Depending on flight times we will arrive into Amman in the late evening on Day 1 or the early morning of Day 2 on an overnight flight with early check-in guaranteed.

After arriving into Amman either the day before or early in the morning on Day 2, this afternoon we will enjoy a panoramic tour of Amman, the capital of Jordan. Here, we will visit the Citadel, the home of the Temple of Hercules. It dates back to Roman and Byzantine times but some of the ruins go as far back as the Bronze Age. We will also explore the Roman Theatre, the largest theatre in Jordan, the Folklore and Archeological Museum and King Hussein's Mosque and see why this city built on rolling hills is one of the most interesting in the Middle East.

Today you will enjoy a full-day excursion to the Roman city of Jerash, accompanied by your local guide. In the ruins of this ancient city you will see stunning Roman architecture that is in remarkable condition considering it is nearly 2000 years old. Walk down the Maximus Cardo and gaze up at the Doric columns, before checking out Ajlun Castle, a fortress built in AD1184 that has survived two earthquakes. Next, you can enjoy the panoramic views from ancient Byzantine city of Umm Qais, a place where Jesus Christ is said to have performed an exorcism.

Today enjoy a full-day guided excursion in the Holy Land which will include a visit to the Caves at Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found. This ancient fort sits in a canyon, with most of the structures being built out of surrounding rock. The designs are so developed that historians even found baths and a sanitation system in the Hellenistic site! Next you will visit the ancient fortification of Masada, which was built by Herod the Great. Afterwards continue onto Bethlehem to check in to your hotel.

On this full-day guided tour you will travel to the birthplace of Jesus Christ. In Bethlehem you will visit some of the town's biblical sites including the Basilica of the Nativity, a church that was built above the site where Jesus was supposedly born. At this UNESCO World Heritage Site you can also see the Milk Grotto where Mary is said to have nursed and the Shepherd Fields, from where the Shepherds travelled to see the baby. In the afternoon you will travel to Jerusalem including the Mount of Olives, a famous Jewish cemetery and the Church and Garden of Gethsemane, a beautiful garden that is most well known as the place where Jesus and his disciples are believed to have prayed before his crucifixion. Finally you will visit the Chapel of the Ascension, where you can climb the tower to take in spectacular views over the Judean desert.

Today you will have another day in Jerusalem to explore the holy sites of this famous city. First you will visit Via Dolorosa, to see the street where Jesus dragged his cross, before continuing to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre to see where Jesus was crucified. Next visit Mount Zion, the highest point of old Jerusalem and home to of many important sites of the early Christian church, including the Church of the Dormition, the place where Virgin Mary fell asleep and the Cenacle, also known as the 'Upper Room', the site of The Last Supper, and the Church of Saint Peter in Gallicantu, which symbolises Peter's denial of Jesus. Tonight, return to your hotel in Bethlehem for overnight.

This morning you will visit the ancient city of Jericho. Jericho has a settlement that dates back 11,000 years, meaning that it is possibly one of the oldest settlements in the world. Visit the ancient city and get a sense of the history of this ancient city, Continue on to Mount Temptation, a place where Jesus was said to have been tempted by the devil, before crossing the border back into Jordan where you will drive to the ancient city of Petra. En-route, stop for a visit to Kerak Castle, a large crusader castle perched on a hilltop overlooking a vast valley and then Shoubak, the ruins of another castle.

Enjoy a full-day excursion to the magical 'Red City' of Petra, an ancient city famous for its rock cut architecture, water conduits and pink stone structures. Walking through the Siq (a narrow corridor in the mountain) to enter the city makes the experience even more jaw dropping, as do the buildings. The Greek temple of Al Khazneh, the Hadrian Gate, the courthouse and the Amphitheatre are many of the notable structures that you should not miss when visiting this hidden gem. The actual place where Lawrence of Arabia led his revolt, and featured in the films Indiana Jones & The Last Crusade and Arabian Nights, Petra is no ordinary Middle Eastern city.

Get ready for an exciting half-day excursion to the desert of Wadi Rum, also known as 'The Valley of the Moon'. Your excursion will include a jeep tour of the desert, where you can see prehistoric carvings in the rock walls. This desert was also used as the setting for Peter O'Toole's film
Lawrence of Arabia.

Float in the Dead Sea
Later in the day, you will continue your journey to the Dead Sea, the lowest point on earth. Swim in the mineral rich water, which is renowned for curing all and any skin ailments.

Today you will visit the town of Bethany was where Jesus performed his biggest miracle: raising Lazarus from the dead. It is also believed to be the place of his baptism. In the afternoon, you will be taken to explore more significant holy sites. At Mount Nebo, gaze over the Promised Land of Moses, and see one of the oldest maps in the world at the Greek Orthodox Church of St. George.

Today, you will have a free day for shopping, sightseeing or relaxing. Why not go for a dip in the hotel's pool or relax at the spa.

Depending on flight times you will either stay an additional night at your hotel and fly home early in the morning on Day 12 or have late check out included this evening and fly home in the late evening.

We will arrive home today with memories of our time in the Middle East to last a lifetime.