Highlights of Israel & Jordan

Today is the first day of your Israel and Jordan tour! Arrive in Tel Aviv and check in to your hotel. The rest of the day is set aside to explore the city by yourself. Tel Aviv has many beautiful beaches and great architectural sites to discover. There are also lots of little cafes where you can sit, enjoy a coffee and watch the city go by. This evening you'll have the option of joining your tour representative on an outing to experience Tel Aviv's famous nightlife. Toast your arrival in Israel with the rest of the group and see some of the city's after-hours hot spots!

This morning we start with a walking tour of Jaffa, the ancient port city that inspired the biblical story of 'Jonah and the Whale'. We explore the beautifully restored old city from which modern Tel Aviv developed. Then we wander through the famous flea market that is one of the city's most vibrant neighbourhoods. At lunchtime we take you to one of the best hummus restaurants in Tel Aviv, where you'll have the opportunity to enjoy this popular Middle-Eastern dish. This afternoon we'll suggest a few self-guided walks through the city and leave you with some free time to discover more of Tel Aviv on foot. Get a little lost and see a bit of true Israeli life up close!

We wake up early 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, which has more holy sites than any other square kilometre in the world. We visit the Wailing Wall, Mount Zion, the Via Dolorosa & 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.

Today is a busy day! We drive through the Jordan River Valley and cross into Jordan, where we meet our local guide. We tour the city of Jerash - one of the biggest Middle Eastern cities that dates back to Roman times. On our way to Mount Nebo, the spot from where Moses first saw the Holy Land, we pass by the capital of Amman and hear more about the country's culture and history. At Madaba we visit the famous Byzantine Mosaics, before continuing to Petra, where we stay the night.

Today we take the full day to explore Petra, Jordan's most famous archaeological site and one of UNESCO's 7 Wonders of the Ancient World. We discover the many tombs and temples carved into the sandstone cliffs, and visit the imposing 45m-high 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, we transfer to Wadi Rum where we overnight at a Bedouin campsite!

Get ready for an action-packed day! After breakfast we leave on a desert jeep safari with local Bedouin guides who escort us through the breathtaking lunar landscape where many Hollywood movies are filmed. After a short break back at camp, we drive to the port city of Aqaba, where we enjoy a walking tour and explore the city's markets. We cross the border back into Israel at Arava, and continue to Eilat. Tonight we stay over in Eilat and discover the nightlife on the shores of the Red Sea.

Today you have the entire day to discover the many marvels of Eilat at your own pace. Explore the Red Sea Beaches, go diving and visit Dolphin Reef. Or head to Timna Park and the Underwater Observatory! Maybe you want to tour the city on foot and do a little shopping? This evening we head out into the desert for a bonfire experience. Guests have the option to head back to the hotel or spend the night under the stars at the Avara Desert camp.

Get ready for a jam-packed day! We drive through the Arava Valley of the Negev Desert to Mount Masada. Here we watch the sun rise over the Dead Sea and Moab Mountains of Jordan. We take time to tour the site and visit the ruins of King Herod's Palace. Next, we drive to the Ein Gedi Nature Reserve to explore this beautiful desert oasis. The rest of the day is spent relaxing in the healing waters of the Dead Sea - a salt lake that is also the lowest point on land in the world and where swimming is similar to floating - and visiting Jericho. You'll also have the chance to visit Qasr el Yehud, the famous site on the banks of the Jordan River where Jesus was baptised by John the Baptist, before we return to 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 Haifa we discover the Bahá’í Gardens with its intricate terraced layout along the northern slope of Mount Carmel; and in the Crusader city of Akko we walk through the markets. Finally, we stop over on the northern border to see the grottoes at Rosh Hanikra. We spend our final evening in Jerusalem.

Your tour of Israel and Jordan has come to an end. Checkout at the hotel is at 11am, but feel free to take your time to explore the many marvels of Jerusalem before you head home. We can highly recommend the Tower of David, Yad Vashem and the Jerusalem Biblical Zoo. Safe travels! We hope to see you again soon.