Highlights of Israel & Jordan

Welcome to Tel Aviv! Your middle-eastern adventure starts here. Check in to your hotel and then 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 cafés where you can enjoy a coffee and watch the locals go by.

After breakfast it’s time for a jam-packed day! We depart from Tel Aviv to explore the Baptism site of Jesus at Qasr el Yehud. This is a famous destination on the banks of the Jordan River. It is known as the place where Jesus was baptised by John the Baptist. Leaving the religious site, we drive through the Judean Desert to Mount Masada. Marvel at the view of the Dead Sea below. Shift your gaze and drink in the Moab Mountains of Jordan. Then it’s onto Eilat in the early evening. Here we will experience dinner in a traditional kibbutz - an authentic Israeli experience, dining with the locals and eating traditional dishes!

Today you have the entire day to discover the many marvels of Eilat at your own pace. There are many to choose from! Explore the Red Sea beaches, or go diving. Visit Dolphin Reef, or head to Timna Park. The cliffside views will take your breath away. Alternatively, you could visit to the Underwater Observatory. Or how about touring the city on foot and doing a little shopping? Keen to explore further afield? Head to the Red Canyon hiking trails to explore the mesmerising red rock canyons. There are trails for every fitness level.

Today we cross into Jordan and enter the port city of Aqaba. The old town has a wonderful 'souk' (Arab marketplace) with a lively atmosphere. We then embark on a jeep safari in the Wadi Rum desert with local Bedouin drivers. They will escort us through the region’s striking lunar landscape. Many Hollywood movies have been filmed here, including Matt Damon’s ‘The Martian’. Our day ends at our accommodation in Wadi Rum. Here you can sit by a campfire and watch the sun go down across the red rock landscape, before an amazing canvas of stars are revealed as the night draws in. We'll finish off a fantastic day of exploring with an included dinner of traditional Bedouin and Jordanian dishes.

Today we have ample time to explore Petra. It's Jordan's most famous archaeological site. Not to mention one of UNESCO's 7 Wonders of the Ancient World! We discover the many tombs and temples carved into the pink sandstone cliffs. The iconic attraction, The Treasury (Al Khazneh), is also on our list. This structure boasts striking Greek-inspired architectural elements. You might recognise it from the movie Indiana Jones. A traditional lunch (included) is served, before we head to the Dead Sea. This salt lake is known for giving swimmers the sensation of being weightless. Our day ends in the city of Amman - the capital of Jordan. We recommend you spend your evening in downtown Amman - it's a must-see!

After breakfast this morning we enjoy a brief city tour of Amman before heading north to Jerash. One of the biggest archaeological sites in the Middle East, dating back to Roman times. The century-old ruins have been carefully preserved. Exploring these structures will transport you back in time. An included local lunch is served in Jerash before we cross the border to Israel. Once there, we make our way to the Sea of Galilee. This freshwater lake is the largest source of drinking water for Israel. It is also an important pilgrimage site for many Christians. We then visit Capernaum, one of the most prominent sites in the area. This fishing village is located in the Galilee region of northern Israel. It is here where Jesus is believed to have worked his Biblical miracles. We then overnight in Nazareth or Tiberias.

First thing today we head out to explore Nazareth. This city, which is today the capital of Israel's Arab population, is said to have been the childhood home of Jesus. Nazareth is home to an abundance of fascinating architectural sites. From here, we head north to the western coastline. First we stop to explore Caesarea, King Herod's renowned port on the Mediterranean. You’ll have some free time for lunch and exploring. Caesarea is the ancient Roman capital of Judea. We highly recommend that you make your way to the Caesarea amphitheatre. It’s one of the oldest in the eastern Mediterranean! This afternoon we'll do a city tour of Tel Aviv and Jaffa. Jaffa is an ancient port city that inspired the biblical story of 'Jonah and the Whale'! Explore the beautifully restored city from which modern Tel Aviv developed. Highlights of this tour include a drive up Rothschild Boulevard. Tonight we settle down in our hotel in Jerusalem.

We start the day with a guided tour of Bethlehem. Visit the Church of Nativity and see the famous Shepherd's' Fields. Then we’ll have a photo stop at Banksy wall. 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. This destination has more holy sites than any other square kilometre in the world. We visit the Wailing Wall, Mount Zion, the Via Dolorosa & more. This evening why not discover the Machane Yehuda Market back in Jerusalem, where locals sell fresh produce, pastries, coffee and the best olives around! At night it changes into a hub for tourists and foodies to hang out.

Today is your free day in the capital of Israel! Jerusalem has been described as one of the most spiritually intense destinations in the world. It's a holy land for Christians, Muslims and Jews alike. After spending time in the old city yesterday, you can head out to some of the other big attractions today. The Israel Museum should be at the top of your list. It's ranked as one of the top archaeological and art institutions in the world. It hosts a comprehensive range of art and ancient artifact pieces from the land of Israel and beyond and includes The Shrine of the Book, home to the biblical parchments known as the Dead Sea Scrolls. Take a trip to Yad Vashem, The World Holocaust Remembrance Center. There's also the 9/11 Memorial Plaza and the Gardens of Gethsemane. Here you’ll find a quiet space to rest, meditate or pray. Take time to enjoy your last dining experience of Israel. Sample some street food or dine at an award-winning restaurant. Just make sure you get your hands on some local dishes - the food here is exquisite!

Your tour of Israel and Jordan has come to an end. Checkout at the hotel is at 10am. 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.