Arrive Amman, Jordan
Arrive in Amman. After clearing customs and immigration, meet your A&K representative and transfer to your hotel.
Jerash | Ancient Roman Streets
Step back in time as you visit Jerash, the third-century “Pompeii of the Middle East,” destroyed by invasion and earthquake. Once a city thriving under the Roman Empire, its hills have revealed Neolithic, Greek, Roman, Byzantine and Umayyad-era remains. Explore its colonnaded streets, which show grooves of chariot wheels to this day. Return to Amman, visiting the Citadel and the Roman Theater.
Mount Nebo / Madaba | Design your Day
This morning, enjoy one of these Design Your Day activities:
Set Out on a Walking Tour of Amman and experience the city from the ground level.
Visit the Royal Automobile Museum, where King Hussein's collection provides a glimpse into Jordan's modern history.
Relax in the Four Seasons Spa, indulging in the spa’s facilities and a 50-minute massage.
This afternoon, journey overland to Mount Nebo, where Moses is said to have glimpsed the Promised Land, and take in the stunning views toward Bethlehem and Jerusalem. Continue along the King’s Highway to Madaba, the “City of Mosaics,” with its sixth-century mosaic map of Jerusalem and the Holy Land. Proceed to the ancient city of Petra, where you check in to your hotel.
Petra | From the Rose-Red City to Wadi Rum
Spend a full day exploring Petra, passing through the Siq to the majestic Treasury, the Temple of the Winged Lions and the Palace Tomb. Once a rich merchant city and a stop for the camel caravans bringing spices, silk and slaves from Arabia to the Mediterranean, Petra was lost for 1,000 years, emerging from antiquity in 1812, when it was rediscovered by the Swiss explorer Johann Ludwig Burckhardt. Later, depart for Wadi Rum — the Valley of the Moon — and check in at your comfortable desert camp.
Wadi Rum | Across the Valley of the Moon
This morning, traverse Wadi Rum by vehicle and camel to view the unforgettable landscape. This afternoon, travel north to the Dead Sea.
The Dead Sea | Bethany Beyond The Jordan
Today, visit Bethany Beyond the Jordan, known as the site of Jesus’ baptism. Return to your resort hotel for time at leisure and float in the buoyant, mineral-rich Dead Sea waters.
Jerusalem, Israel | The Garden of Gethsemane
Cross into Israel and drive to the Mount of Olives for a view over the Temple Mount (Al-Haram el-Sharif). Visit the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus prayed before his crucifixion. Stroll Mahna Yahuda market before checking in at your famous Jerusalem hotel.
Jerusalem | Epicenter of Faiths
Tour the Old City, first stopping at the Western Wall, one of Judaism’s most sacred sites. View the Temple Mount area with its Dome of the Rock. Walk along the Via Dolorosa, where Jesus carried the cross, arriving at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, traditional site of Jesus’ crucifixion, burial and resurrection. Visit the Israel Museum’s Shrine of the Book to view a portion of the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Second Temple Model. Return to your hotel for an evening at leisure.
Bethlehem | Yad Vashem & Local Culture
Visit Yad Vashem, Israel’s memorial to Holocaust victims. Drive to Bethlehem, located in the West Bank, to visit the Church of the Nativity, a sixth-century basilica that stands over a cave held to be the birthplace of Jesus. Return to your hotel for an evening at leisure.
Masada | Zealot Stronghold
Visit Masada, built by King Herod in 31 BC atop a rocky plateau with views of the Dead Sea. Take a cable car up to this final stronghold, where Jewish Zealots made their last stand against the Romans. Return to Jerusalem for an afternoon at leisure.
Acre & Nazareth | Jesus’ Boyhood Town
Drive to Acre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the world’s oldest ports, to see the Crusader Halls, markets and old town. Journey to Jesus’ boyhood town of Nazareth. This afternoon, visit the Church of the Annunciation, built on the traditional site of Mary and Joseph’s home. Continue to Tiberias and your hotel, which occupies a historic building along the Sea of Galilee. Tonight, enjoy dinner at your hotel.
Sea of Galilee | In the Footsteps of Jesus
Today, visit the Mount of Beatitudes, site of the Sermon on the Mount. Later, drive to the Golan Heights to learn about the rich history and strategic importance of this rugged landscape. Source of the Jordan River, it was home to the Tribe of Dan and has remains dating back to the Roman, Hellenistic and Persian periods. This evening, dine at your hotel.
Caesarea & Tel Aviv | Artist Quarter of Jaffa
Visit Caesarea, built to honor Augustus Caesar and later occupied by the Crusaders. Discover Israel’s largest city, Tel Aviv, and stop at the vibrant artist colony of Jaffa.
Depart Tel Aviv
After breakfast, transfer to the airport and board your homebound flight.