Jordan & Israel: Ancient Wonders

Arrive in Amman, transfer to your hotel and enjoy the rest of your day at leisure.

Today begins with a visit to Jerash, a city founded by Alexander the Great, to marvel at its Greco-Roman ruins. Walk the Roman cardo, viewing grooves made by chariot wheels. Return to Amman and, after lunch at a local restaurant, explore the city and its Citadel and Roman Theater. Tonight, gather for a festive welcome dinner.

This morning, enjoy one of these Design Your Day activities. Set Out on a Walking Tour of Amman to experience this fascinating, modern capital city from ground level. Visit the Royal Automobile Museum, home to King Hussein’s personal collection of cars and motorcycles. Relax in the Four Seasons Spa, indulging in the spa facilities and a 50-minute massage. After lunch, journey to Mount Nebo, in the footsteps of Moses, for expansive views of the Holy Land. Proceed to Madaba, known as the “City of Mosaics” for its spectacular Byzantine and Umayyad examples. Finish the day with check-in at your hotel in close proximity to Petra.

Spend a full day exploring Petra, passing through the Siq to view the majestic Treasury, the Temple of the Winged Lions and the Palace Tomb. Once a rich merchant city and a stop for 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 — which, with its immense size, color and awe-inspiring shapes, creates an almost supernatural atmosphere. Tonight, experience a Bedouin dinner and stargazing at your comfortable desert camp.

This morning, venture into the rose-tinted mountains and marvelous desert vistas where T.E. Lawrence (Lawrence of Arabia) lived with his Bedouin friends and allies during World War I. Bedouin camps are evident in the wadi (valley), which is still home to a number of Bedouin families. Traverse Wadi Rum by four-wheel-drive vehicle, and then Ride Like a Local, on camel back, to take in the stunning landscape in an unforgettable way. This afternoon, travel north to the Dead Sea, and settle into your accommodations upon arrival.

Today, visit Bethany Beyond the Jordan, known as the place of Jesus’ baptism by John the Baptist. This UNESCO World Heritage Site features Roman and Byzantine remains and is a place of pilgrimage for many. Return to your resort hotel for time at leisure and a float in the buoyant, mineral-rich waters of the Dead Sea.

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 is said to have prayed with his disciples before his crucifixion. Stroll Mahna Yahuda, Jerusalem’s largest food market, which takes up an entire neighborhood, between Yafo and Agripas. Cap off your market tour with a delicious lunch. After a full day, check in and, later, dine at your hotel’s restaurant.

Join your expert local guide for a full day’s exploration of 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. After lunch at a local café, 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. Later, visit the Israel Museum’s Shrine of the Book to view a portion of the Dead Sea Scrolls, and see the Second Temple Model. As your day ends, view the city’s skyline with a Scenic Sundowner.

Visit Yad Vashem, Israel’s memorial to Holocaust victims. Drive to Bethlehem, located in the West Bank, for a lunch served in the home of a local family, providing a unique opportunity to engage in authentic cultural interaction, on an A&K-exclusive Chef’s Table experience. Then, visit the Church of the Nativity, a sixth-century basilica that stands over a cave held to be the birthplace of Jesus. Dine tonight at a top restaurant in Jerusalem.

Explore 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, ultimately taking their own lives rather than becoming enslaved. Return to Jerusalem for lunch and an afternoon at leisure.

Drive to Acre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the world’s oldest ports, to see the Crusader Halls, markets and the old town. Then, journey to Jesus’ boyhood town of Nazareth. After lunch, 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. Prior to dinner, experience an artisanal wine talk and tasting organized by a professional sommelier.

Enjoy a private boat ride on the Sea of Galilee, and then stop at Capernaum to view St. Peter’s house and the synagogue where Jesus taught. Visit the Mount of Beatitudes, site of the Sermon on the Mount. After lunch, drive to the Golan Heights to learn about the rich history and strategic importance of this rugged landscape. A source of the Jordan River, it was home to the Tribe of Dan and has remains dating to the Roman, Hellenistic and Persian periods. Gather tonight for a memorable farewell dinner.

Visit Caesarea, built to honor Augustus Caesar and later occupied by the Crusaders. Discover Israel’s largest city, Tel Aviv. Located along a beautiful stretch of beach on the Mediterranean, Tel Aviv is Israel’s commercial center — a busy metropolis that inspires visitors with a unique and energetic atmosphere. Set out on a walking tour of Jaffa, an ancient port town that has become a noted artists’ colony, located just south of Tel Aviv. The next day, transfer to the Tel Aviv airport for your departing flight.