12 Day Essential Israel & Jordan 2017 & 2018 Itinerary

Full Day Upper Galilee & Golan Heights with lunch First, a stop at Mount of Beatitudes where Jesus preached His famous "Sermon on the Mount". Next, drive to Safed, a holy city in Judaism and the center of the mystical Kabbalah. Stroll through the artists' colony and visit an ancient synagogue. Proceed to Golan Heights stopping for a tour and lunch at a kibbutz . Continue to Har Bental site of a former Israeli bunker. Next visit a kosher winery in Katzrin, the largest town in the Golan Heights. Return to your hotel. Approximate tour duration is 9 hours. OnDay : 4 Price : $89 Half Day Bethlehem 2:00 PM On this excursion, you will leave the State of Israel and cross the border to the Palestinian Authority. You will leave your Israeli guide and driver on the Israeli side, and upon arriving into the West Bank, you will be met by your Palestinian tour guide who will accompany you on this tour to Bethlehem. Large groups will necessarily split into smaller groups utilizing local shuttle buses, which will take you to visit the Church of the Nativity, commemorating the birthplace of Jesus Christ, with many restoration projects instituted throughout the years. Presently the facade of the Church of the Nativity is encircled by the high walls of the three convents: the Franciscan on the northeast side, and the Greek Orthodox and the Armenian Orthodox on the southeast side. A shopping stop for local souvenirs and olive wood handicrafts, a principal source of local income, is included in the tour. Please note that Bethlehem is located six miles south of Jerusalem in the West Bank and governed by the Palestinian National Authority. The Church is currently undergoing renovations which are scheduled to continue through 2017. Expect to see scaffolding on parts of the structure, and as work is ongoing, there may be construction noise during normal visit hours. Approximate tour duration is 3 hours. OnDay : 5 Price : $33 Full Day Masada & Dead Sea The full day tour to Masada and the Dead Sea begins with a drive through the Judean Desert and along the shores of the Dead Sea, the lowest place on earth, to Masada, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Ascend the towering desert mesa via cable car to visit the excavations of the fortress of King Herod and last stronghold of the Zealots against the Romans. Here you'll see many of the original structures such as the synagogue and storehouses that have been painstakingly restored by archaeologists. At the base, visit the Museum of Masada that combines archaeological artifacts with a narrated guided tour of the Story of Masada. Then, journey via Ein Gedi to the Dead Sea for an "unsinkable" swim in the buoyant, salty waters. Pick-up and drop-off at the hotel. Approximate tour duration is 9 hours. OnDay : 6 Price : $89 Illuminated Jerusalem, Dinner & Sound & Light Show Jerusalem at night is truly a sight to behold, with the city's magnificent architecture beautifully illuminated. The evening begins with dinner at a popular restaurant. Next, drive to the Tower of David to attend the spectacular "Sound & Light" Show that tells the story of Jerusalem accompanied by original music and virtual reality images. Return to your hotel. Approximate tour duration is 3 hours. OnDay : 7 Price : $69 Half Day Jerusalem New City View the Supreme Court building and the Knesset, Israel's Parliament, as you drive to visit the stunning Israel Museum. Here, view the Shrine of the Book where the Dead Sea Scrolls are housed and the miniature model of Jerusalem during Second Temple period. Then, to Yad Vashem, Memorial to the Holocaust, on the Mount of Remembrance. Return to your hotel. Approximate tour duration is 4 hours. OnDay : 7 Price : $55 5 Day Essential Jordan Dinner Package After the day's sightseeing, enjoy dinner at your hotels in Petra and the Dead Sea. All dinners are international buffet style and include one soft drink or water.* Pre-purchasing these four dinners is both a convenience and a way to lock in the price for your meals regardless of currency fluctuations. *4 course meal if buffet is not available. OnDay : 8 Price : $90 Half Day Petra Today, you explore hidden Petra, the “Rose Red” city, hand sculpted from a mountain range by the Nabateans in the 3rd century BC. Begin your walk, (or ride) at the imposing “Siq” a winding canyon road. At the end, you’ll gaze in total amazement at Petra’s most extraordinary monument - the towering Treasury building, rising over 140 feet. Beyond, discover soaring temples, elaborate royal tombs, a theatre, burial champers and water channels – all remnants of a once great Nabatean culture. Today, Petra is both a Jordanian national treasure and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Pick up details to be advised locally. Approximate tour duration is 4 hours. OnDay : 9 Price : $85 Wadi Rum Jeep Safari This afternoon, discover Wadi Rum by Jeep Safari in a 4x4 vehicle. Explore this surreal desert terrain of ancient river beds, wind-sculpted mountains vast colored vistas and pastel colored sands. This UNESCO World Heritage Site, often described as the "Valley of the Moon", served as inspiration (and site of the filming) for T.E. Lawrence’s novel, Lawrence of Arabia. Stop in an authentic Bedouin tent in the midst of the desert, for some delicious Bedouin tea. Here, chance to Interact with the Bedouins and learn about desert plants that they use to make food, medicine and even tools. Afterward, marvel at the breathtaking sunset over Wadi Rum, in the middle of the desert, before returning to Petra. Pick up details to be advised locally. Approximate tour duration is 5 hours. OnDay : 9 Price : $26 Half Day Al-Salt City Journey to Al-Salt the administrative capital of Jordan during the time of the Ottomans. Begin your tour at the Historic Old Salt Museum. Here, see how this town became one of the most important trading hubs in the Middle East during the 19th and 20th centuries. Once outside, marvel at the elegant heritage buildings made of local yellow sandstone. Walk through the traditional Arabic souk selling food and one of a kind local handicrafts. This unique historical tour is not to be missed! Approximate tour duration is 4 hours. OnDay : 11 Price : $104 Half Day Jerash Travel north to the ancient Roman ruins of Jerash, nestled in a valley among the mountains of Gilead. The ruins are one of the largest and best-preserved sites of Roman architecture in the world outside Italy. Here, see what remains of the city which was conquered by General Pompey in 63 B.C. and became part of the Decapolis League, considered to be the ten greatest cities in the Roman Empire. Wander through the colonnaded streets, temples, baths, theaters, plazas, all encompassed within the remaining city walls. Approximate tour duration is 4 hours. OnDay : 11 Price : $121

Additional Information: Land only price does not include arrival transfer.