Israel and Jordan roundtrip - The Holy Land

Welcome to the Holy Land! After an approximately 4-hour-long flight, you will land in Tel Aviv, where you will already be expected. Your personal guide will help you with the entry formalities and drive you by private transfer to the hotel in the city. After check-in at the hotel, we recommend a tour of the "city that never sleeps".

Time spent traveling from the airport in Tel Aviv to the hotel: approx. 30 minutes / 33 km.

1 night in the Center Chic Hotel*** with breakfast included in Classic double room, Tel Aviv, Israel

Early in the morning, you will set off northward, your destination being the Sea of Galilee. About 50 kilometers north along the coastal road from Tel Aviv is the ancient city of Caesarea Maritima. As early as the 6th century BC, the Phoenicians founded a settlement in this bay, which was annexed by Alexander the Great in 332 BC. The city has borne its present name since about 60 BC in honor of the Roman Emperor Augustus. Above all, the approximately 2,000-year-old theater contributes to the imposing overall image of the ancient city. The largest surviving ancient theater in the eastern Mediterranean is still used today for various events and concerts and can accommodate about 15,000 spectators.

About an hour northeast of Caesarea lies a city that has a high status in Christianity. Nazareth is where Jesus Christ is said to have spent much of his youth. Today, the city is one of the most important pilgrimage sites in the Holy Land. On the spot where, according to the Gospels of the Bible, the Archangel Gabriel announced to Mary the birth of the future Savior, the Basilica of the Annunciation stands today - it is one of the highlights of a city tour.

Before you head for your destination of the day, the city of Tiberias, you should make a short detour to the northwest, back to the Mediterranean coast. You will visit the city of Acre there, which was one of the most important port cities in the region, especially in the Middle Ages during the Crusades. Since 2001, the old town has been a UNESCO World Cultural Heritage site.

Time spent traveling from Tel Aviv to Tiberias: approx. 2 hours 30 minutes/ 150 km

1 night in the Kinar Galilee Hotel*** with breakfast in standard double room, Tiberias, Israel

After breakfast, you will dive into the life and work of Jesus Christ. The small town of Kafernaum is located on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee and is said to have been the place where Jesus Christ lived and worked, according to the New Testament. Many stories surrounding the many miracles Jesus is said to have performed are set in the small fishing village, which was located on the edge of one of the most important trade routes of the ancient world. Regardless of the city's importance to the Christian faith, there are many monuments, temples and excavation sites from the 3rd to 5th centuries AD to visit.

The Mount of Beatitudes is very close to the city. According to Christian traditions, this is the place from which Jesus is said to have delivered the Sermon on the Mount. After a short stop, you will head south. You will reach the gates of the "golden city", Jerusalem, after about 2 hours.

Time spent traveling from Tiberias to Jerusalem: approx. 3 hours / 220 km

3 nights at the Agripas Boutique Hotel*** with a Junior Suite and breakfast included, Jerusalem, Israel

The city of Jerusalem is central to the history of Christianity because of the story of Jesus Christ, his death and resurrection. According to the Old Testament, the existing and fortified city was conquered by King David around 1,000 BC and made the center of Jewish territory. The city is remains important to Judaism to this day.

The city received special significance for Islam only many centuries later. Nevertheless, to this day the city is considered by all three faiths as a spiritual and religious center. In the course of millennia, during which the city was repeatedly invaded and dominated by different cultures with different religions, a multitude of different religious buildings were erected. The Old City of Jerusalem has been under UNESCO protection since 1981 and has been divided into the Armenian, Christian, Jewish and Muslim quarters since the Middle Ages. Important sights include the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, the Wailing Wall, Herod's Temple, the Dome of the Rock and the Al-Aqsa Mosque. On a walk through the different quarters you will get your own picture of the city and will soon realize the attraction of this special place.

In addition to its outstanding cultural heritage, from early times to the late Middle Ages, the city also offers many interesting sights from more recent history. Visit Yad Vashem, the Holocaust memorial and its museum. Since 1957, the Yad Vashem Memorial has been visited by over 2 million people annually. On the way to the Shrine of the Book, where the famous Isaiah Scroll is kept, you will pass the Parliament building and the Knesset. The Shrine of the Book is part of the Israel Museum, which also includes the Billy Rose Sculpture Garden.

In the afternoon, we recommend an excursion to Ein Karem, a neighborhood just outside Jerusalem. The narrow streets of this small town are home to numerous art galleries and craft stores. You should also visit the Church of St. John the Baptist, where the saint is said to have been born. Relax and end the day in one of the small cafes or one of the Mediterranean restaurants.

After breakfast, a driver will already be waiting to take you to the Jordan-Israel border at Allenby Bridge, better known as King Hussein Bridge. The private guide will help you with the exit and entry formalities and instruct you in your new rental car. From the border, you will make your way towards the capital of Jordan, Amman, making a stop or two along the way.

The ancient city of Gerasa was part of the so-called Decapolis, the ten major administrative cities of the Eastern Roman Empire. Particularly worth seeing are the comparatively well-preserved Temple of Jupiter, the Nymphaeum and the Southern Theater, which holds up to 5,000 spectators. The city is also mentioned in the Bible, more precisely in the Gospels of Luke and Mark.

Time spent traveling from Jerusalem to Amman: approx. 2 hours / 100 km

1 night in the Toledo Amman Hotel*** with breakfast included in a standard double room, Amman, Jordan

Today you will set off south, your destination for the day is the ancient city in the rocks, better known as Petra. On the way along the Kings Highway, you will pass the city of Madaba, which is particularly famous for one thing. Embedded in the floor of the Greek Orthodox Church of St. George is a mosaic showing a map of Palestine from the 6th century.

Not far from the city is Mount Nebo, from whose summit Moses, according to biblical tradition, is said to have seen the Holy Land for the first time. From the summit, a sweeping view across the plains to the Dead Sea and the border with Israel awaits you.

Continuing south, you will reach the town of Kerak, best known for its imposing 12th century Crusader fortress. The fortress complex is heard on a hill at over 1,000 meters above sea level and is surrounded on three sides by a valley. The location gives the castle an almost impregnable position and guarantees a wonderful view over the city and the region.

In the late afternoon, you will finally reach the village of Wadi Musa, close to the excavation sites of Petra, where your hotel is located.

Time spent traveling from Amman to Petra: approx. 4 hours 30 minutes / 320 km

1 night in La Maison Hotel*** with breakfast included in a standard double room, Wadi Musa, Jordan

After breakfast, you will set out to explore the capital of the Nabataeans, the rock city of Petra. The city was already permanently settled about 11,000 years ago, and in the 5th century BC the Nabataean tribe made the city their royal headquarters. Petra experienced its heyday in the 1st century BC, not least because of its strategically favorable location on one of the most powerful trade routes of the Incense Road. Peoples of the Arab world as well as the ancient Greeks and Romans tried to take over the city several times.

What is special about Petra is the construction of its dwellings, temples and public buildings. Due to its monumental funerary temples, whose facades were carved directly into the soft sandstone, the city is considered a unique cultural monument. But not just the tribe of the Nabataeans left traces in the valley of the temples. The Khazne al-Firaun, the king's treasure house, the Roman Theater and the rock temple of Ad Deir, where Christian monks lived in the Middle Ages, are particularly impressive buildings. On your walk through the gorge, which is about 1 kilometer long and whose walls are up to 80 meters high, you will immerse yourself in the history of a people who shaped the region.

Finally, in the afternoon, make your way to Aqaba, Jordan's Red Sea city.

Time spent traveling from Petra to Aqaba: approx. 2 hours / 125 km

1 night at Jaz Beau Rivage Resort**** with breakfast in Deluxe Room, Aqaba, Jordan

Today it is going to be worth getting up early. Not only is the Mediterranean scenery at the Red Sea a real eye opener, you also have the opportunity to enjoy a sunrise in the nearby nature reserve of Wadi Rum. Water rats and peace seekers spend the morning on the beach or go on a diving excursion, nature lovers and trekking fans are drawn to the desert landscape of Wadi Rum. Once there, you can choose from a wide range of guided hiking and mountain bike tours, excursions in a hot-air balloon or jeep safaris.

In the afternoon, you are going to make your way back to Amman.

Time spent traveling from Aqaba to Amman: approx. 4 hours 30 minutes / 325 km

2 nights in the Toledo Amman Hotel*** with breakfast included in a standard double room, Amman, Jordan

Amman is the capital and, with a good 1.8 million inhabitants in the urban area and over 4 million inhabitants in the metropolitan region, also the largest city in the country by far. The name of the city goes back to the Ammonites mentioned in the Bible, as the inhabitants of the city called themselves. The city center exudes both contemporary Western and traditional Arab charm. Among the most important sights are the Roman Amphitheater, the Temple of Hercules, the King Abdullah Mosque and the Jordan Antiquities Museum, which exhibits world-renowned archaeological finds from the Middle East. A walk through the narrow streets or across the souk is also absolutely worthwhile.

You should use the afternoon to drive a little further east. About 100 kilometers from Amman are the desert castles - the most famous of which, Qasr Amra, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. This is where T.E. Lawrence (of Arabia) is said to have once resided and written his book on the Seven Pillars of Wisdom.

After 10 exciting days in these countries full of history, a driver will be waiting for you after breakfast to take you to the airport. If, however, you want to relax for a few days, a beach extension at the Red or the Dead Sea is possible. We can also arrange another stay in Israel, on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. Just contact us and our experts will be happy to advise you in detail and put together your custom round trip.

Closest city: Tel Aviv

Closest airport: Ben Gurion International Airport

Duration of the trip: 11 days / 10 nights

Included

• 10 overnight stays in the accommodations mentioned incl. meals as mentioned above

• 10 days with a category E rental car (VW Polo or similar)

• Transfer on day 6 from Jerusalem to the border at Allenby Bridge

• Transfer on day 11 to Amman Queen Alia airport

• Tour guide and local contact person

• Information and maps of both countries

• The indicated price per person is based on 2 people

  Rental car:

• A minimum age of 25 years is required to rent a car. For drivers aged 23 and 24 years, there is an additional Young Driver free.

• Insurance with deductible

• Theft protection

• Unlimited kilometers

• Collision Damage Waiver (CDW) - an insurance similar to comprehensive insurance

• Service fee for the rental car station

• Taxes

Not included

• International flights
• Optional excursions like the Wadi Rum jeep tour
• Airport fees
• Personal expenses
• Drinks during meals unless specifically mentioned
• Voluntary tips
• Luggage fees at the airport
• Visa, if required (e.g. when crossing the border at Allenby Bridge or entering the country)
• Possible one-way rentals for rental cars

Notes

• If you are a German citizen, you usually do not need a visa to enter Israel.
• For entry you need a passport, which must be valid for at least 6 months on the day of departure from Jordan. For more information, please contact your personal travel consultant.
• Please note that for the rental car, depending on the local provider, there is a one-way rental fee, which must be paid on the spot.
• To accept and drive the rental car, a class B driver's license valid in Germany is usually sufficient. If you are not a German citizen, please contact your personal travel consultant.
• Other rental car categories available upon request (4x4 vehicles, for instance)