From Petra to Bethlehem Luxury Tour

The Ultimate in Luxury When You Tour Jerusalem
And The Heart of the Middle East
A Private Tour of Israel, Palestine and Jordan

Luxury at the American Colony Hotel – Jerusalem

From Jerusalem Holy Sites, to Petra Siq and Khazneh, we will take you to the heart of the Near East and the Holy Land. This is truly an experience for those who have been dreaming to see and enjoy the ultimate Israel, Palestine and Jordan tour. A true diverse itinerary offering an array of Jordan and Israel finest travel experiences. Visit ancient cities, desert oases, curious dwellings, Islamic splendors, and Roman ruins in the Middle East. We have even included all the tips. No hidden charges. No additional tax. Combine with  Turkey.

Tour

Day 1 – Amman: Private luxury tour of Jordan Israel and Palestine, departing whenever you like
We’ll land in Amman, our Jordan-based representative waits to greet you. You’ll drive to Amman and your hotel for the night.

Jordanian visa may be issued upon arrival for a limited number of nationalities, please check with the Jordanian Consulate nearest you. Passports must be valid for at least 6 month upon arrival). Welcome fruit basket and local sweet platter await you in your room with our compliments.

Day 2–Madaba- Mount Nebo – Kerak – And Petra (BLD)
We drive south along the King’s Highway, an ancient caravan route, to Madaba to visit the church containing the oldest known map of Palestine and the Holy Land. Continuing to Mount Nebo, we enjoy the panoramic view of the Promised Land the way Moses saw it for the first time. Further on, at Kerak, we tour the ruins of its romantic Crusaders’ castle of Renaud de Chatillon, one of a line which stretched from Aqaba to Turkey. Finally, we arrive to PETRA. In the evening enjoy the visit to Petra by night, this is an awe-inspiring experience; to experience it at night by the light of 1,800 candles is truly an out-of-this-world experience! Walk through the Siq to the Khazneh following a candle-lit path and enjoy the haunting music of the Bedouin at the Treasury. Tours start at 8.30pm and finish at 10.00pm. Allow yourself plenty of time to walk through the Siq; you don’t want to miss the show.  Lunch is included enroute.  Dinner is included this evening at your hotel. Sample sHotel in Petra : Petra Movenpick ( Suite)  or the Marriott Petra Hotel.

Video by geobeats

DAY 3– PETRA (BD)
We’ll spend the entire day at Petra, the stunning desert city hewn by the Nabateans from solid cliffs of pink and violet sandstone. Petra was known in the bible as Sela, and rediscovered only in 1812. You’ll feel like Indiana Jones in Raiders of the Lost Ark as you penetrate into the city through a narrow sandstone gorge, the Siq, and wander among the Temple of the Winged Lion, tombs, Roman theater, and the imposing Treasury. Petra has a lot to tell. The visit starts at the visitor’s center, where each person is assigned a Bedouin guided horse for the journey to the entrance of the lost city. After passing some tombs which are located outside the city, the visitor passes through the SIQ, an immense crack in the Nubian sandstone. It is a winding, one-kilometer-long fissure between overhanging cliffs that seem to meet more than 300 feet overhead. Near the end of the passage, the SIQ, with great style, makes one last turn and out of the gloom in towering brightness appears Petra’s most impressive monument, el Khazneh – The Treasury. This is one of the most elegant remains of antiquity, carved out of the solid rock from the side of the mountain, is nearly 140 feet high and 90 feet wide.

Beyond el Khazneh the visitor is surrounded on both sides by hundreds of Petra’s carved and built structures, soaring temples, elaborate royal tombs, a carved Roman theater, large and small houses, burial chambers and much more. The Victorian traveler and poet, Dean Burgon, gave Petra a description which holds to this day – “Match me such a marvel save in Eastern clime, a rose-red city half as old as time.” After that, we will return to the hotel to get prepared for a Moonlight dinner served at a Bedouin camp. This evening we have a fantastic traditional dinner under the stars in a Bedouin camp, at a site that dates back more than 2,000 years.

DAY 4 – Petra – Dead Sea (BL)
Breakfast at the hotel then off to the DEAD SEA / GALILEE
After breakfast, Continue northwards to Pella in the Jordan Valley. Visit Um Qais, Gedara of the Bible (Matthew 8:28-34) for a spectacular view of the Sea of Galilee, the Yarmouk River drive down to the lowest spot on Earth and experience floating in the waters of the Dead Sea and your resort such as the Mövenpick Dead Sea, the Ishtar Dead Sea Kempinski Resort. Lunch is included enroute.

Day 5– Tel Aviv (B)
Drive to the border with Israel/ Palestine. Go through passport formalities, change vehicles and continue on to Tel Aviv and your hotel, Expect one hour on the border to go through formalities and change cars from the Jordanian to the Israel. No visa requirement for Israel for US citizens, your passport must be valid at least for 6 month beyond the date of arrival. Private basis, private air-conditioned vehicle, private chauffeur. Expect to change the vehicles at the border. Jordanian departure tax is included in our rate; your driver/local rep. will cover it at the border.

Day 6- Tel Aviv City Tour – Jaffa – Tel Aviv (B)
after breakfast proceeds to Tel Aviv City, the commercial capital of Israel, which is located on a beautiful beach strip of the Mediterranean Sea. Enjoy a city tour and visit Rabin Square, the Diaspora Museum and view Opera House. Onto Jaffa, to visit Peter’s Church, the House of Simon the Tanner, the Old City of Jaffa, and the old port one of the most ancient port cities in the world. Back to your hotel in Tel Aviv for the night.

Day 7- Caesarea – Haifa – Akko – Tiberias (BL)
After breakfast on proceed to Caesarea, built by Herod the great and where the apostle Peter first preached the Gospel to the Gentiles, visit the Amphitheater, the Roman ruins, and the Water Aqueduct. Then head to Haifa, ascend Mt. Carmel to enjoy a panoramic view over the Bay, then on to visit Stella Maris on top, and the Bahai’ Gardens, Elijah Cave. Drive to Akko; enjoy its Walls, Roads and Markets, and visit Al Jazar Mosque, the old port, the Remains of the Castle, on to Tiberias and your hotel: Galei Kinnereth Hotel or similar. Lunch is included enroute.

Day 8- Dan – Banias – Golan Heights – Tiberias (BL)
After breakfast, drive to Tel Dan, a biblical city and a breathtaking nature reserve. Continue to Banias named for the God Pan, Panias was built as Caesarea Philippi by Philip, son Herod at one of the sources of the Jordan River. Jesus visited this site together with the disciples. Visit Golan Heights which is on the Border between Israel and Syria view the Syrian town of Kuneitra, and then back to Galei Kinnereth Hotel. Lunch is included enroute.

Day 9 – Sea of Galilee – Tiberias (BL)
After breakfast, drive to the Sea of Galilee where Jesus calmed its stormy waters, onto Mt. of Beatitudes where Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount. Then visit Tabgha, Church of the Multiplication of the Loaves and Fish, onto Capernaum where Jesus lived and healed the sick preaching in the synagogue and performing miracles. End the day with a visit to the inspiring Baptismal Site. Tiberias: Galei Kinnereth Hotel. Lunch is included enroute.

Day 10- Nazareth – Cana – Tiberias (BL)
After breakfast, proceed to Nazareth where Jesus spent his boyhood and lived with Joseph and Mary (Luke 1:26-38) visit the Annunciation Church, ”the announcement of the Angel Gabriel to the Virgin Mary of the approaching virgin birth” (Luke 1:26-38) visit the St. Joseph the Carpenter and Mary’s Well, Proceed to Cana where Jesus did his first Miracle ”the transformation of water into wine. Back to your hotel Galei Kinnereth Hotel. Lunch is included enroute.

Day 11- Jordan Valley – Jericho – Qumran – Dead Sea – Jerusalem (BL)
After breakfast and along the Jordan River to Jericho the oldest town in the Holy Land, visit the Sycamore Tree (Zacharious the tax collector climbed the tree to view Jesus) view Mt. of Temptation and view the Old Walls of Jericho. Visit Qumran Caves, where the 2000 years old Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered and later on enjoy a view or a stop to see the Dead Sea from the Israeli side then on to Jerusalem and your hotel. Lunch is included enroute.

Day 12- Masada – Ein Gedi – Mt Scopus – Jerusalem (BL)
Breakfast in the hotel then on proceed to visit Masada, the last Jewish stronghold during the time of the Romans, ascend and descend by cable car to the top of the cliff overlooking the Dead Sea. Onto Ein Gedi, which is the Oasis on the Dead Sea shore Near the 200 meter high waterfall is a cave where David had his famous meeting with King Saul, on to Jerusalem and enjoy a panoramic view over Jerusalem from Mt Scopus, before we return to the Hotel. Lunch is included enroute.

Day 13- Mt of Olives – Mt. Zion – Old City – Jerusalem (B)
Breakfast in the hotel then on proceed to Mt. of Olives, enjoy a majestic panoramic view over Jerusalem from on top of the mountain. Visit the church of the Ascension, believed to mark the place where Jesus ascended into heaven. Visit Pater Noster Church stands on the traditional site of Christ teaching of the lords priers. Visit the Dominus Flevit Church, where Jesus wept over Jerusalem shortly before the destruction of the second temple, continue to visit the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus was captured by the Romans after he has been betrayed by Judas, visit Tomb of Mary, the burial place of Mary. Onto Mt. Zion, visit St. Peter in Gallicantu which commemoration of Peter’s triple rejection of Jesus “… before the cock crows thrice.” (Mark 14:30). Visit King David’s Tomb and the Upper room, commemorates the “upper room” in which Jesus shared the Last Supper with the disciples. enter the Old City of Jerusalem from Dung Gate, visit the Walling Wall, onto the Area of the Mosque Al Aqsa and Dome of the Rock built on Mt. Moriah (Temple Mount), then through St. Stephens Gate visit St Anne and the Pool of Bethesda, believed to be the site where Jesus healed a paralytic (John 5:1-15). Via Dolorosa walk the traditional Way of the Cross the 14 Stations of the Cross, and visit the Holy Sepulcher Church that stands on a site that encompasses both Golgotha, or Calvary, where Jesus was crucified, and the tomb (sepulcher) where he was buried. Hotel for overnight.

Video by Israel Tourism

Day 14- Bethlehem – Herodian – Jerusalem (B)
After breakfast, we proceed to Bethlehem, visit the Nativity Church, and marks the traditional place of Christ’s birth. It is also one of the oldest surviving Christian churches. Shepherd Field. Continue and visit Herodian. Back to your hotel.

Day 15- Israeli Museum – Ein Karem – Jerusalem (B)
After breakfast we visit the Israeli Museum, the Shrine of the book, Holy Land Model as it was during the time of King Herod, drive to Ein Karem, visit St John the Baptist Church and Church of Visitation. In Luke 1, the pregnant Mary visited her pregnant cousin Elizabeth and stayed for three months (Lk 1:56). Upon Mary’s arrival, the unborn John the Baptist recognized the unborn Jesus and “leaped with joy” in Elizabeth’s womb (Lk 1:44). Back to the hotel.

Day 16- City of David –Davidson Center / Archeological Park – Western Wall Tunnel (B)
Breakfast in the hotel, and then proceed to visit the Archeological site of City of David which is located just outside the walls of the Old City of Jerusalem, beneath the Western Wall. Proceed to visit Davidson Centre, the Jerusalem Archeological Park. This is Israel’s most important antiquity site. It reaches the Temple Mount on the North, the slope of the Mount of Olives and the Kidron Valley on the East and the Valley of Hinnon on the West and the South. Continue and visit the Western Wall Tunnel. Back to the hotel.

Day 17 – Tel Aviv – Departure (B)
After breakfast at the hotel and check-out, our local rep. will assist with your transfer to Tel Aviv Airport (VIP  Airport Transfer). Bon Voyage.

 For Easter Weeks as well as New Year’s and Christmas weeks: please add 20% to the listed rates.

Inclusions:

• All Gratuities for local personnel, including: Drivers, guides, and hotel maids.
• Round-trip transportation between airport and hotels, always on a private basis, private air-conditioned vehicle, private chauffeur.
• Hotel Accommodations as mentioned in itinerary, with tax and breakfast daily
• Meals as indicated from preset menu (B = breakfast, L = lunch, D = dinner).
• Tea or coffee with each and every meal.
• One large bottled water per person with each lunch and dinner meals that is included.
• Private locally guided sightseeing as indicated in air-conditioned vehicles, including all admission fees. Private local guides will be escorting you at all times during sightseeing: one guide in Israel and another in Jordan.

Not Included:

• International air transportation from/to your home country
• Optional excursions.
• Any meal not specifically mentioned beverages, and personal expenses.
• Travel insurance.
• Airport taxes.
• Passport and visa fees for Jordan as well as for  Israel if/when required
• Excess baggage charges, shipping charges, and other items of a personal nature such as gratuities to drivers and guides, porters, telephone/telex/fax charges, laundry, and beverages.