Jordan and The West Bank

Meet your English-speaking chauffeur and set off on an orientation of the Jordanian capital, Amman, before driving Jerash, one of the best-preserved Roman cities in the Middle East. Jerash, also called the ‘City of 1,000 Columns’, was visited by Roman Emperor Hadrian in 129 AD. Its stunning remains are the equal of Ephesus in Turkey and are prized by UNESCO as an ‘ancient meeting place of East and West’.

Drive to the Allenby Bridge and cross to the West Bank with VIP assistance. On arrival in Jericho – one of the oldest inhabited cities in the world – take the cable car up to Mt. Temptation. Next, see Jericho’s ancient walls at Tell es-Sultan, the 2,000-year-old Tree of Zacchaeus, and the accomplished Umayyad mosaics at Hisham’s palace. Then, drive through the barren hills of the Judean desert to Bethlehem.

Start the day at the Shepherds’ Fields (Beit Sahur) where the angel announced the birth of Jesus. Then, follow Manger Street into Bethlehem and visit the Church of the Nativity where you will see the grotto where Christ is said to have been born. Afterwards, spend time exploring the town’s Old Quarter. The Tomb of the Patriarchs (Ibrahimi Mosque) in Hebron will be your destination this morning. Held sacred by both Jews and Muslims, this is where Abraham, the father of both the Arab and Jewish people, is buried and where David was crowned King of Israel.

The scenic terraces of the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Al Battir will be your first stop today. Then, view Mar Saba, a magnificent 5th-century desert monastery cascading down the mountainside with its huge protective walls – considered one of the great highlights of the West Bank. Leaving the wilderness of Judea behind, travel to the Christian village of Taybeh where you’ll visit the famous brewery. The final visit of the day will be Rawabi, the showcase planned city built by the Palestinian Authority. Arrive in Nablus in the late afternoon.

Nablus, the largest city in the West Bank, is known as ‘Little Damascus’ on account of the atmospheric architecture of its Old City. Here, you’ll visit a traditional olive soap factory, taste wonderful Knafeh (a traditional Palestinian desert), and see the site of Jacob’s Well before driving the short distance to the ancient Canaanite ruins at Tell Balata. After lunch, discover the impressive remains of Sebastia, once the capital of the Northern Kingdom of Israel. Next, you will meet Samaritans (an ethnoreligious group descended from the northern tribes of biblical Israel) at nearby Mt. Gerzirim. Ramallah, where you’ll see Yasser Arafat’s Tomb, will be the final stop before arriving in Jerusalem.

A full-day guided tour of the Old City of Jerusalem. Held sacred by three major religions, the Eternal City of Jerusalem is one of the holiest, most complex and fascinating cities in the world – a place that literally effervesces with faith, passion and history. Sightseeing will include the Mt of Olives, the Western (Wailing) Wall, Via Dolorosa, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and more…

Transfer to Tel Aviv, fly to Eilat and cross into Jordan. Meet your driver and proceed to the stunning desert valley of Wadi Rum. Described by TE Lawrence (of Arabia) as being ‘vast, echoing, and God-like’, the scenery of Rum is sometimes likened to the surface of the moon. On arrival, take a 90-minute jeep safari, and then continue to Petra.

A full day to discover the rock-hewn ruins of ancient Petra – Jordan’s foremost tourist attraction. Once the capital of the Nabataean Arabs who controlled the lucrative trade routes between Arabia and the Mediterranean coast, Petra or ‘Rekem’ as the Nabataeans called it, was ‘lost’ to the outside world for a thousand years until its rediscovery in 1812. The site is approached through a hairline crack in the mountain known as the Siq. On emerging into the ancient city, you are greeted by the breathtaking sight of the vestiges of long-forgotten kings and once a fabulously wealthy empire – a spectacle unequalled in the Middle East.

Journey north along the ancient trade route known as the King’s Highway. The first stop will be Kerak where you will visit the huge Crusader and Mamluk castle, then admire the view over Mujib Canyon before having lunch in the Ottoman town of Madaba. This afternoon, admire the view from Mt. Nebo, the place where Moses first saw the Promised Land. Continue to the Dead Sea and check in to your hotel.

At leisure by the Dead Sea. Here you may experience the unique sensation of floating cork-like in its waters, indulge in spa treatments, and benefit from the region’s unique dry climate with its weakened ultraviolet radiation and high oxygen content.

A private transfer will bring you to Amman International Airport.