Lawrence of Arabia

A 12 -Day Private Grand Tour of
Jordan , Israel And Palestine

The country that captivated Lawrence of Arabia and Indiana Jones is now yours to explore
We see the best of Jordan , then on to Israel and Palestine : though small in size, Israel and Palestine looms large in the imagination of every traveler. See the very best of Israel , Jordan and Palestine - Weekly in Amman on Wednesdays . Compare with Jordan "Biblical " Version .
Add a Nile Cruise . Dubai & Jordan in 7 Days

DAY 1 - JERASH & AJLOUN - Wednesday - Weekly - Year Round

Our staff meets you at Queen Alia International Airport in Amman, or at the Sheikh Hussein (Jordan Border) Bridge* , and assists with entry formalities. We drive to Jerash, the most beautifully preserved and restored Greco-Roman provincial city of all. Jerash, only a 30-minute drive from Amman, has three amphitheaters, two Roman baths, a hippodrome, and several temples. There are still remains of shops which sold silks, jewels, wine and spices. From Jerash we drive to Ajloun to tour the 12th century Saracen castle built by one of Saladin's lieutenants in the campaign against the Crusaders. Finally, we drive to Amman and our hotel. Visa fee is included & is issued upon arrival for American & Japanese passport holders. Passport must be valid at least for 6 month beyond the date of your arrival.

DAY 2 - MADABA & KERAK - Thursday (cB)
We drive to Petra along the King's Way, visiting Madaba, which has the oldest map of the Holy Land, and Madaba's Mosaic School. Then it's on to Mt Nebo and Moses' traditional burial site overlooking the Dead Sea and the Jordan River Valley. We continue through the magnificent scenery of Wadi Mujib to Kerak and the Krak des Chevaliers medieval Crusaders' castle, stopping at Petra for the night.

DAY 3 - PETRA Friday (cB)
The fabulous Nabataean City of Petra, carved into rose-red desert sandstone over 2000 years ago, was lost to the world for five centuries. Known as Sela in the Bible, it was rediscovered in 1812. Petra can be reached only by passing between the steep, high sandstone wall of a narrow gorge ('the Siq'). The dramatic view of its Treasury was made famous in the movie "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom." Besides the Treasury, we visit the Roman theater, the courts, Qasr Bint Pharaoun, the Temple of the Winged Lion and other monuments. You may climb up to the monastery if you like. We relax for another night in our Petra hotel.

DAY 4 - WADI RUM - Saturday (cB)
We visit the awesome moonscape of the Wadi Rum desert by four-wheel-drive vehicle, covering some of the ground where "Lawrence of Arabia" was filmed. We then escort you to Amman and your hotel for the night .

DAY 5 - Amman / Cross the Border : Palestine / Israel : Tel Aviv - Sunday (B)
After breakfast , on to the border ( you are responsible for having your valid passport and visa if any for Israel) , on to Tel Aviv and your hotel. We drive down into the Jordan River Valley and cross from Jordan into Palestine / Israel. Estimated times and general info on the crossing : From the border to hotel in Tel Aviv is about 45 minutes to an hour and half drive . Always air conditioned vehicle ; Sedan / Minivan You change cars/drivers at the borders

Day 6 - MONDAY - Tel Aviv - Beersheva - Arad - Massada - Jerusalem (B)
Leave Tel Aviv - via Ashdod - Ashkelon - Beersheba. A short visit to the Negev capital. Continue via Arad to Massada. Ascend by cable car to the fortress, which was the last stronghold of the Jewish Zealots in their war against the Romans. Visit the excavations, Herod’s palaces, the synagogue, bathhouse, etc. Enjoy the breathtaking view of the Roman camps and the Dead Sea. Descend for a possible “float” in the in the salty water of the world’s lowest place. Via Ein Gedi & Kalya, proceed to Jerusalem for overnight. Olive Tree Hotel ( superior room ) or similar

Day 7 - TUESDAY - Jerusalem - sightseeing of the new city (B)
Drive to Mt’ Scopus for a panoramic view of Jerusalem. On to the Garden of Gethsemane and Church of the Agony. Drive to Mt’ Zion for a visit to the tomb of King David, the Room of the Last Supper and Dormition Abbey. Sightseeing in the new city including the Israel Museum’s Shrine of the Book with the famous Dead Sea scrolls, new Supreme Court building. Mt’ Herzl and Yad Vashem (the memorial to the six million Jews who were killed in the Holocaust). Then visit the model of the Herodian city of Jerusalem dating back to the time of the Second Temple. Afternoon visit of the Hadassah medical center in the synagogue with Marc Chagall stained glass windows, then via Ein Karem (the birth place of John the Baptist). Return to Hotel.

Day 8 - WEDNESDAY - Jerusalem - (Old City) – Bethlehem(B)
Walk through one of the Gates to the walled Old City: the renewed Jewish Quarter; the Western Wall, the Temple area; the colorful bazaars; Via Dolorosa, and the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. Continue to Bethlehem to visit Rachel’s Tomb and the Church of the Nativity and return to Jerusalem for overnight.

Day 9 - THURSDAY - Jericho* - Tiberias - Galilee (B)
Leave Jerusalem, driving via Bethany to Jericho, the oldest city in the world. Visit the excavations and then continue northward via Jordan Valley and the new settlements to Beit Shean. After a short visit proceed to Tiberias, the old center of Jewish learning. Drive along the shores of the Sea of Galilee to
Capernaum to visit the ruins of the ancient synagogue. Continue to a Kibbutz hotel for overnight.

Day 10 - FRIDAY - Upper Galilee and Golan Heights - Nazareth (B)
Drive to the Golan Heights. Visit the former Syrian fortifications, Birkat Ram, and the Druze villages, Via Banias, source of the Jordan River. Proceed via Kiryat Shmone and the Hula Valley to Safed, city of the Kabala, to visit synagogue and the artists’ colony and then to Nazareth to visit the Christian Holy Sites. Return to the Kibbutz hotel for overnight.

Day 11 - SATURDAY - Acre - Haifa - Tel Aviv (B)
After Breakfast drive west to Acre for a visit of the old, famous Crusader stronghold and medieval fortifications. Continue to Haifa, sightseeing tour of Haifa, including the Bahai Shrine, Persian Garden and Mount Carmel for a panoramic view of the city. Proceed southwards to Caesarea to visit the Roman theater and the Crusader fortress. Continue south for a short city tour of Tel Aviv-Jaffa and to hotel for overnight.

DAY 12 - Sunday DEPARTURE (B)
Breakfast at the hotel. We'll escort you to the airport to catch your homeward-bound flight. Shalom!
For crossing into Jordan , please add : $ 75 per person for the transfer to Amman

Rates per person: Modest 5 stars :
Per person in Triple : $ 3910
Per person in double :$ 4030
Per person in single : $ 4930

• This tour begins every Wednesday in Amman.
• You may combine this tour with any Travel in Style tour to Egypt or Turkey. We will be glad to assist you with any special transportation and accommodation arrangements (to/from Egypt, Israel, Jordan or Turkey) .

The rates include:

• Transfers, hotel accommodation.
• Guided sightseeing as per itinerary including entrance fees.
• Meals are preset menu as per itinerary: BLD: breakfast/lunch/dinner.
• Visa fee for Jordan upon arrival for American ,Singaporean, EU , Australian, NZ & Japanese citizens.
• Jordanian departure tax.
• Transportation in Jordan and Israel / Palestine as per itinerary .
• Sightseeing with guide and entrance fees as per itinerary.

Rate does not include :

• Any international transportation or airfares from / to home country .
• Tips.
• Insurance, please ask us for the flyer.
• Visa fee (if any ) for Israel.

Radisson SAS Hotel in Amman:
Centrally located .Only four minutes drive from the city centre, 35 minutes from Queen Alia International Airport. 283 Spacious deluxe rooms, all with air-conditioning, private bath & shower, satellite TV, IDD phone, radio and mini bar. 72 of these rooms features the Royal Club Executive floor concept: VIP amenities, complementary breakfast in the Royal Club Lounge with panoramic view, separate floors including Royal Club Lounge and fitness facilities, and a roof garden. No smoking rooms are available. The hotel offers an elegant lounge, a variety of restaurant facilities and Wings Bar.

THE LANGUAGE OF THE JESUS IN THE LAND OF THE BOOK

Syria is truly the Land of the Book. The ancient alphabets of the Near East grew into Aramaic and then Hebrew, and finally Arabic and the modern Latin script that you're reading!

Jesus spoke to His Disciples in Aramaic. And nowhere else in the Holy Land does His language live as in Maaloula, where His words may still be heard exactly
as He spoke them. For the believer, or for anyone who values traditions of faith, it is a deeply moving experience.

Maaloula is just a short drive from Damascus, and home to Christian community that thrives after 2000 years.

As much as any land, Syria is the birthplace of the Christian faith. St. Paul converted on the road to Damascus, and in the early centuries of the Church,
six Syrian bishops were elevated to the Holy See as popes. The grand Omayyad Mosque is built on a sacred site shared by Muslims and Christians for centuries,
expressing the true brotherhood at the center of both faiths. Two million Syrians worship as Christians.

The full panoply of the Christian experience in the Near East has been played out in Syria. The Krak des Chevaliers is the unique unconquered Crusader fortress
that stands intact as if ready to host the Knights of the Cross once again––and is a must stop for the visitor of faith to the holy sites.

Extend your stay in Syria for one day and visit Maaloula

For those going on to Syria with us. You will continue on to The Syrian border, visit Bosra before continuing to Damascus. Or if you are touring Syria on your own, we'll be glad to arrange for the transfer to Bosra in Syria ( Supplement $65 per person, minimum 2 guests, private car/driver to Bosra).

More Choices :

Combine this tour with any Travel in Style tour to Egypt, or Turkey for an even more exciting vacation adventure.

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