Israel and Jordan

• 10 nights hotel accommodation in Israel (Tel Aviv 3, Galilee 2, Jerusalem 4) with buffet breakfast daily
• 2 nights hotel accommodation in Jordan (Amman 2), with buffet breakfast daily
• 6 days escorted tour of Israel as per itinerary
• 3 day escorted tour of Jordan as per itinerary
• All transfers in Israel
• Sightseeing by air-conditioned vehicles and English speaking professional tour guides
• All entrance fees on included sightseeing
• Meals as per itinerary: B= breakfast (10)
• Host service in Israel and Jordan
• Hotel service charges and taxes
• FreeGate document portfolio
• Optional airfare from most USA cities is available at competitive prices
  

Itinerary

DAY 1- SAT: USA-Tel Aviv
Depart New York via overnight transatlantic flight to Tel Aviv, Israel.

DAY 2 - SUN: Tel Aviv
Upon arrival at Ben Gurion Airport you will be met, assisted and transferred to your hotel. The remainder of the day is at leisure. Overnight in Tel Aviv.

DAY 3 - MON: Tel Aviv – Beersheva – Arad – Massada - Jerusalem (B)
Leave Tel Aviv via Ashdod, Ashkelon to Beersheva. 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 salty water of the world's lowest place. Via Ein Gedi and Kalia, proceed to Jerusalem. Overnight in Jerusalem.

DAY 4- TUE: Jerusalem: New Ciy (B)
Drive to Mt. Scopus for a panoramic view of Jerusalem. On the Garden of Gethsemane and Church of the Agony. Continue to Israel Museum's Shrine of the Book with the famous Dead Sea scrolls, then a visit to the beautifully renovated Model of the Herodian city of Jerusalem, dating back to the time of the Second Temple. Continue to Yad Vashem (the memorial to the six million Jews who were killed in the Holocaust). Afternoon visit the Hadassh medical center's synagogue, with Marc Chagall stained glass windows. Vie Ein Kerem (the birth place of John the Baptist). Return to hotel. Overnight in Jerusalem.

DAY 5 - WED: Jerusalem: Old Ciy - Bethlehem (B)
Walk through one of the Gates of the walled Old City; the renewed Jewish Quarter, the Western (Wailing) Wall, the Temple area; the colorful Bazaar; Via Dolorosa and the stations of the cross, ending at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. Drive to Mount Zion and visit the tomb of King David, the Room of the Last Supper and Dormition Abbey. Afternoon continue to Bethlehem ** to visit Rachel's Tomb and the Church of the Nativity and return to Jerusalem for overnight (**

DAY 6 - THU: Beit Shean - Tiberias - Galilee (B)
Depart Jerusalem and drive via Jericho**, the oldest city in the world. Through the Jordan Vally to Beit Shean , Visit the excavated city, and visit the Roman theatre. Proceed to Tiberias, the old center of Jewish learning. Drive along the shores of the Sea of galilee to Caparnaum, to visit the ruins of the ancient synagogue. Overnight in Kibbutz Hotel

DAY 7 - FRI: Upper Galilee and Golan Heights - Nazareth (B)
Drive to the Golan Heights. Visit the former Syrian fortifications and the Druze villages. Via Banias, source of the Jordan River. Proceed via the hula Valley to Safed, city of the Kabala, to visit a synagogue and the artist's colony and then to Nazareth to visit the Christian Holy sites. Return to Kibbutz Hotel for overnight

DAY 8 - SAT: Acre - Haifa – Tel Aviv (B)
After Breakfast, drive west to Acre for a visit to the old, famous Crusader stronghold and medieval fortifications. Continue to Haifa – sightseeing tour of Haifa including to view the Persian Gardens at the Bahai Temple, and Mount Carmel for a panoramic view of the city and the bay. Proceed along the coast to Caesarea, capital of Judea under the Romans. Visit the excavations of the ancient city, the Roman Theatre and the Crusader fortress. End the day with a short city tour of Tel Aviv-Jaffa and overnight in Tel Aviv.

DAY 9 - SUN: Tel Aviv - Jerash - Amman (B)
Departure from Tel Aviv & Jerusalem to the border. After border crossing procedures enter in Jordan and proceed to Jerash – city of the Decapolis – located about 45 km. north of Amman in the fertile heights of the Gilead. Visit the ancient Roman city with colonnaded streets, the baths and the hilltop temple, then drive to Amman - the capital of Jordan. After a short orientation tour viewing the various landmarks of the city drive to the hotel for overnight.

DAY 10 - MON: Wadi Musa - Petra (B)
After an early breakfast, leave the hotel and travel south on the road to Wadi Musa. Take a horse ride from the Visitors’ Centre to the entrance of the dramatic “Siq” (Canyon), then walk through it to Petra - known as the red rock city – the ancient capital of the Nabateans from the 3rd century BC to the 2nd century AC. Visit the most interesting carved monuments, such as the Treasury (El Khazneh – the tomb of a Nabatean king), then the field of tombs, obelisks and the altar (Al Mashbah). From this point you can view the whole of the rock city. Then back to Wadi Musa village and drive back to Amman for overnight.

DAY 11 - TUE: Madaba - Mount Nebo - Tel Aviv (B)
After breakfast leave the hotel. Drive to Madaba to see the ancient mosaic map of the Holyland and the ruins of the historical site. Continue about 10 km. to Mount Nebo, from where Moses viewed the Promised Land. From there you will see the Jordan Valley, Jericho and the Dead Sea. Visit the remains of a Byzantine church with a mosaic floor, then drive to the border and back to Tel Aviv for overnight.

DAY 12 - WED: Tel Aviv - Departure (B)
After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your departure flight.

Accommodations	OPTION A	OPTION B
TEL AVIV	Dan Panorama / Crowne Plaza / Renaissance Tel Aviv	Carlton / Sheraton Hotel&Tower / Intercontinental
JERUSALEM	Dan Panorama / Crowne Plaza (deluxe rooms)	David Citadel / Inbal
GALILEE	Kibbutz Hotels (superior rooms)	Kibbutz Hotels (superior rooms)
AMMAN	Golden Tulip/-Grand Palace	Regency Palace

Departure Dates & Prices

Rates are per person sharing a double/ twin room, in US dollars. All prices are subject to change witout notice.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Rates do not include border crossing fees. US citizens are required to have a valid visa in order to enter Jordan.

Competitive airfares from most USA cities are available - please inquire.