Compare Holy Land Discovery with Jordan - Faith-Based Travel - Catholic Itinerary by Cosmos vs Israel & Jordan - Small Group, Summer by Insight Vacations

Day 1: ARRIVE IN TEL AVIV, ISRAEL

Welcome to Israel! Check into your hotel and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure. This evening, meet your Tour Director and fellow travelers.

Day 2: TEL AVIV–JAFFA–CAESAREA–MEGIDDO–NAZARETH

Enjoy a full day exploring some of the Holy Land’s ancient biblical and modern sights. Begin by driving to the old port of Jaffa, an atmospheric town, where Jonah set sail before he was swallowed by the whale. Continue to Caesarea, an ancient port turned incredible archaeological area. Built by Herod the Great in the 1st century BC, the city was one of the most splendid in ancient Palestine and its capital for more than 600 years. Admire what remains of Herod’s grandiose building works, including the restored 3,500-seat Roman theater, the aqueduct, the harbor, the stadium, and the crumbled moat and towers from the 12th-century Crusader fortress. From here, travel to the archaeological site of Megiddo, an age-old fortified town with 25 layers of ancient findings and one of the most important biblical sites. According to the New Testament, this is where the Battle of Armageddon will take place, the final struggle between good and evil, which will prompt the return of Jesus to defeat the Antichrist and cast Satan into the abyss. Continue to Nazareth to visit St. Joseph Church and the Church of the Annunciation, where the Archangel Gabriel told Mary she would conceive and give birth to Jesus, the Son of God. This evening you may have an opportunity to join a candlelight procession starting from the Church of the Annunciation square.
Today's Distance: 121 mi / 195 km (Breakfast,Dinner)

Day 3: NAZARETH. EXCURSION TO BET SHE’AN

Attend one of the early morning Mass services if you wish, then join today’s included excursion. Bet She’an is one of the best-preserved archaeological sites of this region and well worth some time to wander around. Ongoing excavations at this UNESCO World Heritage site reveal time-worn colonnade-style streets, bathhouses, and a theater with perfect acoustics.
Today's Distance: 48 mi / 77 km (Breakfast)

Day 4: NAZARETH. EXCURSION TO MAGDALA–SEA OF GALILEE–TABGHA–CAPERNAUM–MOUNT OF BEATITUDES–CANA

Today, celebrate [M] Mass in Magdala, home to Mary Magdalene, then skirt the Sea of Galilee, and enjoy its scenic beauty. Continue to Tabgha and visit the church commemorating the miracle of Jesus feeding 5,000 people with two fish and five loaves. On to Capernaum, home to the Apostles Peter, Andrew, James, John, and Matthew, and to Jesus himself. Here, you’ll see its ancient synagogue and the house of St. Peter. Spend some time in the gardens on the Mount of Beatitudes, where Jesus delivered his famous sermon, and meditate its significance. On the way back to Nazareth, stop in Cana, site of the wedding miracle.
Today's Distance: 91 mi / 147 km (Breakfast,Dinner)

Day 5: NAZARETH–BETHLEHEM–JERUSALEM

Enjoy a spectacular drive through the Jordan Valley. Stop at the Qasr El Yahud baptismal site where, according to tradition, Jesus was baptized by St. John the Baptist. Continue to Bethlehem, birthplace of Jesus and King David. Visit one of Christianity’s holiest places, the Church of the Nativity, built over the cave thought to be the spot where Jesus was born. Here, you will have time to pray and attend [M] Mass if you like. Reach the holy city of Jerusalem in the late afternoon.
Today's Distance: 119 mi / 192 km (Breakfast,Dinner)

Day 6: JERUSALEM

A day of reflection awaits as you set off on a walking tour of Jerusalem’s Old Town. From the Mount of Olives, take in memorable views over the city’s domes, walls, and rooftops before strolling in the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus prayed on the night before his arrest. Your guide will then lead you into the Jewish quarter, pointing out the Western Wall with its prayer notes tucked between the stones, and the Dome of the Rock, the gold-topped mosque on Temple Mount. Walk the Via Dolorosa (Way of the Cross), following in Jesus’ footsteps as he bore the cross to Calvary for his crucifixion and burial, where the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre now stands. Later this afternoon, attend [M] Mass, if you like. (Breakfast)

Day 7: JERUSALEM. OPTIONAL EXCURSION TO MASADA & THE DEAD SEA

Today is free to relax, explore Jerusalem at leisure, revisit some of the most significant places of worship, or join an exciting optional excursion to the Dead Sea, the planet’s lowest point on dry land. Travel through the mountainous Judean Desert and pass the Qumran Caves, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered. Ride the cable car up to the magnificent Fortress of Masada, perched high on a clifftop plateau above the Dead Sea, where 960 Jewish rebels made their last stand against Roman forces in 73 AD. Later, head for the shores of the Dead Sea, where you’ll have some time to experience the incredible buoyancy in the salt water. Toward the end of the afternoon, return to Jerusalem. (Breakfast,Dinner)

Day 8: JERUSALEM, ISRAEL–PETRA, JORDAN

Drive to Allenby Bridge and cross the border into Jordan. Arrive at Bethany Beyond the Jordan. Stop at Mount Nebo, where Moses saw the Promised Land and where he is believed to be buried. Next, travel to ancient Madaba, the “City of Mosaics.” See the spectacular Byzantine mosaics and the precious 6th-century mosaic map of the Holy Land, and visit St. George Church.
Today's Distance: 174 mi / 280 km (Breakfast,Dinner)

Day 9: PETRA–AMMAN

This morning, visit the archaeological site of Petra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New7Wonders of the World®. Enjoy an unforgettable experience as you walk down the siq, the narrow gorge made famous in “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade,” and stand in awe in front of the iconic Treasury. This afternoon, travel north to Amman for two overnight stays.
Today's Distance: 155 mi / 250 km. (Breakfast,Dinner)

Day 10: AMMAN. EXCURSION TO JERASH, AJLOUN & ANJARA

Begin your day with a stop in Jerash, which was inhabited as early as 3200 BC. Although the city was impacted by the earthquake of 749 ADinner, it is the site of the best-preserved Greco-Roman ruins in the Middle East. Travel through beautiful pine forests and olive groves before arriving in Ajloun. This town’s most important feature is a Moorish castle that dominates a wide stretch of the northern Jordan Valley. Next on the agenda is the biblical city of Anjara, where Jesus, his disciples, and the Virgin Mary stopped and rested in a cave as they traveled between Jerusalem and Galilee. Today, the cave is a holy place for pilgrims.
Today's Distance: 155 mi / 250 km (Breakfast,Dinner)

Day 11: AMMAN

Your vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (Breakfast)

Day 1: Welcome to Tel Aviv

You will be met at Ben Gurion Airport and driven to your hotel in Tel Aviv. At 19:30 meet your travel companions for a Welcome Reception and a short introduction to your Israeli adventures.

Sheraton Tel Aviv Hotel.

Day 2: Exploring Vibrant Tel Aviv Relaxed Start

Morning sightseeing showcases the highlights of this vibrant city, including the Habimah National Theatre, Rabin Square and Carmel Market. Venture along the seashore to the ancient city of Jaffa to see the famous clock tower and the old harbour. Visit the artists' quarter with its galleries, boutiques and picturesque narrow lanes.  Walk along the seaside promenade at sunset for spectacular views, as local musicians and street artists take to the stage. Meet a local artist at their gallery for an insight into their work and inspiration.

Sheraton Tel Aviv Hotel.

Breakfast

Day 3: Caesarea to Galilee

Travel from Tel Aviv, along the coastal road to Caesarea. Explore the ancient Roman and Crusader ruins, including the huge amphitheatre. Travel via Haifa to Acre, fought over for centuries and captured in turn by Saracens and Crusaders, including Richard the Lionheart. See the fortress, the old harbour area and Crusader crypt. Continue to Nazareth and visit one of Christianity’s most sacred places, the Church of Annunciation, built on the site where the angel Gabriel is said to have appeared to Mary. Head on to your hotel in Tiberias, which is located on the Sea of Galilee. The day concludes with a brief introduction to life on a Kibbutz. This evening, break traditional challah bread with your travel companions over a cheerful Shabbat dinner.

Leonardo Plaza Hotel, Tiberias.

Breakfast, Dinner with Wine

Day 4: Hula Valley Relaxed Start

Join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience and meet a ranger for a tour of the Agmom Hahula natural reserve. This nature reserve is home to endangered plant species native of the Hula Valley, and also hosts a bird park on one of the most important migration routes in the world.

Leonardo Plaza Hotel, Tiberias.

Breakfast

Day 5: To the Dead Sea

Explore Galilee with Insight Choice. Choose to cruise the serene water of Lake Kinneret for glorious views of the Golan Heights. Alternatively, meet one of the fishermen who found the Ancient Galilee Boat and hear the story of its excavation. Visit Capernaum, where Jesus is said to have entered the synagogue to teach, before heading to the Mount of Beatitudes, where he preached the Sermon on the Mount. Journey through ever-changing landscapes along the Jordan Valley, past ancient Jericho, to take a dip in the buoyant salt waters of the Dead Sea.

Herods Dead Sea, Ein Bokek.

Breakfast, Dinner

Day 6: Masada and the Holy City of Jerusalem

Take a cable car ride up to the fortress of Masada, where Jewish zealots held out for three years against King Herod's armies. Travel through the Judean Hills to Mount Scopus for breathtaking views of Jerusalem. Visit King David's Tomb on Mount Zion, and the Room of the Last Supper. Enter the Old City and follow the winding cobbled alleyways to the magnificent Wailing Wall, the most sacred monument in Judaism.

Leonardo Plaza Hotel, Jerusalem.

Breakfast

Day 7: Exploring Jerusalem

Today is dedicated to exploring the multiple facets of Jerusalem. Visit Yad Vashem, a memorial for those who perished in the Holocaust. Continue to the Israel Museum and retrace the history of the city. Visit the Shrine of the Book, home to ancient Dead Sea scrolls, and look out for the most ancient one, the Isaiah scroll, dating from the third century B.C.

Leonardo Plaza Hotel, Jerusalem.

Breakfast

Day 8: Optional Bethlehem Experience Relaxed Start

Enjoy a relaxed morning or alternatively choose to meet your Local Expert at the West Bank border and continue to the Holy city of Bethlehem. The Optional Experience includes visiting the Church of the Nativity, one of the oldest continuously operating churches in the world. The structure is built over the cave that tradition marks as the birthplace of Christ, and is considered sacred by followers of both Christianity and Islam. In the afternoon, visit the Garden of Gethsemene and walk through the Old City to see the Temple Mount, one of Islam’s holiest sites. Continue along the Via Dolorosa past the Stations of the Cross, Ecce Homo Arch, and the Pool of Bethesda, to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. At night, toast your adventures over a hearty Highlight Dinner with wine.

Leonardo Plaza Hotel, Jerusalem.

Breakfast, Dinner with Wine

Day 9: From Jerusalem to Amman

Travel through the Judaean Desert to the border of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. You are met on the other side to journey through a landscape that has changed little in the last 2,000 years. Once at your Amman hotel, relax and settle in before meeting your Jordanian Travel Director for drinks and dinner.

Amman Marriott Hotel.

Breakfast, Dinner with Wine

Day 10: Exploring Amman and Jerash

After breakfast depart for Iraq Al-Amir. Join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience and visit a women's cooperative, working with women and girls from the nearby Wadi Al Seer villages. The association is supported by Insight Vacations through The TreadRight Foundation and provides training and work opportunities for women in the region. Then, the journey to Jerash reveals the most beautifully preserved example of a Greco-Roman city still in existence. Enter through Hadrian's Arch, to explore the grand ruins of the Temples of Artemis and Zeus, where you can listen to the Whispering Column. Overlook the vast Oval Plaza and Cardo Maximus, the key Roman road. Enjoy an al fresco lunch of natural produce and family recipes at Beit Khairat Souf, during a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience. This women-owned café is combatting female unemployment and aims to build a strong community of women leaders.  Return to Amman where the rest of the day is at leisure.

Amman Marriott Hotel.

Breakfast, Lunch

Day 11: Red city of Petra

Continue to Mount Nebo, one of the most revered holy sites of Jordan, where Moses stood and saw before him the Promised Land. At Madaba, visit the famous Greek Orthodox Church of St. George with its amazing 6th century mosaic map depicting the entire Holy Land, stretching from Jordan and Palestine in the north, to Egypt in the south. Follow the King's Highway to visit Shobak, an authentic 12th century crusader fortress, perched on the side of a rocky mountain, standing guard over a barren and desolate land. Admire the towers and Arabic calligraphy on the external walls before discovering the original Crusader chapel, palace complex, and even a set of secret passages!Then head south for one of the highlights of your journey: the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Petra, voted one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.

Petra Marriott Hotel.

Breakfast, Dinner with Wine

Day 12: Exploring the Lost City of Petra

This day is devoted to the beautiful ‘rose-red city, half as old as time'. You enter this lost city through a narrow gorge, the Siq, with walls that rise up to 200 metres. Emerge from the path to see the magnificent Treasury, carved out of solid rock and standing over 40 metres high. WWind your way through the canyon to explore the ancient tombs and the Roman Amphitheatre, which once seated 3,000 spectators. Dine with locals at the Ammarin desert camp with a stunning backdrop.

Petra Marriott Hotel.

Breakfast, Dinner

Day 13: Amman

If you wish, start the day with sunrise yoga at the Bedouin camp, before returning to Amman. Explore Amman with Insight Choice. Choose between joining a guided sightseeing to discover the highlights of the city and learn about the history and culture or alternatively, explore Amman's street art scene on a guided graffiti walking tour. Later, check in at your hotel where the rest of your day is at leisure. Join in a lively dinner to celebrate the end of your Jordanian adventures.

Amman Marriott Hotel.

Breakfast, Dinner with Wine

Day 14: Depart Amman

After breakfast, you are transferred to Amman Airport for your onward flight.

Breakfast