Israel and Jordan Adventure

A visit to Acre is an important part of the Israeli experience. The city serves as a meeting point for east and west, old and new, beauty and ruins. This is what makes Acre so unique. The city offers a variety of tourist attractions, definitely worth a visit. At the Efendi Hotel you will find a great restaurant called Uri Buri. A visit to this authentic restaurant is an experience in itself. We can make a reservation for lunch or diner.

When you have seen enough of Acre it is time to discover Haifa. Here you can visit the Baha’i temples and gardens. The Baha’i religion is known as the youngest in the world. Walk around the charming old German neighborhood or have a cup of coffee at the rooftop terrace of the Colony Hotel. This hotel is only a short walk away from the Baha’i Temples.

Today you will head to the Northeastern part of Israel. From Haifa you will continue your way to Megiddo. This city played an important role in the history of the country. It served as a central stop along the main trade route of the ancient world, which crossed the land bridge of Canaan to connect the far corners of the Fertile Crescent, Egypt in the south and Mesopotamia in the north.

Afterwards you will pass Nazareth where you can visit the Church of the Annunciation. Near Nazareth you will find Tsipori National Park with lots of ruins. At the end of the day you will arrive in Tiberias where you will stay the night.

Before you drive towards Jerusalem today, you can visit Arbel National Park. This is where mount Arbel is located. From the top you can enjoy a magnificent view over the Sea of Galilee.

Your journey continues to one of the most extraordinary cities in the world: Jerusalem.

Today you will spend another day in the area of Jerusalem. After an extensive visit to the Old City yesterday, you can now visit some sites outside the old city walls. You can pass the border to the West Bank and visit Bethlehem today. The birthplace of Christ lies only 10 km south of Jerusalem and offers a wide range of historic sites to visit. The main place to visit is the Church of Nativity, a church built on top of the place where Jesus was born. This UNESCO site is surrounded by other historic sites to visit like the fields of Shepherds and the St. Catherine’s Church.

After you have been to Bethlehem you can visit Yad Vashem. This is Israel’s largest Holocaust memorial. The memorial is set on the slopes of the mount of Remembrance. Yad Vashem is an impressive place to visit and we definitely recommend everyone to take part in this Israeli experience.

Today is going to be a long day. In the early morning you leave Jerusalem. The driver will take you to the Allenby Bridge, the border between Israel and the Kingdom of Jordan. You will cross the border and on the Jordanian side a local representative of Arabescape.com will welcome you into their country. The driver will take you to your next accommodation in Amman, the capital of Jordan. King Hussein lives here along with 2 million Jordanians. It is an energetic and modern city which offers you a glimpse into modern Jordanian life.

The city has a number of highlights that you definitely should not miss. After visiting the souq and the blue King Abdullah I Mosque, head towards the Citadel and visit the Amphitheater. Remains from the Roman empire are located together in the center of the city.

Amman has a vibrant nightlife and countless restaurants, rooftop bars and clubs. There are two main entertainment areas, Rainbow Street and the City Mall area.

Today you will stay in the Dead Sea area, which is the lowest point on earth. From your accommodation you can travel towards Madaba, which is known for the very well preserved mosaic map in the St. George Church. Also, from Madaba you can easily reach Mount Nebo, or Mount of Moses. Only ten kilometers from your resort you can find this famous mountain and the associated church. This place is well known because from here, Moses looked out over the Promised Land.

Alternatively you can visit Wadi Bin Hammad today or you can choose to relax at your accommodation and float in the Dead Sea. Wadi Bin Hammad is a nature reserve where you can take a walk through the gorges and enjoy the beautiful nature. This hike will take approximately 2 hours.

After breakfast, you check out at your accommodation and continue to travel south. Along the way you can stop at one of Jordan’s most beautiful valleys: Wadi Mujib. The wadi offers breathtaking views of the beautiful gorge. For the real adventurers among us, you can walk, swim and climb through the gorge. Definitely a recommendation for the adventure-seeking traveler.

Your journey continues south via the famous Kings Highway also known as Jordan’s King’s Road. This old trade route is still an important connecting road in Jordan. This highway brings you to the crusader castle of Kerak.

After visiting Kerak, you drive towards Petra where you will spend the night.

Today you will visit the ancient city of Petra, one of Jordan’s national treasures and one of the seven wonders of the world! You enter the red city of the Nabataeans. Centuries ago, the Nabataeans built a kingdom which was hidden in the mountains. The ingenious water system enabled the kingdom to flourish in this remote place for a long time. This also is one of the main reasons why all the carvings are so well preserved.

You can spend an entire day in the city. It will be an unforgettable visit but make sure you are ready for a full day of hiking. There are two ways to visit the site. The first one is the traditional way through the Siq (Canyon), this is the main entrance. The Siq will take you to the Treasury. You can visit the Treasury, basin, the royal tombs and the theater, the High Place of Sacrifice and the Roman soldier tombs. All the way at the end of the complex you will find the Monastery.

The second option to visut Petra is through the back door; the more adventurous route! It begins with a 20 minute drive through the desert. After the drive you will begin with a 1,5 hour hike through a mountain area, until you reach the Monastery. Then you will continue through the main site of Petra. Your guide will explain about the archaeology and the history of the site and it inhabitants. After exploring the city you will be exiting from the main gate. This way you are avoiding the tourist crowds, definitely an advantage.

You leave the Nabataean city of Petra and head towards the Wadi Rum desert. The local Bedouins still live here and preserve the area. As the landscape hasn’t changed much over the years it feels like you go back in time. The Bedouins make sure that the protected area still has the same charm it had a thousand years ago.

Wadi Rum is one of the most beautiful deserts in the world, alternated by rugged rocks on both sides. The unique appearance creates the feeling you are on a different planet. No wonder this area served as a film location for many large productions, for example the classic Lawrence of Arabia (1960), and more recent Star Wars the Rise of Skywalker (2019).

Upon arrival your local Bedouin guide will be waiting for you. He will take you on a jeep safari for about four hours and will provide a delicious traditional lunch along the way. At the end of the tour you will be brought to your desert camp. Enjoy the beautiful starry sky at night.

If you wish you can start the day in a very unique way: with a balloon flight over the Wadi Rum at sunrise!

Today you will leave the vast landscape of the desert and return to civilization. You can still enjoy the quietness of the desert in the morning before you continue your journey towards Aqaba. After a 1 hour drive you can check-in at your resort and process the impressions of the past few days at your ease. It is time to sit back and relax!

Today is at leisure, you have time to relax by the pool or go explore the Red Sea and its underwater world. We can arrange a diving or snorkeling excursion additionally. The Red Sea is well-known for its beautiful corals. Additionally, Aqaba has many souqs and restaurants worth a visit.

Today you will leave the Kingdom of Jordan and cross the border from Aqaba to Eilat (Israel). These two cities are only separated by the border and practically lie next close to each other. Therefore, crossing the border is very easy and quick. After you went through customs on the Israeli side of the border our driver will be waiting for you and take you to the car rental company to pick up your car.

You will continue your journey through the Negev Desert towards you next destination: Ein Gedi. Along the way you can stop at Masada, a citadel built on top of a barren mountainous desert plateau thousands of feet above the Dead Sea. King Herod fled to Masada in the year 40 B.C. because he was in danger. It is possible to hike to the top of the citadel or you can take the cable cart. The view from the top is magnificent.

In the morning you can visit the nature reserve of Ein Gedi. There are two hiking options. The first one only takes 1,5 hours. The second, more advanced hike takes 3 to 4 hours in total.

If you have not visited Masada yet, you can do this today. Of course there is also time to float in the Dead Sea.

At the end of the day you drive to Tel Aviv where you will spend the next few days.

After breakfast you can explore the modern city of Tel Aviv. Tel Aviv emerged as a suburb of one of the oldest cities in the world: the 3000-year old city of Jaffa. Nowadays Jaffa is one of the suburbs of Tel Aviv and well-known for its oranges. Visit the old city of Jaffa and stroll through the narrow streets with plenty of shops, galleries, restaurants and small markets.

Be sure to visit the flea market and the old port of Jaffa. You can also rent bikes here and cycle along the boulevard of Tel Aviv, which is 13 kilometers long. Or you can go relax at the beach. There is plenty to choose from!