23 Sept: Upon our arrival at Queen Alia International Airport we will be met and assisted, then transfer to the Regency Palace Hotel in Amman for dinner and overnight. (D)

24 Sept: After breakfast, begin the day with a city tour of Amman. Amman, called Philadelphia by the Romans, is the capital of Jordan and offers both the old and new. See the Roman Amphitheater, the Citadel and the Archeological Museum. Afterwards we will visit some of the desert castles. In the 7th and 8th centuries the Umayyad Caliphs built the Muslim treasures known as the Desert Castles, east of Amman. These were originally hunting lodges or meeting places, but of course they were the height of luxury at that time. You may see beautiful mosaics and decorative carvings reflecting the rulers of the day. Return to Amman for dinner at a local restaurant and overnight at the Regency Palace Hotel. (B/D)

25 Sept: After early breakfast we will go to the north of Amman to visit Jerash. In Jerash you will see the ruins of one of the grandest Roman cities in the Middle East. You will see the Triumphal Arch, the Hippodrome, the Temple of Zeus, the Forum, the mile long street of Columns, the Nymphaeum, the Temple of Artemis and the Viaduct Church. The Amphitheater is still used for an arts festival and is remarkably well preserved. After our visit we will go to the border with Israel at the Allenby Bridge to cross over into Israel at about 1:00pm. We will be met and assisted by our Israeli guide, then transfer to Tiberius and check in to the Golden Tulip Jordan River Hotel for dinner and overnight. (B/D)

26 Sep: Start the day with a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. Continue to Capernaum to see the ruins of the synagogue and octagonal church of St. Peter. Proceed to Nazareth where we will visit the Church of the Annunciation. End the day with a visit to the Tiberius Spa to relax. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight. (B/D)

27 Sep: After breakfast we will check out then visit the Golan Heights, enjoying a breathtaking view from the southern Golan over the Galilee. Afterwards drive to the port city of Haifa to see the Bahai Shrine and visit the exotic Persian Gardens. Enjoy a panoramic view over the bay then proceed via the Druze villages and along the coastal plain to Caesarea, capital of Judea under the Romans. Here we will see the excavations of the Crusader city and the Roman port, aqueduct and the amphitheater that has been restored to its former glory as a concert venue. In the late afternoon arrive to Jerusalem and check in to the Prima Kings Jerusalem Hotel for dinner and overnight. (B/D)

28 Sep: In the morning we will drive to the Mount of Olives for a magnificent panoramic view of the Old City of Jerusalem. Continue to the Old City and visit the tomb of King David and the room of the Last Supper on Mt. Zion. Visit the Roman Cardo, the Herodias Quarter and continue to the Western Wall. Walk along the Via Dolorosa to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight. (B/D)

29 Sep: Today is the Jewish holiday of Yom Kippur and there is no transportation. Enjoy a free day on your own to visit the Old City again (within walking distance of the hotel), or relax at your leisure. Dinner and overnight at the hotel. (B/D)

30 Sep: This morning we will drive to the Hadassah Medical Center in Ein Kerem to see the Chagall stained glass windows then continue to Yad Vashem, the memorial to the Holocaust. Continue on to the Supreme Court, an impressive and outstanding architectural building. Drive past the Knesset - the Israeli Parliament, to the Israel Museum. Visit the miniature model of Jerusalem as it was during the Second Temple period and the Shrine of the Book housing the Dead Sea Scrolls . Dinner and overnight at the hotel. (B/D)

01 Oct: After breakfast we will drive through the Judean Desert to the Dead Sea, the lowest point on earth, almost 1300 feet (400 meters) below sea level. Stop at Qumran to visit the site where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found. Drive along the shores of the Dead Sea to Masada and ascend by cable car to the ancient fortress. We will tour the site where the Zealots made their last stand against the Romans before committing mass suicide in 73 AD. Descend by cable car, time and weather permitting, an opportunity will be provided to float on the Dead Sea. Return to Jerusalem for dinner and overnight. (B/D)

02 Oct: In the morning we will drive to the West Bank/Palestinian Authority to visit Bethlehem where we will see the Church of Nativity and Manger Square, and view the Shepherds Fields. At about 11:00am we will head to the Allenby Bridge and cross back into Jordan. Meet and assist at Allenby Bridge at 11:30, then visit Bethany, the site of St. John the Baptist's village and where Jesus was baptized. We will then go to the Dead Sea for dinner and overnight at the Kempinski Hotel. (B/D)

03 Oct: This morning we will have free time to swim in the rejuvenating waters of the Dead Sea or relax until check out time at 12:00 noon. We will head south to Petra, with a stop at the fortress of Kerak. Kerak is a crusader fortress, built over older fortresses, located on the King's Highway in the area known in ancient times as Moab. The history during the Crusades of this fortress is filled with intrigue, treachery, and murder. But the history of this area goes back to the Iron Age and the ancient Nabateans. Dinner and overnight at the Crowne Plaza Hotel or Taybet Zaman Resort in Petra. (B/D)

04 Oct: After breakfast begin your exploration of Petra, the "Rose Red City." This incredible hidden city, inhabited by the ancient Nabateans, lay concealed from 100 AD until it was re-discovered in the early 1800's. Take a horse ride to the "Siq" (Canyon) entrance then walk the rest of the way through the narrow, winding cut in rocks into the valley. Your first glimpse of the magnificence of the place will be of the Treasury as you round the last bend on the pathway. The Treasury and the other buildings have been carved out of the canyon walls in the pink sandstone. Continue past the Roman Theatre, the Corinthian Tomb and the Palace Tomb. Afterwards, drive to Wadi Rum for dinner and camping overnight at Jabal Rum Camp. (B/D)

05 Oct: After breakfast we depart the camp for a 4x4 jeep tour in Wadi Rum exploring the desert canyons, rock formations and more. Uniquely shaped massive mountains rise vertically out of the pink desert sand, which separate one dark mass from another in a magnificent desert scenery of breathtaking beauty, with towering cliffs of weathered stone. Wadi Rum is probably best known because of its connection with the enigmatic British officer T.E. Lawrence, who was based here during the Great Arab Revolt of 1917-18, and as the setting for the film that carried his name "Lawrence of Arabia". After our 4 hour tour we will head to Madaba to visit the Greek Orthodox church of St. George the Apostle Church, home to a stunning 6th-century Byzantine mosaic map showing the entire region from Jordan and Palestine in the north, to Egypt in the south. Afterwards continue to nearby Mount Nebo where you will visit the church on top of the hill from where, it is believed, Moses viewed the Promised Land. We will have our farewell dinner in Madaba, and overnight at the Mosaic City Hotel.

06 Oct: After breakfast, transfer to QAIA for departure.

Included:
-Meet and assist upon arrival and departure
-Visa for Jordan
-Accommodation in selected hotels (or similar), double occupancy, half board (breakfast and dinner) basis
-Porterage at hotels
-Transportation by air conditioned modern bus
-Qualified English speaking guides throughout
-Entrance fees to all mentioned sites
-Horse ride in Petra
-4x4 jeep tour in Wadi Rum
-Water on the bus
-Water, coffee, or tea for the meals at restaurants
-Israeli exit tax

Not Included:
-Airfare
- Departure taxes
-Items of a personal nature such as phone/fax use, room service, mini bar, souvenirs, etc
-Private transfers if arriving or departing separate from the group
-Meals not listed in itinerary and additional beverages as noted above
-Tips for guides and drivers - we recommend about $4 for drivers and $7 for guides, per person, per day
-Extras and optional items not on itinerary

Single Supplement: $790

Call us for complete details and air fare to Amman.