Best of Israel & Jordan
11 Days Starting and ending in 32.085300,34.781768
Visiting: Israel, Jordan
Tour operator:
Tour code:
262
Recommended For:
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
1 - 45
Age range:
8-95
Special diets catered:
Request dietary needs
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Tour Overview
This 11-day trip through Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories along with Jordan is the perfect tour for people who want to combine visits to important historical and religious sites with some cultural and scenic experiences as well. The tour has time to explore the buzz of the city and beaches of Tel Aviv while also visiting Tiberias and touring Jerusalem, Bethlehem and Nazareth and many important religious and historical sites and monuments. The tour also includes a visit to Masada Fortress and the Dead Sea where you can bob on top of this remarkably salty Sea, the lowest place on Earth. The tour also visits the famous Sea of Galilee and enjoys a wine tasting experience in the hills of the Golan Heights.
Leaving Israel behind we cross the border into Jordan where we visit some of Jordan's tourist highlights including the Roman Ruins in Jerash, the 'lost city' of Petra, Biblical Mount Nebo and the famous mosaic map of the Holyland in Madaba.
Accommodation is on a 3-4 star basis with upgrades available to deluxe 4-star and 5-star hotels.
IMPORTANT NOTE: Due to continued unrest we have temporarily suspended this tour in Israel. Reservations are still being accepted for later travel dates. Should the situation continue, we will contact you approximately 8 weeks prior to departure to discuss new dates/cancellation options (though you can be assured of a full refund if we are unable to operate the tour).
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : Day 1: Arrive Into Tel Aviv. Transfer To Hotel
Accommodation Name: Upon arrival in Ben Gurion Airport, in Tel Aviv, after passing through immigration and customs you will be met by our representative and transferred to your hotel in Tel Aviv for the night. The rest of the day is free for you to settle in and look around
Day 2 : Day 2: Masada & Dead Sea
You'll meet your tour guide and fellow travellers this morning and set of south from Tel aviv, passing the cities of Ashkelon, Ashdod and Beersheba, the capital of the Negev Desert region. You'll then continue to Masada, the foremost archaeological park in Israel. Here we'll ascend to the top of the fortress by cable-car and have a comprehensive visit of the site, learnign about the rituals, culture and politics of the people who lived in this desert fortress. This was the final stronghold of the Jewish Zealots during their war against the Romans, and we will visit the excavations, the synagogue, bathhouse and cisterns, Herod's palaces and enjoy fantastic views of the Roman camps and the Dead Sea, far below us.
Day 3 : Day 3: Israel Museum - Yad Vashem - Ein Karem - Bethlehem
We start our tours today in Jerusalem at the Israel Museum's Shrine of the Book, home to the famous Dead Sea scrolls. Next well visit the beautifully renovated model of the Herodian city of Jerusalem, which dates back to the time of the Second Temple.
We then visit Yad Vashem which is the official memorial to the Jewish victims of the Holocaust. Established in 1953, the memorial is located at the foot of Mt. Hertzl.
On our way out of Jerusalem, we'll visit the picturesque village of Ein Karem in teh southwestern outskirts of the city. According to tradition, this is where John the Baptist was born. We continue out of Jerusalm to visit Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus, and we will will vsiit the Church of the Nativity and Manger Square before returning to Jerusalem.
Day 4 : Day 4: Old City Of Jerusalem
Accommodation Name: We'll enter the Old City of Jerusalem today for a day packed with visits to some of the most important religious sites in the world. We'll see the Western Wall, and the actual site of the Second Temple at Temple Mount. We'll also walk the Way of the Cross
Day 5 : Day 5: Beit Shean - Golan Heights - Tiberias
Accommodation Name: We leave Jerusalem this morning and head north past Jericho, considered by many as the oldest city in the world. As we travel through the Jordan Valley we'll pass new settlements to Beit Shean and visit the excavations of this well preserved Roman city.Tr
Day 6 : Day 6: Capernaum - Mount Of Beatitudes - Nazareth
Accommodation Name: This morning we'll descend back down to the shores of the Sea of Galilee, the stage for many of the events in Jesus' life. We'll visit Capernaum, known as 'His Town', the centre of Jesus ministry, where he spent much time healing the sick and performing m
Day 7 : Day 7: Acre - Haifa - Caesarea - Jaffa
Accommodation Name: After breakfast we will drive through the hills of the Galilee, heading westwards to the Mediterranean coast and Acre, where we visit the old, famous Crusader stronghold and medieval fortifications.Next we continue to Haifa where we will ascend to the top
Day 8 : Day 8: Cross From Israel To Jordan: Tour Jerash
Accommodation Name: This morning we head east from Jerusalem to the Sheikh Hussein border crossing where we proceed through the immigration formalities and enter Jordan where we are met by our Jordanian guide and vehicle. We'll continue on to Jerash, a city of the Decapolis
Day 9 : Day 9: Petra
Accommodation Name: After another early breakfast, we will drive south down Jordan's Desert Highway to Petra. Here you have the option to ride on horseback, take an electric buggy, or walk through the towering cliffs of the 'Siq' (canyon) into the incredible site of Petra. K
Day 10 : Day 10: Madaba: Mt. Nebo: Tel Aviv
Accommodation Name: After breakfast, we drive back up north to see the remains of a Byzantine church with a famous ancient mosaid floor map in Madaba. This is the oldest surviving original catrographic depiction in a mosaic of the whole of the Holy Land region and Jerusalem.
Day 11 : Day 11: Free Time In Tel Aviv. Departure Airport Transfer
After breakfast, your time is free until we transfer you to the airport for your departure flight. Extra nights are available in Jerusalem or Tel Aviv if you would like to extend the tour.
Day 430 : Leaving Masada: We Head Down To The Lowest Place On Earth - The Dead Sea - At 430 Metres Below Sea Level! Here We'll Enjoy A Swim: Or Float: In The Salty Waters And Those Inclined Can Also Enjoy The Benefits Of The Mineral Rich Black Mud. We'll Then Head
Accommodation Name: <STRONG>OVERNIGHT:</STRONG>Jerusalem hotel<STRONG>MEALS:</STRONG>Breakfast
What's Included
What's Not Included
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- International Flights
- Visa fees
- Border tax & crossing fees (payable locally at approx. $107 per person)
- Travel Insurance (compulsory)
- Single room supplements (chargeable if a same-sex room share is not available)
- Meals not indicated in the itinerary
- Drinks, snacks, tips and other personal expenses (e.g. laundry)
- Tips for tour leader
- Any other items not mentioned above
Mode of Transport
A/C minibus/coach
Accommodation
3 to 4-star hotels
Check out our Q&As
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What currencies are required for this tour?
The local currency in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories is the Israeli Shekel (ILS). You do not need to arrange to bring any Shekels with you as exchange facilities are available in the international airports and in most hotels, banks and bureau de changes in major towns. You should try to obtain and keep hold of small denomination notes or coins on you during the tour as these are useful for toilets, tips and small purchases. ATMs are readily available in major towns and many local shops will accept VISA/Mastercard or Amex, but may charge fees of up to 10% - check before you pay. Travellers cheques are not recommended as they can not be changed in many places now, and can incur high fees.
While in Israel and the OPT you will need sufficient funds to cover meals not included in the itinerary, drinks, snacks, souvenirs and personal expenses such as laundry. These should generally all be paid for in local currency, though tips for guides and drivers may be paid in hard currency (GBP, USD, EUR).
It is difficult to recommend a level of personal spending money which will suit everyone as this can differ greatly, but as a guideline, we would suggest allowing USD 25-35 per person per day as a minimum. Allow more if you plan on doing lots of shopping, or buying many alcoholic drinks. -
Is travel insurance compulsory?
Yes! Travel insurance is compulsory on all of our tours and needs to cover personal accident & liability, medical expenses and repatriation, travel delay & abandonment. We also strongly recommend that you take out cover against cancellation and lost/stolen baggage. Personal medical insurance does not normally provide sufficient cover and is generally not suitable for travel on our tours. You will not be able to join your tour if you have not provided us with details of your insurance or if you arrive without cover in place (no refunds will be due in this event).
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What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?
You are always able to change your travel date. However, some charges may apply depending on how long before your departure you make the change. Our flexible booking conditions and reduced charges will apply if you are changing date because of a Covid-19 reason or because your government is advising against travel to your destination. Please check our detailed booking conditions for full details.
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When is my balance payment due?
60 days prior to departure
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
On most of our group tours, solo travellers may choose to form a temporary 'tour bubble' and share a room with another traveller of the same sex in the group. If a room share is not available then a single room supplement may be payable, with the costs for these kept as low as possible. We have also removed compulsory single supplements from many of our tours, and are reducing the cost by 50% on s
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Can I transfer my booking to someone else?
Customers may transfer their booking or any Credit on File to another person who satisfies all the relevant conditions to the tour, provided that we are notified not less than 7 days before departure, and the transferee agrees to these booking conditions and all other terms of the contract between us. The Client and new booker are jointly and severally responsible for any outstanding payments and a transfer administration fee of GBP50 / USD75 / CAD100 / AUD100 / NZD100 / EUR75 / ZAR1000 / INR5000 or GBP100 / USD150 / CAD200 / AUD200 / NZD200 / EUR150 / ZAR2000 / INR10,000 if the transfer is made less than 60 days before departure. Important Note: Certain arrangements may not be amended or transferred after they have been confirmed (for example flight tickets, Gorilla Permits) and any alteration could incur a cancellation and rebooking charge of up to 100% of that part of the arrangements.
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Transfer as credit to Future Tours
Encounters Travel allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform encounters travel, 60 days before departure.
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Low Deposit
Encounters Travel requires a minimum deposit of 150 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 60 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of encounters travel charges.
Up to 61 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 60 days before tour starts: Forfeit 35% of booking price.
At 41 days before tour starts: Forfeit 70% of booking price.
At 27 days before tour starts: Forfeit 90% of booking price.
At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.