Classic Jordan, Israel and the Palestinian Territories

Day 1 Amman

Ahlan Wa Sahlan! Welcome to Amman, a cosmopolitan city steeped in biblical history. On arrival at Queen Alia International Airport, you will be met by an Intrepid representative and transferred to your hotel, ready for your adventure to begin at 6pm with an important welcome meeting. If you arrive early, feel free to head out and explore – highlights include the citadel with its amazing sweeping views of Amman, the Jordan Museum, which is home to the Dead Sea Scrolls, or the Roman Theatre, right in the middle of downtown Amman. After the meeting, you may like to get to know your group over an optional dinner, or explore on your own and pick up a coffee from one of the cafes, partnering it with an ara’yes – a toasted sandwich filled with spicy mincemeat.

Day 2 Wadi Rum

After breakfast today, journey down the Desert Highway to the spellbinding Wadi Rum, a landscape of rugged sandstone mountains standing tall among an ochre desert floor. Meet your Bedouin hosts on arrival followed by free time for lunch, before heading into this desolate, romantic area. Transport into the Rum is by way of jeeps operated by the local Bedouin community, part of an initiative by the Jordanian Government to bring much-needed income into this region. Visit several of Wadi Rum's distinctive rock formations and soak in the vast silence and spectacular desert landscapes. The Bedouins live in scattered camps throughout the area and you'll enjoy an evening under the stars at one of these sites.

Day 3 Aqaba

Enjoy a spectacular sunrise at your desert camp, perhaps checking out a few more of the local Wadi Rum sites or taking a scenic walk before you leave. Depart Wadi Rum mid-morning for the city of Aqaba on the Red Sea. Check into your hotel on arrival and head out for a brief orientation of the town with your leader – the small Ottoman Mamluk Fort, dating from the 14th century and from where Lawrence of Arabia rode to Cairo, is worth a look – otherwise, most of the fun is to be found in the water. With great visibility and abundant marine life, this is an incredible spot for snorkelling, and the warm waters play host to clownfish, angelfish, sea turtles and coral formations. Speak to your leader if you’d like to arrange snorkelling, or you may prefer to acquaint yourself with the hotel's pool or head to the beach.

Day 4 Petra

This morning, enjoy some relaxation time in Aqaba before travelling to the fabled city of Petra. Dating back to the sixth century BC, Petra is considered the crown jewel of Jordan, featuring an impressive series of tombs and dwellings carved directly into the rock. The site remained unknown to the wider world until 1812 when it was visited by Swiss explorer Johann Ludwig Burckhardt. In 1985, Petra was designated a UNESCO World Heritage-listed site, and simply put, is one of the world’s most incredible ancient sites. On arrival, settle into your hotel and check out the village before enjoying an included dinner at your hotel.

Day 5 Petra

Petra is justifiably on most people’s list of ‘must-visit’ places. The iconic Petra view – the Treasury's glorious facade, glimpsed from the narrow cleft known as the Siq – is arguably the single most striking sight of the entire region. The Siq leads through the rock and is sometimes only a few metres wide, with walls soaring up to 180 metres on either side. Join your guide and explore the old Roman road, amphitheatre and several old tombs, before enjoying free time to experience Petra at your own pace. Maybe climb up to the Monastery, carved from a mountain summit, where you’ll find magnificent views of the entire site. To cap off a truly memorable day, be welcomed into a local home for dinner. On the menu will often be maqluba – a casserole with rice, vegetables and chicken which is cooked, flipped, then served with either yoghurt or an Arab salad with tahina sauce. Chat to your friendly family hosts about the delicious meal and what life is like in such a popular spot.

Day 6 Amman

After breakfast, drive to the ancient Crusader castle at Shobak, where your leader will show you the grounds, a small chapel and the original gatehouse. This ancient castle was originally built to protect the eastern flank of the Latin Kingdom and its trade routes to the sea before it fell to Saladin in 1189. Depart the castle and stop off at the viewpoint overlooking the Dana Nature Reserve before arriving in Madaba where you’ll visit the Greek Orthodox Church of St. George and see an impressive ancient mosaic map of the Holy Land. Arrive in Amman in the late afternoon, where your leader will recommend some great restaurants to sample the best of the city’s food scene.

Day 7 Amman

Take a short drive north to Jerash, once one of the grandest ancient Roman cities in the world and now home to some of the best Greco-Roman ruins around. Jerash has a striking collection of archways, theatres, baths, public buildings and colonnaded streets, and is a beautiful place to spend a morning exploring. Then, drive to the shores of the Dead Sea, the lowest point on Earth (420 metres below sea level). This isn’t actually a sea, but rather a super-salty lake (dead because of the lack of life in it) where the density of the water means you’ll go for a float, not a swim. The mud here is supposed to have healing properties, so why not cover yourself from head to toe for a nutrient-rich natural mineral mud bath. Spend some time relaxing here before returning to Amman for the evening. Maybe spend tonight at one of the many bars and restaurants in West Amman or ask your leader about the traditional cafes dotted around the city where locals spend their evenings.

Day 8 Tel Aviv

This morning we farewell Jordan and drive to the Allenby Bridge Crossing for your onwards journey to Israel and the Palestinian Territories. You will be accompanied by your leader or a local guide to the crossing. They will provide you with instructions for the border officials. Once you have cleared the border there will be a driver to take you to your hotel in Tel Aviv.

Day 9 Nazareth

Today, make like a wise man for Nazareth, stopping at a few significant ports along the way. First up is Jaffa, now a vision of modernity but reputed to be one of the oldest ports in the world. You’ll continue on to Lewinsky Market – a very popular spot for locals and full of personality and colour. Take a stroll through its aisles and perhaps stop to sample some burekas (traditional pastries) as you walk around. You’ll then head up the coast to Haifa and enjoy the view of the renowned Bahai Gardens, a series of 19 terraced gardens overlooking the city. Afterwards, drive to Nazareth, arriving in the afternoon. An orientation walk will help you get your bearings so that you can make the most of your free evening.

Day 10 Nazareth

Start the morning with a visit to the Church of the Annunciation. This is the site where Mary is said to have received the news of the Immaculate Conception, and of the well where she drew water every day. Get on the road again and head north to the port city of Acre, known for its well-preserved old city and the crumbling remains of its fortress. Explore the excavated hall, dungeon, dining room and crypt of an ancient Gothic church, once occupied by the Knights of St John. Before heading back to your hotel, stop by a local winery for a glass (or two) of their delicious drop. Spend the evening in Nazareth.

Day 11 Mitzpe Ramon

Head out of Nazareth this morning, on your way to the Negev Desert region. Today join a special lunch at Lakiya Negev Bedouin Weaving. This initiative, founded in 1991, is all about empowering Bedouin women in this region to apply their traditional weaving skills to the manufacture and sale of their products, and earn an income. Spend some time with the women, joining them for a cup of tea and a local lunch. Stop en route to Ramon Crater at Be’er Sheva – the only city built by Ottoman Turks during their rule over this land – and visit the Anzac Memorial there. In the afternoon, arrive at Mitzpe Ramon, perched on the edge of the crater. Check in to your hotel and grab some free time before sunset when we hop in the back of a 4WD vehicle and head on a desert safari. Ramon Crater has been recognised as an International Dark Sky Park – the first in the Middle East – to promote the ecological, astronomical and cultural benefits of having a clear night sky, unimpeded by light pollution.

Day 12 Jerusalem / Dead Sea

Take in a special sunrise then visit Masada, a spectacular cliff-top fortress built by King Herod around 35 BC that can now be reached by cable car. The fortress is seen as a symbol of the bravery and self-sacrifice of the Jewish people. Travel on to Ein Gedi, where you’ll have time to wash off during a swim like no other. The Dead Sea, the lowest point on Earth, sits at 420 metres below sea level and is so salty that you'll easily float on the surface. The nutrient-rich mud is great as a body scrub too. Later on, as the sun cools, you will visit the Mount of Olives for your first view of Jerusalem. Visit the Garden of Gethsemane, known as the place where Jesus prayed and his disciples slept the night before his crucifixion.

Day 13 Jerusalem

Explore Jerusalem’s Old City this morning on foot. Start with the Courtyard of the Dome and the Western Wall – the remains of the Temple Mount, which acts as an outdoor synagogue, where written prayers are slid into the cracks between stones. Then continue along the Via Dolorosa starting at St Stephen’s Gate, passing the crusader church of St Anne and the Pool of Bethesda. Now located in the Muslim Quarter of Jerusalem, this pool was mentioned in the Gospel of John and associated with healing. Continue along the Way of the Cross (Via Dolorosa) – the Way of Sorrows which follows Jesus’ path to crucifixion – and stop by the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, built where Jesus is believed to have been crucified, died, buried, and rose again. The afternoon is free for you to continue exploring, so perhaps have more of a wander around the Old City or check out the Israeli Museum.

Day 14 Jerusalem / Bethlehem

This morning, cross into Bethlehem to visit the Church of the Nativity as well as Manger Square, where Jesus is said to have been born. Afterwards, discover a different side to Bethlehem on a graffiti tour at the Separation Barrier where famous artists like Banksy have contributed to the artworks. Continue to Shepherds Field Chapel, a Roman Catholic religious building. The chapel marks the place where, according to Catholic lore, angels first announced the birth of Christ. Later on, this afternoon, visit the Aida Refugee Camp and join some passionate home cooks for a cooking class. Learn about everyday life for those who live in the camp as you whip up authentic Palestinian dishes with the families of those who were forced to leave their villages during the 1949 Israeli-Arab war. At the end of the class, enjoy your culinary creations during a shared lunch. Tonight, get a couple of your travel crew together and sit back with a cold beer at one of the many laneway bars near Machane Yedhua Market. There are some great eating spots around there too.

Day 15 Jerusalem

Your journey comes to an end after breakfast today and there are no activities planned, so you are free to check out at any time.