From Jerusalem to Petra

Fly from London Heathrow to Tel Aviv, with heritage at the heart of the metropolis, in the form of the White City’s thousands of Bauhaus buildings, and a sweeping promenade for spectacular sunsets. Transfer to the 4-star Tal by the Beach Hotel for an overnight stay.

Travel to characterful Old Jaffa, with its maze of alleyways and Ottoman architecture; and continue along the coast to the archaeological park of ancient Roman Caesarea, where sculptures and structures include a large amphitheatre, frescoed hippodrome, and historic port. Continue to Haifa, looking out to sea from multi-tiered streets, for a fabulous view from Mount Carmel of the bay and serenely landscaped Baha’i Gardens, UNESCO listed and a place of pilgrimage for those of the Baha’i faith. Return to Haifa for two nights at the 4-star The Colony Hotel.
(B)

Drive to the hilltop city of Safed, the centre of Jewish mysticism, to visit the ancient synagogue, steeped in legends and tales of miracles; and the cobbled lanes of the Artists’ Colony, lined with studios and galleries. Continue to the Golan Heights for panoramic views over Israel and Syria, and enjoy a wine tasting.
(B)

Tour through scenic hills to Nazareth for an insight of ancient Galilean life in ‘Nazareth Village’, an archaeologically accurate re-creation of the 1st -century hometown of Jesus, complete with replica houses, a synagogue, and farm. Continue to the biblical site of (2nd-century BC) Capernaum, on the ‘Sea of Galilee’ shore, where four of the apostles were fishermen, and excavations revealed ‘the house of St. Peter’, with a 5th-century Byzantine church built above it. Drive to Megiddo’s archaeological site, said in Bible prophesies to be the place of a final battle at the end of time, Armageddon; and to the ancient synagogue of Beit Alpha, with one of the finest mosaics uncovered in Israel. Arrive in Jerusalem for a Shabbat Dinner this evening, and a three-night stay at the 4-star Arthur Hotel.
(B, D)

Drive to the Mount of Olives for a view over the old city, and enjoy a walking tour of its four ‘quarters’, viewing the Tomb of King David and the ‘cenacle’ room of the Last Supper, on its upper floor; Temple Mount, sacred in Judaism as the site of King Solomon’s temple, and equally important in Islamic faith for the iconic, gold-topped shrine, the Dome of the Rock; visit the 4th-century Christian Church of the Holy Sepulchre, encompassing the cave of Christ’s burial; and the ancient Western Wall, the holiest of Jewish sites.
(B)

Visit the Israel Museum, where the Shrine of the Book wing houses the Dead Sea Scrolls, and the grounds hold the detailed scale-model of Jerusalem in the Second Temple period; continue to Yad Vashem, the country’s Holocaust History Memorial; and to one of the oldest Jewish neighbourhoods, Mea She’arim, the traditional home of Haredi and Hasidic Jews, its narrow streets studded with many synagogues, unmodernised shops, and kosher eateries. This evening, enjoy the Sound and Light show at the Tower of David.
(B)

Travel through the Judean wilderness to the edge of the Dead Sea, to take the cable-car to King Herod’s fortress of Masada, a UNESCO World Heritage site, dramatically crowning an isolated desert hilltop. Travel south to the coast at Eilat, cross the Arava border into Jordan, and transfer to Aqaba, on the Red Sea shore, for two nights at the 5-star Mövenpick Aqaba Resort.
(B)

A day at leisure to enjoy the easy ‘gone fishing’ tempo of Aqaba, with sandy beaches, seafront cafés and fabulous fish restaurants; and perhaps join an optional excursion on the semi-submersible ‘Yellow Submarine’ (bookable locally), to view the colourful marine life around the coral reserve. Enjoy a sunset cruise and a sundowner drink.
(B)

Discover the wilderness of Wadi Rum, see the Seven Pillars of Wisdom, leaning against each other in the frontage of a towering rock. Continue to visit the Siq al-Barid (cold canyon), just 400m long, squeezed between towering walls, known as ‘Little Petra’, and home to the faded frescoes of the famous Painted House; and drive from here to Rift Valley views at Wadi Musa, for two nights at the 5-star Petra Marriott Hotel. Enjoy an evening drink at the Nabataean Cave Bar. Optional Petra by Candlelight tour (bookable locally) at the tall-walled slot-canyon Siq.
(B)

Nothing prepares first time visitors for the gargantuan scale of Petra, and Petra doesn’t reveal its glory without some effort on the part of the pilgrim. With about 4hrs of walking, this morning’s guided visit takes you through The Siq approach, a tight gorge with soaring red-pink walls, leading to the breathtaking carved façade of the Treasury (now famed as the film set for the ‘last crusade’ of Indiana Jones). Afternoon at leisure for independent exploration, perhaps to climb the 800 rock-cut steps to el-Deir Monastery, more than two millennia old. Enjoy a special dinner at a camp this evening.
(B, D)

Travel (3hrs) to Madaba, to see superbly preserved mosaics, including the archaeological park’s examples from Hellenistic to Islamic eras, and two 6th-century finds: the map of the Holy Land, in the Greek Orthodox Church of St. George, and the intricate depictions of flora, fauna, and the twelve apostles in the Church of the Apostles. After lunch at a traditional restaurant, visit Mount Nebo, where, in biblical reference, Moses was granted views of the Promised Land before his death. Continue to the Dead Sea, stunningly scenic, whether flat calm or wind-whipped to whitecaps, with a shimmering salt crystal carpet on the shoreline. Two nights at the 5-star Marriott Dead Sea Hotel & Spa. 
(B, L)

Visit the impressive ruins of ancient Jarash, a Greco-Roman city with a huge, colonnaded forum, 2nd-century Hadrian’s Arch, and Temple of Artemis. Return to the hotel to enjoy the rest of the day at leisure, time to test the Dead Sea water for effortless floating.
(B)

Transfer to Amman airport for the early morning return flight to London Heathrow.
(B)