Holy Land and Jordan Itinerary

Here is a sample summary itinerary for a 12-day Holy Land and Jordan trip.

Day 1

Depart

Depart Dallas (DFW) on an overnight flight to Tel Aviv.

Day 2

Arrive in Israel

Upon arrival in Tel Aviv, we will meet our Christian English-speaking guide and drive to Jaffa for a short visit, then check in to our hotel in Netanya, north of Tel Aviv. Dinner and overnight in Netanya.

Day 3

Caesarea Maritima, Mt. Carmel, Jezreel Valley, Nazareth, Tiberias

After breakfast, we check out and drive along the ancient highway called the Via Maris. We stop at Caesarea Maritima where Paul spent two years and where Cornelius’ house was located. Our guide will take us through this Roman city by the Mediterranean. Next, we drive to Mt. Carmel and follow the story of Elisha challenging the prophets of Baal, then through the Jezreel Valley to visit the ancient city of Megiddo. This is one of the three cities mentioned in the Bible that was rebuilt by King Solomon. Next we visit Nazareth to see the Basilica of the Annunciation and Mary’s Well Orthodox Church. We will check into our hotel right on the Sea of Galilee for two nights. Dinner and overnight in Tiberias.

Day 4

Golan Heights, Tel Dan, Caesarea Philippi, Capernaum, Sea of Galilee

After breakfast we drive north to the Golan Heights to visit Tel Dan and Caesarea Philippi, where Jesus asked the disciples, “Who do you say that I am?” We then drive back to the Sea of Galilee to visit Capernaum, were Jesus spent 18 months of his ministry and performed at least nine miracles. Our next stop is Tabgha, where the miracle of the fish and loaves took place, and we’ll see the Church of Multiplication with its ornate fourth-century mosaic floor.We continue with a visit to the Mount of Beatitudes and around the shore of the Sea of Galilee to Kursi, which is the Gergesa of Matthew’s Gospel and the location of the miracle of the swine. Next we will take a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee to end our day. Dinner and overnight in Tiberias.

Day 5

Beth Shean, Bethlehem, Shepherd’s Fields

After breakfast and checkout, we drive to Beth Shean, the biggest excavation in Israel. We will see its Roman theater and walk along the Cardo. Next we drive to Bethlehem where we will visit the Church of the Nativity and the Shepherd’s Fields, and we will have time to shop at a Christian cooperative and to meet native Aramaic Christians. Dinner and overnight in Bethlehem.

Day 6

Mt. of Olives, Garden of Gethsemane, Western Wall, Old City of Jerusalem

In the morning, we will walk down the Mount of Olives along the “Palm Sunday path” to the Garden of Gethsemane. In the afternoon we visit the old city of Jerusalem, including the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the Western Wall, and as time permits, the Temple Mount. Dinner and overnight in Bethlehem.

Day 7

Masada, Qumran, Jericho, Dead Sea

We leave Bethlehem and drive along the coast of the Dead Sea to Masada, where we will take a cable car to the summit and walk around the ancient fortress that served as the last Jewish stronghold in their rebellion agains the Romans after the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple. We then stop at the spectacular archaeological site of Qumran, the place where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found. We proceed into the Jordan River Valley to visit the oasis town of Jericho and the excavations of its ancient ruins. We will see the Mount of Temptation, where Jesus was tempted, and we will have an opportunity to float in the mineral-rich waters of the Dead Sea to end the day. Dinner and overnight in Bethlehem.

Day 8

Jordan River, Wadi Musa, Petra

We enter Jordan via the Allenby Bridge. We will stop at the Jordan River to visit Jesus’ baptismal site on the Jordan side. Then we’ll drive to Wadi Musa and continue south to the city of Petra. Dinner and overnight in Petra.

Day 9

Petra

We will spend the day at Petra, the city of carved and built structures, including the monastery carved out of a sandstone rock face. Dinner and overnight in Petra.

Day 10

Madaba, Mt. Nebo, Amman

From Petra, we drive to Madaba in central Jordan, then we will view a panorama of the Holy Land and the Jordan River Valley from Mt. Nebo. We then drive north to the modern capital city of Amman, Jordan. Dinner and overnight in Amman.

Day 11

Jerash, Amman

In the morning we visit Jerash, known as the “Pompeii of the East” for its extraordinary state of preservation. The most well known monuments include the colonnaded street, the Temple of Zeus, the Forum, and Hadrian’s Arch. In the afternoon, we return to Amman. Dinner and overnight in Amman.

Day 12

Amman, Dallas

This morning we will transfer to the airport for our return flight home to DFW.