Highlights of Israel & Jordan

(10 Days - Departs Daily on a Private Basis)
Jerusalem, Eilat, Petra, Dead Sea, Tiberias, Tel Aviv

This tour features the highlights of Israel and Jordan. Begin in Jerusalem, one of the world’s most historically important cities. A city of countless monuments of enormous significance to Jews, Christians and Muslims—the entire Old City is a UNESCO World Heritage Site—it is also a place of great beauty, with a balmy, Mediterranean climate and year-round sunny skies warming the golden hue of its limestone buildings. Today Jerusalem is a fascinating mélange of cultures, created by the traditions culled from the diverse backgrounds and religions of its varied citizenry. Your expert private guide will bring Jerusalem and its multi-layered history alive through comprehensive touring of the city. In addition to touring well-known attractions and areas such as the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, Via Dolorosa, Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial and museum, the Mount of Olives and the Western Wall, also visit fascinating but lesser-known neighborhoods, museums, and markets. Learn about the city’s varied architectural styles, including Roman, Byzantine, Romanesque, Islamic, and Art Deco. Browse art galleries, specialty shops, markets and souks as your guide helps you experience the very best the city has to offer.
 
Spend a night in Eilat, Israel’s resort town on the Red Sea. En route, tour sites along the Dead Sea, the lowest point on Earth. Begin in Qumran, where the precious Dead Sea Scrolls (now located in Jerusalem’s excellent Israel Museum) were found. Next, visit Masada, the historic mountaintop fortress that is today one of the Jewish people’s greatest symbols.

Cross the border into Jordan to spend one night in Petra, one of the world’s most impressive archaeological sites. The Nabataeans created this ancient city between the 3rd century BC and the 1st century AD, sculpting monuments and tombs into the surrounding mountainside—the most spectacular of which is the pink-hued Treasury. Learn about the history, beliefs, architecture and daily life of the Nabataeans during private touring of this fascinating ancient wonder.

Continue to the Kempinski Hotel Ishtar, the most luxurious resort on the Dead Sea. If desired, enjoy private touring of Mt. Nebo—with its Memorial Church of Moses containing exquisite ancient mosaics, and boasting gorgeous panoramic views of the Jordan River, Dead Sea and beyond—and the famed Mosaic Map housed in a church in Madaba. You will also have ample time to enjoy the resort’s lavish facilities, including an Anantara Spa, several restaurants and pools, and private beach—where you may relax with a float in the salt- and mineral-laden water, famous for its buoyancy and therapeutic qualities.

Next, return to Israel and spend one night in Tiberias, a lovely town on the shores of the Sea of Galilee (Lake Tiberias). This area is renowned for its beautiful landscape, delicious fresh fish and proximity to a number of important historical and biblical sites. During flexible private touring, visit the highlights of the area, including Capernaum, the Mount of the Beatitudes and the Kibbutz Ginosar. Before crossing the border, tour Jerash in Jordan, one of the best preserved Roman cities in the Middle East.

Conclude in Tel Aviv, where you will spend the night in a Mediterranean seaside resort. Enjoy flexible introductory touring of the city’s most interesting sites, such as Old Jaffa, Museum of the Jewish Diaspora, the Bauhaus architecture district, or art galleries in the Neve Tzedek neighborhood.

Throughout the tour, sightseeing is very flexible and tailored to your interests, and accommodation is in top rooms at Israel's leading luxury properties.

All Artisans of Leisure tours are private and depart daily.
Call us at (800) 214-8144 for more information regarding the above tour, or to begin customizing your own itinerary.