Jordan & The Holy Land including Istanbul Extension

Fly to Amman via Istanbul

Let's begin our adventure to Jordan! Today we travel to Jordan's capital, Amman, via Istanbul. 

Depending on flight times we will arrive into Amman in the late evening on Day 1 or the early morning of Day 2 on an overnight flight with early check-in guaranteed.

City tour of Amman

Afternoon

After arriving into Amman either the day before or early in the morning on Day 2, this afternoon we will enjoy a panoramic tour of Amman, the capital of Jordan. Here, we will visit the Citadel, the home of the Temple of Hercules. It dates back to Roman and Byzantine times but some of the ruins go as far back as the Bronze Age. We will also explore the Roman Theatre, the largest theatre in Jordan, the Folklore and Archeological Museum and King Hussein's Mosque and see why this city built on rolling hills is one of the most interesting in the Middle East.

Guided Tour of Jerash

Full Day

Today you will enjoy a full-day excursion to the Roman city of Jerash, accompanied by your local guide. In the ruins of this ancient city you will see stunning Roman architecture that is in remarkable condition considering it is nearly 2000 years old. Walk down the Maximus Cardo and gaze up at the Doric columns, before checking out Ajlun Castle, a fortress built in AD1184 that has survived two earthquakes. Next, you can enjoy the panoramic views from ancient Byzantine city of Umm Qais, a place where Jesus Christ is said to have performed an exorcism.

Visit The Holy Land

Full Day

Full-day guided excursion in the Holy Land will include a visit to the Caves at Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found. This ancient fort sits in a canyon, with most of the structures being built out of surrounding rock. The designs are so developed that historians even found baths and a sanitation system in the Hellenistic site! Next you will visit the ancient fortification of Masada, which was built by Herod the Great. Afterwards you will continue onto Bethlehem to check in to your hotel.

Guided Tour of Bethlehem & Jerusalem

Full Day

On this full-day guided tour you will travel to the birthplace of Jesus Christ. In Bethlehem you will visit some of the town's biblical sites including the Basilica of the Nativity, a church that was built above the site where Jesus was supposedly born. At this UNESCO World Heritage Site you can also see the Milk Grotto where Mary is said to have nursed and the Shepherd Fields, from where the Shepherds travelled to see the baby. In the afternoon you will travel to Jerusalem including the Mount of Olives, a famous Jewish cemetery and the Church and Garden of Gethsemane, a beautiful garden that is most well known as the place where Jesus and his disciples are believed to have prayed before his crucifixion. Finally you will visit the Chapel of the Ascension, where you can climb the tower to take in spectacular views over the Judean desert.

Explore Jerusalem

Full Day

Today you will have another day in Jerusalem to explore the holy sites of this famous city. First you will visit Via Dolorosa, to see the street where Jesus dragged his cross, before continuing to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre to see where Jesus was crucified. Next visit Mount Zion, the highest point of old Jerusalem and home to of many important sites of the early Christian church, including the Church of the Dormition, the place where Virgin Mary fell asleep and the Cenacle, also known as the 'Upper Room', the site of The Last Supper, and the Church of Saint Peter in Gallicantu, which symbolises Peter's denial of Jesus. Tonight, return to your hotel in Bethlehem for overnight.

Transfer to Petra

Full day

This morning we will travel to the ancient city of Petra. On our journey we will enjoy panoramic views of Jericho and Mount Temptation, a place where Jesus was said to have been tempted by the devil.

Following border crossing formalities we continue onwards to our hotel with a visit en-route to Kerak Castle, a large crusader castle perched on a hilltop overlooking a vast valley and then Shoubak, the ruins of another castle.

Full Day Excursion to Petra

Full Day

Enjoy a full-day excursion to the magical 'Red City' of Petra, an ancient city famous for its rock cut architecture, water conduits and pink stone structures. Walking through the Siq (a narrow corridor in the mountain) to enter the city makes the experience even more jaw dropping, as do the buildings. The Greek temple of Al Khazneh, the Hadrian Gate, the courthouse and the Amphitheatre are many of the notable structures that you should not miss when visiting this hidden gem. The actual place where Lawrence of Arabia led his revolt, and featured in the films Indiana Jones & The Last Crusade and Arabian Nights, Petra is no ordinary Middle Eastern city.

Excursion to Wadi Rum

Morning

Get ready for an exciting half-day excursion to the desert of Wadi Rum, also known as ‘The Valley of the Moon.’ Your excursion will include a jeep tour of the desert, where you can see prehistoric carvings in the rock walls. This desert was also used as the setting for Peter O’Toole’s film Lawrence of Arabia.

Float in the Dead Sea

Afternoon

Later in the day, you will continue your journey to the Dead Sea, the lowest point on earth. Swim in the mineral rich water, which is renowned for curing all and any skin ailments.

Visit Bethany

Full Day

Today you will visit the town of Bethany was where Jesus performed his biggest miracle: raising Lazarus from the dead. It is also believed to be the place of his baptism. In the afternoon, you will be taken to explore more significant holy sites. At Mount Nebo, gaze over the Promised Land of Moses, and see one of the oldest maps in the world at the Greek Orthodox Church of St. George.

Free Time at leisure

Full day

Spend your free day shopping, sightseeing or relaxing at your hotel. Your guide can recommend activities or suggest places to visit.

Travel to Istanbul

Evening

Depending on flight times you will either stay an additional night at your hotel and fly to Istanbul early in the morning on Day 12 or have late check out included this evening and fly to Istanbul in the late evening. 

Arrive in Istanbul

Morning

Upon arrival in Istanbul you will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel (early check-in is guaranteed, may vary according to flight times). The afternoon will be at leisure, to relax and recharge the batteries.

*Please note that your extension in Istanbul is based on an individual rather than a group format.

Guided Tour of Istanbul

Morning

Enjoy a morning city tour of Istanbul, which will include visits to the Blue Mosque, Hagia Sophia Mosque, the Egyptian Obelisks and the Roman Hippodrome. This wonderful city is a perfect combination of modern and ancient, displaying a dazzling range of architecture from majestic skyscrapers to historic mosques, temples and churches. The afternoon will be at leisure, to relax and get to know your surroundings.

*In order to preserve the beauty and integrity of the iconic Blue Mosque, restoration work is ongoing at this site. Some phases of the restoration involve scaffolding; thus a clear view of the entire Mosque may not be possible. 

Free Time in Istanbul

Full Day

You will have today free to take in some sightseeing and shopping at your own pace. You might like to visit the Underground Cistern, a fascinating network of water channels and ornamental pillars, dating back to Roman times. Another Istanbul highlight is the Grand Bazaar, a sprawling, lively covered market where you can haggle with vendors while drinking apple tea and enjoying the unique atmosphere.

Depart Turkey

Let's depart Turkey today filled with great memories of our holiday.