Highlights of Israel & Jordan 5 star

Sunday. Welcome to Israel and the start of your adventure. You will be met at Ben Gurion Airport and transferred to our start hotel. Spend the rest of the day at leisure in Tel Aviv.

Renowned for its hedonistic nightlife, this dynamic city also offers beautiful beaches, art galleries and markets. And with a variety of trendy bistros, high-end restaurants and delicious street food stalls, there's plenty to choose from, for dinner.

Tel Aviv- Beer Sheba - Masada (via the West Bank) - Dead Sea - Jerusalem. Leaving Tel Aviv, we drive past the coastal cities of Ashdod and Ashkelon on our way to Beersheba, the capital of the Negev Desert. After a short visit, we continue east to Masada and take a cable car to the UNESCO-listed fortress which was the last stronghold of the Jewish Zealots in their war against the Romans. Here we explore the excavations, synagogue, bathhouse and Herod's palaces, as well as admire breathtaking views of the Roman camps and the Dead Sea. We then descend to those salty waters at the Dead Sea for a 'float' before travelling to Jerusalem.

Jerusalem - Bethlehem (West Bank) - Jerusalem. Our first stop this morning is the famous Dead Sea scrolls at Israel Museum's Shrine of the Book. We then continue to the Model of the Herodian city of Jerusalem and the Yad Vashem memorial, which commemorates the 6 million Jews who lost their lives during the Holocaust. This afternoon, we see the birth place of John the Baptist, Ein Karem before we journey to our final stop - Bethlehem to see the Holy Church of Nativity and Manger Square before returning to Jerusalem.

Today we further explore Jerusalem, entering the walled Old City through one of the imposing gates, here we’ll explore the Western Wall and walk the way of the Cross, the Via Dolorosa, Calvary before ending at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. We then drive to Mount Zion and visit King David's tomb, Dormition Abbey and the Room of the Last Supper before enjoying spectacular panoramic views of Jerusalem. The afternoon finds us exploring the Garden of Gethsemane, where Judas betrayed Jesus. We then head downtown to experience the colours and aromas of Mahane Yehuda, Israel's largest open market before retiring to our hotel.

Beit Shean - Golan - Tiberias. Bid farewell to Jerusalem and drive north past Jericho, which is considered to be the world's oldest city. Travelling through the Jordan Valley and the new settlements to Beit Shean, see the excavations of this beautiful preserved Roman city before continuing up the Golan Heights, where we will enjoy an Israeli wine country experience. Here, we will tour the winery, learn about the wine production process and even indulge in some wine tasting.

Afterwards, we travel through the Golan, spotting its Druze villages, former Syrian fortifications and panoramic views of Mount Hermon and into Syria. As we descend through the picturesque Hula Valley, our route leads us to Tiberias, nestled along the shores of the Sea of Galilee. Renowned as one of the four holy cities in Judaism, it was within these very walls that the Jewish Talmud, the cornerstone of Jewish religious law, was compiled.

Following the scenic shoreline of the Sea of Galilee, our journey proceeds to the historic site of Capernaum, where the ruins of an ancient synagogue stand as a testament to the rich history of the region. From there, we ascend to the Mount of Beatitudes, a revered location associated with the transformative 'Sermon on the Mount.' Our path then leads us to Tabgha, where tradition holds the ground for the profound 'miracle of the loaves and the fish.'

An optional boat excursion awaits, inviting travelers to sail across the waters of the Sea of Galilee, enveloped by an ambiance that has remained remarkably unchanged over 2000 years (book and pay locally).

Our journey then carries us to Nazareth, a city steeped in biblical significance, where we pay a visit to the hallowed Church of the Annunciation and other sacred Christian sites.

Tiberias - Acre - Haifa - Caesarea - Tel Aviv. After breakfast we travel west and to the famous Crusader stronghold and medieval fortifications of Acre. After some time exploring, we continue to Haifa for a panoramic tour of the city, passing sights such as Mount Carmel, Haifa Bay, the Persian Garden and Bahai Shrine. Next, we head along the coast to Caesarea where we visit the Roman Theatre and Crusader Fortress. We end our day with a short city tour of Tel Aviv and Jaffa, a beautiful port town believed to be around 4,000 years old.

Tel Aviv (via West Bank) - Jerash - Amman. Today we leave Israel and cross the border into Jordan. Our first stop is Jerash, the city of the Decapolis, which is located in the fertile heights around 45km north of Amman. We take some time to explore its colonnaded streets, baths and hilltop temple before driving to the Jordanian capital Amman for a fascinating city tour.

Amman - Petra. After an early breakfast we travel south, reaching the rose city of Petra. You'll have the option to ride on horseback to the Siq, a canyon marking the entrance to Petra. We continue on foot and explore all that this ancient capital has to offer, including the Treasury, El Khazneh, obelisks and the field of tombs. From the Al Madhbah viewpoint we marvel at this lost city and its incredible lunar-like landscape.

Petra - Madaba - Mount Nebo - Tel Aviv. On our final day of sightseeing we travel to Madaba to see the ancient mosaic map of the Holy Land. We also have time to explore several ruins before our short drive to Mount Nebo. It's from this mountain that Moses viewed the Promised Land and the stunning views stretch from the Jordan Valley to Jericho and the Dead Sea. We then continue to the remains of a Byzantine church with a beautiful mosaic floor before crossing the border back into Israel for our final night in Tel Aviv.

Wednesday. Our tour comes to an end after breakfast today. A transfer to the Ben Gurion Airport is included to meet your flight home.

Tel Aviv offers so much to see and do that we highly recommend extending your stay. We can book pre and post tour accommodation, please enquire.

For information about visas, top travel tips and much more, take a look through our travel guide.