Jordan and Israel

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The Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan is a modern nation with a very old past dating back to Biblical times.  Already in the Old Testament Mt Nebo is mentioned as the place where Moses died.  The country is small, but the contrasts amazing … ranging form the desert canyons of the Wadi Rum to the green fertile land along the Jordan River, the beauty of an ancient city like Petra and the modern life style in Amman.  Experience the salty waters of the Dead Sea, stand in awe admiring the intricate mosaics of Madaba and visit the well preserve Roman City of Jerash.

From Jordan it is possible to visit the Biblical sites of Israel.  When in Israel you should use the word “old” cautiously as the age of some of the sites is counted in millennia.  We visit the birthplace of Jesus in Bethlehem, the Sea of Galilee often referred to in the New Testament, walk along the Stations of the Cross … Via Dolorosa and many more spiritual site, hear the tragic story of Masada and enjoy the culture and colourful markets.

These are captivating experiences not to be missed.

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Itinerary

Pilgrimage to the Holy Lands
The best of JORDAN and ISRAEL
5 – 19 FEBRUARY 2011
Day 1: Saturday Depart
21:50 Depart from O R Tambo Airport on QR583 for Doha, Qatar.
Day 2: Sunday Arrive Amman
07:05 Arrive in Doha
13:00 Depart on QR400 to Amman.
15:45 Arrive at the Queen Alia International Airport in Amman where you will be met
at the airport and transferred to your hotel.
O/N Al-Qasr Metropole Hotel (dinner)
Day 3: Monday Jerash – Ajlun – Um Qais.
Breakfast at your hotel.
Today’s route will take you to Jerash, Ajloun and ending in Um Qais before returning
to Amman for overnight. A day of ancient cities and amazing architecture awaits you.
Jerash is a well-preserved Roman city. Over the past 70 years it has been
excavated and restored. Hadrian’s Arch is impressive; the South Theatre is still in
use and can seat 3000 people, the squares, colonnaded streets and temples are
awesome.
Our next stop is the medieval Arab-Islamic castle at Ajlun. It was built to protect the
country against attacks from Crusaders and it is also very strategically located to
protect the 3 main passages to the Jordan Valley. The castle was built in 1184 AD.
Proceed to Umm Qays. The biblical name of this town was Gadara. Walk along the
colonnaded street and take in the ruins of this Roman city.
Late afternoon return to Amman
O/N Al-Qasr Metropole Hotel (dbb)
Day 4: Tuesday City tour of Amman & Dead Sea
Breakfast at your hotel.
Depart on a half-day city tour. Amman has developed around a series of hills. The
town is situated on the boundary of the desert and the fertile Jordan Valley. Enjoy the
beauty and contrasts of the city.
During the afternoon visit a Dead Sea spa where you can enjoy covering yourself in
black mud and experience the thrill of floating on the water. Late afternoon return to
your hotel.
O/N Al-Qasr Metropole Hotel (dbb)
Day 5: Wednesday Madaba – Mount Nebo – Shobak.
Breakfast at the hotel.
Proceed to Mt Nebo. According to scripture Moses died on Mt Nebo, but the place of
his burial is unknown. Experience the amazing view when looking out over the Holy
Land, like Moses did …in the distance the Dead Sea, Jericho and Jerusalem on a
clear day.
Madaba is the city of mosaics. Visit the St George Church to view the mosaic map of
the Holy Land. While strolling through the narrow cobbled streets you will be able to
take in the atmosphere of this town.
Proceed to Shobak. The Crusaders, who called it Montreal, built this fortress on a hill
to guard the road from Jerusalem to Damascus. The historical context was “to
guard” Jerusalem from attacks from the south and east. It is an impressive site
encircled by a thick wall.
Proceed from there to Petra for overnight.
O/N Taybet Zaman (dbb)
Day 6: Thursday Petra
Enjoy a hearty breakfast before a wonderful day of exploration in Petra commences.
Petra is one of the Seven Wonders of the World and a World Heritage Site. Ensure
that you wear comfortable clothes, but more important comfortable walking shoes as
you will be doing a lot of walking today. The footpath will take you to the Siq, the
ancient entrance to Petra. A 1 200 m deep and narrow gorge will eventually open up
at the Treasury. The rose pink colours of the sandstone are breathtaking and many
more amazing sites like the Street of Facades, the Theatre, Royal Tombs, Urn Tomb
and Colonnaded Street awaits you.
Late afternoon return to your hotel after an awesome day.
O/N Taybet Zaman (dbb)
Day 7: Friday Wadi Rum
Breakfast and check out.
Have you seen the movie “Laurence of Arabia”? Most of this Oscar winning
production was filmed in the Wadi Rum. It is a vast desert with sandstone mountains
where time came to a halt. T E Lawrence describes it as: “vast, echoing and
Godlike”. Enjoy a 90-minute Bedouin jeep ride in the Wadi Rum to experience the
desert atmosphere.
Return to Amman
O/N Al-Qasr Metropole Hotel (dbb)
Day 8: Saturday Border crossing – Beth Shean – Thiberius
Breakfast and check-out.
At noon, we will transfer to Allenby Bridge to cross to Israel. The drive is about 3
hours. Upon arrival, visit Beth Shean, the site of spectacular archaeological
excavations and a rich history dating back to biblical times. We will proceed to
Tiberius to check-in at accommodation.
O/N Royal Plaza Hotel or similar (dbb)
Day 9: Sunday Tiberius (Golan Heights – Capernaum – Sea of
Galilee)
After breakfast, visit Tabgha, the traditional site of the miracle of the multiplication of
the loaves and fishes (and the third resurrection appearance of Jesus in Christianity).
Proceed to Capernaum to visit the Mt of the Beatitudes, where Jesus delivered the
Sermon on the Mount. Enjoy a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. Return to your
accommodation in Tiberius.
O/N Royal Plaza Hotel or similar (dbb)
Day 10: Monday Nazareth – Caesarea
After breakfast we travel Nazareth, the quaint town where Jesus spent his childhood
and learned his earthly occupation as a carpenter.
Proceed to Megiddo, the tragic site of ancient bloody battles. In ancient times
Megiddo was an important city-state. Megiddo is a hill made of 26 layers of the ruins
of ancient cities in a strategic location at the head of a pass through the Carmel
Ridge, which overlooks the Valley of Jezreel from the west. The name Armageddon
mentioned in the New Testament derives from Har Megiddo (Hebrew) meaning
Mount of Megiddo.
The tour continues with a visit to Caesarea. Caesarea Philippi was an ancient
Roman city located at the southwestern base of Mount Hermon. The city is
mentioned in the gospels of Matthew and Mark. Today, the city, now no longer
inhabited, is an archaeological site located within the Golan Heights.
Proceed to Jerusalem.
O/N Olive Tree Hotel or similar (dbb)
Day 11: Tuesday Masada – Bethlehem
Early departure from hotel to drive to Masada, ascent by cable car to the spectacular
cliff-top fortress, where a community of 960 Jews preferred death at their own hands
to the indignity of surrender to the overwhelming Roman forces.
Afternoon continue to Bethlehem and visit the Basilica of Nativity and View of
Shepherd’s fields.
Drive back to Jerusalem.
O/N Olive Tree Hotel or similar (dbb)
Day 12: Wednesday Old city of Jerusalem
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel.
Depart to visit the old city of Jerusalem starting with a breathtaking view of the city
from Mount of Olives. Visit the Garden of Gethsemane, Pools of Bethesda, the
Cross Stations along the via Dolorosa and Golgotha. Continue to the western wall
also known as the Wailing Wall. End your day with a visit to the Garden tomb and a
visit to The Jerusalem Model.
O/N Olive Tree Hotel or similar (dbb)
Day 13: Thursday Jerusalem – border crossing to Jordan
Today, depart Jerusalem and cross through Allenby Bridge to Jordan.
Transfer to your hotel in Amman and rest of the day at leisure.
O/N Al-Qasr Metropole Hotel (dbb)
Day 14: Friday Depart
Breakfast, check-out and drive to visit the desert castles of Kharraneh, Amra and
Azraq, time permitting.
Jordan’s desert castles, beautiful examples of both early Islamic art and architecture,
stand testament to a fascinating era in the country’s rich history. Their fine mosaics,
frescoes, stone and stucco carvings and illustrations, inspired by the best in Persian
and Graeco – Roman traditions, tell countless stories of the life as it was during the
eighth century. Called castles because of their imposing stature, the desert
complexes actually served various purposes as caravan stations, agriculture and
trade centers, resort pavilions and outposts that helped distant rulers forge ties with
local Bedouins. Several of these preserved compounds, all of which are clustered to
the east and south of Amman, can be visited on one – or two – day loops from the
city. Qusair Amra, one of the best preserved monuments, is a UNESCO World
Heritage Site. Its interior walls and ceilings are covered with lively frescoes, and two
of the rooms are paved with colorful mosaics.
Qasr al – Kharrana has been restored and are all in excellent condition. The black
basalt fort at Azraq, in continuous use since Late Roman times, was the
headquarters of Lawrence of Arabia during the Arab Revolt. Qusair Amra is a
UNESCO world heritage site.
Transfer to Queen Alia Airport in Amman.
16:45 Depart on QR401 for Doha
19:20 Arrive Doha
Day 15: Saturday Arrive Johannesburg
07:10 Depart on QR… for Johannesburg
14:35 Arrive at O R Tambo Johannesburg
End of service

Day 1: Saturday Depart

21:50 Depart from O R Tambo Airport on QR583 for Doha, Qatar.

Day 2: Sunday Arrive Amman

07:05 Arrive in Doha
13:00 Depart on QR400 to Amman.
15:45 Arrive at the Queen Alia International Airport in Amman where you will be met at the airport and transferred to your hotel.
O/N Al-Qasr Metropole Hotel (dinner)

Day 3: Monday Jerash – Ajlun – Um Qais.

Breakfast at your hotel.
Today’s route will take you to Jerash, Ajloun and ending in Um Qais before returning to Amman for overnight. A day of ancient cities and amazing architecture awaits you.
Jerash is a well-preserved Roman city. Over the past 70 years it has been excavated and restored. Hadrian’s Arch is impressive; the South Theatre is still in use and can seat 3000 people, the squares, colonnaded streets and temples are awesome.
Our next stop is the medieval Arab-Islamic castle at Ajlun. It was built to protect the country against attacks from Crusaders and it is also very strategically located to protect the 3 main passages to the Jordan Valley. The castle was built in 1184 AD.
Proceed to Umm Qays. The biblical name of this town was Gadara. Walk along the colonnaded street and take in the ruins of this Roman city.
Late afternoon return to Amman
O/N Al-Qasr Metropole Hotel (dbb)

Day 4: Tuesday City tour of Amman & Dead Sea

Breakfast at your hotel.
Depart on a half-day city tour. Amman has developed around a series of hills. The town is situated on the boundary of the desert and the fertile Jordan Valley. Enjoy the beauty and contrasts of the city.
During the afternoon visit a Dead Sea spa where you can enjoy covering yourself in black mud and experience the thrill of floating on the water. Late afternoon return to your hotel.
O/N Al-Qasr Metropole Hotel (dbb)

Day 5: Wednesday Madaba – Mount Nebo – Shobak.

Breakfast at the hotel.
Proceed to Mt Nebo. According to scripture Moses died on Mt Nebo, but the place of his burial is unknown. Experience the amazing view when looking out over the Holy Land, like Moses did …in the distance the Dead Sea, Jericho and Jerusalem on a clear day.
Madaba is the city of mosaics. Visit the St George Church to view the mosaic map of the Holy Land. While strolling through the narrow cobbled streets you will be able to take in the atmosphere of this town.
Proceed to Shobak. The Crusaders, who called it Montreal, built this fortress on a hill to guard the road from Jerusalem to Damascus. The historical context was “to guard” Jerusalem from attacks from the south and east. It is an impressive site encircled by a thick wall.
Proceed from there to Petra for overnight.
O/N Taybet Zaman (dbb)

Day 6: Thursday Petra

Enjoy a hearty breakfast before a wonderful day of exploration in Petra commences.
Petra is one of the Seven Wonders of the World and a World Heritage Site. Ensure that you wear comfortable clothes, but more important comfortable walking shoes as you will be doing a lot of walking today. The footpath will take you to the Siq, the ancient entrance to Petra. A 1 200 m deep and narrow gorge will eventually open up at the Treasury. The rose pink colours of the sandstone are breathtaking and many more amazing sites like the Street of Facades, the Theatre, Royal Tombs, Urn Tomb and Colonnaded Street awaits you.
Late afternoon return to your hotel after an awesome day.
O/N Taybet Zaman (dbb)

Day 7: Friday Wadi Rum

Breakfast and check out.
Have you seen the movie “Laurence of Arabia”? Most of this Oscar winning production was filmed in the Wadi Rum. It is a vast desert with sandstone mountains where time came to a halt. T E Lawrence describes it as: “vast, echoing and Godlike”. Enjoy a 90-minute Bedouin jeep ride in the Wadi Rum to experience the desert atmosphere.
Return to Amman
O/N Al-Qasr Metropole Hotel (dbb)

Day 8: Saturday Border crossing – Beth Shean – Thiberius

Breakfast and check-out.
At noon, we will transfer to Allenby Bridge to cross to Israel. The drive is about 3 hours. Upon arrival, visit Beth Shean, the site of spectacular archaeological excavations and a rich history dating back to biblical times. We will proceed to Tiberius to check-in at accommodation.
O/N Royal Plaza Hotel or similar (dbb)

Day 9: Sunday Tiberius (Golan Heights – Capernaum – Sea of Galilee)

After breakfast, visit Tabgha, the traditional site of the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes (and the third resurrection appearance of Jesus in Christianity).
Proceed to Capernaum to visit the Mt of the Beatitudes, where Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount. Enjoy a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. Return to your accommodation in Tiberius.
O/N Royal Plaza Hotel or similar (dbb)

Day 10: Monday Nazareth – Caesarea

After breakfast we travel Nazareth, the quaint town where Jesus spent his childhood and learned his earthly occupation as a carpenter.
Proceed to Megiddo, the tragic site of ancient bloody battles. In ancient times Megiddo was an important city-state. Megiddo is a hill made of 26 layers of the ruins of ancient cities in a strategic location at the head of a pass through the Carmel Ridge, which overlooks the Valley of Jezreel from the west. The name Armageddon mentioned in the New Testament derives from Har Megiddo (Hebrew) meaning Mount of Megiddo.
The tour continues with a visit to Caesarea. Caesarea Philippi was an ancient Roman city located at the southwestern base of Mount Hermon. The city is mentioned in the gospels of Matthew and Mark. Today, the city, now no longer inhabited, is an archaeological site located within the Golan Heights.
Proceed to Jerusalem.
O/N Olive Tree Hotel or similar (dbb)

Day 11: Tuesday Masada – Bethlehem

Early departure from hotel to drive to Masada, ascent by cable car to the spectacular cliff-top fortress, where a community of 960 Jews preferred death at their own hands to the indignity of surrender to the overwhelming Roman forces.
Afternoon continue to Bethlehem and visit the Basilica of Nativity and View of Shepherd’s fields.
Drive back to Jerusalem.
O/N Olive Tree Hotel or similar (dbb)

Day 12: Wednesday Old city of Jerusalem

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel.
Depart to visit the old city of Jerusalem starting with a breathtaking view of the city from Mount of Olives. Visit the Garden of Gethsemane, Pools of Bethesda, the Cross Stations along the via Dolorosa and Golgotha. Continue to the western wall also known as the Wailing Wall. End your day with a visit to the Garden tomb and a visit to The Jerusalem Model.
O/N Olive Tree Hotel or similar (dbb)

Day 13: Thursday Jerusalem – border crossing to Jordan

Today, depart Jerusalem and cross through Allenby Bridge to Jordan.
Transfer to your hotel in Amman and rest of the day at leisure.
O/N Al-Qasr Metropole Hotel (dbb)

Day 14: Friday Depart

Breakfast, check-out and drive to visit the desert castles of Kharraneh, Amra and Azraq, time permitting.
Jordan’s desert castles, beautiful examples of both early Islamic art and architecture, stand testament to a fascinating era in the country’s rich history. Their fine mosaics, frescoes, stone and stucco carvings and illustrations, inspired by the best in Persian and Graeco – Roman traditions, tell countless stories of the life as it was during the eighth century. Called castles because of their imposing stature, the desert complexes actually served various purposes as caravan stations, agriculture and trade centers, resort pavilions and outposts that helped distant rulers forge ties with local Bedouins. Several of these preserved compounds, all of which are clustered to the east and south of Amman, can be visited on one – or two – day loops from the city. Qusair Amra, one of the best preserved monuments, is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its interior walls and ceilings are covered with lively frescoes, and two of the rooms are paved with colorful mosaics.
Qasr al – Kharrana has been restored and are all in excellent condition. The black basalt fort at Azraq, in continuous use since Late Roman times, was the headquarters of Lawrence of Arabia during the Arab Revolt. Qusair Amra is a UNESCO world heritage site.
Transfer to Queen Alia Airport in Amman.
16:45 Depart on QR401 for Doha
19:20 Arrive Doha

Day 15: Saturday Arrive Johannesburg

07:10 Depart on QR… for Johannesburg
14:35 Arrive at O R Tambo Johannesburg
End of service

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Itinerary details

Tour date: 5 – 19 February 2011
Tour cost: Per adult sharing
Group size 10: US$3870.00 pp
Group size 12: US$3570.00 pp
Group size 14: US$3370.00 pp
Single rooms supplement: US$ 575.00 pp
Included:
Return flight: Johannesburg – Amman via Doha (Qatar) on Qatar Airways
South African tour leader to accompany group
Meet and assist upon arrival and departure in Jordan.
Transport during Jordan section in a 17-seater aircon bus.
Transport during Israel section in a 19-seater aircon bus.
Guide Escort to/from Allenby Bridge to hotels upon arrival and departure
Porterages at airport and hotels
Overnight in Jordan on dbb basis
Overnight in Israel on dbb basis
English speaking Tour guide for Jordan and Israel (different one per country)
Entrance fees including all sites mentioned in your program.
Pilgrimage Certificate
Water on bus for Jordan section.
Our rate excludes:
Airport taxes of about R2 500-00 per person
Visas
Lunches in Jordan and Israel
Drinks during meals
Tips to driver, guide, hotel and restaurant staff
Departure tax from Israel to Jordan through Allenby Bridge: US$44 per person to be
paid in advance.
Travel, luggage and medical insurance
Expenses of a personal nature
For bookings and enquiries: Live the Journey
Tel 021 912 4090 Fax 021 912 4099 Email: info@livethejourney.co.za
www.livethejourney.co.za

Tour date: 5 – 19 February 2011

Tour cost: Per adult sharing

Group size 10: US$3870.00 pp
Group size 12: US$3570.00 pp
Group size 14: US$3370.00 pp
Single rooms supplement: US$ 575.00 pp

Included:

Return flight: Johannesburg – Amman via Doha (Qatar) on Qatar Airways
South African tour leader to accompany group
Meet and assist upon arrival and departure in Jordan.
Transport during Jordan section in a 17-seater aircon bus.
Transport during Israel section in a 19-seater aircon bus.
Guide Escort to/from Allenby Bridge to hotels upon arrival and departure
Porterages at airport and hotels
Overnight in Jordan on dbb basis
Overnight in Israel on dbb basis
English speaking Tour guide for Jordan and Israel (different one per country)
Entrance fees including all sites mentioned in your program.
Pilgrimage Certificate
Water on bus for Jordan section.

Our rate excludes:

Airport taxes of about R2 500-00 per person
Visas
Lunches in Jordan and Israel
Drinks during meals
Tips to driver, guide, hotel and restaurant staff
Departure tax from Israel to Jordan through Allenby Bridge: US$44 per person to be paid in advance.
Travel, luggage and medical insurance
Expenses of a personal nature

For bookings and enquiries: Live the Journey
Tel 021 912 4090 Fax 021 912 4099 Email: info@livethejourney.co.za

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