20 Days
37 Meals
Escorted
CT Rating
Book Early
Treasures of Israel and Jordan
Gain insights into Biblical sites, and learn about the regions’ history and their people.
Stay on the shores of the Sea of Galilee and explore the region so familiar to Jesus. Visit Bethlehem, the birthplace of Christ and the center of the modern Palestinian movement, and Jerusalem, the Holy City of three of the world’s great religions: Judaism, Christianity, and Islam.
Marvel at the stunning landscape of Wadi Rum and the awe-inspiring workmanship of the Nabatean people in Petra. Join us as we experience life in the Holy Land and Jordan.
Tour Highlights
- Cross the Negev through Beersheba and the Arava Valley
- Drive through the wilderness of Wadi Rum
- Visit the lost Red Rose City of Petra and the Sea of Galilee
- Relax by the salty waters of the Dead Sea
- Visit Nazareth, the hometown of Jesus and the Mount of Beatitudes
- See Jericho, the world’s oldest city
- Spend 3 nights in Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus and the Church of the Nativity
- Spend 5 nights in the Holy City of Jerusalem with a visit to the Western Wall
- Take the cable car to Masada and see the Qumran caves where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found
Inclusive Features
- Accommodations in first class hotels as indicated or similar
- 37 meals included as noted in the itinerary (B - 18 breakfasts, L - 1 lunch, D - 18 dinners)
- Fully inclusive program as indicated, including entrance fees
- Transfers and baggage handling
- Airport transfers in Canada or equivalent value with purchase of group airfare
- All gratuities, surcharges, taxes and fees for included services
- Services of your tour escort, guides in Israel and Jordan
Itinerary
Group members from across Canada gather for our overnight flight to Tel Aviv.
Arriving in Tel Aviv at Ben Gurion Airport, we will be met before transferring to our hotel in Beersheba. En route, we will make a stop at the Valley of Elah, the ancient border between Israelite and Philistine territory, where David overcame Goliath. Nearby is Tel Lachish, the second most important city in ancient Judah, which the Assyrian king Sennacherib captured and destroyed. This evening we enjoy a welcome to the Holy Land dinner at our hotel.
Leonardo Negev Hotel (1 night)
Beersheba today is a modern city, and we will see several of its highlights, including Tel Beersheba, where ‘Abraham’s well’ and a horned altar were located. Travelling farther east, we come to Tel Arad, where the only surviving ancient temple in Israel built in the style of the one that Solomon built still stands. Experience the desert as we make our way to Eilat, the gateway to the Red Sea and the biblical port of King Solomon’s fleet (1 Kings 9:26-28).
Caesar Premier Hotel (1 night)
Following an early crossing into Jordan, we meet our Jordanian guide and coach. Drive into the desert to Wadi Rum, following the route of the Exodus from Egypt. Perhaps best known for its relationship with Lawrence of Arabia and the Hashemite Bedouin, this region was the Exodus wilderness playing a crucial part in early Israel’s faith. We take a Jeep tour into the stillness of the desert before continuing to Petra.
Petra Moon Luxury Hotel (2 nights)
Located in the heart of the Seir Mountains, the lost city is close to the traditional burial place of Moses’ brother, Aaron Peak. Entering through the Siq (main entrance) we shall find the lost Rose Red City, carved from the sandstone mountains over 2,000 years ago. Accessible only by a narrow gorge (1 km long), the city was rediscovered in 1812. Admire the massive Treasury and the many tombs and temples, all of which were carved by hand. Farther still we will find the theatre, once used to make sacrifices, and the royal tombs.
We continue to follow the Exodus route north along the famed and historic King’s Highway, passing by the Crusader Castle of Shobak. View Wadi Mujib (biblical Arnon) en route to Madaba, to see the floor of the Greek Orthodox Church of St. George (a mosaic map of the Holy Land as Christian pilgrims knew it in the 6th century). From Mt. Nebo, we can enjoy the same view that God showed Moses of the Promised Land.
Dead Sea Holiday Inn (2 nights)
We travel north past the Jordanian capital Amman (the ancient city of Philadelphia) to tour the ancient walled city of Jerash. One of the largest, best preserved Greco-Roman cities in the world, it was known as the Decapolis city of Gerasa in Jesus’ time. View the triumphal Arch of Hadrian, visit the Oval Forum, walk the Cardo Maximus and see evidence of the early Christian church. Return to our hotel, crossing the Jabbok River where Jacob spent the night struggling with an Angel who subsequently renamed him Israel (Genesis 32:22-32). Time to relax and have an opportunity to float in the Dead Sea.
Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist “in Bethany across the Jordan” [John 1:28]. Visit the likely baptism site called Al-Maghtas meaning “immersion” in Arabic, for an opportunity to renew Baptismal Vows. Crossing into Israel we meet our Israeli guide and arrive in Jericho, the oldest inhabited city in the world with evidence of settlement dating back to 10,000 BCE. After lunch, we will tour the archeological site and view the charred remains of the walls that the biblical account tells us, fell to the sound of Joshua’s trumpets (Joshua 6:1-27). Later we drive through Tiberias on our way to our hotel at the Sea of Galilee.
Kinar Galilee Hotel (4 nights)
Drive to the Mount of Beatitudes to enjoy the site and reflect on its importance. At the northern end of the Sea of Galilee, we shall stop at Bethsaida, the fishing village of the gospels and home to Peter, Andrew, and Philip (John 1:44). After lunch and an opportunity to eat St. Peter’s Fish (Matthew 17:24-27), we continue to Capernaum, where Franciscan archaeologists believe they have excavated the house of Peter. On to Tabgha where the first feeding of the multitude is commemorated and the Church of the Primacy of St. Peter, where Jesus commissioned Peter to “Feed my sheep”. Our day ends with an hour long sunset cruise on the Sea of Galilee in a boat modeled on those used in Jesus’ time.
We proceed towards the Golan Heights. At Dan, enjoy a nature walk beside the Upper Jordan visiting the Dan City Gate, the four-horned altar, and the 4000 year old Abrahamic Mud Gate. At the spring of Caesarea Philippi (Banias), Peter confessed his recognition of Jesus as the Messiah. Passing the medieval Fortress Nimrod, we drive to the Druze village of Birkat Ram for lunch and a view of Mt. Hermon. After a time of reflection on the Middle East conflict we visit the Golan Heights Winery with an opportunity to taste and purchase Israeli wine before returning to our hotel.
Departing early, we pass through Cana, the site of Jesus’ first miracle, to Nazareth, his hometown. Then on to the Basilica of the Annunciation built over the home where, by Catholic tradition, the Angel Gabriel appeared to Mary and announced that she was to bear a son named Jesus. After visiting the archaeological excavations under the Sisters of Nazareth Covent we drive north past the Port of Haifa and the Bahai Gardens to Acre (Akko) to tour this UNESCO World Heritage site with its Crusader Citadel and hidden Templar Tunnels.
Enjoy a panoramic view of the Jezreel Valley from the heights of Mt. Tabor before passing Megiddo, the famed site of many historic battles and from where the name Armageddon is derived. We will then ascend Mt. Carmel to enjoy the view at El Muhraqa, where Elijah challenged the prophets of Baal. Drive along the Mediterranean coast to Caesarea Maritima, the ancient harbour built by Herod the Great, where Paul defended himself before Felix, Festus, and King Agrippa (Acts 23 through 26). After visiting the Herodian aqueduct that supplied the city with fresh water, we make our way past the modern city of Tel Aviv to Bethlehem.
Hotel TBA (3 nights)
Drive south to Mamre and Hebron to visit Ibrahimi Mosque (Tombs of the Patriarchs), where the biblical patriarchs and matriarchs are buried. This is the world’s oldest Jewish site (second holiest Jewish site and one of Islam’s four holy cities), a completely preserved Herodian structure, identical to the vanished Jerusalem Temple. Spend time with the Christian Peacemaker Team to hear of their efforts towards peace and reconciliation. After lunch, we will visit Shepherds Fields and then visit one of the Israeli settlements on the West Bank and gain insight from a presentation about their situation.
Walking through the old town to the Church of the Nativity, we visit the Nativity Grotto and St. Jerome’s Cave. After lunch, visit the remains of King Herod’s fortress, Herodium, then the Dheisheh Palestinian Refugee Camp and a presentation at the Ibdaa Cultural centre.
This morning we visit the Bethlehem Bible College to share morning coffee with Bishara Awad or his associate over a conversation about the Living Stones. We continue into Jerusalem where our first visit is to Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Museum. After lunch we visit the Israel Museum, where we view an outdoor model of Jerusalem as we understand it would have appeared at the time of Christ. We will visit the Shrine of the Book, which houses the Dead Sea Scrolls and enjoy free time at the Museum.
Ambassador Boutique Hotel (5 nights)
Our day begins on the Mount of Olives with the Old City spread out before us. Visit the Church of the Pater Noster, one of Helena’s four earliest churches. Follow the traditional Palm Sunday route, stopping at the Dominus Flevit Church to view the Temple Mount’s Golden Gate. View the Garden of Gethsemane and the Church of All Nations for a time of prayer and quiet reflection. Drive down the Kidron Valley to the City of David and walk through recent excavations from the First Temple period to the Gihon Spring and the Pool of Siloam (ancient Jerusalem’s complex water system). Drive to Mt. Zion to visit the Upper Room and the Church of St Peter in Gallicantu (the location of the High Priest Caiaphas’ Palace).
Enter the Old City by the Lion’s Gate, where we will visit the Pools of Bethesda (John 5:2-9) and sing together in the acoustically perfect St. Anne’s Church. Follow the Way of the Cross (Via Dolorosa), pausing to visit the Sisters of Notre Dame de Sion (by the Ecce Homo Arch to see the Lithostrotos, where Jesus suffered at the hands of the Roman soldiers, and where the trial by Pontius Pilate took place) before we continue through the old city as far as the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Walk through the Christian quarter toward Jaffa Gate and the Citadel. Enjoy free time this afternoon to explore the old city on your own or to join the crowd visiting the Tomb inside the Holy Sepulchre.
Drive through the Judean desert to the Dead Sea and Qumran (see the caves where the scrolls were found). Enter the nature reserve of Ein Gedi, rich in flora and fauna, and walk to David’s waterfall. At Masada, take the cable car to the top, visiting Herod’s mountain-top bunker and the last stronghold of the Jewish revolt against Rome. Continue to St. George’s Monastery built into the walls of the Wadi Qelt (Ps.23 - Valley of the Shadow of Death).
Our day begins with an early morning visit to the Temple Mount (if possible). Just inside the Dung gate, visit the Jerusalem Archaeological Park to see the ruins where Jesus taught and walked. Continue to the Western Wall, one of Judaism’s holiest sites, and the Western Wall Tunnels to the streets of the Second Temple period. After lunch, we will make our way to the Garden Tomb, for a special visit and a private service. Enjoy a traditional Palestinian farewell dinner at our hotel.
This morning we transfer to Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport to catch our Air Canada flight back to Toronto.
Have any questions? Contact Joilyn at jdoucette [at] craigtravel.com or call 1-800-387-8890
Tour Cost in Canadian Dollars Per Person
To reserve your spot on this tour, please complete the enrollment form, indicating the tour you wish to join and your home city, and forward it with your deposit to:
1092 Mount Pleasant Road
Toronto, ON M4P 2M6
416-484-0926 | 1-800-387-8890
Book with Confidence
For peace of mind, your deposit for this journey is fully refundable until July 31, 2023. Learn more...
Deposit is $800 per person. Final payment is due Tuesday, August 1, 2023.
*Land only excludes flights and airport transfers. Prices are based on a minimum of 20 members and on rates, taxes, and fees effective January 2023. Prices are subject to change due to factors beyond our control. Group to be escorted with a minimum of 20 travellers.
*Airfares from other gateways – available on request. Airfares and airlines are subject to change due to factors beyond the control of Craig Travel. Refer to inclusive features for details.
Insurance is NOT INCLUDED but is highly recommended. Estimated premiums range from $381 to $952 plus tax for travel arrangements as noted for up to 85 years of age – please contact our staff to receive a quote. This insurance is effective from the date of purchase and carries limitations on pre-existing medical conditions. Clients 86 years old and older and/or clients residing outside Ontario - contact our staff to discuss procedures. Please discuss your insurance coverage prior to booking. Refer to the terms and conditions for more details.
