Israel & Jordan Holidays

Check off the highlights of Amman on a half-day private tour of Jordan’s capital city. You’ll be collected from your hotel and taken to the Citadel on a hill with views over downtown Amman. Here, there’s a chance to see the Umayyad Palace complex, the Temple of Hercules, and the Byzantine Church. You also see the Roman Theatre, a splendidly restored remnant cut into a hill with seats for 6,000 and thought to have been built in the 2nd century AD.

• Daily departures from Amman
• Operates year-round
• Private experience

Spend a full day on a private tour of the Dead Sea with time to swim in the lake and enjoy lunch at a local hotel. You’ll be collected from your Amman hotel for a journey that’ll take an hour or so, then experience what it’s like to float in the densely salty and soothingly warm waters, the lowest lake on earth, on a visit to the Dead Sea. Lunch at the Ramada Resort by Wyndham Dead Sea is included before your return to Amman.

• Daily departures from Amman
• Operates year-round
• Private experience

Spend a full day on a private tour of the Dead Sea with time to swim and lunch at a local hotel, then visit the religiously significant Al-Maghtas Baptism Site. You’ll be collected from your Amman hotel for a journey that’ll take an hour or so, ready for a morning on the shores of the Dead Sea. Experience what it’s like to float in the densely salty and warm waters, the lowest lake on earth. Lunch at the Ramada Resort by Wyndham Dead Sea is included before you pay a visit to the Baptism site of Jesus of Nazareth – Al-Maghyas – a landmark of the origin of Christianity. Stroll along a peaceful path and explore Roman and Byzantine sites before returning to your hotel in Amman.

• Daily departures from Amman
• Operates year-round
• Private experience

Spend a full day visiting the ancient city of Jerash, then float on the wonderous waters of the Dead Sea. You’ll be collected from your hotel in Amman and visit Jerash, a city that flourished under Roman rule and is considered one of the best Roman provincial towns anywhere in the world. It was buried in sand and hidden for centuries before its excavation over the past 70 years, allowing visitors to trace its streets, temples, theatres, and plazas. You’ll continue to the Dead Sea’s salt-dense and soothingly warm waters and experience floating on the lowest lake on earth. Lunch at the Ramada Resort by Wyndham Dead Sea is included before your return to Amman.

• Daily departures from Amman
• Operates year-round
• Private experience

Spend half a day on a private tour of Jerash, a fascinating ancient city once hidden beneath the sand. You’ll be collected from your hotel in Amman and visit Jerash, a rediscovered city that flourished under Roman rule. Its excavation over the past 70 years allows visitors to trace its streets, temples, theatres, and plazas. Explore Jerash’s South and North Theatres, the vast 15,000-seat Hippodrome, and the Nymphaeum, where water once cascaded through carved lion heads. Stroll along the remarkable colonnaded street, Cardo Maximus, which forms the architectural spine of Jerash. A guide will point out key sites and highlights, with information complemented by the Jerash Archaeological Museum, which houses collections from the Neolithic to the Mameluk.

• Daily departures from Amman
• Operates year-round
• Private experience

Spend a full day on a private tour to visit key locations in North Jordan, including the ancient city of Jerash, Ajloun Castle, Pella, and Umm Qais. You’ll be collected from your hotel in Amman and taken to Jerash, an ancient city that flourished under Roman rule and is considered one of the best Roman provincial towns anywhere in the world. It was buried beneath sand and hidden for centuries. Today, visitors can trace its streets, temples, theatres, and plazas. Explore the South and North Theatres and the vast 15,000-seat Hippodrome, and marvel at the Nymphaeum, where water once cascaded through carved lion’s heads. Stroll along the remarkable colonnaded street, Cardo Maximus, which forms the architectural spine of Jerash. You’ll continue to Ajloun Castle, a military tower that protected ancient trade routes. Then it’s on to Pella, an archaeological site set in hills overlooking the Jordan Valley with ruins dating back 6000 years and known for its classical theatre, bathhouse, and nymphaeum. Umm Qais is your final stop to look at this vital cultural centre home to classical poets and philosophers before returning to your hotel in Amman.

• Daily departures from Amman
• Operates year-round
• Private experience

Few people visit Jordan without experiencing the wonders of Petra. This full-day tour from Amman allows you to see the highlights on a private tour. Petra is around a three-hour drive from Amman, but when you arrive, you’re treated to incredible sights that make the journey worthwhile. This 2,000-year-old city is the legacy of the Nabataeans, admired for their culture and architecture. Half-built and half-carved into rock set in a red sandstone landscape, you’ll enter through the high-walled Siq, a canyon leading to the Treasury, perhaps the most recognisable of Petra’s sights. Before returning to Amman, there’s enough time to explore Petra’s glorious architecture and soak up the atmosphere of one of the New Seven Wonders of the World.

• Daily departures from Amman
• Operates year-round
• Private experience

Full day

Taste the irresistible flavours of Jordan on a half-day private food tour. You’ll venture into the city with a guide from your hotel in Amman. There’ll be a variety of local dishes to try, perhaps falafel and mansaf (the national lamb dish) or knafeh – a sweet treat made with cheese and pistachio. You’ll get insight into the food culture of Jordan, soaking up the city atmosphere as you go.

• Daily departures from Amman
• Operates year-round
• Private experience

Taste Jordan's food and visit Amman's main sights on a full-day private city tour. You’ll venture into the city with a guide from your hotel in Amman, beginning your city discovery by tasting the delicious food. There’ll be a variety of local dishes to try, perhaps falafel and mansaf (the national lamb dish) or knafeh – a sweet treat made with cheese and pistachio. You’ll get insight into the food culture of Jordan, soaking up the city atmosphere as you go. Next, you’ll visit the Citadel on a hill with views over downtown Amman. Here, there’s a chance to see the Umayyad Palace complex, the Temple of Hercules, and the Byzantine Church. You’ll also see the Roman Theatre, a splendidly restored remnant cut into a hill with seats for 6,000.

• Daily departures from Amman
• Operates year-round
• Private experience

Learn how to cook an authentic Arabic feast in a family home within one of Amman’s historic neighbourhoods under the watchful eye of an accomplished chef. Over a few hours, you’ll follow recipes handed down through generations to create a traditional main course, side dish, salad, and dessert, learning more about delicious Arabic flavours. Then you’ll settle down to enjoy your feast on the terrace or dining room.

• Daily departures from Amman
• Operates year-round
• Private experience

Join a two-hour visit to the religiously significant Al Maghyas. A private transfer will collect you from your hotel in the Dead Sea area to pay a visit to the Baptism site of Jesus of Nazareth – Al-Maghyas – a landmark moment of the origin of Christianity. Stroll along a peaceful path and explore Roman and Byzantine sites before returning to your hotel.

• Daily departures from the Dead Sea
• Operates year-round
• Private experience

Visit the mystical sights of Petra on a private tour. You’ll be collected from your hotel to visit Petra, a 2,000-year-old city that is the legacy of the Nabataeans and is admired for its culture and architecture. Half-built and half-carved into the rock in a red sandstone landscape, you’ll enter through the high-walled Siq, a canyon leading to the impressive Treasury, perhaps the most recognisable of Petra’s sights. Before returning to the Dead Sea, there’s enough time to explore Petra’s glorious architecture.

• Daily departures from the Dead Sea, Petra & Aqaba
• Operates year-round
• Private experience

Appreciate the majesty of Petra and Little Petra on a full-day tour. This 2,000-year-old city is the legacy of the Nabataeans, admired for their culture and architecture. Half-built and half-carved into rock set in a red sandstone landscape, you’ll enter through the high-walled Siq, a canyon leading to the Treasury, perhaps the most recognisable of Petra’s sights. There’s enough time to explore Petra’s glorious architecture and venture to Little Petra, or Beidha, a neolithic village.

• Daily departures from Petra
• Operates year-round
• Private experience

Visit Petra at its most atmospheric when lit by 1,800 candles after sunset. You’ll be collected from your hotel after dark, ready to explore Petra. Follow the candlelit trail along the Siq to the Treasury and listen to the beautiful music. You’ll have 90 minutes to explore this Nabatean marvel, created by the Arab people more than 2,000 years ago, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the new Seven Wonders of the World.

• Departs Monday, Wednesday and Thursday from Petra
• Operates year-round
• Private experience

Evening

Get to know Aqaba better on a tour of the city’s highlights. Your tour begins at Sharif Hussein bin Ali Mosque, a magnificent white mosque with delicate windows and impressive minarets. Inside, you’ll appreciate its tranquillity and elegance. Next, you’ll explore The Aqaba Archaeological Museum in the Aqaba house of Sherif Hussein Bin Ali, which houses a collection representing the Islamic periods from the mid-7th to the beginning of the 12th century AD. You’ll visit the oldest church in the Middle East, believed to date from the late 3rd century AD, and see the Ayla ruins excavated in the mid-19th century and give a glimpse into historic Islamic empires. Before returning to your hotel, there’s time to visit the Souq and the south beach of Aqaba or watch the fish at the city’s aquarium.

• Daily departures from Aqaba
• Operates year-round
• Private experience

Spend the evening exploring a local bazaar and cooking traditional dishes over a wood fire. You’ll be collected from your hotel in the late afternoon and head to the Aqaba Women's Society to visit the local women's bazaar showcasing handmade crafts. Then your Bedouin cooking experience begins, where you can join in the cooking or watch Bedouin sajieh being cooked over the wood fire. You’ll try the chicken, veal, or fish variety, served with mutabbal, an eggplant dish, and sip a special tea cooked over the fire. An Aqaba traditional sweet treat follows dinner and ends a memorable evening in Jordan.

• Daily departures from Aqaba
• Operates year-round
• Private experience

Venture to the highest point in the ancient Kingdom of Moab on a half-day tour to Madaba and Mount Nebo. A private transfer will collect you from your hotel in Amman and take you to Madaba, known as the City of Mosaics and considered the cultural epicentre for Byzantine and Umayyad mosaics. While it mostly lies in ruins, it’s a fascinating place to explore and understand more about its religious significance and wander the streets to peruse handicrafts. It’s believed that Moses died on Mount Nebo. As well as understanding the religious significance of this location, you’ll also get a fantastic view over the Dead Sea, the Jordan Valley, and perhaps even Jerusalem’s skyline on a clear day.

• Daily departures from Amman
• Operates year-round
• Private experience

Bathe in the world-famous Dead Sea’s magical waters on a day trip, available from Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, which are both around two hours’ drive from Israel’s and Jordan’s shared natural attraction. Found at the lowest point on earth, the water in the Dead Sea is so salty that you’ll float buoyantly at the surface. Your skin will feel noticeably smoother, thanks to the softening mud that bathers slather on their skin before taking a dip. The salt is packed with minerals and is known for its antiseptic and pain-relieving qualities. You’ll get the chance to buy some Dead Sea products at a cosmetics shop and take some of this natural wonder home with you. We recommend bringing swimwear, a towel, hat and sunscreen.

Visit the birthplace of Jesus and one of the world’s oldest cities. Begin your tour by heading through the Judean Desert, east of Jerusalem, and visit the site of a biblical parable, The Inn of the Good Samaritan – this site was a hostel along the ancient road of Jerusalem to Jericho, with remains from the Roman to Ottoman periods. You’ll continue to Jericho, a Palestinian territory and the oldest city in the world. Stop by the sycamore tree of the biblical tax collector Zacchaeus before seeing the Mount of Temptation. Explore Tel Jericho, a UNESCO-nominated archaeological site in the West Bank where settlements dating back to 10,000BC have been discovered (cable car not included here). The last leg of your tour is in the city of Bethlehem, also in the West Bank and famous for being the birthplace of Jesus. Walk through the central Manger Square to the Church of the Nativity, the oldest major church in the Holy Land area. Visit the Catholic Chapel of the Milk Grotto, home to a series of caves hollowed out of soft white rock, and the Shepherds’ Field, the site of the angels’ annunciation to the shepherds about the birth of Jesus. Browse a local souvenir shop before making the journey back to your hotel.

See Bethlehem’s major sights on this half-day tour, beginning at Manger Square where you’ll visit the Church of the Nativity – the oldest church in the Holy Land and the entry point to one of the most significant biblical sites. Admire the ancient limestone columns and mosaic floors before heading down into the Grotto of the Nativity, the cave where a 14-point silver star marks the spot where Jesus is believed to have been born. Next, visit the Chapel of the Milk Grotto, where the stones are said to have turned white when the Virgin Mary spilt a drop of milk while nursing the baby Jesus; and Shepherd’s Field, where an angel announced Jesus’s birth. Stop by a shop for souvenirs of your trip before returning to Jerusalem.

Begin your tour of important biblical landmark with a coastal drive as you make your way to Jesus’ childhood home, Nazareth. On your city tour, you’ll see the Basilica of the Annunciation and the Church of St. Joseph, both believed to be built on sites relating to Mary and Joseph. Drive to Tiberias, one of Judaism’s four holy cities, and along the Sea of Galilee to Capernaum where Jesus taught and peformed many miracles. Continue to the Church of Multiplication of the Fish and Loaves in Tabgha before ending your tour at Yardenit, where Jesus was thought to be baptised.

This half-day tour is an excellent introduction to some of Jerusalem’s key sights. You’ll start by driving up to the Mount of Olives next to the Old City for panoramic views, before stopping at Mount Zion to explore a trio of religious sites: King David’s Tomb, the Cenacle (room of the Last Supper) and the Dormition Abbey – a German-built abbey with a striking clock tower, domed roof and encircling towers. Head into the Old City and pass through the Armenian and Jewish Quarters en route to the recently restored Cardo, or Roman road. Stop off at the Western Wall (also known as the Wailing Wall) before continuing to the Christian Quarter where you’ll be able to follow the Via Dolorosa (the route Jesus had to take carrying the cross) and visit the Church of the Holy Sepulchre – the site of his crucifixion and burial.

Journey to the lowest place on earth and explore an ancient desert fortress. Depart from Tel Aviv and travel via Israel’s rolling Judean Hills to the Dead Sea – visit a cosmetics shop here before driving along the shoreline to Masada. This historic fortress is in Israel’s Judean Desert, on a huge plateau overlooking the Dead Sea. Head up the mountain by cable car for a tour of the fortress, built by King Herod around 30BC and the place where the Zealots of the 1st Century stood against the Romans – remains include the palace, walls, synagogue, cisterns and Roman baths with mosaic floors. Come down by cable car and head back to the Dead Sea, where you’ll be able to spend a bit of time floating in the world’s saltiest spot and bathing in enriching mineral mud, believed to have therapeutic properties.