Jordan Biblical Tour

Day 1: Arrival to Jordan – Amman

Welcome to the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. Once you have passed through Immigration and Customs at Queen Alia airport, your driver will be waiting in the Arrivals Hall to meet you and transfer you to your hotel. Overnight: Amman.

Day 2: Umm Qais – Jerash

This morning we drive to Umm Qais, the old Decapolis city of Gadara, with its spectacular panoramic views overlooking the Sea of Galilee. The basalt basilica is believed to be the site of Jesus’ miracle of the Gadarene swine. We then drive to Jerash, one of the best preserved and most complete provincial Roman cities. With your English speaking guide, enter through Hadrian’s Arch for a 2 hour tour of this remarkable city. Free time after the tour if you wish to continue exploring. Back to Amman. Overnight: Amman.

Day 3: Machaerus – Madaba – Mt. Nebo – Bethany Beyond the Jordan – Dead Sea

After breakfast we visit Machaerus (Mukawir), where John the Baptist was beheaded. Next we visit Madaba, famous for the detailed mosaic map discovered on the floor of the 6th Century St George Church which shows all major biblical sites from Lebanon to Egypt. Then we drive to Mt. Nebo, the place where God allowed Moses to see the Promised Land before he died. Visit the old monastery and look out over the Jordan Valley, Dead Sea, Jericho and Jerusalem. Descend into the Rift Valley to arrive at Bethany Beyond the Jordan, the place where Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist, where Elijah and Elisha crossed the Jordan, as well as the area where the children of Israel led by Joshua entered the Promised Land. Finally we drive to the Dead Sea, the lowest point on Earth, some 420 metres below the sea level. Enjoy floating on the surface of the waters seven times saltier than regular seawater. Pamper yourself at the hotel spa centre (optional extra) or lounge around one of the many freshwater pools. Overnight: Dead Sea hotel.

Day 4: Dead Sea – Arnoon (Wadi Mujib) – Lot’s Wife Pillar – Al Sharah Mountains – Dana Wild Natural Reserve – Shoback Castle – Petra

This morning we travel along the Dead Sea Highway and stop at the bottom of Wadi Al-Mujib then we continue to Lot’s Wife Pillars. From a distance we can see the Lot’s hillside cave near the town of Safi. Here Lot lived together with his daughters after they fled the sinful cities Sodom and Gomorrah. The Bible says Lot’s daughters gave birth to sons; their descendants would become the Ammonite and Moabite people, whose kingdoms were in what is now central Jordan. Ascend the winding road up the Al Sharah Mountains to the wild natural reserve of Dana where we stop to enjoy the view and take photos. Next, we travel to Shobak Castle, one of the many Crusader castles found in Jordan. Shobak castle was used as a monastery until it was rebuilt by the crusader prince Baldwin I and used to guard the road from Egypt to Damascus. Overnight: Petra.

Day 5: Petra

With your English speaking guide, walk through the mile-long Siq to reach the city, passing the remains of Nabataean shrines, water channels, wall carvings and some of the original paving stones. See the magnificent Treasury as you exit the Siq, explore the Street of Facades, the Theatre, Royal Tombs, Colonnaded Street, Byzantine Church, Winged Lion’s Temple, Qasr al Bint, and the Petra Museum where your guided tour will end. Climb to the Monastery and/or High Place of Sacrifice on your own. Overnight Petra. At the time of Jesus and the Apostles, one of the Eastern Mediterranean’s greatest trading centers was located in Petra. During the Exodus, Moses and the Israelites passed through the Petra area in Edom – local tradition says that the spring at Wadi Musa (Valley of Moses), just outside Petra, is the place where Moses struck the rock and brought forth water. Aaron, the brother of Moses and Miriam, died in Jordan and was buried in Petra at Jebal Harun (Mount Aaron).

Day 6: Petra – Amman (departure)

Today you will be transferred to Queen Alia International Airport for departure.