Day 14, May 23: Gadara, Pella, Jerash, Amman, Bethany beyond the Jordan 
An early departure from our hotel takes us to Sheikh Hussein Border. After completing passport formalities we enter the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan. This northern area once was part of ancient Israel where 2½ tribes settled. We travel to a scenic overlook of Pella, where the Jerusalem Church fled in 65 A.D., then head north to the ruins of Gadara, the mountain top hometown of the Gadarene Demoniacs, and one last view of the Sea of Galilee. We continue on to Jerash, one of the best preserved and most complete provincial Roman cities. Jerash, Gerasa of Roman Times, was one of the cities of the Decapolis, a confederation of 10 Graeco-Roman cities dating from the 1st century BC situated in Jordan, Syria and Israel. Known as the Pompeii of the East for its extraordinary state of preservation, the ruins indicate human occupations at this location for more than 2,500 years. The most well known monuments include the colonnaded street, the Temple of Zeus, the Forum, and Hadrian’s Arch.  Next, we drive south over the Jabbok River where Jacob wrestled with God, past the present capital of Amman, which once was the Decapolis city of Philadelphia and Old Testament Ammonite city of Rabbah, on our way to visit Bethany Beyond the Jordan, where John The Baptist did some baptizing and possibly where he baptized Jesus. We end the day at our hotel by the Dead Sea with one last swim in the Sea.

Day 15, May 24: Mt Nebo, Medeba, Arnon River, Petra 
This day follows the reverse path of the Israelites on their way from the wilderness to the promised land. We ascend to Mt. Nebo where it is believed Moses saw the Promised Land and was buried in the adjacent valley. The mountain commands a spectacular view of Jericho, the Jordan Valley, and the Dead Sea. The drive continues to the town of Madaba, the biblical Medeba, 30 kilometers south of Amman. Madaba is best known for its Byzantine and Umayyad mosaics and the Greek Orthodox Church of St. George where the earliest original surveying map of the Holy Land is pictured on a Mosaic floor. Next we drive south onto the Biblical King’s Highway to the ancient border of Moab at the Arnon River canyons, for a scenic view, and then on to Petra. There we walk through the “Siq”, an immense crack in the Nubian sandstone, to the city of ancient Petra. 2000 years ago the Nabateans carved this city out of the rose red rock. The Treasury, El Khazneh, is one of the most elegant remains of antiquity. Beyond El Khazneh we are surrounded on both sides by hundreds of Petra’s carved and built structures. We overnight in Petra.

Day 16, May 25: Jordan River, Jerusalem 
We leave Petra and travel north to the Allenby Bridge crossing the Jordan River to return to Jerusalem for free time and one last night stay there.

Day 17, May 26: Return flight home
Early today we depart Tel Aviv Airport for our flight home.  

Pricing based on minimum of 10 passengers.
 

Price Includes:  1st class lodging, admissions, sightseeing, breakfast & dinner daily, Visa and border taxes, gratuities.