Israel & Jordan: Deserts & the Dead Sea

Itinerary

• Day 1: Overnight Flight

  Board your overnight flight to Jordan. Prepare to start referring to this country as habibi (Arabic for “sweetheart”) ‘cause you’re gonna love it here. Sit back, relax, and dream dreams of falafel fairies, you’ll be there soon!

• Day 2: Arrive in Jordan + Welcome Dinner

  Welcome to Amman! The capital city of Jordan is a bustling metropolis with all of the amenities you could want, the friendly chatter of Arabic in the streets, plus beautifully preserved ancient ruins. Get ready, you’re just at the beginning of your epic adventure through the Middle East!

  Today's highlights:

  • Land at the airport and meet a waiting EF representative.
  • Transfer to your hotel to check in and check out your room.
  • Get familiar with the area around your hotel with an introductory walk with your Tour Director.
  • Enjoy a Welcome Dinner with your fellow travelers.
• Day 3: Explore Jerash Ruins + Dead Sea Swim

  Take a day trip to Jerash, sometimes known as “The Pompeii of the East.” Not to worry, no volcanoes here, just perfectly preserved Greco-Roman ruins. Then, head to the Dead Sea for a dip in the water on the lowest point on Earth. Is this day gonna rule? You bet Jerash it is.

  Today's highlights:

  • Strut down the colonnaded streets of Jerash like an emperor, stopping at Hadrian’s Arch, built to commemorate an (actual) emperor’s visit in 129 AD.
  • Get in the ring at the Hippodrome—an ancient Greek arena used for… You guessed it: Horse racing!
  • See what swimming in water ten times saltier than the ocean feels like in the out-of-this-world Dead Sea.
  • Head back to Amman for some more sightseeing with your Tour Director.
• Day 4: Explore Kerak Castle + Travel to Wadi Rum

  Dead Sea? Check. Ancient ruins? Check. Big city? Check. What are you missing? A trip through the desert, of course! It wouldn’t be Jordan without an adventure into the sandy south of the country to watch the dry landscape become a stunning watercolor of purples, pinks, and oranges as the sun sets. The Wadi Rum Desert Valley has been occupied by humans for practically forever. Keep an eye out for depictions of antelope carved into the sandstone walls over 7,000 years ago.

  Today's highlights:

  • Stop en route to Wadi Rum at Kerak to check out a big ol’ castle built by Christian Crusaders in the 1100s.
  • Continue on to Wadi Rum—you might recognize this place from countless movies, including The Martian and several Star Wars films.
  • Travel to a desert vista perfect for watching the sun go down.
  • Sip Bedouin tea and sample some snacks before returning to Wadi Rum Village for an included dinner.
• Day 5: Explore Petra Ruins + Optional Sunrise Hot Air Balloon Ride

  Behold! One of the most magnificent feats in ancient architecture. Petra, the Sandstone City, awaits you through a winding and spectacular canyon. You’ll be wowed, you’ll be awed, you’ll say things you’ve never said before, like “what in the name of Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson?!” How has it all been so well preserved? Well, let’s just say it’s been Petra-fied.

  Though beautiful, the paths are rugged - be sure to slip into footwear fit for a long day of traversing uneven terrain.

  Today's highlights:

  • Join a local guide for a Siq walk—that means canyon, but also yes, it is pretty sick—of Petra.
  • Ask yourself “where has my breath gone?” when the world-famous Al-Khazneh temple carved into the cliffs takes it away.
  • End your day with another included dinner in Wadi Rum.

  Sunrise hot air balloon ride (extra cost)

  Get killer sunrise views of Wadi Rum from the vantage point only a hot air balloon can provide.
  
  This excursion is pre-book only; if your trip is less than twenty days away, please call 800-766-2645 to purchase.

• Day 6: Wadi Rum Desert Jeep Ride + Travel to Israel

  Call it a Jeep, call it a 4x4, call it like it is: an amazing way to see Jordan. Today you’re taking a Jeep tour of the Wadi Rum Desert Valley to check it out in ways you couldn’t by foot. Oases, wild rock formations, and even the house Lawrence of Arabia used to live in. Take it all in on your last day in the country, and get ready to add a little Hebrew to your vocabulary as you head to Israel.

  Today's highlights:

  • Board your Jeep and experience the Wadi Rum Desert Valley ruggedly, with an expert local guide on board to teach you all about everything you’re seeing.
  • Disembark and cross the border to Israel at Wadi Araba.
  • Arrive in Jerusalem and check in to your new accommodation.
• Day 7: Explore Jerusalem + Yad Vashem Museum

  Sniff that history-soaked air, you’re in Jerusalem—one of the oldest cities in the world, and certainly one of the most holy. Adherents of Judaism, Christianity, and Islam all flock here to see thousands of years of their religion’s most spiritual sites. Strap on your sandals, you’re about to get a hands-on lesson walking the winding alleyways and cobblestoned pathways of world religion.

  Today's highlights:

  • Take an immersive stroll through the Old City of Jerusalem’s Christian, Armenian, and Jewish Quarters.
  • Continue to the Western Wall, sometimes known as the Wailing Wall, built by Herod the Great around 19 BC.
  • Enter the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, built on the site where Jesus Christ was said to have been both crucified and entombed.
  • Stroll through the museums, monuments, and gardens of Yad Vashem, Israel’s largest Holocaust memorial.
• Day 8: Free day in Jerusalem + optional Bethlehem excursion

  Boker tov! That’s “good morning” in Hebrew, FYI. You’re on your own schedule today, so take your time getting to know Jerusalem and all its rich history.

  Free time suggestions

  Mount of Olives: Near Jerusalem’s Old Town, this mountain was part of many biblical stories and holds significance for Jews and Christians.  And while there are no longer olive trees today, it offers stunning panoramic views of the city.

  Mahane Yehuda Market: Catch a glimpse of local culture at Mahane Yehuda Market (referred to as “The Shuk”) with its 250+ vendors selling fruits, vegetables, meat, and so much more.

  Bethlehem excursion (extra cost)

  Visit Bethlehem’s Church of the Nativity, believed by Christians to be the birthplace of Jesus.

• Day 9: Travel to Tel Aviv + nighttime exploring

  Your final destination awaits: Tel Aviv, Israel. For every ounce of history and tradition that Jerusalem holds, Tel Aviv matches it in glamor, excitement, and the cutting edge of modernity. Vegans, party animals, beach bunnies, and the crunchiest of outdoorsy-types, rejoice: there’s something for everyone in Tel Aviv.

  Today's highlights:

  • Hop on your bus from Jerusalem, and head for the coast—Tel Aviv is located on the sunny shores of the Mediterranean Sea.
  • Arrive in Tel Aviv and check out Jaffa Port and the Promenade with your Tour Director.
  • Get ready to go out in the nightlife capital of the Middle East.
• Day 10: Explore Tel Aviv + optional culinary tour

  Hope you’re feeling refreshed after your night out, because this morning you’ll be bopping all over this cosmopolitan port city with a local guide. In the afternoon, do your own thing or sample Tel Aviv’s tasty culinary delights on a food tour.

  Today's highlights:

  • Get nautical on a sightseeing tour of Tel Aviv, including a stop in cultural mecca Jaffa Port—said to be one of the oldest ports in the world, and where the titular character from the Biblical tale of Jonah & the Whale set sail from.
  • Waltz through the visually satisfying White City neighborhoods, made up of Bauhaus-style buildings, for all you architecture geeks out there.
  • Take advantage of a chance to buy last minute souvenirs along bougie Rothschild Boulevard.

  Tel Aviv Culinary Tour (extra cost)

  Take a guided tour with an expert of Israeli cuisine’s greatest hits—a harmonious blend of Arabic and Persian cuisine, with a healthy dose of the homeland staples brought over by Jewish immigrants from Russia, Germany, Eastern Europe, and beyond. You’re gonna want to eat this.
  
  This excursion is pre-book only; if your trip is less than seven days away, please call 800-766-2645 to purchase.

• Day 11: Free day in Tel Aviv + Farewell Dinner

  Like all great stories, this trip has a beginning, a Middle East, and an end. And sadly, you’ve reached the last full day of your Israel & Jordan adventure. You’ve had some laughs, made olive the memories, and maybe even rode a camel. And now you’ve got some free time to explore at your own pace. Yalla!

  Today's highlights:

  • Make the most of your last day in Tel Aviv. Get your souvenirs, grab one more falafel pita, and soak it all in alongside new friends.
  • Share some laughs (and maybe shed a few tears) at an included Farewell Dinner with your group.

  Free time suggestions

  Jaffa Flea Market: Browse through the eclectic stalls, vintage treasures, and drool-inducing street eats at this vibrant market.

  Park HaYarkon: Basically Tel Aviv’s Central Park. Grab lunch, park it on the grass by the Yarkon River, and people-watch to your heart’s content.

• Day 12: Fly Home

  להתראות חברים

  Translation: Goodbye, friends. Before you head to the airport, make sure to take one more group photo and grab that final drink. But this isn’t goodbye because you can always get the gang back together for another trip soon. Or if you’re feeling adventurous, we have a couple ways to keep your vacation going.

  EXTEND YOUR TRIP 2 WAYS

  1. Double the fun
  A lot of our trips line up back to back! Give us a call—we can help you add another and save big while you're at it.

  2. Go ahead or stay behind
  Extending your trip is easy! During checkout, you'll have the option to fly to (or from) the gateway of your choice for an additional fee. We'll adjust your flights accordingly, but you'll be responsible to take care of your transportation, hotels, and other logistics outside of tour.

  Note: Depending on your desired gateways, additional fees may apply.