Israel and Jordan

•   Guided visits to diverse sites such as the Western Wall, Dome of the Rock, Sephardic Synagogues, Via Dolorosa, Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Mt. Nebo, and Jezzar Pasha Mosque

Day 1: Arrive Tel Aviv
A transfer is included from Ben Gurion Airport to the InterContinental David Tel Aviv, located on a beachfront promenade in a fashionable neighborhood, with sweeping views of the Mediterranean Sea. Join us this evening for a welcome cocktail reception and dinner.
Overnight: InterContinental David Tel Aviv, Israel
Meals Included: Dinner

Day 2: Ancient Jaffa and Tel Aviv
A burgeoning high-tech economy has made Tel Aviv one of the wealthiest, most eclectic, cosmopolitan cities in the Middle East – part SoHo, part Silicon Valley, part Mediterranean resort. Your day begins with a Hebrew lesson, followed by a walking tour of Jaffa, the ancient Arab seaport at the heart of the modern city. This enclave is home to a diverse population of Jews, Muslims, and Christians, its winding stone streets and alleys a maze of galleries, antique shops, flea markets, and restaurants. After lunch at a local café, a city tour reveals why Tel Aviv earned a UNESCO World Heritage designation. A flood of Jewish refugees from Germany in the 1930s brought functional, modern design with them, and the plethora of square white buildings with curved balconies on every street earned Tel Aviv the nickname “The White City“ and a UNESCO World Heritage designation. But there the austerity of Tel Aviv ends. For the remainder of the day, spend time exploring this hip young city on your own. Your hotel is within easy walking distance of the beach, restaurants and a nightlife second to none.
Overnight: InterContinental David Tel Aviv, Israel
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch

Day 3: Ancient Caesarea and Haifa
Today you’ll gain insights on the changing face of this ancient country. Journey north to the ruins of Caesarea, a port city built by Herod the Great, and one of Israel’s most important archaeological sites. Leave the sun-baked sands for the green foothills of Mount Carmel and the Baha’i Shrine and Gardens on the northern slope of Mount Carmel, featuring 19 terraces and immaculate gardens that lead to the golden-domed tomb of the Bab, messenger of the Baha’i Faith, which teaches that no religion has a monopoly on the truth. Arrive The Colony Hotel Haifa in Haifa’s historic German Quarter; this neighborhood of 19th-century houses is distinctly European, bustling with shops and cafés. Dine from a selection of restaurants, after which you may want to explore a bit or just enjoy the intimacy of the lovely hotel, closeness of the sea, and amazing vision of the Baha’i terraces rising above the city, illuminated at night.
Overnight: The Colony Hotel Haifa, Israel
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 4: Along the Sea of Galilee
Visit the Yigal Allon Museum and learn about the Galilee Boat, a 2,000-year-old fishing vessel discovered in 1986. Board a working replica of the boat and sail the Sea of Galilee on a guided tour to see how fishermen in Jesus’ time lived and worked; you’ll even have an opportunity to learn to dance the Horah. Stop in Nazareth for lunch at a local restaurant; this rural area contains many kibbutzim – farming communities which teach self-reliance, collective action, and civic responsibility. Return to Haifa, where guests can participate in a “Prophet Sharing” panel discussion, a unique opportunity to ask questions and share information about the major religions coexisting in this multicultural land. Your evening is free.
Overnight: The Colony Hotel Haifa, Israel
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch

Day 5: Akko, Place of Many Rulers
The walled city of Akko is where 13th-century Crusaders made their last stand against overwhelming Mameluk forces. Successive waves of conquerors – Greek, Roman, Crusader, Arab, Turk, and British – have all left their marks upon this small coastal enclave. Explore the old citadel, with its warren of streets and alleys, arches, towers, tunnels and underground chambers. Experience the tranquility of the 18th-century Jezzar Pasha Mosque, with its graceful minarets and stunning mosaics, built over the ruins of a Crusader church; wind through the underground vaults, once a refuge to Richard the Lionhearted, later used as a prison during the British Mandate. Even more intriguing is the cultural mosaic of Akko today, evidenced by its mosque, church, synagogue, and Baha’i temple, and ethnic cafés. Lunch at one of the city’s best-known, most sought-after restaurants, Uri Buri, run by Chef Uri Yirmias; casual with understated elegance, his seafood is famous all over Israel. Next stop is Jerusalem; pause at the Mount of Olives for an overlook before arriving at The David Citadel Hotel, a five-star, luxury hotel within walking distance of the Old City walls. Dine à la carte tonight at Scala, one of the best restaurants in Jerusalem.
Overnight: The David Citadel Hotel, Jerusalem, Israel
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch and dinner

Day 6: Jerusalem – City of Cultural Diversity
Watch the sunrise over Jerusalem from the balcony of your hotel room, the ancient walls, steeples and domes of the fabled city taking shape before your eyes. It is a place in the mind as much as in stone, an amalgam of the religions, cultures, and passions which have fought over it, conquered it, and reshaped it for thousands of years. Your guided tour begins along the Cardo, a bustling arcade filled with tapestries, handicrafts, and religious artifacts. Descend into the ornate, ingeniously engineered Sephardic Synagogues, built below street level during Ottoman rule in obeyance of a law that no Jewish temple could be higher than the surrounding houses. Following lunch at a café, your guided continues at the Western Wall, the last remnant of Solomon’s temple, which held the Ark of the Covenant. The wide plaza before the wall is an open-air synagogue where Jews gather daily to pray and offer supplications to God, sometimes written on paper and stuffed into cracks between the massive stones.
Overnight: The David Citadel Hotel, Jerusalem, Israel
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch

Day 7: The Old City / Dome of the Rock
Return to the Old City for a visit to the magnificent Dome of the Rock, a 7th-century Islamic shrine built on the Temple Mount. Its golden dome shelters the rock from which the Prophet Mohammed ascended to Heaven; for Jews, it covers the holiest spot on Earth, the Foundation Stone of Solomon’s inner temple. Retrace the steps Jesus took on the Via Dolorosa en route to the Crucifixion. The winding path through the Christian Quarter ends at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, which encloses the place where Jesus was crucified and buried. Visit Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Memorial Museum, where a guide will walk you through the images, survivors’ accounts, and artifacts that put human faces on the Holocaust; it is a deeply moving experience. Join us tonight for a private wine & hors d’oeuvres reception followed by a spectacular sound and light show at the Tower of David that tells the history of Jerusalem through music and images splashed across the tower walls.
Overnight: The David Citadel Hotel, Jerusalem, Israel
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch

Day 8: Bethlehem / Dead Sea Scrolls
Spend time in Jerusalem or join us for a guided visit to the West Bank and Bethlehem. At the 4th-century Church of the Nativity, a silver star on the floor marks the spot where Jesus was born. Walk from Manger Square to the Milk Grotto, where the Holy Family took refuge. Return to Jerusalem and drive by Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered; back in Jerusalem, view the Scrolls themselves at the Israel Museum.
Overnight: The David Citadel Hotel, Jerusalem, Israel
Meals Included: Breakfast

Day 9: Masada / Crossing into Jordan
Depart Jerusalem for Masada, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that sits 1,300 feet above the Dead Sea. A Jewish revolt against the Romans ended here in 73 AD; today, Masada is an important connection to the modern state as it is the place where Israeli soldiers swear their oath of allegiance. Travel into Jordan for a two-night stay at a luxury resort on the Dead Sea.
Overnight: Mövenpick Resort & Spa Dead Sea, Jordan
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 10: Day Along the Dead Sea or Jerash
The Dead Sea is the “Great Salt Lake” of the Middle East, and true to its name, devoid of life except for the many visitors who come to marvel at its dramatic landscape, float in its buoyant waters, or cover themselves in its mineral-rich, therapeutic black mud. You can float effortlessly here like nowhere else; the salt content is so high that it crystallizes in reefs, and clings to rocks in masses of “icicles,” creating an Arctic panorama in the desert. Spend a relaxing day at the resort, enjoy the spa, or set off on an excursion to Jerash, site of one of the best-preserved Roman cities in the Middle East. Wander among its fine examples of temples, arches, theatres, baths and city walls.
Overnight: Mövenpick Resort & Spa Dead Sea, Jordan
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch

Day 11: To Mount Nebo and Petra
Depart the Dead Sea for Petra; on the way, stop at Mount Nebo, where Moses looked out upon the “Promised Land.” You’ll also visit the Memorial Church of Moses to see its well-preserved ancient mosaics located inside the excavated Old Baptistery. Biblical history is everywhere en route, most notably in Madaba, where you’ll visit St. George’s Greek Orthodox Church to view a map from the 6th century detailing major biblical sites. Enjoy a lunch of traditional Jordanian specialties, and arrive at your hotel late afternoon where you can dine at your leisure.
Overnight: Mövenpick Resort Petra, Jordan
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 12: Pink City of Petra & Bedouin Dinner
A short walk from your hotel lies the entrance to one of the world’s greatest archaeological sites – the 2,000-year-old city of Petra, which the ancient Nabataeans carved out of colorful sandstone cliffs and today is one of the “New Seven Wonders of the World.” Explore this incredible site’s tombs, temples and other structures on foot throughout most of the day. The powerful visual imagery of the Treasury will stay with you for a lifetime. Lunch at the Basin Restaurant in the old city, and return by camel. Spend the afternoon at leisure at the hotel, then join us for tonight’s special farewell dinner and a real taste of Jordan when we dine Bedouin-style at a traditional feast within spectacular Little Petra. A dance troupe of Jordanian men, dressed in customary Bedouin garments, entertains with a performance of the Dabkeh sword dance for a look at centuries-old traditions. This evening’s dinner is a fitting conclusion to our two-week journey that will forever change your life.
Overnight: Mövenpick Resort Petra, Jordan
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 13: Amazing King’s Highway to Amman
Drive along the winding 5,000-year-old King’s Highway to Amman, one of the oldest continuously used roads in the world; you’ll take a brief city tour prior to arriving at the hotel. Guests with early evening flights will be taken directly to Queen Alia International Airport while those departing late night or early the next morning will stay at Le Méridien Amman.
Overnight: Le Méridien Amman, Jordan
Meals Included: Breakfast, lunch, dinner

Day 14: Journey Home
Tour ends: Amman. A transfer is included from Le Méridien Amman to Queen Alia International Airport. You should allow a minimum of 3 hours for check-in.
Overnight:
Meals Included: Breakfast

Touring Date	Land Only	Land + Air	Single (Land Only)	Single (Land + Air)
8/28/2012 - 9/11/2012	$5,390
9/4/2012 - 9/18/2012	$5,390
9/6/2012 - 9/20/2012	$5,390
10/11/2012 - 10/25/2012	$5,390
10/16/2012 - 10/30/2012	$6,590
10/23/2012 - 11/6/2012	$6,590
10/25/2012 - 11/8/2012	$6,590
10/30/2012 - 11/13/2012	$6,590
11/6/2012 - 11/20/2012	$6,590
11/8/2012 - 11/22/2012	$6,590
11/13/2012 - 11/27/2012	$4,990
12/4/2012 - 12/18/2012	$4,990
Note: Departures appearing above in green are guaranteed to operate by the tour operator.
Airfare Disclaimer A NOTE ABOUT AIRFARE: We encourage you to buy your airfare from the tour operator, because if your tour cancels then your airlines tickets will be covered. Purchasing flights separately at a lesser rate and incorporating it with a Non-Guaranteed Departure Date can result in loss of total cost of your flight investment. Depending on the fare rules, flights may be Non-Refundable and/or Non-Transferable. Neither the tour operator and/or Atlas Cruises & Tours will be held responsible for loss if a tour is cancelled for Lack of Participation. If you would like to check for discounted fares on Guaranteed Departures or for competitive pricing on air and hotel packages, we invite you to follow this link. Documents TRAVEL DOCUMENTS: Necessary Travel Documents such as Passports and Visas is the responsibility of the traveler. Passports must be valid six months from your return travel date.

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