Upon arrival in Amman, make your way to the baggage claim area and collect your luggage. Proceed to the Arrival’s Hall, where you will be greeted by your tour guide and/or driver. Transfer to the hotel in Amman for check-in and enjoy dinner at the hotel before retiring for the evening.

Today, Later, visit Mt. Nebo, the most revered holy sites of Jordan. This mountain was mentioned in Deuteronomy 34, “Then Moses climbed Mount Nebo from the plains of Moab to the top of Pisgah.” While here, you will tour the Holy site where Moses died and was buried. Continue to Madaba, the “City of Mosaics,” Madaba. While in this city, you will visit St. George’s Church, home to a true treasure of Christianity. This Church houses the oldest map of the Holy Land which includes Israel, Palestine, and Southern Egypt. It dates to the 6th century AD. After visit of the Archaeological Park continue on to Um Rassas, is an important archaeological site that was declared a World Heritage Site in 2004. Its structures date from the 3rd to 9th centuries and most have not yet been excavated. The site is especially known for its magnificent Byzantine mosaics, which have been uncovered in two churches dating from the 6th and 8th centuries. Make a stop in Mukawir, this dramatic hilltop is the traditional site of the execution of John the Baptist. It holds the remains of a Herodian fortress near the Arnon River. Return to Amman for dinner and overnight.

After breakfast, we travel north to Um Qaiss. Located on a splendid hilltop with a 360-degree view over the hills of Syria, the Jordan Valley, and the Sea of Galilee, Umm Qais boasts impressive ancient remains. Continue to Tel Mar Elias, very close to the ruins of a village known as Listib. It is believed that this place was formerly Tishbe, the home of Elijah, a native of Gilead in Transjordan. Two churches that were built upon the Tel (hilltop) at the end of the Byzantine period substantiate this belief. After lunch we will drive to visit Anjara, located in the hills of Gilead east of the Jordan valley, where many events of the Bible occurred. It is believed that Jesus and his mother Mary passed through the town and rested here in a cave. To commemorate this, Fr. Yousef Salmeh Nammat built a shrine to Our Lady of the Mountain. On May 6, 2010 the image of Our Lady of the Mount shed tears of blood. The shrine has become part of a holy route in Jordan, visited by thousands of pilgrims every year. Return to Amman for dinner and overnight.

After breakfast, travel drive to Jabbok River on the way to Jerash for morning reflection. Nestled in a quiet valley among the mountains of Gilead, Jerash is the grandeur of Imperial Rome, being one of the largest and most well preserved sites of Roman architecture in the world, outside of Italy. To this day, its paved and colonnaded streets, soaring hilltop temples, handsome theaters, spacious public squares and plazas, baths, fountains and city walls pierced by towers and gates remain in exceptional condition. Return to Amman for dinner and overnight.

This morning, you will transfer to the “lost” city of Petra! This city is located amongst rugged desert canyons and mountains. A World Heritage Site since 1985. Enjoy a walking tour of the former capital and trading center. Your first stop will be a visit to the Siq, a mile-long gorge that contains a number of magnificent structures that are carved into the mountains. The walk will culminate with a visit to the Petra Museum. The Museum holds numerous artifacts from the Neolithic period of the Nabataean history. The museum also contains architecture from the Romans as well as, a Byzantine chapel. Spend this afternoon at your own leisure; feel free to shop. Return to Amman for dinner and overnight.

After breakfast, we will drive towards the Crusaders castle of Kerak (Kir of Moab the capital of the Moabites) . Built in 1140, it was one of the last outposts held by the Crusaders after Jerusalem was recaptured by Saladin in 1187. It fell to the Arab-Kurdish armies the following year after a long, drawn-out siege and continued to change hands—and shape—over time. The Mamelukes widened the moat and added more towers, while the Ottomans built a massive entry gate. Today, Karak remains the largest, best-preserved castle in Jordan. Inside, there are tunnels, dark chambers and dungeons, and vast, arched-roof stables to explore. Return to Amman for a city tour including the citadel and Roman amphitheater Return to hotel for dinner and overnight.

This morning following breakfast we will travel to the Baptism Site “Bethany Beyond the Jordan” Situated on the eastern bank of the River Jordan, north of the Dead Sea, the archaeological site consists of two distinct areas: Tell Al-Kharrar, also known as Jabal Mar-Elias (Elijah’s Hill) and the area of the churches of Saint John the Baptist near the river. Situated in a pristine natural environment the site is believed to be the location where Jesus of Nazareth was baptized by John the Baptist. It features Roman and Byzantine remains including churches and chapels, a monastery, caves that have been used by hermits and pools in which baptisms were celebrated, testifying to the religious character of the place. The site is a Christian place of pilgrimage. Before returning Amman we will stop by the Dead Sea. Time and weather permitting, you will have the opportunity to take a float in the Dead Sea, the lowest and saltiest spot on Earth. Return to hotel before dinner and an overnight.

After an early breakfast and heartfelt farewells, transfer to the Amman airport for return flights home

*206 Tours Disclaimer:
Occasionally local religious and national holidays, weather, traffic conditions and other events may necessitate changes in the sequence of events or the missing of certain events/places. Though every effort will be made to follow the itinerary, it should be considered as an indication, rather than a contract of events and places to be visited.