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Dates: March 4 - 15, 2008
Price: $3,599 based on double occupancy. Single occupancy supplement is an additional $780.
Includes all air and land transportation for the tour starting from JFK Airport in New York, five star and five star deluxe accommodations, all breakfasts, most lunches and dinners, special events, expert speakers, tour guides, and attraction entry fees. Also includes conference registration fees for the two and a half day Union of Local Authorities in Israel (ULAI) Conference in Jerusalem.
Five Star and Five Star Deluxe Accommodations:
Jordan - Grand Hyatt Amman
Jordan - Dead Sea Movenpick Resort and Spa
Jordan - Petra Movenpick Resort
Israel - Jerusalem Inbal
Israel - Haifa Dan Carmel
Visit the Trip Resources Page for resources that will help you prepare for the Tour
Those interested in only attending the Union of Local Authorities in Israel (ULAI) Conference in Jerusalem can find information regarding the event and registration here.
Please note that the itinerary is subject to change.
Our Local Tour Operators:
Abercrombie & Kent Jordan
Guiding Star Israel
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
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11:00 p.m.: Departure from John F. Kennedy (JFK) Airport in New York City for an overnight, direct flight to Queen Alia (AMM) Airport in Amman, Jordan.
Wednesday, March 5, 2008
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5:15 p.m.: Arrive to Amman Jordan. Meet & greet at Queen Alia International airport by your professional A&K staff, who will assist you with visas, luggage, and customs.
Transfer in modern, air conditioned bus to your five star Grand Hyatt Hotel situated in the heart of Amman.
Check in: A private check-in desk will be arranged for our group to ensure a fast and easy check-in so you can proceed directly to your room to rest.
Dinner: Enjoy a buffet dinner at the hotel.
Overnight: At your hotel in Amman.
Thursday, March 6, 2008
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7:30 a.m.: Breakfast: Buffet breakfast at our hotel (breakfast is provided daily).
8:15 a.m.: Orientation and welcome
8:30 a.m.: Tour of Amman: Welcome to Amman, a bustling capital city resting atop seven "jabals" or hills. Throughout its history, Amman has been inhabited by several civilizations including the Assyrians, Persians, Greeks, Romans, Nabataeans, Umayyads, and the Abbasids.
Visit to King Abdullah I Mosque in downtown Amman.
Citadel Hill: High above the city, at the ancient Citadel, study the traces of Amman's many lives: the regal columns of a roman temple in silhouette against the sky, the elegant capitals of a Byzantine church, endlessly inventive carvings in the Umayyad Palace, fascinating displays in the Archaeological Museum, and digs and ruins everywhere you step. At the foot of the Citadel, take a seat in the Roman Theatre, a deep-sided bowl carved into the hill and still used for cultural events. Built between AD 138 and AD 161 by the Roman Emperor Antoninus Pius, it is constructed into the side of the mountain and is still used for sport displays and cultural events.
Driving tour of new Amman.
1 p.m.: Lunch: Special Event at the well-known Tanoreen Restaurant in conjunction with the Embassy of the United States in Jordan. Eng. Ibrahim Khries, Director of the Amman Foreign Relations Department, and Phillip Frayne, Public Affairs Counselor for the American Embassy, will join us to discuss the activities and benefits of the Chicago-Amman sister city relationship.
Departure for Dead Sea: Begin your 45-minute journey by modern air conditioned bus to the lowest point on earth, the Dead Sea, at 1,378 feet below sea level.
Check in: Check in to your five star Dead Sea Movenpick resort and spa. A private check-in desk will be arranged for our group, to ensure a fast and easy check-in.
Free Time: Float atop the waters of the Dead Sea. Indulge in spa treatments at the resort or visit the nearby site believed to be where Jesus was baptized.
Dinner: Enjoy a buffet dinner at the hotel.
Overnight: At your hotel in the Dead Sea.
Friday, March 7, 2008
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Breakfast: Buffet breakfast at our hotel (breakfast is provided daily).
Checkout: Your tour representative will meet you at your hotel to assist you with the hotel checkout procedures.
8:00 a.m.: Meet in the lobby for departure.
Mount Nebo: Mount Nebo is the mountain where Moses was allowed to see the Holy Land and not allowed to enter it. Nowadays the mountain is a memorial site. Here is the "Church of Moses", built by the first Christians. Ever since the first days of Christianity this mountain has been a holy place and a destination for pilgrims. Like Moses, you too can have a great view over Jordan, the Dead Sea and Israel. When the weather is clear, you should even be able to see Jerusalem, which is about 60 kilometers away.
Madaba: South of Amman proudly stands the "City of Mosaics", Madaba, perched on an archaeological site with more than 4000 years of history buried beneath it. The quality and quantity of mosaic flooring has made Madaba one of the most prominent cities in the world for mosaics. St. George's Church houses the world famous mosaic floor depicting a large mosaic map of Palestine. Centrally located on this mosaic floor is a detailed map of Jerusalem as it was during the sixth century AD. At the Church of the Apostles, at the southern entrance of the city, is a mosaic floor attributed to the craftsman Salamanios, depicting the Sea, with the central figure of a woman encircled with a selection of creatures, vegetation and an inscription.
Karak: Continue along the King's Highway until you arrive at Karak, home to the famous crusader castle built in AD 1142, perched on a hillside with a magnificent view of the Dead Sea.
1:30 p.m.: Special Lunch Event: The crusader city of Karak is sister cities with Birmingham, Alabama. Join the former mayor, Mr. Mohammad Maaitah, and members of the sister city committee to learn more about the community and its unique trilateral sister city relationship, which includes the Israeli city of Rosh Ha'ayin.
Travel: Continue traveling south along the King's Highway until you reach the Red Rose city of Petra in late afternoon.
6:00 p.m.: Check in: Arrive to your five star Petra Movenpick resort. A private desk will be arranged for our group, to ensure a fast and easy check-in.
Dinner: Enjoy a buffet dinner in the hotel.
Overnight: At your hotel in Petra.
Saturday, March 8, 2008
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Breakfast: Buffet breakfast at our hotel (breakfast is provided daily).
Morning: Spend a full day exploring Petra. Start the visit with a horse ride from the main gate of Petra to the entrance of the old city (around 800 meters ride).Then walk on foot along the "Siq" to visit the rose-red city of Petra. The ancient city of Petra was built from 800 BC to 100 AD by Nabetean Arabs. In this era Petra was a fortress, carved out of craggy rocks in an area that was virtually inaccessible. In the first and second century, after the Romans took over, the city reached the peak of its fame. Petra covers an area of about 100 square km, where over 800 monuments can be found. When merchant shipping slowly displaced caravan routes, the city's importance gradually dwindled; it fell into disuse and was lost to the world until 1812, when it was re-discovered by the Swiss explorer Johann Ludwig Burckhardt. Nowadays Petra is Jordan's number 1 tourist attraction, known as the "rose-red city half as old as time." The Khazneh (the Treasury), starred in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.
Lunch: Enjoy a lunch inside Petra at the Basin restaurant.
Afternoon: Continued site-seeing in Petra.
8:00 p.m.: Dinner: Visit Ammarin Bedouin Camp in Little Petra for a traditional Bedouin dinner.
Overnight: At your hotel in Petra.
Sunday, March 9, 2008
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Breakfast: Buffet breakfast at our hotel [breakfast is provided daily].
Check out: Your representative will meet you at your hotel to assist you with the hotel checkout procedures.
8:00 a.m. - 11:00 a.m. Travel: Travel north to the border with Israel. Cross into Israel via the Allenby Bridge crossing.
Jericho: Special meeting with the Deputy Mayor of Jericho, Mr. Ibrahim Da'ek and city officials to discuss Jericho's sister city relationships and to explore opportunities for future collaboration with U.S. communities.
Lunch: Lunch hosted by Jericho Municipality.
Site seeing: Continue to see the excavations in the oldest city in the world. We will also pass by the Mount of Temptation.
Arrival in Jerusalem: Drive up to the Mount of Olives for a wonderful view of Jerusalem Old & New. Then past Mount Zion to our hotel.
Check in: Arrive to your Deluxe Five-star hotel, Inbal, in Jerusalem. A private desk will be arranged for our group, to ensure a fast and easy check-in.
7:30-9:00 p.m.: Evening Reception: Mr. Uri Lupoliansky, Mayor of Jerusalem, invites you to attend a welcome reception.
Overnight: At your hotel in Jerusalem.
Monday, March 10, 2008 : ULAI Conference
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7:30 a.m. Breakfast: Buffet breakfast at our hotel (breakfast is provided daily).
7:45 a.m. Departure to visit to the Church of All Nations/ Basilica of the Agony next to the Garden of Gethsemane.
9:00-10:45 a.m.: Opening Ceremony of Union of Local Authorities in Israel Conference (ULAI)
Mr. Adi Eldar, Chairman of the Union of Local Authorities in Israel,
Mayor of Karmiel
Greetings
H.E. Mr. Ehud Olmert, Prime Minister of the State of Israel
Mr. Wim Deetman, Mayor of The Hague,
President of the Municipal Alliance for Peace-MAP
10:45-11:00 a.m.: Coffee break
Lunch: Lunch will be on your own.
1:15-5:30 p.m.: Excursion to Bethlehem. Visit Bethlehem, sister city to Burlington, Vermont. Enjoy a visit to the Church of the Nativity, as well as the olive groves for which Israel and Palestine are so well-known.
2:00 p.m. - 2:45 p.m: Meeting with Dr. Victor Batarseh, Mayor of Bethlehem and local Bethlehem citizens, to discuss Bethlehem's sister city relationships with Joplin, Missouri and Burlington, Vermont and present the Mayor with a letter proposing the twinning of Sacramento, CA with Bethlehem.
5:30 p.m.: Return to the hotel.
7:00 p.m.: Dinner hosted by H.E. the Minister of Interior Mr. Meir Sheetrit followed by a
cultural event.
Overnight: At your hotel in Jerusalem.
Tuesday, March 11, 2008 : ULAI Conference
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7:00 a.m. Breakfast: Buffet breakfast at our hotel (breakfast is provided daily).
7:45 a.m.: Departure to Yad Vashem, The New Memorial Holocaust Museum
8:30 - 10:45 a.m.: Visit and Commemorative Ceremony. Laying the wreath.
11:00 a.m.: Return to Conference Center
11:00 - 11:15 a.m.: Coffee and refreshments
11:15 a.m. - 1:45 p.m.: Parallel workshops
1:45 - 2:30 p.m.: Luncheon
2:45 - 5:00 p.m.: Parallel workshops
7:30 p.m.: Farewell dinner including Ceremony of Awards presented for achievements in international cooperation to be followed by a cultural event.
Overnight: At your hotel in Jerusalem.
Wednesday, March 12, 2008: Close of ULAI Conference
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7:00 a.m. Breakfast: Buffet breakfast at our hotel (breakfast is provided daily).
Check out: Your tour representative will meet you at your hotel to assist you with the hotel checkout procedures.
9:00 - 10:15 a.m. Conclusion of workshops
10:30 - 11:00 a.m. Closing ceremony
11:30 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. Tour of the Old City.
Visit City of David and David's Palace. Enter the Old City through the Dung Gate to visit the Western Wall/Wailing Wall, the Haram Al Shariff/ Temple Area with the Al-Aqsa mosque and the Dome of the Rock where Abraham was going to sacrifice his son. Stroll the Via Dolorosa. Visit the Convent of Zion Sisters, then pass the Stations of the Cross to the Church of The Holy Sepulchre. Spend some time shopping in the bazaars.
Lunch at Papa Andreas, a popular Middle Eastern restaurant overlooking the Old City.
There will be time to visit the Jewish Quarter and see the Cardo. See the Pool of Bethesda where the angel ruffled the water, and St. Anne's Church, traditional birthplace of Jesus' mother.
Transfer: Transfer in modern, air conditioned bus to your five star hotel in Haifa.
Arrival and Check-in: Arrive to your five star Dan Carmel hotel in Haifa. A private desk will be arranged for our group, to ensure a fast and easy check-in.
Dinner: On your own. A list of restaurant recommendations will be provided.
Overnight: At your hotel in Haifa.
Thursday, March 13 ,2008
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Breakfast: Buffet breakfast at our hotel (breakfast is provided daily).
We start our tour in Haifa with Mt Carmel and the Bahai temple. We will leave Haifa via the Carmel viewing the Druze villages and then to Mukhraka for a spectacular view of the northern region. Later, proceed past Megiddo overlooking the Jezreel Valley and considered the Armageddon of the New Testament.
Visit Nazareth and see the oldest Church of the Anunciation with Mary's Well.
Seafood Lunch at Tanureen Restaurant.
Then journey on to the Sea of Galilee. By the shore you will visit Tabgha with the Church of Peter's Primacy and the ancient mosaic of the Loaves and Fishes. Visit Capernaum, the town of Jesus. There you will see St. Peter's house, which was later converted into a church and a 4th century Syangogue. Then journey onwards to the Mount of Beatitudes, where the Sermon on the Mount is remembered. Enjoy a boatride on the Sea of Galilee from the Kibbutz Ginosar to Tiberias.
Return to hotel.
7:00 p.m. Special Farewell Dinner Event at Calamaris Restaurant overlooking Haifa.
Overnight: At your hotel in Haifa.
Friday, March 14, 2008
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7:00 a.m. Breakfast: Buffet breakfast at our hotel (breakfast is provided daily).
Check out: Your tour representative will be on hand to assist you with the check-out procedures.
8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. Departure and transfer: Transfer by air-conditioned vehicle across the border into Jordan.
Lunch: Join the Jerash Deputy Mayor, Mr. Ibrahim Al-Faraj, and members of the Jerash city council to discuss future sister city activity with this remarkable city. We will dine at the Green Valley restaurant in Jerash before touring the Roman city with city officials.
Second only to Petra in tourist appeal, the ancient city of Jerash in remarkable for its long chain of human occupation. Here at a well-watered site in the hills of Gilead, remains from Neolithic times have been found, as well as Greek, Roman, Byzantine, Umayyad and others. Jerash's golden age, however arrived with Roman rule. Today it is acknowledged as one of the best-preserved province cities of the Roman Empire. Jerash was a member of the Decapolis, a dynamic commercial league of ten Greco-Roman Cities.
When Emperor Hadrian visited Jerash in 129 AD, it was already thriving. To honor its guest, the city raised a Triumphal Arch, just one part of the massive building program. Today you can walk beneath the imposing south gate and then make your way up the "Street of Columns" the Roman Cardo- Running 600 meters north from the Oval Plaza. As you step over the tracks of chariot wheels, still visible in the paving stones, imagine prosperous citizens window-shopping beneath a covered sidewalk.
Meeting with city officials at Jerash Municipality.
Check in: To your five-star Grand Hyatt hotel in Amman. A private desk will be arranged for our group, to ensure a fast and easy check-in so you can proceed directly to your rooms to rest.
7:00 p.m. Special lecture with H.E. Senator Akel Biltaji, Special Advisor to His Majesty King Abdullah II of Jordan.
8:00 p.m.: Farewell dinner event: Enjoy a dinner at Amman's well-known Fahkre El Din restaurant, serving Lebanese cuisine.
Saturday, March 15, 2008
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7:00 a.m. Breakfast: Buffet breakfast at our hotel (breakfast is provided daily).
Check out: Your tour representative will be on hand to assist you with the check-out procedures.
Transfer: Transfer to Queen Alia Airport for your international flight. Your tour operator will assist with luggage, check-in and departure procedures.
10:30 a.m.: Departure: Departure from Queen Alia (AMM) Airport in Amman, Jordan for a direct flight to John F. Kennedy (JFK) Airport in New York City.
5:00 p.m.: Arrival: Arrive at JFK airport in New York City.