Day 1 and 2 -- Departure and Arrival in Jordan

Your spiritual pilgrimage begins as you depart on your international flight. You will be welcomed to Amman, Jordan by the Educational Opportunities representative and transferred to the hotel for dinner and overnight.

Day 3 -- Mt. Nebo, Mukawir (Machaerus), Madaba, Hammat Ma'in

This morning you will leave Amman for a journey to the hills of Moab. From the top of Mt. Nebo, you can view the "promised land" just as Moses did. The ruins at Mukawir overlooking the Dead Sea are of the Herodian palace where, according to tradition, John the Baptist was imprisoned and finally martyred. Nearby is Madaba, home of the beautiful 6th century mosaic of Palestine, possibly the oldest existing map of the Holy Land. We will spend the night at Hammat Ma'in, where you can sit in the warm pools beneath a waterfall fed by hot springs, just as Herod reportedly did to soothe his arthritis.

Day 4 -- Madaba Mosaic Shop and Karak

Our morning will begin with a stop once more in Madaba where we will visit a workshop to see the process for handcrafting the beautiful and intricate mosaics for which the city is famous. From there we will travel south along the "King's Highway" for lunch in Karak, where we will tour a Crusader fortress and learn about the siege there in 1183 led by the great Muslim military leader, Saladin. Continuing south we will arrive at the famous city of Petra for dinner and overnight.

Day 5 -- Petra

Today you will visit the famous rock city of Petra. Just getting into the ancient city is an adventure. You'll ride a horse or carriage to the Siq, the long, narrow entrance into Petra. Once there, you'll marvel at the rose colored rock and extensive carving. A whole city was literally cut into the cliff walls. We will spend the entire day exploring this UNESCO World Heritage Site and enjoy lunch in the ancient city.

Day 6 -- Wadi Rum and Aqaba

You will leave Petra this morning and continue south to Jordan's fragile and unspoiled desert. We will briefly leave our bus to take a ride in SUVs out into the majestic Wadi Rum, site of the exploits of the famous Lawrence of Arabia. Huge rock outcroppings rise hundreds of feet from the red sand dunes. Once back aboard the bus, we will make our way to the port city of Aqaba where we will spend the night on the eastern extension of the Red Sea. As you wade or swim in the Gulf of Aqaba, you will be able to see the Israeli city of Elat and the Egyptian city of Taba.

Day 7 -- Lot's Cave and Dead Sea

Returning north, you will travel through the Jordan rift valley, reaching the shore of the Dead Sea, the lowest point on earth. Along the way you will visit Lot's Cave, site of an ancient church in the area associated with the cities of Sodom and Gomorrah. You will stay at a hotel on the shore of the Dead Sea, where you will have the opportunity to enjoy swimming either in its extremely bouyant waters or relaxing by the pool.

Day 8 -- Bethany-beyond-the-Jordan

This morning will be a highlight of your journey. You will visit the archaeological site believed to be "Bethany across the Jordan," the location where Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist (John 1:28). You will have the opportunity to walk right down to the banks of the Jordan River and see its lush vegetation amid the arid floor of the Jordan Valley. Following a service of baptismal renewal, we will return to our Dead Sea hotel for a relaxing afternoon. A variety of spa treatments will be available for those interested (extra fees will apply for these services).

Day 9 -- Pella and Umm Qais (Gadara)

Continuing our travels through the Jordan Valley, we will visit Pella where early Christians took refuge as the Romans attacked Jerusalem during the Second Jewish War in the early second century. There are remains of settlements in Pella stretching back some 7,000 years. You will also visit Umm Qais, the city known as Gadara during the time of Jesus. One of the cities of the Decapolis, this site is perched high on a hill providing wonderful views of the Sea of Galilee and the Golan Heights. We will end the day in Amman, where we will spend the remaining nights of our tour.

Day 10 -- Amman

Today we will visit the Citadel of Philadelphia, another of the Decapolis cities, in the heart of modern-day Amman. You will walk among remains of buildings stretching from the Greek and Roman period up to the Umayyad Muslim rulers in the eighth century. After visiting the National Archaelogical Museum, you will make your way to Amman's ancient theater that is still in use today.

Day 11 -- Ajlun and Jerash

Making your way once more through the hills north of Amman, you will visit the Islamic Castle of Ar-Rabad in the city of Ajlun. This castle was part of a chain of fortifications that allowed messages to be transmitted by beacon and carrier pigeon between Damascus and Cairo in a single day. Jerash is a huge Roman city with columned streets and towering temples. You'll walk through the magnificent ruins of this former Decapolis city.

Day 12 -- Return to USA

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Last modified: May 24, 2007