Explore ancient sights and lost cities in a region that has seen centuries of human history. Travel to the lands of Jordan and explore glamping in the middle of a desert. Head to Israel and take in the sights of the historic towns of Jerusalem and Nazareth. In Egypt, discover what adventures lie along the Nile, including the famed Sphinx and the Great Pyramids of Giza. This journey encompasses thousands upon thousands of unforgettable experiences for you to partake in.
Welcome to Jordan! Upon arrival in Amman, you will meet our guide and be transferred to the hotel, where you will check in, rest, have dinner, and sleep for the night to prepare for the excursion tomorrow.
After breakfast, the day begins as you experience a thrilling trip to Wadi Rum while riding an adrenalin-pumping 4X4 vehicle and gazing at the stunning views Amman has to offer. Upon arrival at Wadi Rum, bask in the atmosphere and enjoy the whole new experience of glamping, right in the middle of a desert!
A visit to the fabled "Red Rose City" of Petra, the 2000-year-old Nabatean capital and now one of the world’s wonders, kicks off the day’s excursion. Here, travel back in time as you explore more about the historic and archeological city of Petra. Then, experience a horseback ride to the Siq before proceeding to the Treasury. During this experience, marvel at its massive, rose-colored structure, artfully carved out of sheer rock. The day will also be filled with visits to other temples and tombs carved into the mountainside and witnessing Jordan’s world-class artistry. To cap off the day, proceed to the hotel in Amman to check in and have a hearty dinner.
Commence the day’s adventure with a drive to Madaba, the land of fruits and water! This is the place where you can also see the First Holy Land Map. Another road trip is up next, heading to Mt. Nebo, the place believed to be the burial site of Moses. Then, the journey continues to the Allenby border, the border of Israel and Jordan.
A friendly reminder, however: bring a lot of patience because the line at the border will take some time.
Once you pass immigration, you’ll be welcomed to Israel, the Promised Land! From there, you will meet your guide, and you will be transferred to the hotel for check-in, dinner, and an overnight stay.
After breakfast, the journey begins with a visit to historic locations: Mary's Well, the Virgin's House—where the angel Gabriel appeared in front of the Church of the Annunciation—and St. Joseph's workshop. The journey continues on to Cana of Galilee to visit the site of Jesus’ First Sign. Take this opportunity to celebrate the Holy Mass and the renewal of marriage vows.
Then, travel to Caesarea, a historic city that Herod the Great built and where Peter baptized the centurion Cornelius. Visit the aqueduct before proceeding to Haifa. Upon arrival, prepare for a hike to Mt. Carmel and visit the Stella Maris sanctuary and Elijah's cave to relive Elijah's victory over the prophets of Baal. Bahai Gardens is the next stop for you to see one of the most exquisitely created gardens. After a full day of sightseeing, head to your hotel to check in and prepare for another day.
The day is dedicated for you to visit locations straight from the Bible, including the famous Sea of Galilee to see the Mount of Beatitudes, a holy site where Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount. Afterwards, proceed to Tabgha to see the Church of St. Peter's Primacy and the place where the bread and fish were multiplied. The journey continues to Capernaum, where you will discover St. Peter's House and a synagogue from the 4th century. Then, from Ginosar, experience an enthralling boat ride to Mt. Tabor to explore the Church of the Transfiguration. After a full day of sightseeing, you will be safely transferred to your hotel for check-in, dinner, and an overnight stay.
After breakfast, head out to the Dung Gate to witness the Holy Presence at the Western Wall and see the devotion of the Jewish people in prayer. You will then proceed to Ein Karem, where you will visit John the Baptist's birthplace and the Church of the Visitation, where Mary first recited the Magnificat. The journey continues to the Shepherds' Fields to discover the place where the angels originally sang the Gloria for the first time. Next is the Church of the Nativity, where you can witness firsthand the very place where Jesus was born. Take your time to savor the moment of being at this holy place. A stop at the Basilica of Saint Catherine and St. Jerome's Cave will also be part of the day's excursion before dropping by a souvenir store. Run by Bethlemite Christian families, feel free to enjoy buying some religious articles or keepsakes during this stop. After a full day of exploration, you will return to the hotel for dinner and a night's rest.
After breakfast, depart for the Mount of Olives and take in the breathtaking view of the city en route. The day is dedicated to visiting several holy and beautiful churches, including the Church of the Ascension, the Pater Noster Church, the Dominus Flevit, and the Gethsemane Church and Garden. The journey continues to the Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu, which is built on the site of Caiaphas' house and the place where Jesus was put on trial. In the afternoon, there will be a drive to the Sheep Gate to see the Virgin Mary's birthplace, as well as a visit to St. Anne's Church and the Pools of Bethesda, where Jesus miraculously healed a paralyzed man in the New Testament account. Next is the Way of Sorrows (or Via Dolorosa) up to Calvary and the Holy Tomb inside the Basilica of the Holy Sepulcher, a church built on the traditional site of Jesus' crucifixion and burial. After the full trip, head back to the hotel for dinner and a night's sleep.
After breakfast, the day kicks off with a departure for Mt. Zion to visit the Upper Room, David’s "tomb," and the splendid church of the Dormition. Head next to Bethany to see the Lazarus Tomb and the Franciscan Church of Friendship. Keep going downhill along the Judean Desert until you reach the Jordan River. This is where Jesus was baptized. A visit to the famous land of Jericho, the oldest city in the world, comes next to catch sight of the Sycamore Tree and Mount Temptation. After lunch, you can cool off and swim in the Dead Sea's mineral-rich waters to complete your Holy Land experience! The day's journey ends as you return to Jericho, where we can relax for the night at your hotel.
Beginning the day is a short trip to Qumran after breakfast. Here, you get to visit the site where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered by a young man who was just wandering around. Then we will continue our drive to Eilat, where the winter resort of Israel is located.
Next, off we go to Egypt! Upon arrival on the Israeli side of the border, disembark and pass through immigration. Once cleared through customs, the rest of the group will meet up with our guide and hop on the coach on the way to Dahab. Upon arrival, transfer to the hotel to check in and rest. The remainder of the day is free to explore the Red Sea region at your leisure.
Optional: Travelers who wish to climb Moses Mountain may have dinner with the group and leave their luggage in the rooms.
At 22:00, the drive from Dahab to St. Catherine will begin. One may start climbing Moses Mountain upon arrival at St. Catherine.
Early in the morning, those who stayed in Dahab will leave for St. Catherine. The group that made it to the top of Moses Mountain will now make their way back down to meet up with the rest of the team from Dahab. The two groups will meet at the Monastery of St. Catherine before driving to Cairo. Following the meeting is a trip to the historic foot of Mt. Sinai, where God gave Moses the Ten Commandments. A stroll up to the monastery awaits afterwards. This monastery is an Orthodox church built in the 4th century in honor of St. Catherine of Alexandria.
If open, you may visit the church and see valuable icons and the site of the Burning Bush. The day continues to Cairo by the Red Sea, passing by the Moses Spring and the site where Manna rained from heaven. Then, pass through the Suez Canal tunnel, until you reach Cairo, Egypt's capital. Upon arrival, proceed to the hotel for dinner and an overnight stay.
*The local guide will bring a packed breakfast from the Dahab hotel to the passengers who have climbed the mountain.
*From Dahab to Cairo, the approximate driving time is 10 hours.
The day begins with a visit to the Egyptian Museum of Antiquities, which houses the gold riches of Egyptian pharaoh Tutankhamen. Afterwards, off you go to the world's ancient wonder! Enjoy a visual feast as you visit the famous Pyramids of Giza and the nearby Sphinx. Marvel at these wonders as you encounter them firsthand. Then, experience a once-in-a-lifetime dinner cruise along the Nile River with an authentic Egyptian meal and show—the perfect experience to cap off the day. Afterwards, head back to the hotel to rest and spend the night.
Begin this day’s journey in Alexandria, Egypt's second-biggest city and the country's capital for over 3,000 years. Today, discover why Alexandria, founded by Alexander the Great, has a Mediterranean feel rather than a Middle Eastern one. Then, take a trip along the Cornish, where you can get a panoramic view of the entire city, including the Bridge of Stanley, the Alexandria Naval Unknown Soldier Memorial, and the Statue of Alexander the Great. Upon arrival in this medieval city, explore the ancient catacombs, the greatest Roman cemetery consisting of three levels carved in the 1st or 2nd century. Next, make a stop at Pompeii’s Pillar, a 26.85-meter-tall granite column built to honor Emperor Diocletian.
Head on towards the citadel of Qaitbay next. This fort was built on the site of the ancient pharaohs' lighthouse in Alexandria, which boasts a stunning view of the sea from the outside. The day ends with a stop at the famous Alexandria Library and St. Mark's Church, the oldest church in all of Africa. Finally, everyone will cap off the day with a drive back to Cairo and check into the hotel for an overnight stay.
After breakfast, proceed to check out of the hotel and hop on a drive to the Hanging Church, a basilica from the late 4th and early 5th centuries built on top of the Fortress of Babylon's south gate. Following that, the last stop of the spirit-filling experience is a visit to the Church of Abu Sergah. This is a church situated atop the cave where the Holy Family resided and regarded as a source of blessing by visitors. After a fulfilling experience in Jordan, Israel, and Egypt, you will be transferred to the airport for your departure flight back home after a memorable trip.
Everything was well-organized.
The local guides were very knowledgeable, and the tour leader, Jeremiah, was responsive to our needs. This made the trip a pleasant experience and allowed us to focus on what we were there for—the pilgrimage. It was a life-changing experience, and we're hoping to be back again in the future.
Our Holyland trip was truly memorable! I am really happy that I discovered Access Travel.
This trip was a gift for our mom, which I booked with another travel agency a few months before. Unfortunately, they cancelled our trip two weeks before departure. I tried to contact other travel agencies, but of course, they all said they were fully booked. Special thanks to Ms. Rose for accommodating our "last-minute" booking, making the extra effort to squeeze us in, and making all transactions and processes hassle-free.The tour was well planned. Our tour leader was also very reliable and made sure that we were all taken care of. Our local tour guides and drivers were also all very good. More importantly, they made sure that this was not a regular tour but more of a spiritual journey. I recommend getting physically fit to join the optional hike to the summit of Mt. Sinai. It is totally worth it!I would definitely recommend Access Travel to other family and friends! I am also looking forward to traveling with them again.
Had a good time on our Holy Land tour, hectic the schedule though we were able to see those places which we know about from readings and movies.
I think everything about the trip was to our expectations and more. Big thanks to Access Travel and the people behind who made this trip memorable and unforgettable.