Trip Overview
Worth noting…
Heads up! On Day 7, our awesome Topdeck Trip Leader and driver will say their goodbyes in Jordan and a local Israeli guide will accompany us for the remainder of the trip.
Tales From Topdeckers
Trip itinerary
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Amman – Madaba, Mt Nebo and Karak – Petra
2Rise and shine! We’re off to the Lost City after breakfast. But it’s not just about the destination – the road to Petra is gonna be amazing. First? Madaba: the site of an ancient holy map that’s so detailed it puts Google Maps to shame. Check out the vibrantly coloured and intricately detailed Byzantine-era mosaics scattered across the city before we take in allllll the views of the Promise Land from Mt Nebo. Then: channel your inner crusader as we storm Karak Castle. And to round it all off? Level up your chef skills with an optional local cooking class. Or experience Petra – by night. Opt for a goosebump-inducing walk down the dark ravine, following the sound of traditional music and the soft glow of a candle-lit desert floor. Awesome is an understatement.
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Included Today
- Visit Madaba
- Visit Mt Nebo
- Visit Karak Castle
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Meals
- Breakfast
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Optional extras
- Local cooking class: from 47 USD
- Petra by Night tour: from 24 USD
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Included Today
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Petra
3Words can’t describe how breathtaking this place is, so why would we try? Spend the whole day uncovering the magic of the Lost City and learn why people have been drawn to this place since 312 BC. With towering burning-red cliff faces and a façade made famous by Indiana Jones, this place rocks (sorry not sorry). Get your bearings on an orientation walk with our expert Trip Leader. Then: the rest of the day is yours to explore. Just be back in time for tonight’s optional dinner – a delicious traditional meal of maqluba with a local family. This is as authentic as it gets.
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Included Today
- Orientation walk of Petra with Trip Leader
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Meals
- Breakfast
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Optional extras
- Dinner with a local family in Petra: from 43 USD
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Included Today
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Petra – Wadi Rum
4Back in the day, camels were the go-to way to cross the desert. But we’re in the present. With our spit-free, buttock-friendly 4x4 transport. Sit back as we venture across The Valley of the Moon to our traditional Bedouin Camp in the heart of the Jordanian desert. This? This is real travel. Tonight’s included dinner is brought to you by one of the world’s most ancient nomadic tribes – tuck in around the camp fire and learn all about Bedouin life with your trip mates. And later? Get starry-eyed with an optional stargazing experience. What. A. Day.
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Included Today
- Wadi Rum 4x4 excursion
- Stay overnight in Bedouin desert camp
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Meals
- Breakfast
- Dinner
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Optional extras
- Stargazing in the desert: from 30 USD
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Included Today
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Wadi Rum – Aqaba
5From a sea of burnt-red sand to well, the actual sea – we’re making tracks to Jordan’s only coastal city. Dating back to 4,000 BC, Aqaba’s located smack-bang in the middle of the Red Sea, with temps rarely dropping below 20°C. Meaning? It’s THE place for diving, snorkelling and Nemo-spotting. And you’ve got the whole afternoon to do just that. Scuba dive around sunken military tanks, transport planes and Lebanese freighters. Make friends with flashy fish, colourful coral and green turtles (maybe). Then, gather the gang for a shawarma (Jordanian kebab) and sunset on the beach. This is livin’.
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Meals
- Breakfast
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Optional extras
- Diving in Aqaba: prices available locally
- Snorkelling in Aqaba: from 45 USD
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Meals
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Aqaba – Dead Sea – Amman
6Ready to tick “bob on top of the Dead Sea” off your bucket list? Today is your day. At 427 m below sea level (the lowest point on Earth), the Dead Sea is so salty you can float weightlessly around like last night’s second helping of shawarma didn’t happen. Tip: avoid shaving your legs, face or other... parts before your swim. Sh*t stings! Give yourself a free spa treatment with the mineral-laden mud. Snap a pic for mum. And pile back on the coach – we’re heading back to Amman for an education in the Roman, Byzantine AND Umayyad empires that have left their mark on this place. Check out the Roman Amphitheatre, Citadel and melting pot of ancient historical sites on a walking tour with your fact-filled Trip Leader before heading downtown for a falafel feed.
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Included Today
- Float in the Dead Sea
- Walking tour of Amman with Trip Leader
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Meals
- Breakfast
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Included Today
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Amman – Jerash – Jerusalem (Israel)
7Crank the history knob to 11 with a visit to Jerash – home to a bunch of Greco-Roman highlights, including a hippodrome which was used for chariot racing (and has nothing to do with hippos). Then wave goodbye to Jordan as we cross into Israel. Flash your passport and meet your local Israeli guide. After another included group dinner, we’re bunking down in the heart of Jerusalem tonight. Sit back and enjoy the view at our hostel’s rooftop terrace. This is what you came for.
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Included Today
- See the Roman ruins of Jerash
- Local Israeli guide
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Meals
- Breakfast
- Dinner
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Included Today
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Jerusalem
8Christianity, Islam and Judaism all consider Jerusalem a holy place, so it's a big deal. Get educated on a guided tour of the old town, checking out the likes of Via Dolorosa, Dome of the Rock, Gethsemane, King David’s Tomb, the Western Wall and Golgotha (where Jesus was crucified). Then: the rest is up to you. Need some suggestions? Take in all the I-N-C-R-E-D-I-B-L-E views from the Mount of Olives. Visit the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, believed by some to be Jesus’s final resting place (expect queues!). Then, check out Mahane Yehunda Market – a variety of local produce stores by day, buzzing bars and shisha stalls by night. You wanted free time to delve deeper – go get it!
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Included Today
- Walking tour of Jerusalem with local guide
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Meals
- Breakfast
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Included Today
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Jerusalem – Bethlehem – Tel Aviv
9Today we’re rolling on to the culturally rich city of Bethlehem to see the very spot Jesus was born (according to certain sources). Wander across Manger Square and check out the Church of Nativity with your local guide, before heading over to Banksy’s Walled Off Hotel for the ‘worst view in the world’. Think: a hotel, museum, protest and art gallery all in one. Learn your ABCs of Israeli wine with a quick stop at a local winery, before we arrive in Tel Aviv. Discover the chilled-out seaport of Old Jaffa – ticking off the Clock Tower and St Peter’s Church. Then: there’s a reason they call this place ‘Non-Stop City’ – time to gather your trip mates and find out why.
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Included Today
- Walking tour of Bethlehem with local guide
- Local winery tour
- Walking tour of Old Jaffa with local guide
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Meals
- Breakfast
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Included Today
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Tel Aviv
10The trip may be winding up – but the adventure sure isn’t over yet! Today is 100% yours to delve deeper into this electrifying gem of a city. Sniff out some heady spices and show off your mad bartering skills (or not) at traditional Carmel Market. Make like a local and head to HaYarkon Park for a people-watching picnic. Or check out Sarona Market for alllll the world snacks under one roof (warning: Geminis and Librans will need help with decisions here). And this evening? Time for one final group dinner at a local eatery. WHAT an adventure it’s been.
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Meals
- Breakfast
- Dinner
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Meals
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Tel Aviv
11Down your pomegranate juice and brush away those tears – this morning it’s time to say our goodbyes. Swap those Insta handles and pencil in next year’s reunion trip. Sticking around? Track down Abu Hassan for hummus that will haunt your dreams (it’s that good).
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Meals
- Breakfast
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Meals
What's included
Included experiences
- - Visit Madaba
- - Visit Mt Nebo
- - Visit Karak Castle
- - Orientation walk of Petra with Trip Leader
- - Wadi Rum 4x4 excursion
- - Stay overnight in Bedouin desert camp
- - Float in the Dead Sea
- - Walking tour of Amman with Trip Leader
- - See the Roman ruins of Jerash
- - Walking tour of Jerusalem with local guide
- - Walking tour of Bethlehem with local guide
- - Local Israeli winery tour
- - Walking tour of Old Jaffa with local guide
Accommodation
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-7 nights in hotel-style accommodation (twin-share), 2 nights in hostels (twin-share), 1 night in a Bedouin desert camp (twin-share)
Transport
Optional activities
- FYI: these are optional activities available locally. Things might change – prices are here to give you a rough idea.
- Local cooking class in Petra: from 47 USD
- Petra by Night tour: from 24 USD
- Dinner with a local family in Petra: from 43 USD
- Stargazing in Wadi Rum: from 30 USD
- Diving in Aqaba: prices available locally
- Snorkelling in Aqaba: from 45 USD
Other information
Important note on Ramadan
As many Middle Eastern countries are of Islamic faith, it is important to note many restaurants and shops will either be closed or operating on reduced hours during Ramadan. As a result, some optional and included activities on your trip may be affected. Ramadan, which dates vary depending on your year of travel, is an incredibly important and sacred month for Muslims. When equipped with some basic knowledge, you’ll have the chance to immerse yourself in this special tradition and experience all its highlights.
Airport transfers
Individual transfers are included for all passengers flying into Amman. Please provide arrival flight details as soon as possible, a minimum of six weeks before departure. You will be met before immigration by an airport representative with a Topdeck sign. Please refer to the ‘Visas’ section below for details on this process. Once you’ve cleared immigration and customs you will transferred to your hotel to check in. If you have booked pre-tour accommodation, please advise us no later than six weeks before arriving in order for us to make arrangements.
Visas
For all non-restricted nationalities (please check the eligibility for your passport) we will obtain a free visa on your behalf. To obtain your free visa on arrival in Amman, we will require your full passport, flight and insurance details no later than 60 days before arriving to ensure our representative can meet you before immigration. If you do not provide us with these details we will be unable to obtain a free visa for you and you will be subject to paying the full amount on arrival.
Please note: Topdeck does not include Israel visa fees in the total trip price. Please check the individual entry requirements for your passport.
Accommodation
On your trip you will primarily stay in quality three-star hotels on a single or twin-share basis, depending on what you have booked. You will also get to experience a night in a desert camp at Wadi Rum. The camp features twin-share tents or cabins, with beds, pillows and all sheets and blankets provided. The bathroom facilities are basic (hey, you're in the desert!) and the showers are usually cold-water only – but it's all part of an amazing experience!
Views & Reviews
Latest Reviews
Average rating based on 3 reviews
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Anonymous March 2023
Our tour guide in Jordan (Osama) made the trip extremely disappointing. He was very rude, lazy and actively ignored dietary requirements of the group. Anything we asked to see/ do was simply too much trouble if it was remotely outside of his usual ‘plan’ we were told no, many of the days myself and one other person just didn’t get lunch as the only option we were offered didn’t account for our dietary requirements and no other options were given as this was easiest for Osama. Many of our dinners were the same - we ate at the hotel buffets many times as this was once again easiest for him. The day we crossed into Israel he simply ignored us, bought the bus tickets for us and gave them to a guy on the tour. He didn’t say anything to anyone as we got on the bus and he had left before we’d even crossed the border. This is unacceptable given that anything could’ve happened and we were on our own.
The Israel portion of the trip was better however there was quite a bit of time in tel Aviv where there was nothing planned/ organised by Topdeck/ the guide (Johnny) and we just ended up wasting time and walked to have a coffee. There were also a few thing we simply just didn’t do like the Banksy hotel which was disappointing to miss. This was disappointing as we had limited days in Israel and there seemed to be many things that should’ve been included or at least recommended. Our guide also left us early the last day as he said he had to pick up another tour even though some of us saw him later that night at our accomodation. Johnny however was very good with dietary requirements and far more accomodating if we did ask about something we wanted to see, he did arrange this. However more communication from him was needed
Overall this tour was extremely disappointing especially given the price as this is not a cheap tour
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ALFREDO AR February 2023
The overall experience was great. From picking us up upon arrival at both Jordan and Israel, having a very friendly and knowledgeable tour guides and drivers that shared their insights about not only the locations from the tour but also about places to check out to visit and for getting local food. The proximity of our hotels to the hot spots of each location made it ideal and convenient for spending more time exploring. It was well worth it.
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Robert Os February 2023
Very beautiful and well organized tour!
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