Jordan & Israël 2019

A 16-day adventure by WhorledTravelers Read more

Follow Insights Calendar Share

Footprints
Photos

Trip start
September 27, 2019
Jordan & Israël 2019 Traveler
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 1
Friday, September 27, 2019
⛅ 79 °F
Altitude: -1,306 ft
Jordan Wādī Mukheiriṣ 31.71989, 35.58524231°43’12” N 35°35’7” E
A great flight
September 27, 2019 in Jordan ⋅ ⛅ 79 °F
We are off for two weeks in Jordan with a short side trip to Israel. The travel bloggers are right. Can’t beat Qatar business class QSuite. Philadelphia to Doha, Doha to Amman Jordan. Lie flat seats overnight, privacy (there are doors on the suite!), great food, couldn’t be nicer. We were greeted with their signature mocktail of lemon, sugar and mint. We chose a traditional Arabic breakfast. There is even a camera on the tail so we can see where we are going. Best flight ever.Read more
0 likes
Jordan & Israël 2019 Traveler
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 2
Saturday, September 28, 2019 at 5:00 PM
108 °F
Altitude: -1,280 ft
Jordan Wādī Mukheiriṣ 31.719793, 35.58657331°43’11” N 35°35’12” E
Stopover in Doha
September 28, 2019 in Jordan ⋅ 108 °F
We will stop on our return to check out Doha, forging on this morning to Amman.
0 likes
Jordan & Israël 2019 Traveler
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 3
Sunday, September 29, 2019 at 7:00 AM
73 °F
Altitude: -1,335 ft
Jordan Wādī Dayr ‘Allā 31.714434, 35.58520931°42’52” N 35°35’7” E
1
Arriving in Jordan, Dead Sea
September 29, 2019 in Jordan ⋅ 73 °F
We arrived late last night. What better way to recover from a long flight than 36 hours at a spa hotel on the Dead Sea. The Kempinski Hotel Ishtar Dead Sea in Sweimeh was perfect and less than an hour cab ride from the Amman airport. A spacious room with a balcony/patio overlooking our private pool and sunsets over the Dead Sea. Israel on the horizon.Read more
Traveler Our villa on the right
4/10/22Reply
0 likes
Jordan & Israël 2019 Traveler
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 3
Sunday, September 29, 2019 at 8:00 AM
77 °F
Altitude: -1,335 ft
Jordan Wādī Dayr ‘Allā 31.714401, 35.58517831°42’52” N 35°35’7” E
Black mud at the lowest point on earth
September 29, 2019 in Jordan ⋅ 77 °F
A full day at the hotel today. We made our way down to the Dead Sea where we, and everyone else, covered ourselves with black mud dredged up in buckets from the sea bed. People sit on the benches to dry and then wash off in the sea. Later we had a black mud wrap, saunas and a swim at the beautiful spa. Dinner at sunset on the hotel’s terrace.Read more
0 likes
Jordan & Israël 2019 Traveler
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 4
Monday, September 30, 2019 at 10:00 AM
66 °F
Altitude: 2,575 ft
Jordan Al Kātidrā’īyah al Yūnānīyah al Urthudhuksīyah 31.717764, 35.79418631°43’4” N 35°47’39” E
Madaba - Mosaic Tiles
September 30, 2019 in Jordan ⋅ 66 °F
We hired a driver today to take us to a number of sites on the way to Amman. St. George's Greek Orthodox Basilica (19th c.) in Madaba houses the oldest map of Palestine in existence. The mosaics, crafted in 542-570 A.D. , were in a Byzantium church. They show details of the Jordan River, Dead Sea, walled city of Jerusalem, Karak Castle, used by the Crusaders, and other landmarks. Amazing and beautiful. Mosaics retain color unlike any other art form.Read more
0 likes
Jordan & Israël 2019 Traveler
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 4
Monday, September 30, 2019 at 12:00 PM
84 °F
Altitude: 2,231 ft
Jordan Şiyāghah 31.76826, 35.72568731°46’6” N 35°43’32” E
Mount Nebo - What Moses Saw
September 30, 2019 in Jordan ⋅ 84 °F
Religious scholars have determined Mount Nebo is the place in Jordan from which Moses saw the Promised Land. The Book of Deuteronomy also says Moses died and was buried on Mt Nebo. A church/basilica was built there around 300 A.D. and these mosaics from that church were uncovered. The site has been home to many religious over the years. The stone monument commemorates the visit of Pope John Paul II.Read more
0 likes
Jordan & Israël 2019 Traveler
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 4
Monday, September 30, 2019 at 5:00 PM
79 °F
Altitude: 3,153 ft
Jordan Ḩayy Umm Udhaynah ash Sharqī 31.957773, 35.87692331°57’28” N 35°52’37” E
The City of Amman
September 30, 2019 in Jordan ⋅ 79 °F
A sprawling city below us from our room at the new St. Regis Amman. So much to see. The next day we had a guide to take us through parts of the city, including the fruit and vegetable souk. I rented an abayah (long black covering) and bought a scarf for my hair so we could enter and see the King Abdullah Mosque.Read more
0 likes
Jordan & Israël 2019 Traveler
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 5
Tuesday, October 1, 2019 at 9:00 AM
73 °F
Altitude: 1,942 ft
Jordan The Temple Plaza 32.281425, 35.89214732°16’53” N 35°53’32” E
Jerash
October 1, 2019 in Jordan ⋅ 73 °F
Jerash was a Roman provincial city of the Decapolis located north of Amman and these ruins date from the 1st century AD. It is the most well-preserved Roman city of the Middle East. Hadrian's triumphant arch was constructed in 129 to mark his visit. The city was abandoned in 747 after an earthquake. It was rediscovered as an archeological site in the late 1800's. The Cardo Maximus is the long colonnaded avenue through the center of the city. We had a great guide and never expected to see something this ancient and beautiful as part of our visit.Read more
0 likes
Jordan & Israël 2019 Traveler
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 5
Tuesday, October 1, 2019 at 1:00 PM
84 °F
Altitude: 2,602 ft
Jordan Wādī Şafrā’31.952555, 35.93487531°57’9” N 35°56’6” E
Jebel Al Qula'a / Philadelphia / Citadel
October 1, 2019 in Jordan ⋅ 84 °F
Ancient Amman. Jerash was to the north but Amman was itself a city of the Decapolis (a trading partnership, of sorts) . Continuously inhabited since 1800 BC (the Bronze Age), and referred to in the Old Testament as Rabbath. Rebuilt about 250 BC by Ptolomy ruler Philadelphus. Redesigned during Herod's Roman rule around 30 BC. This is the highest hill in Amman. Interesting museum at the top too.Read more
0 likes
Jordan & Israël 2019 Traveler
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 6
Wednesday, October 2, 2019 at 8:00 AM
63 °F
Altitude: 2,365 ft
Jordan Queen Alia International Airport 31.722143, 35.98610331°43’20” N 35°59’10” E
We are off to Jerusalem today
October 2, 2019 in Jordan ⋅ 63 °F
We chose to fly from the Amman airport to Tel Aviv and backtrack to Jerusalem on a train. Much quicker than taking a cab to the Israeli border less than 30 miles away, but waiting for hours and hours to cross the border. Staying at the Mamilla Hotel near the old city.Read more
0 likes
Jordan & Israël 2019 Traveler
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 7
Thursday, October 3, 2019 at 8:00 AM
63 °F
Altitude: 2,444 ft
Palestine Dome of the Rock 31.778069, 35.23537131°46’41” N 35°14’7” E
Jerusalem Part 1
October 3, 2019 in Palestine ⋅ 63 °F
We started with Steve Rubin, our guide, up on the Mount of Olives so we could see the city of Jerusalem out before us. We then travelled to the Garden of Gethsemene and ate our first Jerusalem pretzels along the way to the Old City. We were fortunate to be permitted through Moor’s Gate, the entrance leading directly to Temple Mount and the Dome of the Rock (built 688 AD). It is often closed and we were subject to a security search with armed guards most everywhere. We were reprimanded by a Muslim guard for touching while taking a picture together, we just didn’t know! A beautiful and holy place for all religions. The Rock inside the Dome is said to be where Abraham was asked to sacrifice Isaac.Read more
0 likes
Jordan & Israël 2019 Traveler
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 7
Thursday, October 3, 2019 at 12:00 PM
73 °F
Altitude: 2,454 ft
Palestine al-Balda al-Qadimah 31.779184, 35.23305531°46’45” N 35°13’59” E
Jerusalem - Part 2
October 3, 2019 in Palestine ⋅ 73 °F
We entered the souk from Temple Mount through the Cotton Merchants Gate and stopped for coffee before a few hours of shopping and lunch. Only Muslims are permitted to re-enter Temple Mount through this gate. This part of the city is the Arab Quarter.Read more
0 likes
Jordan & Israël 2019 Traveler
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 7
Thursday, October 3, 2019 at 4:00 PM
73 °F
Altitude: 2,530 ft
Palestine Church of the Holy Sepulchre 31.778503, 35.2295831°46’43” N 35°13’46” E
Jerusalem Part 3
October 3, 2019 in Palestine ⋅ 73 °F
Ending our full day in Jerusalem with a visit to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, said to be built around the sites of Christ’s cruxifiction, burial and resurrection. Rich Christian history. And then out of the Old City through the Jaffa Gate.Read more
0 likes
Jordan & Israël 2019 Traveler
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 8
Friday, October 4, 2019 at 8:00 AM
84 °F
Altitude: 43 ft
Israel Gan HaPisga 32.0541, 34.75682832°3’15” N 34°45’25” E
Jaffa and Tel Aviv
October 4, 2019 in Israel ⋅ 84 °F
Two quick days and nights in Tel Aviv and Jaffa. Stayed at the Market House in Jaffa, perfect for what we needed. The first day we explored around our hotel and headed into Tel Aviv for a little bit of business (Lisa) and Carmel Market.Read more
0 likes
Jordan & Israël 2019 Traveler
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 8
Friday, October 4, 2019 at 1:00 PM
84 °F
Altitude: 49 ft
Israel Shuq HaKarmel 32.068064, 34.7681332°4’5” N 34°46’5” E
Carmel Market in Tel Aviv
October 4, 2019 in Israel ⋅ 84 °F
Carmel Market was colorful and lively. Lunch there was a bit unsettling . At the next table were seated two active Israeli soldiers with machine guns slung over their shoulders. One cannot forget the tensions always present.Read more
0 likes
Jordan & Israël 2019 Traveler
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 8
Friday, October 4, 2019 at 6:05 PM
81 °F
Altitude: 43 ft
Israel Misgad Gadol 32.054889, 34.75639432°3’18” N 34°45’23” E
Dinner at Jaffa Port
October 4, 2019 in Israel ⋅ 81 °F
We took a sunset stroll around Jaffa and down to the port for dinner. Beautiful sunset looking back towards Tel Aviv and down in the port. There are many fish restaurants at the port and we picked one from a guide book . Look at all the salatim -before dinner! Good thing dinner was a piece of grilled fish.Read more
0 likes
Jordan & Israël 2019 Traveler
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 9
Saturday, October 5, 2019 at 11:00 AM
82 °F
Altitude: 105 ft
Israel Minzar St. Pierre 32.054125, 34.75225832°3’15” N 34°45’8” E
Jaffa Wandering
October 5, 2019 in Israel ⋅ 82 °F
We spend much of the day wandering in Old Jaffa. Old buildings, lots of art galleries, a museum, a park.
0 likes
Jordan & Israël 2019 Traveler
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 10
Sunday, October 6, 2019 at 8:00 AM
77 °F
Altitude: 39 ft
Jordan Aqaba Bird Observatory 29.575056, 34.9785829°34’30” N 34°58’43” E
And we are off to Aqaba
October 6, 2019 in Jordan ⋅ 77 °F
Our time in Israel was short. Today we flew from Tel Aviv to Eilat on the Red Sea. Then we cabbed it to the Jordanian border and walked across with our bags. Then a cab to our hotel in Aqaba, Jordan. We have never crossed a border on foot before, it was a bit scary even though there was no reason for it to be.Read more
0 likes
Jordan & Israël 2019 Traveler
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 10
Sunday, October 6, 2019
95 °F
Altitude: 20 ft
Jordan Aqaba Marine Park 29.532202, 34.99709729°31’56” N 34°59’50” E
Hotel Spa in Jordan Redux
October 6, 2019 in Jordan ⋅ 95 °F
We liked the Kempinski Hotel Ishtar so much we decided to stay at the Kempinski Aqaba on the Red Sea. Another beautiful hotel. It was thrilling to sit on the beach and swim in the Red Sea. One only needs to turn ones’s head from right to left to see Egypt, Israel, Jordan and Saudi Arabia from the chair. Lots of oil tankers - makes you appreciate how important the Red Sea is geographically.Read more
0 likes
Jordan & Israël 2019 Traveler
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 11
Monday, October 7, 2019 at 10:00 AM
68 °F
Altitude: 3,114 ft
Jordan As Sāribīţ 29.623312, 35.39749129°37’24” N 35°23’51” E
Wadi Rum
October 7, 2019 in Jordan ⋅ 68 °F
Wadi (“valley”) Rum is located an hour northeast of Aqaba. It is still inhabited by Bedouins and they have built a tourist business here. We had a driver take us to the settlement where we met our tour guide.Read more
0 likes
Jordan & Israël 2019 Traveler
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 11
Monday, October 7, 2019
73 °F
Altitude: 3,114 ft
Jordan As Sāribīţ 29.623358, 35.39743329°37’24” N 35°23’51” E
wadi Rum Part 2
October 7, 2019 in Jordan ⋅ 73 °F
0 likes
Jordan & Israël 2019 Traveler
Show trip
Add to bucket listRemove from bucket list
Share
Day 11
Monday, October 7, 2019
73 °F
Altitude: 3,117 ft
Jordan As Sāribīţ 29.6234, 35.397429°37’24” N 35°23’51” E
Wadi Rum - Night in the Desert
October 7, 2019 in Jordan ⋅ 73 °F
0 likes
Trip end
October 12, 2019