This action packed two week itinerary will take you through historical Israel and phenomenal Jordan, two absolute beauties of the ancient Middle East. Prepare yourself for a whirlwind adventure through this incredible region, there’s so much to look forward to, from bustling cities and salty oceans to vast deserts and intriguing archaeological sites, trust me, you won’t be disappointed.

(Note: This itinerary covers the region’s main highlights and experiences. Stops can be shortened, extended or changed, take inspiration from this guide and cater the route to match your own personal requirements.)

Things to Do

• Explore the old port city of Jaffa.
• Soak up the bustling atmosphere of Carmel Market.
• Take a stroll along the beautiful Tel Aviv Promenade.
• Relax and unwind at Gordon Beach & Pool.
• Admire stunning Bauhaus architecture along Rothschild Boulevard.
• Party the night away amongst the city’s pumping nightlife scene.

Tel Aviv is rapidly becoming one of the Middle East’s must visit destinations. Through modernisation and regeneration, the city has developed into a bustling metropolis, offering a wide range of awesome activities and fantastic venues to suit all kinds of travellers.

Start off your time in Tel Aviv with a slow stroll along Rothchild Boulevard, the beating heart of the city centre. This lavish and elegant street is home to a large collection of exquisite Bauhaus architecture, that beautifully coexists alongside its neighbouring traditional style buildings. Be sure to take your time to soak up the charming atmosphere found in this wonderful part of town, grab a coffee in one of the boulevard’s many cafes and simply watch the world pass by.

In the afternoon, make your way over to the city’s vibrant Carmel Market, this hectic and exuberant marketplace is bursting with life and energy. The market has been operating in the city for over 100 years, with a wide range of stalls offering all kinds of local produce and household essentials. Your senses will soon be overwhelmed, thanks to the market’s blissful aromas, vibrant sounds and bustling sights.

After a long day of city orientation, it’s time to freshen up and hit up Tel Aviv’s pumping nightlife. From electric dance clubs to quirky watering holes, Tel Aviv has all avenues covered when it comes to partying the night away. You certainly won’t be disappointed staying up into the early hours to discover everything the city has to offer after dark.

Take it easy the next morning with a leisurely stroll along Tel Aviv’s beautiful Promenade, an easy way to recover from a lively night on the town. Stretching 2.5km along the city’s dashing coastline, it’s not hard to see why this is a favourite pastime amongst the locals of Tel Aviv. Conveniently the promenade also directly leads to the old port city of Jaffa, another iconic spot that can’t be missed when visiting Tel Aviv.

After you’ve taken a good wander around Jaffa, head back along the promenade and round off your time in Tel Aviv with a relaxing few hours around Gordon Beach & Pool, before heading North to the port city of Haifa the following morning.

Things to Do

• Admire the exquisite Baha’i Gardens.
• Ride the picturesque Haifa Cable Car.
• Visit the stunning Stella Maris Carmelite Monastery.
• Relax on the city’s golden beaches.

Haifa is a beautiful port city, located on Israel’s western coastline, just a 90 minute drive North from Tel Aviv. The city itself is beautifully located on the Northern slopes of Mount Carmel, giving visitors plenty of opportunity to soak up Haifa’s sensational surrounding landscape.

Start off your day in Haifa by jumping aboard the city’s awesome cable car system and taking a ride to the top of Carmel Ridge. Both the journey and the finishing point dish up outstanding views over the bay and city, something you certainly won’t want to miss out on.

In the afternoon, it’s time to visit the crown jewel of Haifa, the UNESCO protected, Baha’i Gardens. These gardens are used as the main holy site for the Bahai Faith, meaning they are superbly maintained as well as unbelievably captivating. You’ll definitely want to spend a good amount of time here, strolling through the vibrant flowers, plants and wildlife that flourishes throughout the gardens.

Take the evening easy and enjoy a quiet stroll along Haifa’s golden beaches, before hitting the hay for an early night, as you’ll be crossing the border into Jordan the following morning.

Things to Do

• Explore the ancient Amman Citadel.
• Admire the impressive Roman Amphitheatre
• Check out the bars and restaurants along Rainbow Street.
• Visit the beautiful King Abdullah Mosque.
• Get lost in the city’s bustling Souks.

Amman, Jordan’s capital city, is situated a pleasant three and a half hour drive from the city of Haifa, with a relatively straightforward border crossing located in between. Amman is a superbly exquisite city, boasting both vibrant culture and compelling history.

Start off your first day in Amman with a visit to the captivating Amman Citadel. This ancient archaeological site is in excellent condition, giving visitors a glimpse into Jordan’s intriguing past, as far back as 1600 BC. After browsing the collection of structures inside the citadel, it’s time to head just around the corner to the prestigious Roman Amphitheatre. This impressive complex has been extensively restored, offering visitors an excellent opportunity to admire the theatre’s intricate and precise detail.

After a busy day exploring the many ruins and historical landmarks across Amman, you’ll be raring to check out the city’s more modernised neighbourhoods. Delve right into the heart of downtown Amman, to the bustling and energetic area surrounding the city’s famous Rainbow Street. Lined with a huge variety of quirky bars, cafes and restaurants, Rainbow Street is definitely the place to be as night draws in across the city. Amman is famous for a whole heap of mouth-watering local dishes and cuisines, make sure you turn up with an empty stomach!

Start the following morning off with a visit to the beautiful King Abdullah Mosque, this elegant structure is a truly mesmerising masterpiece. The mosque openly welcomes non-Muslim visitors into its grounds, meaning it’s definitely a place you’ll want to check out during your time in the wonderful city of Amman.

Amman is also extremely famous for its energetic souks. These bustling markets are the beating heart of Amman, not only can you bag yourself an array of excellent bargains, but you can also soak up the souk’s exuberant atmosphere and vibrant mood. There’s definitely no better way to spend your final afternoon in Amman, than by slowly getting lost between the winding alleyways of Amman’s souks, believe me, it’s an experience you’ll never forget.

Things to Do

• Visit the sensational Treasury of ancient Petra.
• Soak up the views along exquisite hiking trails.
• Admire the impressive Shobak Castle.
• Rejuvenate at a traditional Turkish Hamman.
• Have a cold beer in quirky surroundings at the Cave Bar.

Petra, a complex that rightfully holds a spot as one of the Seven Wonders of the World, is one of the most phenomenal structures, not just in the Middle East, but in the entire world. Wadi Musa is the small township located just to the East of Petra, ideally located to meet all the needs of Petra’s many eager and excited visitors.

After a three hour picturesque drive down from Amman to Wadi Musa, you might want to save your exploration of Petra until the following day. Why not dabble in a taste of relaxation with a visit to one of Wadi Musa’s authentic Hamman’s. These wonderful Turkish baths are perfect for spending a couple of hours unwinding and relaxing, especially during a fast paced travel itinerary. It’s worthwhile grabbing yourself an early night, as the mighty Petra awaits in the morning.

You’ll be wanting to start off your second day in Wadi Musa bright and early, with an elusive adventure into the ancient, archaeological city of Petra! Hike to the city’s most iconic spot, the extraordinary and wondrous Treasury, the sensational detailing in the rock carving here is unlike anything you’ve ever seen. Petra is a large complex, home to a number of different archaeological locations, each with their own individual characteristics and uniqueness. Some visitors also opt to head back to the Treasury after nightfall, in order to experience a totally different perspective of this marvellous spot.

Wrap up your Petra experience with a couple of cheeky beers in the quirky Cave Bar. Perfect for settling the stomach before heading out into the glorious Jordanian landscape in search of the iconic Wadi Rum Desert.

Things to Do

• Camp out under the stars in a traditional desert camp.
• Embark on an epic 4×4 desert adventure.
• Enjoy an authentic camel ride.
• Hike through stunning canyons and rock formations.
• Hurtle down the beautiful dunes on a sand board.
• Marvel at the area’s extraordinary sunsets.

Wadi Rum village settlement is nestled deep in the heart of the desert, just a short two hour drive South of Wadi Musa. This phenomenal region is often described as resembling the surface of planet Mars, due to the area’s intense orange landscape and sensational rock formations.

One of the best ways to begin your time in the desert, is by traversing and hurtling through the sandy terrain on an awesome 4×4 adventure. The local driving experts know this area like the back of their hand, they’ll take you through epic canyons, across mammoth plains and over remarkable dunes. Speaking of dunes, you can also opt to add on some exhilarating rounds of sand boarding, a truly amazing adrenaline rush that definitely gets the blood pumping.

Round off your day by witnessing one of the best sunset’s you’ve ever laid eyes upon, before setting up camp under the spell binding night sky. This area is renowned for its excellent star gazing opportunities, trust me, you’ll struggle to find a better view to fall asleep to.

The following morning, grab your walking shoes and set out on an epic hiking experience alongside a local Bedouin guide. You’ll be able to get up close and personal with the area’s elusive canyons and rock formations, as well as spotting a number of ancient inscriptions and carvings.

Once your feet have begun to tire from all the hiking, you may be interested in rounding up your time in the desert with a relaxing camel ride across the sandy plains. This is one of the best ways to sit back and truly enjoy your stunning surroundings. Get another fantastic night’s sleep under the stars before setting off for Jordan’s south westerly coastline.

Things to Do

• Dive or snorkel in the beautiful Red Sea.
• Visit the impressive Aqaba Fortress/Mamluk Castle.
• Get lost in the city’s bustling and vibrant Souks.
• Admire the glorious Sharif Hussein Bin Ali Mosque.
• Soak up the awesome atmosphere at Berenice Beach Club.
• Enjoy Aqaba’s lively nightlife scene.

Aqaba is a wonderful coastal city, located just one hour’s drive from Wadi Rum Village. Perched on the Gulf of Aqaba’s edge, this delightful city boasts fantastic views out over the crystal clear ocean.

There’s plenty of great sights to check out across Aqaba, start off by visiting the stunning structures of Aqaba Fortress and Sharif Hussein Bin Ali Mosque. These buildings both boast sensational architecture and design, as well as having plenty of informative history attached to them. After some impressive sightseeing, spend the rest of your afternoon roaming through Aqaba’s vibrant souks, be sure to have your haggling skills at the ready.

Aqaba is most famous for its incredible snorkelling and scuba diving opportunities, use your second day to head off land, towards the splendid Red Sea. This section of ocean boasts some of the clearest water in the world, resulting in utterly exceptional diving conditions. Whether you’re a total beginner or an experienced certified diver, you’ll certainly find an experience that’ll match your needs.

Once you’re safely back on solid land, shower off the salt water and head towards the lively atmosphere at Berenice Beach Club. Soak up sensational views, sip on ice cold drinks and simply absorb the venue’s fantastic vibe. Aqaba also has an amazing nightlife scene, so the party doesn’t have to finish after sundown, jump in a taxi and head into Aqaba’s downtown, where you’ll find plenty of spots to dance the night away!

Things to Do

• Spend some time at the Anzac Memorial Center.
• Shop till you drop at the huge Grand Canyon Mall.
• Visit the historical Tel Sheva Archaeological Site.
• Head out into the Negev Desert.

Be’er Sheva is a large city found in the heart of Israel’s Negev Desert, the journey time is approximately three hours by car from Aqaba, with a straight forward border crossing en route.

This city isn’t one that’s totally packed with attractions, but the Anzac Memorial Center is definitely worth visiting, so too is the Tel Sheva Archaeological Site. If you’re also still wanting to grab some of those last minute souvenirs, you’ll definitely want to check out the impressive Grand Canyon Mall, covering a staggering 52,000 square metres, this awesome complex certainly has every avenue of shopping covered. Take the evening easy and slowly unwind in the city, grab yourself a decent meal and enjoy a well-deserved early night, before journeying to your final destination in the morning.

Things to Do

• Admire the extraordinarily historic Temple Mount and Dome of the Rock.
• Roam around the Jewish Quarter and visit the Western Wall.
• Visit the Birthplace of Jesus, the ancient town of Bethlehem.
• Walk along the Old City Walls.
• Soak up splendid views from the Mount of Olives.
• Browse the stalls at Machane Yehuda Market.
• Marvel at the exquisite Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

Jerusalem, thought to be one of the oldest and most historical cities on planet Earth, is located a pleasant one and a half hour drive from the Desert city of Be’er Sheva. Jerusalem itself is bursting to the absolute brim with a huge variety of compelling and intriguing history. With so much to see and do across the city, there’s no better place to round off your wonderful middle eastern adventure.

Once you’ve settled in and gathered your initial bearings, you’ll be raring to get out and explore Jerusalem’s fascinating sightseeing spots. I’d definitely recommend starting with the Ramparts Walk, a stroll that will take you along the city’s famous Old City Walls. This is a great way to get a feel for ancient Jerusalem from up high, whilst also helping with your orientation of the city. The next stop to spend some time exploring, is the world famous Jewish Quarter and Western Wall, these utterly iconic spots perfectly portray the ancient and fascinating past of the region.

In the late afternoon, mooch on over to the eastern side of the city to marvel at the exquisite Temple Mount and Dome of the Rock. This site is an exceptionally holy area, to both the Jewish and Muslim religions, and therefore should be treated with the utmost respect. Not only is the site renowned for its intrinsic history, but also for its sheer elegance and opulence.

Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus Christ, is an absolute must see destination when visiting this part of the world, that’s why there’s no better place to spend your last full day than here. Thanks to the town’s large number of historical and religious sites, you’ll be able to slowly wander and absorb the magical atmosphere of this meaningful township for a good couple of hours.

After heading back into central Jerusalem, there’s one last place worth checking out, the bustling Machane Yehuda Market. This eccentric and lively market is home to over 250 vendors, selling a wide variety of items, from fresh fruit and vegetables to spices and traditional garments. Even if you don’t have any space left in the backpack, purely soaking up the all-round vibe here is truly uplifting.