Jordan, Israel & Palestine Discovery

Embark on a historic adventure across the deeply intriguing Middle East

Revamped in 2023 with changes to accommodation and improved cultural activities, this Middle East adventure will guide you through lands of ancient history and religious intrigue. The highlights are plentiful: summit Mount Nebo, where Moses is said to have looked down over the Promised Land; explore rose-red Petra, a New Wonder of the World; stargaze in Wadi Rum; and visit the cave where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered. We float in that same sea, and explore holy sites in Jerusalem and Bethlehem, ending the trip in the ever-evolving seaside city of Tel Aviv.

People, Places & Planet

We work hard to create trips that improve life for the people and places we visit and look after the planet we explore. Find out more about our sustainable travel ethos and practice here, and find out about the work of the Exodus Travels Foundation here.

In Jordan, we are very proud to work with a local partner who received the Travelife Partner award in July 2021. Travelife is a certification system dedicated to achieving sustainable practices in the global tourism industry. To receive the award, our Jordanian partner had to comply with more than 100 criteria related to corporate social responsibility. The Travelife standard is formally recognised for full compliance with the UN Sustainable Tourism Criteria.

Some sustainable travel highlights of this trip include:

People

How this trip helps improve life for local communities.

• The use of a local guide means our customers will be well informed about local traditions, and cultural-social sensitivities.
• This trip brings income and opportunity to the destination community through the inclusion of locally owned hotels and restaurants, the emphasis on eating locally produced food, and support of other local enterprise.
• The hotels we stay in are dedicated to hiring local staff, this helps to benefit the surrounding community by providing employment opportunities and income alternatives where they may be otherwise hard to come by.
• This trip stays one night in the Wadi Rum desert at the Exodus private camp which is owned and managed by a local Bedouin family. This not only provides a source of income for the family but is a wonderful opportunity for our guests to interact with local people and share aspects of their traditions.
• In Wadi Rum, we do a 4x4 safari which provides another source of income for local people.
• This tour encourages guests to visit local cafes and restaurants and use markets to purchase traditional crafts.

Places

How this trip helps protect and conserve local landscapes and nature.

• Read about our commitment to nature protection and restoration here including our rewilding commitment for every customer who travels.
• By travelling in a small group, led by a local guide, we ‘tread lightly’ to minimise our impact on local resources and the environment.
• We visit eight national heritage sites and the entrance fees included generate income used to upkeep and develop these important monuments and nature parks.
• Our trips adhere to ABTA’s industry-leading animal welfare guidelines to ensure the best possible practices with regard to working animals and wildlife viewing. Our animal welfare policy can be found here.
• In Petra, we do not recommend that travellers ride horses or mules as we are not convinced their treatment is in line with industry-leading animal welfare guidelines.
• We work with our partners on the ground to proactively eliminate or reduce waste, for example eliminating all single-use plastic water bottles and instead providing refills for reusable bottles.
• It is standard practice in Jordan to distribute leftover restaurant food to people in need.
• Where possible on this trip paper bags are used as an alternative to single-use plastics.

Planet

How we seek to keep the carbon footprint of this trip low.

• Read about our climate action here, including our carbon reduction and compensation commitments.
• Accommodation and restaurants in the itinerary use locally sourced food which has not been transported long distances.
• The Exodus private camp in Wadi Rum uses solar power.
• This trip favours locally owned and run accommodation.

Tips for sustainable travel on this trip

• Leave no trace: We do all we can to ensure we leave no rubbish behind in the wild and beautiful places we visit; we ask that you do the same. If there are no recycling facilities in-country, we’d ask you to consider bringing recyclable materials home with you.
• Plastic waste reduction: Please bring your own reusable water bottle on this trip; filtered water will be provided where tap water is not drinkable.
• Cultural respect:
  • Some Jordanians, especially women and the elderly, object to being photographed so please ask first.
  • Jordanians are very proud of their country and can be offended if you take pictures of anything ‘negative’ or suggestive of poverty. Photography in military zones and strategic areas like public buildings is prohibited.
  • Handshaking is only between members of the same sex.
  • It’s polite to use only your right hand when eating something without cutlery and when handing money and small objects to someone else.
  • It is common practice to remove one’s shoes before entering a mosque or someone’s home and you should tuck them under if sitting on the floor. It is respectful for women to cover their heads with a scarf when entering a mosque. Please note many mosques are not open for tourist visits.
  • Generally, clothing should cover shoulders and be on or below the knee.
  • During the holy month of Ramadan, Muslims refrain from eating, drinking, and smoking during daylight hours. Even chewing gum is considered haram (forbidden). Although foreigners are not expected to follow these practices, it is respectful to be discrete and not eat, drink or smoke in general public.

Visa

Jordan

Visas are required by most nationalities and can be obtained at the border or Amman airport.

We will arrange a free visa (usually 40 Jordanian dinars) for travellers booking a tour and any pre-tour arrangements through us, provided we receive full passport and flight details at least two weeks before arrival.

You will need to pay for the visa if we do not have these details two weeks before arrival or you are making your own pre-tour arrangements (ie extra nights before the tour that are not booked through Exodus).

Our airport representative will meet and assist you with obtaining the free visa on arrival in Jordan at Customs & Immigration. They will be carrying an Exodus sign.

Israel and Palestine

You don’t need a visa to enter Israel or Palestine as a tourist. On entry, visitors are granted leave to enter for a period of up to three months. Visitors will be given an entry card instead of an entry stamp in their passport. You should keep your entry card with your passport until you leave. This is evidence of your legal entry into the country and may be required, particularly at any crossing points into the Palestinian territories.

Please note, visa requirements often change and it is your responsibility to obtain any required visas for this trip. Therefore, we recommend that you check with the nearest embassy or consulate of your chosen destination(s), including any countries you may be transiting or transferring through.

Some local governments provide guidance on what visas their citizens need. To help, we’ve gathered a selection of useful links below.

• Australia: www.smartraveller.gov.au/destinations/middle-east/israel-and-palestinian-territories
• Canada: www.travel.gc.ca/destinations/israel-the-west-bank-and-the-gaza-strip
• United Kingdom: www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/israel/entry-requirements
• USA: www.travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/international-travel/International-Travel-Country-Information-Pages/IsraeltheWestBankandGaza.html

Vaccination

Jordan

There are no required vaccinations. However, you may want to consider vaccinations for tetanus, hepatitis A, hepatitis B, rabies and typhoid. Please confirm all requirements with your doctor or travel clinic.

Israel and Palestine

There are no required vaccinations. However, you may want to consider vaccinations for tetanus, polio, hepatitis A, rabies and typhoid. Please confirm with your doctor or travel clinic. Please note, if you plan to visit Israel for four weeks or more, you may be required, upon leaving, to show proof of polio vaccination on an International Certificate of Vaccination or Prophylaxis (ICVP) provided four weeks to a year before departure.

Eating and Drinking

All breakfasts are included and two dinners at the Wadi Rum camp and the Dead Sea resort in Jordan.

While staying in hotels, we usually eat in local restaurants and the leader can arrange group bookings if people want to dine together. Meze (Arabic) or salatim (Hebrew) meals are very popular as they provide a range of small shared dishes to try along with a main of barbecued chicken/meats or a vegetarian dish. These allow fast service with a variety of tasty food for the group. In Jordan, meals usually cost around 10-15 Jordanian dinars (US$14-US$21). Palestine and Israel can be more expensive so it is advisable to allow around 60-80 shekels per person (US$17-US$23).

If you are vegetarian, main meals are limited in choice; however, meze is almost always available in restaurants and is a good, filling choice. While camping in Wadi Rum, we enjoy a wonderful traditional meal called zarb, which is cooked underground. This consists of rice with a selection including chicken, lamb and vegetables. Vegetables will be cooked separate to the meat for vegetarians.

Alcohol is available in Jordan, but not widely. Many hotels do not sell alcohol but will often allow it to be brought in from elsewhere. It is best to plan ahead if you’ll want a drink, your tour leader can tell you what’s possible and may be able to arrange a stop at a supermarket or liquor store (depending on location). In Petra, the unique Cave Bar in Petra Guesthouse is open to the public. A less expensive option is the bar in the Petra Palace Hotel, which is also open to all.

Weather

Spring and autumn are very popular times of year to visit Jordan, Palestine and Israel. Summer is very hot, especially July and August, so we don’t have departures in these months. In spring and autumn, average temperatures can be around 25C-30C (77F-86F). In winter, it is generally crisp and warm in the day, approximately 10C-15C (50F-59F).

On average, Wadi Rum in summer is around 30C (86F) though it can get as high as 40C (104F). In winter, it is much cooler and can get as low as 10C (50F) during the day. In the evening, it is around freezing point. There are occasions when there is rain or even snow in the desert. If weather conditions require, we may need to modify the itinerary or the camp location for your comfort and safety. The Dead Sea air temperatures vary from around 14C (57F) in winter up to high 30s (around 100F) in summer. The water temperature, however, doesn’t drop below 20C (68F).

Rainfall does occur in all countries during winter so it is advisable to take an umbrella at these times. There are even occasions when it snows in Jordan during winter. As with many countries in the world, seasons can go on longer than usual so it is advisable to always check the weather of the country you are travelling to a week or two before your trip so you can pack appropriately.

Is this trip for you?

This trip is rated Activity Level 2 (Leisurely/Moderate).

Although this is a cultural trip, some days (such as those in Petra) can be long and tiring. There is a lot of ground to cover on this day; however, climbing up stairs to view the royal tombs and the hike up to the Monastery (850 steps) are optional. Your leader can provide further advice on how to get the most of your trip to this magnificent site. There is extensive walking during our days in Israel to see as many of the sites as possible during our guided tours. You also have a free day in Jerusalem to plan your own exploration of this incredible city.

Although the Wadi Rum campsite has plumbed toilets and showers, it is basic and hot water may be limited. Our private Exodus camp is, however, often mentioned as a highlight of the trip for many of our guests.

This trip crosses from Jordan into the West Bank at the Allenby Bridge and there is a change of leader at this point. This crossing is often busy (it is the only point through which West Bank Palestinians can travel abroad). The leader and driver for the Israel and Palestine portion of the trip have to wait for the whole group to clear Israeli security checks before they are allowed to drive to the exit hall, this can mean there is a wait at the exit hall before the leader and driver arrive.

Our leaders for the Israel and Palestine portion of this trip usually live in Jerusalem. This means they will not be with us in the evenings but can give advice on places for dinner.

From just before sunset on Friday until sunset on Saturday, Shabbat is observed by religious Jews. Restaurants and shops are closed in many Israeli cities; however, this is to a much lesser extent in Tel Aviv with many cafes and bars remaining open. Tel Aviv beaches are busiest on Saturdays. When our time in Israel coincides with Shabbat, we plan the itinerary to consider what is and is not open on this day.

In very rare instances where local conditions require, we may need to amend the order of the itinerary. However, we ensure that all the elements of the itinerary are still included and site visits are of the same duration.

Ramadan is expected to run from approximately 10 March-10 April 2024 and 28 February-29 March 2025. One of the most important periods in the Islamic calendar, it is a special time to visit a Muslim country. Each evening, the streets empty as people head home to break the fast, followed by an air of festivity upon their return. Our leaders and drivers choose to work at this time so we continue to run trips; however, their energy levels may be slightly lower than normal. Many tourist sites, restaurants and shops will have an amended schedule, but your tour leader will know how to adapt the itinerary to still experience all the inclusions on this trip and maximise your experience during this special time.

Following a review of all our trips we have categorised this trip as generally not suitable for persons of reduced mobility. However if you are a regular traveller on such trips, please contact customer services to discuss the trip and your personal condition.