13-Day Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Amman, and Holy Land

ITINERARY

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Day 0 – February 11. (SUN): LOS ANGELES - DUBAI

Departure from LOS ANGELES to DUBAI, UAE

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Day 1 – February 12. (MON): ARRIVAL - DUBAI

Upon arrival you will be met at Dubai International Airport by English speaking Orient Tours Representative. Transfer to hotel for overnight stay.

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Day 2 – February 13. (TUE): DUBAI – CITY TOUR

Breakfast at hotel. Morning at leisure. After lunch (on your own). Dubai City Tour – visit Burj Khalifa at the top – level 124 & 125. Visit the popular Jumeirah district. Stop at Madinat Souk for stunning photos of iconic Burj Al Arab Hotel. Drive onto the man-made Palm Jumeirah Island, an incredible architectural marvel for a closer look at the Atlantis Resort. Continue along Jumeirah Beach, the picturesque palace and residential area. Next drive to Zabeel district, then proceed to Al Bastakiya, the old part of Dubai. Take a short Abra (water taxi) sailing across Dubai Creek. Disembark at the Spice Souk then proceed to the Gold Souk. 

AFTERNOON DESERT SAFARI

Breakfast at hotel. Morning is free a leisure. (lunch on your own).  Tour departs across the Arabian Desert with photo-stops during an exciting dune drive. Stop at a camel farm to learn about the “Ships of the Desert”. Drive towards our traditional Arabian Campsite where a spectacural sunset welcomes you with “Gahway” Arabic coffee and local dates. Experience a brief camel ride, try sand boarding and get up close and personal with the UAE’s National bird, a majestic falcon. Whet your appetite with a Shawarma or Falafil sandwich before settling in to watch the evening’s live entertainment. Take a break and enjoy a delicious barbecue dinner while a belly dance is performed under the starlit sky before the evening come to a close. Overnight at the hotel. (B, D)

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Day 3 – February 14. (WED): DUBAI – ABU DHABI

After breakfast depart from hotel for Abu Dhabi City Tour. Abu Dabi is UAE’s capital. The first destination is Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque one of the largest mosques in the world.  Continue to the Sheikh Zayed Centre for a glimpse in the private life of H.H. the late Sheikh Zayed. Next stop is the Heritage Village to explore life in the Emirates before discovery of oil. Drive along the beautiful Cornich before passing through the cultural hub of Saadiya Island, home to the stunning Louvre Abu Dhabi Museum. At the nearby leisure and entertainment district of Yas Island, take a final photo-stop near the world’s first Ferrari World Them Park. (B ). Dress is loose long trousers or skirts reaching ankles and long sleeves reaching waist. Shoulders must be covered. No shorts, tight or transparent clothing, no visible tattoos. Women must bring a scarf to cover their heads. (B)

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Day 4 – February 15. (THU): DUBAI–AMMAN

After breakfast, check-out from the hotel then transfer to the airport for the flight to Amman. Arrive Amman. Check-in at the hotel. Overnight at the hotel (B,D)

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Day 5 - February 16. (FRI): AMMAN-PETRA

After breakfast, we head to the main entrance, we travel on foot through the awesome "siq", an immense crack in the sandstone that winds for one kilometer between over changing cliffs. Petra's most famous monument, the Treasury, appears dramatically at the end of the siq. Various walks & climbs reveal literally hundreds of buildings facades, tombs, baths, funerary halls, templates and a 3000 seat theater from the 1st century AD. Our guide provides explanation and orientation as we walk to the Treasury. Dinner we travel to Amman. (B, D

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Day 6 - February 17. (SAT): PETRA-HOLY LAND-ALLENBY-NAZARETH

Upon arrival to the Holy Land, we will be greeted by our tour guide. Then we board on our bus that will take us to Galilee. Check-in to your hotel in Nazareth. Dinner and overnight. (B, D)

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Day 7 - February 18. (SUN): HAIFA-NAZARETH-CANA  

Following breakfast, we travel north to the sea port city of Haifa and Mt. Carmel Muhraqa, to visit the Carmelite Monastery and Stella Maris Church. We will also visit the Bahai Gardens. We will then depart for Nazareth, visit the Basilica of the Annunciation and view the Blessed Cave where Angel Gabriel appeared to Mary. View Mary and Joseph’s house and carpentry shop where Jesus spent 30 years of his life. Then we continue to Cana where Jesus performed his miracle by turning water into wine. Dinner and overnight. (B, D)

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Day 8 – February  19 (MON): SEA OF GALILEE-MT. TABOR

After breakfast, we will start the day with a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. Afterwards we will visit Capernaum, the town of Jesus which is the center of his ministry where he performed many miracles. Visit the House of St. Peter and the ruins of the ancient Synagogue were Jesus preached. Stop at Tabgha, the Primacy of St. Peter and visit the Church of the Miracle of he Loaves and Fishes, the site of the multiplication miracle, and the Mt. of Beatitudes. In the afternoon we will  visit Mt. Tabor, enjoy the spectacular view of upper Galilee, where Jesus transfigure in the presence of Peter, James and John, and upon which stands the Church of Transfiguration. Dinner and overnight. (B, D)

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Day 9 - February 20: (TUE): JERICHO-BAPTISMAL SITE-DEAD SEA-BETHLEHEM /JERUSALEM

After breakfast, we will start the day with a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. Afterwards we will visit Capernaum, the town of Jesus which is the center of his ministry where he performed many miracles. Visit the House of St. Peter and the ruins of the ancient Synagogue where Jesus preached. Stop at Tabgha, the Primacy of St. Peter and the Church of the Miracle of the Loaves and Fishes, the site of the multiplication miracle, and the Mt. of Beatitudes. In the afternoon we will visit Mt. Tabor, enjoy the spectacular view of upper Galilee, where Jesus transfigure in the presence of Peter, James and John, and upon which stands the Church of Transfiguration. Dinner and overnight. (B, D) 

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Day 10 – February 21: (WED):BETHLEHEM-SHEPHERD'S FIELD-EIN KAREM

Today we will visit Bethlehem and Shepherd's Fields. In Bethlehem we visit one of the oldest churches in Christianity, the Church of Nativity, built over the birthplace of our Lord. We will also see St. Catherine's Church built over the tomb of St. Jerome. Surrounding Bethlehem are the Shepherd's Fields, where the shepherds saw the angels who heralded Jesus' humble birth. In the afternoon we will drive to the little town of Ein Karem, the birthplace of St. John the Baptist where the Virgin Mary visited her cousin Elizabeth. We will visit the Church of the Visitation. Dinner and overnight. (B, D)

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Day 11 – February 22 (THU): MT. OF OLIVES-MT ZION

After breakfast we will be visit Mount of Olives, and the Chapel of the Ascension, from which Jesus returned to his Father, then the Pater Noster Church where our Lord taught his disciples how to pay. Then we walk down the Road of Palm Sunday to the Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus endure his Agony. Afterwards continue to Mt. Zion and the Upper Room where Jesus instituted the Eucharist and the Priesthood, situated over the tomb of David and the next, we will then visit the Church of St. Peter of Galicantu. Dinner and overnight. (B, D)

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Day 12 - February 23 (FRI): VIA DOLOROSA-ECCE HOMO-ST. ANNE-WAILING WALL

Early in the morning we will follow the Stations of the Cross along the Via Dolorosa to the Holy Sepulcher Church. Then we visit the Church of Ecce Homo. From there we will also visit the Church of St. Anne, the birthplace of Mary, and Pools of Bethesda, where Jesus healed the paralytic. Then we continue to visit the Wailing Wall the most important Jewish site in Jerusalem. Dinner and overnight. (B,D)

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DAY 13 – February  24 (SAT): TEL AVIV-USA

Breakfast will be served in a box. Check-out and transfer to airport for the flight back to USA. (USA). (B)

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