Delve Deep: Jordan & Israel 2024-25

Touch down in one of the oldest cities in existence. Ready to experience the new and exotic? Thought so. Spot your Topdeck Rep at the airport (hint: they’re holding a placard with your name on it). Dump your stuff at the hotel and meet your fellow explorers. We might be a mixed bunch but we’re all in it together. Hungry? That’s lucky – tonight’s our first chance to sample some lip-smacking local eats at an included group dinner.

Rise 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. Seen Kingdom of Heaven? Channel your inner Orlando Bloom as we storm through the Crusader stronghold of 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.

Words 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.

Back in the day, camels were the go-to way to cross the desert. But we’ve got a more buttock-friendly transport option today as we switch the coach for a 4X4 and venture across The Valley of the Moon to our traditional Bedouin Camp in the heart of the Jordanian desert. If you want to see if Alice really does have two humps, there’s an optional ride on offer today. Or just sit back and take it all in. This is your moment. 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.

From 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’.

Ready 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.

Crank 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 Trip Leader. After another included group dinner, we’re bunking down in the heart of Jerusalem tonight. Sit back and enjoy the vibe. This sh*t hits different.

Jerusalem is the G.O.A.T. of holy places. Christianity, Islam AND Judaism believe it encompasses all things sacred. Get educated about this city on a guided tour. We’re talking Mount of Olives for the incred views. Church of All Nations AND the Garden of Gethsemane. Then, the old city. Phew! We’re not even halfway. Cue: Via Dolorosa, Stations of the Cross, and a tonne of sacred sites. Jesus’s final resting place at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre? Check. The Western (Wailing) Wall aka the most sacred place in Judaism? Check. Mount Zion – the traditional site of the Last Supper? Check. (Ginny’s dad being God-like has a whole new meaning.) Still got energy to explore? That daily step count is gonna explode. One thing you cannot miss this avvy: 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!

Today begins on a sombre note with a visit to Yad Vashem, The World Holocaust Remembrance Centre – please dress respectfully. In the museum, you can take in the Hall of Names, read survivors’ tales and see personal artifacts of Holocaust victims. It’s an eye-opening experience. After, we’re hitting up Bethlehem. Yep, the birthplace of Jesus himself. Our walking tour’s main attraction: the Church of the Nativity. Then: get your art fix at the Separation Wall. Its history will make you feel things. The graffiti will make your jaw drop. You’ll learn something that might change your outlook on life. Okayy, *deep breath* heavy chat over, it’s back to Jerusalem for the night.

Tranquil. Stormy. Unbelievable. REAL. Nope, it’s not the latest retrograde. It’s Lake Galilee. Our first stop of the day. You may not get to walk on water, but you can deffo embrace the serene atmosphere on an included boat tour. Onwards to Golan Heights. Get your tastebuds ready cos a local wine tasting is about to happen. Then, it’s back to the waters with a visit to Yardenit, a turquoise baptismal site on the Jordan River. Next up: a local Kibbutz. What’s that? A community settlement entirely unique to Israel. You wanted to experience the authentic side of travel. This is it. And you’re staying the night. With traditional dins included! Don’t say we don’t treat you.

Our road trip continues! First stop: Nazareth. An awesome sight you’ll behold on our included walking tour: the Basilica of the Annunciation. According to Catholic tradition, this is the site of Mary’s home, where Angel Gabriel announced she would give birth to the Son of God. Want a beaut view of the terraced Baha’i Gardens in Haifa? Sorted. After: it’s our last stop. Put the tissues away for now cos we’re in Israel’s capital. It’s giving bright. It’s giving awesome. It’s giving love. Tel Aviv understands the assignment. Get to know this iconic city on a walking tour with your Trip Leader. Top sights you’re gonna fall for? Jaffa’s Old Port, Rabin’s Memorial Site, Neve Tzedek. And MORE. Tonight, we’re gonna tuck into our last supper, Topdeck-fam style. Where’s the shakshuka at?

Down your pomegranate juice and take a deep breath – this morning it’s time to say our goodbyes. Get in on the WhatsApp group for next year’s reunion, where it WILL make it out of the chat. Sticking around? Track down Abu Hassan for hummus that will haunt your dreams (it’s that good).