Just returned from Oct 3 to Israel/Jordan
I am putting this in the Forum section, as I can't figure how to get into the reviews section. You might make the review section a bit more transparent.
The middle east is TOTALLY religion and history. (About 2/3rds were Jewish and the rest of us were a mix of everything.) Don't go unless history and religion are what you want. Mark G., tour director., was fantastic, and is a walking encyclopedia. Always choose tour company that uses local guides, especially if ones chosen by Tauck, rather than traveling only, say, with a religion professor from US institution. The guides were fantastic, VERY informed, and pretty balanced on their political views, both Israeli and Arab. Much appreciated. There was political unrest at the Dome of the Rock in Jerusalem, and itinerary was changed on that day, and we did not go there. NO other itinerary changes during entire trip. And, every inch of old Jerusalem is never to be forgotten. We both want to return.
This is an active tour. Lots of walking, plus the regular tour buses that are like sitting in United economy but that's what it is. Fortunately, there are few days when the ride is too long. 3 hours hours each way to Jerash (Jordan) but it's worth it. Hotels are Tauck superb. Dead Sea was oppressively hot, at least for me. Ron went into the water, but I passed it.
Petra is extraordinary but certainly would NOT want to be there when when a 3,000 passenger ship was ferrying passengers from Aquaba. I would imagine that summer would be WAY too crowded and way too hot. On our Petra day, the weather cooperated and I walked the whole way ( 2- to 2.5 miles) to the surprisingly modern Crown Plaza restaurant which is to heck and gone into Petra proper. The Road of the Facades was fantastic. We rode camels back, one very bouncy mile to the Treasury, where we either continued by walking back to Movenpick Hotel (fantastic hotel) or continued on one of those little horse carts. Remember to insist on a donkey from restaurant to Treasury if you do NOT want the camel. It is an option, but you may have to push for it. Two of our group, older guests, did, although they said that the driver really pushed them for a tip at the end. All camel tips were prepaid (double, said Tauck) - the usual Tauck way. Oh, the bedouin dinner in the bedouin tent on the last night was fantastic. Mark was there in his sheikh splendor!!
Top memories - Jerusalem, Masada, Jerash, Petra, Bethlehem, Nazareth. And, I loved the barren landscapes and rugged mountains of rural Jordan. Just imagine what it must have been like for the historic tribes.
We are both 76 and could keep up daily, especially my gym-fit husband.
