Christmas in Bethlehem and New Year in Aqaba

An opportunity to celebrate Midnight Mass in Bethlehem on December 24, take a boat ride across the Sea of Galilee, visit Nazareth, Jericho and the Bethany Baptism Site, and to stand on Mount Nebo where Moses surveyed the Promised Land, is being offered by Far Horizons as part of a 21-day Christmas tour to Turkey, Israel, the Holy Land and Jordan.
This rare tour departs Australia on December 15 this year and will also include Turkey’s annual Whirling Dervishes Festival in Konya and a stay in the Cappadocia Valley with a visit to one of its underground cities, Istanbul and a cruise on the Bosphorus.
New Year’s Eve will be celebrated in the Red Sea resort of Aqaba.
The tour is limited to just 16 participants and will also include a visit to the Church of St John the Baptist (pictured above) in Jerusalem, a walk along the Via Dolorosa (Way of the Cross,) a carol service at the Shepherds’ Fields, the Church of the Nativity, Tiberias and a drive through the Jordan Valley for a cable car ride to the Mount of Temptation.
Jordan’s Crusader town of Kerak and the Crusader Castle, Petra’s famed Treasury, tombs, temples and amphitheatres, a Bedouin jeep ride to Wadi Rum and ancient forts and Ayla Byzantine village are also included.
The price starts from $19,500pp twin-share from Australian mainland capitals including return air, all meals, sightseeing, gratuities and services of a Far Horizon tour escort and local guides. Details on 1800 083 141 or www.farhorizons.com.au