Private Tour: Madaba, Mt. Nebo, and Bethany Baptism Site Day Trip from Dead Sea

Amman, Jordan

Visit the city of Madaba known for its mosaics. The most popular and well known is the ancient mosaic map of Jordan and the Holy Land of the 6th century in the Saint George Orthodox Church. Then climb up Mount Nebo where Prophet Moses is said to have died. Enjoy the view of the Holy Land and the Jordan Valley. Continue to the Baptism Site (In Arabic named: El-Maghtas) on the Jordan side of the Jordan River is one of the most important recent discoveries in biblical archaeology. Excavations only began here in 1996, following Jordan's peace treaty with Israel in 1994, but have already uncovered more than 20 churches, caves and baptismal pools dating from the Roman and Byzantine periods.

Depart from Dead Sea in the comfort of a private vehicle to visit the city of Madaba known for its mosaics. The most popular and well known is the ancient mosaic map of Jordan and the Holy Land of the 6th century in the Saint George Orthodox Church, marked with the points of interest of some historical stories recorded in the Bible. Then climb up Mount Nebo where Prophet Moses is said to have died. Enjoy the view of the Holy Land and the Jordan Valley, and visit the mosaics found inside the church of Mount Nebo. Drive towards the Jordan Valley to visit the baptism sight, located on the east side of the Jordan River, recognized by the Vatican during the visit of John Paul II in 2000 to be the baptism sight of Jesus Christ and a very important pilgrimage area to visit. This tour is just indescribable!

The Baptism Site (In Arabic named: El-Maghtas) on the Jordan side of the Jordan River is one of the most important recent discoveries in biblical archaeology. Excavations only began here in 1996, following Jordan's peace treaty with Israel in 1994, but have already uncovered more than 20 churches, caves and baptismal pools dating from the Roman and Byzantine periods.

Although the identification is not absolutely certain, archaeology has shown that the area known as “Wadi Kharrar” has long been believed to be the biblical Bethany-beyond-the-Jordan, where John the Baptist lived and Jesus was baptized. This area is also associated with the ascension of the Prophet Elijah into heaven, which is commemorated at a hill called Tell Mar Elias. This Bethany should not be confused with Bethany in Jerusalem, where Mary Magdalene lived and Lazarus was raised from the dead.

Traveler Reviews

Review by:   Glenn H,    January 2017
Very informative. The tour guide was accommodating to a couple of specific stops we wanted to make.

Review by:   Elmarie P,    March 2016
GREAT day! Shadi was an excellent driver and made sure we saw a few extra highlights along the way. Thank you! In addition, Shadi and the tour company was willing to pick us up in Amman and drop us off at our Dead Sea hotel...very helpful and made the day much more relaxing and enjoyable!

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