Embark on a tour of the Exodus paths in Saudi Arabia & Jordan!

In Saudi Arabia, you will explore the ancient wilderness path of Moses and the Israelites including the Red Sea crossing site, Rephadim, the Split Rock and Mount Sinai.  

In Jordan, you will see Petra and the paths of Moses in Wadi Rum.

On the first day, you will arrive in Amman, Jordan at Queen Alia International Airport or cross into Jordan from Israel at the Allenby bridge.  

At either location, you will be met by your professional Jordanian tour guide and driver.  

Depending on the day you arrive and if you have the energy, you may choose to enjoy Petra at Night, which is a must see if schedule allows.  Otherwise, there are some great restaurants to enjoy and some time to relax after your flight and before your journey through the Exodus Paths begins.

On this day you will spend all day exploring Petra.

Petra is the ancient capitol of the Nabatean Empire.  Prior to the Nabateans it was occupied by the ancient Edomites, who refused passage to Moses and Israel during their desert wanderings.  It has been identified as Sela or Seir in ancient Egyptian campaign accounts, names that are also associated with Edom in Scripture. Today, the valley next to Petra is called Wadi Musa.  The possible location of Mount Hor is nearby where a monument honoring the Prophet Aaron is located.  

Petra has been named a World Heritage Site by UNESCO and is one of the "New 7 Wonders of the World."  It is most famous for a monument called the Treasury, which was prominent in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.  But its size and beauty expands much beyond this one monument.  You will need a full day to begin to appreciate the scope and size of Petra.  

Your local Jordanian guide is an expert on Petra and will help you enjoy this truly amazing location before you explore the lesser visited locations of the Exodus in Jordan.

Depending on schedule, there is the possibility of enjoying Petra at Night.  The cost for Petra at Night is not included, but it is only about $25 per person.

Wake up early and leave Petra.  Drive to Aqaba and get picked up by Saudi tour operators.  Cross border into Saudi Arabia at the Durra Border Crossing.

Then your Saudi portion of your tour will begin with Ancient Midian.

The ancient Midianites lived along the peninsula between the Gulf of Aqaba and the Red Sea in NW Saudi Arabia, generally along the path of the NEOM project called the Line.  There are two oases that have long been associated with Midian, which are the modern towns of Al Bada' and Magna.    

When fleeing Egypt, Moses came to Midian.  Here he met the Zipporah, the daughter of Jethro, the Priest of Midian.  Tradition holds that Jethro lived near the modern town of Al Bada'.   

From here you will go to the Red Sea Crossing Point.  You can see the beach head of Nuweiba from the coast and imagine the powerful miracle of the sea being split with the ancient Israelites crossing over safely.  There are large wadis on either side of the Gulf of Aqaba at the Red Sea crossing site that provide ample room for assembling a large group of people on either side of this crossing site.  The outflow of debris that these two wadis spill into the gulf have created an angle of decline under the gulf that is walkable.  It may be the only spot along the floor of the gulf that would be walkable.  There is a large pillar standing on the Egyptian side of this crossing site that some think was set up by King Solomon to commemorate the location.  There is a marker on the Saudi Arabian side where a like pillar once stood.  

From here, you will go to snorkeling and/or swimming in the Gulf of Aqaba.  The Sea of Aqaba is famous for its snorkeling and diving, and it is a perfect way to end a day near the Red Sea Crossing Point.

The day ends back at the Hotel in Haq'l. 

On this day you will continue following the Path of Moses to Rephadim and the Split Rock.   

It was at Rephadim that Amalek surprised Israel by attacking them in battle.  While Joshua led the Israelites in battle against Amalek, Moses stood on a hill appealing to God for victory.  As long as his staff was raised, the Israelites would prevail and when he lowered his staff, they would begin to lose the battle.  Here Aaron and Hur placed a rock on which Moses could sit, and they held up his arms until Israel achieved victory over Amalek.  There are several suggested battlefield locations in Rephadim, and you will see one option near two ancient graveyards.   

Next you will visit the iconic location of the Split Rock of Moses.  When the Israelites were suffering from lack of water, God told Moses to strike "the Rock at Horeb," indicating a type of landmark along the mountains of Horeb.  The Split Rock towers over the surrounding area and can be seen for miles.  It certainly could be understood to be a landmark.  It is split cleanly down the middle and the area shows evidence of water erosion.  You can imagine the power of God bringing water out of such a split Rock to quench the thirst of the Israelites.  As of today, you can climb up the hill into the split rock, which is fantastic for pictures.  The view from the Rock is stunning. 

From here you will continue on to the base of Mount Sinai, called Jabal Maqla where you will visit the Gold Calf Altar site.  Here it is believed that events of Exodus 32 took place where Aaron took gold from the people and formed a golden calf, which they worshipped.  Bovine petroglyphs dominate this site, and many imitate images of Apis, who was worshipped in Egypt.  Unlike other petroglyphs in the region that are likely agricultural scenes, these bovine petroglyphs at the foot of Jabal Maqla indicate religious worship.  The existence of these petroglyphs at the foot of Jabal Maqla is a significant indicator that this mountain is the real Mount Sinai.

You will end the day camping under the beautiful night sky with comfortable tents, great local food and Bedouin hospitality.

On this day, you will explore Mount Sinai.  You will see further archeological evidence from the Exodus site at the base of the mountain including the Golden Calf Altar Site and the Moses Altar.  The Moses Altar is recorded in Exodus 24 and sits right at the base of the mountain near a stream, as seen in Scripture.  

If you choose to climb the mountain you will come to the Plateau of the 70 Elders. Some may like to spend their time here to enjoy quiet extra time for prayer and reflection with amazing views.  Others may aim to ascend to the peak(s) of Jabal Maqla.  Here you will see the stone change to black basalt and experience a true mountaintop experience.  If you stay at the Plateau, you can make your way around to the Cave of Elijah.  You can read the episode of the Cave in 1 Kings 19:8-18. 

Note that It is a very strenuous hike with significant elevation change.  If you choose to hike all the way to the furthest peak of Jabal Maqla, the hike could take 8-10 hours.  You should aim to be in good shape before attempting to hike to the furthest peak and back in the same day.

If you stay at the base of the mountain, you can explore other petroglyphs and a graveyard where some think Israel buried their dead after the plague of Exodus 32 and enjoy being in the place where God met with Israel during the Exodus.

 On this day you will cross back into Jordan and go to Wadi Rum.  

The Wadi Rum Protected Area is an UNESCO site famous for its natural beauty and cultural heritage.  It is a must see visit on any itinerary to Jordan.

Local Bedouin tribes manage the area and provide unmatched hospitality with experienced tour guides, traditional tasty meals, and locally inspired music to enjoy. They know every corner of the desert and can bring you to all the best sites in Wadi Rum.

Wadi Rum is the perfect place to unplug and relax, which makes it a perfect stop after a difficult climb of Mount Sinai.    

This day you will participate in their jeep tour and experience genuine Bedouin culture with a relaxing, off-grid camping experience.

 On this day you will continue to experience Wadi Rum, but you will explore the portions of Wadi Rum that are considered by some to be places where Moses led the Israelites.  

You will have the option to climb Jabal Umm ad Dami, which is the tallest mountain in Jordan and a possible site of the biblical Mount Paran.

Alternatively, you can enjoy time riding camels through the famous Wadi Rum desert, which is particularly enjoyable with a group.

On this day you will depart early from Wadi Rum in the morning and drive up by the Dead Sea Road with your Jordanian tour guide.  This is a long driving day.  There are the traditional locations of Lot's Cave and the Pillar of Lot's wife to see on the way.  

After lunch, you will go to Bethany by the Jordan.  This is one of the primary places to visit in Jordan for Christians.  It is the long held traditional location of where Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist.  This is also near the place where the Israelites crossed into the Promised Land, which ended the period of the wilderness wandering for Israel.

You will stay at the Dead Sea Spa Resort (or a similar location hotel on the Dead Sea if it is booked) and enjoy the rest of the day at the resort.  

On this day you will depart Jordan.  On the way to Queen Alia International Airport is Mount Nebo and Madaba.

Mount Nebo is the famous mountain where Moses died right after he gave his speech to the people of Israel, which we now have in the book of Deuteronomy.  It is the perfect closing to a trip exploring the Exodus Paths.  From here you can view much of the Promised Land as Moses did and enjoy the remains of an ancient Byzantine Church.

Next on the way to the airport is Madaba is where most of the Christians in Jordan reside.  It is a beautiful and ancient Moabite city mentioned five times in the Bible. Here you can visit St. George's Orthodox Church, which houses the most ancient mosaic map in the world.  You can experience the best shopping in Jordan and eat at fantastic restaurants like Harat Jdoudna.

If flying out of Amman and back to the United States or the Western Hemisphere, we recommend a very late flight out of Amman, which will give you time to enjoy Madaba and help you to begin to adjust back to your normal time zone if you sleep well on the plane.  If you are crossing the Allenby bridge back into Israel, you will be brought to the border after your visit to Madaba.