Self-Launched Best of Israel & Jordan: 8 Days from Tel Aviv

Fly into Ben Gurion Airport (TLV) and make your way to Tel Aviv by train — the express train runs directly to Tel Aviv HaShalom station for around ₪16 (~£3.50), making the pricey airport transfer shuttle unnecessary. Check into a budget hostel in the Florentin or Central Bus Station area. Spend the evening wandering the Carmel Market and grabbing street food on Allenby Street. Tel Aviv has a vibrant backpacker scene — your hostel common room is a great place to meet fellow travellers.

🚌Express train from Ben Gurion Airport to Tel Aviv HaShalom station, ~₪16 (~£3.50)

🛏Abraham Hostel Tel Aviv or Florentine Backpackers Hostel — dorm from ~£18/night, private room from ~£55/night

• →Arrive at Ben Gurion Airport and take the express train to Tel Aviv (~£3.50)
• →Check into budget hostel in Florentin or city centre
• →Explore Carmel Market for cheap street food and local atmosphere
• →Walk the beachfront promenade (Tayelet) at sunset

Take an early Egged or Kavim bus north from Tel Aviv Central Bus Station. Stop first at Caesarea National Park to walk the 2,000-year-old Roman theatre and hippodrome (entrance ~₪30/~£6.50). Continue by bus or shared taxi to Haifa to visit the stunning Bahá'í Gardens — entry to the terraces is free with a guided tour or self-guided via the lower gardens. End the day in Akko (Acre), exploring the Crusader tunnels and Old City walls. Return to Tel Aviv by train from Akko (~£8).

🚌Egged bus Tel Aviv to Caesarea (~£5); bus/train Caesarea to Haifa (~£3); train Haifa to Akko (~£2); train Akko to Tel Aviv (~£8)

🛏Abraham Hostel Tel Aviv or Florentine Backpackers Hostel

• →Caesarea National Park — Roman theatre, hippodrome and harbour ruins (book via GetYourGuide or pay at gate, ~£6.50 entry)
• →Bahá'í Gardens in Haifa — free entry to lower gardens, guided terrace tour bookable at the visitor centre
• →Akko Old City — Crusader tunnels, Khan al-Umdan, and the atmospheric souk
• →Return to Tel Aviv by train from Akko station

Take an early bus from Tel Aviv to Tiberias (~£10, ~2.5 hours). From Tiberias, hire a shared taxi or local bus to reach Capernaum, the Mount of Beatitudes, and the Church of the Multiplication at Tabgha — all within a few kilometres of each other on the Sea of Galilee's northern shore. Entry to Capernaum is ~₪10 (~£2). Continue to Yardenit baptism site on the Jordan River (free entry). Finish the day in Nazareth — explore the Basilica of the Annunciation and the vibrant Old City souk before catching a bus back to Tel Aviv or staying overnight in Nazareth.

🚌Egged bus Tel Aviv to Tiberias (~£10); local buses/shared taxis around the Galilee sites (~£8 total); bus Nazareth to Tel Aviv (~£8)

🛏Abraham Hostel Tel Aviv or budget guesthouse in Nazareth (~£20/dorm)

• →Bus from Tel Aviv to Tiberias (~£10)
• →Capernaum archaeological site — entry ~£2
• →Church of Multiplication at Tabgha — donation entry
• →Mount of Beatitudes — panoramic Sea of Galilee views
• →Yardenit baptism site on the Jordan River (free)
• →Nazareth Old City and Basilica of the Annunciation (free)

Take a direct bus or train from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem (~45 mins, ~£4). Base yourself near the Damascus Gate or Jaffa Gate area. Walk the Old City's four quarters — Jewish, Muslim, Christian and Armenian — on your own. Stroll Jaffa Street, pass through Davidka Square, and lose yourself in the Nahlaot neighbourhood's winding alleys. End at Mahane Yehuda Market for an evening of street food, fresh produce and buzzing bars. A free self-guided walking map is available at most hostels.

🚌Train Tel Aviv to Jerusalem (~£4); walking within the Old City and central Jerusalem

🛏Abraham Hostel Jerusalem (highly rated, central) — dorm ~£20/night, private from ~£60

• →Bus or rail from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem (~£4)
• →Jerusalem Old City self-guided walk — Western Wall (free), Via Dolorosa, Church of the Holy Sepulchre (free)
• →Jaffa Street and Davidka Square stroll
• →Nahlaot neighbourhood exploration
• →Mahane Yehuda Market for street food dinner

Join a budget day tour from Jerusalem or take the Egged bus 486 to Masada (~£9 one-way). Ascend by cable car (return ~₪80/~£17) and explore the ancient fortress plateau. Drive or bus to Ein Gedi Nature Reserve — entry ~₪30 (~£6.50) — to hike to David's Waterfall. End the afternoon floating in the Dead Sea at a public beach (Ein Boqeq public beach is free; resort beaches charge ~£10–15). Return to Jerusalem by bus in the evening.

🚌Egged bus Jerusalem to Masada/Ein Gedi/Dead Sea area (~£9 each way); local buses between sites (~£5)

🛏Abraham Hostel Jerusalem

• →Egged bus 486 from Jerusalem to Masada (~£9)
• →Masada cable car ascent (~£17 return) and self-guided exploration of the fortress
• →Ein Gedi Nature Reserve hike to David's Waterfall (~£6.50 entry)
• →Float in the Dead Sea at Ein Boqeq public beach (free) or a resort beach (~£10–15)
• →Bus back to Jerusalem (~£9)

Take an early Egged bus from Jerusalem to Eilat (~£18, ~4.5 hours). Cross into Jordan at the Yitzhak Rabin/Wadi Araba border crossing — border fees are approximately $125 USD payable in cash, and a Jordanian visa on arrival is available for most nationalities (included in the Jordan Pass ~£75 which also covers Petra entry). From Aqaba, take a public minibus or shared taxi to Wadi Rum village (~£4–6). Book a half-day jeep safari with a local Bedouin operator directly in the village (~£20–25pp). Stay overnight at a Bedouin camp including a traditional Zarb dinner.

🚌Egged bus Jerusalem to Eilat (~£18); walking across border; shared taxi/minibus Aqaba to Wadi Rum (~£5)

🛏Wadi Rum Bedouin camp (basic but atmospheric) — ~£25–35pp including dinner

• →Early bus Jerusalem to Eilat (~£18)
• →Cross Yitzhak Rabin border into Jordan — border fee ~$125 USD (~£100) cash
• →Explore Aqaba market briefly before heading to Wadi Rum
• →Shared minibus or taxi Aqaba to Wadi Rum (~£5)
• →Self-booked jeep safari in Wadi Rum with local Bedouin operator (~£22)
• →Overnight Bedouin camp with traditional Zarb dinner included
• →Optional: camel ride or stargazing experience (~£10–15 extra)

Wake up early for sunrise over the red desert from your camp, then enjoy breakfast before heading to Petra. Share a taxi from Wadi Rum village to Petra (~£15–20 split between travellers, ~1.5 hours). Entry to Petra is covered if you bought the Jordan Pass (highly recommended); otherwise the one-day ticket is around JD50 (~£55). Spend the full day exploring the Siq, the iconic Treasury (Al-Khazneh), the Street of Facades, the Theatre, the Colonnaded Street, and the mountaintop High Place of Sacrifice. Download the free Petra audio guide app before you go.

🚌Shared taxi Wadi Rum to Petra (~£15–20 per taxi, split with fellow travellers)

🛏Rocky Mountain Hotel or Valentine Inn, Wadi Musa (Petra town) — budget rooms from ~£25–35/night

• →Breakfast at Bedouin camp
• →Shared taxi Wadi Rum to Petra (~£15–20)
• →Petra entry via Jordan Pass or one-day ticket (~£55 if not using Jordan Pass)
• →Self-guided walk through the Siq to the Treasury
• →Explore Obelisk Tomb, Theatre, Royal Tombs, and Colonnaded Street
• →Optional: hike to the High Place of Sacrifice for panoramic views
• →Optional: early morning hike at sunrise (get there before 6am)

Depending on your flight, you have two options: fly home from Aqaba (King Hussein International Airport, ~1 hour from Petra by taxi) or return to Tel Aviv via the Wadi Araba border crossing. JETT bus runs from Petra/Wadi Musa to Aqaba (~£8, 2 hours). For those returning to Israel, take a taxi to the border (~£25), cross back into Eilat, then Egged bus to Tel Aviv (~£18). Alternatively, the JETT bus runs Aqaba to Amman if you're flying from Queen Alia International Airport.

🚌Taxi Wadi Musa to Aqaba (~£25) or JETT bus (~£8); Egged bus Eilat to Tel Aviv (~£18)

🛏No accommodation required — departure day

• →Optional early morning visit back to Petra for sunrise (free if Jordan Pass still valid)
• →JETT bus Petra to Aqaba (~£8)
• →Cross border at Wadi Araba back into Eilat if returning to Tel Aviv
• →Egged bus Eilat to Tel Aviv (~£18) or fly home from Aqaba