Israel & Petra Self-Launched: 10 Days from Tel Aviv
10 days · Israel, Palestine & Jordan
Booking Tours charges £2,230
No-markup version: ~£1,180 per person
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
A self-launched version of Booking Tours' 10-day "Israel with Petra" loop — same route through the Galilee, Caesarea and Acre, Jerusalem, Jericho and Bethlehem, Masada and the Dead Sea, then across the border from Eilat to Petra — rebuilt for independent travellers using shared sheruts (service taxis), the Israeli and Jordanian bus networks, and self-bookable day trips. Where the group tour swaps guides and hotel blocks daily, you pick your own base in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem and hire local guides only for the sites that genuinely need them (Masada, Petra, the Old City). Note this is a fast-moving region: check FCDO/travel advisories and border-crossing status before booking, and buy flexible tickets where possible. All costs are rough per-person estimates in GBP, based on budget guesthouses and dorms and self-arranged transport.
Day-by-day
Tel Aviv to Nazareth: Annunciation, St Joseph's and Mount of Precipitation
Tel Aviv → Nazareth
The group tour collects you at 08:00 from a Tel Aviv hotel — you can do better by leaving on the 07:00 or 08:00 Egged bus 826 from Tel Aviv Central Bus Station to Nazareth (Afula junction change if needed), roughly 2 hours and about £6. Drop bags at a guesthouse in the Old City and walk the basilica circuit yourself: the Church of the Annunciation (free, closes midday for lunch — go early afternoon), the Church of St Joseph next door, and Mary's Well. For the Mount of Precipitation viewpoint, take a shared taxi (sherut) or a 20-minute local bus up to the ridge, or skip it and instead use the time for the Nazareth Village or the Shuk. Evening: knafeh and hummus in the old market, £6-8.
🚌Egged bus 826 Tel Aviv → Nazareth ~£6; local buses/sheruts ~£2
🛏Old City guesthouse or hostel dorm, £18-25/night
- →Church of the Annunciation (free)
- →Church of St Joseph (free)
- →Nazareth Old City market walk
- →Mount of Precipitation viewpoint by local bus
Nazareth to Tel Aviv — or better, sleep in Haifa
Nazareth → Tel Aviv / Haifa
The operator gives you a dead day back in Tel Aviv. Independent travellers should spend it moving north-west instead: bus to Haifa (about 1 hour, £4), check into a Carmel or Hadar guesthouse, and use the afternoon for the Bahá'í Gardens terraces (free timed entry from the top; book the free 11:00 or 15:00 English tour online). Sunset from the Louis Promenade. If you'd rather keep the operator's shape, the 826 runs back to Tel Aviv in ~2 hours for £6 and you get an afternoon on the beach.
🚌Bus Nazareth → Haifa ~£4 (or Nazareth → Tel Aviv ~£6)
🛏Haifa guesthouse/hostel, £20-28/night
- →Bahá'í Gardens terraces free guided tour (book online)
- →Louis Promenade sunset
- →German Colony stroll
Caesarea, Rosh Hanikra and Acre in one loop
Haifa → Caesarea → Rosh Hanikra → Acre
This is the tour's best day and it's very doable solo. Take the train from Haifa to Caesarea–Pardes Hanna and a local bus to the national park (combined ~£6); the Roman theatre and harbour ruins entry is about £9. Continue north by train to Nahariya (£4) and local bus 31 to Rosh Hanikra for the cable car and sea grottos (£9). Finish in Acre (Akko) by train (£4): the Crusader castle complex with the Hall of the Knights and the Templar tunnel is about £12, and the old market and harbour are free. Sleep in Acre's old city rather than backtracking — a sea-view guesthouse is £30-40, or a dorm in Haifa for £20.
🚌Train Haifa–Caesarea–Nahariya–Akko ~£14 total; local buses ~£3
🛏Acre old-city guesthouse £30-40, or Haifa dorm £20
- →Caesarea National Park Roman theatre & harbour (~£9)
- →Rosh Hanikra grottos & cable car (~£9)
- →Acre Crusader castle & Templar tunnel (~£12)
- →Acre old market and fishing harbour (free)
Acre to Jerusalem
Acre → Jerusalem
Another of the operator's hotel-only days — use it to reposition. Train from Akko to Tel Aviv HaShalom or HaHagana, then change for Jerusalem Malha or take the 480 Egged express bus from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem Central Bus Station (~£10 total, 2.5-3 hours). Check into a guesthouse in East Jerusalem or a hostel near Jaffa Gate/Zion Square, £20-30. Spend the late afternoon walking the Mount of Olives: Chapel of Ascension, Pater Noster, Dominus Flevit and the Church of All Nations in the Garden of Gethsemane (all free or a couple of pounds), with the classic view over the Old City at dusk. Shabbat note: from Friday afternoon to Saturday evening trains and buses stop — plan movements around it.
🚌Train Akko → Tel Aviv ~£5 + bus/train to Jerusalem ~£5
🛏Jerusalem hostel/guesthouse £20-30/night
- →Mount of Olives walk
- →Church of All Nations & Gethsemane (donation)
- →Dominus Flevit viewpoint
Jerusalem Old City: Jewish Quarter, Western Wall, Via Dolorosa, Holy Sepulchre, Yad Vashem
Jerusalem
Do this with a free or cheap walking guide rather than a coach: the Western Wall Heritage Fund runs free tunnel/plaza tours (book ahead), and Sandemans-style free walking tours of the Old City tip £10-15. Walk the Cardo and Jewish Quarter, the Western Wall (free, modest dress), then the Via Dolorosa's Stations of the Cross to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre — free, but go early to avoid the queues and the midday closure. Afternoon: bus or light rail to Yad Vashem (free entry, but book a timed slot online; £1 bus fare) — allow a full 2 hours. Evening: Machane Yehuda market for a £7-9 dinner.
🚌Light rail/bus £2
🛏Jerusalem hostel/guesthouse £20-30/night
- →Free Old City walking tour (tip £12)
- →Western Wall & tunnels (free/~£8)
- →Via Dolorosa & Holy Sepulchre (free)
- →Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum (free, timed ticket)
Jericho and Bethlehem by shared taxi
Jerusalem → Jericho → Bethlehem
The tour's coach handles the checkpoints; you'll do it the local way. From Damascus Gate take an Arab bus or shared taxi to Ramallah/Bethlehem (about £2), then a sherut from Bethlehem or Jerusalem's Sultan Suleiman station to Jericho (~£2-3). In Jericho, the Tel es-Sultan excavation (ancient Jericho) is about £3, the Shalom al Yisrael synagogue mosaic a couple of pounds, and the Mount of Temptation monastery cable car ~£7. Back to Bethlehem for Manger Square, the Church of the Nativity and St Catherine's (free, expect a queue), then the Separation Wall and Banksy works. Cross back to Jerusalem before dark; carry your passport and keep the entry stamp paperwork you're given at checkpoints.
🚌Shared taxis/buses Jerusalem–Bethlehem–Jericho ~£8 total
🛏Jerusalem hostel/guesthouse £20-30/night
- →Tel es-Sultan excavations (~£3)
- →Mount of Temptation cable car (~£7)
- →Church of the Nativity & St Catherine's (free)
- →Banksy wall art, Bethlehem (free)
Masada at sunrise, Dead Sea float, then the long run to Eilat
Jerusalem → Masada → Dead Sea → Eilat
Book a GetYourGuide/Viator shared sunrise trip from Jerusalem covering Masada and a Dead Sea beach stop (~£55-70 including park entry and cable car, or ~£35 if you take the self-guided route: Egged bus 486 from Jerusalem to Masada ~£5, park entry £8, cable car £9). If you're fit, the Snake Path hike up is free and takes 45-60 minutes. Float in the Dead Sea at Ein Bokek (free public beach, showers a few pounds), and stop at Qumran on the return if your driver offers it (~£4 entry). Late afternoon: bus to Eilat — the Egged 444 takes about 4 hours and £14, or catch a cheap domestic flight from Tel Aviv if timings suit. Sleep in Eilat near the North Beach.
🚌Shared tour transfer ~£40 (incl. Dead Sea) + bus Masada/Eilat ~£14
🛏Eilat hostel/guesthouse £22-32/night
- →Masada sunrise, Snake Path or cable car (~£17)
- →Dead Sea float at Ein Bokek (free)
- →Qumran Caves viewpoint (~£4)
Cross into Jordan: Eilat to Petra
Eilat → Aqaba → Wadi Musa (Petra)
The operator sells a border-assistance day; it's straightforward alone. Take a taxi to the Yitzhak Rabin/Wadi Araba crossing (£8-10), pay the Israeli exit fee (~£30, often paid online in advance) and the Jordanian visa-on-arrival/entry (~£35-40 if not covered by the Jordan Pass — buying the Jordan Pass online in advance for ~£60 covers your visa and two days of Petra entry, which is usually the better deal). On the Jordan side, a taxi to Aqaba town is £8-10, then the JETT or local minibus Aqaba → Wadi Musa takes 2 hours for £5-7 (morning departures; otherwise a shared taxi for £25-30). Drop bags at a Wadi Musa guesthouse and do the free Petra by Night if it's running on your night (~£18, book at the visitor centre).
🚌Taxi to border £9 + exit fee £30 + Jordan taxi/minibus £10
🛏Wadi Musa guesthouse £15-22/night
- →Wadi Araba border crossing
- →Petra by Night candlelit Siq walk (~£18, optional)
Full day in Petra — Treasury, tombs, monastery
Wadi Musa (Petra)
Start at 06:30 when the gate opens — you'll have the Siq and the Treasury's facade almost to yourself and beat both the heat and the day-trip crowds. The tour gives you about 3 hours; give yourself the whole day. Walk the Street of Facades, the Royal Tombs and the Urn Tomb viewpoint, the Roman theatre, then commit to the 800-step climb to the Monastery (Ad Deir) — the single best thing on the site. Optional local Bedouin guide at the gate is £25-35 for 2-3 hours if you want the history. Bring 3 litres of water, snacks and sun cover; there's a café at the Basin. Second-day Petra entry is included with the Jordan Pass.
🚌Walk to gate; local taxi £3 if you're staying far out
🛏Wadi Musa guesthouse £15-22/night
- →Petra full-day entry (included in Jordan Pass)
- →Monastery hike
- →Royal Tombs & Urn Tomb viewpoint
- →Optional Bedouin guide (~£30)
Petra back to Eilat and on to Tel Aviv / Ben Gurion
Wadi Musa → Aqaba → Eilat → Tel Aviv
Retrace the crossing: minibus or shared taxi Wadi Musa → Aqaba (£5-7), taxi to the Wadi Araba crossing (£9), pay the Israeli re-entry processing and take a taxi or bus into Eilat (£2). The operator drives you to Ben Gurion between 12:00 and 18:00; independently, the cheapest option is the Egged 390/444 Eilat → Tel Aviv (~£16, 5 hours) plus a train or bus to the airport (£4), or a domestic Arkia/Israir Eilat–Tel Aviv flight from ~£35 if you're tight on time. If your flight is early the next morning, sleep near Tel Aviv's HaHagana station rather than risk the drive.
🚌Minibus to Aqaba £6 + taxi/border £12 + Eilat–Tel Aviv bus £16 + airport transfer £4
🛏Tel Aviv hostel if flying next day, £22-30
- →Border crossing back into Israel
- →Optional Eilat beach hour before the bus
Self-launched vs. Booking Tours
| This itinerary (self-launched) | Booking Tours | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per person | ~£1,180 | £2,230 |
| Duration | 10 days | 10 days |
| Who books it | You and your group, direct | Tour operator, guided group |
| Savings | £1,050 per person (47%) | |
Estimate only, not a guaranteed price. Always verify costs independently before booking.
Want to see more Booking Tours-style trips? Check them out here.~£1,180
estimated per person
You never pay Travel Crew for this — you pay hostels, transport, and activity providers directly, the same as if you'd booked it all yourself.
This publishes your dates so other travellers can find and join you — no tour operator needed.
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Frequently asked questions
How much does Israel & Petra Self-Launched: 10 Days from Tel Aviv cost?+
Doing it yourself with this self-launched itinerary costs an estimated £1,180 per person for 10 days in Israel, Palestine & Jordan. This is an AI-generated estimate based on typical budget-traveller prices — actual costs will vary by season and how you book.
Is this cheaper than booking with Booking Tours?+
Yes — Booking Tours charges around £2,230 per person for a similar tour. Doing the same route independently, using the same standard of accommodation and activities, costs an estimated £1,180 — a saving of roughly £1,050 (47%) per person.
How long is the Israel, Palestine & Jordan trip?+
This itinerary runs 10 days, covering 10 day-by-day stops through Israel, Palestine & Jordan.
How do I join this trip?+
You can join an existing open departure using this itinerary if one is scheduled, or launch your own departure with your own dates and invite other travellers to join you — no tour operator required.
Isn't it easier to just use a tour operator?+
Well, yes, a tour operator will book all the individual parts of your travel for you and provide a guide. That's obvious, but doing this has the potential to save the group thousands, which can in turn improve your itinerary substantially or save you huge amounts of money. Also, when you launch a departure, Travel Crew has tools in place to help you book the individual sections of the trip or make it easier for you to do this as a group. Really, you do not need a middle man. If you are more comfortable paying more and using a middle man, then you should certainly do this.
Is it safer to book through a tour operator?+
Arguably, there isn't much difference. A self-launched trip runs on the same principle as a group travel crew: collective responsibility, everyone looking out for each other, the same way it would if a group of friends organised the trip themselves — because that's exactly what's happening. You should always take out travel insurance before you go, self-launched or not; that doesn't change either way. Every open departure is published publicly with real dates and a real trip organiser, so it's never an anonymous arrangement, and our support team is reachable any time you need help, including in an emergency while you're away. Longer-term, we're building direct relationships with ground DMCs in popular destinations, offered as an optional paid add-on for extra on-the-ground support. Ultimately, though, the group is responsible for its own conduct and safety on a self-launched trip, same as on any trip you plan yourself.
What kind of trip is this?+
This is a culture, adventure, budget trip through Israel, Palestine & Jordan, self-launched rather than run by a tour operator — you organise it with a group you find or bring yourself.
Would you like to name the operator, name the trip, or have any suggestions about how to improve this itinerary?
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