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Bethany Baptism Jordan River Visit
4.1
23 Ratings
Amman
Experience the sacred site of Bethany Beyond the Jordan River on a private 4-hour tour from Amman. Visit the baptismal site, explore ancient ruins, and enjoy the expertise of a local guide. Upgrade to include a visit to Iraq Al Amir caves and Qasr al-Abad palace.
Experience the sacred site of Bethany Beyond the Jordan River on a private 4-hour tour from Amman. Visit the baptismal site, explore ancient ruins, and enjoy the expertise of a local guide. Upgrade to include a visit to Iraq Al Amir caves and Qasr al-Abad palace.
Duration:
4 hours
Cancellation:
24 hours
Highlights
- Amman - Meet the driver at the Amman hotel and travel in a private, comfortable air-conditioned vehicle to the River Jordan with a private English-speaking driver who also serves as a guide. Along the way, enjoy the views of Jordan’s stark landscapes and arrive at Bethany Beyond the Jordan River, known as “Al-Maghtas” in Arabic, the site on the…
- Amman - Meet the driver at the Amman hotel and travel in a private, comfortable air-conditioned vehicle to the River Jordan with a private English-speaking driver who also serves as a guide. Along the way, enjoy the views of Jordan’s stark landscapes and arrive at Bethany Beyond the Jordan River, known as “Al-Maghtas” in Arabic, the site on the eastern bank of the river where it is believed Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist.
- The Baptism Site Of Jesus Christ - Join a local guide for a tour of the riverbanks and significant excavated ruins, learning how the site was recognized as the place of Jesus’ baptism by the Vatican and visited by Pope John Paul II in 2000. Absorb the profound sense of spirituality and see the remains of Roman and Byzantine churches, caves, wells, and baptismal pools. As you walk, listen to the guide explain why archaeologists believe John the Baptist lived, preached, and performed baptisms here. Discover more about this renowned Christian pilgrimage site and its significance in Christianity, Judaism, and Islam as the believed site of the Prophet Elijah’s ascension to heaven. Afterward, meet with the driver again and return to Amman, concluding the tour with a hotel drop-off. Please note: the Bethany on this trip should not be confused with Bethany in Jerusalem, where it is believed Mary Magdalene lived and Lazarus was raised from the dead.
- Iraq Al Amir - Upgrade Iraq Al Amir Visit: Alternatively, if an upgrade is chosen, travel to Iraq Al Amir, home to numerous cliff-side caves dating back to the Copper Age. Drive through olive groves and pine trees, and after exploring the caves, continue to nearby Qasr al-Abad, a restored pre-Roman building from the 2nd or 3rd century B.C. Admire the exterior, pillars, and animal carvings as you explore the ancient structure, thought to have been a villa or minor palace. Then, reunite with the driver and finish the tour with a drop-off at the Amman hotel.
What's Included
- English-Speaking Driver
- Hotel pick up and drop off
- On board WI-FI
- Private Transfer by air-conditioned leisure new vehicle according to number of participants
- Local English-Speaking Guide at Bethany Jordan River (collective)
- Entrance fees Iraq Al Amir; if option selected
- Entrance Fees to Bethany (Baptism Site at Jordan River)
- English-Speaking Driver
- Hotel pick up and drop off
- On board WI-FI
- Private Transfer by air-conditioned leisure new vehicle according to number of participants
- Local English-Speaking Guide at Bethany Jordan River (collective)
- Entrance fees Iraq Al Amir; if option selected
- Entrance Fees to Bethany (Baptism Site at Jordan River)
What's Not Included
- All type of meals, unless option with lunch selected (Vegetarian meal by request)
- All type of beverages
- All type of gratuities (Tips to the Driver and Local Guide) – Recommended
- Personal Expenses
- Anything else not mentioned
- All type of meals, unless option with lunch selected (Vegetarian meal by request)
- All type of beverages
- All type of gratuities (Tips to the Driver and Local Guide) – Recommended
- Personal Expenses
- Anything else not mentioned
Additional Information
Join a private 4-hour excursion from Amman to the Jordan River, where Jesus was baptized. Visit the Bethany Beyond the Jordan River Baptism Site, also known as “Al-Maghtas,” and explore the riverbanks, ancient church ruins, wells, and baptismal pools. The package includes entrance fees, a local guide, and round-trip private transportation with a…
Join a private 4-hour excursion from Amman to the Jordan River, where Jesus was baptized. Visit the Bethany Beyond the Jordan River Baptism Site, also known as “Al-Maghtas,” and explore the riverbanks, ancient church ruins, wells, and baptismal pools. The package includes entrance fees, a local guide, and round-trip private transportation with a knowledgeable English-speaking driver. You can choose to upgrade your trip to include a visit to the nearby Iraq Al Amir caves and the pre-Roman Qasr al-Abad palace. Hotel return is also included.
- Confirmation will be received at the time of booking.
- Airport Pick-up and Drop-off by request.
- Contact your local operator (office phone number, emergency mobile number – out of office hours, or email address) a day before to reconfirm pick-up arrangements provided in your voucher.
- For Jordan Pass holders that purchased tour activity with entrance fees, please inform us to reimburse the entrance fees in destination.
- Tour activity is provided in English. For other languages by request.
- Clients with mobility issues, please contact us.
- Strollers and car seats for infants, please contact us
- Most local tourist restaurants in Jordan do not serve alcohol, if you do not want a dry restaurant that does not serve alcohol, please contact us.
- Clients are advised to bring hats, sunscreen, and comfortable walking shoes.
- Dress code at Churches: Modest.
- Visits to churches are not allowed during prayer times.
- Indicate special dietary requirements at the time of booking.
Location
Amman
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Customer Ratings
4.1
(23 Ratings)
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Gretcheng795
Feb 4, 2026
FABULOUS Day Trip to Bethany!! Rich with Biblical History! - FABULOUS Day Trip to Bethany
Our trip to Bethany was perfect. A wonderful day trip to the baptismal sights and the river Jordan. Issa was our driver and host for the day, he was prompt with our hotel pickup, very engaging, and very informative during the drive out to the Bethany. On the way he treated us to some Turkish coffee which was much needed as we had just arrived in Amman the day before. Issa was very helpful with purchasing the tickets and making sure we got on the bus to the baptismal site.
After our tour (which is done by a Jordanian government assigned guide) Issa took us to a lovely restaurant where we had a very nice authentic Jordanian meal. We returned to Amman with a tour of old Amman and a stop to try the Jordania’s famous dessert Knafeh
I highly recommend this tour if you want an easy lovely day filled with rich biblical history.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Verneda_n
May 8, 2024
Very spiritual - The driver was very friendly and well informed. Just the site itself was very spiritual! The guide was also well informed! I thoroughly enjoyed myself.
Review provided by Viator
Shareenlombard
Jan 24, 2024
Best driver/tour service in Jordan - Our driver Mahmoud was most knowledgable and accommodating
He messaged the night before to confirm pickup details and was on time to collect.
Mahmoud drove us to The Bethany and was super expedient in getting our tickets and onto the shuttle for the tour to the baptism site .
He also stopped enroute for us to take pics and bought fresh fennel and roasted nuts for us to taste. He took us to Mount Nevis which was not even included in the tour.
Jordanian people are super friendly, helpful and rich with culture.
I would recommend all visit Jordan - it’s super safe and full of historical sites to explore.
Review provided by Viator
Voyageur590
Jun 17, 2023
It's mostly a matter of history... - Nothing exceptional, but that's the story...
The different churches of the site are nevertheless to be seen.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Gabrielap279
Apr 1, 2023
Great experience! - This was such a great experience and not just because of the places we visited as much as it was due to Hassan who was our driver and guide! Hassan was absolutely amazing and lovely throughout the day and made this a great experience! Definitely recommend!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Recyv
Mar 29, 2023
Special place - Special place and our guide told everything very clearly.
Well arranged because you were taken to the place with a bus including a guide. Then we walked a bit.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Adiy77
Dec 16, 2025
Fundamental for Christians - Fundamental site for Christianity .If you visit Jordan you have to see it .Entrance is like 15€ and you are transferred by bus .(in Jordan day pass is not included)It is not worth buying tours that offer everywhere only charge you money for nothing and in the end they take you to the same places (for them it is more important to take you in the souvenir shops 🤪)
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Truck2013
Jun 14, 2023
Sacred History - It’s not a very visited place, but without deviating much when you go to the Dead Sea you can stop to see the place where Jesus Christ was baptized. You can also see the place from which the prophet Elijah ascended to heaven.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Maoxdlc
Jun 6, 2023
Flee the merchants of the temple - The site has nothing wrong with the substance.
The shape is different.
This really lacks the solemnity of places of this type. Whether one is an atheist or believes whatever religion there is not the subject.
Our "guide" was content with very brief explanations and was clearly more inclined and motivated to spend time in the shops.
We start with a guide and in a group (mandatory) in an overpriced shop to buy all the derivatives unimaginable (tuniques of compulsory baptism to immerse ourselves, bottle to fill with "sacred" water and "holy" olive oil...) we finish with the shop and in the middle, the pinnacle: a stand of these products directly in the church 😅 after another at the entrance of the "museum"
“[Jesus] went into the temple, and began to drive out those who sold, saying, It says: My house will be a house of prayer. But you turned it into a cavern of thieves.”
Luke, XIX, 45-46
Too bad not being able to do it solo with audio guide ...
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Roman4421
May 8, 2024
Not worth visiting, nothing to see.. cant tour on your own. Expensive - This is really not worth visiting.. first for the price 20 Euro, entrance fee and the remote location. You are not allowed to roam around at you're leisure. You get in a bus with a chaperone at the visitor center. that drive you about 2 km to the Greek orthodox church souvenir shop to buy stuff then walk a about 600 meters to a site of Jesus baptismal a wooden structure and dry river.. then walk another 700 meter to the river jordan.. border with israel.. 5 min.. turn around walk back to another souvenir shop, where you wait for the bus back to the visitor center, you're not allowed to walk around or be out of the chaperone site.. he doesn't really explain anything.. just sit there.. you will pass 2 checkpoint with soldiers.. so not worth it don't waste you're time or money.. oh and the bus leaves on the hour
Review provided by Tripadvisor
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