ISRAEL TOUR

 

Sunday

Arrival Upon arrival to airport meet our representative and transfer to Tel Aviv.
Overnight: Tel Aviv

 

Monday

Masada and the Dead Sea
Depart Tel Aviv and descend to the lowest place on earth. Drive along the shores of the Dead Sea to the rock fortress of Masada. Visit Herod's palaces, dating back 2000 years. Then hear about the zealots who defied the Roman Empire from this location.  Enjoy a chance to swim in the Dead Sea. The water is so rich in salts and minerals that you float! Ascend the mountains to Jerusalem.
Overnight: Jerusalem

Tuesday

Jerusalem - New City
Start with a spectacular view of Jerusalem from Mount Scopus, and then onto the Garden of Gethsemane. Visit the tomb of King David and the Room of the Last Supper on Mount Zion. See the famous Dead Sea Scrolls at the Shrine of the Book. Experience a moving visit to the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial. See the Marc Chagall stained glass windows at the Hadassah medical center, and visit Ein Karem where John the Baptist was born.
Overnight: Jerusalem

Wednesday

Jerusalem - Old City and Bethlehem
Visit the Western Wall and the Temple Mount (subject to security clearance).  Explore the colourful bazaars, and walk the Via Dolorosa (Stations of the Cross) until the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. Continue to Bethlehem (subject to security clearance) to visit Rachel's Tomb and the Church of the Nativity.
Overnight: Jerusalem

Thursday

Sea of Galilee
Depart Jerusalem via Jericho (subject to security clearance), the oldest city in the world. Explore the excavations of the beautiful Roman City of Beit Shean. Proceed to Tiberias, and drive along the shores of the Sea of Galilee to Capernaum to visit the ruins of the ancient synagogue.
Overnight: Galilee Kibbutz hotel

Friday

Upper Galilee
Drive to Safed - city of Mystical Judaism. Explore Caesari of Philippi at the Banias Springs.  Ascend the Golan Heights and from Mt. Bental, peer deep into Syria and the ghost town of Kuneitra. Continue onto Nazareth and the Church of Annunciation.
Overnight: Galilee Kibbutz hotel

Saturday

Coastal Plain
Depart for Akko (Acre) to explore the Knights' Halls and the secret Crusader tunnels, then to Haifa to view the magnificent Bahai gardens from atop Mount Carmel. Stop at Caesarea, to visit the Roman Theatre and the Crusader Fortress.
Overnight: Tel Aviv

Sunday

Departure
Transfer to the airport for departure.

 

OPTIONAL:

JORDAN EXTENSION TOUR:

 

Sunday

Jerash
Drive to Sheik Hussein Bridge for border crossing procedures to enter Jordan. Explore Jerash,  the ancient Roman city of the Decapolis. Visit the Citadel and Roman Amphitheater on a panoramic city tour of Amman.
Overnight: Amman

Monday

Petra
After an early breakfast, leave the hotel and travel along the Desert Highway on the road to Petra.  Enjoy a spectacular full day tour exploring the rose-red city of Petra. Enjoy a short horse ride, and then travel on foot through the awesome 'SIQ' valley. Visit the Treasury, and explore hundreds of buildings, tombs, temples, and a 3,000-seat theater from the first-century AD. After the visit depart for Amman.
Overnight: Amman

Tuesday

Kings Way
See the intricate ancient Mosaic map of the Holy Land at Madaba. Visit Mt. Nebo where Moses viewed the Promised Land before his passing. Explore the remains of the Byzantine Church with a mosaic floor, and from a platform in front of the church enjoy a breathtaking view across the Jordan Valley and the Dead Sea. In the afternoon transfer to Amman airport or over the border and onto Jerusalem or Tel Aviv Airport.