HERITAGE OF THE HOLY LAND

Upon arriving at Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport, meet your tour representative before hopping on the transfer to your hotel in Tel Aviv for your first night in Israel. Spend the rest of the day at leisure, becoming acquainted with your vibrant new surroundings.  Overnight in Tel Aviv in selected hotel category and board option.

DAY 2 : TEL AVIV – SEA OF GALILEE – TIBERIAS (292 KM; 3 HRS)

After breakfast, enjoy a short visit to the city of Jaffa, Tel Aviv’s charming neighbor, where we take a short walking tour through the picturesque alleys of this old, fortified town. Pass by the house of Simon the Tanner and marvel at the views from the hilltop. Then drive north along the coast to the archaeological ruins of Caesarea, built by Herod the Great in honor of Augustus Caesar. Continue to Megiddo, where the Book of Revelations mentions a great battle at the place called ‘Armageddon’. It was an ancient city inhabited continuously for more than five millennia (6,000-500 BC). After exploring the ancient ruins, drive towards the Sea of Galilee stopping at Cana to visit the Wedding Church. Arrive at Tiberias, a glimmering white city that sits on the shores of Galilee and check in to your hotel.  Overnight in Tiberias in selected hotel category and board option

DAY 3 : TIBERIAS – SEA OF GALILEE – TIBERIAS (180 KM; 3 HRS)

Wake up to breakfast at the hotel and then start the day in the historical city of Tiberias, where Jesus lived, sojourned, and preached on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. Your next stop is Capernaum, the center of Jesus’ ministry. Continue on to Tabgha, the site of Christ’s miracle of feeding the 5,000, and the Church of the Multiplication, where the mosaic floor depicts a basket with loaves and two fish. Drive on to the Mount of Beatitudes, which overlooks the sea where Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount. It is believed that Jesus picked his 12 apostles here. Ascend to the Golan Heights to view the panoramic view from the peaks of Mount Hermon: the rugged plateau of the Golan Heights and beneath it the green pastoral Hula Valley. Then, visit Banias (Caesarea Philippi), one of the sources of the river Jordan, where Jesus revealed his purpose and His Church and where Simon identified Jesus as the Messiah. Drive to the southern part of the Sea of Galilee to visit the Yardenit Baptismal Site. Return to Tiberias for another lovely night in town.   Overnight in Tiberias in selected hotel category and board option

DAY 4: TIBERIAS – NAZARETH – JORDAN RIVER – BEIT SHE’AN – JERUSALEM (254KM; 4HRS)

This morning, after breakfast, sail on a boat on the Sea of Galilee to experience the tranquility and scenery that little changed during the past 2000 years (subject to conditions and fees). Then, travel to Nazareth, the city where Jesus spent his childhood, and visit the Church of Annunciation, built on the site where archaeologists believe the Archangel Gabriel appeared to the Virgin Mary. You will also see Mary’s Well and Joseph’s Church. Visit the ancient synagogue at Beit Alpha, located at the foot of the northern slopes of the Gilboa Mountains which has one of most preserved and beautiful mosaics in Israel. Drive through the Jordan Valley, passing by Jericho, before ascending through the Judean Mountains to Jerusalem.  Overnight in Jerusalem in your selected hotel category and board option.

DAY 5 : JERUSALEM – MASADA – DEAD SEA – JERUSALEM (162 KM; 2 HRS)

After breakfast, and en route to the Dead Sea, visit the site of the Qumran Caves, where the legendary Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered. Gliding through the remarkable scenery of the Dead Sea, continue on to Masada, situated on an isolated cliff in the Judean Desert, a UNESCO-listed World Heritage Site. Ascend by cable car to the fortress, which was the last stronghold of the Jewish Zealots in their war against the Romans. Visit the excavations, King Herod’s palace, the synagogue, the bathhouse and much more. Contemplate the breath-taking view of the Roman camps and the Dead Sea. Nearly 400 meters below sea level, the Dead Sea is the lowest point on the earth’s surface. Bring your swimsuit because, weather permitting, it is possible to float on the salty, mineral-rich water. Return to Jerusalem.  Overnight in Jerusalem in selected hotel and board option. 

DAY 6 : JERUSALEM

After the breakfast, start the day at the Israel Museum’s Shrine of the Book with the famous Dead Sea scrolls, then a visit to the beautifully renovated model of the Herodian city of Jerusalem, dating back to the time of the Second Temple. Enjoy Ein Karem, a picturesque village in the southwestern outskirts of Jerusalem. This small village has great significance in Christian traditions, since this is where according to tradition John the Baptist was born. Visit Yad Vashem the official memorial to the Jewish victims of the Holocaust, established in 1953, located at the foot of Mt. Hertzl. Visit Bethlehem – the birthplace of Jesus at the Church of the Nativity and Manger Square. Return to your Jerusalem hotel. Overnight in Jerusalem in selected hotel category and board option

DAY 7 : JERUSALEM: OLD CITY TOUR

After breakfast visit the Old City, see the Western Wall and the site of the Second Temple, the Temple Mount. Walk along the Way of the Cross, also known as the Via Dolorosa, to Calvary and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, housing both the traditional site of Crucifixion and the Tomb of the Resurrection. To the southwest, just outside the Old City, is Mount Zion, with the traditional tomb of King David and the Room of the Last Supper. Enjoy a spectacular panoramic view of Jerusalem, the holy city for each of the world’s three great religions – Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. Your tour includes the Mount of Olives, a stop at the site where Jesus first gave the Lord’s Prayer, and the Garden of Gethsemane, where Judas betrayed Jesus. Return to your hotel and spend the remainder of the day at leisure.  Overnight in Jerusalem in selected hotel category and board option.

DAY 8: DEPARTURE TEL AVIV

We have reached our final day on this tour! Enjoy one last breakfast before your transfer takes you to the airport for your flight back home.  Breakfast included.

TOUR GUIDE:

• Operated with a shared English-speaking licensed guide on all touring days

ACCOMMODATION:

• 7 night’s accommodation

MEALS:

•  7 breakfasts
•  Half-board option: 7 breakfasts and 6 Dinners (at additional cost, half-board supplement) 

TRANSPORT:

• Transfer from/to Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv on arrival and departure  
• Sightseeing in a modern air-conditioned motor coach.

ENTRANCE FEES AND ACTIVITIES:

• All entrance fees and visit indicated as included: a short visit to Jaffa, a visit to Megiddo, Church of the Annunciation, a visit to the Wedding Church in Cana, visit to excavations of Beit Shean, a visit to Qumran Caves, a Cable car in Masada, visit excavation, King Herod’s palace, synagogue, visit the tomb of King David, Visit Israel Museum, Knesset, the campus of Hebrew University, visit Bethlehem

OTHER:

• Meet & greet on arrival at the airport Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv

Exclusions

• Porterage at the airport
• Tipping for guide, driver, and hotel staff
• Beverages with meals
• Travel, medical or baggage insurance
• Airport arrival and/or departure transfers will only be provided for clients who have hotel reservations booked through us
• The maximum number of transfers provided per booking will be according to the number of rooms reserved, if clients arrive and/or depart on separate flights, any extra meet & greet assistance and transfers required will be charged accordingly
• In case of changes causing passengers to arrive on different or delayed flights, we cannot be responsible for providing new transfers. Passengers will be required to make their own way to their hotel

Please note

• Please take note that Entrance to Yad Vashem is not permitted for children 0 to 10 years.
• Hotel early check-out, early check-in, late check-in, and connecting or adjoining rooms are all subject to availability and not guaranteed
• Please note that hotel classification is as per Israeli standards.
• No refunds for unused services. Splitting the package is not allowed.
• Please note that local conditions prevalent at the time of travel may result in modifications to the contents of the tour without prior notice, including possible changes of hotels and/or itinerary
• Please note Single room is available on request. 

What do I need to bring?

Comfortable and light clothing is best suited to travel in the warm months and warm clothing in the colder months in Israel. Visitors should not wear sleeveless shirts, shorts, short skirts, or sparse clothing when visiting temples, religious or official buildings, or at the Western Wall. Sun protection, sunglasses and a hat can be very useful during your stay.