DAY 0 (SATURDAY) - DEPARTURE

Depart your airport of choice.

 

DAY 1 (SUNDAY) - ARRIVE IN TEL AVIV, ISRAEL

Arrival in Tel Aviv! Dinner with traveling companions and Tour Director. Dinner in the hotel in Tel Aviv TEL AVIV HOTEL (one night): Leonardo Beach Hotel,

www.leonardo-beach-tel-aviv.telavivhotelsisrael.com/en/

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DAY 2 (MONDAY) - CAESAREA–ACRE–HAIFA-CANA

Start your tour of the Holy Land with Caesarea, the perfect place to learn about the Roman and Crusader presence in the country. Visit the ROMAN AMPHITHEATER and the impressive CRUSADER FORTRESS, and admire Herod’s stadium and harbor. Visit Acre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, at the northern end of the lovely Bay of Haifa. Acre became the capital of the Crusader kingdom after its conquest by Richard the Lionheart.

 

Marvel at the forbidding Ottoman fortress and tour the excavated part of the immense underground CRUSADER CITY with its secret passageways and the vaulted crypt of the Knights of St. John. Continue to Haifa, a city with a long history dating back to biblical times, and enjoy a visit to the golden-domed BAHA’I SHRINE, the world center of Baha’i faith. Then through Cana, the scene of the wedding feast, where Jesus performs his first of the miracles and taste the celebrated Cana wedding wine. Dinner and overnight in Tiberias. TIBERIAS HOTEL (two nights): Caesar Hotel, https://www.caesarpremier.com/caesar-tiberias-hotel

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DAY 3 (TUESDAY) - MT. OF BEATITUDES- TSFAT-GOLAN HEIGHTS

Today we visit the Mount of Beatitudes, the scene of the Sermon on the Mount, then to the Kabbalah town of Tzfat (Safed) where the Jewish texts were born in ancient times and where you can still breathe the mystical atmosphere of a very special place. Your guide will take you to the synagogues and the little alleys with their unique shops and galleries - because Tzfat is, today, also an artist colony. The Golan Heights is famous for its wines and a wine tasting is a must-do if you are in the region! You will visit a boutique winery and taste their local wine.

 

Dinner and overnight in Tiberias Next, we visit the Church of the Multiplication of the Loaves and Fish and the Chapel of the Primacy at Tabgha and stroll the shoreline of the lake to enjoy the beauty of its settings. We’ll make our way to our last stop at the River Jordan and the tradition of the baptism. We drive to the city of Nazareth in the hill country of Galilee and the hometown of Jesus to visit the church of the Annunciation. Lunch included in Tiberias; dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.

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JERUSALEM HOTEL (six nights): Ibis City Center, Jerusalem, www.accorhotels.com/gb/hotel-8728-ibis-jerusalem-city-center/index.shtml

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DAY 4 (WEDNESDAY) - TIBERIAS NAZARETH -ANNUNCIATION-CANA-MAGDLA- CAPERNAUM-TABGHA- JERUSALEM

An early start driving down the Judean desert through Wadi Qilt to visit the beautiful St. George Monastery. Continue along the ancient Jerusalem-Jericho road to visit the remains of the oldest city in the world, and the church monastery of Temptation overlooking the Jordan valley. Drive to Hisham's palace a desert castle containing some of the finest representations of Umayyad period architectural and artistic styles. End the day visiting Nabi Musa a desert mosque that celebrates the tradition of prophet Moses burial site before heading back to Jerusalem. Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.

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DAY 5 (THURSDAY) - Arenal—Sarchi—San José

From there we continue to explore the heart of Samaria and the present-day town of Sebastia with its outstanding ruins that dominate the hillside comprising remains from six successive cultures dating back to the Canaanites, Israelites, Hellenistic, Herodian, Roman and Byzantine. The remains of a temple built over the Omride palace at the summit of the acropolis and the basilica church believed to be the burial place of the head of John the Baptist. Lunch included in Sabastia; dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.

 

Early morning walk the Via Dolorosa passing the Stations of the Cross to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre the ancient site of the crucifixion and burial of Jesus. Wander the Old City markets to the Western Wall and the Dome of Rock Sanctuary. Then head to the top of the Mount of Olives for a panoramic view of Jerusalem, stroll down the Mount to the Garden of Gethsemane pausing at the lovely chapel of Dominus Flevit.

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DAY 6 (FRIDAY) - BETHLEHEM-NATIVITY- MAR SABA - HERODIAN

We’ll drive to Bethlehem to visit the Church of the Nativity and walk the city streets for a glimpse at the local olive wood industry and a taste of the local food. Drive into the Judean desert to the Orthodox monastery of Mar Saba, perched in a gorge with its beautiful chapels (limited access for women). Then visit the magnificent Herodian fortress, an extraordinary fortified palace built by King Herod on part artificial hill overlooking Bethlehem, Jerusalem and the Dead Sea. Lunch in Bethlehem included; dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.

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DAY 7 (SATURDAY) - TAYBEH VILLAGE- SAMARIA-JACOB WELL-SABASTIA

On the way we visit Taybeh where according to the Bible Jesus, after Lazarus' resurrection, would have retired with his disciples. There we visit remains of a 5th century church, known today as St. George's before we taste the local Taybeh beer from the first Palestinian brewery. Continue to Nablus, beautifully situated between the Gerizim and Ebal mountains and stop at Jacob's Well where Jesus met with the Samaritan woman.

 

Shechem (traditionally associated with Nablus) first appears in the Bible in Genesis which records how Abraham reached the "great tree of Moreh" at Shechem and offered sacrifice nearby. We proceed to the Old City for a walking tour through the markets visiting an old soap factory and the beautifully restored Turkish baths, and a taste of the local sweets the city is renowned for.

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DAY 8 (SUNDAY) - VIA DOLOROSA-WALLING WALL-MT. OF OLIVES-GETHSEMANE- YAD VASHEM

Visit YAD VASHEM, the “World Holocaust Remembrance Center” / Mtg w/ Center for Emerging Futures Lunch included; dinner and overnight Jerusalem

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DAY 9 (MONDAY) - LATRUN-OASIS OF PEACE-ELAH VALLEY- JAFFA

Drive into the ancient land of the Philistines and in the Valley of Elah. Stop at the site of David’s victory over the Philistine champion, Goliath, and hear about this biblical event. Later, refresh your memory with the tale of Samson and Delilah as you proceed through the land of the Dan tribe to the wide Valley of Ayalon. At strategic Latrun, visit the MONASTERY OF THE TRAPPIST MONKS. Continue along the Mediterranean shore and stop in Jaffa for a walk through the beautifully restored ancient port, where medieval pilgrims started their strenuous 2-day trek. Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.

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DAY 10 (TUESDAY) - QUMRAN-DEAD SEA-MASADA-KFAR HANEKODIM

Drive through the Judean wilderness to the Dead Sea, the lowest point on the surface of the Earth. Enjoy the scenery as you follow the road between the salty water and majestic desert mountains. Catch glimpses of the caves of Qumran, where the precious Dead Sea Scrolls were found. Ascend by cable car to the spectacular cliff-top FORTRESS of Masada and hear how 960 Jewish rebels made their last stand against Roman forces. Around lunchtime, reach one of the comfortable Dead Sea resorts for free time to experience the incredible buoyancy in the heavy saltwater and receive a SALT SCRUB GIFT.

 

Dinner and overnight at the Dead Sea. Later, you’ll visit the village of Kfar Hanokdim for a traditional Bedouin dinner. Dead Sea Hotel (one night): Herods Dead Sea Hotel,

 

https://www.herods-hotels.com/herods- hotels/herods-dead-sea/

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DAY 11 (WEDNESDAY) - DEPARTURE

Transportation provided from the Dead Sea to Ben Gurion International Airport, Tel Aviv, Israel. International flights home.

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