Fascinating Israel
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9 Days
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Israel
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Steady pace
A Holy Land odyssey through the iconic locations and biblical sights of Israel: stand atop the tragic clifftop stronghold of Masada and explore Caesarea’s Crusader Fortress; wander beneath the olive trees in the Garden of Gethsemane and see Shepherd’s Field near to Bethlehem.
Your journey starts here
Highlights
| VIP private home pick-up service |
| Flights |
| Transfers |
| Services of a tour director |
| Accommodation |
| Selected meals |
| Porterage |
| All airport taxes |
VIP private home pick-up
Get picked up at home and whisked off to your departure point (within 50 miles).
Select options
Checking prices and availability… nearly there!
Overview
Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4
Day 5
Day 6
Day 7
Day 8
Day 9
Your detailed itinerary
Tour departing on 19th March 2018
Meals included: 8 breakfasts, 6 dinners
Overview
A Holy Land odyssey through the iconic locations and biblical sights of Israel: stand atop the tragic clifftop stronghold of Masada and explore Caesarea’s Crusader Fortress; wander beneath the olive trees in the Garden of Gethsemane and visit Shepherd’s Field near to Bethlehem.
At a glance
- Caesarea Visit the Roman Amphitheatre, Crusader Fortress and see Herod’s Stadium.
- Old City of Acre Tour the excavated part of this immense underground crusader city.
- Sea of Galilee Enjoy a gentle cruise along the Galilee shores.
- Masada Take the cable car to this spectacular clifftop fortress overlooking the Dead Sea.
- Jerusalem Stand beneath the revered Mount Olives and walk the olive trees in the Garden of Gethsemane
- Yad Vashem Visit the ‘World Holocaust Remembrance Centre’.
- Bethlehem See Shepherd’s Field where the angels announced the birth of Jesus.
Extensions
Why not combine this tour with Passage to Petra? Please note that the combined tour will join the Passage to Petra tour in Jerash on Day 3.
Day 1
UK - Tel Aviv.
On arrival transfer to your hotel. Enjoy a welcome dinner this evening.
Meals included
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
Day 2
Tel Aviv
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 to Jerusalem. Return to Tel Aviv.
Meals included
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
Day 3
Tel Aviv - Caesarea - Haifa
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 Amphitheatre and the impressive Crusader Fortress, and admire Herod's stadium and harbour. Travel 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 centre of Baha'i faith.
Meals included
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
Day 4
Haifa – Acre – Nazareth – Cana – Kibbutz
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. On to Nazareth in Galilee to visit the contemporary Church of the Annunciation. Next, travel on to Cana, where Jesus changed water into wine at a wedding. To this day, many couples renew their wedding vows at this sacred place. After a panoramic view over Lake Tiberias, see an ancient fisherman’s boat said to be from the time of Christ. Time to relax before dinner. This evening, you are invited for a lecture on Kibbutz life.
Meals included
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
Day 5
Kibbutz – Mount of Beatitudes – Capernaum – Sea of Galilee – Bet She’an – Jerusalem
Heading towards the Sea of Galilee, visit the Mount of Beatitudes, where Jesus delivered his Sermon on the Mount. On to Capernaum, where Jesus recruited his first followers among the fishermen. Afterwards, enjoy a cruise on the Sea of Galilee. Via the ruins of Kursi, which memorialize two of Jesus’ miracles, arrive at the Jordan River and visit a Baptismal Site. Then, visit the ancient city of Bet She’an with its fine Roman and Byzantine Relics. The city is located at the foot of Mount Gilboa, where King Saul and his son died by their own hands in battle with the Philistines. On the way to Jerusalem, stop for a breathtaking panoramic view of the Holy City, considered one of the oldest places in the world, with a history dating back as far as 4000 BC.
Meals included
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
Day 6
Jerusalem
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. Then, back to Jerusalem.
Meals included
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
Day 7
Jerusalem
After a stunning view of the city from the revered Mount of Olives start your guided walking tour. Via the Chapel of Dominus Flevit, designed in the shape of a teardrop to symbolize the tears of Christ, arrive at the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus prayed the night before his arrest. Nearby are the Cave of the Assumption of Mary, believed to be the Virgin Mary’s tomb; and the Cave of Betrayal, where Judas betrayed Jesus. Follow the Via Dolorosa with its nine Stations of the Cross, marking the path Jesus walked on the way to his crucifixion. In Golgotha, visit the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, erected on the site of the crucifixion and which houses the remaining five Stations of the Cross. Walk past the Temple Mount to see the Dome of the Rock, which is sacred to both the Jewish and Muslim people. On to the Western Wall, the only remnant of the Second Temple, then stroll through the restored Jewish Quarter to Mount Zion and visit the Upper Room, where Jesus and his disciples had the last supper; the tomb of King David; and the House of Caiaphas, where Jesus was kept the night after his arrest and where Peter denied knowing him three times.
Meals included
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
Day 8
Jerusalem
Visit Yad Vashem, the "World Holocaust Remembrance Centre," then continue to the Israel Museum to see the Shrine of the Book and the Dead Sea Scrolls as well as a scale model of Jerusalem at the time of Christ. Proceed to Bethlehem and see Shepherd's Field, where the angels announced the birth of Jesus. Next, visit the Church of the Nativity, which stands on the site where Jesus was born. On the way back to Jerusalem, visit the garden tomb, and this evening, enjoy a farewell dinner with your traveling companions of an unforgettable journey through the Holy Land.
Meals included
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
Day 9
Jerusalem - Tel Aviv - UK
Transfer to the airport for your flight back to the UK.
Meals included
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
Hotels
- Tel Aviv: Herods Hotel Tel Aviv;
- Haifa: Dan Panorama;
- Kibbutz: Kibbutz Lavi;
- Jerusalem: Dan Panorama Jerusalem.
Notes
Hotels as stated or similar.
This platinum tour is operated by our sister company Globus.