From Tel Aviv: Highlights Tour of Israel

Sunday - Welcome to Israel!

Today is arrival day, and the adventure begins tomorrow – so you’re free to arrive on any flight at any time to Ben Gurion Airport, Tel Aviv.

• Upon arrival, you'll be greeted by our representative for transfer to your Tel Aviv hotel.

• With no touring scheduled today, you can relax and recover from your journey. Enjoy a leisurely walk along the city’s lively beachfront promenade, or sample Tel Aviv’s vibrant café and nightlife culture.

Overnight in Tel Aviv.



Monday ... See more

Sunday - Welcome to Israel!
Today is arrival day, and the adventure begins tomorrow – so you’re free to arrive on any flight at any time to Ben Gurion Airport, Tel Aviv.
• Upon arrival, you'll be greeted by our representative for transfer to your Tel Aviv hotel.
• With no touring scheduled today, you can relax and recover from your journey. Enjoy a leisurely walk along the city’s lively beachfront promenade, or sample Tel Aviv’s vibrant café and nightlife culture.
Overnight in Tel Aviv.

Monday - Masada • Dead Sea
• Meet your tour guide and travel from Tel Aviv to the desert fortress of Masada, the legendary stronghold built by King Herod over 2,000 years ago.
• Ascend by cable car to explore this UNESCO World Heritage Site – wander through the ruins of Herod’s lavish palaces, the ancient synagogue, Roman bathhouse, and massive cisterns that sustained life here. Hear the gripping story of the Jewish rebels who made their final stand against the Romans.
• Descend to the Dead Sea, the lowest point on earth, where the mineral-rich, salty waters make floating effortless. Cover yourself with black mud – nature’s ultimate spa treatment – and soak in the surreal desert surroundings.
• Pass by the oasis of Ein Gedi, known since biblical times for its springs and wildlife, before ascending through the Judean mountains to Jerusalem.
Overnight in Jerusalem.

Tuesday - Jerusalem • Bethlehem
• Begin at Yad Vashem, Israel’s national memorial to the victims of the Holocaust. Through poignant exhibits, survivor testimonies, and powerful art, the museum tells the story of loss, resilience, and remembrance.
• Continue to Ein Karem, a picturesque hillside village of winding lanes and stone houses, revered in Christian tradition as the birthplace of John the Baptist.
• Travel to Bethlehem, sacred to Christians as the birthplace of Jesus. Step into the Church of the Nativity, one of the oldest continuously operating churches in the world, and stand in Manger Square – the heart of Bethlehem’s spiritual life.
• Return to Jerusalem for the Israel Museum, home to the Shrine of the Book, where the Dead Sea Scrolls – some of the oldest biblical manuscripts – are preserved. Explore the remarkable scale model of Jerusalem as it looked during the Second Temple period.
Overnight in Jerusalem.

Wednesday - Jerusalem
• Start your day atop the Mount of Olives, where a breathtaking panoramic view stretches over the Holy City, sacred to the world’s three great religions – Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. From here, you’ll see the golden Dome of the Rock, church spires, and the timeless stone walls of the Old City.
• Descend to the peaceful Garden of Gethsemane, with its gnarled olive trees said to date back centuries, recalling the night Jesus was betrayed.
• Continue to Mount Zion, home to the traditional Tomb of King David and the Room of the Last Supper, steeped in biblical history.
• Enter the Old City of Jerusalem, where faith and history intertwine. Stand before the Western Wall, Judaism’s most sacred prayer site, gaze toward the Temple Mount, and follow the Via Dolorosa to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, believed to house both Golgotha and the Tomb of the Resurrection.
• Conclude your day at Mahane Yehuda Market, the beating heart of modern Jerusalem. Here, spice stalls, bakeries, coffee shops, and street food vendors create a sensory feast, and the city’s vibrant mix of cultures comes to life at the largest open market in Israel.
Overnight in Jerusalem.

Thursday - Beit She’an • Golan Heights • Tiberias
• Depart Jerusalem, passing by Jericho, often called the world’s oldest city, traveling northwards through the Jordan Valley.
• Arrive at Beit She’an, where the ruins of a grand Roman city unfold: colonnaded streets, amphitheaters, mosaics, and bathhouses frozen in time.
• Ascend to the Golan Heights, an area of rolling vineyards and dramatic landscapes. Visit a local winery for a tasting, learning how this region has become one of Israel’s most exciting wine producers.
• Pass Druze villages with their unique culture and cuisine, and former Syrian fortifications with vistas stretching to Mount Hermon and into Syria.
• Descend into the scenic Hula Valley, a lush region known for its rich biodiversity and migratory bird population, before continuing to Tiberias on the shores of the Sea of Galilee, recognized as one of Judaism’s four holy cities, where the Jewish Talmud - the foundational text of Jewish religious law - was compiled. Overnight in Tiberias.

Friday - Sea of Galilee • Nazareth
• Trace the shoreline of the Sea of Galilee to Capernaum, once home to Jesus and his disciples, where the remains of an ancient synagogue still stand.
• Visit the Mount of Beatitudes, believed to be the site of the Sermon on the Mount, offering sweeping lake views.
• Continue to Tabgha, site of the miracle of the loaves and fish, marked by a church with beautiful mosaic floors.
• Optional: Sail across the Sea of Galilee in a wooden boat reminiscent of ancient fishing vessels – a peaceful and scenic experience little changed in 2,000 years (subject to conditions and extra cost if available).
• Travel to Nazareth, where the angel Gabriel is said to have appeared to Mary. Visit the Church of the Annunciation, one of the most significant churches in the Christian world.
Overnight in Tiberias.

Saturday - Acre • Haifa • Caesarea • Tel Aviv • Jaffa
• Journey west through the hills of the Galilee to Acre (Akko), a port city layered with Crusader history. Explore underground halls, stone fortifications, and winding alleyways that have witnessed centuries of conquest and trade.
• Continue to Haifa, ascending Mount Carmel for a spectacular view of the Baha’i Shrine and its manicured Persian Gardens cascading down the hillside to the Haifa bay.
• Head south along the Mediterranean coast to Caesarea, the grand harbor city built by Herod the Great. Walk through the ancient Roman theater, the hippodrome, and the impressive fortress.
• Onward to Tel Aviv for a brief city tour and a stroll through Jaffa’s Old Port, where art galleries, flea markets, and ancient stone alleys meet the sea.
Overnight in Tel Aviv.

Sunday - Departure
• Transfer to Ben Gurion Airport for your flight home, carrying with you unforgettable memories of Israel’s landscapes, history, and spirit.

Note: The sequence of activities may be adjusted for operational reasons, at the company's or guide's discretion. See less