From Tel Aviv: Heritage of the Holy Land Tour

Thursday - Welcome to Israel!

Welcome to the Holy Land! 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, the rest of the day is yours to relax, unwind, and prepare for the journey ahead. Enjoy a leisurely walk along the city’s lively beachfront promenade, or sample Tel Aviv’s vi ... See more

Thursday - Welcome to Israel!
Welcome to the Holy Land! 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, the rest of the day is yours to relax, unwind, and prepare for the journey ahead. 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.

Friday - Jaffa • Caesarea • Megiddo • Tiberias
• Start at the ancient port of Jaffa (Joppa), one of the oldest ports in the world, with its cobbled alleyways and panoramic views. Pass by the house of Simon the Tanner, where the Apostle Peter stayed.
• Drive north to Caesarea, the great harbor city built by Herod. The city became an important center of early Christianity and the place where Paul was imprisoned before being taken to Rome.
• Continue to Megiddo, biblically known as Armageddon. This fortified city saw countless battles throughout history and is mentioned in Revelation as the prophesied site of the final battle between good and evil.
• Drive eastwards, towards the Sea of Galilee, descending to Tiberias, regarded as one of the four Holy cities in Judaism, where the Jewish Talmud - the primary source of Jewish religious law - was compiled, with tombs of Rabbis scattered across the city.
Overnight in Tiberias.

Saturday - Sea of Galilee • Golan Heights
• Drive to the southern part of the Sea of Galilee to visit the Yardenit Baptismal Site, a popular place for Christian visitors along the Jordan River.
• Visit the sites on the north shore of the lake, the stage for many of the events in Jesus' life: • Drive along the shore to Capernaum, known as “His Town”, the center of Jesus’ ministry, where he spent much time healing the sick and performing miracles.
• On to Tabgha, the site of Christ’s miracle of feeding the 5,000, visiting the Church of Multiplication, where the mosaic floor depicts a basket with loaves and two fish, and the Church of the Primacy of St Peter, commemorating Jesus' reinstatement of Peter as chief among the Apostles.
• Continue to the Mount of Beatitudes, the beautiful hillside where Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount, delivering the Beatitudes that shaped Christian thought and teaching.
• Ascend to the Golan Heights for a panoramic view of the peaks of Mt. Hermon and the rugged Golan plateau.
• Visit Banias (Caesarea Philippi), one of the sources of the Jordan River, where Jesus took his disciples, revealing his purpose and his Church before his last trip to Jerusalem, and where Simon identified Jesus as the Messiah.
• Return to Tiberias for another night in town.
Overnight in Tiberias.

Sunday - Nazareth • Cana • Beit Alpha • Jordan Valley • Jerusalem
• Sail on a boat on the Sea of Galilee to experience the tranquility and scenery, little changed during the past 2000 years (subject to conditions and extra fee if available).
• Journey to Nazareth, the town where Jesus grew up. Visit the Basilica of the Annunciation, built over the site where the Archangel Gabriel appeared to Mary with the message that she would bear the Son of God.
• Visit nearby Joseph’s Church, recalling the home of the Holy Family, and Mary’s Well, where tradition says Mary drew water daily.
• In Cana, visit the Wedding Church, recalling the site of Jesus’ first miracle - turning water into wine.
• Onwards to the ancient synagogue at Beit Alpha, located at the foot of the northern slopes of the Gilboa Mountains, which has one of the most preserved and beautiful mosaics in Israel.
• Drive south through the Jordan Valley, passing Jericho, before ascending through the Judean Mountains to Jerusalem - one of the most significant cities in the world for Jews, Christians, and Muslims alike.
Overnight in Jerusalem.

Monday - Masada • Dead Sea
• Through the remarkable scenery of the Dead Sea, travel to Masada, which is situated on an isolated cliff in the Judean Desert. The site was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001.
• 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, bathhouse, and much more. Enjoy the breathtaking view of the Roman camps and the Dead Sea below.
• Visit Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered - ancient manuscripts that illuminate both Jewish life and the wider religious landscape of the period.
• Nearly 1,300 feet below sea level, the Dead Sea is the lowest point on the Earth’s surface. Bring your swimsuit, as if the weather permits, it is possible to “float” on the salty, mineral-rich water.
• Return to Jerusalem for overnight. Overnight in Jerusalem.

Tuesday - Jerusalem • Bethlehem
• Visit Yad Vashem, the official memorial to the Jewish victims of the Holocaust, established in 1953, located at the foot of Mt. Herzl.
• Enjoy Ein Karem, a picturesque village in the southwestern outskirts of Jerusalem. This small village holds great significance in Christian traditions, as it is where, according to tradition, John the Baptist was born.
• Continue to Bethlehem, birthplace of Jesus. Visit the Church of the Nativity, one of the oldest continuously operating churches, and step into Manger Square, a focal point of Christmas celebrations worldwide.
• Back in Jerusalem, explore the Israel Museum’s Shrine of the Book (home of the Dead Sea Scrolls) and a detailed scale model of Jerusalem as it appeared in the time of the Second Temple.
Overnight in Jerusalem.

Wednesday - Jerusalem
• Enjoy the spectacular panoramic view of Jerusalem - the holy city for each of the world’s three great religions - Christianity, Judaism, and Islam, from atop the Mount of Olives.
• Visit the Garden of Gethsemane, with its ancient olive trees, where Jesus spent his last night and was betrayed by Judas.
• Just outside the Old City gates, visit Mount Zion, with the traditional tomb of King David and the Room of the Last Supper.
• Enter the Old City of Jerusalem, and stand by the Western Wall, a place of deep spiritual importance, and see the actual site of the Second Temple, the Temple Mount.
• Walk the Way of the Cross, the Via Dolorosa, to Calvary and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the holiest site in Christianity, which contains both Golgotha (the site of the Crucifixion) and the tomb of the Resurrection.
Overnight in Jerusalem.

Thursday - 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