Holy Land Tour

Our agent will meet you at Tel Aviv Airport. Our representative will assist you in retrieving your bags, and then accompany you through Customs to meet your driver, who will transport you to the hotel. Evening in Tel Aviv at leisure. Overnight in a Tel Aviv hotel.

After breakfast, you'll travel to Jaffa (Joppa), where you'll have a brief walking tour through the magnificent streets of the old, walled town. You'll pass Simon the Tanner's residence and marvel at the vistas from the hilltop. Drive north along the coast to the historic ruins of Caesarea, which were erected in honour of Augustus Caesar by Herod the Great. From there, we travel to Megiddo, the site of a huge battle mentioned in the book of Revelations as "Armageddon." It is an old city that has been continually inhabited for over five millennia (6000-500 B.C.). We head toward the Sea of Galilee after visiting the ancient ruins. Overnight in a Tiberias hotel. (B)

Today, after breakfast, begin your day at historic Tiberias, where Jesus lived, sojourned, and preached along the Sea of Galilee's beaches. Our next stop will be at Capernaum, the focal point of Jesus' ministry. On to Tabgha, just north of Tiberias, the location of Christ's feeding of the 5,000, and the Church of Multiplication, where the mosaic floor shows a basket filled with loaves and two fishes. We continue to the Mount of Beatitudes, which overlooks the Sea and is believed to be where Jesus gave the "Sermon on the Mount" and chose his 12 disciples. We go to the Golan Heights for a panoramic view of Mt. Hermon's summits, the rough plateau of the Golan Heights, and the lush pastoral Hula Valley below. Visit the Yardenit Baptismal Site, located south of the Sea of Galilee along the Jordan River. Overnight in a Tiberias hotel. (B)

After breakfast, you'll travel to Cana to view the Wedding Church, the site of Jesus' first miracle, the transformation of water into wine. We next travel to Nazareth, the hometown of Jesus, and the Church of the Annunciation, which was erected on the place of the Archangel Gabriel's appearance to the Virgin Mary, according to archaeologists. Additionally, you will witness Mary's Well and Joseph's Church. Drive along the Jordan Valley to Beit Shean, where an amphitheatre was recently uncovered. Visit the excavations of this magnificently preserved Roman city that was destroyed by an earthquake. Overnight in a Jerusalem hotel. (B)

Today, following breakfast, you'll explore the Dead Sea's breathtaking beauty. We travel to Masada, a fortress perched above a rock in the Judean Desert. In 2001, the property was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Ascend the castle via cable car, which served as the final bastion of the Jewish Zealots during their struggle against the Romans. Explore the excavations, King Herod's palace, the synagogue, and baths, among other attractions. Take in the amazing vista of the Roman encampment and the Dead Sea. On your way to the Dead Sea, you'll stop at the Qumran Caves, the location of the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls. The Dead Sea is over 1,300 feet below sea level, making it the lowest point on the planet's surface. Bring your swimwear since it is possible to "float" on the salty, mineral-rich water if the weather permits. Overnight in a Jerusalem hotel. (B)

After breakfast, tour the Israel Museum's Shrine of the Book, which houses the famed Dead Sea scrolls, followed by a visit to the magnificently restored model of Herodian Jerusalem, which dates all the way back to the period of the Second Temple. Enjoy Ein Karem, a lovely hamlet on the outskirts of Jerusalem to the south. This little town is significant in Christian traditions since it is believed to be the birthplace of John the Baptist. Visit Yad Vashem, created in 1953 and located at the foot of Mt. Hertzl, the official memorial to the Jewish victims of the Holocaust. Visit Bethlehem's Church of the Nativity and Manger Square, the birthplace of Jesus. Overnight in a Jerusalem hotel. (B)

Today, after breakfast, visit Jerusalem's ancient city, where you'll view the Western Wall and the Temple Mount, the real location of the Second Temple. The Via Dolorosa leads to Calvary and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, which contains both the traditional location of the Crucifixion and the Tomb of the Resurrection. Mount Zion, just beyond the Old City to the southwest, contains King David's supposed tomb and the Room of the Last Supper. From atop the Mount of Olives, take in the stunning panoramic view of Jerusalem — the sacred city for each of the world's three main religions – Christianity, Judaism, and Islam. Visit the Garden of Gethsemane, the location of Jesus' betrayal by Judas. Overnight in a Jerusalem hotel. (B)

After breakfast, check out of the hotel and make your way to the airport for your flight. (B)