Holy Land Tour (10 Nights w/ Eilat) Sunday

Day-by-Day Itinerary

Day 1 (Sunday): Welcome to Israel

Arrival at Ben Gurion Airport, where you will be met by our local representative and transferred to your hotel. Overnight: Tel Aviv

Day 2 (Monday): Caesarea / Muhraka / Megiddo / Acre

Depart Tel Aviv and drive along the coastal plain to Caesarea, once the Roman capital of the region; visit the excavations of the ancient city, the Roman theater and aqueduct. Proceed to Muhraka, the site of confrontation between Elijah and the prophets of Baal; enjoy the spectacular view of the Jezreel Valley and the Lower Galilee. Continue to Megiddo, identified as the site of Armageddon; learn the impressive history of this battlefield as you visit the archaeological excavations including the well-preserved water supply system. Onto Acre to visit the remarkable underground Crusader City and crypt; walk through the Old City recognized by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site, the local market and harbor. Overnight: Kibbutz Guesthouse

Day 3 (Tuesday): Tiberias / Capernaum / Banias

After a short tour of Tiberias, enjoy a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee; visit the Yigal Alon Center where the “Jesus Boat,” an ancient fishing boat from the 1st century, is displayed. Continue to Capernaum to visit the remains of the 2nd century synagogue. Stop at Tabgha, the site of the Miracle of Fish and Loaves, and visit the Church of Multiplication with its 4th century mosaic floor. Proceed to the Mount of Beatitudes, the place where Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount. Drive to the Banias Springs and tour the Golan Heights. Overnight: Kibbutz Guesthouse

Day 4 (Wednesday): Cana / Nazareth / Bet She’an

Drive to Cana to visit the Wedding Church, where Jesus performed his first miracle turning water into wine. Continue to Nazareth to visit the Church of Annunciation, Joseph’s Workshop and Mary’s Well. Proceed to Yardenit, the baptismal site on the Jordan River. Next, stop at Bet She’an to visit the newly excavated Roman city and amphitheater. Drive along the Jordan Valley to Jerusalem. Overnight: Jerusalem

Day 5 (Thursday): Jerusalem Old City

Drive to the Mount of Olives for a panoramic view of the city; visit the Church of All Nations, King David’s Tomb and Room of the Last Supper on Mount Zion. Enter the Old City; walk through the Cardo, the ancient Roman road, and visit the Jewish and Christian Quarters; view the Temple Mount; walk along the Via Dolorosa and the Bazaar to visit the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Next, drive to the Garden Tomb and enjoy the beautiful gardens and peaceful ambiance. Overnight: Jerusalem

Day 6 (Friday): Jerusalem New City / Bethlehem

Drive to Ein Karem to see the Church of Visitation; proceed to Yad Vashem, the memorial to the Holocaust. Visit the Israel Museum, the Shrine of the Book where the Dead Sea Scrolls are housed, and the miniature model of Jerusalem as it was during the Second Temple period. Proceed to Bethlehem, birthplace of Jesus; visit Shepherds’ Field; walk through Manger Square to visit the remarkable Church of the Nativity. Overnight: Jerusalem

Day 7 (Saturday): Qumran / Masada / Dead Sea

Drive through the Judean hills to the Qumran caves, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found. Continue along the shores of the Dead Sea to Masada, the last stronghold of the Jews after the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 A.D. Ascend Masada by cable car and tour the mountain fortress built by King Herod; visit the remains of the walls, water cistern and Herod’s Palace; descend by cable car. Continue to the Dead Sea, the lowest place on earth; enjoy the opportunity to float in the salty water and cover yourself with the mineral-rich mud, believed to have therapeutic effects. Overnight: Jerusalem

Day 8 (Sunday): Timna / Underwater Observatory

Travel south through the Negev Desert. Stop at Timna, a large geological and archaeological park; marvel at the multi-colored rock formations and copper mines, and view the outstanding Solomon’s Pillars. Continue to Eilat, the southernmost resort city on the shores of the Red Sea; visit the Underwater Observatory marine park built into a coral reef, and enjoy the opportunity for a close-up look at the rich life of the Gulf of Eilat. Overnight: Eilat

Day 9 (Monday): Free Day in Eilat (or Optional Petra Day Tour)

Enjoy a free day on your own in Eilat. Optional Day Tour to Petra available ($265 per person): After assistance with border formalities, drive to Petra, the astonishing rose-red city built by the Nabateans. Visit the Treasury, Royal Tombs, Roman Theater, and other monuments. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant, visit Aqaba, and return to Eilat. Overnight: Eilat

Day 10 (Tuesday): Ramon Crater / Sde Boker / Bedouin Lunch

Depart Eilat via Mitzpe Ramon and stop to gaze into the Ramon Crater, a geological wonder. Proceed to Sde Boker and see Ben Gurion’s hut and grave overlooking the magnificent Zin Valley. Stop for a camel ride and a visit to an authentic Bedouin Tent; learn about Bedouin hospitality and enjoy a light lunch. Continue to Hatzerim and visit Israel’s Air Force Museum to view the planes and equipment and hear the story of this brave fighting force. Overnight: Tel Aviv

Day 11 (Wednesday): Shalom Israel

After breakfast, transfer to Ben Gurion Airport for departure.

Package Includes

• Shared transfers on arrival and departure (from/to Ben Gurion Airport)
• 10 nights accommodation on half-board basis (breakfast and dinner)
• 8 touring days as per itinerary, with English-speaking guide
• Entrance fees to the sites visited as per itinerary
• Light lunch at a Bedouin Tent on the way from Eilat to Tel Aviv

Notes

• Hotels may be replaced with similar ones
• Program is subject to change due to local conditions
• Tour departs every Sunday
• All programs may also be operated privately