Israel Explorer Escorted Vacation

Upon arrival to Ben Gurion Airport, meet our representative and transfer to hotel in Jerusalem.

Start your day at the Israel Museum’s Shrine of the Book, with the famous Dead Sea scrolls, followed by a visit to the beautifully renovated model of the Herodian city of Jerusalem, dating back to the time of the Second Temple. Wander through Ein Karem, a picturesque village in the southwestern outskirts of Jerusalem. This small village holds great significance in Christian traditions: according to tradition, this is the birthplace of John the Baptist. Continue on to Yad Vashem, the official memorial to the Jewish victims of the Holocaust, established in 1953 and located at the foot of Mount Hertzl. Then visit Bethlehem*, the birthplace of Jesus at the Church of the Nativity and Manger Square. Return to your hotel. Overnight in Jerusalem. (B)*Site under the Palestinian Authority Jurisdiction. Visit subject to situation

Enter the Old City of Jerusalem, where you will see the Western Wall and 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, housing both the traditional site of Crucifixion and the Tomb of the Resurrection. To the southwest, just outside of the Old City, is Mount Zion, which features the traditional tomb of King David and the Room of the Last Supper. Enjoy the spectacular panoramic view of Jerusalem - the holy city for each of the world’s three Abrahamic religions, Christianity, Judaism, and Islam - from the top of the Mount of Olives. Visit the Garden of Gethsemane where Judas betrayed Jesus. In the heart of a neighborhood in downtown Jerusalem, visit Mahane Yehuda to experience the flavors, aromas, and colors of the largest open market in Israel. Return to your hotel. Overnight in Jerusalem. (B) 

Leave Jerusalem and drive north, passing by Jericho, the oldest city in the world. Travel through the gorgeous Jordan Valley and the new settlements to Beit Shean, and visit the excavations of this beautifully preserved Roman city. Continue on to Nazareth to visit the Church of the Annunciation and Christian holy sites. Then proceed to Safed, city of the Kabbalah and centre of Jewish mysticism, to visit the beautiful streets of the artists’ colony. Overnight in a kibbutz hotel. (B) 

Drive up to the Golan Heights passing by Banias, source of the Jordan River, former Syrian fortifications, and the Druze villages. Enjoy an Israeli wine country experience, with vineyards surrounded by breathtaking views. You will be introduced to a collection of fine and rare wines through a tour, wine tasting, and education about the wine production process. Descend to the shore of the Sea of Galilee and proceed to Capernaum to visit the ruins of the ancient synagogue, the Mount of Beatitudes, traditional site of the “Sermon on the Mount”, and Tabgha, the traditional site of the “miracle of the loaves and the fish”. Continue on to Tiberias, the old center of Jewish learning. You may choose to take an optional boat cruise sailing across the Sea of Galilee to experience its tranquility and breathtaking scenery, little changed over the past 2000 years. Overnight in a kibbutz hotel. (B) 

After breakfast, drive westwards through the hills of Galilee to Acre (Akko) for a visit to the ancient famous Crusader stronghold and medieval fortifications. Continue to Haifa, ascending Mount Carmel for a panoramic view of the city, including the Baha’i Shrine, Persian Garden, and Haifa Bay. Travel along the Mediterranean coast to Caesarea to visit the Roman Theater and the Crusader fortress at what is known as the “masterpiece of Herod the Great”. End your day with a short city tour of Tel Aviv and the ancient port of Jaffa. Overnight in Tel Aviv. (B) 

Enjoy a free day in Tel Aviv at your leisure. You may consider taking an optional tour to Masada and the Dead Sea. One of Israel’s most popular tourist attractions and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Masada is an ancient fortress that sits atop an isolated rock plateau, overlooking the Dead Sea. It features a museum, hiking trails, cable car rides, and a light and sound show on some summer nights. Or you may choose to beat the heat with a dip in the Dead Sea - one of the world’s first health resorts, it’s almost 10 times as salty as the ocean, which makes swimming more like floating! Overnight in Tel Aviv. (B) 

Breakfast and transfer to the airport for departure. (B)