Day 1 – Monday: Arrival in Israel
- Welcome to Israel!
- We will arrive at Ben Gurion Airport and will be met by a Shalom Journeys representative immediately after passport control.
- Our representative will assist us in the terminal and will guide us through customs and outside the terminal to meet our driver waiting with the transfer vehicle.
- Journey to our hotel in the holy city of Jerusalem.
- Enjoy the remainder of the day or evening at leisure (depending on flight time arrivals).
Highlights:
- Arrive in Israel
- Meet and Greet
- Transfer from Airport to Hotel
- Leisure
Overnight in Jerusalem
Day 2 – Tuesday: Jerusalem (New City) / Bethlehem
- We start our day with a visit to the Israel Museum’s 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.
- Drive to Ein Karem, where John the Baptist was born.
- Our tour will then proceed to Yad Vashem, the Holocaust memorial museum located at the foot of Mount Herzl.
- Proceed to Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus; we will walk through Manger Square to visit the remarkable Church of Nativity.
- Return to Jerusalem
Highlights:
- Shrine of the Book
- Ein Karem
- Yad Vashem
- Bethlehem
- Jerusalem
Overnight in Jerusalem
Day 3 – Wednesday: Old City of Jerusalem
- Enter the Old City and visit the Western Wall and the Temple Mount.
- Walk the Way of the Cross, the Via Dolorosa, to Calvary and the Holy Sepulchre, housing the traditional site of Crucifixion and the Tomb of the Resurrection.
- Visit Mount Zion, the traditional tomb of King David, and the Room of the Last Supper.
- On to the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus spent his last night and was betrayed by Judas.
- Proceed to the Mount of Olives, where we will enjoy spectacular views of the holy city of Jerusalem.
- The last stop is the Machane Yehuda market, where you will experience the flavors, aromas, and colors of the largest open market in Israel.
Highlights:
- Western Wall
- Temple Mount
- The Way of the Cross
- Via Dolorosa
- Holy Sepulchre
- Tomb of the Resurrection
- Mount Zion
- Garden of Gethsemane
- Mount of Olives
- Machane Yehuda
Overnight in Jerusalem
Day 4 – Thursday: Beit Shean / Nazareth / Safed
- Travel through the Jordan Valley through Jericho, the oldest city in the world.
- Arrive at Beit Shean and visit the excavations of this preserved Roman City.
- Visit Nazareth, the Church of Annunciation and other holy Christian sites.
- Proceed to Safed, the city of Kabbalah and Jewish mysticism.
Highlights:
- Jordan Valley
- Beit Shean
- Nazareth
- Safed
- Israeli Kibbutz
Overnight in the Sea of Galilee
Day 5 – Friday: Golan Heights / Sea of Galilee
- Drive up to the Golan Heights, passing by the Banias Springs.
- Enjoy a tour and wine tasting at an Israeli vineyard.
- Descend to the shore of the Sea of Galilee and proceed to Capernaum to visit the Mount of Beautitudes, the site of the Sermon on the Mount, and Tabgha, the site of the Miracle of the Loaves and the Fish.
- Continue to the city of Tiberias, the old center of Jewish learning.
- Optional boat trip on the Sea of Galilee (subject to extra charge).
Highlights:
- Banias Springs
- Vineyard Tour and Wine Tasting
- Capernaum
- Tiberias
- Boat Trip
Overnight in the Sea of Galilee
Day 6 – Saturday: Acre / Haifa / Caesarea / Tel Aviv
- Drive through the gorgeous hills of Galilee towards the coastal city of Acre (Akko).
- Continue to Haifa; visit Mount Carmel, the Baha’i Gardens, Persian Garden, and Haifa Bay.
- Make our way south to Caesarea to visit the Roman Theater and the Crusader fortress.
- Arrive in Tel Aviv and enjoy a walking tour of the ancient port of Jaffa (Yafo).
Highlights:
- Acre
- Haifa
- Caesarea
- Tel Aviv
- Jaffa Tour
Overnight in Tel Aviv
Day 7 – Sunday: Day at Leisure or Masada / Dead Sea
- Spend the day at leisure in Tel Aviv, enjoying the beach, markets, and culinary scene or:
- Visit Masada and the float in the Dead Sea.
Highlights:
- Enjoy the day in vibrant Tel Aviv or:
- Masada and the Dead Sea
Overnight in Tel Aviv
Day 8 – Monday: Farewell from Tel Aviv
- Transfer to Ben Gurion Airport for our flight home.
Shalom!
