Day 1 – Sunday: Arrival in Israel
- Welcome to Israel!
- We will arrive at Ben Gurion Airport and will be met by a Christian Israel Tours 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.
- We will have a short ride to our hotel in the beautiful coastal city of Tel Aviv.
- Enjoy the remainder of the day or evening at leisure (depending on flight time arrivals).
- Suggested: take a stroll along the beautiful oceanside promenade of Tel Aviv, before a relaxing dinner at our hotel.
Highlights:
- Arrive in Israel
- Meet and Greet
- Transfer from Airport to Hotel
- Leisure
Overnight in Tel Aviv
Day 2 – Monday: Gems of Coastal Israel
- We will journey along the coastal highway to the ancient Roman capital, Caesarea.
- We will visit the excavations of the Crusader city and the Roman port, its aqueduct and the amphitheater which has been recently restored.
- Proceed to Muhraka, the site of confrontation between Elijah and the prophets of Baal; enjoy the spectacular views of the Jezreel Valley and the lower Galilee.
- Our tour proceeds to Megiddo, which has been identified as the site of the battle of Armageddon.
- Onto Acre to visit the remarkable underground Crusader City and crypt; walk through the Old City recognized by UNESCO as a world heritage site, explore the local market and harbor.
Highlights:
- Caesarea
- Muhraka
- Jezreel Valley and lower Galilee
- Old City of Acre
Overnight in the Sea of Galilee
Day 3 – Tuesday: Miracles on the Sea of Galilee
- After a short tour of Tiberias, we will enjoy a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee.
- Our tour proceeds to visit the Yigal Alon center where the “Jesus boat” is located, an ancient fishing boat from the 1st century.
- We will continue to Capernaum, which was home to Jesus, to see the ruins of the synagogue and octagonal Church of St. Peter.
- The next stop is in Tabgha, the site of the Miracle of Fish and Loaves, to visit the Church of Multiplication with its 4th century mosaic floor.
- On to the Mount of Beatitudes, the place where Jesus delivered the sermon on the mount.
- Our final destination on today’s tour is the Banias Springs, where we will tour the Golan Heights region.
Highlights:
- Boat Ride on the Galilee
- Tabgha
- Mount of Beatitudes
- Banias Springs
Overnight in the Sea of Galilee
Day 4 – Wednesday: The Jordan Valley to Jerusalem
- We will 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.
- Our tour will proceed to Yardenit, the baptismal site on the Jordan river (robe rentals available on-site).
- Continuing, we will stop at Beit Shean to visit the newly excavated Roman city amphitheater.
- Our tour today will end with a scenic drive along the Jordan valley towards the ancient city of Jerusalem.
Highlights:
- The Wedding Church
- Church of Annunciation
- Jordan River
- Beit Shean
- Jerusalem
Overnight in Jerusalem
Day 5 – Thursday: The Old City of Jerusalem
- Start the day with a magnificent panoramic view from the Mount of Olives.
- Proceed to the Old City of Jerusalem. Here, we will visit the Tomb of King David and the Room of Last Supper on Mount Zion.
- From there we enter the walled city and walk through the newly restored Jewish quarter. Some of the sites include the Roman Cardo, the Herodian quarter and, most notably, the Western Wall.
- Then we will walk along the Via Delarosa, to the Church of Holy Sepulcher.
- Next, we will drive to the Garden Tomb and enjoy its beautiful gardens and peaceful ambiance.
Highlights:
- Mount of Olives
- Old City of Jerusalem
- Jewish Quarter
- Via Delarosa
- Garden Tomb
Overnight in Jerusalem
Day 6 – Friday: Jerusalem (New City) / Bethlehem*
- We start our day with a drive to Ein Karem, where we will visit the Church of Visitation.
- Our tour will then proceed to Yad Vashem, the Holocaust memorial museum.
- Visit the Israel Museum and 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, the birthplace of Jesus. We will visit Shepherds’ field, and walk through Manger Square to visit the remarkable Church of Nativity.
Highlights:
- Ein Karem
- Yad Vashem
- Israel Museum
- Bethlehem
Overnight in Jerusalem
Day 7 – Saturday: Geographical Lows, Spiritually Highs
- Our journey continues through the Judean hills to the Qumran caves, where the Dead Sea scrolls were found.
- From here we 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.
- We will ascend Masada by cable car and explore the mountain fortress built by King Herod. Some notable sites include the remains of the walls, water cistern, and Herod’s Palace.
- We will descend by cable car and continue to the Dead Sea, where we can float in the unsinkable water and bathe in the famous mineral-rich mud.
Highlights:
- Qumran Caves
- Masada Fortress
- The Dead Sea
Overnight in Jerusalem
Day 8 – Sunday: Geological Wonders of the South
- Travel south through the Negev Desert.
- Stop at Timna, a large geological and archaeological park, where we will view Solomon’s pillars.
- Continue to Eilat, a resort city on the shores of the Red Sea. Here we will explore the Underwater Observatory Marine Park.
Highlights:
- Timna National Park
- Eilat
- Underwater Observatory Marine Park
Overnight in Eilat
Day 9 – Monday: At Leisure or Petra Tour
- On Monday we can either spend the day at leisure in Eilat, with options to enjoy the beach, go diving, or swim with dolphins or:
- Optional Day Tour: We can cross into Jordan and drive to Petra (approx. 2 hours), the astonishing city built by the Nabateans, an ancient Arab tribe.
- After lunch we will drive back to Eilat, stopping in the city of Aqaba for a chance to walk around (time permitting).
Highlights:
- The Red Sea
- Optional Petra Tour
Overnight in Eilat
Day 10 – Tuesday: Mitzpe Ramon / Sde Boker / Hatzerim / Tel Aviv
- Depart from Eilat and proceed to Mitzpe Ramon (the Ramon Crater); enjoy the majestic views.
- Continue to Sde Boker to see Prime Minister David Ben Gurion’s home and memorial site.
- Visit a Bedouin village; meet villagers, drink tea, and ride camels.
- Proceed to Hatzerim and visit Israel’s Airforce Museum.
- Evening at leisure in Tel Aviv.
Highlights:
- Mitzpe Ramon
- Sde Boker
- Hatzerim
- Tel Aviv
Overnight in Tel Aviv
Day 11 – Wednesday: Farewell from Tel Aviv
- Transfer to Ben Gurion Airport for our flight home.
Shalom!
