classic4itn4 | israelexcursions

Friday

Arrival to Ben Gourion airport where you will be met by our representative and transferred to your hotel.

Overnight in Tel-Aviv

Saturday

at leisure

Overnight Tel-Aviv

Sunday

Caesarea / Megiddo/ Druze village/ Haifa

Drive along the coastal plain to Caesarea, capital of Judea under the Romans. See the excavations of the crusader city and the Roman port, aqueduct and the Amphitheater that has been restored to its former glory as a concert venue. Proceed to Megiddo, identified as the site of Armageddon; visit the archaeological excavations including the well preserved water supply system .Continue to Daliat el Carmel, a Druze village and enjoy a late lunch at a local restaurant. Proceed via Mount Carmel to Haifa for a panoramic view of the Haifa bay and the golden domed Bahai Shrine and Gardens.

Overnight in a Kibbutz guesthouse.

Monday

Safed / Golan Heights/ Winery

Drive to Safed, the center of Jewish mysticism, where you will visit the ancient synagogues and the artists’ colony. Continue to the Golan Heights to see the former Syrian bunkers, Kuneitra and the new Israeli town of Katzrin. Stop at the Golan Winery for a tour and wine tasting; Proceed to "Kessem Hagolan", a multimedia presentation of the area and it's history .

Overnight in a Kibbutz guesthouse.

Tuesday

Sea of Galilee / Nazareth

Start the day with a visit to Nazareth and visit the Church of Annunciation; Continue to Tiberias; Visit Capernaum to see the ruins of the synagogue and octagonal church of St. Peter; Visit Mount of Beatitudes where Jesus delivered the sermon on the mount. Drive via Beit Shean to Beit Alpha to see the remains of the mosaic floor of an ancient synagogue depicting the zodiac.

Overnight in Jerusalem.

Wednesday

Jerusalem: the old city

Start the day with a magnificent panoramic view from Mount of Olives

Drive to the old city; Visit the tomb of King David and the room of last supper on Mt. Zion. Enter the walled city and walk through the newly restored Jewish Quarter. Visit the Roman Cardo, the Herodian quarter and continue to the Western Wall. Walk along the Via Dolorosa to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Continue to Bethlehem*; view Rachel's tomb and proceed to visit the Church of Nativity and manger's square.

Overnight in Jerusalem.

Thursday

Jerusalem: the new city

Drive to the Israel Museum; visit 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 for a tour at the Knesset, Israel's parliament. Continue to visit Mount Hertzel cemetery and Yad Vashem, the memorial to the Holocaust. Visit Mea Shearim, the ultra orthodox neighborhood in Jerusalem and learn about their unique lifestyle.

In the evening enjoy a middle eastern dinner followed by the spectacular "sound & light" show* at the Tower of David Museum (weather conditions permitting).

Overnight in Jerusalem.

Friday

Qumeran / Massada / Dead Sea

Drive through the Judean Desert to the Dead Sea, the lowest point on earth, almost 1300 feet (400 meters) below sea level. Stop at Qumeran to visit the site where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found. Drive along the shores of the Dead Sea to Massada. Ascend by cable car and tour the ancient fortress where the Zealots made their last stand against the Romans before committing mass suicide in 73 AD. Descend by cable car. Continue to the Dead Sea; Cover yourself with the mineral rich mud and experience a swim in the Dead Sea* that many believe has its therapeutic effects (*weather permitting).

Overnight in Jerusalem.

Saturday

at leisure

Overnight in Jerusalem

Sunday

Timna / underwater observatory / Eilat

Travel south through the Negev Desert; Visit Timna and see the copper mines and King Solomon’s Pillars and marvel at the huge multi-colored rock formations. Continue to Eilat and stop to visit the underwater observatory, one of the largest seaquariums in the world , built into a coral reef .

Overnight Eilat .

Monday

Free day in Eilat or Day in Petra (optional)

After assistance with visa to the Jordanian border, drive straight to Petra through desert highways, your ultimate destination is the astonishing rose-red city of Petra which was built by the Nabateans (An early Arab tribe). Petra was renowned for its massive architecture, pools, dams and water channels. Petra is the legacy of the Nabateans who settled in the south of Jordan more than 2000 years ago. The visit begins with the possibility of a short horse back-riding for about 700 m. until the entrance of the siq, which is about 1.2 km long (walking distance). There is a possibility to rent a chariot (extra) to get inside Petra and back to the gate outside.

Overnight Eilat.

Tuesday

Mitzpe Ramon / Sde Boker / Tel-Aviv

Depart Eilat via Mitzpe Ramon; 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 experience and a visit to an authentic bedouin tent; learn about the Bedouin hospitality and enjoy a light lunch.

Continue to Hatzerim and visit Israel's Airforce Museum to view the planes and equipment and to hear the story of this brave fighting force .

Drive back to Tel-Aviv .