Circuit classique en Israël, 8 jours

Driving north along the coastal road we turn towards the Plain of Armageddon and pass Megiddo. We pause at Mt. Precipice then continue to Nazareth to tour the Church of Annunciation and Church of St. Joseph. Passing Cana we drive along the shore of the Sea of Galilee. We see the Mt. of Beatitudes from afar and visit Capernaum; stop at the Church of the Multiplication; pass Tiberias and visit the baptismal site of Yardenit. On our return journey, we pass Mt. Tabor.

Overnight stay: Tel Aviv.

See the coastal cities of Israel north of Tel Aviv. Tour the ancient Roman port city of Caesarea and in Haifa see the cascading terraced Baha’i Gardens. Our journey takes us to the northernmost point on Israel’s coastline where we walk though the white sea caves of Rosh HaNikra. Returning south the tour arrives in the Crusader city of Acre to visit structures from the 12th century, Ottoman era and British Mandate Period.

Overnight stay: Tel Aviv.

Travel by way of the Plain of Armageddon and Megiddo to the Galilee through northern Israel’s breathtaking scenery. Cross the Jordan River and ascend the Golan Heights, mountains covered with forests, farmlands and vineyards. Pass the Hamat Gader hot springs and stand at the Shalom Observatory looking down across the Sea of Galilee. See the excavated Talmudic village at Katzrin and treasures at the Golan Antiquities Museum. On Mount Bental experience former Syrian bunkers abandoned during the Six Day War of 1967.

Overnight stay: Tel Aviv.

Heading south through the Judean Hills and past the Inn of the Good Samaritan we travel below sea level to the lowest point on Earth. We take a cable car to the summit of Masada, a plateau where King Herod built a palace-fortress over 2,055 years ago. After touring Masada we drive through the desert past the Ein Gedi oasis and Qumran to one of the Dead Sea beaches. Here you can spend time relaxing and floating in the water.

Overnight stay: Jerusalem.

Today we start with a panoramic view across Jerusalem from Mt. Scopus. Then we drive past the Garden of Gethsemane; Church of All Nations and Kidron Valley to reach the Old City. Walking through the Jewish Quarter we see the Byzantine Cardo and the iconic Western Wall. Then we trace Jesus’ steps along the Via Dolorosa to the Church of the Holy Sepulche. Following lunch in the Old City and a walk through the bazaar we visit the Yad VaShem Holocaust Museum.

Overnight stay: Jerusalem.

We travel south below sea level to the Biblical city of Jericho near the Dead Sea. We stop at Zachaeus’ sycamore tree (Luke 19:1-10) and learn of the Battle of Jericho. As we leave Jericho we pass Mt. Temptation then continue to Qasr al-Yahud on the Jordan River where John baptized Jesus. After that, the tour proceeds to Bethlehem arriving at Manger Square. We tour the underground tombs and shrines of the Church of St. Catherine and see where Jesus was born in the Holy Grotto of the Church of Nativity.

Overnight stay: Jerusalem.

This is your last day in Israel; you can check-out at 11am but leave your luggage at the hotel until your flight. Perhaps do some last minute souvenir shopping; revisit places you fell in love with on the tour; have a great Israeli meal or enjoy some of the beautiful parks in the city. Feel free to ask us for suggestions about how to spend your time. Then it is good-bye and we hope to see you back in Israel soon!