Wonders of Israel

Today we’ll gain insights into Israel’s diverse history, religions and scenery as we leave Tel Aviv and travel north along the coastal road. Our first stop is ancient Caesarea, where we’ll dig into its amazing archaeological discoveries and see its ancient Roman port and aqueduct, Byzantine streets and Crusader ruins. The next leg of our journey takes us up scenic Mount Carmel for splendid bay views, as well as a visit to a Druze village’s colorful market. The Druze are a unique religious and ethnic minority in Israel. In Haifa, we’ll see the world headquarters of the Baha’i faith, the imposing golden-domed Baha’i Shrine and its terraced Persian gardens. We'll continue to the Crusader city of Akko on Haifa Bay, one of the oldest port cities in the world and home to the only mosque that is open for visitors locally. We'll finish our sightseeing at the grottos of Rosh Hanikra, where we'll ride a cable car down to view the cavernous tunnels formed by the waters of the Mediterranean. Finally, we'll drive to our kibbutz hotel on the Sea of Galilee and enjoy dinner together.

Enjoy the tranquil Sea of Galilee from two different perspectives: first, on a delightful boat cruise, and then from the Golan Heights, a volcanic plateau, which affords spectacular vistas. Here, we’ll tour a local winery and sample the wines. After lunch, our excursion continues to Safed, a center of Kabbalah (Jewish mysticism) and a thriving artists’ colony, before returning to your hotel late this afternoon. This evening we'll enjoy dinner at our hotel.

Today, our travels take us to Biblical sites, including Capernaum, home of the church believed to be built on the location of St. Peter’s house, and Tabgha, the traditional site of the Miracle of the Loaves and Fishes. Leaving Tiberias, we'll head for Kfar Kanna and to Sindyanna, a unique non-profit organization led by a team of Arab and Jewish women working to create social change from the ground up. We'll continue to Nazareth and the Basilica of the Annunciation. Tradition hold that the Basilica stands over the cave that was the Virgin Mary’s home. Later, we’ll proceed to Beit Shean to view the stunning remains and amphitheater of a well-preserved Roman city. We will stop for lunch and visit at a working kibbutz, before our final stop in Jerusalem. Passing through the lush Jordan River valley and climbing the Judean hills to Mt. Scopus, today’s awe-inspiring pilgrimage ends with our first unforgettable views of Jerusalem.

Count on emotions running high today because Jerusalem is a city that will lift your spirits, make you weep, and leave an impression you’ll never forget. This holy city is unique in so many ways, and we’ll have the opportunity to see some of its storied sites with an expert local guide, including the Mount of Olives and Western Wall (admission included). We'll also explore the excavations at the Archeological Park - Davidson Center which features artifacts from the First and Second Temple periods, the Byzantine Muslim period, the ancient Crusades period, and more (interior of the center including multimedia presentation currently closed). Stroll a magnificently restored cardo (old Roman road). And follow the ancient Via Dolorosa and the Stations of the Cross to the Christian Quarter and the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, the traditional site of the Crucifixion. Later we’ll tour Mount Zion and view King David’s Tomb and the Room of the Last Supper. The remainder of the day is yours to explore or relax. 

Today we'll spend our time in the area of Masada and the Dead Sea, the lowest place on earth with a whopping 34% salt concentration! We'll drive along its shores past Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered to our first stop of the day, the Oasis of Ein Gedi. Ein Gedi is notable not only for its breakthtaking natural beauty, but for being the biggest oasis in the country with springs and waterfalls, and for being home to the Ibex and Hyraxes. Later in Masada, we'll stop to ride a cable car up the mountain for a tour of a mountaintop fortress built by King Herod, a UNESCO World Heritage site where Jewish rebels held off a Roman siege and committed mass suicide rather than surrender. At a spa hotel on the Dead Sea’s shores, we’ll enjoy lunch, pool and beach, as well as the chance to "float" on the therapeutic waters of the Dead Sea. The sense of buoyancy is amazing! After several relaxing hours, we’ll tour Ahava Laboratories, which makes beauty products with Dead Sea minerals, before returning to Jerusalem late this afternoon.

We’ll visit Yad Vashem—the moving, heartbreaking memorial dedicated to the remembrance of the Holocaust—tour the Israel Museum’s renowned Shrine of the Book, which houses the 2,000-year-old Dead Sea Scrolls, and stroll through the peaceful Billy Rose Sculpture Garden. From the Museum, we'll take a short drive to see the 9/11 Memorial. The 9/11 Living Memorial Plaza is a cenotaph located on a hill in Arazim Valley of Ramot, Jerusalem. The plaza, built on 5 acres, is to remember and honor the victims of the September 11 attacks. The remainder of the day is free.

Our exploration of Jerusalem continues with a guided walking tour of the Old City. Highlights include the colorful bazaar (where you’re sure to find unique souvenirs), David’s Citadel and the Tower of David Museum, which spans the entire history of Jerusalem. This afternoon is at leisure or join the Bethlehem & Nativity optional tour. Tonight, enjoy a farewell dinner with your fellow travelers.

Our tour comes to an end after breakfast. Travelers who purchased our air-inclusive program will transfer to the airport for our return flight to the U.S.