Wonders of Israel

After a morning briefing, we’ll explore two of Tel Aviv’s unique neighborhoods. We’ll start with a guided walk of the beautifully restored Neve Zedek, a picturesque neighborhood dating back to the early 1900s. It feels a bit like southern France, with its narrow streets lined with Bauhaus and Art Deco buildings, galleries and great restaurants. After a free afternoon to delight in the seaside promenade or an outdoor café, we’ll gather for a tour of Old Jaffa. We’ll see traces of Jaffa’s ancient history, as well as the intriguing Artists Quarter, before enjoying dinner in this old-world neighborhood.

| Breakfast, Dinner

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 Nazareth and the Basilica of the Annunciation. Tradition holds that the Basilica stands over the cave that was the Virgin Mary’s home and where the imminent birth of her son was proclaimed to her.

Sea of Galilee Hotel or similar | Breakfast, Dinner

Today is free to relax or take an optional full-day excursion to some of northern Israel’s top attractions, including a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee, Golan Heights, a winery tour and a stop in Safad. See Optional Tours for more details. 

New! Starting in April 2021, our excursion to the Sea of Galilee and Golan Heights is included! 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.

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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. In Tabgha, our new kibbutz experience will take place—tour a traditional kibbutz and then enjoy a lunch and interesting lecture about the community’s unique way of life. Later, we’ll proceed to Beth Shean to view the stunning remains and amphitheater of a well-preserved Roman city. We’ll also stop in Beth Alpha to admire the magnificent mosaic floor of its sixth-century synagogue. And 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. Our hotel is centrally located near the Old City walls. 

Lady Stern or similar | Breakfast

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 (Wailing Wall). We’ll also explore the Davidson Center, where fascinating multi-media exhibits—including a reconstruction of the Herodian Temple Mount—bring Jerusalem’s history to life. 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. 

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We’ll see a symbolic site of Jewish cultural identity and experience a timeless therapy with a full-day excursion to Masada and the Dead Sea, the lowest place on earth and containing a whopping 34% salt concentration! But first, we’ll drive along its shores past Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered. 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.

| Breakfast, Lunch