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ITINERARY
Tour Pace
Israel is quite a small country and it is surprising how much sightseeing can be achieved in a day. Driving days are not too long, with plenty of visits along the way. And with two nights in Tel Aviv and three nights in Jerusalem you will not have to pack and unpack every night!
DAY 1 – THU – TEL AVIV AT LEISURE
Welcome to Israel! Today begins a fascinating opportunity to discover this ancient land in all its variety, from the wonders of bygone days, to the unique mixture of east and west in the colourful life of today. Enjoy a journey of discovery through one of the world's oldest and most magnificent centres of faith and civilization. We are met at Ben Gurion airport and transferred to our hotel for our two night stay. Hotel: Sheraton Towers.
DAY 2 – FRI – TEL AVIV SIGHTSEEING
This morning we meet our Tour Director before commencing our sightseeing tour of Tel Aviv. We see all the highlights of this lively and modern city, the Habimah National Theatre, Rabin Square and the bustling Carmel market. We continue to the ancient port of Jaffa where we have time to wander through the artists galleries and flea market. A visit now to Mini Israel - a miniature park featuring 330 replica models which showcase Israel's cultural, historical and religious diversity. This evening we enjoy a Shabbat dinner at our hotel. (Buffet breakfast, Speciality Highlight Dinner)
DAY 3 – SAT – TEL AVIV – GALILEE
Leaving Tel Aviv, we drive along the coastal road to Caesarea, where we explore the ancient Roman and Crusader ruins, including the huge amphitheatre. Now on via Haifa, to Acre - fought over for centuries and captured in turn by Saracens and Crusaders, including Richard the Lionheart. We see the fortress, the old harbour area and Crusader crypt before continuing to Nazareth. We visit one of Christianity's most sacred places, the Church of Annunciation, on the site where the angel is said to have appeared to Mary. Our day concludes at our Kibbutz guesthouse, beautifully located on the Sea of Galilee. Hotel: Nof Ginosar. (Buffet breakfast, Three or four course table d'hote or buffet style dinner)
DAY 4 – SUN – GALILEE – DEAD SEA
We start our day with a morning boat ride on the Sea of Galilee. We then visit the ancient wooden boat, which is said to date back to the times of Jesus. We visit Capernaum where Jesus is said to have entered the Synagogue and taught, and then to the Mount of Beatitudes, where He preached the Sermon on the Mount. Our destination today is the lowest point on earth! We follow the River Jordan to the shores of the Dead Sea where we enjoy a dip in the therapeutic and mineral rich waters. Now on to our hotel. Hotel: Le Meridien. (Buffet breakfast, Three or four course table d'hote or buffet style dinner)
DAY 5 – MON – DEAD SEA – JERUSALEM
In the cool of the morning, we take a thrilling cable car ride up to the awe inspiring fortress of Masada. Here around 70AD, a brave band of Jewish zealots held out for three years against the Roman legions. Later, we pass the caves of Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered, before driving through the Judean hills to Jerusalem, our home for the next three nights. Here in this most hallowed of cities, we begin our sightseeing with a view from Mount Scopus. We then visit King David's Tomb on Mount Zion, the Room of the Last Supper and the Western Wall, Judaism's most sacred site. Hotel: Sheraton Plaza. (Buffet breakfast)
DAY 6 – TUE – JERUSALEM SIGHTSEEING
Today we tour Yad-Vashem the moving museum commemorating the Jewish people killed during the Holocaust. We continue to the Shrine of the Book, housed in the Israel Museum, containing the Dead Sea Scrolls. Later, perhaps join an optional excursion to visit Manger Square and the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem? Tonight we relax and soak up the atmosphere at our highlight evening - a special oriental dinner at a local restaurant. (Buffet breakfast, Speciality Highlight Dinner)
DAY 7 – WED – JERUSALEM SIGHTSEEING
We wander through the tranquil Garden of Gethsemene this morning, before walking along the narrow streets of Jerusalem's Old City to view the Temple Mount, one of Islam's holiest sites. We continue in the footsteps of Jesus along the Via Dolorosa and the Stations of the Cross. We also see the Ecce Homo Arch (Behold the Man), Pool of Bethesda and finish at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, built on the site of the Crucifixion. (Buffet breakfast)
DAY 8 – THU – JERUSALEM
Our tour ends today after breakfast with a transfer to Ben Gurion airport for our departure flight. (Buffet breakfast)
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