Enjoy Our Premium Highlights Plus These Extra Tour Features

Excursions & Sights

   * See Habimah National Theatre, Rabin Square and Carmel market in Tel Aviv
   * Visit the ancient port of Jaffa, now a modern centre for artists
   * Visit the superb Crusader and Roman ruins at Caesarea
   * See the fortress and visit the old crusader crypt in the port of Acre
   * Visit the Church of the Annunciation in Nazareth
   * Visit Capernaum and the Mount of the Beatitudes in the Galilee
   * See the caves where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered
   * View over Jerusalem from Mt Scopus
   * In Jerusalem visit the Christian sites of; the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Garden of Gethsemene, Room of the Last Supper, Pool of Bethesda, Ecco Homo Arch and walk the Stations of the Cross
   * In Jerusalem see the Temple Mount - one of Islam's holiest sites
   * In Jerusalem visit the Jewish sites of King David's Tomb, the Western Wall, Yad Vashem (Holocaust Museum) and the Shrine of the Book

Guided City Tours

In depth sightseeing tours in Tel Aviv, Caesarea, Acre, & Jerusalem

Insight's First Class Services

   * Deluxe hotels with all service charges, taxes and porterage
   * Special Kibbutz stay on the shores of the Sea of Galilee
   * Travel by air-conditioned coach with reclining seats
   * Insight's professional multilingual Tour Director to escort you
   * Travel bag, document wallet, map book journal and information pack

Complimentary Transfers

   * Complimentary arrival and departure transfers between Ben Gurion Airport and your Insight tour hotel

Quality Dining & Entertainment

   * Friday night Shabbat Dinner at the hotel
   * Special Oriental Dinner at a local restaurant in Jerusalem
   * 7 buffet breakfasts and 4 special-menu dinners, or buffets

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)
 

 Your Insight tour already includes a host of bonus  highlights and comprehensive sightseeing. However, there is an exciting  array of optional excursions which will turn an already amazing  experience into the trip of a lifetime! These are entirely optional and  can be booked through your Tour Director/Local Representative at the  commencement of your tour.

 JERUSALEM BY NIGHT

Drive through floodlit Jerusalem and see  major ancient sites and monuments beautifully illuminated. Enter the  walled old city and walk through the ancient Jewish quarter to the  Wailing Wall.

 Adult Price: US$ 20
Code: JER01

 BETHLEHEM EXCURSION

Sightseeing tour of Bethlehem, birthplace of  Jesus and Christianity itself. We visit Manger Square and the Church of  the Nativity. Important: Please note from the Check Point this tour will be operated by a local Bethlehem guide and coach.

 Adult Price: US$ 40
Code: JER03