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Sunday - Ben Gurion Airport / Tel Aviv
Arrival at Ben Gurion Airport, where you will be met by a Israel Tour Connection representative and transferred to your hotel.
Overnight in Tel Aviv.
Monday - Caesarea / Megiddo / Haifa / Acre
Depart Tel Aviv and drive along the coastal plain to tour Caesarea, capital of Judea under the Romans. Visit the excavations of the ancient city, Roman theatre and aqueduct. Continue to Megiddo, identified as the site of Armageddon; visit the archeological excavations including the well-preserved water supply system. Drive to Haifa; view the Persian Gardens at the Bahai Shrine. From Haifa, drive to Acre to visit the ancient city and harbor.
Continue to Kibbutz Lavi for overnight.
Tuesday - Tiberias / Capernaum / Banias
After a short tour of Tiberias, take a boat ride to Capernaum. Visit the remains of the 2nd century synagogue. Proceed to Tabgha, the site of the "Miracle of Fish and Loaves" and visit the Church of Multiplication with its 4th century mosaic floor. Continue to Mount of Beatitudes, the place where Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount. Drive to the Banias Springs and waterfalls and tour the Golan Heights.
Return to Kibbutz Lavi for overnight.
Wednesday - Nazareth / Beit Shean
Drive to Nazareth via Cana of Galilee. Visit the Church of Annunciation, St. Joseph's workshop and Mary's Well. Drive to Yardenit, the baptismal site on the Jordan River; continue to Beit Shean, a newly excavated city, and visit the Roman theatre. Drive along the Jordan River to Jerusalem.
Overnight in Jerusalem.
Thurday - Jerusalem - Old City
Drive to Mount of Olives for a panoramic view of the city; visit the Church of All Nations, King David's Tomb and the Room of the Last Supper on Mount Zion. Enter within the walls of the Old City and visit the Cardo, Temple Mount (entrance to the mosques not included), Western Wall, Via Dolorosa, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Oriental Bazaar and Garden Tomb.
Overnight in Jerusalem.
Friday - Jerusalem - New City & Bethlehem*
Drive to Ein Kerem to visit the Church of Visitation; proceed to Yad Vashem, the memorial to the Holocaust; visit the Israel Museum, Shrine of the Book, where the Dead Sea Scrolls are housed and the miniature model of Jerusalem as it was during the Second Temple period. Proceed to Bethlehem* to visit the Church of Nativity.
Overnight in Jerusalem.
Saturday - Dead Sea / Masada
Drive to Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found. Visit the ancient city of Qumran and drive along the shores of the Dead Sea, the lowest place on earth to Masada, the last stronghold of the Jews after the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 A.D. Ascend Masada by cable car and visit the food storeroom, water irrigation system and Herod's Palace.
Return to Jerusalem for overnight.
Sunday - Beer Sheva /Sde Boker / Mitzpe
Ramon / Eilat Travel south to the Negev desert; Visit Israel's Air Force Museum at Hatzerim to view the planes and equipment and to hear the story of this brave fighting force. Stop for a camel riding experience and a visit to an authentic Bedouin tent, learn about the Bedouin hospitality and enjoy a light lunch. Proceed to visit Sde Boker and see Ben Gurion's hut and grave, overlooking the magnificent Zin valley. Stop at Mitzpeh Ramon to gaze into the Ramon Crater, an otherworldly geological wonder.
Arrive to Eilat for overnight.
Monday - At leisure or optional tour to Petra
(additional charge)
After visa assistance at the Jordanian Border, drive straight to Petra through desert highways. Your ultimate destination is the astonishing rose-red city of Petra which was built by the Nabateans (an early Arab tribe). The visit begins with the possibility of short horseback-riding for about 700 m. until the entrance of the Siq, which is about 1.2 km long (walking distance). There is a possibility to rent a chariot (extra) to get inside Petra and back to the gate outside. Petra is famous for its huge monuments such as The Treasury, Royal Tombs, The Court, Roman Theatre, Roman Street, Palace of Pharaoh's daughter, and many other smaller monuments which fascinate visitors. The city itself is almost 45 square km and is considered to be the second wonder of the world. After the visit, enjoy lunch at a nice restaurant followed by a drive back to the border. En-route, stop for a short visit at Aqaba with possibility for a short walk.
Overnight in Eilat.
Tuesday - Eilat / Timna / Tel Aviv
Visit the underwater observatory, one of the largest seaquariums in the world, built into a coral reef. Drive to Timna to see the copper mines and King Solomon's pillars and marvel at the huge multicolored rock formations.
Overnight in Tel Aviv.
Wednesday - Tel Aviv / Ben Gurion Airport
After breakfast, transfer to Ben Gurion Airport for departure.
*visit subject to availability |
