Islamic Heritage in Holy Land

Itinerary

• Day 1: Arrival in Tel Aviv

  Welcome to the Holy Land!

  Touch down at the Ben Gurion Airport, meet your driver at the arrival hall and then take the private transfer to your hotel in Tel Aviv. The rest of the day is yours to freshen up or explore the area around the hotel.

  • Tel Aviv

• Day 2: Tel Aviv & Old Jaffa

  Start the tour today with scenic driving around the main streets of the young UNESCO-listed Tel Aviv, which is also known as the White City. Stop at Rabin Square, where the fifth Prime Minister of this country and winner of the Nobel Peace Prize - Yitzhak Rabin, was assassinated in 1995. Continue to the 4000-year-old Jaffa, visit the ancient ruins and the restored artists' quarter. Then, explore Neve Tzedek - the first Jewish neighborhood built outside Old Jaffa -and Nahalat Binyamin, a pedestrian street with various buildings, musicians, handmade jewelry, and artifacts. Stroll through Sheinkin to feel the youthful ambiance of Tel Aviv and visit the Diamond bourse to see the diamond production process.

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  • Tel Aviv

• Day 3: Tel Aviv - Tiberias, Caesarea & Haifa & Acre

  Drive along the coast of the Mediterranean, passing by Caesarea and Haifa, and reach Acre. Having been shaped by Romans, Ottomans, Crusaders, Mamelukes, Christians, and Muslims, this ancient oriental port city nowadays homes to Jews, Christians, and Muslims brilliantly. Entering the Old City of Acre through ancient city walls, we will visit the underground Knights' Halls, the Turkish Hamam (baths), and the glorious Al Jazzar Mosque - all of them telling the glory of its past.

  There is also a stop near the Horns of Hattin, which is believed to be the place where Saladin had his victory over the Crusaders, to visit the Tomb of Nabi Shuaib (Jethro), a holy place for the Druze.

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  • Tiberias

• Day 4: Tiberias, Nazareth & Mash'had

  Spend the morning exploring the nearby Nazareth, a beautiful city located in the Lower Galilee region and famed as the home of young Jesus. Today, it is the largest Arab city in the Holy Land. Stroll through the city and sample some of its many legendary churches, mosques, colorful markets, and shops.

  In the afternoon, on the way back to Tiberias, stop to explore the small city of Mashhad and visit its shrines dedicated to Nabi Jonah and Maqam Sheikh Ali As-Sayyid.

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  • Tiberias

• Day 5: Tiberias - Jerusalem

  Leave Tiberias behind and proceed to Jerusalem this morning, which will take about 2.5 hours. The rest of the day will be free at leisure to explore the city on your own.

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  • Jerusalem

• Day 6: Jerusalem Old and New city

  Start the tour today from the Mt. of Olives, visiting some mosques and enjoying a panoramic view of Jerusalem. Entering the Old City through the Damascus Gate, you will explore the busy lanes and colorful market stalls of the Muslim Quarter, reach the Haram al-Sharif and visit Al-Aqsa Mosque as well as the Mosque of Qubbat al-Sakhra (Dome of the Rock). There is also some time to admire the elaborate architecture and pray, to visit the Tomb of Rabia al-Adawiyya on Mt. of Olives and the Islamic school in the old city.

  Later on, continue the tour to the Wailing Wall, the Mosque of Omar, adjacent to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, and the Tomb of David on Mt. Zion.

  After lunch, head to Yad Vashem, the holocaust memorial museum, for an unforgettable and touching visit.

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  • Jerusalem

• Day 7: Jerusalem, Hebron & Bethlehem

  Get a quick insight into modern Jerusalem by traveling through its neighborhoods and museums. Continue to Hebron for a tour to the Sanctuary of Abraham and Mosque of Prophet Younis, which is believed to house the tomb of Prophet Yunus. Then, move on to Bethlehem to see the Prophet Issa's biblical birthplace marked by an inlaid silver start in the cave under the Church of the Nativity. Next to this sacred site, you will find the Manger Square with the 15th-century church of St. Catherine and the Mosque of Omar.

  Late afternoon, return to Jerusalem for the night.

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  • Jerusalem

• Day 8: Jerusalem - Tel Aviv, Departure

  Have some leisure time in Jerusalem until meeting your driver for the transfer to Ben Gurion Airport for your journey home.

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