Discovery of Israel: Jerusalem, Jericho & Nazareth

Welcome to Israel, a land full of historical and biblical sites! When your flight lands in Tel Aviv, your private driver will pick you up at the airport and transfer you to your hotel. Check-in and spend the rest of the day as you choose. Either relax at your hotel or head out for some independent exploration of Jaffa, the oldest part of Tel Aviv-Yafo.

Drive along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea after breakfast and stop at Caesarea, an ancient Roman port city. The impressive amphitheater, hippodrome, ruins of palaces, the huge columns, and the remnants of the walls in front of the sea will surprise you. Further north along the coast is your next stop - Haifa, where you can see the terraced Baha'i Gardens on Mt. Carmel and learn about the Baha'i faith. After that, continue your journey to the Rosh HaNikra Grottoes. Entering this geologic formation on the border between Israel and Lebanon, you will marvel at spectacular caves created by the sea. Later, return south and visit Acre for its medieval sites. When the tour ends, head to your hotel in Nazareth and rest.

This morning you will first visit Megiddo. It is where the archaeological discovery can date back to the Chalcolithic period. With a stop at Mt. Precipice for 360-degree views of Nazareth, you will return to the city for a visit to the Church of Annunciation and Church of St. Joseph. Listen to your tour guide about the first miracle attributed to Jesus, The transformation of water into wine at the Marriage, when passing through Cana to Mt. of Beatitudes. Upon arrival, you can learn about the Sermon on the Mount while overlooking the Sea of Galilee. Before returning to the hotel, make a stopover in Capernaum on the shore of the Sea of Galilee.

The Golan Heights Tour takes you north through the Plain of Armageddon and past Megiddo into the Galilee. The Galilee has rolling hills, farmlands, vineyards and the beautiful Sea of Galilee. Crossing the Jordan River we ascend the Golan Heights through the lush countryside. In Tabgha, you will visit the Church of the Multiplication of the Loaves and Fish. Along the edge of the Sea of Galilee, stop at Yardenit. This River Jordan baptismal site is where John baptized Jesus. On the way back to your hotel, you will see Mt. Tabor where the Transfiguration took place.

Today, start with a look around the kibbutz to learn about this unique community. Continue to the foot of Mt. Hermon and the Hermon River and stop at the Banias, a former site of a Roman city dedicated to the God Pan. The lush forests, streams and waterfalls of the Banias are so beautiful it has been compared to the Garden of Eden. Later, head to the Shalom Observatory and enjoy stunning views of the Sea of Galilee. Afterward, you will take an exploration of an excavated Jewish village from the Mishnah and Talmudic eras in Katzrin. The Golan Antiquities Museum nearby will show you archaeological discoveries from the Golan and a film on the ancient Jewish city of Gamla. Finally, make a stopover at Mt. Bental and explore the remaining Syrian bunkers and trenches captured by Israelis in the 1967 Six-Day War.

This morning, head south to Masada, an ancient fortress located high on a rocky mesa. Take a cable car up to the top, walk around the ruins of the palace, and hear the heroic history of it. Passing the desert oasis of Ein Gedi, you will reach the next destination - Qumran. The ancient Jewish religious manuscripts, the Dead Sea Scrolls, were found here. Before heading to your hotel in Jerusalem, spend the rest of the day relaxing on one of the Dead Sea beaches. You can experience floating over the water, use the Dead Sea mud as a natural skin mask and soak up the glorious Dead Sea sun.

Today, you will visit two cities famous in biblical history. One is Jericho, which is considered as the first town attacked by the Israelites under Joshua after they crossed the Jordan River. Here you can visit some pilgrimage sites such as the Sycamore tree of Zacchaeus. Another one is Bethlehem, the biblical birthplace of Jesus. Step into the Church of the Nativity and see the silver star marking the traditional spot of Jesus's birth. The adjacent Church of St. Catherine has a complex of subterranean caves that hold ancient tombs and shrine. When the tour ends, pass through Shepherds Field and return to Jerusalem.

When traveling in Israel, Old Jerusalem is a place that you can't miss. Starting from the top of the Mount of Olives, you will descend the mount passing the Biblical Garden of Gethsemane and Church of All Nations. Stepping into the old city, the ancient street will lead you to the sacred Western Wall. If you want, place a prayer note between the ancient stones of the wall and then follow the Via Dolorosa to the stunning Church of the Holy Sepulchre. For Christians, it is where Jesus was crucified and buried, and where He rose again from the dead.

After the tour of Old City, proceed to Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum. The exhibits including authentic artifacts, original documents, photos, and video will show a miserable memory of the Holocaust.

The charm of Jerusalem is much more than that you visited yesterday. With a free day in Jerusalem, you can do some exploration at your own pace. Wander through the Old City to review the biblical story of Jesus, or step into a local market to savor the local daily life, or visit the Israel Museum to add your understanding of Israel history.

Pack your luggage and check out of the hotel, and your private driver will wait to transfer you to the airport for your home-bound flight. Say goodbye to Israel!