7 NIGHTS / 9 DAYS
Day 1: Canada - Tel Aviv (Israel)
Flight with a good itinerary.
Day 2: Tel Aviv
Arrival at the airport in Tel Aviv. You will be greeted by our local representatives after exiting the customs and transferred to your hotel in Tel Aviv. The rest of your day is free for you to relax or start your exploration of the coastal city of Tel Aviv.
Day 3: Tel Aviv - Sea of Galilee - Tiberias
After breakfast at the hotel, you will meet your local guide and drive to the port city of Jaffa (Joppa) for a walking tour in the picturesque alleys of the old, fortified town. You will pass by the house of Simon the Tanner and marvel at the views from the hilltop. Continuation northward along the coastal road, via Maris, to the archaeological ruins of Caesarea, built by Herod the Great in honor of Augustus Caesar. From there, you will visit Megiddo where the book of Revelations mentions a great battle at the place called "Armageddon", an ancient city inhabited continuously for more than five millennia (6000 to 500 BC). After exploring the ancient ruins, you will drive toward the Sea of Galilee, stopping at Cana to visit the Wedding Church where Jesus performed his first miracle, turning water into wine. Arrival in Tiberias and check-in to your hotel. (Breakfast)
Day 4: Sea of Galilee
Breakfast at the hotel. This morning you will visit the sites on the north shore of the Sea of Galilee, the stage for many of the events in Jesus' life. Driving along the shore of the sea to Capernaum – known as “His Town”, the center of Jesus ministry where he spent much time healing the sick and performing miracles - you will continue to Tabgha, the site of Christ’s miracle of feeding the 5,000, where you will visit the Church of Multiplication, where the mosaic floor depicts a basket with loaves and two fishes, and the Church of the Primacy of St Peter, commemorating Jesus' reinstatement of Peter as chief among the Apostles. Continuation toward the Mount of Beatitudes, overlooking the sea, where Jesus preached the "Sermon on the Mount" and where it is believed that he picked his 12 apostles. On the Golan Heights, enjoy the panoramic view of Mt. Hermon and the rugged Golan plateau. In the afternoon, you will visit Banias (Caesarea Philippi), one of the sources of the River Jordan, where Jesus took his disciples, revealing his purpose and His Church before his last trip to Jerusalem and where Simon identified Jesus as the messiah. Finally you will drive to the southern part of the Sea of Galilee to visit the Yardenit Baptismal Site. Overnight in Tiberias. (Breakfast)
Day 5: Nazareth - Jordan Valley - Beit Alpha - Jerusalem
Breakfast at your hotel. In the morning, enjoy some free time or opt for an amazing optional boat tour ($) on the Sea of Galilee. Then, you will travel through the Galilee region to Nazareth, where Jesus spent his childhood, and the Church of Annunciation, built on the site where archaeologists believe the Archangel Gabriel appeared to the Virgin Mary. You will also see Mary’s Well and Joseph’s Church. You will visit the ancient synagogue at Beit Alpha, located at the foot of the northern slopes of the Gilboa Mountains which has one of the most preserved and beautiful mosaics in Israel. Driving through the Jordan Valley, you will pass by Jericho before reaching Jerusalem. Overnight in Jerusalem. (Breakfast)
Optional boat tour ($) on the Sea of Galilee (Approx. $15 taxes included per person, payable at destination)
Sail on a boat to experience the tranquility and scenery little changed during the past 2000 years (subject to conditions and fees).
Day 6: Masada - Dead Sea - Jerusalem
Breakfast at your hotel. Through the remarkable scenery of the Dead Sea, you will travel to Masada, which is located on an isolated cliff in the Judean Desert, a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2001. Ascending to the fortress by cable car, you will see the last stronghold of the Jewish Zealots in their war against the Romans. Visit the excavations, King Herod’s palace, the synagogue, the bathhouse and enjoy the breathtaking view of the Roman camps and the Dead Sea below. Continuation to the site of the Qumran Caves where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered. Nearly 1,300 feet below sea level, the Dead Sea is the lowest point on Earth's surface. Bring your swimsuit as, if weather permits, it is possible to "float" on the salty, mineral-rich, water. Overnight in Jerusalem. (Breakfast)
Day 7: Jerusalem
After breakfast at your hotel, you will visit the Israel Museum’s Shrine of the Book with the famous Dead Sea Scrolls. Then, you will see the beautifully renovated model of the Herodian city of Jerusalem, dating back to the time of the Second Temple. Following your visit, you will drive toward Ein Karem, a picturesque village in the southwestern outskirts of Jerusalem, where according to Christian traditions John the Baptist was born. You will also visit Yad Vashem, the official memorial to the Jewish victims of the Holocaust, established in 1953, located at the foot of Mt. Hertzl. Finally, you will visit Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus at the Church of the Nativity and Manger Square. Overnight in Jerusalem. (Breakfast)
Day 8: Jerusalem
Breakfast at your hotel. You will visit the Old City of Jerusalem where you will see the Western Wall and the actual site of the Second Temple, the Temple Mount. Walk the Way of the Cross, the Via Dolorosa, to Calvary and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, housing both the traditional site of Crucifixion and the Tomb of the Resurrection. To the southwest, just outside the Old City, you will see Mount Zion with the traditional tomb of King David and the Room of the Last Supper. Visit the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus spent his last night and was betrayed by Judas. Here, enjoy the spectacular view of Jerusalem - the holy city for each of the world’s three great religions, Christianity, Judaism, and Islam - from the Mount of Olives. Overnight in Jerusalem. (Breakfast)
Day 9: Jerusalem - Tel Aviv - Canada
After breakfast, greeting in the lobby of your hotel by local representatives and transfer from your hotel to the airport for your flight home. (Breakfast)
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