Itinerary of a Lifetime!!

DAY 1, Wednesday - Depart for Israel   Depart for Israel

DAY 2, Thursday - Arrive in Tel Aviv, Transfer to "Golden" Jerusalem  Welcome to Israel. Arrive at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv and transfer to your hotel in the "golden" city of Jerusalem. Time to rest, relax and acclimate to your new time zone 

DAY 3, Friday - Jerusalem Old City Tour*  Begin your discovery of Jerusalem at the walled Old City with its four distinct sections - the Christian, Jewish, Muslim and Armenian Quarters. Follow the steps along the Via Dolorosa to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, one of the holiest sites in the Christian world. Pass through the narrow alleys and souks to Mt. Zion; visit the Room of the Last Supper and the traditional Tomb of King David. The remainder of the day is on your own. Stroll through the lanes of the Old City, visit the exotic bazaars or join the throngs of people at cafes along the Midrachov, Jerusalem's main shopping street. The optional afternoon tour to Bethlehem includes a visit to the Church of the Nativity, commemorating the birthplace of Christ. A stop for local olive wood handicrafts is included. This evening, dinner together at the hotel.  Optional: Half Day Bethlehem (PM)  ü

DAY 4, Saturday - At Leisure in Jerusalem   A full day to discover this fascinating city on your own. In Jerusalem, center of three of the world's greatest religions, there are endless opportunities to explore. A walk through the city's colorful neighborhoods reveals a diverse blend of traditional and modern cultures. Or, join the fascinating optional full day tour to Masada and Dead Sea that begins with a drive along the shores of the Dead Sea, the lowest point on earth, to Masada. Ascend by cable car to the top of these heroic heights; listen to the brave tale of the Zealots who chose to perish rather than live under Roman rule. Visit the archaeological sites including the remains of Herod's Palace, a synagogue, bath houses, dwellings and workshops. After a visit to the Museum of Masada at the base, drive to the Dead Sea for an "unsinkable" swim in the salty and buoyant waters before returning to Jerusalem. Tonight's very special optional evening includes dinner at a popular restaurant, attendance at the spectacular Sound & Light Show at the Tower of David, and a drive through magnificent illuminated Jerusalem. Optional: Full Day Masada and Dead Sea (AM) ü; Optional: Illuminated Jerusalem, Restaurant Dinner and Sound & Light Show (PM)  ü

DAY 5, Sunday - At Leisure in Jerusalem   Immerse yourself in this ancient city on this day at leisure. There is so much to do, and so much to see! Learn more about the fascinating history of the Old City on the optional morning tour that begins at the Zion Gate. Visit the Cardo, a colonnaded Roman shopping street during the Byzantine period, the Jewish Quarter's four Sephardic Synagogues and the Burnt House, set ablaze by the Romans. Then, on to the state-of-the-art Davidson Center in the archaeological Park with its exhibits and interactive multimedia, including a virtual reality reconstruction of the Herodian Temple Mount in the year 70 CE. In the afternoon, visit the contrasting New City on the optional tour. Drive via the Supreme Court building and the Knesset, Israel's Parliament, to the Israel Museum. Here, view the Shrine of the Book where the Dead Sea Scrolls are housed and the miniature model of Jerusalem during Second Temple period. Then, to Yad Vashem, Memorial to the Holocaust on the Mount of Remembrance. This evening, dinner at a local restaurant highlighted by delectable local favorites    
Optional: Half Day Jerusalem Old City - Jewish Quarter (AM) ü; Optional: Half Day Jerusalem New City (PM) ü

DAY 6, Monday - Bet She‘an, Jordan River, Capernaum, Tiberias   Travel north via the Jordan Valley and reach the impressive archaeological site of Bet She'an, an ancient city dating back to King Saul; see the remains of an ancient Roman city and the ongoing excavations. From here to the Jordan River, considered one of the world's most sacred rivers; stop at the popular baptismal site of Yardenit. Drive to the age-old fishing village of Capernaum on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee, home to a celebrated Byzantine-era synagogue and frequently mentioned in the Bible as Jesus' base during his Galilean ministry. Before arriving at the hotel, visit Caprice where we learn about Israel's major diamond industry. Dinner at the hotel 

DAY 7, Tiberias and the Sea of Galilee    On your day at leisure in Tiberias, mix the serene quiet of the pristine Sea of Galilee, the largest freshwater lake in Israel, with nature, history and religion or enjoy the active water sports along the city's many beaches. Don't miss the optional tour full day tour to the Galilee that begins in Safed, one of Judaism's holiest cities and mystical center of Kabbalah; walk through the colorful artists' colony and visit an ancient synagogue. Then, ascend the Golan Heights to understand more about this strategic area; visit Har Ben Tal, site of a former Israeli bunker. After lunch at a kibbutz, taste special vintages at a winery in Katzrin before returning to the hotel   Optional: Full Day Galilee & Golan Heights with Lunch (AM) ü

DAY 8, Wednesday - Nazareth, Haifa and Caesarea to Lively Tel Aviv   Drive through the rolling Galilean hills to the sacred town of Nazareth where, according to tradition, Jesus spent his childhood and youth; visit the Church of the Annunciation and Mary's Well. Continue to the seaport city of Haifa perched high atop Mt. Carmel. View the golden-domed Baha'i Shrine and the stunning Baha'i Gardens, inscribed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Follow the crystal-blue waters of the Mediterranean coast to ancient Caesarea; see the astounding Roman, Byzantine and Crusader ruins and the 2000-year-old theater. At the Visitor's Center, view the informative multi-media presentation. Then to cosmopolitan Tel Aviv, Israel's "playground-on-the-sea". Get-acquainted with the city on the optional panoramic tour that begins on bustling Ibn Givrol Street and travels to Yitzhak Rabin Square with its memorial to the late Israeli Prime Minister. Continue past the Mann Auditorium and Habima, Israel's national theatre to tree-lined Rothschild Avenue known for its distinctive Bauhaus architecture dating back to the 1930s. To top off the evening, stop for dinner at a popular seaside restaurant   Optional: Panoramic Night Tour of Tel Aviv with Dinner (PM) ü

DAY 9, Thursday - Depart Israel   Bon Voyage! Transfer to the airport for your departure flight