Journey Through IsraelItinerary

Day 1: Depart U.S. / En Route

Day 2: Arrive in Tel Aviv, Israel
After arriving at Ben Gurion International Airport, take the complimentary group transfer to the hotel for check-in. Settle in before joining fellow travelers and your Travel Director for a brief program introduction followed by a welcome dinner. 
Overnight: InterContinental David (D)

Day 3: Tel Aviv / Jaffa / Wahat al-Salam–Neve Shalom Kibbutz
After breakfast, set out for a panoramic tour of the ancient port city of Jaffa, its winding streets rife with history—including its distinction as the port from which Jonah departed in the Old Testament story, Jonah and the Whale.

Then explore Tel Aviv’s highlights, including colorful Neve Tzedek—a trendy neighborhood overflowing with boutiques, galleries, and Bauhaus architecture. 

After lunch, visit the kibbutz Wahat al-Salam–Neve Shalom (Arabic/Hebrew for “Oasis of Peace”) and hear from its Israeli and Palestinian members how their community seeks to establish lasting peace. 

Enjoy the evening at leisure with additional time in Tel Aviv for dinner on your own. 
Overnight: InterContinental David (B,L)

Day 4: Caesarea  / Haifa / Rosh HaNikra / Tiberias
This morning, travel along the coastal plain to the ruins at Caesarea, the Roman seaport built by King Herod. 

Continue to Mount Carmel for a stunning panoramic view of the Bay of Haifa—Israel's only natural harbor on the Mediterranean. In Haifa, Israel's third-largest city, visit the domed Baha'i shrine and terraced gardens.

At Rosh HaNikra, an incredible geologic formation, take a scenic cable-car ride down the cliff face to discover the vibrant sea grottoes created by powerful sea action over thousands of years. 

This evening, arrive to the hotel on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee.
Overnight: The Scots Hotel (B,L,D)

Day 5: Galilee / Tabgha / Capernaum / Golan Heights
After breakfast, visit the Mount of Beatitudes—where Jesus is believed to have delivered the Sermon on the Mount; Tabgha—where Jesus performed the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes; and Capernaum—where Jesus taught in the synagogue. 

Weather permitting, embark upon a cruise on the Sea of Galilee to admire the surrounding landscape of rolling hills and lush greenery. Then visit the Kibbutz Ginosar to see the Jesus Boat—an ancient fishing boat dating back to the 1st century AD, which was discovered in 1986. 

After lunch, drive to pictorial Golan Heights—a historically contested region in northern Israel near the borders of Syria and Lebanon. Learn about Israel's winemaking with a tour and tasting at the Golan Winery before returning to the hotel for a relaxing dinner.
Overnight: The Scots Hotel (B,L,D)

Day 6: Beit She'an / Megiddo / Nazareth
This morning, set out to discover the extensive Roman-Byzantine archaeological ruins at Beit She’an, considered some the best-preserved in the Middle East. Next, see Megiddo, which was home to 26 civilizations between 4000 and 400 BCE and foretold in the Bible as the site of Armageddon. 

Continue to Nazareth to tour the Basilica of the Annunciation and the Well of the Virgin Mary, as well as a colorful, authentic Arab market. Visit an open-air museum that presents life in Nazareth as it was during the first century. 
Overnight: The Scots Hotel (B,L,D)

Day 7: Masada / Qumran / Jericho / Jerusalem
Today, venture into the striking landscapes of the Judaean Desert, where massive rock cliffs overlook dramatic valleys. At Masada, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, take a cable-car to see the ancient fortress where a group of Jewish soldiers made a last stand against the siege of the Roman army. 

Continue to Qumran, the archaeological site where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered.

The journey continues by crossing into the West Bank to Jericho, known as the oldest city in the world—with remains of settlements dating back as far as 9000 BCE. Admire the stunning mosaics at Hisham’s Palace, and visit an ancient Greek Orthodox monastery built into the face of the Mount of Temptation. 

Afterward, travel to Jerusalem, the ancient city sacred in Christianity, Islam, and Judaism.
Overnight: Orient Jerusalem (B,L)

Day 8: Jerusalem: Mount of Olives / Gethsemane / Mount Zion / City of David
Following breakfast, embrace the iconic views of Jerusalem's Old City from the Mount of Olives. Visit the Church of the Pater Noster, where inscriptions of the Lord's Prayer translated to more than 140 languages can be found. See the Chapel of the Ascension—located on the site where Jesus is believed to have ascended to heaven—a shrine holy to both Christians and Muslims.

Descend into the Josaphat Valley to stop at the Chapel of Dominus Flevit and the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus prayed the night before his arrest. 

At Mount Zion, visit David’s Tomb and the Cenacle—the location of the Last Supper. 

End the day exploring the City of David archaeological site—the original center of ancient Jerusalem—including the Pool of Siloam, where Jesus healed a blind man. 
Overnight: Orient Jerusalem (B,L)

Day 9: Jerusalem: The Old City
Begin today at the Western Wall, the only remnant of the Second Temple and the holiest site in Judaism. When the Temple was destroyed by the Romans in 70 CE, only this support wall remained. For centuries, people have visited the wall for prayer, either recited aloud or written on slips of paper that are then placed into the cracks in the wall. Continue to Temple Mount —sacred in both Judaism and Islam—to view the Dome of the Rock, a 7th-century Islamic shrine known for its iconic gold-plated roof.

Tour the Davidson Center to learn about Jerusalem on the eve of its destruction by the Romans. Then venture underground to the Kotel Tunnels to see an additional 1,300 feet of the Western Wall.

Next, visit the Pool of Bethesda. Then enjoy a short walk to the Chapel of the Flagellation and retrace the steps of Jesus along the Via Dolorosa to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, constructed on the site of the crucifixion. This evening, meet with an Orthodox Jewish family in their home for a traditional meal and to learn about the Orthodox lifestyle.
Overnight: Orient Jerusalem (B,D)

Day 10: Jerusalem / Bethlehem (West Bank)
This morning, tour Yad Vashem, Israel’s Holocaust Remembrance Centre, which includes a history museum and multiple memorials dedicated to the victims of the Holocaust and those who risked their lives to rescue Jews from the Nazis.

Walk through the Israel Museum and view treasures, including the Dead Sea Scrolls and a scale model of Jerusalem from the Second Temple era. 

After lunch, cross into the West Bank once more to visit Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus. See the Church of the Nativity, as well as the Shepherds’ Field, where an angel announced the birth of Jesus. Take a tour of the graffiti art on the border wall and visit the artist Banksy’s Walled Off Hotel. Learn about life in Palestine at Tent of Nations, an educational and environmental family farm dedicated to strengthening communities and fostering peace and understanding. 

Return to Jerusalem this evening for a special farewell dinner.
Overnight: Orient Jerusalem (B,D)

Day 11: Jerusalem / Tel Aviv / Depart for U.S.
Early this morning, take the complimentary transfer to Ben Gurion International Airport for departing flights home. Guests joining the optional post-tour will continue to Jordan. (B)

B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner

Activities are generally not very strenuous, but a considerable amount of walking can be expected. It is our expectation that guests on this program are able to follow a guide at an average pace for three hours through paved and unpaved streets, over even and uneven terrain, and up and down stairs without assistance. Due to the nature of some structures, handrails may not be present, and facilities for people with disabilities may be limited. Participation in itinerary activities is up to the individual.