Israel Jewish Christian Tour (10 days)
Jerusalem
Israel – 10 days/ 10 nights Jewish-Christian Tour sample Itinerary
Highlights: Jerusalem, Dead Sea, Masada, Ein Gedi, Jordan Valley, Beit She’an, Tiberias, The Golan Heights, The Galilee, Sderot, Ashkelon, Tel Aviv
Day 1
Arrival in Israel
SHALOM and welcome to Israel!
Upon arrival to Israel and after customs you will be welcomed by your driver and transferred to your hotel in Jerusalem.
Rest of the evening is at leisure in Jerusalem to relax, enjoy and get ready for your Israel Experience.
Overnight in Jerusalem.
Day 2
Jerusalem- The Old City
Meet your guide and start your day with a tour which includes the four quarters of the Old City. Walk down the Temple Steps, the original set of 15 steps that led to the Jewish Temple’s entrance, the Western Wall (the Wailing Wall), the holiest site in Judaism and the only visible remains of Herod’s splendid Second Temple.
Enter the Wall Tunnels, huge arched spaces located under the northern part of the Western Wall, apparently dug in the Hasmonean period (163 BC to 37 BC). Continue to the Cardo (ancient Roman street of shops), the four Synagogues, Mt. Zion, David’s Tomb and the Herodian Mansion.
Continue to to the Christian Quarter and walk along the Via Dolorosa, “Road of Sorrow,” to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. and enjoy free time at the Arab Market in the Muslim Quarter.
End the day at the Western Wall welcoming the Shabbat.
Overnight in Jerusalem.
Day 3
Dead Sea, Masada, Ein Gedi
Your day will begin with an early morning drive down the Jerusalem hills to the Dead Sea region. Climb onto Masada by walking up the snake route or riding the cable car to marvel at King Herod’s desert fortress, palace and the last stronghold of the Jewish zealots against the Roman domination in 73 CE.
From Masada continue to Ein Gedi, a desert oasis and nature reserve, where you will hike up to the waterfall. From Ein Gedi proceed to Ein Zohar Spa for swimming, “floating” and “mudding” in the Dead Sea.
On your way to Jerusalem you will stop for a view of “Qumran” where the ancient “Dead Sea Scrolls” were found.
Overnight in Jerusalem.
Day 4
Jerusalem- The New City
You will start your day with a visit to Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial and Museum. May we never forget the terrible price Israel paid to establish her country with the 6,000,000 Jews murdered by the Nazis. Visit the Children’s Memorial and the Communities’ Valley.
Drive to the Knesset (the Israeli Parliament) and the Menora. During this stop you will have a chance to learn about the Israeli political system and see many of the government offices including the Prime Minister’s office. Continue to the Israel Museum and visit the Shrine of the Books where you will see the original Dead Sea Scrolls.
Continue for a visit and special lunch at Jerusalem’s most famous market, Mahne Yehuda.
Time permitting, end the day with a drive along the “seam Line” between Jerusalem and the West Bank, the Arab and Jewish neighborhoods within Jerusalem’s borders. Observation at Beit Jala, Har Gilo and the separation fence/wall. Visit to Rachel crossing, Har Homa. Umm Tuba and Sur Baher. Observation Armon promenade, Abu Dis, al-Azaria, the Palestinian parliament. Lookout at Mount Scopus (Home of the Hebrew University) and Ma’ale Adumim and E 1 areas.
Optional visit to Military Base.
Overnight in Jerusalem.
Day 5
Jordan Valley to Tiberias
Today you will drive along the Jordan River to Tiberias.
Your day will start with camels rides at “Eretz Bereshit,” the Land of Genesis, where you will be greeted by “Abraham” and his family, will be hosted in their tent and ride camels.
Continue to Beit She’an (the Pompeii of the Middle East) and relive the glory days of the Roman Empire at this site which contains some of Israel’s most spectacular archaeological finds – the remains of a large amphitheater, a Byzantine era colonnaded street, ritual baths, a pottery workshop, a basilica, a Roman temple and more.
Before arriving to Tiberias, visit a Kibbutz and learn about this interesting movement and it’s connection to the founding of the State of israel.
Overnight in Tiberias.
Day 6
The Golan Heights
Start your day with a visit to Capernaum on the shore of the Kinneret (Sea of Galilee). Visit the home of Peter and the Church of the Multiplication. Continue up the Golan and enjoy a unique Jeep ride up the Golan Heights.
Visit Mount Bental and discover first-hand the strategic importance of the area as you climb the Heights and “capture” a former Syrian bunker, affording you a bird’s-eye view of Israel’s expansive Hula Valley below, once a constant and easy target for Syrian mortars and heavy artillery. Visit a local winery and meet with local resident tasting of Cheese and Wine, and discussion over wine and cheese on the present and future plans for the Golan Heights.
After a visit to, and special lunch in, a Druze village (optional), end the day with a visit and a short hike at the Banias Nature Reserve and Waterfall.
Overnight in Tiberias.
Day 7
The Western Galilee and Mediterranean Coast
Today you will visit the Western Galilee and the Mediterranean Coast. Start with a visit to Safed (Tzefat), the city of Kabbala. Visit the old synagogues, the narrow old city streets and the boutiques and galleries. Continue along the Israel-Lebanon border to Rosh Hanikra, the summit of a mountain cliff where you descend by cable car to the underwater grottos.
Drive south past Akko and visit the Crusader tunnels and the spice market. Continue south to Haifa, stop at the summit of Mt. Carmel for a breathtaking panoramic view of Haifa Bay.
Option to replace Rosh Hanikra with a visit to the town of Nazareth and a visit to the Church of Annunciation.
Overnight in Tel Aviv.
Day 8
The Southern Mediterranean, Sderot, Ashkelon, Tel Aviv
Your morning will start with a visit the the town of Rehovot and visit the Ayalon Institute, an underground bullet factory built by the Haganah. You will also be able to visit the world famous Weizmann Institute of Science.
Continue to the town of Sderot where you will visit the underground playground, meet with local residents and learn first hand about the Israeli – Gaza conflict. You will have an opportunity to visit the city and have a view over the Gaza Strip.
From Sderot continue to Kibbutz Yad Mordecai, the site of the fieriest battle during the 1948 War of Independence. On your way to Tel Aviv pass by the ancient city of Ashkelon.
Overnight in Tel Aviv.
Day 9
Tel Aviv
Optional half day tour in Tel Aviv to include: Visit Independence Hall where Ben Gurion declared the birth of the State of Israel, Rabin Square, the Bauhaus style UNESCO world heritage “white city”. Continue to Jaffa and visit the Jaffa port, the old neighborhood of Neve Tzedek (the first Tel Aviv settlement) and the Flea Market.
Rest of the afternoon free in Tel Aviv.
Overnight in Tel Aviv.
Day 10
Departure
Early morning private transfer to Ben Gurion airport for your flight back to the USA.