DAY 1: USA-TEL AVIV
Depart New York via overnight transatlantic flight to Tel
Aviv.
DAY 2: TEL AVIV-HAIFA
Upon arrival at Ben Gurion Airport you will be met, assisted
and transferred to your hotel in Haifa. The remainder of
the day is at leisure.
DAY 3: HAIFA -NAZARETH - SEPHORIS - SAFED - GOLAN HEIGHTS
- TIBERIAS (B)
Begin your tour of Haifa with a breathtaking panoramic view
of Haifa Bay and the Western Galilee from the summit of
Mount Carmel. Visit the golden-domed Bahai Temple and its
exotic gardens. Pass the city's port and drive to Nazareth
to visit the Church of The Annunciation, and continue to
Sephoris to view one of the regions beautiful Roman mosaic
floors. On to Safed, the center of Jewish mysticism with
historic synagogues and modern artists' quarter. Continue
to the Golan Heights and view the former Syrian army bunkers,
the abandoned city of Kuneitra and the new Israeli town
of Katzrin. Drive to Tiberias, a resort town on the Sea
of Galilee, for overnight.
DAY 4: TIBERIAS - CAPERNAUM - JERICHO - JERUSALEM (B)
After a short city tour of Tiberias, continue to Capernaum
to see the ancient synagogue. On to Bet Shean, a major Roman
city, to see the reconstructed amphitheater. Proceed to
Bet Alpha to view the famous mosaic floor of an ancient
synagogue. Follow the Jordan Valley to Jericho, the world's
oldest settlement with the remains of Joshua's Wall, then
drive through the Judean Hills to Jerusalem.
DAY 5: OLD CITY OF JERUSALEM - BETHLEHEM (B)
Start the day with a visit to the tomb of King David and
the Room of The Last Supper on Mount Zion. Visit the Museum
of the City of Jerusalem in David's Citadel. Enter the walled
city and stroll through the restored Jewish Quarter. See
the Roman Cardo, the Herodian Mansions and continue to the
Western Wall. Walk along the Via Dolorosa to the Church
of The Holy Sepulchre. Proceed to Mount Scopus and then
to the Mount of Olives for a magnificent panoramic view
of the Old City. Continue to Bethlehem, stopping at Rachel's
Tomb; visit the Church of The Nativity.
Day 6: JERUSALEMNEW CITY (B)
A full day devoted to the New City starts with a view of
the Knesset (Israel's Parliament building) and Israel's
Supreme Court building. Other important sites on the program:
the Chagall Windows at Hadassah Medical Center, Yad Vashem
- The Holocaust Museum and Memorial, and Mount Herzl. See
the scale model of Jerusalem at the time of the Second Temple.
Visit the Shrine of the Book at the Israel Museum, housing
the original Dead Sea Scrolls.
DAY 7: DEAD SEA - QUMRAN CAVES - MASSADA (B)
Drive to the Dead Sea, the lowest point on earth (almost
400 meters below sea level). Visit the Qumran Caves where
the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered. Continue along the
shores of the Dead Sea to Massada. Ascend by cable car to
the top of the mountain to marvel at King Herod's desert
fortress-palace.
DAY 8: JERUSALEM (B)
Day at leisure in Jerusalem.
DAY 9: JERUSALEM - JERASH - AMMAN (B,D)
Today you will be transferred to the Alenby Bridge, cross
the border into Jordan and start your tour. First visit
is Jerash, known as the city of the 1,000 pillars. Visit
the triple Arch Gate, the Hippodrome, the Theater and the
Forum. Continue to Amman, where you will be transferred
to your hotel. This evening enjoy dinner at the Kan Zaman
village with typical Jordanian food and folkloric music
and dancing.
DAY 10: AMMAN: MT. NEBO - MADABA (B)
Today's tour takes you through the streets of Amman, the
modern capital city of Jordan, historically known as Philadelphia.
Visit the ancient Citadel, the Greek-Roman Theater, the
Archaeological museum and more. Then drive to Madaba to
view the 6th century mosaic map of Jerusalem, perhaps the
oldest map of the Holyland in existence. Continue to Mt.
Nebo, overlooking the Jordan Valley and the Dead Sea. Tradition
holds that Moses viewed the promised land from this peak.
Return to Amman.
DAY 11: AMMAN (PETRA) B
Today you will drive south along the ancient King's Highway
to the city of Petra. Carved into the rock of Sarah mountains
by the Nabateans, the city was lost to civilization until
it was rediscovered by the Swiss traveler Johann L. Burkhardt
in 1812. Walk through the Siq, the only access to the city,
between the cliffs to reach the Treasury, the Theater, the
Courts, the Temple and other monuments. Return to Amman
for overnight.
DAY 12: AMMAN-TEL AVIV (B)
Morning at leisure. Afternoon transfer to your hotel in
Tel Aviv for overnight.
DAY 13: TEL AVIV-USA (B)
Transfer to the airport for your flight home.
FreeGate
Included Features
