DAY 1- SAT: USA-TEL AVIV
Depart New York via overnight transatlantic flight to Tel
Aviv.
DAY 2 - SUN: TEL AVIV
Upon arrival at Ben Gurion Airport you will be met, assisted
and transferred to your hotel. The remainder
of the day is at leisure.
Overnight in Tel Aviv.
DAY 3 - MON: CAESAREA - MEGIDDO - HAIFA - ACRE (B,D)
Depart Tel Aviv and drive along the coastal plain to Caesarea,
capital of Judea under the Romans. Visit the excavations
of the ancient city, the Roman theatre and aqueduct. We continue
to Megiddo, identified as the site of Armageddon. Visit
the archaeological excavations at Megiddo, including
the well-preserved water supply system. We drive to Haifa,
visit the Persian Gardens at the Bahai Temple. From Haifa,
drive to Acre to visit the ancient city and harbor.
Continue to Kibbutz Lavi for dinner and overnight.
DAY 4- TUE: TIBERIAS - CAPERNAUM - BANIAS (B,D)
After a short tour of Tiberias, we take a boat ride to Capernaum.
Visit the remains of the 2nd century synagogue. Proceed to
Tabgha, the site of the miracle of fish and loaves, and visit
the Church of Multiplication with its 4th century mosaic
floor. Continue to Mount of the Beatitudes, the place
where Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount. Drive
to the Banias Spring and Waterfall and tour the Golan
Heights.
Return to Kibbutz Lavi for dinner and overnight.
DAY 5 - WED: NAZARETH - BEIT SHEAN (B)
We drive to Nazareth via Cana of Galilee. In Nazareth, we
shall visit the Church of the Annunciation, St. Joseph’s Workshop and Mary’s
Well. We drive to Beit Shean, a newly excavated city,
and visit the Roman theatre. We drive along the Jordan
River to Jerusalem for overnight.
DAY 6 - THU: JERUSALEM - OLD CITY (B)
Today we shall visit the Old City of Jerusalem to include:
Mount of Olives, Church of All Nations, Tomb of David at
Mt. Zion, Room of the Last Supper. Enter within the walls
of the city and visit the Cardo, Temple Mount (entrance
to the mosques not included), Western Wall, Via Dolorosa,
The Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Oriental Bazaar.
Overnight in Jerusalem.
DAY 7 - FRI: JERUSALEM - NEW CITY AND BETHLEHEM ** (B)
Visit the Model of Jerusalem during the period of the Second Temple, Yad Vashem
Memorial to the Holocaust, Ein Karem and the Church of Visitation, Shrine of
the Book at the Israel Museum, which houses the Dead Sea Scrolls.
Proceed to Bethlehem** to visit the Church of the Nativity.
Overnight in Jerusalem.
DAY 8 - SAT: QUMERAN - DEAD SEA - MASSADA (B)
Drive to Qumeran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls where found.
Visit the ancient city of Qumeran and drive along the shore
of the Dead Sea, the lowest place on earth, to Massada,
the last stronghold of the Jews after the destruction of
the Second Temple in 70 A.D. Ascend Mt. Massada by cable
car and visit the food storeroom, water irrigation system
and Herod’s Palace.
Return to Jerusalem for overnight.
DAY 9 - SUN: JERUSALEM - JERASH - AMMAN (B)
Departure from Jerusalem to the border. After
border crossing procedures enter in Jordan and proceed
to Jerash – city of the Decapolis – located about 45 km.
north of Amman in the fertile heights of the Gilead. Visit
the ancient Roman city with colonnaded streets, the baths
and the hilltop temple, then drive to Amman - the capital
of Jordan. After a short orientation tour viewing the various
landmarks of the city drive to the hotel for overnight.
DAY 10 - MON: WADI MUSA - PETRA (B)
After an early breakfast, leave the hotel and travel south
on the road to Wadi Musa. Take a horse ride from the Visitors’ Centre
to the entrance of the dramatic “Siq” (Canyon), then walk
through it to Petra - known as the red rock city – the ancient
capital of the Nabateans from the 3rd century BC to the
2nd century AC. Visit the most interesting carved monuments,
such as the Treasury (El Khazneh – the tomb of a Nabatean
king), then the field of tombs, obelisks and the altar
(Al Mashbah). From this point you can view the whole of
the rock city. Then back to Wadi Musa village and drive
back to Amman for overnight.
DAY 11 - TUE: MADABA - MOUNT NEBO - TEL AVIV (B)
After breakfast leave the hotel. Drive to Madaba to see
the ancient mosaic map of the Holyland and the ruins of
the historical site. Continue about 10 km. to Mount Nebo,
from where Moses viewed the Promised Land. From there you
will see the Jordan Valley, Jericho and the Dead Sea. Visit
the remains of a Byzantine church with a mosaic floor,
then drive to the border and on to Tel Aviv. Overnight in Tel Aviv.
DAY 12: TEL AVIV - USA (B)
Transfer to the airport for your flight home.
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