The Experience

Experience Israel’s extraordinary history as well as its modern treasures; cruise the Sea of Galilee by boat, visit Nazareth and the Western Wall, reflect at Yad Vashem and witness artisans at work. Day 1: Arrive Tel Aviv, Israel
Arrive in Tel Aviv, where you are met and transferred to your hotel.

Dan Tel Aviv Hotel (Gold) or InterContinental David Tel Aviv (Silver)
Day 2: Caesarea & Acre | Capitals and Seaports
Take a scenic coastal drive to the ancient Roman capital, Caesarea, where Herod laid out a classical city and constructed a revolutionary, artificial harbor. Near its amphitheater, view a partial inscription mentioning Pontius Pilate the only secular reference to his existence. Then, visit the seaport cities of Haifa and Acre, the latter a UNESCO World Heritage Site. While at Acre, tour the Knights,™ Halls, the El Jazaar Mosque and covered markets.

Scots Hotel | Meals: B
Day 3: Sea of Galilee | Footsteps of Jesus
Cruise the fabled Sea of Galilee like a local by boat, stopping at Capernaum, the site of the synagogue where Jesus taught. See St. Peter,™s House, which was later converted into a church, before visiting Tabgha, where the miracle of the loaves and fishes is said to have occurred. Continue to the Mount of Beatitudes, the site of the Sermon on the Mount.

Scots Hotel | Meals: B
Day 4: Nazareth | Tales of the New Testament
Visit Nazareth, the town where Jesus spent much of his life. See the Basilica of the Annunciation, built on the traditional site of Mary and Joseph,™s home; the Church of St. Gabriel; Mary,™s Well, where an angel is said to have visited; and the basement of the Church of St. Joseph, where a cavern is said to have been the carpentry workshop of Joseph. Continue overland through Jordan Valley to the Decapolis city of Beit Shean (Biblical Scythopolis). Arrive in Jerusalem this afternoon.

The King David (Gold) or American Colony Hotel (Silver) | Meals: B
Day 5: Jerusalem | Spiritual Epicenter
Today, explore the fascinating Old City of Jerusalem, built by King David in 1004 BC. Stop first at the Western Wall, one of Judaism’s most sacred sites. View the Temple Mount area (Al Haram el-Sharif), with the Dome of the Rock and El Aksa Mosque. View the Davidson Center, where artwork and archaeological finds take you back through the ages. In the Christian Quarter, walk the Via Dolorosa, the street traversed by Jesus bearing his cross, and stop at the Convent of Zion Sisters (Antonia Fortress), where Pontius Pilate tried Jesus. Passing the Stations of the Cross through bazaars of the Old City, arrive at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, reputed site of Jesus,™ crucifixion and resurrection.

The King David (Gold) or American Colony Hotel (Silver) | Meals: B
Day 6: Yad Vashem | Holocaust Memorial
Pass the Knesset (Israel,™s Parliament) en route to the Israel Museum, where you view the Shrine of the Book, home to a selection of the famous Dead Sea Scrolls. See a compelling model of Jerusalem as it was during the time of the Second Temple. Then visit Yad Vashem, a vast Holocaust memorial on the Mount of Remembrance and a leading institution for Shoah research. Drive to Bethlehem and to the Church of the Nativity, the traditional birthplace of Jesus.

The King David (Gold) or American Colony Hotel (Silver) | Meals: B
Day 7: Masada | Zealot Stronghold
Drive along the Dead Sea to Masada. Upon arrival, ascend by cable car to the last stronghold of the Jewish Zealots, where the Israelite fighters held out for three years against the invading Roman army before taking their own lives to avoid capture and enslavement. Explore many of their fortifications, originally built by King Herod and still standing today.

The King David (Gold) or American Colony Hotel (Silver) | Meals: B
Day 8: Depart Tel Aviv
Transfer to Ben-Gurion Airport for your flight home.

Meals: B