Grand Tour of Israel

Welcome to Israe 

 

ISRAEL the land of the Bible, at the crossroads of three continents
Asia, Africa and Europe, a blending of East and West.
Holy to the three relgions, Judaism , Christianity and Islam.
Israel encompasses sites of religious and historical significance
within a modern and vibrant country.
The beauty of visiting Israel lies in its amazing diversity of
peoples, sights and landscape.

ITINERARY

DAY 1 Tel – Aviv – Jaffa
Meeting in Tel Aviv. Begin your tour of Israel at the highest observation point in the Middle East at the Azrieli Center. Continue to Tel Aviv University. Visit Beit Atefutsot the Museum of the Jewish Diaspora. Conveys the story of the Jewish people from the time of their expulsion from the Land of Israel 2500 years ago to the present. Drive to Rabin Square . Visit the memorial dedicated to the former Prime Minister Itzhak Rabin , located at the place where he was assassinated during a peace rally in November 1995 . Continue along Rothschild Blvd, passing the Habimah Theater, to Kerem Hateymanim for Lunch. Continue to Old Jaffa for a walking tour the Galleries Quarter ,and Visitor's Center. View the famous Jaffa Harbour.

Overnight :Tel Aviv Metropolitan Hotel or similar accommodation.

DAY 2 : Tel –Aviv -Haifa
Leave Tel-Aviv and travel north along the Mediterranean coast to Caesarea to visit the Roman and Crusader ruins. Continue to Hanadive Gardens and to Zichron Yaakov for a walking tour to the Wine Road along which are found most of Zichron historical sites. Lunch in Zichron . Drive to Mt. Carmel for a walking tour in the Bahai Hanging Gardens, and to reconstructed German Colony. Continue for a short walk in Wadi Nisnas Neighbourhood , unique coexistence walk.

Overnight: Haifa Nof or Holiday Inn Hotel. Or overnight in the Hills of Galilee in unique Country Cottage in Zippori or in Bet Lehem Hagelilit (farm in lower Galilee).

DAY 3: Haifa - Galilee
Begin the day in the National Park of Zippory. Visit the ancient site of Zippory to view the beautiful mosaic floors, and the ancient reservoir . Drive to Nazareth for a visit to the Church of the Annunciation, and the Church of St. Joseph. Church of St. Gabriel etc... Lunch in Middle - eastern restaurant. Drive from Nazareth to Canna where Jesus first miracle took place. Continue Acre to visit the Crusader underground city and the Crypt. Walk through the old city to see the Oriental Market, the Arab Mosque, and the Old Port. Continue via Nahariya to Rosh Hanikra to see the Lebanese border and descend by cable car to visit the Grottos.

Overnight in Haifa or in Galilee.

DAY 4: Jezreel valley - Sea of Galilee
Drive through the Jezreel valley to visit Mount Tabor- the Transfiguration Mountain according to the Christian tradition. Continue to visit the spectacular excavations of the Roman and Byzantine cities of Beit Shean. Continue to Tiberias (Optional a boat ride on the Sea of Galile. Lunch in Fish Restaurant on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. Visit Capernaum and Tabgha, site of the miracle of the Loaves and Fish. Drive to Safed, city of Jewish mysticism, where the ancient synagogues reflect the special atmosphere of the city. Visit the artist quarter.

Overnight in a Kibbutz hotel or in Tiberias Holiday Inn or similar accommodation.

DAY 5: Galilee - Golan Heights
Start the day at the Dan or at the Banias Nature Reserve, walking along the river, one of the major sources of the Jordan. Then on to see Birkat-Ram, one of the beauty spots of the Golan Heights. Drive on the Golan Heights to Mt. Avital to view the present Israeli Syrian border and city of Quneitra . Visit the City of Qatzrin, the new Israeli city in the Golan Heights and enjoy wine-tasting at the famous Golan Heights Winery. On through the southern part of the Golan Heights to Kibbutz Cfar Harouv overlooking the Sea of Galilee. Descend to Hamat Gader to visit the unique Crocodile Reserve and bathe in the Hot Springs (420C=1080 F). Visit the Old Roman Bath/ Lunch in Siam Thai restaurant in Hamat. (Optional: Spa Exotic natural full service spa with private mineral pools).

Overnight in a Kibbutz hotel or in Tiberia

DAY 6: Tiberia - Jordan Valley - Dead Sea
Leave the hotel after breakfast. Drive through Jordan Valley to the Dead Sea. Continue along the shores of the Dead Sea to see the caves o f Qumeran where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found. Enjoy a dip in Dead Sea, the lowest place on earth (1200 ft. below sea level) (Optional: Ein Gedi spa) Continue to Massada (fortress of King Herod and the last stronghold of the Zealots). Ascend by cable car to the mountain.

Overnight Dead Sea or in Arad.

DAY 7: Negev Desert
Drive to the south of Israel, passing new Bedouin settlements to the Mamshit
Camel Ranch in the eastern Negev. Enjoy a two hour camel ride/walk through the
wonders of the Negev countryside. Along the route, observe the ancient Nabatea
city of Kurnub and ride through Wadi Mamshit. On to the Yamin plane and Wadi
Mahlik back at the Bedouin encampment. Participate in the ritual of traditional hospitality.
Enjoy an ethnic meal, and listen to an explanation about Bedouin life. The day also includes a trip to one of the world's wonders-Big Crater (Mahtesh Gadol)- a unique and astounding geological phenomenon. Or tour Via the Negev desert to Mitzpe Ramon and its state-of-the-art Visitors Center overlooking the unique Ramon Crater. Continue to Avdat. Nabhatean city on the ancient Spice Road. Visit Ben-Gurion's hut on Kibbutz Sde-Boker. Camel and Bedouin experience on our way to Jerusalem.

Overnight in Jerusalem.

DAY 8: Jerusalem
Drive to Mount of Olives for a panoramic view of Jerusalem.
Drive via Gethsemane to a Gate, through which we enter the Old City.Continue to Mt. Zion for a visit the tomb of king David. Walk to the "Cardo" in the recently restored Jewish Quarter Visit the Western Wall. Lunch in the Jeuish Quarter .Optional walking In the Western Wall Tunnels. Via Dolorosa (Stations of the Cross) & Church of the Holy Sepulchure.

Overnight in Jerusalem

DAY 9: Jerusalem –Tel -Aviv
Visit the Kennedy Memorial, enjoy a superb panorama of the Judean Hills and continue on to the famous Chagall Windows at the Hadassah Hospital then on to the village of Ein Kerem to visit the birth place of John the Baptist. Visit Mount Herzel where the tombs of the Zionis leaders are laid out amongst beautiful gardens (including Itzhak Rabin's tomb). After lunch visit the Israel Museum and the Shrine of the Book, containing the fascinating Dead Sea Scrolls and stroll through the Billy Rose Art Garden. On our way back to Tel Aviv we will visit Mini - Israel. Special experience Israel's historical, cultural and religious diversity, as well as architectural landmarks, holy sites, biblical & archeological relics.
All models are exact replicas (on a scale of 1:25) of the original sites.

Return to point of departure.