Day 1 Monday

WELCOME TO HOLY ISRAEL!

VIP Welcome at Ben Gurion Airport

After landing, a Shalom Israel Tours representative will be waiting to welcome you as you exit the plane. Your party will be transported in a private vehicle to the flight staff passport control, continue to luggage identification and transfer to your luxury chauffeured vehicle.

 Welcome Transfer to Tel Aviv

Stretching along a beautiful beach strip of the Mediterranean Sea for 100 years, Tel Aviv is considered the face of modern Israel. Nicknamed “The White City” for its abundance of Bauhaus style architecture, Tel Aviv was declared a UNESCO World Heritage City in 2003.

Church of St. Peter in Jaffa

Walk through a church built upon the remains of a medieval fortress, decorated with stained glass windows, marble walls and a beautiful murals illustrating Peter’s life. The church’s steeple has historically served as a sign for seafaring pilgrims that the Holy Land is close.

Overnight: Tel Aviv Hotel Options

Day 2 Tuesday

ISRAEL’S COAST – ANCIENT PORTS

Ancient City of Caesarea Ruins

The ruins of Roman and Crusader structures in Caesarea tell the story of this once Christian port town. Highlights include the ruins of a Hippodrome, Roman theater, shop-lined Byzantine Street, Greek mosaic inscription, and Crusader cathedral dedicated to St. Paul.

Megiddo National Park

Visit what may be the oldest church ever discovered in the Holy Land. The mosaic here proclaims in Greek that the church is consecrated to “The God Jesus Christ.” Climb to the top of the observation point, which looks out on to the Jezreel Valley and Mount Tabor.

Nazareth City Holy Sites

Next we’ll continue our tour with a short drive to Nazareth, the town where Jesus spent his childhood.  Visit the Basilica of the Annunciation, Mary’s Well and the Church of St. Gabriel.  Visit the Blessed Cave, view Mary and Joseph’s house.

Dinner & Overnight: Northern Israel Hotel Options

Day 3 Wednesday

THE GOLAN HEIGHTS & TZFAT – ADVENTURE & MYSTICISM

 The Famous Banias Spring

Paneas (Banias) was first settled in the Hellenistic period following Alexander the Great’s conquest of the east. Later, King Herod built a temple here; the ancient remains still stand in front of the cave. After Herod’s death, his son Philip founded his capital near the Banias.

Capernaum National Park

Visit the remains of a Second Temple period fishing village and its synagogue, and imagine the lives of those who dwelled there. We’ll learn about the location where Jesus selected his Apostles and the modern day church that stands where the house of Peter once stood.

Tzfat Old City & Artist Quarter

Tzfat is one of the four holy cities in Israel. It has served as a spiritual center since the 1600s, when famous Kabbalists roamed here. Tzfat awaits art lovers, soul-seekers and historians to cobblestone alleys, medieval synagogues, galleries and mystical atmosphere.

Dinner & Overnight: Northern Israel Hotel Options

Day 4 Thursday

THE JORDAN VALLEY – HIGHWAY OF KINGS

Bellvoir Castle Fortress

A reconstructed Crusader-era castle, Bellvoir is the most complete standing example of a fortress from the Christian Kingdom of Jerusalem. The huge towers, moat and drawbridge are particularly impressive. The towers here provide a gorgeous view of the Jordan River.

Qasr el Yahud Jordan River Baptizing

One of only two organized outdoor baptismal sites in Israel, this is a must-see for pilgrims. Purify yourself in the water where the Israelites crossed the Jordan, Elijah ascended to heaven and Jesus himself was baptized. Dedicated areas are set up here for prayer sessions.

Mount Scopus Jerusalem

End the day with a beautiful drive through the Jordan Valley and ascend to Jerusalem. We’ll stop at Mount Scopus as you enter the city to say the blessing of “Shehechiyanu” to celebrate the joyous occasion of entering the holy capital. Welcome to Jerusalem, our eternal Capital.

Overnight: Jerusalem Hotel Options

Day 5 Friday

UNITED JERUSALEM – NEW CITY

Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum

Tour Jerusalem’s international center for the documentation, research, education and commemoration of the Holocaust. Highlights include the Hall of Names, a memorial to individual victims, and “The World that Was” which documents pre-war European Jewry.

Jerusalem “Shuk” (Market)

With more than 250 vendors, this bustling outdoor marketplace is considered the heartbeat of central Jerusalem. Whatever you are looking for, the shuk has it: clothing, Judaica, fresh produce, meats, diamonds, restaurants – and an array of colorful characters throughout.

Friday Night Tour to the Western Wall

On the eve of Shabbat, Jerusalem transforms; stores shut down, and streets and alleyways fall silent, as all begin to anticipate the weekly Shabbat. Our 2000-year-old tour will pass through Jaffa gate and the Golden Menorah, and end at the Wall right as Shabbat begins.

Shabbat Dinner & Overnight: Jerusalem Hotel Options

Day 6 Saturday

BETHLEHEM & THE CHRISTIAN QUARTER

Jerusalem Mount of Olives

Located on the eastern slopes of the Jerusalem mountains, near the Temple Mount and the City of David, this peak is named after the olive trees that covered its grounds in biblical times. Today, camel rides, monasteries and ancient tombstones dot these scenic slopes.

Church of the Holy Sepulchre

Located in the Old City’s Christian Quarter, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre is the holiest site in Christian faith. It is here that Jesus was crucified and later buried. At the center of the church is the Stone of Unction, the location where Jesus’ body was prepared for burial.

Bethlehem & Church of the Nativity

It is at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem where we will learn about the birth of Jesus. It is one of the world’s oldest churches and houses the Grotto of the Nativity, the spot where the birth took place, marked by a 14-point silver star flanked by majestic silver lamps.

Tower of David Night Spectacular

In the evening you’ll head back to the Tower of David’s rooftop to view an epic nighttime extravaganza of sight and sound, depicting the conquests of the Greeks, Romans, Crusaders, Turks and others, as they tried to overtake Jerusalem. This show is simply “Spectacular.”

Overnight: Jerusalem Hotel Options

Day 7 Sunday

JERUSALEM’S OLD CITY – THE ETERNAL CAPITAL

Last Supper Room

Visit the site of the Last Supper, where Jesus dined with his disciples on the night before his arrest. Situated above the Tomb of King David, this long hall is a perfect place for group or individual worship. The rooftop here offers a panoramic view of the Old City of Jerusalem.

Church of All Nations

Also known as the Basilica of the Agony, the decorative Church of All Nations is built atop one of the most important sites in the New Testament. Enclosing a part of the stone at the Garden of Gethsemane, you will see the spot where Jesus prayed in agony after the betrayal.

Tombs of the Prophets

See the burial spots of the prophets Zachariah and Haggai. The walls of a number of the 50 tombs in the area are etched with inscriptions from both Greek and Hebrew languages. Residents of Jerusalem are said to have used this area for burial from 500 BCE to 500 CE.

Overnight: Jerusalem Hotel Options

Day 8 Monday

THE JUDEAN DESERT – KING HERODS FORTRESS

Qumran National Park

See the archaeological site where a Judean sect lived in relative isolation, copying and composing texts to be uncovered 2,000 years later. Hear the story of the discovery of the Dead Sea Scrolls and their significance for the study of both Judaism and Christianity.

Masada Fortress & Cable Car

Learn about the end of Jewish independence at the time when the Roman Empire was conquering Israel. Visit an interactive museum, which tells the story of Masada and take a cable car up the mountain to view the ruins of Herod’s palace and the landmark synagogue.

The Dead Sea Float Experience

Travel below sea level to the lowest point on earth and float in the Dead Sea, whose high concentration of salts and minerals keep you afloat at all times. A number of spas located at the Dead Sea offer treatments utilizing nutrients for skin enhancement and for relaxation.

Overnight: Eilat Hotel Options

Day 9 Tuesday

PETRA, JORDAN – THE LOST NABATEAN CITY

Petra – The Red Sandstone City

Counted amongst the wonders of the ancient world, Petra is an archeological, anthropological and geological phenomenon. Your guide will explain the history, legends, myths and truths of this city carved 2,000 years ago from the red Sandstone Mountains.

Overnight: Eilat Hotel Options

Day 10 Wednesday

FAREWELL FOR NOW…WE’LL MISS YOU!

Relax on the Red Sea Beaches

Enjoy the clear blue of the Red Sea and the sun that shines over Eilat year-round. More than 1200 species of tropical fish in beautiful hues swim in the sea, and still more creatures make their homes in the coral reef. Egyptian and Jordanian mountains are visible across the bay.

The Underwater Observation Marine Park

Enter the amazing world of the Red Sea, one of the most scenic seas in the world. The Park maintains an extensive exhibition of fish and other living creatures native to the Red Sea, including aquariums, a Shark Tank, Turtle & Stingray Pool and underwater observatories.

Domestic Flight to Tel Aviv & Farewell Transfer…We’ll Miss you!

Transfer to Ben Gurion Airport for your temporary departure from Israel…Bye for now!