Day 1 Saturday

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.

The Tel Aviv North Port

Relax & stroll the north port, also known as the “Namal.”  The remodeled port won the European Biennial of Landscape Architecture, a prestigious European award for landscape architecture. Here you’ll find live performances, art, shopping, and great restaurants.

Overnight: Tel Aviv Hotel Options

Day 2 Sunday

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.

Meggido National Park

Learn about the history of the biblical period and visit Armageddon. An impressive water system commissioned by King Solomon and expanded by King Ahab is tall enough to walk through. Other finds at the site include a Late Bronze Age gate, palace and ancient stables.

 Nazareth Recreated Village

How did Jesus and the people of his time cook their food? How did they make a living? What kind of houses did they live in? Experience the answers to these questions at Nazareth Village, a reconstructed first century village, complete with roaming actors in costume.

Tiberias & The Sea of Galilee

The center of Jesus’ ministry, this large freshwater lake is also a popular recreational site, famous for its swimming and boating. Stroll along the shores of the lake and enjoy one of the many gourmet restaurants (fish is popular) with romantic views of the Sea of Galilee.

Dinner & Overnight: Northern Israel Hotel Options

Day 3 Monday

THE GALILEE & TZFAT – ADVENTURE & MYSTICISM

Golan Heights Jeeping Adventure

Jeep tours take you off the road to hard-to-reach places, such as streams, fields and mud tracks. The Golan is green and lush, with small villages nestled into the hills. Learn about the biblical and historical importance of the Golan sites while enjoying a bumpy jeep ride.

Banias Spring Caesarea Philipi

A peaceful spot for prayer and reflection, Caesarea Philipi is home to one of the most beautiful waterfalls in Israel. See where Jesus cured the woman from Paneas and asked the disciples who they thought he was. Visit the Crusader tower and a still-active water mill.

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.

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.

Dinner & Overnight: Northern Israel Hotel Options

Day 4 Tuesday

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.

Beit She’an National Park

The fully excavated theater and town of Beit Shean tell the story of daily life in the time of Jesus. See the remains of the town, with its colonnaded streets and elaborate bathhouses. Learn about the history of the city, inhabited over the years by pagans, Jews and Christians.

Jericho Valley Lookout Point

The community of Mitzpe Jericho is located on the edge of the Judean desert and offers stunning panoramic views of the Dead Sea, Jordan River, the ancient city of Jericho and the surrounding hills. The observation deck here is shaded and surrounded by a lush garden.

Overnight: Jerusalem Hotel Options

Day 5 Wednesday

HOLY JERUSALEM – THE ETERNAL CITY

Old City Christian Quarter

Take in the incredible view of the Wailing Wall on your way to the Christian Quarter. Visit the Pools of Bethesda and walk on along the Via Dolorosa, following the 14 Stations of the Cross from Pilate’s Judgment Hall to the empty tomb in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

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.

Western Wall Rabbinical Tunnels Tour

These famous underground tunnels contain remnants of entire rooms from the Second Temple period. At Warren’s Gate, you’ll stand just a few feet away from where the Holy Ark stood, and feel the yearning of the Jewish people for the Temple for thousands of years.

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 6 Thursday

THE JUDEAN DESERT – KING HERODS FORTRESS

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.

Masada Fortress & Cable Car

Learn about the end of Jewish independence at the time when Christianity was just getting started. Visit an interactive museum, which tells the story of the site, and hike or 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.

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.

Overnight: Jerusalem Hotel Options

Day 7 Friday

UNITED JERUSALEM – THE NEW CITY

Israel Museum and Shrine of the Book

Tour Israel’s foremost museum, home to impressive collections of art and archaeology from ancient and modern Israel and the Jewish Diaspora. View some of the original Dead Sea Scrolls, which shed light on the milieu in which Jesus and John the Baptist lived and taught.

Garden of Gethsemane

Pray at the garden where Jesus prayed before he was arrested. According to Orthodox tradition, this is also the site of Mary’s burial and ascension. Paths winding among ancient olive trees and lush flowerbeds create a peaceful atmosphere for meditation and reflection.

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.

The Western Wall

Here stand the sacred remnants of the ancient Jewish Temple. Jews come from all over the world to pray at the wall and feel its strong spiritual presence. The joyful energy and the sight of soldiers’ lively dancing in celebration of Shabbat make an unforgettable experience.

Overnight: Jerusalem Hotel Options

Day 8 Saturday

BETHLEHEM & FAREWELL…WE’LL MISS YOU!

Bethlehem Holy Sites

On your way to the Church of the Nativity, drive through what is known as one of the holiest sites in the Jewish religion and a stop for many on pilgrimage to the Holy Land.

Church of the Nativity

It is at the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem where we will learn about the birth of Jesus at his actual location of birth. It is one of the world’s oldest churches and houses the Grotto of the Nativity, the place where the birth took place.

Farewell Transfer…We’ll Miss you!

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