Heritage of the Holyland 2012-2013

Join us on this  8 Day Tour to Israel and visit the main attractions of the Holy Land, touring the Sea of Galilee region, Jerusalem, Dead Sea, Masada and more.

Thursday - Tel Aviv
 Upon arrival in the Holyland you will meet our representative and be transferred to your hotel in Tel Aviv.

Friday - Tel Aviv / Sea of Galilee / Tiberias
Your tour guide will pick you up from your hotel,  drive for a short visit of the city of Jaffa (Joppa) and enjoy a short walking tour of the picturesque alleys of the old, fortified town. Pass by the house of Simon the Tanner and enjoy the views from the hill top. From there drive up north along the coast to the archaeological ruins of Caesarea, built by Herod the Great in honor of Augustus Caesar..Continue from there for a visit to Megiddo where the book of Revelation mentions a great battle at the place called "Armageddon". This ancient city has beeninhabited continuously for more than five millennia (6000-500 B.C.). After exploring the ancient ruins continue toward the Sea of Galilee. Upon arrival at Tiberias and check-in to your hotel for overnight.

Saturday - Sea of Galilee
The day begins in historic Tiberias, where Jesus lived and preached on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. Travel from here to Capernaum, the center of Jesus's ministry. Just north of Tiberias, is Tabgha, the site of Christ’s miracle of feeding the 5,000 and visit the Church of Multiplication with it's mosaic floor depicting a basket with loaves and two fishes. Continue from here to the Mount of Beatitudes overlooking the Sea, where Jesus preached the “Sermon on the Mount” and it is believed that He picked his 12 apostles. Ascend to the Golan Heights to view the panoramic view of  Mt. Hermon and the Golan Heights, and just below see  the green pastoral Huleh valley. Return to Tiberias for another lovely night in town.

Sunday - Sea of Galilee / Jordan River / Jerusalem
Today  begins with a visit to the Wedding Church where Jesus performed his first miracle, turning water into wine in Cana. From here proceed to Nazareth, where Jesus spent his childhood, and  tour theChurch of Annunciation, built on the site where archaeologists believe the Archangel Gabriel appeared to the Virgin Mary. While in Nazareth also see Mary’s Well and Joseph’s Church. Continue through the Jordan Valley to Beit Shean with its recently excavated amphitheater and  visit the excavations of this beautiful preserved Roman City which was destroyed in an earthquake. Finally travel to Jerusalem, where you check-in to your choice of hotel.

Monday - Dead Sea & Masada
Driving through the remarkable scenery of the Dead Sea continue to Masada which is situated right on an isolated cliff in the Judean Desert. The site was declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001.  Ascend by cable car to the fortress, which was the last stronghold of the Jewish Zealots in their war against the Romans. Visit the excavations, King Herod’s palace, the synagogue, bathhouse and much more.  Enjoy the breathtaking view of the Roman camps and the Dead Sea. En route to the Dead Sea, you’ll see the site of the Qumran Caves where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered. Nearly 1,300 feet below sea level, the Dead Sea is the lowest point on the earth’s surface. Bring your swimsuit as if weather permits it’s possible to “float” on  the salty , mineral rich, water . Return to Jerusalem for overnight.

Tuesday - Jerusalem
Begin the day at Mount Scopus. Enjoy the spectacular panoramic view of Jerusalem. The holy city for each of the world’s three great religions – Christianity, Judaism and Islam – Jerusalem occupies a unique place in the world. Your tour includes the Mount of Olives, a stop at the site where Jesus first gave the Lord’s Prayer, and the Garden of Gethsemane where Judas betrayed Jesus. In the Old City ysee the Western Wall and the actual site of the Second Temple, the Temple Mount. Walk the Way of the Cross, the Via Dolorosa, to Calvary and the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, housing both the traditional site of Crucifixion and the Tomb of the Resurrection. To the southwest, just outside the Old City, is Mount Zion, with the traditional tomb of King David and the Room of the Last Supper. Return to hotel for overnight.

Wednesday - Jerusalem
Today’s tour includes Yad Vashem the official memorial to the Jewish victims of the Holocaust established in 1953, located on the foot of Mount Hertzel. Enjoy Ein Karem; a picturesque village on the south western outskirts of Jerusalem. This small village has great significance in Christian traditions, since this is where according to the tradition John the Baptist was born. Visit the Israel Museum with a detailed model of Jerusalem from the time of the Second Temple and the Shrine of the Book, which houses the Dead Sea Scrolls. Drive past the Knesset (House of Parliament) and the campus of the Hebrew University. If situation permitting, we mayvisit Bethlehem to see Rachel’s Tomb and the Church of the Nativity. Back to your hotel for overnight.

Thursday - Jerusalem
We have reached our final day on this tour. we will take you back to  the airport for your flight back home or extend  your tour to the kingdom of Jordan and/or Egypt