Verdis AIDA Pilgrimage and Cultural tour

This very special one-time tour to Israel includes a special 25 Year celebration of the Israeli Opera with a performance of Verdi's AIDA at The Dead Sea

Masada, The Dead Sea and Verdi's Aida all in one Tour

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Day 1 – June 1st Wednesday - Arrival Tel Aviv
Arrive in Israel today at Ben Gurion International Airport, where a Vered HaSharon representative will meet and escort you to your motorcoach. Welcome to Israel. We will have only a short drive to Tel Aviv where we will begin our tour in the biblical port of Jaffa. Continue to Neve Zedek, the first Jewish neighborhood of the "new" city Tel Aviv. After a stop for lunch, you will check-in to your hotel for rest, dinner and overnight.

Day 2 – June 2nd Thursday - Tel Aviv, Jaffa
Begin your day with a visit to "Independence Hall", the home of Tel Aviv's first mayor and the site of the declaration of the founding of the State of Israel in 1948. Along Rothschild Boulevard view the houses built in the "Bauhaus" International-style of architecture, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Visit the Carmel Market, a colorful, hectic and aromatic outdoor market. Continue to the Israel Museum of Art in Tel Aviv  - The Tel Aviv Museum of Art is Israel’s leading museum of modern and contemporary art, and home to one of the world’s largest collections of Israeli art. Return to your hotel to freshen-up and for your overnight stay. Dinner at the hotel
Optional: In the evening enjoy one of Tel Aviv's many cultural performances or a museum.

Day 3 –June 3rd Friday - Tel-Aviv – Dead Sea
Depart Tel Aviv today on the way to the Dead Sea area. Visit Jericho, the oldest inhabited city in the world. Visit the Mount of Temptation and the excavation in the city.
Visit Qumran where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered. Continue to your hotel at the Dead Sea for check in. After dinner we will continue to Verdi's Requiem at Masada. Verdi's – Messa da Requiem at Masada
Performed by the Arena di Ve Orchestra
Performed by the Arena Di Verona Orchestra.

Day 4 – June 4th Saturday -  Massada, Ein Gedi, Dead Sea.
After breakfast visit Masada, the site of one of the most dramatic chapters of Jewish history. Visit the oasis at Ein Gedi where David hid from the wrath of King Saul. Continue to a visit at Ahava Factory. Return to your hotel for dinner. After dinner we will continue to Aida at Masada. 
Verdi – Aida – Daniel Oren at Masada
Return to your hotel for your overnight stay.

Day 5 – June 5th Sunday – Dead Sea, Beit Shean, Tiberias
After breakfast we will leave the Dead Sea area. Following the Jordan River road to Beth Shean the Roman Scythopolis, an excavated ancient city. Continue to Belvoir crusader fortress. Drive to the Golan Heights for a visit at Kfar Harov, overlooking on the Golan Heights. Dinner and overnight at your hotel in Tiberias.

Day 6 – June 6th Monday - Galilee
After breakfast Drive up to the MT. OF BEATITUDES where Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount.  Visit CAPERNAUM on the northwest shore where Jesus began his preaching career. The town is also well known during Second Temple, Roman and Byzantine periods. Visit TABGHA, the site of the Miracle of the Multiplication.    Take a BOAT RIDE  on the Sea of Galilee.   Continue to a tour at Kursi and Korazim. Visit YARDENIT where the Jordan River flows into the Sea of Galilee, this spot is close to the place where John the Baptist baptized Jesus. Return to hotel for dinner and overnight.

Day 7 –June 7th Tuesday -  Nazareth,  Cana, Caesarea,
Today after breakfast we depart from hotel and Drive to NAZARETH, where Jesus spent his early years and visit Mary’s Well and the Church of the Annunciation.
Continue to the top of Mt. Carmel and the City of Haifa and the Bahai Gardens. Continue to Benyamina for a visit at the old Winery built in the 19th century. On the coastal road we will continue all the way Jerusalem. Before arrival, visit the road to Emmaus in Abu Gush. Check in at your hotel in Jeruaslem. Dinner and overnight.

Day 8 – June 8th Wednesday -  Jerusalem, Bethlehem
After breakfast, Continue for a visit in the Herodian. Continue to BETHLEHEM  the birthplace of Jesus  The town is dominated by the Church of the Nativity, built on the grotto where Jesus was born.  Visit the Shepherds Fields. Visit YAD VASHEM, the Official Holocaust Memorial. Continue on to a visit at the Israel Museum, including a visit at the miniature model of Jerusalem and the World famous Shrine of the Book. Dinner and overnight at the hotel.

Day 9 – June 9th Friday - Jerusalem
After breakfast drive up to the the MT. OF OLIVES.  Visit the  Garden of Gethsemane and the Church of All Nations. Enter the Old City through the St. Stephens Gate.   Visit the Church of St. Anne and the Pools of Bethesda  You will walk along the  VIA DOLOROSA also called the Way of the Cross. There are 14 Stations along the route each commemorating an event along Jesus' route to crucifixion. Visit the Church of the holy Sepulchre., walk through colourful bazaars. Visit Mt. Zion and the  Tomb of King David and the Room of the Last Supper. Visit the Garden tomb. Back to your hotel for Farewell dinner and overnight.

Day 10 – June 10th Saturday -  Departure
Transfer to the Airport for your flight home.