8 Days – Israel Tour
ROUTE
DAY 1: Caesarea, Megiddo, Nazareth, Cana
- We start our tour with a visit to the National Park of CAESAREA MARITIMA (Caesarea by the Sea) on the shore of the Mediterranean. Known as Herod the Great’s masterpiece, it was the major port in the eastern basin of the Mediterranean during the Roman period and after Herod’s death became the capital of the province of Judea and seat of Roman governors – including Pontius Pilate. Caesarea was also the location where the Great Revolt of the Jews against the Romans began in the spring of 66CE.
- Drive northeast along the main highway of the biblical world – Via Maris (Road by the Sea), to MEGIDDO (ARMAGEDDON), one of the key sites to understanding the history of the Middle East. Megiddo was fortified by several Israelite kings including David, Solomon and Ahab and is mentioned a number of times in the Old Testament. According to Christian tradition its location overlooking the biblical Jezreel Valley, will be the battleground between the “Sons of Light” and the “Sons of Darkness”.
- Continue north to the Lower Galilee to visit NAZARETH childhood home of Jesus, and the CHURCH OF ANNUNCIATION.
- Stop at MT. PRECIPICE, where the panoramic view of the Jezreel Valley will help you grasp why the Kingdom of Israel was so prosperous and why many of the biblical stories occurred in this region.
- Continue to the neighboring village of CANA, the traditional location of the first miracle performed by Jesus of turning water into wine.
Overnight in Galilee.
DAY 2: Zippori, Safed, Tel Hai, Tel Dan
- Drive to the National Park of ZIPPORI (SEPPHORIS) in the Lower Galilee, capital of the Galilee during the time of Jesus and traditional birthplace of Mary, mother of Christ.
- Drive to the Upper Galilee to the town of SAFED, one of the four holy cities in Israel. Stroll along the colorful lanes and passageways of the Old City. See its many noted synagogues, as well as its unique artist’s colony.
- Continue to TEL HAI where at Trumpeldor’s memorial statue, the events of the battle of March 1920 are recounted and where the myths of modern Israeli heroism had its beginnings.
- Continue to the National Park of TEL DAN, important town of the Old Testament period and where the major spring of the Jordan River is located.
Overnight in Galilee.
DAY 3: Sea of Galilee, Golan Heights
- Visit the sites on the north shore of the Sea of Galilee, the stage for most of the events in Jesus’ life.
- Start the day with a panoramic view of the Sea of Galilee, from atop the MT. OF BEATITUDES, the traditional site where the Sermon on the Mount took place. Descend to the foot of the mountain, on the shore of the lake to visit TABGHA, one of the traditional sites of the ‘miracle of the loaves and the fish’.
- Visit the CHURCH OF PRIMACY, where Jesus appeared to his disciples after the crucifixion and appointed Peter as his successor on earth.
- Drive to CAPERNAUM, a Jewish fisherman village of 2000 years ago that was the center of Jesus’ messianic work. It was known as “his town” as he spent a substantial part of his life here – healing the sick, preaching in the synagogue and performing miracles.
- Ascend the Golan Heights to QATZRIN, the Talmudic town from the 4th C. Stop at the archaeological museum in the modern town of Qatzrin, capital of the Golan Heights.
- Drive to MT. BENTAL / VALLEY OF TEARS, site of one of the largest tank battles during the Yom Kippur War in 1973. Drive to the foot of the Golan Heights to visit the National Park of BANIAS, source of the Hermon River, where remains of a temple in honor of the god Pan date back to the Hellenistic period.
Overnight in Galilee.
DAY 4: Beit She’an, Beit Alfa, Sachne, Qasr al-Yahud
- Head south towards the Jordan Valley, stopping to visit the National Park of BEIT SHE’AN, one of Israel’s most ancient cities and affluent cultural centers, due to its ample water supply, hot climate and fertile soil. See the evidence of Egyptian, Roman and Byzantine occupations, and view the ancient Roman Theater.
- Continue through the Valley of Beit She’an to the ancient synagogue of BEIT ALFA, where depictions in the ancient mosaic floor together with a modern audio visual presentation are an eye-opener to Jewish life in the area from 1600 years ago.
- Stop at the National Park of “SACHNE” GAN HA SHLOSHA, where the water temperature is constant at 28 C (85 F). This swimming spot, according to World Traveller’s magazine, is one of the best swimming spots in the world.
- Drive though the settlements of the BEIT SHE’AN VALLEY to see how Israel succeeded in establishing the region and re-settling Jewish refugees from the Arab countries and immigrants from the Holocaust.
- Continue south along the Jordan Valley to QASR AL-YAHUD, located on the western bank of the Jordan River about 10 km east of Jericho, traditional site where Jacob battled the angel, where the Children of Israel and Joshua crossed into the Holy Land and conquered Jericho, and in the New Testament where Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist.
Overnight in Dead Sea.
DAY 5: Masada, Dead Sea
- Drive along the shoreline of the Dead Sea to MASADA, Israel’s foremost archaeological park.
- Ascend via cable car for a thorough visit that gives insight to the rituals, politics and culture of the people who inhabited this desert fortress.
- Descend to the shores of the DEAD SEA for an afternoon of leisure. Indulge yourselves in the mineral-rich black mud of the Dead Sea, float in its therapeutic waters or simply relax at the spa.
- Continue to Jerusalem passing via Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered.
- Stop at the INN OF THE GOOD SAMARITAN, on the modern road between Jericho and Jerusalem. Traditionally this is the location that serves as the background for the well-known parable.
Overnight in Jerusalem.
DAY 6: Jerusalem
- Start the morning atop the MOUNT OF OLIVES for a panoramic view of the Old City, where over 4000 years of history unravels before you.
- From the Mt of Olives descend to the GARDEN OF GETHSEMANE at the foot of the mountain.
- Continue through the Jewish cemetery to the biblical KIDRON VALLEY where ancient monuments mark the tombs of renowned personages from over 2000 years ago.
- Ascend the western slope to the “CITY OF DAVID“, where Jerusalem began. A thorough visit includes walking the sophisticated water system all the way till the pools of Siloam.
- Cross from the City of David via the ancient underground tunnel to the DAVIDSON CENTER, the archaeological park of Jerusalem where evidence of the second temple period and the impressive architecture of King Herod are a major focus.
- Stand on the stairs leading to Hulda Gate, main entrance to the Temple, during the second temple period.
- Visit the WAILING WALL – holiest shrine in Judaism today.
- Walk through the eastern bazaar and the Roman Cardo, and exit the walled town via Zion gate to MOUNT ZION for a visit to “ROOM OF THE LAST SUPPER” and “KING DAVID’S TOMB“.
Overnight in Jerusalem.
DAY 7: Jerusalem, Bethlehem
- Return to the walled city via the eastern entrance, Lion’s Gate. Visit the “POOL OF BETHESDA“, one of the water reservoirs of Jerusalem during the 2nd Temple period which served as a campground to the thousands of pilgrims visiting the temple.
- Visit the CHURCH OF ST. ANNE, the 12th-century Crusader church built over the traditional site of the birthplace of Hannah (Anne), Mary’s mother’.
- Walk the VIA DOLOROSA (Road of Suffering), station by station all the way till GOLGOTHA and the CHURCH OF THE HOLY SEPULCHRE.
- Visit the TOWER OF DAVID MUSEUM for the history of Jerusalem.
- The group can split and those wanting to spend time on their own can do so in the Old City or at the new Mamilla Center while the rest of the group drives to BETHLEHEM, (subject to local conditions) to visit the CHURCH OF THE NATIVITY, the traditional birthplace of Jesus and Manger Square.
Overnight in Jerusalem.
DAY 8: Jerusalem
- Start the morning with a visit to YAD VASHEM, the Holocaust Memorial Institute with its new historical museum.
- Then on to the ISRAEL MUSEUM and SHRINE OF THE BOOK, which houses the Dead Sea Scrolls and the large scale model of Jerusalem from the 2nd Temple Period. The museum was renovated and reopened in 2010 with many new exhibits.
- Drive through new Jerusalem, stopping at the MENORAH in front of the KNESSET, the Israeli parliament.
End of Tour – Drop off in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv or Airport.