Israel: The Promised Land

Walk through Tel Aviv’s ‘White City’ with its profusion of 1920s and 30s Bauhaus architecture and discover the bustling Carmel food market where you can enjoy tasting Israeli delicacies. Next, explore the winding medieval alleyways of Old Jaffa from where Jonah set forth for his encounter with the whale.

Start the day at Herod the Great’s port city of Caesarea Maritima, where Pontius Pilate, the Roman Prefect of Judea, once lived. Drive north to Haifa for an overview of the stunning terraces of the Baha’i Gardens, then continue to Akko (Acre). Above ground, Old Akko is an atmospheric Ottoman city, but below street level, the stunning remains of the Crusader town lie almost intact!

A day dedicated to discovering Upper Galilee, where Christ performed several miracles and met his disciples. The Church of the House of St. Peter will be your first stop, then drive on to the Mt. of Beatitudes, the site of the Sermon on the Mount, before arriving at Tabgha, where you will visit the Church of the Multiplication of the Fishes and Loaves. Your sightseeing will conclude at the archaeological site of Magdala – the birthplace of Mary Magdalene.

Start the day by walking through the attractive cobbled streets of holy Safed, the centre of the mystical Kabbalah, before driving through to pretty Hula Valley to the natural bastion of the Golan Heights. Stop at Banias National Park to explore the ruins of Caesarea Philippi – a site Jesus visited. Then drive up the slopes of Mount Hermon and enjoy some wine tasting. Your sightseeing concludes at Ein Kashatot, an ancient basalt-built synagogue considered one of Israel’s hidden archaeological gems.

Cana in Lower Galilee, the site of Christ’s first miracle, will be your first stop today. Then, drive to Mount Tabor and visit the Church of the Transfiguration. A visit to Nazareth and the Basilica of the Annunciation, the Middle East’s largest church, will conclude your Galilee sightseeing. This afternoon travel through the Great Rift Valley to Jerusalem, visiting Qasr El Yehud en route – the site of Jesus’s baptism on the Jordan River.

Held sacred by three major religions, the Eternal City of Jerusalem is one of the holiest, most complex and fascinating cities in the world – a place that literally effervesces with faith, passion and history. On today’s full-day guided tour of the Old City, you will visit the Mt of Olives, the Gethsemane church and gardens, see the Dome of the Rock and the Western (Wailing) Wall, walk in the footsteps of Christ along the Via Dolorosa to Calvary, gaze on the Room of the Last Supper at Mount Zion and more…

Continue your Old Jerusalem sightseeing today with your guide. The day will conclude with a visit to the charming ‘Tuscan’ village of Ein Kerem – the birthplace of John the Baptist.

A short drive this morning will bring you to Bethlehem and the Byzantine-built Church of the Nativity. Here, within the Grotto of the Nativity, a silver star marks the place where Jesus was born. Next, visit Manger Square and the Shepherds’ Field, where the angels first announced the birth of Christ. On returning to Jerusalem, the remainder of the day will be at leisure to relax or explore the city independently. Your hotel is within walking distance of the Old City.

Transfer to Tel Aviv Ben Gurion International Airport. On arrival, VIP assistance will be provided through the airport to your departure gate.