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10 days / 7 nights in luxury 5-star accommodations. We explore Old and New Jerusalem and Tel Aviv, Bethlehem, ascend the Masada by cable car, Nazareth, Haifa, the Golan Heights and the stunning Sea of Galilee.
Depart the USA on any regularly scheduled flight to Tel Aviv.
Upon arrival in Tel Aviv, you will be met and transferred to Jerusalem where accommodations are reserved at the Mamilla Hotel.
After breakfast, set off for a full day of exploration of the Old City of Jerusalem starting with a breathtaking view of the city from the Mt. of Olives. Kings and Prophets, emperors and sultans, rabbis, bishops and sheiks have all left their mark on Jerusalem. Visit the Western Wall, the only remains of the second temple destroyed by the Romans in the year 70, C.E. Visit the Dome of the Rock on the Temple Mount. This is the third most sacred site in Islam. From the sacred rock, where the Temple stood, it is said that Prophet Mohammed jumped to heaven. Visit the alleged Tomb of King David and the Room of the Last Supper. Proceed to the restored Jewish Quarter, walk along the Cardo, the colonnaded main street of Byzantine Jerusalem. Then walk the Via Dolorosa to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher wherein are the last five Stations of the Cross.
Breakfast at the hotel. Today is dedicated to the new city of Jerusalem. Stops will include: Yad Vashem, the memorial to the Holocaust. Visit the Museum, Children’s Pavilion and walk along the Avenue of the Righteous. Drive via the Supreme Court Building and the Knesset (Parliament) to the Israel Museum where see the Shrine of Book, home of the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Scale Model of ancient Jerusalem from the second temple times.
After breakfast depart Jerusalem and travel via the Judean desert and the shores of the Dead Sea, the lowest point on earth (1260 feet below sea level) to the Qumran Caves, where the Dead Sea scrolls were found. We will continue to Masada. Ascend by cable car to this last stronghold of the Zealots in their struggle against the Romans. Visit the excavations, the ancient synagogue, the roman baths, and Herod’s Palace. Then an opportunity to enjoy an “unsinkable” swim in the buoyant waters of the Dead Sea.
After breakfast, drive to Nazareth, the sacred town where Jesus spent part of his youth. Visit the Basilica of the Annunciation and Mary’s Well. On the way to Beit Shean, one of the most impressive archeological parks in the world, we will climb Mt. Tabor for an extra ordinary point of view and visit the Transfiguration site. We then visit Beit Shean, the huge site of the ancient city of Scythopolis destroyed by an earthquake. Excavations in Bet She’an have uncovered the remains of a Canaanite city, a Hellenistic city (renamed Scythopolis) and a Roman Byzantine city. During its Hellenistic period, the city was the capital of the 10 Greek cities (including Jerash) known collectively as the Decapolis. Continue via the Jordan Valley to Tiberias.
After breakfast set off to the Sea of Galilee, to visit the various pilgrimage sites
After breakfast depart for Tel Aviv via Haifa, Acre & Caesarea Drive through Haifa, with it’s Bahai Temple and Persian Gardens. Our next stop is the seaside town of Akko. This port city is located north of Haifa Bay. Inside the walled city are many fortresses, citadels, churches and mosques all depicting the history of the many rulers to mention a few – Canaanites, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, Crusaders and Mamelukes – who governed and fought for this city throughout the history. Its colorful Oriental markets, museums and beaches are a few more of the city’s attractions.
After breakfast depart for a city tour of Tel Aviv and Jaffa. Drive along Tel Aviv’s coastline to Jaffa. Visit the artists’ quarter and Jaffa’s ancient flea market. Jaffa (founded by the Canaanites in 18 th century B.C.) has been historically important largely because of its port that dates back over 4000 years. The biblical account mentions that the cedars from Lebanon for the construction Solomon’s Temple came in via Jaffa to Jerusalem. Passing the renovated Turkish governor’s offices (the Seraya Building) and the Turkish train station, proceed to Neve Tsedek (Oasis of Justice), Tel Aviv’s first neighborhood. On to Rothschild Blvd where there are over 5000 Bauhaus buildings, the largest number in any one city in the world; a fact that led UNESCO to recognize it as a “World Heritage Site.” Tel Aviv is also known as, “The white city”, named so in account of the bright colors of the building style: white, off-white, light yellow. On to Rabin Square, the large public square in front of Tel Aviv’s city hall, where, in November 1995 Prime Minister Rabin was assassinated.
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