12 Night Classic Tour with Dubai – Friday Arrival

Friday Day 1 Ben Gurion Airport / Tel Aviv

After an overnight flight arrive at Ben Gurion Airport. You will be met and assisted by our representative then transferred to your hotel. Overnight in Tel Aviv.

Saturday Day 2 Tel Aviv

Today is Shabbat. The day is at leisure. A good day to do some exploring on your own. Overnight in Tel Aviv. (B)

Sunday Day 3 Caesarea / Megiddo / Druze village / Haifa/Galilee 

Leaving Tel Aviv we drive along the coastal plain to Caesarea, once the Roman capital of the region where we will see the excavations of the Crusader-era city, the Roman port, the aqueduct and the amphitheatre that has been restored to its former glory as a concert venue. From here we proceed to Megiddo identified as the site of the Armageddon. During our visit see the archaeological excavations including the well-preserved water supply system. Moving on we come to the Druze village of  Daliat el-Carmel situated on the Carmel Heights near Haifa regarded as the largest Druze village in the country known for its picturesque alleys meandering between the old buildings. Stop for a late lunch at a local restaurant before proceeding via Mount Carmel to the port city of Haifa for a panoramic view of the Haifa Bay and the Golden domed Baha’i Shrine with its perfectly manicured 19 terraced Persian Gardens. Continue to the Galilee for overnight. Overnight in a Kibbutz guesthouse. (B/L/D)

Monday Day 4 Safed / Katzrin / Golan winery

Our day begins with a drive to Safed, the center of Jewish mysticism situated in the dense pine forest of the Upper Galilee overlooking the Sea of Galilee and Tiberias. Visit the ancient synagogues and its thriving Artists’ colony where you can observe local artists at work creating their masterpieces. Continue to the strategic Golan Heights to see the former Syrian bunkers in Quneitra and the new Israeli Talmudic village of Katzrin, an open-air museum located in the Golan Heights.  Stop at the Golan Winery for a tour and wine tasting before heading to “Golan Magic” a dynamic presentation displayed on a 180-degree screen which is followed by a multimedia presentation of the area and its history. Overnight in a Kibbutz guesthouse. (B/D)

Tuesday Day 5 Sea of Galilee / Nazareth / Beit Alpha/Jerusalem 

We start the day with a visit to Nazareth, the boyhood home of Jesus visiting the Church of Annunciation built over the remains of the Virgin Mary’s home. According to tradition, it was here that the Angel Gabriel appeared to Mary and told her of the impending birth of Jesus.  Moving on we come to Tiberias situated on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee and named after the second emperor of the Roman Empire, Tiberias.  Considered one of the Four Holy Cities in Judaism, the Tomb of Maimonides is one of the most important Jewish pilgrimage sites in Israel.  A short drive takes us to the fishing village of Capernaum sitting on the north shore of the Sea of Galilee to observe the ruins of the synagogue and the octagonal Church of St. Peter said to be built on the site of Saint Peter’s House. Our next stop will be at the Mount of Beatitudes where Jesus delivered the moving Sermon on the Mount. Driving via Beit She’an once known as Scythopolis located at the junction of the Jordan River Valley and the Jezreel Valley, we come to Beit Alpha where the remains of a mosaic floor in an ancient synagogue depicts the zodiac with Hebrew labels. Continue your drive to the holy city of Jerusalem. Overnight in Jerusalem. (B)

Wednesday Day 6 Mt. of Olives / Old City / Bethlehem*

Immerse yourself this morning in the magnificent panoramic view from the Mount of Olives, the site where many Biblical events took place including where Jesus stood when he wept over Jerusalem. Afterwards, we drive to the Old City of Jerusalem to the Tomb of King David located on Mount Zion in the former Hagia Sion Temple in a corner of the room and is covered with an embroidered velvet drape. This is one of the most sacred places for the Jews. NOTE: Men and women enter the tomb separately. To enter the tomb one must dress modestly with a head covering. On the second floor is the Cenacle or Room of the Last Supper where Jesus’ shared His last supper with His Apostles. Afterwards, enter the walled city and walk through the newly restored Jewish Quarter, of the four quarters of the Old City. Visit the Roman Cardo, the main street of Jerusalem some 1500 years ago. This exceptionally wide colonnaded street was comprised of a central lane for the passage of carriages and animals and was flanked on each side by colonnaded covered walkways for pedestrians. Excavations have revealed covered stalls and workshops.  Moving on we come to the Herodian Quarter, an area of archaeological excavations in the Jewish Quarter of the Old City. Wealthy people of the 1^st century CE in Jewish Jerusalem once lived here. Digs dating from the 1970s revealed villas of colossal dimensions rich in artifacts. We are now on our way to the Western Wall also known as the Kotel**** or Wailing Wall built by Herod the Great as a place of prayer where thousands of people come to pray. It is also a sacred pilgrimage site for the Jewish people. Written prayers to God are placed in the crevices of the ancient wall. We now walk along the Via Dolorosa, the Way of Grief, the path along which Jesus walked to His crucifixion which is lined by Eight Stations of the Cross. Standing in the Christian Quarter of the Old City we arrive at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. The last Five Stations are located in or near the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. According to beliefs, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre contains two of the most sacred sites in Christianity – where Jesus was crucified and where Jesus was believed to have been buried and resurrected.

Afterwards, we depart for Bethlehem* located some six miles southwest of Jerusalem, it was here that Jesus was born. Situated at the northern entrance of  Bethlehem we find Rachel’s Tomb, the revered burial place of the Hebrew matriarch Rachel considered sacred to Jews, Christians and Muslims alike. The tomb is covered with a velvet drape. From here we proceed to the Church of the Nativity. The Grotto is the oldest continuously used place of worship in Christianity and the Basilica, the oldest church in the Holy Land.  The only entranceway was lowered to deter looters from driving inside with their carts. In the center of the city is Manger Square named after the manger where Jesus was born. Overnight in Jerusalem. (B)

Thursday Day 7 Israel Museum / Knesset / Mt. Herzl / Yad Vashem                                   

Our day begins with a drive to Givat Ram where on a hill adjacent to the Biblelands Museum we find the Israel Museum ranked as one of the world’s best art and archaeological museums. Built as a repository for the first seven Dead Sea scrolls discovered in 1947 at Qumran, the white dome embodying the lids of the jars in which the first scrolls were found.  Adjacent to this is the amazing Model of the Second Temple prior to its destruction in 66 CE by the Romans. Moving on we come to the Knesset, Israel’s Parliament. At the edge of the Rose Garden opposite the Knesset is the Bronze Menorah some 4.30 meters high designed by Benno Elkan, a Jewish sculptor originally from Germany who presented the Menorah to the Knesset as a gift from the Parliament of the United Kingdom. We now come to Mount Herzl Cemetery, Israel’s main cemetery for the leaders of the country and people who sacrificed their lives for Israel.

Not far away is Yad Vashem, Israel’s official memorial to the victims of the Holocaust located on the western slope of Mount Herzl, also known as the Mount of Remembrance.  At the sprawling complex, you will find the Holocaust History Museum, the largest of its kind in the world depicting the story of the Holocaust from a Jewish perspective featuring individual stories. Next is the poignant Children’s Memorial hollowed out from an underground cavern which pays tribute to the 1.5 million Jewish children who perished in the Holocaust. The names, their ages and countries of origin are recited in the background. The Avenue of the Righteous Among the Nations is lined with some 2,000 trees in honour of their unwavering courage. Adjacent plaques record the names of those honoured and their country of residence. In the Exhibitions Pavilion is the new Flashes of Memory Photography during the Holocaust which presents an accounting of photographs and films created by Jewish and German photographers and members of the Allied forces during liberation. The Museum of Holocaust Art exhibits the largest collection of art created during the Holocaust in the ghettos, the camps and other places of hiding. The Synagogue serves as a memorial to the destroyed places of worship and is a testimony to the indestructible faith of European Jewry. The Valley of the Communities records the names of 5000 communities that existed for hundreds of years. Today, in many cases, nothing remains, but the name. A cattle car pays tribute to the millions of Jews herded onto cattle cars from all over Europe. Stop at the Hall of Remembrance, the first memorial established on the Mount of Remembrance. The mosaic floor records the names of the most infamous Nazi murder sites throughout Europe. The focal point being the Eternal Flame that continuously illuminates the room.

Leaving Yad Vashem we drive through the ultra-orthodox neighbourhood of Mea Shearim populated by Haredi Jews to learn about their unique lifestyle. This evening enjoys a Middle Eastern dinner followed by a 45 minutes outdoor performance of the spectacular Sound and Light Show at the Tower of David Museum where marvellous images, an original soundtrack and a breathtaking video are displayed on the walls of the Tower of David Museum is woven together to create a unique experience taking viewers on a journey that spans a thousand years. Overnight in Jerusalem. (B)

Friday Day 8 Qumran/Masada/Dead Sea

Leaving Jerusalem we drive through the Judaean Desert to the Dead Sea**, the lowest point on earth almost 1300 feet (400 meters) below sea level. Stop at Qumran, an archaeological site dating back to the Iron Age where we find a series of caves.  In 1947, Bedouins found the first of the Dead Sea scrolls in a cave just south of Qumran. Driving along the shores of the Dead Sea we come to the isolated mountaintop fortress of King Herod. It was here at  Masada where the zealots made their last stand against the Romans before committing mass suicide in 73 AD. Ascend by cable car and view the remnants of the northern palace with several terraces and a courtyard surrounded by rows of columns.  Archaeological digs uncovered a synagogue that is likely one of the oldest in the world. Near the remains of the synagogue are ruins of a Roman bathhouse with a changing room and separate rooms for warm, cold or hot baths. At the southern end is the Western Palace which includes a few preserved structures. At the end of your visit descend by cable car and continue to the Dead Sea** The therapeutic qualities exclusive to the Dead Sea have been luring visitors for thousands of years. Cover yourself with the mineral-rich mud and experience floating in the Dead Sea.  Return to Jerusalem overnight. (B)

Some do’s and don’t’s at the Dead Sea

1. For both men and women – there is a high saline count in the water so we recommend that you do not shave for a few days before your visit.
2. Any open cuts should be covered with a bandaid
3. Consider wearing water shoes since the shores are pebbly and there are hard crystallized salt rocks on the floor of the sea.
4. Wear an old bathing suit since the water can cause discoloration.
5. Do not splash since you might get water in your eyes and it will sting.
6. Don’t spend more than 10-15 minutes in the water. You can always go back in after you have showered.
7. Don’t drink the water or get it in your mouth
8. Don’t forget to rinse off afterwards
9. Don’t wear any jewellery in the Dead Sea – the high saline content can damage metal

Saturday Day 9 Jerusalem

Today is Shabbat. The day is at leisure. Overnight in Jerusalem. (B)

Sunday Day 10 Jerusalem / Ben Gurion Airport / Dubai

After breakfast, transfer to Ben Gurion Airport for departure. Arrive at Dubai International Airport where you will be warmly greeted by an English-speaking assistant and transferred to the hotel. (B)

Monday Day 11  Dubai

Breakfast at the hotel. Depart on a half-day guided tour in English. Explore the old “Bastakya” neighbourhood with its traditional houses and the wind towers that served in the past as a natural air conditioning system. Then visit the Dubai Museum located in the “Al Fahidi” fort. Cross the Dubai Creek with a traditional water taxi (Abra) to visit the Gold and Spice Souks. Enjoy a panoramic view of the skyscrapers along the famous “Sheik Zayed” Road where we will go to the Burj Khalifa to take a panoramic photo. Continue to the Jumeirah area where the sheiks’ palaces are located. Photo stop at the Jumeirah Mosque and the iconic Burj Al Arab luxury hotel built in the shape of a sail of a ship. Return to the hotel. (B)

Tuesday Day 12 Dubai                                                                                                                                       

Following a leisurely breakfast at the hotel, the day is free for optional activities or relaxation. Overnight at the hotel. (B)

Wednesday Day 13 Dubai                                                                                                                         

Breakfast at the hotel. Afterwards, transfer to the airport for your departure flight. The program sequence is subject to change without advance notice. (B)

B = breakfast L= lunch D = dinner