Israel has a special place in all the major religions. Join us for a fully accessible personal journey to visit the important Christian sites and get to know Israel.
Highlights
Follow in the footsteps of Jesus
Suitable for wheelchair users and slow walkers
Sea of Galilee, Jerusalem and Tel Aviv
Float in the Dead Sea
Unique Extensions available
Single Supplement $650 US
PRICE
From $2150 US per person sharing
Price is subject to change without prior notice
Dates
13 – 18 May 2022 – $2200 US per person sharing
14 – 20 Nov 2022 – $2200 US per person sharing
Your land tour includes:
Private, licensed English speaking, I4A tour guide
Transportation in an accessible vehicle for entire trip
Hotels throughout the trip
Meals as listed in the itinerary
Transportation in an accessible vehicle for entire
trip
Your land arrangements do not include:
Airfare to and from Tel Aviv
Departure taxes, fuel surcharges or airport improvement fees
Porterage at the airport or hotels
Insurance – highly recommended – premium non refundable
Early check-in/late checkout
Single room supplement – a limited number of single rooms available on payment of supplement
Meals and beverages not mentioned
Equipment rental (available at an additional cost)
Optional tours not quoted
Gratuities for individual services, laundry and valet service and any other items of a purely personal nature
Tipping to guide, driver, hotel or restaurant staff
E. & O.E.
For information or reservations contact Janice Snider.
Day 1 SHALOM AND WELCOME TO ISRAEL
Meet the group and your guide at Tel Aviv meeting place.
Independence Trail – Spend the morning getting to know the history of Tel Aviv through the Independence Trail which follows Tel Aviv’s heritage sites beginning at the intersection of tree-lined Rothschild Boulevard and Herzl Street, home to Tel Aviv’s first kiosk and ends across the street at Independence Hall, where on May 14, 1948, David Ben-Gurion read aloud the Declaration of Independence as Israel was declared an independent Jewish state. Become familiar with Tel Aviv’s Bauhaus architecture and Zionist history.
Have a quick lunch of some of Israel Street Food- pita required!
Caesarea National Park – Continue your journey of the Holy Land touring the ancient city port – Caesarea – Caesarea Maritima (“by the sea”), built by Herod the Great, which was the scene of significant events for Christians. Here were the headquarters of Pontius Pilate, Peter baptized the centurion Cornelius, considered the first gentile convert and the apostle Paul was imprisoned for two years and preached to the last of the Herodian kings, Agrippa II.
Proceed north and stop for a panoramic lookout over the Kinneret, the Galilee and the Golan Heights.
Check into hotel
Welcome & Shabbat Dinner at the Hotel.
OVERNIGHT GALILEE/ MEAL PLAN: LUNCH AND DINNER
Day 2 IN THE FOOTSTEPS OF JESUS
Breakfast at the hotel
Capernaum – Located on the northern shore of the Sea of Galilee, Capernaum was a fishing village in the days of Jesus. Today it is a site of pilgrimage for Christians as it was one of the places where Jesus and Peter, the Apostles, lived and preached.
Church of the Multiplication – Continue to the Church of the Multiplication of Loaves and Fish, commemorating Jesus’ feeding of the five thousand, and the Church of the Primacy of St. Peter, a Franciscan church located in Tabgha on the northwest shore of the Sea of Galilee.
Mount of Beatitudes – Mount of Beatitudes is in an area overlooking the Sea of Galilee where Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount. Some late traditions of Christianity place this mountain on the area in which Jesus picked his 12 apostles. Its octagonal walls commemorate the Eight Beatitudes, each graced with the first words of one of the eight verses.
Lunch stop will be made along the way
Hula Valley – Take a ride on a golf cart or a Safari wagon through the Hula Valley, an important resting place for migrating birds and many species of rare fish and plants creating a wonderland of flora and fauna. Allows you an extra-close observation of birds and other animals in their natural habitat at Agamon Hula.
Dinner on own in Tiberias or Agamon Food court
OVERNIGHT GALILEE/ MEAL PLAN: BREAKFAST AND LUNCH
Day 3 THE TREASURES OF THE GALILEE
Breakfast and check out from the hotel
Yardenit Baptismal Site – The Baptismal site Yardenit is situated at the southern end of the Sea of Galilee. This is where the Jordan River flows out of the Sea of Galilee on its way down to the Dead Sea. These are the waters in which Jesus was said to have been baptized by John the Baptist.
Cana – Continue to Cana of the Galilee, hometown of Nathaniel (later known as St. Bartholomew) where Jesus was said to have turned water into wine at the wedding of a poor couple. The Greek Orthodox Church of St. George was built in the late 19th century on the site of the miracle. It houses two of the six stone jars that followers believe Jesus used in performing the miracle.
Nazareth – Nazareth, the childhood home of Jesus, is closely associated with Christianity and attracted many pilgrims throughout the last two thousand years. The standout site in Nazareth is the Basilica of the Annunciation, the largest Christian church building in the Middle East, dedicated in 1964 on the Papal visit of Pope Paul VI.
Lunch on your own in Nazareth
Mount Precipice – Mount Precipice is believed by many to be the site of the Rejection of Jesus described in Luke 4:29-30 – The people of Nazareth, not accepting Jesus as Messiah tried to push him from the mountain, but “he passed through the midst of them and went away.”
Lookout over Jerusalem – When you enter Jerusalem stop for a panoramic lookout over the old & new city of Jerusalem. Make a toast and say together the “Shehecheyanu” blessing – appreciating the moment and the opportunity to be in Jerusalem.
Check in and Dinner at the hotel
OVERNIGHT JERUSALEM/ MEAL PLAN: BREAKFAST AND DINNER
Day 4 JERUSALEM – HOLY TO ALL
Breakfast at the hotel
Church of All Nations – The Church of All Nations, officially named the Basilica of the Agony, is located at the foot of the Mount of Olives next to the Garden of Gethsemane. The Catholic Church enshrines a section of stone in the Garden of Gethsemane that is believed to be where Jesus prayed on the night of his arrest.
Lunch on your own in the Old City
Via Dolorosa – Enter the Old City and take the Via Dolorosa (Way of Grief), traditionally accepted as the last route trodden by Jesus to get to The Holy Sepulcher. The Church contains the last five Stations of the Cross including the sites of Jesus’ crucifixion and burial. Several Christian denominations claim ownership to various parts of the site so holy to Christendom. (Please note: some of the areas are not accessible)
Western Wall – Stop at the Western Wall, a section of the retaining wall that encircled the Temple Court in ancient times and a remnant of the Temple compound built by Herod the Great. The Western Wall is the most revered holy site in Judaism. Take the time to appreciate its centrality for the Jewish people.
Return to the hotel to rest
Dinner at the Shalva Cafe – Shalva is a Jerusalem based organization that provides services to children with special needs and their families. The café’s profits go back to the center and graduates of Shalva work at the café.
OVERNIGHT JERUSALEM/MEAL PLAN: BREAKFAST AND DINNER
Day 5 THE LOWEST PLACE ON EARTH
Breakfast at the hotel
Drive to the Dead Sea region, the lowest place on earth.
Masada – Masada is a rugged natural fortress, of majestic beauty, in the Judean Desert overlooking the Dead Sea. It is built as a palace complex, by Herod the Great, King of Judaea, (reigned 37 – 4 B.C.). Became a symbol of the ancient kingdom of Israel, and the last stand of Jewish patriots in the face of the Roman army, in 73 A.D. Ascend Masada by cable car and tour the site.
Dead Sea – Continue to the Dead Sea, the lowest place on earth. Have time to enjoy and relax on the beach and pool area at one of the hotels on the shore of the sea. Attempt flotation in a sea that is 33% salt and keeps you buoyant. Lunch at the hotel included.
Return to Jerusalem.
Dinner on own
Optional – Enjoy the Tower of David Sound and Light Show. The ancient walls serve as a stage for a night time show which is a celebration of sight and sound. Amidst the archaeological remains in the Citadel’s courtyard and to the sound of original music, the story of Jerusalem unfolds through giant breathtaking, virtual reality images. The stones of the walls and structures fade into the scenes and the screened images envelop the viewers and whisk them off to a one-of –a-kind multi-sensory experience.
OVERNIGHT JERUSALEM/ MEAL PLAN: BREAKFAST AND LUNCH
Day 6 A COUNTRY OF CONTRASTS
Breakfast and check out of the hotel
Yad Vashem – Private tour of the museum at Yad Vashem, Israel’s National Memorial to the Holocaust. Tour this memorial to the darkest moment in world and Jewish history, its children’s memorial, and exquisite gardens. Yad Vashem is an unforgettable place of tribute and remembrance
Machane Yehuda Market – Continue with an unforgettable culinary tour. If you really want to get the feel for Jerusalem Mahane Yehuda Market is the place to visit. In this colorful market, you will meet people of all nationalities, religions, and ages and listen the special stories of the peddlers. Time for more to eat if you’re still hungry.
Israel Museum – Next, visit the Israel Museum and the Shrine of the book. The Museum houses collections including works dating from prehistory to the present day and features the most extensive holdings of biblical and Holy Land archaeology in the world. The guided tour will be followed by time on own to explore the galleries that interest you the most.
Farewell dinner at a restaurant
Proceed to Ben Gurion Airport and depart home or continue for extension.
MEAL PLAN: BREAKFAST AND DINNER