HOLYLAND, EILAT & OPTIONAL PETRA TOUR


11 DAYS - 10 NIGHTS
SUNDAY ARRIVAL

Sunday - Ben Gurion Airport / Tel Aviv

Upon a\Arrival at Ben Gurion Airport, you will be met by our representative and transferred to your hotel for dinner and overnight.

Monday - Caesarea / Megiddo / Haifa / Acre

Depart Tel Aviv and drive along the coastal plain to Caesarea, capital of Judea under the Romans. Visit the excavations of the ancient city, Roman theatre and aqueduct. Continue to Megiddo, identified as the site of Armageddon; visit the archeological excavations including the well-preserved water supply system. Drive to Haifa; view the Persian Gardens at the Bahai Shrine. From Haifa, drive to Acre to visit the ancient city and harbor. Continue to Kibbutz Lavi for dinner and overnight.

Tuesday - Tiberias / Capernaum / Banias

After a short tour of Tiberias, take a boat ride to Capernaum. Visit the remains of the 2nd century synagogue. Proceed to Tabgha, the site of the "Miracle of Fish and Loaves" and visit the Church of Multiplication with its 4th century mosaic floor. Continue to Mount of Beatitudes, the place where Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount. Drive to the Banias Springs and waterfalls and tour the Golan Heights. Return to Kibbutz Lavi for dinner and overnight.

Wednesday - Nazareth / Beit Shean

Drive to Nazareth via Cana of Galilee. Visit the Church of Annunciation, St. Joseph's workshop and Mary's well. Drive to Yardenit, the baptismal site on the Jordan River. Continue to Beit Shean, a newly excavated city, and visit the Roman theatre. Drive along the Jordan River to Jerusalem. Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.

Thursday - Jerusalem - Old City

Drive to the Mount of Olives for a panoramic view of the city; visit the Church of All Nations, King David's Tomb and the Room of the Last Supper on Mount Zion. Enter within the walls of the Old City and visit the Cardo, Temple Mount (entrance to the mosques not included), Western Wall, Via Dolorosa, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Oriental Bazaar and Garden Tomb. Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.

Friday - Jerusalem - New City and Bethlehem

Drive to Ein Kerem to visit the Church of Visitation; proceed to Yad Vashem, the memorial to the Holocaust; visit the Israel Museum, Shrine of the Book, where the Dead Sea Scrolls are housed and the miniature model of Jerusalem as it was during the Second Temple period. Proceed to Bethlehem to visit the Church of Nativity. Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.

Saturday - Dead Sea / Massada

Drive to Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found. Visit the ancient city of Qumran and drive along the shores of the Dead Sea, the lowest place on earth to Massada, the last stronghold of the Jews after the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 A.D. Ascend Massada by cable car and visit the food storeroom, water irrigation system and Herod's Palace. Return to Jerusalem for dinner and overnight.

Sunday - Timna/underwater observatory/Eilat

Travel south through the Negev desert ; Visit Timna and see the copper mines and King Solomon's pillars and marvel at the huge multi-colored rock formations. Continue to Eilat and stop to visit the underwater observatory, one of the largest sea aquariums in the world, built into a coral reef. Dinner and overnight in Eilat

Monday - Free day in Eilat or Day in Petra (optional)

After assistance with visa to the Jordanian border, drive straight away to Petra through desert highways, your ultimate destination is the astonishing rose-red city of Petra which was built by the Nabateans (An early Arab tribe). Petra was renowned for its massive architecture, pools, dams and water channels. Petra is the legacy of the Nabateans who settled in the south of Jordan more than 2000 years ago. The visit begins with the possibility of a short horseback-riding for about 700 m. until the entrance of the Siq, which is about 1.2 km long (walking distance). There is a possibility to rent a chariot (extra) to get inside Petra and back to the gate outside.Petra is famous for its huge monuments such as the Treasury, Royal Tombs, the Court, Roman theatre, Roman Street, Qassier El- Bint (Palace of Pharaoh's daughter) and many other smaller monuments which fascinate visitors. The city itself is almost 45 square km and is considered to be the second wonder of the world. After the visit, there will be time for lunch in a nice Restaurant. After lunch drive back to border. On the way, a short visit of Aqaba with the possibility to stop and walk around. Transfer to the border at around 18:00 p.m and cross back to Eilat. Dinner and overnight in Eilat.

Tuesday - Mitzpe Ramon/Sde Boker /Tel-Aviv

Depart Eilat via Mitzpe Ramon ; stop to gaze into the Ramon crater , a geological wonder ; Proceed to Sde Boker and see Ben Gurion's hut and grave overlooking the magnificent Zin valley. Stop for a camel riding experience and a visit to an authentic Bedouin tent ; learn about the Bedouin hospitality and enjoy a light lunch. Continue to Hatzerim and visit Israel's air force museum to view the planes and equipment and to hear the story of this brave fighting force. Continue to Tel Aviv for dinner and overnight.

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Wednesday - Tel Aviv / Ben Gurion Airport

After breakfast, transfer to Ben Gurion Airport for departure.

The above rates include the following services:
- Transfer on arrival and departure (from/to Ben Gurion Airport)
- 10 nights accommodation on half board basis
- 8 touring days as per itinerary, with English speaking guide
- Entrance fees to the sites visited as per itinerary
- Light lunch at a Bedouin Tent on the way from Eilat to Tel Aviv
The hotels appearing in the table might be replaced with similar ones.