The Best of Israel 11 Day Tour

Arrival at Tel Aviv International Airport. A Noah Tours representative will meet you after passport control and accompany you to your transfer to your hotel.

After breakfast, drive through Jaffa, an ancient port city and the oldest part of Tel Aviv. Continue to the ancient city of Caesarea, built by King Herod the Great, while driving along the beautiful Mediterranean coast. We will then proceed to Haifa, passing by Mt. Carmel to see the famous Bahai Gardens. From Haifa, we will drive to Nazareth and the Church of Annunciation. Pass by Cana, where the miracle of Jesus turning water into wine took place. End the day with an overnight in Tiberias/Galilee Sea.

Start the day with an exciting boat ride on the Galilee Sea. Continue to visit Biblical Magdala and its most recent excavations and discoveries. See the Ancient Synagogue, mentioned in the Bible, from the Period of Jesus. Ascend to Mt. Beatitudes, where Jesus gave the “Sermon on the Mount”. Continue the day in Capernaum, known as “The Town of Jesus”, visit the synagogue and Peter’s house. Take a lunch break with a delicious St. Peters fish lunch. Next, we will visit Tabgha, where the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes took place. You will also have the fantastic opportunity to see the famous mosaic under the altar of the ancient church of Tabgha. Proceed to the Golan Heights and have an overview from above. End the day at your hotel in the Galilee Sea for your overnight.

Begin the morning by driving along the Jordan River to the Qasr El Yehud Baptismal Site. Explore Qumran and see the caves where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered. Travel to Masada, where you will take a cable car to the fortress. The history of the famous Jewish fortification will unfold before you: the palaces built by King Herod, the synagogue, and the bathhouses used by the Jews. Descend Masada by cable car and drive to the Dead Sea for some relaxation and a dip in the Dead Sea. Overnight at a Dead Sea hotel and spa, you can take advantage of the spa facilities.

Check out of the hotel and begin your journey to Jerusalem, ascending through the Judean Desert. Continue to the Mount of Olives, once covered with olive groves and today home to an ancient Jewish cemetery, where you will enjoy a magnificent panoramic view of Jerusalem. Visit the Temple Mount (subject to availability), where King Solomon’s Holy Temple once stood and where the Dome of the Rock is located today. Entrance is subject to availability and local regulations. Continue to the Western Wall Plaza, one of the holiest sites in Judaism. Continue to Mount Zion. Visit King David’s Tomb and the site of the Last Supper, also known as the Upper Room or Cenaculum. If time permits, we will visit Yad Vashem, the Holocaust memorial, and conclude the day with an exciting tour of the Mahane Yehuda Marketplace (Shuk) and experience life as an Israeli. Return to your hotel in Jerusalem for check-in. Finish the day back in Jerusalem for check-in and overnight.

The morning will begin with a visit to Bethlehem to see the Church of the Nativity at Manger Square, an overview of the Judean Desert and Shepherd’s Field, a visit to a local, authentic Christian Family souvenir shop, and an opportunity to experience a local lunch in Bethlehem. After lunch, we will return to Jerusalem and pass by the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus prayed and his disciples slept the night before his crucifixion.  We continue into the Old City’s Muslim and Christian Quarters, then walk through the Jewish Quarter, passing the Cardo, an ancient Roman-period street. We will walk where Jesus walked and make our way down Via Dolorosa (Stations of the Cross). Enter the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, where Jesus was crucified. The day will conclude with a visit to the Arab Bazar in the Old City, ending at Jaffa Gate. Return to the hotel in Jerusalem for an overnight.

Today, we will begin with a short city tour of New Jerusalem; we will pass by the Israeli parliament, the “Knesset,” and, if time permits, stop by the famous menorah. We will visit the Israel Museum, Israel’s national museum, where you will see the Dead Sea Scrolls and a Model of the Second Temple. Finish the day with a visit to the Garden Tomb, a peaceful site cherished by many Christians as a place of reflection on the crucifixion, burial, and resurrection of Jesus. Overnight in Jerusalem.

On a walking tour, we will explore the City of David and its fascinating archaeological excavations. The City of David, adjacent to the Temple Mount, is mentioned in all the Holy Scriptures. Visit The Hezekiah Tunnel and The Pool of Siloam. Spend time in the Archaeological Park Davidson Centre and enrich yourself with the ancient history of the Temple. Proceed to explore the Southern Wall excavations, learn about the Robinson Arch and the ritual bath, and get a glimpse of the era before the destruction of the Second Temple. Overnight in Jerusalem.

Explore the Judean Desert on board a jeep. Passing by the remains of Horkania, one king Herods the grand desert hideaway palace. We will continue to the stunning view of Mar Saba Monastery, situated above the Kidron stream that is coming from Jerusalem, one of the most magnificent views in the Judean desert. On our way back, we will explore the mountains above Jericho and view Wadi Qelt Nature Reserve. Return to Jerusalem for your overnight.

Enjoy your free day to explore the beautiful city and its rich and intriguing culture on your own. Do not miss the opportunity to visit the fascinating museums and magnificent city sites. Overnight in Jerusalem.

Transfer to Tel Aviv airport for your departure flight. Until next time!