Scenic Israel

Your pilgrimage through a land regarded by many as the holiest of the holy begins in the sacred city of Jerusalem, which you will have an opportunity to explore before joining your Travel Director and fellow travelers for a Welcome Drink to herald an epic journey into antiquity. L'chaim! Dinner at Indian restaurant. An overnight stay at hotel.

After breakfast, tread in the footsteps of prophets, crusaders and kings, admiring the Old City of Jerusalem from the sacred vantage point of the Mount of Olives. Ascend to Mount Zion to visit the tomb of King David and see the room where Jesus and his disciples shared in the Last Supper near Zion Gate. We stroll through the Jewish Quarter to the Wailing Wall. Here we'll 'Dive Into Culture' and watch faithful Jews cede their prayers to the crevices of its ancient rocks. See the Dome of the Rock on Temple Mount and follow the path taken by Christ past the Stations of the Cross along the Via Dolorosa to Golgotha, arriving at the 4th-century Church of the Holy Sepulchre, where Christians gather to commemorate at the traditional site of His Resurrection. Dinner at Indian restaurant. An overnight stay at hotel.

After breakfast, journeying across the rocky Judean Desert, we pass by the sight where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found by a Bedouin boy in 1947. A short drive and journey up the cable way brings us to the striking cliff-top fortress of Masada where a Roman siege ended in the tragic mass suicide of over 900 Zealots. Their sacrifice remains as a symbol of Israel's pledge to remain free. Stroll through the excavations of Herod's palatial retreat, before returning to the lowest point on earth to float in the salty waters of the Dead Sea (time permitting). This evening, we share a traditional meal at our hotel in Jerusalem. Dinner at Indian restaurant. An overnight stay at hotel.

Breakfast at hotel. Today is yours to explore Jerusalem on your own or join us for an optional excursion to Masada. Drive through the Jordan Valley and the Judean Wilderness. Visit the beautiful waterfalls of Ein Gedi, an oasis some 1,200 feet below sea level. Ascend by cable car to Masada and marvel at the ancient ruins of King Herod’s fortress. A visit to Qumran, where the Dead Sea scrolls were found, completes the tour. Dinner at Indian restaurant. An overnight stay at hotel.

After breakfast, continue our compelling discovery of Jerusalem and visit Yad Vashem to commemorate the millions of lives lost in the Holocaust during World War II. We'll see the Dead Sea Scrolls at Israel Museum's Shrine of the Book, the Knesset and the Givat Ram Campus of the Hebrew University, before travelling through the farmlands of the Jordan Valley. Celebrate a strong sense of community at your overnight stop at a Kibbutz hotel, where you'll dine this evening. Dinner at Indian restaurant. An overnight stay at hotel.

After breakfast, depart by coach for the Mount of Beatitudes, the church with the octagonal dome where Jesus blessed his disciples some 2,000 years ago and gave his Sermon on the Mount. Enjoy a visit to Tabgha, where Jesus fed the 5,000 with two fish and five loaves of bread. Visit the Church of the Primacy of St. Peter (Mensa Christi) and Capernaum where the ruins of the village are explored. Continue to the beautiful Banias Falls and ascend the Golan Heights to visit Nimrod Fortress and the Mt. Bental overlook. Dinner at Indian restaurant. An overnight stay at hotel.

After breakfast, explore one of Judaism's Four Holy Cities and the birthplace of the Kabbalah movement, exploring the ancient synagogue and artists' colony of Tzfat. We continue to the almost-intact 12th-century underground City of Acre to admire its medieval Crusader buildings, before enjoying views of the Baha'i Shrine and the beautiful Persian Hanging Gardens of Haifa, created as a memorial to the founders of the Baha'i faith. Imagine seafaring traders plying their wares in the ancient port city of Caesarea, then travel to the vibrant city of Tel Aviv, our home for the next two nights. Dinner at Indian restaurant. An overnight stay at hotel.

After breakfast, this morning to stroll through the ancient ruins of Old Jaffa to explore biblical stories and ancient mythology. Continue to Newe Zedek, the first neighborhood of Tel Aviv. Soak up the cosmopolitan atmosphere of Rothschild Boulevard, then drive to Rabin Square, where you'll learn about the assassination of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin who has become a symbol of the Israeli-Palestinian peace process. Indulge all your senses on your final stop in Tel Aviv - the smells of roasted coffee and freshly baked bread provide a welcome backdrop for your leisurely journey past bustling market stalls before you return to your hotel for an evening at leisure. Dinner at Indian restaurant. An overnight stay at hotel.

After breakfast, Our epic journey through the sacred lands of Israel has come to an end. All that's left to say is a fond farewell to fellow pilgrims as you prepare for your journey home.