Jerusalem, Galilee & the Dead Sea

Tel Aviv • Caesarea & Acre • Sea of Galilee & Capernaum • Dead Sea & Masada • Jerusalem • Bethlehem

Heart of the ‘fertile crescent’ with sights beyond wonder and so numerous you almost trip over them. Hugely atmospheric, with Jerusalem one of the world’s most poignant cities. From the shores of the Mediterranean to the Sea of Galilee, to the desert landscapes of the south and the Dead Sea.

Dead Sea shoreline

Your itinerary

DAY 1 – Arrival in Tel Aviv

Arrive at the airport for your flight to Tel Aviv from where you will be transferred to your hotel.

DAY 2 – Caesarea & Acre

Today we visit the ancient city of Caesarea, built by King Herod as capital of Roman Judea. It was the biggest port in the Eastern Mediterranean, the site of one of Herod’s magnificent palaces and today it has a host of superb remains to explore. Next, we visit the 12th century Crusader city of Acre: the beautifully vaulted and huge Knights’ Halls are in a state of almost unrivalled preservation and admirably display medieval European military architecture at its best. Leaving Acre, we stop in Nazareth and visit the great Church of the Annunciation, before arriving in Tiberias on the Sea of Galilee where we stay for one night. Tonight we enjoy an included welcome dinner to get to know your tour manager and fellow travellers. (B,D) + Included Experiences – Visit Caesarea, Acre and the Church of Annunciation

DAY 3 – Sea of Galilee & Capernaum

This morning we’ll be immersed in some of the most important events in Jesus’ early life. Crossing the Sea of Galilee by boat we arrive at Capernaum where

Tel Aviv: NYX Hazliya Hotel (1) HHHH Superior Tiberias: Leonardo Plaza Hotel HHHH or Kibbutz Lavi (1) HHHH Dead Sea: Daniel Hotel or Leonardo Plaza (1) HHHH Jerusalem: Leonardo Hotel, Grand Court Hotel or Ramada Hotel (4) HHHH Daniel Hotel

Old city, Jerusalem

Jesus lived, healed the sick and recruited his first five disciples. Nearby is Tabgha, the site of the miracle of the feeding of the 5,000. Overlooking the whole area is the Mount of Beatitudes, where Jesus gave the Sermon on the Mount. A simple octagonal church has been built, surrounded by beautiful gardens with wonderful views of the Sea of Galilee. Our hotel tonight is on the shores of the Dead Sea. (B,D) + Included Experiences – Visit Capernaum, Tabgha and the Church of the Multiplication

DAY 4 – Dead Sea & Masada

Today you can enjoy one of life’s mustdo experiences - ‘bob’ like a cork in the Dead Sea, surrounded by the desert scenery of the lowest point on earth! Your hotel also offers relaxing spa treatments using salt extracts from the mineral-rich waters. Then we have the opportunity to visit the spectacular fortress of Masada - site of one of the

Acre

Caesarea Nazareth Capernaum

Sea of Galilee Tiberias

TEL AVIV

Jerusalem

Bethlehem

ISRAEL

Masada

JORDAN

Caesarea

Dead Sea

KEY

Arrive Depart Route Boat ancient Romans’ greatest sieges. We continue to Jerusalem, where we stay for four nights. (B,D) + Included Experience – Visit the fortress of Masada

DAY 5 – Jerusalem

Firstly we visit the Mount of Olives and the world’s oldest continually used cemetery for a panoramic view of the ancient city, punctuated by the startlingly beautiful Dome of the Rock where Muhammed rose to heaven. After touring the Garden of Gethsemane, we enter the warren of streets and alleyways that make up the Old City. Here, in such amazing proximity, lie some of the holiest places for over half the world’s population! We visit the Western Wall and walk along the Via Dolorosa before we finally come to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre built over Golgotha, where Jesus was crucified. The richness of decoration is astounding and the atmosphere is indescribably moving. (B,D) + Included Experiences – Visit the Mount of Olives, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the Western Wall; guided tours of the Garden of Gethsemane and the Old Town

DAY 6 – Bethlehem

We drive to Bethlehem to visit the Church of the Nativity and the Shepherds’ Fields. One of the oldest churches in the Holy Land still in use, it marks the site where the Virgin Mary is said to have given birth to Jesus. For centuries it was one of the most fought over holy places. It was seized and defended by

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Your tour includes

• Return direct scheduled flights • Stay in hand-picked four-star accommodation • A welcome dinner to get to know your fellow travellers • The services of our experienced and insightful tour manager throughout

(B) Breakfast, (D) 6 Dinners For departure dates, prices and flights, please call or visit our website.

YOUR EXPERIENCES • 4 guided tours including the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Jerusalem’s ‘Old

City’, Acre, Masada and the Garden of

Gethsemane • 4 visits including the Dead Sea,

Bethlehem and the Church of the

Nativity, Nazareth and the Church of the Annunciation, the Church of the Multiplication, Yad Vashem and

Caesarea • Boat cruise on the Sea of Galilee to

Capernaum

a succession of armies, yet still retains fragments of mosaics and paintings from the 4th and 12th centuries. Back in Jerusalem we visit the Yad Vashem, the humbling Holocaust Memorial and the Shrine of the Book where the Dead Sea Scrolls are displayed. (B,D) + Included Experiences – Visit Yad Vashem, the Church of the Nativity and the Shepherds’ Fields

DAY 7 – Free day in Jerusalem

Today is at leisure. The Tower of David Museum built on the remains of another of Herod the Great’s palaces provides a particularly impressive history lesson and spectacular views. Then there’s chance to explore under your own steam: you can see Roman shops still in use and wander into some of the quieter churches – where a choir’s gentle harmonies resonate throughout the alleyways. (B,D)

DAY 8 – Return flight

At the appropriate time you transfer to Tel Aviv airport for the flight to the UK.

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