Jerusalem, Dead Sea And Galilee Tour

Jerusalem / Dead Sea / Galilee – 6 Nights in Israel (Upon Request)

Day 1: Jerusalem Old City

Cross the Allenby Bridge. Meet your Israeli guide and drive to Jerusalem. Enjoy an overlook of the Old City from the Mount of Olives. Walk downhill to the Kidron Valley and enter the Garden of Gethsemane and the Church of All Nations, also called the Basilica of the Agony.

We will continue along the Kidron Valley, viewing the Tomb of Zechariah and the Tomb of Absalom, King David’s son. We will enter the Old City through one of its ancient gates and proceed to the Western Wall, the remnant of the Temple, where we may touch its ancient stones.

We will continue to the Pools of Bethesda, the Via Dolorosa, and the Arab Market. We will visit the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the largest church in Jerusalem. We will then proceed to the Jewish Quarter, where we will see the renovated Cardo, the ancient north-south colonnaded Roman street, and its excavations.

Return to Jerusalem for dinner and overnight.

Day 2: Ein Karem / Yad Vashem / Model

After breakfast, discover the New City of Jerusalem. Drive to Ein Karem, the hometown of St. John the Baptist. Visit the Church of the Visitation and the Church of St. John the Baptist. Continue to Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Memorial.

Conclude your visit to Jerusalem with a tour of the Holyland Model of the Holy City as it appeared 2,000 years ago, during the time of Jesus.

After lunch, drive to the Bethlehem checkpoint and cross the border.

Meet your Palestinian driver and guide and visit the Church of the Nativity. Enjoy a short stop for shopping. The remainder of the day will be at leisure.

Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.

Day 3: Bethany / Dead Sea / Qumran / Masada

Drive east to Bethany and visit the Tomb of Lazarus and the house of Mary and Martha. Continue to the Good Samaritan Inn.

Drive to the Dead Sea, the lowest place on Earth. Visit Qumran, where John the Baptist may have lived with the Essenes and where the famous Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered.

Continue along the shores of the Dead Sea to Masada. Ascend and descend by cable car. Visit the remarkable fortress built by King Herod.

Walk among the remains of the palaces, bathhouses, walls, and synagogue used by the Zealots. Hear the tragic story of their last stand against the Romans.

Enjoy a dip in the salty waters of the Dead Sea.

Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.

Day 4: Caesarea / Haifa

After breakfast, we will drive to the Mediterranean coast. Travel along the Via Maris to Caesarea to visit the Roman theater and aqueduct and view the Crusader fortifications.

Continue to Haifa and Mount Carmel to visit the Church of Stella Maris and Elijah’s Cave. Take in the magnificent view of Haifa Bay.

Drive to your hotel in the Galilee for dinner and overnight.

Day 5: Sea of Galilee / Capernaum / Tabgha / Mount of the Beatitudes / Jordan River

After breakfast, explore the surroundings of the Sea of Galilee, where Jesus conducted much of His ministry.

Begin the day with a cruise across the lake on a “biblical boat.” Visit Capernaum, the “Town of Jesus,” and see the synagogue and St. Peter’s house.

Continue to Tabgha, the site of the miracle of the loaves and fishes. Drive to the Mount of the Beatitudes for a breathtaking view of the Sea of Galilee.

Visit the Jordan River.

Return to your hotel for dinner and overnight.

Day 6: Nazareth / Cana / Mount Tabor

Drive to Nazareth to visit the Church of the Annunciation, the largest church in the Middle East, and St. Joseph's carpentry workshop.

Continue to Cana of Galilee, the site of Jesus’ first miracle.

Proceed to Mount Tabor, the traditional site of the Transfiguration, which overlooks the Jezreel Valley, known in the Bible as Armageddon.

Return to your hotel for dinner and overnight.

Day 7: Galilee to the Dead Sea

Today, after a full breakfast, we will drive south to Beit She'an, the largest archaeological site in Israel. We will explore the ancient Roman city with its amphitheater, steam baths, and reconstructed streets.

Continue south through the Jordan Valley to Jericho, the world’s oldest settlement (conditions permitting). We will view the archaeological excavations and the Mount of Temptation.

We will then drive to the Qumran Caves area, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered in 1947, and continue to the Dead Sea, the lowest place on Earth (1,300 feet below sea level and the saltiest body of water in the world).

End the tour at the Allenby Bridge.