You may submit your own wishes for a personal choice of sites and have me build the itinerary, or choose from one of the following:
1. A full day tour of Jerusalem and Bethlehem.
The tour includes:
Visits to the Garden of Gethsemane, Church of the Agony, the Mount of Olives, the Wailing Wall, a walk along the Via Dolorosa to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Jewish Quarter of Old Jerusalem and the remains of the Byzantine City. Visit the Model of Jerusalem and the Temple as Jesus, Pontius Pilate and the Jewish defenders of Jerusalem against Rome knew them. View the City of David (Jebus) and the Temple Mount from the top of the Mount of Olives. Drive to Bethlehem for a visit to the Church of the Nativity - the traditional birthplace of Jesus. Other options and your own wishes can be included, time permitting. Return to Haifa/Tel-Aviv/Jerusalem/other. Note: This tour requires one moderately-priced entrance-fee. An optional walking visit to the Temple Mount without entry to the Islamic Holy sites is free; a visit to the Dome of the Rock and the el Aksa Mosque requires an additional entrance fee. Ladies and gentlemen are required to dress modestly for all religious sites.
2. A full day tour of the Dead Sea and Massada.
The tour includes:
Driving down to the Dead Sea - the lowest natural place on the surface of the earth - stop at the site where the Dead Sea Scrolls of the Essenes were discovered for a short break and continue on down the coast of the Dead Sea enjoying the unbelievable landscape of the Judean Desert, passing Ein Gedi and on to Massada, the last stronghold of the Zealots against the might of Rome and one of the sites of Herod the Great's magnificent building operations. Time permitting, float in the Dead Sea and enjoy the surprising buoyancy and healing qualities of these unique waters. Return to Jerusalem/Tel-Aviv/Haifa/other. Note: This tour requires one moderately priced entrance fee.
3. A full day tour of Cæsarea, Mount Carmel and Megiddo.
The tour includes:
Drive along the coast for a visit to the ancient site of Herod's magnificent harbour of Cæsarea; continue north along the coast to the top of Mt. Carmel for a visit to the Druse town of Daliat-al-Carmel and a stupendous view across the Jezreel Valley from the spot traditionally associated with the victory of Elijah the Prophet over the prophets of Ba'al and then down into the valley and on to Megiddo, the Armageddon - conquered by King Thotmes III of Egypt in the 15th century BCE. Return to Tel-Aviv/Jerusalem via the 'Arra Pass and the ancient route of the Roman Via Maris/Haifa/other.
Note: This tour requires two moderately-priced entrance-fees and one low-priced entrance fee.
4. A full day tour of Nazareth and Christian Galilee.
Start the day by driving to Nazareth and visiting the magnificent Church of the Annunciation and the Church of St. Gabriel. Continue on to Kfar Cana, where Jesus performed his first recorded miracle of turning the water into wine. From there journey down the road taken by the Crusaders in the fateful summer of 1187, when they were defeated by Saladin at the Battle of the Horns of Hattin, to Tiberias, the Sea of Galilee and Capernaum. Visit the Church of the Loaves and the Fishes, the Primacy of St. Peter and the Mount of the Beatitudes. Time permitting, we will journey on round the east side of the Sea of Galilee to Kursi, where Jesus performed the miracle of the Gaderene swine before visiting the baptismal site on the Jordan. Return to Haifa/Tel-Aviv/Jerusalem/other.
Note: This tour requires one low-priced entrance fee.
All tours are accompanied by relevant commentaries at the sites visited and at intermediate places en route, where appropriate. Lunches will be at recognised, moderately-priced or budget-orientated restaurants and snack bars, unless otherwise requested. An infinite number of alternative itineraries, which include overnight stops can be arranged at your request - Please enquire.
