Holy Land Highlights
8 days from Tel Susita to Tel Susita
From $ 3410
Duration8 days
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Run your hands over history in this tour of the Holy Lands. This tour is much more than just a pilgrimage. Entrenched in the ancient but emphatically modern in outlook, nominally Jewish but with oodles of Muslim and Christian influence, the complexities of Israel and the Palestinian Territories will have your head in spin. Run your hands over the Wailing Wall, where written prayers are slid into the cracks between stones and spend the night in the city where Jesus was said to have been born. Stroll around Manger square in Bethlehem and taste the best falafel in the world. Journey into the Negev Desert and spend the night on the rim of the Ramon Crater and take a dip with a difference in the Dead Sea. Israel and the Palestinian Territories have more than a little bit of something for everyone.

This tour is operated by

  • Duration: 8 days
    Service level: Upgraded
  • Starts in: Tel Susita
    Physical Grading: Light
  • Ends in: Tel Susita
    Ages: 15+
Holy Land Highlights - Tour Map

Itinerary

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Day 1: Tel Aviv

Start place: Tel Susita

Your journey through the Holy Lands begins in Tel Aviv, a modern city that truly does not stop. With its lively cafe culture, relaxed Mediterranean beach scene, and renowned nightlife, Tel Aviv is a great place to start your exploration of the Holy Lands. Your adventure begins with a welcome meeting at 6 pm. Look for a note in the hotel lobby or ask reception where it’ll take place. If you can't arrange a flight that will arrive in time, maybe fly in a day early so you're able to attend. We'll be happy to book additional accommodation for you (subject to availability). If you're going to be late, please let the hotel reception know. We'll be collecting your insurance details and next of kin information at this meeting, so please have them handy. After the group meeting, get acquainted with the streets (and street foods) of Tel Aviv on an orientation walk, and sample some mouth-watering falafel and hummus.
Day 2: Nazareth
Today, make like a wise man for Nazareth, stopping at a few significant ports along the way. First up is Jaffa, now a vision of modernity but reputed to be one of the oldest ports in the world. According to the Bible, it’s also where Jonah set off in defiance of God’s wishes before being tossed into the sea and swallowed by a whale. Continue to the crumbling remains of a fortress at port Acre and explore the vast complex of buildings once occupied by the Knights of St John. A large hall, a dungeon, a dining room and the crypt of an ancient Gothic church are among the excavated rooms on display. Enjoy a a glass of wine (or two) at the Tulip, a socially responsible winery that employs adults with emotional and developmental difficulties before arriving in Nazareth in the afternoon. An orientation walk will help you get your bearings so that you can make the most of your free evening in this holy city.
Meals: B
Day 3: Jerusalem
Grab breakfast then make a stop at the Church of the Annunciation, the site where the Archangel Gabriel appeared to Mary telling her of her immaculate conception. From here, the group will travel to the city of Tiberias, established in AD 20, on the western shores of the Sea of Galilee. Continue to Bethlehem, the biblical birthplace of Jesus, and visit Manger Square, which is the the religious heart of the city. You'll find the Church of Nativity nearby, as well as what could possibly be the world's best falafel. Your first glimpse of Jerusalem will be from the Mount of Olives and the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus is said to have prayed and accepted his betrayal while his disciples slept. See the Church of All Nations, which holds a section of bedrock where Jesus supposedly prayed, before checking into the hotel and enjoying a free evening.
Meals: B
Day 4: Jerusalem
Explore the Old City on a guided walking tour, beginning with the Courtyard of the Dome and the Wailing Wall. Run your hands over the remains of the Temple Mount, where written prayers are slid into the cracks between stones. Embark along the 'Way of Sorrows', which follows the biblical path of Jesus to the crucifixion, beginning at the narrow stone arch of St Stephen's Gate. Walk by the medieval church of St Anne and arrive at the Pool of Bethesda, located in the Muslim Quarter, before continuing to the stone-cut Church of the Holy Sepulchre, where Jesus is believed to have been crucified and buried. Sip some tea and nibble some fresh local bread, then head to Jaffa Gate for some lunch. The afternoon is free for your own exploration. Perhaps make your way through the stairwells and archways of Yemin Moshe, or maybe sit back with a cold beer at one of the many laneway bars near Machane Yedhua Market.
Meals: B
Day 5: Masada/Ein Gedi/Dead Sea
Today you'll visit Masada, a spectacular cliff-top fortress built by King Herod around 35 BC that is now reached by cable car. The fortress is seen as a symbol of the bravery and self-sacrifice of the Jewish people. Travel on to Ein Gedi, where the afternoon is free to wash off during a swim like no other. The Dead Sea, the lowest point on Earth, sits at 420 metres below sea level and is so salty that you'll float on the surface. Perhaps rub the nutrient-rich mud on your body and later in the afternoon, as the sun cools, the group will slip into the Ein Gedi Nature Reserve and explore the botanical gardens. Take a short walk on one of the gentle hiking trails before a relaxing evening at the hotel with an included dinner.
Meals: B, D
Day 6: Negev Desert/Ramon Crater
Perhaps tackle another short trail in the nature reserve this morning, an area bursting with waterfalls, springs and streams. Leave the gardens behind and travel to the Negev Desert, which covers over half of the country's total land area and is home to the nomadic Bedouin people.
Visit the small community of Mitzpe Ramon, perched on the edge of the Ramon Crater, and take a 4WD for an adventure into the crater and its surrounds. Spend the night in a desert camp on the rim of the crater in comfortable, simple eco-tents with shared facilities. Spend the evening gazing up at the stars which shine bright, unimpeded by light pollution.
Meals: B, D
Day 7: Tel Aviv
Take in a spectacular sunrise then visit the Lakiya Negev Weaving Initiative, founded in 1991. The project seeks to empower Bedouin women in the Negev region, both personally and economically, by applying their traditional weaving skills to the manufacture and sale of woven products. Spend some time learning about the women's work, and join them for a cup of tea and local lunch during a presentation on the project. Afterwards, journey to Tel Aviv with a stop at Be'er Sheva, the only city built by the Ottomans during their rule over this land. We'll also stop at Tel Be'er Sheva, a World Heritage site believed to be the remains of the biblical town of Beersheba. Continue to Tel Aviv and, after checking in at the hotel, join your leader and group for some farewell drinks and perhaps check out the thriving nightlife.
Meals: B, L
Day 8: Tel Aviv
Your journey through the Holy Lands comes to an end after breakfast today and there are no activities planned until check-out.

End place: Tel Susita

Meals: B

Inclusions

Included

  • Akko - Templar's Tunnel visit
  • Haifa - Baha'i Gardens
  • Tulip Winery Visit
  • Jaffa - Town Visit
  • Bethlehem - Church of the Nativity & Shepherds' Field
  • Tiberias - Sea of Galilee visit
  • Nazareth - Visit to Church of Annuniciation & Mary's Well
  • Jerusalem - Mount of Olives
  • Jerusalem - Garden of Gethsemane
  • Jerusalem - Guided tour of Old City
  • Masada - Masada visit
  • Dead Sea - Dead Sea visit
  • Ramon Crater Jeep Safari
  • Ein Gedi - Botanical Gardens
  • Beersheba Tour

  • Transport

    Minibus

  • Accommodation

    Hotel (7 nights) Desert Camp (1 night)

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