Itinerary

Day 1

Drive north via the Ramon Crater to Mitzpe Ramon. An introductory meeting in the evening includes technical information such as currency, dress code when visiting religious sites, weather forecast, routes, and possibly some historical background information.

Day 2

Drive through the Negev desert towards the Dead Sea, the lowest point on earth. Travel along it's shoreline, stopping at Masada – Israel's foremost Archaeological Park . Ascend via cable car, for a thorough visit, that gives insight to the rituals, politics and culture of the people who inhabited this desert fortress.
Descend to the shores of the Dead Sea to float in the therapeutic waters. Indulge yourself in the mineral-rich black mud, known for its rejuvenating qualities, or simply relax at the spa.
Journey north via the Qumran caves, the site where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found, continuing north along the Jordan River till Tiberias

Day 3

Drive along the north shore of the Sea of Galilee, the stage for most of the events in Jesus' life:Mt. Beatitudes, the traditional site of the Sermon on the Mount;Tabgha, the traditional site of the 'miracle of the loaves and the fish';
Church of Primacy, where St. Peter was reinstated.
Capernaum, the centre of Jesus' messianic work.
Sail across the Sea of Galilee to experience the tranquillity and scenery little changed during the past 2000 years (sailing depends on weather conditions).
Drive towards the scenic northern Golan Heights and on to Emek Ha Bacha, one of the major battlegrounds of the Yom Kippur War. Proceed through Druiz villages, descending to the Hula Valley via Banias and on to the biblical and Canaanite town of Tel Dan .
Towards evening, time permitting, travel to the Upper Galilee to visit Safed, centre of Jewish mysticism.linebreak}

Day 4

Drive through the Lower Galilee to visit the village of Kana, the traditional location of the first miracle performed by Jesus and on to Nazareth and the 'CHURCH OF ANNUNCIATION' . Continue to Megiddo-Armageddon, one of the key archaeological sites in understanding the history of the holy land. Travel west to the shores of the Mediterranean for a visit to Caesaria Maritima, Herod the Great's masterpiece and domicile of the Roman governors, including Pontius Pilate.
Proceed south towards the outskirts of TEL AVIV and east up through the Judean mountains to JERUSALEM, the City of Gold.

Day 5

Start the morning with a visit to Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Memorial Institute with its new historical museum.
Then on to the Israel Museum and Shrine of the Book, which houses the Dead Sea Scrolls.
Drive to Bethlehem, (subject to local conditions) to visit the Church of Nativity and Manger Square.
Drive back to New Jerusalem, stopping at the Knesset, the Israeli parliament.
Friday is a day of prayer for Moslems as well as the start of the Jewish Sabbath, so you will have an
early return to your hotel in Jerusalem.

Day 6

A day of leisure in Jerusalem

Day 7

Start the morning driving by Mount Scopus, passing the WW1 British cemetery, Hadassah Hospital and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
Stop atop the Mount of Olives, for a panoramic view of the Old City, where over 3000 years of history unravels before you.From the Mt of Olives walk to Gethsemane at the foot of the mountain and continue downward through the Kidron Valley with its biblical monuments, and then up to the walled city.Enter the Old City of Jerusalem via Dung Gate and stop at the Wailing Wall, Judaism's holiest site.
Cross the Temple Mount, past the holy Moslem shrine.
Walk the Via Dolorosa (Road of Suffering), stopping at ‘Stations of the Cross' along the way, till Golgotha and the Holy Sepulcher.
Visit the Tower of David Museum, museum for the history of Jerusalem.
Walk along the Roman Cardo, exiting the walled town via Zion gate to Mt. Zion for a visit to the Dormition Abbey and the Room of the Last Supper.

Day 8

Drive via Emek HaElah the location of the battle between David and Goliath.
Journey on to Kibbutz Sde Boker, home and burial site of David Ben Gurion,Israel's first Prime Minister.
Transfer to airport or continue on to Eilat.

Extra Information

Inclusions -

Overnights

Exclusions -

Lunches

Extras -

Flights available from England.