Perspectives of Israel

Arrive in Tel Aviv

Welcome to Israel! Upon arrival at Ben Gurion Airport, transfer to your hotel in Tel Aviv. After a rest you may want to stroll along the promenade or Rothschild Boulevard. Dinner tonight is on your own, as our guests will arrive well into the evening.

Tour Tel Aviv & Jaffa

We will have a trip briefing at breakfast this morning before beginning today's walking tour of Tel Aviv at Independence Hall, illustrating the role the city played in the establishment of the modern state. Stroll through White City, a UNESCO-listed district recognized for its Bauhaus and art deco architecture. Nearby is Neveh Zedek, one of the city's oldest neighborhoods now enjoying a revival with new galleries and restaurants. After lunch, explore the ancient port town of Jaffa, now a thriving artists' colony with many galleries, studios, and shops, and an unusual antique market. Enjoy a festive welcome dinner tonight.

Take a Scenic Drive to Caesarea Maritima, Haifa, & Acre

Drive up the scenic coast to Caesarea Maritima, ancient capital of the Roman province and now a national park, to see impressive remains of the Roman and Crusader periods. Continue to Haifa, where there are lovely views of Bahai Gardens, and then on to Acre (Akko), an ancient Phoenician and Crusader seaport designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Tour the Citadel of Acre's stunning halls and buildings of the Knights Hospitaller and Templar, and walk through the covered bazaar. End today in Tiberias, where dinner is at the hotel.

Hike Around Mount Arbel & the Sea of Galilee

Lace up your boots for today's hike along the portion of the Jesus Trail that descends from Mount Arbel to the Sea of Galilee. Enjoy stunning views and learn about the area's rich history: It is here that early Christianity evolved; Jesus delivered his famous Sermon on the Mount at the Mount of Beatitudes. At Nof Ginosar, visit a 2,000-year-old boat that was found preserved in the sea's muddy shores, and see the famous ruins at Capernaum, where Jesus lived and taught at the synagogue.

Journey to Golan Heights & Descend to Banias

Drive up to Golan Heights and gaze into Lebanon and Syria to the lush Tel Dan Reserve — Dan was once the northernmost city in the ancient Kingdom of Israel — and its ruins. Continue up to Nimrod Crusader Castle, built by the Arabs and occupied by the Crusaders for its strategic position. After lunch, hike down to Banias to see the archaeological remains of this sacred place that span Pagan, Jewish, Christian Byzantine, Muslim, and Crusader eras.

Travel to Nazareth & Bet Shean

Journey west to Nazareth — the childhood home of Jesus — to see the Church of the Annunciation and the nearby remains of the major Byzantine church and Mary's Well. Then head south to Bet Shean, one of the Decapolis cities and where today you find Israel's best-preserved Roman ruins. After lunch, continue down the Jordan Rift Valley to the Dead Sea. Enjoy free time to swim in the sea or hike up the Ein Gedi valley before dinner at the hotel.

Travel to Jerusalem via Masada & Qumran

At sunrise take a vigorous, winding hike up to Masada, the last stronghold of the Rome-opposed Jewish Zealots, to see Herod's palaces, baths, and other ruins that reveal the dramatic events that took place here two thousand years ago. Continue to Qumran, on the Dead Sea's northern shore. Now a national park, Qumran was once the home of the Essenes, a secluded desert sect that produced the Dead Sea Scrolls. In 1947, a young Bedouin shepherd discovered manuscript fragments in clay jars hidden for centuries in the caves. Drive to Jerusalem through the Judean Wilderness.

Step Back in Time in Old Jerusalem

Enjoy a dramatic view of Jerusalem from the Mount of Olives, then walk down to the Garden of Gethsemane, where Judas betrayed Christ. Enter the Old City and view the Temple Mount, then visit the Western (Wailing) Wall. At the Davidson Center, learn how daily life revolved about the Temple in ancient times. Then walk the Via Dolorosa (Way of the Cross) to the crucifixion site. Also behold the Tomb of David and the Upper Room, supposedly the site of the Last Supper. End today at the lively Mahne Yahuda market.

Sightsee in the New City of Jerusalem & Bethlehem

Begin today at Yad Vashem, a powerful memorial to the six million lives lost in the Holocaust. Drive past the Knesset to the Israel Museum, home to the ancient Dead Sea Scrolls and other fascinating exhibits. Lunch in a Palestinian Christian family's home in Bethlehem. Walk to the Church of Nativity, where many believe Jesus was born. Stop at the Banksy-inspired Walled Off Hotel to see the separation wall with its political graffiti and the exhibit on the occupation, then enjoy dinner on your own in Jerusalem.

Explore Jerusalem & Farewell Dinner

Today is free to explore Jerusalem on your own, perhaps walking along the Old City ramparts and walls for great views and perspectives on this unique city. Tonight, enjoy a festive farewell dinner tonight with the group.

Depart from Jerusalem

After breakfast, transfer to the airport for your homeward-bound flight.