THE CLASSICAL ISRAEL TOUR 2012 GUARANTEED DEPARTURES 11 DAYS / 9 NIGHTS / WEEKLY FRIDAY ARRIVAL

11 Days/ 9 Nights Fully Escorted Tour of Israel /Operated Weekly with Friday Arrivals General Sightseeing / English Speaking Tour

» Tour Dates and Rates   » Inclusions   » Eilat Extension  

Tour is operated weekly except the following arrival dates: March 30, April 5, Sept' 14, 21, 28 & Oct 5

Tours over Jewish holidays and August 2012 are subject to hotel confirmation and restrictions

New Highlightsfor for 2012 tours:

New Tour Itinerary starts from March 2012

Lunch at a Druze Village in the Carmel Mt.

Wine tasting in the Golan Heights

Dinner in a Middle  Eastern Restaurant in Jerusalem

Sound & Light show at Tower of David (Old City Jerusalem)

Float in the Dead Sea

Day 1 - Thursday - Departure

Fly from North America to Israel

Day 2 - Friday - Arrival - Welcome to Israel

Arrive at the new Ben-Gurion Airport. Meet our representative and transfer to your hotel in Tel Aviv for check in. Overnight: Tel Aviv

Day 3 - Saturday - Free day in Tel Aviv

Free Shabbat to enjoy Tel Aviv, the city that never sleeps.
Overnight: Tel Aviv

Day 4 - Sunday

Caesarea / Megiddo / Druze village / Haifa

After breakfast depart Tel Aviv and drivealong the coastal plain to Caesarea, capital of Judea under the Romans. See the excavations of the Crusader city and the Roman port, aqueduct and the amphitheatre that has been restored to its former glory as a concert venue. Proceed to Megiddo, identified as the site of Armageddon; visit the archaeological excavations including the well preserved water supply system. Continue to Daliat El Carmel, a Druze village and enjoy a late lunch at a local restaurant. Proceed via Mount Carmel to Haifa for a panoramic view of the Haifa bay and the Golden domed Bahai Shrine and gardens. Continue to the Lower Galilee to our lovely Kibbutz Hotel. Dinner at the Kibbutz.
Overnight: Galilee - Kibutz Lavi

Day 5 - Monday

Safed / Golan Heights / Winery

After breakfast drive to Safed ,the center of Jewish mysticism, where you will visit the ancient synagogues and the artists’ colony. Continue to the Golan Heights to see the former Syrian bunkers, Kuneitra and the new Israeli town of Katzrin. Stop at the Golan winery for a tour and wine tasting. Proceed to " Kessem Hagolan", a multimedia presentation of the area and its history. Continue to the Golan Heights to see the former Syrian bunkers, Kuneitra and the new Israeli town of Katzrin. Return to the Lower Galilee to our Kibbutz Hotel. Dinner at the Kibbutz. Overnight: Galilee - Kibutz Lavi

Day 6 - Tuesday

Sea of Galilee / Nazareth

After breakfast start the day with a visit to Nazareth and visit the church of Annunciation. Continue to Tiberias; Visit Capernaum to see the ruins of the synagogue and octagonal church of St. Peter; Visit Mount of Beatitudes, where Jesus delivered the sermon on the mount . Drive via Beit Shean to Beit Alpha to see the remains of the mosaic floor of an ancient synagogue depicting the zodiac. Drive to Jerusalem.

Overnight: Jerusalem

Day 7 - Wednesday

Jerusalem Old City / Bethlechem

After breakfast we start the day with a magnificent panoramic view from Mount of Olives.Drive to the Old City. Visit the Tomb of King David and the room of The Last Supper on Mount Zion. Enter the walled city and walk through the newly restored Jewish quarter. Visit the Roman Cardo, the Herodian quarter and continue to the Western Wall. Walk along the Via Dolorosa to the church of the Holy Sepulchre. Continue to Bethlehem*. view Rachel's  tomb and proceed to visit the Church of  Nativity and manger's square.

Overnight: Jerusalem

Day 8 - Thursday

Jerusalem: The New City

After breakfast drive to the Israel museum. Visit the  Shrine of the book where the Dead Sea Scrolls are housed and the  miniature model of Jerusalem as it was during the second temple period. Proceed for a tour at the Knesset, Israel's parliament. Continue to visit Mount Herzl cemetery and Yad Vashem, the memorial to the Holocaust. Visit Mea Shearim, the ultra orthodox neighborhood in Jerusalem and learn about their unique lifestyle. In the evening enjoy a Middle Eastern dinner followed by the spectacular "sound& light" show at the Tower of David museum. (* Weather conditions permitting). Overnight: Jerusalem

Day 9 - Friday

Qumeran / Massada / Dead Sea

Drive through the Judean Desert to the Dead Sea, the lowest point on earth, almost 1300 feet (400 meters) below sea level. Visit Qumran, the site where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found. Drive along the shores of the Dead Sea to Masada. Ascend by cable car and tour the ancient fortress where the Zealots made their last stand against the Romans before committing mass suicide in 73 AD. Descend by cable car. Continue to the Dead Sea. Cover yourself with the mineral rich mud and experience a swim in the Dead Sea, that many believe has its therapeuti effects. Return to Jerusalem. Overnight: Jerusalem

Day 10 - Saturday - Free day in Jerusalem

Free day to enjoy the special atmosphere of Shabbat in Jerusalem. Overnight in Jerusalem.

Day 11 - Sunday - Departure from Israel

Transfer to Ben Gurion Airport for your transatlantic flight back home. Take your fond memories of Israel that will last a lifetime and start planning your next fun-filled trip to Israel.....

* Visit to Bethlehem subject to availability