THE GRAND TOUR OF ISRAEL 2010-2012 GUARANTEED DEPARTURES 14 DAYS / 12 NIGHTS / WEEKLY FRIDAY ARRIVALS INCLUDING 3 DAY NEGEV & EILAT EXTENSION

14 Days / 12 Nights Fully Escorted Tour of Israel / Operated Weekly with Friday Arrivals General Sightseeing /English Speaking Tour / Including 3 Days Negev & Eilat Extension

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                                                                                                 Tel Aviv Shoreline

New Highlights for 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 artist´s 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 QumranM, 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: Jerusalem

Day 11 - Sunday: From Jerusalem to Eilat
Negev desert /Air force Museum /Sde Boker / Mitzpeh Ramon / Timna / Eilat
Travel south to the Negev desert, visit Israel´s Air force Museum at Hatzerim to view the planes and equipment and to hear the story of this brave fighting force. Visit Sde Boker and see Ben Gurion´s hut and grave overlooking the magnificent Zin valley. Stop at Mitzpeh Ramon to gaze into the Ramon crater, a geological wonder. Drive to Timna to see the copper mines and King Solomon´s Pillars and marvel at the huge multi-colored rock formations. Arrive in Eilat on the Red Sea.
Overnight: Eilat

Day 12 - Monday: Free day in Eilat
After breakfast enjoy a free day in Eilat, stroll the beaches and swim in the chilly water of the Red Sea. Enjoy some of the various water sport activities and exciting attractions such as the Dolphin Reef, Camel tours, ATV & Jeep desert tours, Yacht sailing and much more.

Or take an optional day tour to the Rose City of Petra:

After breakfast take a full day tour to the city of Petra. Transfer from your hotel to the Arava border point with Jordan, cross into Jordan and drive to Petra . Visit to the wonders of the ancient city of Petra the Rose Red City carved by the Nabataeans out of solid rock. A visit to Petra is one of the true highlights of any tour to the Middle East. For hundreds of years, Petra was forgotten until it was rediscovered in 1812. The entire city is carved into the sides of a deep gorge, which is entered on foot or by horse- drawn carriages. In the late afternoon return to your hotel in Eilat. Overnight: Eilat

Day 13 - Tuesday - From Eilat to Tel Aviv
Eilat City Tour / Mamshit / Bedouin hospitality / Tel-Aviv
After breakfast visit the underwater observatory, a large sea aquarium built into a coral reef. Drive to Mamshit for a Camel ride experience and a visit the an authentic Bedouin tent. Learn about the Bedouin hospitality and enjoy a light lunch. Proceed to Tel-Aviv.
Overnight: Tel Aviv

Day 14 - Wednesday: Tel-Aviv Departure back to the U.S
After breakfast transfer to Ben Gurion Airport for your transatlantic flight back to the U.S.A. Take home your fond memories of Israel that will last a lifetime and start planning your next fun-filled trip to Israel.....