The Wonders of Ancient Israel: Christian Heritage 10 days / Religious Heritage Tours
About This Experience
You’ve read about them all your life; now watch as Christianity’s time-honored backdrops come to light on a journey through the Holy Land. Follow in the footsteps of Jesus of Nazareth and his Apostles as you explore the Christian heritage of Israel, uncovering the sacred places where a radical new religion was introduced to the world. From Jesus’ birthplace in Bethlehem to his crucifixion and resurrection in the Holy City of Jerusalem, explore the stories and scenes that set the foundation for an entire faith.
Your Tour Includes
Round-trip airfare & transfers
8 nights in handpicked hotels
Breakfast daily, 5 three-course dinners with beer or wine
Multilingual Tour Director
Private deluxe motor coach
Select entrance fees
Why You'll Love It
Modern Tel Aviv & ancient Jerusalem
The intersections of Christianity, Judaism & Islam
Evocative Roman ruins
A float in the Dead Sea
Standing in actual settings of Biblical events
The Upper Room & the Holy Sepulcher
Overnight Flight1 night
Tel Aviv1 night - hotel info
Day2
Wander Tel Aviv, from the old port at Jaffa to the modern White City
Breakfast (in flight), Dinner
Welcome to Tel Aviv, Israel’s cosmopolitan city by the sea. A Go Ahead representative greets you at the airport after you clear customs and then escorts you to your hotel. The rest of the day is free to relax or look around Tel Aviv. At an included dinner this evening, meet your fellow travelers.
Haifa1 night - hotel info
Day3
Investigate the Roman ruins at Caesarea, an early hub of Christianity
Breakfast, Dinner
Church of St. Peter, Acre, Caesarea
Begin your day with a walking tour through the Old Town of Jaffa, an ancient port city. You’ll pay a visit to St. Peter’s Church, dedicated to the Apostle Peter’s resurrection of the disciple Tabitha. Then, your Tour Director will introduce you to Tel Aviv, Israel’s financial capital. Take in the city’s trademark Bauhaus architecture, with stops at Rabin Square, Independence Hall and Rothschild Boulevard, one of Tel Aviv’s most picturesque avenues. Your next stop is the White City, a UNESCO World Heritage site, so named for its 4,000 buildings built in the Bauhaus or International style. You’ll also have free time to explore Tel Aviv’s Carmel Market. This afternoon travel to Caesarea to see its ancient theater and hippodrome. Next, make your way to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Acre to see the Crusaders’ Hall and Al Jazar Mosque. Arrive at your hotel in Haifa in time to enjoy an Israeli meal at tonight’s included dinner.
Lake Tiberias2 nights - hotel info
Day4
Ascend Mount Tabor, supposed site of the Transfiguration of Christ
Breakfast, Dinner
Baha’i Gardens, Church of Muhraka, Cana Wedding Church, Church of Transfiguration, Mt. Carmel Promenade
Begin your tour of Haifa with stellar views of Haifa Bay and Stella Maris Monastery on the slopes of Mount Carmel, before reveling in the Hanging Bahá’í Gardens. Next, stop at Tel Megiddo, an ancient city that, according to Revelations, is the site of the final battle between good and evil. Then, journey to Nazareth, where you’ll have free time for lunch before visiting Christian holy sites, including the Church of the Annunciation and the Church of the Transfiguration atop Mount Tabor. You’ll also visit the Wedding Church in Cana, where Jesus is said to have turned water into wine. Dinner is included upon arriving at your hotel in the Lake Tiberias region.
Day5
Trace the course of miracles and milestones of Jesus' life
Breakfast
Capernaum, Tabgha
Start today with a cruise on the Sea of Galilee, where Jesus calmed the storm and walked on water. Next, visit Tabagha and the Church of the Multiplication of the Loaves and Fishes. Continue on to Capernaum, where you’ll see the carefully preserved ruins of a home thought to belong to St. Peter. Later, you’ll climb the Mount of Beatitudes, where Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount. The final stop on today’s journey is Yardenit on the Jordan River, where John the Baptist baptized his second cousin, the man who would become known as Jesus Christ. This evening, join our optional Galilean Evening & Dinner excursion.
Optional Excursions
Galilean Evening & Dinner $89* pp
Step back into Biblical times on this excursion to the Galilean village of Kfar Kedem. You'll learn about Abraham and then have the opportunity to see how Galileans press olive oil, shear sheep and bake bread.
Jerusalem4 nights - hotel info
Day6
Read the Olivet prophecy on the Mount of Olives
Breakfast, Dinner
Ascension Church, Jericho, Garden of Gethsemane
Arrive in the holy city of Jerusalem, by way of Jericho. A bus tour takes you through the city’s most famous sites, including Temple Mount, Mt. Olive and the Garden of Gethsemane. You’ll also visit the Church of the Pater Noster, which commemorates the site where Jesus first taught the Lord’s Prayer. Tonight, join your group for an included dinner. You might opt to join our Jerusalem by Night tour for a unique view of the holy city.
Optional Excursions
Jerusalem by Night $65* pp
Witness Jerusalem lit up by night and gain a unique view of this historic city. Your tour departs after dinner, making its first stop in Mea Shearim, one of Jerusalem’s oldest neighborhoods. Your motor coach will bring you past illuminated walls and churches before arriving at the ruins of the Tower of David, where you'll enjoy a spectacular sound-and-light show.
Day7
Begin exploring the city where it all began
Breakfast
Church of Nativity, Israel Museum, Milk Grotto, Shepherd's fields, Home of St. John te Baptist, Church of Visitation
Transfer to Bethlehem for a sightseeing tour of the town where Jesus was born. You’ll visit the Church of the Nativity, supposedly built on the exact spot where Jesus was born; the Milk Grotto, where the Holy Family sought refuge from Herod’s soldiers during the Massacre of the Innocents; and an excavated field where the angels appeared to “certain poor shepherds in fields as they lay.” This afternoon, explore Ein Karem, the home of John the Baptist and the site of the Visitation of Mary.
Day8
Soar up to the Fortress of Masada overlooking the Dead Sea
Breakfast
Discover Jerusalem at your own pace. Or, take the day to explore the Fortress of Masada, swim in the Dead Sea and meet the locals at Kfar Hanokdom Bedouin Camp. This excursion includes a cable car ride in Masada, lunch and a relaxing spa visit on the Dead Sea. At Kfar Hanokdom, you might ride a camel during an evening of Bedouin hospitality and dinner.
Optional Excursions
Masada, the Dead Sea & Kfar Hanokdom Bedouin Camp $159* pp
Journey by cable car up to the desert fortress of Masada, a fortification high atop a plateau that served as the last stronghold of the First Jewish-Roman War. Though its history remains controversial for many Jews, this memorable site is well worth the trip. You'll then venture to the Dead Sea where you might have time to float in the famously salty waters before enjoying lunch. Later, you’ll visit the village of Kfar Hanokdim for a traditional Bedouin dinner and an evening of music and hospitality.
Day9
Recall the final hours, from the Upper Room to the Holy Sepulcher
Breakfast, Dinner
King David’s Tomb, the Upper Room, the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu
At the summit of Mount Zion, visit King David’s Tomb and the Upper Room, where Jesus held the Last Supper. Back in the city, walk through the Jewish Quarter to the Western Wall and place a written prayer in the wall. Then, follow the Via Dolorosa to the Church of Holy Sepulcher, before venturing into the Muslim, Christian and Armenian quarters of Jerusalem and indulging in the wonders of the Oriental Bazaar. This afternoon, you’ll discover the Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu, where Peter repented after denying Jesus thrice. Relive memories of your journey at tonight’s farewell dinner.
Flight homefor a day
Extend Your Stay
Add Jordan $749*
Since July 1994, when Jordan's King Hussein and the Israeli prime minister Yitzhak Rabin signed a declaration ending the animosity between their two countries, Jordan has opened its doors to the west. Encompassing sweeping verdant and arid landscapes and relics of some of the world's oldest civilizations, Jordan is one of the most warm and welcoming countries on earth. Not to be missed are Petra, the River Jordan and the Greco-Roman city of Jerash.
Petra2 nights - hotel info
Day1
Day2
Gallop past temples and tombs carved out of rose-red rock
Breakfast
Petra
Today, on a combination of horse back or horse-drawn carriage and walking, you’ll discover Petra, a city lost to the outside world for centuries until it was discovered in 1812. Carved into the red rocks of Mount Hor, Petra has been immortalized in verse as “the rose-red city half as old as time.”
Amman1 night - hotel info
Day3
Day4
Saunter through the city of mosaics and move through the land of Moses
Breakfast
St. George's Church, Mount Nebo, Citadel, Roman Theater
This morning, explore Madaba, the city of mosaics, St. George’s Church and Moses’ burial place at Mount Nebo. In the afternoon, return to Amman for a guided tour. You’ll have free time before boarding your late-night flight home.
Passport & Visa
In order to enter Israel (as well as Jordan on the tour extension), U.S. and Canadian citizens need a valid passport with an expiration date extending at least six months beyond the date of your return home. An onward or return ticket is also required for entry. A visa is not required for Israel, however a no charge, three-month visa may be issued upon arrival and may be renewed. It is important to note that if travelers are continuing on the tour extension, a group visa will be provided at the border in Jordan. This entry visa is included in the price of your tour. The Go Ahead Tours itinerary crosses into Jordan via the Jordan Valley Crossing. If you are not a U.S. or Canadian citizen, you must contact each country’s consulate for your specific entry requirements.
Health
There are no major health risks associated with traveling to Israel. Especially during the summer months, take proper care for sun exposure. While no vaccinations are required for entry, be sure to check with your doctor or health care provider for the latest updates and overseas travel recommendations.
Cuisine
Israeli food is invariably fresh and very carefully prepared. Sourdough bread with sheep’s cheese and olives, as well as jam or honey, is typically eaten for breakfast. The range of food choices throughout Israel is immense. You’ll find everything from Kosher meals to dishes with Middle Eastern and Mediterranean influences, as well as the international choices available in any major city. On the coast, fish is an excellent choice, where fresh tuna, turbot and sardines are very good. In Tel Aviv, Ben-Yehuda Boulevard is known for its many delicious ice cream shops.
Transportation / Walking on tour
Round-trip flights arrive in and depart from Tel Aviv. All other included transportation is by private motor coach. In your free time, you may wish to explore the main cities by public transportation. Israel has an extensive—and remarkably inexpensive— transport system of bus, tram, train and metro lines. Purchase all-inclusive passes for the best deal and try to avoid peak periods of travel, when walking is probably your best bet. Taxis are also very inexpensive in Israel.
Baggage Allowance
Airlines have varying weight restrictions on luggage. Some airlines may impose additional charges if you choose to check any baggage. Please contact your airline or refer to its website for detailed information regarding your airline’s checked baggage policies. Bear in mind that your luggage will probably weigh more on your return trip due to souvenir shopping. We allow only one suitcase per person. One carry-on bag is also permitted, provided that it does not exceed 45 inches (length + width + height). There may be times when you will have to handle your own bags, and you’ll find that lightweight luggage provides a distinct advantage. Make sure you label your baggage and carry valuables, medication and documents in your carry-on luggage.
Clothing & Packing Tips
To ensure you’re comfortable while out exploring, we recommend packing lightweight, loose-fitting clothing that can be easily layered. For sightseeing, we suggest bringing a sturdy pair of walking shoes or sneakers, as well as a lightweight sports jacket or rainwear. If you’re planning a visit to a high-end restaurant or performance, you may also want to bring dressier attire. Also, please remember that it’s preferable to avoid showing bare legs or shoulders during visits to churches or other religious sites (entrance may be denied on this basis).
Currency
The Israeli new sheqel is the currency you’ll be using on your tour. Better rates of exchange are usually available in Israel, although it’s worth ordering some currency from your local bank to use when you first arrive. We advise that you take credit cards and dollar bills in small denominations. We suggest informing your bank and credit card company of your travel plans, so they don’t confuse your international purchases for fraudulent charges. Exchange small amounts of Israeli new shekel at one time in order to compensate for inflation.
Tipping
At the conclusion of your tour, it’s customary to offer your Tour Director and driver a gratuity. We recommend tipping in your tour country’s currency, the equivalency of $3USD/CAD per person per day for your driver and $6USD/CAD to $9USD/CAD per person per day for your Tour Director. If applicable, we also recommend the equivalency of $2USD/CAD per local guide. Tips can only be paid in cash. Please keep current local currency exchange rates in mind when tipping.
- Sort By:
- Newest
- Highest Rating
- Lowest Rating
- Photo Reviews
AMAZING !
Thoroughly enjoyed every moment of this tour. Our tour director Marina was fantastic. Very knowledgable and super attentive to our needs. However, this is an extremely active tour with a lot of walking particularly up and down stairs and on many uneven surfaces. If you are looking for a leisurely tour of Israel this is not for you. If you are up for the challenge, it's very worthwhile and an experience not to be missed.
Embrace your soul while experiencing history
This trip would have not been nearly as enjoyable without our tour guide. Salah was well versed in scripture as well as being knowledgeable of cultural and archealogical research. More importantly, he was a fair and consistent presence who complemented our wonderful tour group without being obtrusive, judgemental, or having any preconceived agenda. I can't say enough good things about this trip. Instead I will quote a sign from a church in Bethlehem that I saw during my tour. "If you come as a tourist, we hope you leave as a pilgrim. If you come as a pilgrim, we hope that you leave as a holier one."
Ancient Israel: Christian Heritage Tour
Green, James and Keith, They had a wonderful time on their tour and have recommended this tour to other friends and family members!
An inspiring adventure!
This tour was thorougly enjoyable. The Tour Guide was excellent; very informative, fun, and enjoyable. It was a nice balance of thoughtful learning, pleasure, inspiration and adventure. All of the details with connections, transfers, hotels, food, etc were handled professionally and with graciousness.
Life Changing tour
After studying the Bible every year almost all of my life and loving the stories and Jesus, it was so moving and significant for me to go to so many of the places in Israel where they took place. Our tour guide was excellent from reading the bible passages to being so informative about everything. I learned so much more. I could feel his love for God and Jesus too and Israel. Many of us felt he was a "holy" man. Very moving experience for me was when the singers in our group sang favorite hymns like "Amazing Grace" for us. Our tour guide encouraged them to sing at some of the churches and roman ruins we visited and I'm so glad he did! Another experience that was interesting for me was the Day at Masada, the Dead Sea Scrolls area, floating in the Dead Sea and ending at the Bedouin camp for an awesome presentation from a Bedouin about their life. Also we had a camel ride which was so much fun!!
A truly inspiring and faith building trip!
We covered a lot of important ground with this trip. Our tour guide and motor coach driver instilled so much confidence. The hotels were excellent.
