Though Israel only officially became a country in 1948, its culture and history date back thousands of years. Come explore a land where different faiths, politics and cultures coexist to create a truly complex and captivating whole.
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1 - Tel Aviv
Your trip begins with a regularly scheduled overnight flight to Tel Aviv aboard an internationally recognized airline.
Day 2 - Tel Aviv
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 begin acquainting yourself with Tel Aviv. At an included dinner this evening, meet your fellow travelers. (B in flight, D)
Day 3 - Haifa
This morning, your tour director introduces you to Tel Aviv, the first Hebrew city. 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. Then stop to discover the Old Town of Jaffa, an ancient port city. As the story has it, this was where the prophet Jonah started the journey that left him in the belly of a whale and where Andromeda was tied to a rock as a sacrifice to a sea monster, before later being saved by Perseus. 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. Finally, wander through the colorful Carmel Market and Sheinkin Street. This afternoon brings you to Haifa, with a stop in Caesarea to see its ancient theater and Hippodrome. Enjoy a true Israeli meal at tonight’s included dinner. (B, D)
Day 4 - Haifa
Today, your tour director leads you on a tour through Haifa. Begin with stellar views of Haifa Bay and Mount Carmel before reveling in the Hanging Bahai Gardens. You’ll next explore the German Colony and Muslim Quarter to witness the peaceful cohabitation of six different religious groups. Continue discovering Haifa on your own this afternoon, or opt to learn about Israeli culture at a Kibbutz. This evening, indulge in an optional dinner and wine tasting at a local winery. (B)
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Dinner and Wine Tasting at Tishbi Winery
During your tasting at Tishbi Winery, you can sit under the trellised vine to enjoy the local cheeses with a glass of wine. Then enjoy a sumptuous feast.
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Kibbutz Excursion
Visiting a kibbutz is a time-honored Jewish tradition. On your visit, you will learn more about this movement’s history, and you’ll get to sample many of the fruits—and vegetables—of their labor.
Day 5 - Haifa
Make your way to Rosh Hanikra and the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Acre this morning to see the Citadel, the Crusaders’ Hall and Al Jezzar Mosque. Then pay a visit to a Druze village to encounter a mystical faith and unique way of life before traveling to Cana and Nazareth to see the Church of the Annunciation, a holy Christian site and the location where Mary was visited by the Archangel Gabriel and told that God had selected her to be the mother of Jesus. This evening, enjoy an optional folklore performance. (B)
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Israeli Folklore Performance
Enjoy an evening of traditional Israeli folklore, where players perform scenes from the Hebrew Bible and Israel’s history.
Day 6 - Tiberius
Drive up the Mount of Beatitudes this morning, stopping in Tabgha and Capernaum, villages where Jesus was said to have made local fishermen into “fishers of men” and where he multiplied the loaves and the fish to feed the multitudes. Next, explore Tel Hazor and the Golan Heights, taking a moment to see Bania Springs with Mt. Bental in the background. Arrive in Tiberius and enjoy an included dinner. (B, D)
Day 7 - Jerusalem
Today brings you to the holy city of Jerusalem, by way of Qumran to see the Dead Sea Scrolls. Your first stop is at Temple Mount, one of the holiest sites for Jews and Muslims. Ascend Mt. Olive for a view of the city before entering the Garden of Gethsemane. King David’s Tomb awaits you on Mt. Zion, as does the Upper Room, where Jesus held the Last Supper. Back in the city, walk through the Jewish Quarter to the Western Wall, where you can place a written prayer in the wall. The follow the Via Dolorosa to the Church of Holy Sepulcher. Finally, venture into the Muslim, Christian and Armenian quarters of Jerusalem before indulging in the many wonders to be found at the Oriental Bazaar. Tonight, join your group for an included dinner. (B, D)
Day 8 - Jerusalem
The morning is yours to explore the city on your own, or choose to visit Bethlehem and the Church of the Nativity with an included stop at a diamond factory. This afternoon, rejoin your group for a visit to Ein Gedi Kibbutz, famous for its rich and varied produce. An oasis west of the Dead Sea, the region of Ein Gedi is known for its caves, springs, and its rich diversity of flora and fauna. (B)
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Bethlehem & the Church of the Nativity
A Palestinian city located in the West Bank, about 10 km (6 mi) south of Jerusalem, Bethlehem is revered as the birthplace of Jesus. On your tour, you’ll stop at the Church of the Nativity, which Christians believe marks the spot where Mary gave birth to Jesus.
Day 9 - Jerusalem
Discover Jerusalem at your own pace. Or take the day to investigate the Fortress of Masada, swim in the Dead Sea and meet the locals at Kfar Hanokdom Bedouin Camp. Included in this excursion are a cable car ride in Masada, lunch and a relaxing spa visit on the Dead Sea. At Kfar Hanokdom, you’ll ride a camel to an unforgettable evening of Bedouin hospitality with dinner. (B)
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Masada, the Dead Sea & Kfar Hanokdom Bedouin Camp
Journey up to the Fortress of Masada by cable car, venture to the Dead Sea for a seaside lunch and a spa treatment, and ride a camel to the Bedouin village of Kfar Hanokdom for a traditional dinner and an evening of music and hospitality.
Day 10 - Jerusalem
Spend the morning at Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Memorial Museum. Containing the world’s largest repository of information on the Holocaust, Yad Vashem is the leader in Shoah education, commemoration, research and documentation. The afternoon is free, or you can opt for an excursion to Belvoir and Gideon Springs. Relive memories at tonight’s Farewell Dinner. (B, D)
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Belvoir and Gideon Springs
Visit the remains of Belvoir Fort and learn more about its contentious history. Next travel to Gideon Springs, named for the Old Testament Warrior Gideon. Enjoy its beautiful sprawling lawns and massive eucalyptus trees.
Day 11 - Jerusalem
Transfer to Tel Aviv airport for your flight home, or extend your stay and continue on to Jordan. (B)
Extend Your Stay
Add 3 nights,
$699 (Single room: add $159)
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.