Custom Israel Tour Runs Every Friday! Tour Israel’s Coast, the Golan Heights & Sea of Galilee, Nazareth & The Jordan Valley, and Holy Jerusalem!
Day 1 Friday (Assist & Transfer)
ARRIVE IN HOLY ISRAEL!
Assistance at Ben Gurion Airport
After clearing passport control a Shalom Israel Tours representative will be waiting to welcome you, assist with your luggage, and escort you to your waiting chauffeur.
Arrive in Tel Aviv
Stretching along a beautiful beach strip of the Mediterranean Sea, Tel Aviv is considered the face of modern Israel. Nicknamed “The White City” for its abundance of Bauhaus style architecture, Tel Aviv was declared a UNESCO World Heritage City in 2003.
Overnight: Tel Aviv Hotel Options
Day 2 Saturday (Free Day – Relax!)
TEL AVIV – FREE DAY AT LEISURE
Visit the “Soho” of Tel Aviv and stroll Dizengoff St., Shenken St. & Rothschild Blvd. Filled with funky street vendors, boutiques and coffee shops, kiosks and local fast food stalls, Tel Aviv brings out the urban hipster in anyone who walks down these streets.
Overnight: Tel Aviv Hotel Options
Day 3 Sunday
ISRAEL’S COAST – ANCIENT PORTS
The Caesarea National Park contains the remains of a prestigious port city established by Herod the Great, which flourished during the Byzantine period. Visit the Roman Amphitheatre, the Hippodrome horse racing arena, and the impressive Roman Aqueducts.
Megiddo National Park
Get ready to learn about one of the most fascinating cities in the Middle East, where Egyptian, Assyrian and Israeli leaders have all fought for control. Dating back near 5,000 years you learn about this important site while enjoying views of the Lower Galilee.
Druze Villages of Daliat el-Carmel
The Druze, an ethnic group that split off from Islam approximately 1,000 years ago, has played an active role in supporting Israel since its founding. Learn about the history of Druze culture and its cuisine on a visit to a village in the beautiful Carmel region.
We’ll end our day by standing atop Mount Carmel for a lovely view of the Haifa Bay…
Dinner & Overnight: Kibbutz Lavi Hotel, Southern Galilee
Day 4 Monday
THE GOLAN HEIGHTS & TZFAT – BATTLEFIELDS & KABALLAH
Tzfat is one of the four holy cities in Israel. It has served as a spiritual center since the 1600s, when famous Kabbalists roamed here. Tzfat awaits art lovers, soul-seekers and historians to cobblestone alleys, medieval synagogues, and a mystical atmosphere.
Here the Golan comes alive. View a state-of-the-art model, complete with light and sound effects, and a film documenting its history on a 180 degree panoramic screen. This is a great way to deepen your knowledge about the Golan Heights in a fun atmosphere.
Located high in the planes of the Golan in the small, ancient town of Katzrin, you will find this famous winery that exports to over 25 different countries. Take part in a tour and wine tasting to learn how the Yarden, Gamla, Mount Hermon and Golan lines are produced.
Dinner & Overnight: Kibbutz Lavi Hotel, Southern Galilee
Day 5 Tuesday
THE SEA OF GALILEE & JORDAN VALLEY – ASCEND TO JERUSALEM
Village of Nazareth
After breakfast we’ll start our day with a short drive to Nazareth, the town where Jesus spent his childhood. Visit the Basilica of the Annunciation, Mary’s Well and the Church of St. Gabriel. Visit the Blessed Cave, view Mary and Joseph’s house.
Visit the remains of a Second Temple period fishing village and imagine the lives of those who lived there. We’ll learn about the location where Jesus selected his Apostles and the modern day church that stands where the house of Peter once stood.
Mount of Beatitudes
The Mount of Beatitudes sits on a hilltop at the northern point of the Sea of Galilee, this is where Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount. A Byzantine church was erected near the current site in the 4th century, and it was used until the 7th century.
Built during the Byzantine era, this excavated synagogue is most well-known for its miraculously well preserved mosaic filled with intricate artistic detail. The mosaic vividly portrays the Binding of Isaac, the Zodiac, and the Temple of Jerusalem.
Welcome to the holiest city in the world! Here you will touch the Western Wall, walk through the diverse and beautiful streets of “new” Jerusalem, and enjoy the city’s sounds, smells, and tastes; experience the people of Jerusalem, their diversity and vibrant culture.
Overnight: Jerusalem Hotel Options
Day 6 Wednesday
JERUSALEM’S OLD CITY – THE ETERNAL CAPITAL
Located on the eastern slopes of the Jerusalem mountains, near the Temple Mount, this peak is named after the olive trees that covered its grounds in biblical times. Today, camel rides, monasteries and ancient tombstones dot these scenic slopes.
The Jewish Quarter remains one of the single most-visited spots in all of Israel. Nestled within one square kilometer of land lay millennia of ancient history. The Old City dates back to the 8th century BCE and is home to numerous historical landmarks.
Church of the Holy Sepulchre
Located in the Old City’s Christian Quarter, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre is the holiest site in Christian faith. It is here that Jesus was crucified and later buried. At the center of the church is the Stone of Unction, the location where Jesus’ body was prepared for burial.
Located on Mount Zion in a 1,000-year-old building, people come here to pay tribute to the great King David, who is most notably famous for composing the Book of Psalms and establishing a unified capital for Israel. A medieval tradition places his tomb at this location.
Last Supper Room
Visit the Last Supper Room, built in commemoration of the Last Supper shared by Jesus and his disciples the night before his crucifixion. Though the room is mostly empty, it does have some decorations dating back to the Ottoman period.
Bethlehem Holy Sites
Next we’ll see Bethlehem, the place of the birth of Jesus in the Grotto of the Nativity.
Overnight: Jerusalem Hotel Options
Day 7 Thursday
UNITED JERUSALEM – THE NEW CITY
Visit the seat of Israel’s government since 1966. Sitting at the heart of modern Jerusalem, the Knesset is the home of the Israeli parliament with its 120 members. See Israeli democracy in action and learn about the architecture and art of the Knesset building itself.
In 1963, the Yad Vashem Museum was established as the world center for Holocaust research, education and commemoration. With survivor testimonies, powerful displays, and artifacts, this museum embodies one crucial message: Never again.
A burial place for prominent Zionist figures such as Theodore Herzl, Golda Meir and Yitzhak Rabin, here you will also find an expansive military cemetery; one quite full for a country so young. The loss of the soldiers who fought for the land of Israel is palpable.
This museum is the largest cultural institution in Israel and one of the world’s leading art and archaeology museums. Here you will find the oldest existing biblical manuscripts in the world, the Dead Sea Scrolls, which are housed in the Shrine of the Book.
In the evening you’ll head back to the Tower of David’s rooftop to view an epic nighttime extravaganza of sight and sound depicting the conquests of the Greeks, Roman’s, Turks, and others as they tried to overtake Jerusalem. This show is simply “Spectacular”.
Overnight: Jerusalem Hotel Options
Day 8 Friday
THE JUDEAN DESERT – KING HEROD’S FORTRESS
Learn about the Dead Sea Scrolls and those who wrote them when you explore the Qumran National Park. Marvel at the table-like structures that are said to have been used to write the scrolls, and the caves where the scrolls were discovered in 1947.
Ride via cable car to the top of Masada and explore what remains of King Herod’s palace. Take a peek into history as you view the preserved baths, cisterns and barracks. It was here that leader Eleazer Ben Yair kept the Roman Legion’s siege at bay for three years.
Yam Hamelach, literally meaning “Sea of Salt,” is 417 meters below sea level; the lowest place on earth. Its salty water contains unique healing properties, which, combined with the nutrient-filled mud found on its shores, creates one luxurious and healthy day.
Here stand the sacred remnants of the ancient Jewish Temple. On Friday night come to the Wall and join the joyful event together with soldiers and people from all over the world dancing together in lively in celebration of Shabbat, a truly unforgettable experience.
Overnight: Jerusalem Hotel Options
Day 9 Saturday (Free Day)
SHABBAT IN JERUSALEM – DAY AT LEISURE
Shabbat Morning
Finally some time to rest! Enjoy a morning at leisure at your hotel and relax…
Here you’ll find all the character-filled restaurants, shops, street vendors, and street performances you could ask for. Sip a latte at one of Ben Yehuda’s many sidewalk cafes, grab a delicious, chocolate fro-yo, invest in some Judaica, and relax!
Overnight: Jerusalem Hotel Options
Day 10 Sunday (Airport Transfer)
Farewell Transfer…We’ll Miss you!
Transfer to Ben Gurion Airport for departure from Israel…Bye for now!
