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Special Highlights
Trip Highlights
Biblical Landscapes - The Sea of Galilee, Jericho and Qumran.
Dead Sea - Float in the famous saline sea at the lowest point on Earth.
Jerusalem - Follow the ‘Stations of the Cross’ and visit the Church of the Holy Sepulchre
Bethlehem - Visit to the Church of the Nativity.
Trip Summary
Few places on earth have inspired such far reaching religious and political fervour as Jerusalem. For 3000 years its turbulent history has witnessed some of the pivotal events of the age, from the crucfixion of Christ to the bloody conflicts of the Crusades. Even today the current struggles between the Jewish and Palestinian people has influenced events far beyond the ancient walls of this old city. This short, but most comprehensive of breaks, gives us a brief glimpse of this most revered of cities, considered sacred to Christians, Jews and Muslims alike. Journeying from historic Tiberius we take in the significant Christian sites of Tabgha and Capernaum and then travel down the Jordan Valley to the ancient city of Jericho, one of the West Bank’s most important Palestinian settlements. From here our journey into Jerusalem takes us via the famed caves at Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were unearthed in 1947. Within Jerusalem itself we will then walk the emotive streets of the Via Dolorosa to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the final journey undertaken by Christ en route to his cruxificion. We’ll also take in the views from the Mount of Olives and explore the landscapes of the Josaphat Valley, before travelling the short distance to neighbouring Bethlehem and the site of the Church of the Nativity. Finally we will discover something of the new city, viewing the site of the Knesset and the Hebrew University, as well as the Israel Museum, before our visit to the birthplace of John the Baptist. This unique trip takes us through a landscape that reverberates with the history that has shaped the world, to a city that even today is at the centre of political and religious thinking.
Itinerary
[+] Detailed Itinerary
Day 1:
Join tour Tel Aviv; Drive to Tiberius
Arriving in Tel Aviv later today we will transfer by bus to the historic city of Tiberias on the Sea of Galilee. Following the Bar Kochba Revolt in the 2nd century AD and the exile of the Jews from Jerusalem, Tiberius became the centre of Jewish life in Israel. The Mishnah and the Palestine Talmud holy books were completed here and the Hebrew alphabet further developed, elevating Tiberias to the status of one of the four Holy Jewish towns.
Overnight Standard Hotel (H+)
Day 2:
AM boat ride on Sea of Galilee, then drive to Jerusalem via Jericho & the Dead Sea
Early this morning we will begin our day with a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee, before taking in the important Christian sites of Tabgha and Capernaum. It was at Tabgha, or rather on the nearby slopes of the Mount of the Beatitudes that it is believed that the Sermon on the Mount took place, where one of the most significant events of the New Testament saw the feeding of the 5,000. Capernaum (the birthplace of Peter) on the other hand is believed to have been the site where Jesus started his ministry. After our visits we will continue south, travelling through the Jordan Valley to the ancient city of Jericho, lying amidst the hotly contested settlements of the West Bank. This was the first city to fly the flag of the newly formed Palestinian state and its antecedents stretch back some ten millennia, making it not only one of the oldest cities on earth, but at 250m below sea level also the lowest. Our next stop on the journey to Jerusalem takes us to Qumran, home of the Essenes, a strict and devout Jewish sect who lived in the area until early in the 1st century AD and who are believed to have been the authors of the 2,000 year old manuscripts found amongst the hillside caves in 1947. The Dead Sea scrolls are amongst the most important biblical records ever discovered, providing historians and archaeologists with an incredible insight into the development of the Bible and its historical context. Whilst we are in the area we will also take some time to enjoy a float in the remarkable saline waters of the Dead Sea. At 418m below sea level this salty expanse of mineral rich water has been revered for centuries for its beneficial properties, and we will have an opportunity to experience a little something of its remarkable buoyancy as we enjoy a dip in its unique waters. Finally our journey brings us at last to Jerusalem, described as the ‘fairest of all cities’ and once believed to be the centre of the world. Certainly one of the most intriguing of cities, it can boast a history stretching back some three millennia and this evening there will be an opportunity to enjoy an optional tour by bus and on foot.
Overnight Standard Hotel (H+)
Included meals: Breakfast
Day 3:
Sightseeing around Jerusalem and Bethlehem
This morning we drive by bus up to the Mount of Olives for a superb view down over the Old City, before descending down into the Josaphat Valley to visit the Pater Noster Church, the Garden of Gethsemane and the Church of All Nations. From here we will then drive to the Dung Gate and enter the Old City by the Western Wall, a place of constant prayer, believed by Jews to be the last remaining remnant of the second Temple and the most revered of all Hebrew sites. Taking a walk along the Via Dolorosa we’ll follow the route traditionally believed to be that taken by Christ on the day of his execution, passing the ‘Stations of the Cross’ to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the holiest site in Christendom itself and the reputed place of the crucifixion, burial and eventual resurrection of Jesus Christ. After this we will board our bus again and drive the short distance to Bethlehem, to pay a visit to the Church of the Nativity. The original building was believed to have been built by the Empress Helena, the mother of Constantine, the emperor who legalized Christianity in 313AD. Helena ordered a church built here in 339AD, on what was strongly rumoured to be the site of Christ’s birth. The original structure was later enlarged during the reign of the Emperor Justinian in the 6th century and today stands fortress like overlooking Manger Square. From here we return to Jerusalem for our final evening in this most emotive of cities.
Overnight Standard Hotel (H+)
Included meals: Breakfast
Day 4:
Visit New Jerusalem; PM free
Today we will drive via the new city of Jerusalem and take in the Hebrew University, the Parliament building and the supreme court, before continuing to the Israel Museum and the Shrine of the Book, home of the Dead Sea Scrolls parchments and the largest museum to all things Israeli anywhere on the planet. Passing by Ein Karem we then visit the Church of St John the Baptist, believed to be the birthplace of the famed teacher and the man who baptised Christ.
Overnight Standard Hotel (H+)
Included meals: Breakfast
Day 5:
Tour ends Jerusalem
Included meals: Breakfast
