Depart USA

Upon arrival in Tel Aviv, an airport representative will meet you after the passport control desk. Afterward, your representative will assist you in picking up your luggage, where you will later walk through the arrivals gate to meet your driver, who will be waiting for you. A private vehicle with a driver will provide an airport transfer between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem for overnight.

Begin the day with your private English-speaking driver-guide at the Mount of Olives, gazing upon the evocative panorama of the Old City below, with expansive views of the olive tree canopies, cemeteries, and churches. Walk to the Garden of Gethsemane and pray beneath the ancient olive trees (Matthew 26:36-44). From here, enter the Old City through the Muslim Quarter from the eastern Lion’s Gate, stopping to visit the Church of Saint Anne and the Pools of Bethesda. Follow in the footsteps of the Via Dolorosa, an important pilgrimage route for Christian visitors, believed to mark the way to the site of Jesus’ crucifixion at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and one of the most revered Christian monuments. Stop for an Israeli lunch at a nearby restaurant (not included). Wind your way through the narrow souks connecting the Christian Quarter and the Jewish Quarter, ending the morning at the Western Wall, the former retaining wall of the Second Temple. The space in front of the Western Wall functions as an open-air synagogue, and it is considered to be the holiest accessible site where Jews may pray. Head out of the Old City through the Dung Gate to the neighboring City of David, an archaeological site outside the Old City walls with findings dating back to the Bronze Age and covering findings from the time of the Old and New Testament. Overnight in Jerusalem.

With your English-speaking driver guide, visit the Israel Museum to start the day. On the way, drive by the Supreme Court and the Knesset, the home of the Israeli parliament. The Israel Museum holds artifacts relevant to Judaism, Christianity, and Islam alike, and the two most important exhibits are the model of the city from the time of the Second Temple. The Shrine of the Book houses the Dead Sea Scrolls, the oldest biblical manuscripts in the world that were uncovered in nearby Qumran. Drive to the Holocaust Memorial of Yad Vashem, the country’s official memorial to victims of the Holocaust, and a heart-wrenching plea against the horrors of genocide. It is a must-see for all visitors to Israel. Continue visiting the ancient village of Ein Karem, now one of the city’s most desirable neighborhoods. Stop for lunch (not included). The village has long been a pastoral retreat from the hustle and bustle of Jerusalem and has attracted Christian pilgrims for centuries as the birthplace of John the Baptist. The Hadassah Hospital’s synagogue features the world-famous Chagall Windows, a series of 12 stained-glass panels representing the original tribes of Israel is a must-see while you’re here. Overnight in Jerusalem.

Visit the baptismal site of Qasr el Yehud, where tradition says Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist. Travel to Jericho (the oldest city in the world) and visit the ruins of the ancient city conquered by Joshua (Joshua 6:1, 2 & 20). In the distance, you can see the traditional site of the Temptation of Jesus (Matthew 4:1-11). Continue to Bethlehem, visit the cave where Jesus was born (Luke 2:1-7) and the Church of the Nativity. Gaze out over the Shepherds’ Field, where angels first proclaimed the Good News. Overnight in Jerusalem.

Leave behind Jerusalem and head north to the more rural Galilee region with your private guide. Stop at Caesarea along the coast, once the Roman capital of the region. Explore the excavations of this archeological site, including the aqueduct. The theater has been restored as a modern concert venue. Continue further north, pausing at Mount Carmel for a panoramic view of Haifa. Explore the beautiful and majestic Bahai Gardens – a unique atmosphere of historic spirituality and inspired design combined with the meticulous gardening of generations. Drive further up the coast to the ancient port city of Acre, also known as Akko. The Crusaders left their mark on this UNESCO town as the former capital of their kingdom. The fortifications jut into the Mediterranean at the southern sea wall. The day’s last stop is in Rosh Hanikra along the Lebanese border. Descend by cable car into the stunning limestone grottos. Formally only accessible from the sea, the grottos are now accessed by the steepest cable car in the world. End the day with a relaxing evening at your Galilee hotel. Overnight in Tiberias.

Begin the day at the Mount of Beatitudes, north of the Sea of Galilee. The Mount is believed to be where Jesus gave his Sermon on the Mount, and the views from the hill are awe-inspiring. Drive a short distance down the hill to Tabgha, believed to be the location of the miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes. The Church of the Primacy of St. Peter and the Church of the Multiplication are must-sees in this town, and the area is also famous for its broad spectra of flora and fauna. From here, continue to Capernaum, a town cited in all four gospels and viewed as the home of St. Peter. The town is home to the ruins of a 4th-century synagogue, one of the oldest in the world, built on the site of an earlier synagogue that may have been the one mentioned in the gospels. End the day with a visit to Beit Shean Archeological National Park, where you can see the history of Israel through the archaeological remains from each historical period. See the ancient wall surrounding the city, public baths, a Roman temple, stores, artisan workshops, and other well-preserved structures. Impressive colonnades line central Palladius street. There are rare mosaics and a Roman amphitheater still in use today. Overnight Tiberias

Enjoy a private transfer between your hotel and the airport with an English-speaking driver. Meet your airport representative at the entrance of Tel Aviv Ben Gurion Airport, where you will be accompanied through the airport security procedure.