Israel
Into the Holy Land
Ker & Downey’s Into the Holy Land is a rare adventure of Israel, a country absolutely full of history and significance. Enjoy a spectacular seven nights abroad as you travel to Israel and hear the stories of old told from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv.
Into the Holy Land begins as your international flight lands in the modern city of Tel Aviv. Upon your arrival, you will be met with VIP meet and greet services as you are transferred to your accommodations at the seafront Dan Tel Aviv Hotel.
The following morning, awake to a peaceful breakfast at the Dan Tel Aviv and prepare for your departure up the coast through the ancient cities of Caesarea, Haifa, and Akko. These cities all house ancient ruins of Muslim and Christian legacies, the Crusades, even Roman influence and architecture. After Akko, the day’s drive will finish at Tiberias, where you will check into the Scots Hotel, uniquely situated in the center of Tiberias with direct frontage on to the Sea of Galilee.
The next day of your trip will begin as you leave Tiberias for the day and travel by boat to Capernaum across the Sea of Galilee. Upon arrival, you will visit the ancient synagogue there as well as St. Peter’s house, which was later converted into a church. Next you will visit the Mount of Beatitudes. In the afternoon, you will drive up to Golan Heights and make a stop at Banias Springs. The Banias Springs are a secret Eden of waterfalls and blue water pools that make for enchanting end to the day before heading back to Tiberias.
On day four, wake up and drive to Nazareth, the childhood town of Jesus. While at Nazareth take some time to visit Mary’s Well. After visiting Mary’s Well, continue on through Cana, where the first miracle of Jesus took place, turning water into wine at a wedding celebration, and stop at Bet Shean. Here at Bet Shean they built a great Roman Amphitheater to further the culture at that time. You will visit this amphitheater as well as see some of the surrounding ruins in the area. As the afternoon ends, drive to Jerusalem and check in to your accommodations at the American Colony Hotel.
On day five, drive to the Mount of Olives and its wonderful view of Jerusalem. Visit the Wailing Wall and view the temple area, with the Al-Aksa Mosque and Dome of the Rock. At the Jewish quarter, you will visit several renovated synagogues, famous Christian holy sites as well. You will walk through the Cardo, which is part of the Old City's Jewish Quarter and the reconstructed main street of Byzantine Jerusalem from the sixth century. As the afternoon sets in, you will visit the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
Finally, finish your journey to the Holy Land with visits to the remarkable Dead Sea and Masada, where you will you will take a cable car up to the last stronghold of the Zealots, as well as see Herod’s palaces and baths. You will also journey to Qumran, the site best known as the settlement near the ancient hiding place of the Dead Sea Scrolls. New City Jerusalem and Bethlehem will show you Israel’s Parliament and Legislative Branch, a stop at the Israel Museum to visit the Shrine of the Book, and a visit to the Museum of the Holocaust before heading on to Bethlehem, a site known for being the location of the birth of Christ and the Church of the Nativity.
Custom Travel to Israel with Ker & Downey
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