Your Discover Israel tour highlights those sites that will make your visit most meaningful. As no tour is standard, a discover Israel tour can be tailored to just a few days or an entire week, and can include any combination of regions in Israel. Since Israel is so small, if you prefer to limit the amount of overnight changes, you can do many routes as day trips.
Sample 8-day Jewish Heritage tour:
Day 1 – Discover Tel Aviv-Jaffa
Enjoy a walking tour around the ancient port of Jaffa and a visit to the early Jewish suburbs of Jaffa in re-gentrified Neve Tzedek. Then, learn about Israel’s independence and the growth of Tel Aviv, the first “Hebrew city”. Overnight in Tel Aviv.
Day 2 – Caesarea and the North Coast
Begin the day along the coast in the Herodian port of Caesarea. Here we’ll view the Roman theatre and learn about the cultural cooperation and conflicts between the Romans and Jews of the 1st century. We continue to Zichron Yaakov, one of the communities that flourished with Jewish settlement in the late 19th c and home to one of the first “modern” wineries. Then, off to Akko, a UNESCO World Heritage Site known for its remarkably well-preserved Crusader city. Overnight in the Galilee.
Day 3 – Safed and Galilee
As we wander the alleys of Safed we’ll learn how Jewish life was revitalized in the Land of Israel after the Expulsion from Spain. Perhaps we’ll get an incredible up-close incredible sight of thousands of migrating birds in the Hula Valley. Or, explore the archaeology around the Sea of Galilee. Overnight in the Galilee.
Day 4 – Golan Heights
Explore the strategically important and vibrant volcanic plateau that looks over Syria to the East and the Jewish communities of the Hula Valley and Galilee to the West. Overnight in Jerusalem
Day 5 – Jerusalem Old City walking tour followed by a visit to the vibrant Mahane Yehuda “shuk”, or market.
Day 6 – At Leisure in Jerusalem (Sabbath), walking tours, or visit to the Israel Museum
Day 7 – Jerusalem “new” city: Dead Sea Scrolls and 2nd Temple Model, Knessset – Israel’s Parliment, Yad Vashem, and Mt. Herzl
Day 8 – Visit the fortress of Masada, float in the Dead Sea, and explore the Ein Gedi natural springs or Qumran where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered. Return to Jerusalem or Tel Aviv.
Sample Cruise Shore-Excursion from Ashdod Port:
Pick up at Ashdod Port and transfer to Jerusalem. Take in a magnificent vista over the city from Mount of Olives. Enjoy a walking tour through the 4-quarters of the Old City. Visit archaeological and historic sites, and the primarly religious centres including the Western Wall, Dome of the Rock /Temple Mount compound, and Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Return to Ashdod port.
Sample 2-day tour:
Day 1 – Jerusalem walking tour! Take in a magnificent vista over the city. Enjoy a walking tour through the 4-quarters of the Old City. Visit archaeological and historic sites, and the primarly religious centres including the Western Wall, Dome of the Rock /Temple Mount compound, and Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
Day 2 – Travel in a comfortable vehicle into the Dead Sea basin for a tour of the mountain fortress of Masada. Continue to the natural springs of Ein Gedi for a short hike and cool waterfall. Relax and enjoy floating in the Dead Sea.