Israel's Cultural Tours

Upon your arrival, you will meet your local tour guide at the airport and then be transferred to Galilee for dinner and an overnight stay.

Following breakfast, we will embark on a boat ride across the Sea of Galilee from Ein Gev. We will also visit the ancient boat discovered on the shores of Galilee, dating back 2000 years. Our next stop is Capernaum, where we will explore the synagogue located at the site where Jesus taught, as well as Simon Peter's house, where Jesus healed Simon's mother-in-law. We will then drive to the Golan Heights to visit the ancient site of Katzrin. The group will enjoy a visit to a winery, where we will partake in a culinary experience featuring cheese and wine tasting. From there, we will proceed to Safed, the Holy City in the Galilee Mountains, where we will tour the old city and the ancient 16th-century synagogues (both Ashkenazi and Sephardic) and stroll through the unique artist colony dedicated to traditional Jewish art. Finally, we will return to your hotel in Haifa or Tiberias for dinner and an overnight stay.

After enjoying breakfast, we will check out from our hotel in Galilee and head to Nazareth, the town where Jesus spent a significant part of his life. Our visit will include the Annunciation Church and a walk to Mary’s Well. Next, we will drive to Akko (Acre), which served as the Crusaders' capital for over a century. Here, we will explore the Crusader Knight Halls and the subterranean tunnels, followed by a stroll through the bazaars to Khan al Umdan and the Venetian port, the departure point for Paul’s journey to Caesarea. We will then continue our journey to Haifa. In Haifa, we will visit Stella Maris, a Carmelite Monastery situated above the cave where the prophet Elijah is said to have lived. A vibrant painting of this “wonder-worker” adorns the ceiling of the Church. We will also take a moment to admire the Bahai Gardens, which offer a stunning view of Acco Bay. Our next stop will be Caesarea, where we will explore the Roman Aqueduct, the Crusader Fortress, the Hippodrome, and the Theatre, all significant sites in early Christianity. It was here that Cornelius became the first Gentile convert to Christianity, and where Paul was imprisoned before his trial in Rome. Finally, we will proceed to our hotel in Jerusalem for dinner and an overnight stay.

After breakfast, we will embark on a tour of the Old City of Jerusalem, beginning with the iconic “Wailing Wall.” Nearby, we will enter the Western Wall tunnels to appreciate the remarkable Herodian architecture of the western wall. Our next stop will be Mahne Yahuda, where we can interact with local vendors and sample olives, figs, and other delights. In the afternoon, we will walk along the Via Dolorosa and visit the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. Our tour will continue through the Jewish Quarter, where we will see the Roman Cardo and King Hezekiah’s wall, and if time permits, visit the Hurva Synagogue, one of the notable synagogues in the Jewish Quarter. We will conclude the day with dinner at a local restaurant featuring folklore entertainment, followed by an overnight stay at our hotel.

Begin the day with a stunning view of Ein Gedi Oasis from the field school that overlooks the site. In the morning, we will depart from our hotel and proceed to Masada, Herod's mountaintop fortress, which served as the final stronghold of the Jewish Rebellion against the Romans. Explore the remnants of an ancient community by the shores of the Dead Sea at Qumran, where Bedouins uncovered what are now known as the Dead Sea Scrolls. Next, we will head to Jericho, the oldest city in the world. Finally, we will drive to Jerusalem for dinner and an overnight stay.

Following breakfast, we will visit the Pater Noster church, where the Lord’s Prayer is displayed in over 200 languages. We will stand atop the Mount of Olives and take in a breathtaking view of the "Golden City." Then, we will walk down the Palm Sunday Road, stopping at the church of Dominus Flevit, before continuing to the Garden of Gethsemane. Afterward, we will drive to Mount Zion to visit the upper room and David’s Tomb. We will then head to Bethlehem, where lunch will be on your own. In Bethlehem, we will tour one of the oldest churches in Christianity, the Church of the Nativity, built over the birthplace of Jesus. We will also visit St. Catherine’s, where the Christmas midnight mass is celebrated. Surrounding Bethlehem are the Shepherd’s Fields. Dinner and overnight stay will be in Jerusalem.

Following breakfast, we will head to Mt. Moriah, commonly known as Temple Mount. This is the site of Solomon’s Temple, where both the Dome of the Rock and the El Aksa Mosque are located. We will then drive to the new city of Jerusalem to explore the Israel Museum, which features a model of Jerusalem as it appeared in 70 AD, as well as the Shrine of the Book, home to the Dead Sea Scrolls. Lunch will be at the Israel Museum Café, at your own expense. After lunch, we will visit the Holocaust Museum, Yad Vashem. Dinner and overnight stay will be in Jerusalem.

After breakfast, we will embark on a Tel Aviv City Tour that includes a visit to Independence Hall, where David Ben-Gurion proclaimed Israel as an independent state. We will see Rabin Square and explore the Carmel Market, known as “Shuk,” to enjoy some falafel and do some shopping. We will also visit Jaffa, the oldest port city on the Mediterranean, and learn about its rich 5,000-year history. Afterward, we will return to our hotel in Jerusalem for dinner and an overnight stay.

After breakfast, we will drive to Ben Gurion Airport for our flight back home.