Grand Classic Israel Tour with Eilat

Departure on your way to Israel, the Land of the Bible.

Welcome to Israel! On arrival at Ben Gurion International Airport you will be met and assisted by our airport representative and transferred to your hotel in Tel Aviv — Israel’s largest and most modern city, a short distance from ancient Jaffa. Check in and rest after your flight. Your hotel is conveniently near the Mediterranean shore and the lively city center, with shopping, family attractions, and the popular promenade with outdoor stores, restaurants, and coffee shops. Time permitting, visit the artistic neighborhood of Neve Tzedek.

Overnight Tel Aviv — including buffet breakfast.

A day at leisure to explore on your own in Tel Aviv, next to the shore of the Mediterranean Sea and a short distance from Jaffa. Stroll the beautiful seaside promenade, shop, or visit the artistic neighborhood of Neve Tzedek.

Overnight Tel Aviv — including buffet breakfast.

Embark on a coastal drive to Caesarea, the former Roman capital of Judea built by Herod the Great in honor of Augustus. Explore the excavations of the Roman port and aqueduct and the restored theater overlooking the Mediterranean Sea.

Continue to Haifa and enjoy breathtaking views from Mount Carmel over Haifa Bay. Gaze at the iconic Bahai Shrine, a UNESCO World Heritage site, with its golden dome and beautifully landscaped gardens. End the day in Nazareth and visit the revered Church of the Annunciation, where the Angel Gabriel announced to Mary her divine pregnancy with Jesus.

Overnight in a Kibbutz hotel in the Galilee — including buffet breakfast and dinner.

Set off to Safed, the renowned center of Jewish mysticism, known as Kabbalah. Immerse yourself in the history of its ancient synagogues and the creative atmosphere of the Artists’ Colony, where galleries and studios display the work of local artists in a picturesque, pastoral town.

Continue through the Golan Heights to a vantage point overlooking the historic Valley of Tears, a site of strategic significance in modern Israeli history. Before concluding the day, stop at the Golan Winery, where a wine tasting awaits you.

Overnight in a Kibbutz hotel in the Galilee — including buffet breakfast and dinner.

Start by the Sea of Galilee with a visit to Capernaum, the town where Jesus gathered his disciples and home of St. Peter. See the ruins of the ancient synagogue and the octagonal Church of St. Peter. Continue to Tabgha, site of the Miracle of the Multiplication of the Loaves and Fishes, and ascend the Mount of Beatitudes, where Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount.

Drive south through the Jordan Valley and stop at Beit Alpha, an ancient Jewish town from Talmudic times, to admire the remarkable mosaic floor of the ancient synagogue depicting the zodiac. Continue to Qasr El Yahud, the traditional baptism site on the Jordan River, then on to Jerusalem.

Overnight Jerusalem — including buffet breakfast.

Begin with a breathtaking panoramic view from the Mount of Olives, overlooking Jerusalem’s historic skyline, including the Dome of the Rock and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Next, head to the Old City to visit the Tomb of King David and the sacred Room of the Last Supper on Mount Zion.

Enter the walled city and stroll through the newly restored Jewish Quarter, discovering the remnants of the Roman Cardo. Make your way to the Western Wall, the last remains of the Jewish Temple, and follow the Via Dolorosa to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, believed to be the site of Jesus’ crucifixion and tomb.

Conclude your day with a visit to Bethlehem*, birthplace of Jesus. Walk through Manger Square to visit the Church of the Nativity, one of the oldest operating churches in the world.

Overnight Jerusalem — including buffet breakfast.

Drive to the Israel Museum and explore the remarkable Shrine of the Book, where the ancient Dead Sea Scrolls are displayed, and the miniature model of Jerusalem as it was during the Second Temple period. Pass by the Knesset, Israel’s parliament, and proceed to Mount Herzl, Israel’s national and military cemetery named after Theodor Herzl and the burial place of many of the nation’s leaders and heroes. Pay respects at Yad Vashem, the official memorial to the Holocaust.

Dive deeper into Jerusalem’s history with a tour of its vibrant New City neighborhoods, wandering narrow alleys and uncovering the rich tapestry of the city’s past.

Overnight Jerusalem — including buffet breakfast.

Drive through the awe-inspiring Judean Desert to the extraordinary Dead Sea, the Earth’s lowest point, approximately 1,300 feet (400 meters) below sea level. Drive south along the shores of the Dead Sea to the historic site of Masada and ascend by cable car to the mountain fortress built by King Herod. Explore the remarkable remains of walls, palaces, a synagogue, and a bathhouse, witnessing the site of the last stand of the Zealots against the Romans at the end of the Great Rebellion.

Descend by cable car and continue to the Dead Sea, where you can immerse yourself in its mineral-rich mud and enjoy a therapeutic float on its waters.

Overnight Jerusalem — including buffet breakfast.

A day at leisure in Jerusalem, the birthplace of the world’s three major religions. Your hotel is conveniently located near the Old City walls, shops, restaurants, and other city attractions just a short cab ride away.

Overnight Jerusalem — including buffet breakfast.

Leave Jerusalem and enjoy a captivating southbound journey through the Negev Desert. Stop at Timna Park, a vast geological and archaeological park, where you will be enchanted by the breathtaking multi-colored rock formations and fascinating copper mines, and witness the impressive Solomon’s Pillars. See the Methuselah Tree in Ktura, a date palm grown from a 2,000-year-old seed found at Masada, symbolizing ancient life revived.

Continue to the vibrant city of Eilat, nestled on the northern shores of the Red Sea. Discover the remarkable Underwater Observatory Marine Park, ingeniously built into a coral reef, for an up-close and immersive encounter with the marine life of the Gulf of Eilat.

Overnight Eilat — including buffet breakfast.

Enjoy a free day in Eilat. Stroll the city’s streets and beach promenade and enjoy water sport activities on your own, or join the optional day tour to Petra (with additional charge).

Optional: Day tour to the Rose City of Petra. After crossing the border into Jordan, continue to Petra, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World. Carved into vibrant sandstone cliffs by the Nabateans over two millennia ago, Petra was once a flourishing desert city and a key hub on ancient trade routes, with dramatic landscapes and intricate rock-cut architecture.

Overnight Eilat — including buffet breakfast.

Leave Eilat behind and head to Mitzpe Ramon. Pause to marvel at the geological wonder of the Ramon Crater, and visit the Mitzpe Ramon visitors’ center, which offers unique insights into this extraordinary natural formation. Continue to Sde Boker, where you will see Ben Gurion’s hut and grave, with a breathtaking view overlooking the magnificent Zin Valley.

Drive on to Tel Aviv for your overnight.

Overnight Tel Aviv — including buffet breakfast.

After breakfast, check out of your room by 12 noon and leave your luggage with the hotel concierge. Pick-up from the hotel lobby to Ben Gurion Airport will be 4 hours before your departure flight.