Compare Israel Discovery - Classic Group, Summer by Insight Vacations vs Israel: Modern Life & Ancient History by Sky Vacations
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5 | Excellent
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0 | Poor
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| Duration | 10 days | 9 days |
| Price From | $ 4,350 | $ 2,195 |
| Price Per Day | $ 435 | $ 244 |
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| Trip Style | Group tour | Private guided tour |
| Lodging Level | Premium | Premium |
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| Flights & Transport | Airfare included | Airfare included |
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| Meals Included | N/A |
Breakfast daily |
| Description | See some of the world's most sacred sites during this 9-day guided tour of Israel. Travel to Tel Aviv, where you’ll see the Habima National Theatre, Rabin Square and Carmel Market. Walk through the ancient coastal city of Caesarea and the ruins of a once-raucous Roman amphitheater. Drive seaside roads to Tiberias and break challah during traditional multi-course dinner celebrating Shabbat, a day of rest. See Mount Beatitude, where Jesus is said to have preached the Sermon on the Mount — then journey to the Jordan Valley, where you can float in the buoyant waters of the salty Dead Sea. Traverse the cobbled alleyways of Jerusalem to the city’s most sacred monument, the Wailing Wall, and visit a Holocaust memorial honoring those who died in World War II. |
There are few countries in the world that have as much historical significance and intrigue as Israel. From the electric and cosmopolitan city of Tel Aviv, the holy land Jerusalem to the natural wonders of the Dead Sea, there is something for everyone. Explore the holy places, delight in the beautiful landscapes, and learn about the blend of cultures that make this wonderful country different from any other on earth.
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Day 1: Welcome to Tel Aviv
You will be met at Ben Gurion Airport and driven to your hotel in Tel Aviv.At 19:30 meet your travel companions for a Welcome Reception and a short introduction to your Israeli adventures.
Sheraton Tel Aviv Hotel.
Day 2: Exploring Vibrant Tel Aviv Relaxed Start
Morning sightseeing showcases the highlights of this vibrant city, including the Habimah National Theatre, Rabin Square and Carmel Market. Venture along the seashore to the ancient city of Jaffa to see the famous clock tower and the old harbour. Visit the artists' quarter with its galleries, boutiques and picturesque narrow lanes. Walk along the seaside promenade at sunset for spectacular views, as local musicians and street artists take to the stage. Meet a local artist at their gallery for an insight into their work and inspiration.
Sheraton Tel Aviv Hotel.
Breakfast
Day 3: Caesarea to Galilee
Travel from Tel Aviv, along the coastal road to Caesarea, to visit the archeological park. The ancient city built by King Herod was once a major port and hub of activity in the Judea province.Explore the ancient Roman and Crusader ruins, including the huge amphitheatre. Travel via Haifa to Acre, fought over for centuries and captured in turn by Saracens and Crusaders, including Richard the Lionheart. See the fortress, the old harbour area and a Crusader crypt. In Nazareth, visit one of Christianity’s most sacred places, the Church of Annunciation, built on the site where the angel Gabriel is said to have appeared to Mary.Soon, ochre villages and seaside towns are replaced by green hills, rich crops and colourful groves, as you approach Tiberias, your home for the night.The day concludes with a brief introduction to life on a Kibbutz.This evening, break traditional challah bread with your travel companions over a cheerful Shabbat dinner.
Leonardo Plaza Hotel, Tiberias.
Breakfast, Dinner with Wine
Day 4: Hula Valley Relaxed Start
Join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience and meet a ranger for a tour of the Agmom Hahula natural reserve. This nature reserve is home to endangered plant species native of the Hula Valley, and also hosts a bird park on one of the most important migration routes in the world.
Leonardo Plaza Hotel, Tiberias.
Breakfast
Day 5: To the Dead Sea
Explore Galilee with Insight Choice. Choose to cruise the serene waters of lake Kinneret for glorious views of the Golan Heights. Alternatively, find out more about the remains of a 1st century fishing boat that was found embedded at the bottom of the lake.Visit Capernaum, where Jesus is said to have entered the synagogue to teach, before heading to the Mount of Beatitudes, where he preached the Sermon on the Mount.Journey through ever-changing landscapes along the Jordan Valley, past ancient Jericho, to take a dip in the buoyant salt waters of the Dead Sea.
Herods Dead Sea, Ein Bokek.
Breakfast, Dinner
Day 6: Masada and the Holy City of Jerusalem
Take a cable car ride up to the fortress of Masada, where Jewish zealots held out for three years against King Herod's armies.Travel through the Judean Hills to Mount Scopus for breathtaking views of Jerusalem.Visit King David's Tomb on Mount Zion, and the Room of the Last Supper. Enter the Old City and follow the winding cobbled alleyways to the magnificent Wailing Wall, the most sacred monument in Judaism.
Leonardo Plaza Hotel, Jerusalem.
Breakfast
Day 7: Exploring Jerusalem
Today is dedicated to exploring the multiple facets of Jerusalem.Visit Yad Vashem, a memorial for those who perished in the Holocaust. Continue to the Israel Museum and retrace the history of the city. Visit the Shrine of the Book, home to ancient Dead Sea scrolls, and look out for the most ancient one, the Isaiah scroll, dating from the third century B.C.
Leonardo Plaza Hotel, Jerusalem.
Breakfast
Day 8: Optional Bethlehem Experience Relaxed Start
Enjoy a relaxed morning or alternatively choose to meet your Local Expert at the West Bank border and continue to the holy city of Bethlehem. The Optional Experience includes visiting the Church of the Nativity, one of the oldest continuously operating churches in the world. The structure is built over the cave that tradition marks as the birthplace of Christ, and is considered sacred by followers of both Christianity and Islam. In the afternoon, visit the Garden of Gethsemene and walk through the Old City to see the Temple Mount, one of Islam’s holiest sites. Continue along the Via Dolorosa past the Stations of the Cross, Ecce Homo Arch, and the Pool of Bethesda, to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. At night, toast your adventures over a hearty Celebration Dinner with wine.
Leonardo Plaza Hotel, Jerusalem.
Breakfast, Dinner with Wine
Day 9: Depart Jerusalem
Your journey comes to an end with transfers to Ben Gurion Airport.
Breakfast
DAY 1: WELCOME
Welcome to Israel! Upon arrival you’ll be met by our Sky Vacations ambassador who will meet you and will take you to your hotel in Tel Aviv. After a welcome drink, you’ll enjoy delicious dinner at one of the trendy Tel Aviv restaurants followed by a gentle stroll along Tel Aviv beach boardwalk.
DAY 2: TEL AVIV / JAFFA
The streets of Tel Aviv are full of both history, and modern culture, architecture, art, restaurants and bars. We’ll begin the tour from the Clocktower in Jaffa, and walk to the Neve Tzedek neighborhood which was the first Jewish community established outside of Jaffa, and eventually became part of the city of Tel Aviv in the early 20th century. With a stunning range of architectural styles, every alleyway and street has something to offer, and many cafes, restaurants and bars fill the old Bauhaus style buildings which have survived the recent gentrification of the neighborhood.
Our evening, after dinner visit the world’s most ancient port cities in old Jaffa, where stone buildings, narrow passages, and picturesque courtyards recall the rich past of this charming city. Hear about those who left their mark on the city such as Jonah and the Whale, Andromeda, Simon the Tanner, Napoleon and more.
Day 3: Rehovot / Tel Aviv
Today we’ll take a short journey south of Tel Aviv to Rehovot, and visit the world renowned Weitzmann Institute for meetings. If time permits, we can visit the Ayalon Institute, a secret underground ammunition plant, used to produce ammunition during the British Mandate. You can’t leave the desert before trying out a camel ride or partaking in a Bedouin feast together with an interesting presentation about new products made from camel and alpaca milk at the Desert Ship Khan (Sfinat Hamidbar). We will return to Tel Aviv in the late evening.
Day 4: Tel Aviv
Meander the streets of Rothschild Boulevard and learn more about the White City of Tel Aviv – a UNESCO World Heritage city. It is home to many artists, poets, and intellectuals. This area of Tel Aviv is named the ‘White City’ due to the large number of buildings built in the unique form of the Bauhaus architecture.
Day 5: Jerusalem
Today we will drive to Jerusalem via the scenic Jerusalem Hills. Our first stop will be Mount Zion to see King David’s Tomb and what is accepted as the site where the Last Supper took place known as The Upper Room. From here we’ll enter the Jewish Quarter via Zion Gate, just as Jewish warriors did through the ages, and visit the ancient Roman Cardo, a 1,800-year-old shopping street still active today and the Broad Wall, dating back to the First Temple Period. Our tour then takes us the spiritual heart of the old city, the Western Wall, where you can also see the Temple Mount and the famous Dome of the Rock. Next, we will carry on to the Muslim and Christian Quarters and walk through part of the Via Dolorosa to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. On the way enjoy the delights of the oriental bazaar – admire the wares, taste the delicacies, and smell the spices.
In the early afternoon, we’ll take you to Machne Yehuda Market. Here you will find many opportunities to taste local delicacies. It is both a regular fruit/veg market and culinary center with specialty stalls and restaurants. Here you can try a delicious falafel or shawarma, chocolate rogalach, bureka, halva, boutique cheeses, and more. If we are there on a Friday you can smell the freshly baked Challa bread being baked for Shabbat.
Day 6: Masada & The Dead Sea
Our day trip begins with an early start today as we travel to Masada and the Dead Sea. Masada is known as the last independent Jewish territory from the destruction of the Second Temple to the rebirth of the modern State of Israel. Here we will explore the ruins of this ancient fortress built by King Herod and listen to stories of determination and heroism whilst enjoying the breathtaking views of the desert. We’ll go down via the winding snake path or by cable car and then take a short drive to a private beach in Ein Bokek.
After a tasty lunch, you will have time to experience floating on your back on the lowest, saltiest body of water on earth. It is an incredible natural phenomenon and “swimming” in the Dead Sea is one of those experiences that cannot be put in words – you just have to try.
Make sure you relax on the drive back to Jerusalem because we have a special treat in store for the evening! The Tower of David Sound and Light Show. This magical experience combines the past and the present with bringing to life the Biblical stories of King David and Jerusalem using the most powerful modern technologies available.
Day 7: Herzliya
We leave Jerusalem today and head to the Mediterranean coastal city of Herzliya and enjoy the beaches and sunset by the Marina bay.
Day 8: Mount Carmel
The Druze are well-known for their hospitality and today we enjoy an authentic home-cooked lunch including all traditional Druze dishes. After lunch, we will drive further up Mount Carmel to for panoramic views of the magnificent Baha’i Gardens and the Haifa Harbor. On our way back to Herzliya we will stop at Caesarea – the magnificent ruins of Herod’s showcase port city. This magical place will transport us back to the ancient Roman, Byzantine, and Crusader eras. We will visit the extensive excavations of the site including the harbor, the Crusader City, the theater, Hippodrome and the Roman aqueduct. Back in Herzliya in the evening for a farewell dinner at one of the popular beach restaurants.
Day 9: Farewell
Today you’ll be transferred to Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport for your flight and onward journey.
