10D Highlights of Israel and St. Catherine's Monastery
Price starting from $4954 per person on twin sharing basis.
Depart: 2022// Every Sunday from 01 March to 28 February 2021.
On request: 05 April to 18 April 2022 to 18 April 2022 & 04 October 2022 to 10 October 2022
During this ten-day tour, discover the incomparable heritage of the Holy Land. Arriving in the vibrant city of Tel Aviv and finishing with a visit to the St. Catherines Monastery. Explore the Dead Sea and even go for a float if you dare!
Tel Aviv - Jerusalem - Beit Shean – Galilee - Acre – Haifa – Caesarea – Eilat - Tel Aviv
Day 1 – Sunday: Tel Aviv
Arrival and transfer to hotel.
Day 2 - Monday: Tel Aviv – Beer Sheba – Masada Dead Sea (B)
Depart Tel Aviv, via Ashdod, Ashkelon and Beersheba, the Negev capital. Continue via Arad to Masada. Ascend by cable car to the fortress, which was the last stronghold of the Jewish Zealots in their war against the Romans. Visit the excavations, Herod’s palaces, the synagogue, bathhouse, etc. Descend for a possible “float” in the salty water of the world’s lowest place. Via Ein Gedi, proceed to Jerusalem.
Day 3 - Tuesday: Jerusalem (B)
Depart for the half-day tour with a visit to the Israel Museum’s Shrine of the Book, which contains the famous Dead Sea scrolls, visit Ein Karem: a picturesque village in the southwestern outskirts of Jerusalem. This small village has great significance in Christian traditions since this is where John the Baptist was born. Then travel to Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus, commemorated in the Church of the Nativity and Manger Square.
Day 4 – Wednesday: Jerusalem (B)
Today go for city tour of the Old City of Jerusalem, where you’ll see the Western Wall and the actual site of the Second Temple, the Temple Mount. Walk along the Way of the Cross, the Via Dolorosa, to Calvary and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, housing both the traditional site of Crucifixion and the Tomb of the Resurrection. Later visit the Garden of Gethsemane, where Judas betrayed Jesus.
Day 5 - Thursday: Jerusalem - Beit Shean – Galilee (B)
Leave Jerusalem and drive north, passing by Jericho, the oldest city in the world. Travel through the Jordan Valley and the new settlements to Beit She’an, and visit the excavations of this beautifully preserved Roman city. Drive onward to Galilee.
Day 6 – Friday: Galilee (B)
Drive to the Golan Heights. Visit the former Syrian fortifications and the Druze villages. Proceed via the Hula Valley to Safed, city of the Kabala, to visit a synagogue and the artists’ colony and then to Nazareth to visit the Christian Holy Sites.
Day 7 - Saturday: Galilee - Acre – Haifa – Tel Aviv – Eilot (B)
Drive west to Acre for a visit of the old, famous Crusader stronghold and medieval fortifications. Continue to Haifa, sightseeing tour of Haifa, including the Baha’i Shrine, Persian Garden and Mount Carmel for a panoramic view of the city and the bay. Proceed along the coast to Caesarea to visit the Roman Theatre and the Crusader fortress. Transfer to the airport for your flight to Eilat.
Day 8 - Sunday: Eilot – Petra – Eilot (B)
Today morning cross into Jordan at the Arava border and drive to Petra through the scenic Jordanian desert, passing by the Wadi Rum area. You will enter the Rose City of Petra through the Siq, a narrow passage through the mountains that has inspired people for centuries. After the visit to the city, stop at Moses Spring. Later drive back to the Arava border and back to Eilat
Day 9 - Monday: Eilot – St. Catherine’s Monastery – Tel Aviv (B)
Today morning visit St. Catherine’s Monastery. This monastery was built around the Chapel of the Burning Bush at the foot of Mount Sinai and today still houses the art and icons. Later, cross the border into Eilat and drive to the airport for your flight to Tel Aviv.
Day 10 - Tuesday: Tel - Aviv (B)
Transfer to the airport.
Includes: Accommodation for 10 nights with meals as specified. Private airport transfers. Roundtrip on a seat in coach basis with an English speaking guide.
Prices quoted are valid from 01 October 2019 - 30 September 2020. Cost above is indicative, based on Low Season in NZ Dollars and subject to change due to fluctuation in exchange rates. Please read T&C before booking. Call 09 410 5060 or 0508 EXOTIC (0508 396 842) or email info@exoticholidays.co.nz for more information.