World Tour Packages » Israel Tour

Duration: 9 Days / 8 Nights

Day 1:Tel-Aviv/ Bethlehem
Arrive Ben Gurion Airport / Tel Aviv. Meet with the representative of Laila Tours & Travel. Drive to Bethlehem. Dinner and overnight.

Day 2: Bethlehem
Free morning to rest or worship with local Christians in Bethlehem. Tour of the Nativity Church marking the birthplace of Jesus. In the afternoon visit the Shepherds' Field in Beit Sahour where the angels' announcement of the birth of Jesus is remembered. Dinner in the evening enjoying the local Palestinian atmosphere and tasting traditional local foods. Dinner and overnight in Bethlehem.

Day 3: Jerusalem
Leave Bethlehem and drive to Jerusalem to the Mount of Olives for a panoramic view of the old city. Cross the Mount of Olives to the Chapel of the Ascension. Continue to the Pater Noster Church, Dominus Flevit (where Jesus looked over Jerusalem and wept), the Garden of Gethsemane and the Church of All Nations. Visit the Tomb of the Virgin Mary. In the afternoon, visit Mount Zion, St. Peter in Gallicantu, the Dormition Abbey and the Upper Room. Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem

Day 4: Jericho and the Dead Sea
Visit the church of Bethany remembering Martha, Mary, and Lazarus and the tomb where he is said to be buried. Travel through the Judean wilderness to Jericho, seeing Bedouin encampments and the ancient Monastery of St. George of Koziba. Visit the excavations of Jericho, one of the oldest settlements in the world. See the Mount of Temptation, where Satan tempted Jesus. Explore the excavations at Qumran where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found. Optional swim in the therapeutic waters of the Dead Sea. Return to the hotel at Jerusalem. Dinner and overnight

Day 5: Jerusalem
Enter the Old City of Jerusalem through St Stephen’s gate. Visit the Pool of Bethesda and St. Anne's Church, a small masterpiece of Gothic art built by the crusaders in the 1100's. Visit the Chapel of the Flagellation. Process along the Via Dolorosa. Follow the route of Jesus to Calvary, ending in the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre, remembering Christ's death and resurrection. Dinner and overnight.

Day 6: Nazareth Drive north along the Jordan River to Nazareth. Visit the Basilica of the Annunciation. and Mary's Well. Continue to Cana and visit the Church recording the first miracle of Jesus at the wedding feast. Ascend Mount Tabor and visit the Church of Transfiguration. Enjoy free time. Dinner and overnight at Nazareth.

Day 7: Galilee
Explore Galilee. Visit the excavations of Capernaum, called "Jesus' own town" with the house of Peter's mother-in-law. Ascend the Mount of Beatitudes. Visit Tabgha (the place of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes) and Mensa Christi Church on the lake shore recording the appearance of Christ after his resurrection. Continue to the Jordan River. Visit the ruins at Kursi, a Byzantine church which records Jesus expelling demons which went into a herd of pigs. Make a journey by boat on the Sea of Galilee. Dinner and overnight

Day 8: Haifa
Options: either go west to Haifa and the sea or go north to visit Caesarea Philippi and Banyas with its beautiful spring. See the road to Damascus and Syria in the distance. Visit Nimrod Castle from the Crusader period. Evening in Nazareth.

Day 9: Departure
Depart from Ben Gurion airport / Tel Aviv back home.