THE HOLYLAND TOUR
A cultural tour of Israel

Nothing underscores the variety of Israel’s attractions more than realizing that within a few hours you can go from the snowy heights of Mount Hermon to the Judean Desert and the saltiest sea on earth, the Dead Sea, while visiting ancient biblical cities, covered markets and a high-rise metropolis on the way. This is what makes Israel truly a destination with something for everyone.

Day 01 (SUN): Arrive Tel Aviv
Welcome to Israel!  Upon arrival into Ben Gurion International Airport, you are met by our local representative and transferred to your hotel in Tel Aviv for dinner and overnight.  Check in time starts from 1500 hrs.
Overnight: Grand Beach Hotel, Tel Aviv (1 night) (D)

Day 02 (MON): Caesarea/Megiddo/Haifa/Acre/Galilee
Following a delicious Israeli buffet breakfast (which you will enjoy each morning prior to departing for your day of touring), depart Tel Aviv. Drive north along the coastal plain to Caesarea (Acts 9.30 Acts 10 24-48), capital of Judea under the Romans.  Visit the excavations of this ancient city, the Roman theatre and aqueduct.  Continue to Megiddo (1 Kings 4.28, 9,15, 2 Kings 23,29 & Revel. 16.16), identified as the site of Armageddon.  Visit the archaeological excavations at Megiddo, including the well-preserved water supply system.  Drive to the beautiful port city of Haifa, nestled on the Mediterranean Sea, for a panoramic view of the Bahai gardens and Haifa Bay.   From Haifa continue to Acre (Micah 1.10), capital of the Crusaders for more than a century. Visit the ancient city and harbour before continuing eastwards across the plains of the Galilee to Kibbutz hotel Lavi, not far from the Sea Of Galilee for dinner and overnight.
Overnight: Kibbutz Lavi-Lev Wing, Galilee (2 nights) (B, D)

Day 03 (TUE): Tiberias/Capernaum/Banias
After a short tour of the Kibbutz grounds we take a boat ride across the Sea of Galilee to Capernaum (Matt.  4.13 13.54, 17.24, Luke 7, Mark 1.2, John 4.46-54).  Visit the remains of the 2nd century synagogue.  Proceed to Tabgha (Matt. 13, Mark .33-45, & John 21), the site of the miracle of fish and loaves, and visit the Church of Multiplication with its 4th century mosaic floor. Continue to the Mount of the Beatitudes (Matt. 5,6,7,8), where Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount. Drive to the Banias Spring and Waterfall (Matt. 16.13 and Mark 8.27), where Jesus was recognized as The Messiah by His Disciples.  Tour the Golan Heights, with its valleys, grazing land and snow capped mountains. Return to Kibbutz Lavi for dinner and overnight. (B, D)

Day 04 (WED): Nazareth/Beit Shean
Begin the day with a drive to Nazareth (Luke 1.26, 4.16-29, Matthew 2.23) via Cana of Galilee (John 2.1-11).  In Nazareth, we shall visit the Church of the Annunciation, St. Joseph’s Workshop and Mary’s Well. Next on our program is the Jordan River and the Baptismal site Yardenit. Continue to Beit Shean, one of the ancient Decapolis cities (Mark 5.20, 7.31), and visit the Roman theatre. This is the city where Saul and his son Jonathan were nailed to the walls (1st Samuel 31.10). Judges 1.27 also mentions Beit Shean.  Continue south along the shores of the River of Jordan.  Passing Jericho, we proceed westward and climb to the Golden City of Jerusalem.  Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.
Overnight: Grand Court, Jerusalem (4 nights) (B, D)

Day 05 (THU): Jerusalem - Old City
Today our visit of this Golden City begins with a panoramic view from the Mount of Olives, overlooking the walls of the old city and the ancient Jewish cemetery.  Visit the Church of All Nations.  Proceed to Mount Zion to see the tomb of King David and the nearby Room of the Last Supper (Mark 14.13, Luke 22. 10-38, Matt 26 17-29, Acts 1.13 and Acts 2 the Pentecost).  Enter the Old City to begin exploring the wonders of Jerusalem. Walk through the Cardo, the main street of Jerusalem 2000 years ago.  View the Temple Mount and the Western Wall.  Walk along the Via Dolorosa, where Jesus carried His Cross. Continue to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre (Matt. 27. 33-57, 28.10).  No visit to Jerusalem is complete without a walk through the colourful Arab bazaar (a chance to test your negotiating skills). Visit the Garden Tomb. Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem. (B, D)

Day 06 (FRI): Jerusalem – New City and Bethlehem*
Today’s program is dedicated to the new city of Jerusalem.  Visit the model of ancient Jerusalem .Continue to Yad Vashem, Israel’s memorial to the victims of the Holocaust.  Enter the site by walking along the Street of the Righteous Gentiles, dedicated to the non-Jews that risked their lives in order to save their Jewish neighbors.  Continue to Ein Karem, birthplace of John the Baptists (Luke 1.39-80).  This Spanish style church and Mary’s well is where Mother Mary met her cousin Elizabeth.   Proceed to Bethlehem* (subject to availability) to visit the Church of the Nativity. Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem. (B, D)

Day 07 (SAT): Qumran/Masada/Dead Sea
Drive through the Judean Desert to Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls where found in 1947 by a Bedouin boy.  Visit the ancient city of Qumran and drive along the shore of the Dead Sea, the lowest place on earth, to Massada, the last stronghold of the Jews after the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 A.D.  Ascend Massada by cable car and visit the food storeroom, water irrigation system and Herod’s Palace. Time and weather permitting we will have an opportunity to float on the Dead Sea waters.  Return to Jerusalem for dinner and overnight. (B, D)

Day 08 (SUN): Depart
Transfer to Ben Gurion Airport for your departure flight out.  Check out time is by 1100 hrs. (B)

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Departure Dates
2012 English Speaking Departures Every Sunday.  Except Apr 01 & 08, Sep 16, 23 & 30
Inclusions
Tour Price Includes Tour Price Does Not Include Accommodation as mentioned or similar, including hotel taxes Meals as mentioned FB (B=Breakfast, D=Dinner) Except for August arrival dates, no dinner will be included on Day 01. All sightseeing and transfers Services of local English speaking guide Entrance fees to museums and sites included in the itinerary International airfares & Airport taxes Insurance / Visa fees Tips / Gratitude
Tour Price
We accept payment in US $ (US Dollars), CA $ (Canadian Dollars) or equivalent EURO (for clients outside North America). Bestway Tours & Safaris offers conversion rate protection. Once full payment has been received, and no modification has been made to the tour itinerary, we will honour that rate. For complete payment procedures, please download Bestway_Payment_Info.pdf Note: to read this file you must have Adobe Acrobat.
Departure Double Occupancy Single Room Supplement 2012 US $ 1495 US $ 560 Supplement for May 27, all departures in July and Aug & Oct 27 USD 60.00 per person sharing Twin.
Estimated International Airfare - International airfare is NOT included in this tour
Canada - West Coast US $ 1300 USA - West Coast US $ 1100 Canada - East Coast US $ 1100 USA - East Coast US $ 900
Participants
This tour operates on a minimum of 02 participants.
Notes
Customised Itinerary If you would like to have a tour on dates other than the above ones or with a customised itinerary, please contact us and we will be happy to work out an exclusive program for you. Foreign Language Departures Please contact us for information on French, German, Italian and Spanish speaking departures. You may e-mail us at bestway@bestway.com or call us at 604.264.7378. Residents of U.S.A./Canada may call us toll free at 1.800.663.0844.