Small Group Touring 8 Days from $2,749

Our 8-day small-group escorted tour to Tel Aviv, Tiberias, Sea of Galilee, Massada and Jersalem starts at $2,749 and features 14 meals, sightseeing and all on-tour transportation. Departures limited to 20 guests.

Small Group Touring...Life in Israel. This is an ancient holy land, but it’s also a complex, vibrant country and our small-group journey explores its many facets. Visit the most significant ancient sites and also explore Israel’s current ways… like the always-full cafes that fill Tel Aviv’s oldest neighborhood, the unique Rokach Museum, wineries in the Golan Heights and an artisanal cheese farm. Meet a Palestinian family and visit a Kibbutz, experiences that bring depth to your travel during Israel’s 60th anniversary year.

IT'S INCLUDED:

• Explore the ancient and recent past...and the rich, multi-cultural pace of life today. Israel comes alive on our exclusive, uniquely designed itinerary.

• Gain insight into Israel’s complexities as you explore differing perspectives offered by a kibbutz visit and time spent with a Palestinian family in Jericho.

• Tailor your vacation with a choice of our fine hotels, handpicked for service and great locations to make the most of your stay.

• 3 UNESCO World Heritage Sites

ITINERARY:

Day 1 - Tel Aviv, Israel
Check-in to your choice of city-center hotel. Crown Plaza, SFC ; Intercontinental Tel Aviv, Deluxe

Day 2 - Tel Aviv
Explore old and new Tel Aviv beginning in Neve Tzedek, the city’s first neighborhood now filled with galleries and cafes. Visit the unique Rokach Museum in the home of one of Tel Aviv’s first families; drive down Rothschild Boulevard to visit Independence Hall and the Carmel Market, and enjoy splendid views from the Azriell Observation Tower. Dine this evening at Maganda, one of our favorite restaurants, and enjoy a night out with your guide in the Old Port. Meals B,D

Day 3 - Tel Aviv / Tiberias
Tour the ruins of the Herodian port of Caesarea, including an interactive presentation. Continue up Mt. Carmel and stop in a Druze village to meet with a local family and browse the market. Visit the Church of the Annunciation in Nazareth before driving to your hotel in Tiberias. Meals B.D Gai Beach,SFC; Galei Kinneret,Deluxe

Day 4 - Tiberias / Sea of Galilee / Golan Heights
Cruise the Sea of Galilee and drive up Mt. Beatitudes to visit the octagonal-domed church and enjoy great views of Tabgha and Capernaum. Ascend the Golan Heights for a winery tour and tasting and learn about Israel’s olive oil production at a nearby mill. Then meet an Israeli family crafting beautiful Shofars, a delicate musical instrument with ancient roots. Enjoy sweeping views of the Sea of Galilee from the Ofir Observatory and then visit a Kibbutz before returning to your hotel for dinner. Meals B,D

Day 5 - Tiberias / Dead Sea / Jericho / Jerusalem
Journey south through the Jordan Valley to Massada. Ascend by cable car and explore these hilltop ruins, the site of a heroic last-stand against the Roman Legion. Continue to the Dead Sea, for lunch and a swim, or to enjoy the available spa facilities. Then drive to Jericho – perhaps the oldest city in the world – and enjoy the warm hospitality of a prominent Palestinian family, with illuminating conversation and a hearty dinner. Continue to Jerusalem and check-in to your choice of hotel. Meals B,L,D Dan Panorama,SFC or David Citadel Jerusalem,LUX

Day 6 - Jerusalem
Begin your exploration of Jerusalem with views from the Mt. of Olives and a visit to the Garden of Gethsemane. See the Room of the Last Supper on Mt. Zion, walk the Via Dolorosa, visit the Jewish Quarter and see the Western Wall of Temple Mount. Visit the Israel Museum to see a scale model of Jerusalem during the time of the Second Temple. Dine tonight in town. Meals B,D

Day 7 - Jerusalem
The fascinating exhibits of the Davidson Center at the Jerusalem Archaeological Park bring perspective to your week’s touring. You’ll also visit the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial before traveling by jeep along the Jerusalem Corridor, a supply route during the War of Independence. Visit the farm of Shai Zeltzer to sample his artisanal cheeses and then enjoy your choice of free time or a visit to Bethlehem and the Church of the Nativity. Gather tonight for a farewell dinner in a delightful Jerusalem restaurant. Meals B,D

Day 8 - Jerusalem
Your tour finishes today. Or, explore more of the world with our FreeStyle Travel. Meals B.

SCHEDULING & PRICING:

Add our attractively-priced air & transfers
See your travel counselor or call us for current international economy or business class airfare associated with this vacation. When you purchase air from us, arrival and departure transfers are automatically included. Prices are in U.S. currency and are per person based on double occupancy, unless otherwise noted. Availability is limited.

ACCOMMODATIONS:

• Dan Panorama - Jerusalem (Jerusalem, Israel)
  Located in the heart of Jerusalem, guests are within walking distance to the Old City, the fabled King David Hotel, and seasonal gardens. With its dignified Jerusalem-stone exterior and welcoming ambiance, each room overlooks the New City or a traditional Jerusalem neighborhood. Guest room amenities include Cable TV, internet connection, voice mail, minibar and safety boxes. On site, the hotel offers a Synagogue, restaurant, bar, pool and snack bar.

• Crowne Plaza Tel Aviv (Tel Aviv, Israel)
  Located on the Tel Aviv seashore promenade, Crowne Plaza Tel Aviv suits life in the big city with its espresso bar open 24 hours a day, Pacific Bistro gourmet and sushi bar restaurant and trips to Neve Tzedek and the Suzanne Dellal Centre for Dance and Theatre. Crowne Plaza Tel Aviv is adjacent to the city center and just minutes away from the city’s centers of entertainment, shopping, business and nightlife. The hotel boasts one of Tel Aviv's finest restaurants, combining Far Eastern cuisine with a touch of the French kitchen, as well as a luxurious fitness club and a pool that overlooks the sea. The hotel is a lively activity center in the "city that never sleeps".

• Intercontinental Hotel Tel Aviv (Tel Aviv, Israel)
  The hotel rises above the winding streets of Neve Tzedek, Israel’s charming “Soho,” near the central business district and picturesque Old Jaffa. Tel Aviv’s many shopping and entertainment attractions are just minutes away. Spacious rooms and suites overlook the city center and the sea. Various dining options such as Aubergine, a gourmet restaurant serving fine international cuisine, offer delicacies to please any palate and services to include modern gym, spa and outdoor pool.

• Gai Beach (Tiberias, Israel)
  Nestled on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, with a view of the Golan mountains is the Gai Beach Hotel, the Gai Beach Resort Spa Hotel is just a short walk to the center of Tiberias. The 200 rooms each have a balcony, air conditioning, satellite television, international direct telephone line, a hair dryer and many other accessories to make your stay more comfortable. The property has two restaurants with local cuisine, spa, fitness center, and pool.

• Galei Kinneret (Tiberias, Israel)
  Located on the shores of the Sea of Galilee between sprawling lawns and a private beach, the Galei Kinnereth Hotel offers its guests an experience combining vacation and relaxation. The recently-renovated property offers complete spa services with many rooms overlooking the Sea of Galilee. All rooms have in-room safe, minibar and cable television.

FREESTYLE ADD-ONS:

River of the Pharoahs
9 days from $2,399
Our in-depth cruise & tour features the classic luxury Nile Hilton and a 4-night deluxe Nile cruise with complete sightseeing throughout. More information

Petra
3 days from $599
Journey into the Kingdom of Jordan to the amazing ‘Lost City’ of Petra - carved into the sides of a deep gorge, the only entrance through a narrow opening in the gorge. Enjoy 2 nights in your choice of hotel and privately guided sightseeing.