Highlights Tour of Israel

Highlights Tour of Israel

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8 Days From

$1596

Highlights Tour of Israel

8 Days Starting and ending in Ben Gurion Airport, Tel Aviv

Visiting: Tel Aviv-Yafo, Jerusalem, Dead Sea, Masada National Park, Bethlehem, Golan Heights, Beit She'an, Tiberias, Mount of Beatitudes, Nazareth, Capernaum, Tabgha, Caesarea, Haifa, Jaffa, Acre

Tour code:

23

Guide Type:

Fully Guided

Group size:

1 - 10

Physical rating:

All Ages / Not applicable

Age range:

12-99

Special diets catered:

Vegetarians, Meat, Kosher

Tour operated in:

English
From: $1596

NB: Prices correct on 22-Dec-2024 but subject to change.

This tour is no longer available, please see similar tours below or send an enquiry

Tour Overview

On our signature Israel tour package, explore the iconic sites of Jerusalem’s Old City, Nazareth, and Bethlehem; ride the cable car to the fortress of Masada and float at the lowest place on earth – the Dead Sea. In the north of the country, visit the serene Galilee and the Golan Heights. Other key sites visited on the Highlights of Israel tour include Haifa, Caesarea, the crusader fortress of Acre, Tel Aviv and the ancient port of Jaffa

Highlights

  • Masada Dead Sea Jerusalem Israel Museum

  • Dead Sea Scrolls Yad Vashem Ein Karem

  • Bethlehem Church of the Nativity

  • Western Wall Temple Mount Via Dolorosa Church of Holy Sepulchre

  • Mount Zion Tomb of King David Room of the Last Supper

  • Mount of Olives Garden of Gethsemane Mahane Yehuda Market

  • Beit Shean Golan Heights Tiberias Sea of Galilee

  • Capernaum Tabgha Mount of Beatitudes Nazareth

  • Acre Haifa Caesarea Tel Aviv Jaffa

Itinerary

Expand All

Day 1 : Arrival

Location: Tel Aviv-Yafo

Accommodation: Hotel

• Upon arrival to Tel Aviv Airport you will be met by our representative who will be holding a sign with your name on, for transfer to your hotel.
• Evening at leisure in Tel Aviv.
• Overnight in Tel Aviv.

Day 2 : Masada & Dead Sea

Location: Jerusalem, Dead Sea, Masada National Park

Accommodation: Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast

• Meet you tour guide in the morning and set off from Tel Aviv to Masada, Israel’s foremost archaeological park.
• Ascend via cable-car for a thorough visit that gives insight to the rituals, politics and culture of the people who inhabited this desert 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 and cisterns, and enjoy the breathtaking view of the Roman camps and the Dead Sea.
• Descend to the lowest place on earth – the Dead Sea, to experience the mineral-rich black mud and to float on its salty waters.
• Passing by the oasis of Ein Gedi, proceed through the Judean Desert, ascending to Jerusalem.
• Overnight in Jerusalem.

Day 3 : Jerusalem

Location: Jerusalem, Bethlehem

Accommodation: Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast

• Start the day at the Israel Museum’s Shrine of the Book with the famous Dead Sea scrolls, then a visit to the beautifully renovated model of the Herodian city of Jerusalem, dating back to the time of the Second Temple.
• Enjoy Ein Karem; a picturesque village in the south western outskirts of Jerusalem. This small village has great significance in Christian traditions, since this is where according to tradition John the Baptist was born.
• Visit Yad Vashem the official memorial to the Jewish victims of the Holocaust, established in 1953, located at the foot of Mt. Hertzl.
• Visit Bethlehem – the birthplace of Jesus at the Church of the Nativity and Manger Square.
• Return to your Jerusalem hotel.

Day 4 : Jerusalem

Location: Jerusalem

Accommodation: Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast

• Enter the Old City of Jerusalem where you will see the Western Wall and the actual site of the Second Temple, the Temple Mount.
• Walk 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.
• To the southwest, just outside the Old City, is Mount Zion, with the traditional tomb of King David and the Room of the Last Supper.
• Enjoy the spectacular panoramic view of Jerusalem - the holy city for each of the world’s three great religions – Christianity, Judaism and Islam, from atop the Mount of Olives.
• Visit the Garden of Gethsemane where Judas betrayed Jesus.
• In the heart of a neighborhood in downtown Jerusalem, visit Mahane Yehuda to experience the flavors, aromas, colors and the traders' interaction with the crowds, at the largest open market in Israel.
• Overnight in Jerusalem.

Day 5 : Beit Shean / Golan Heights / Tiberias

Location: Golan Heights, Beit She'an, Tiberias

Accommodation: Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast

• 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 Shean, to visit the excavations of this beautifully preserved Roman city.
• Drive up to the Golan Heights to enjoy an Israeli wine country experience, enjoying a tour, wine tasting and understanding of the wine production process.
• Travel through the Golan, with its Druze villages, former Syrian fortifications and panoramic views of Mount Hermon and into Syria.
• Descend to the Hula Valley and drive to Tiberias on the shores of the Sea of Galilee - regarded as one of the four Holy cities in Judaism, where the Jewish Talmud - the primary source of Jewish religious law - was compiled, with tombs of Rabbis scattered across the city.
• Overnight in Tiberias.

Day 6 : Sea Of Galilee & Nazareth

Location: Mount of Beatitudes, Tiberias, Nazareth, Capernaum, Tabgha

Accommodation: Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast

• Along the shoreline of the Sea of Galilee, proceed to Capernaum, to visit the ruins of the ancient synagogue, the Mount of Beatitudes, traditional site of the ‘Sermon on the Mount’ and Tabgha, the traditional site of the ‘miracle of the loaves and the fish’.
• Optional sailing on a boat across the Sea of Galilee to experience the tranquility and scenery little changed during the past 2000 years (subject to conditions and extra fee if available).
• On to Nazareth to visit the Church of the Annunciation and Christian holy sites.
• Return to Tiberias for overnight.

Day 7 : Acre / Haifa / Caesarea / Tel Aviv

Location: Caesarea, Haifa, Jaffa, Acre

Accommodation: Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast

• After breakfast drive through the hills of the Galilee, westwards to Acre (Akko) for a visit of the old, famous Crusader stronghold and medieval fortifications.
• Continue to Haifa, ascending Mount Carmel for a panoramic view of the city, including the Baha'i Shrine, Persian Garden, and Haifa bay.
• Proceed along the Mediterranean coast to Caesarea to visit the Roman Theater and the Crusader fortress at what is known as the “masterpiece of Herod the Great”.
• End the day with a short city tour of Tel Aviv and the ancient port of Jaffa.
• Overnight in Tel Aviv.

Day 8 : Departure

Location: Ben Gurion Airport

Accommodation: Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast

• Transfer to the airport for departure, or extension tour to Jordan and/or Egypt.

What's Included

  • 7 nights hotel accommodation on bed and breakfast basis.

  • 2 dinners in the Tiberias hotel.

  • Transfers from/to airport on arrival and departure.

  • Sightseeing in a modern air conditioned motor-coach.

  • Service of a Government licensed guide on all touring days.

  • Entrance fees to sites on the program.

What's Not Included

  • Porterage at airport.

  • Tipping for guide, driver and hotel staff.

  • Beverages with meals.

  • Traveler’s medical/baggage insurance.

Optional Extras

  • 6 Dinner Supplement

    Dinners taken in the hotel dining room (buffet style) are available to book as extra. (When including dinner supplement no dinners are included on first night).

Videos

Check out our Q&As

  • Do you require a visa for this holiday?

    While most nationalities receive tourist visas on arrival, certain nationalities require visas arranged in advance to enter Israel. Please check with the relevant consulates for each country or ask us to give you the information.

  • Will I know the names and details of all the accommodation before I depart?

    Yes. As soon as your reservation has been processed, we will contact you with all of the necessary information regarding accommodation and airport procedures.

  • Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?

    The local guide is an English speaking, professional, licensed tour guide.

  • What happens if a group doesn’t make its minimum required number of passengers?

    We GUARANTEE that every tour will operate as long as there is a minimum of 2 travellers.

  • Are all entrance fees included in the price?

    Entrance fees to all of the sites visited on the itinerary are included in the price. The only exception is the boat ride on the Sea of Galilee which is operated according to weather conditions and paid for at the time of sailing as long as it goes ahead. (Approx. US$10).

  • Is there a supplement for solo travellers?

    There is a supplement for solo travellers. Our tours provide private rooms for solo travellers. We do not provide the option to join the room of other travellers on our tours.

  • Are children permitted to take part in the tour?

    Children above the age of 5 years old are permitted to join the tour.

  • Are flights included in this tour?

    Flights are not included in this tour.

  • What currencies are required for this tour?

    Israeli shekels are the local currency should you wish to buy snacks/beverages or souvenirs etc. However, nearly all outlets will also accept US Dollars.

  • Will we be met on arrival?

    On arrival at Ben Gurion Airport, Tel Aviv, you will be met immediately after passport control by our representative, who will direct you to receive your luggage and then escort you to the driver who will be waiting to take you to your hotel. For departure, your driver will wait for you at the hotel to take you to the airport.

  • Is there a limit to luggage that can be brought on the tour?

    There is no limit to luggage, however we would appreciate if you advise us should you have more than 2 suitcases per person for storage in the bus during travelling between accommodations.

  • Can you assist with pre or post tour accommodation?

    We are able to help you with any pre or post tour accommodation and are able to guarantee that you will stay in the same hotel that the tour will start or finish if required, so that you will not have to move hotels.

  • Is the tour coach air conditioned?

    Yes, the touring vehicle is air conditioned.

  • Are vaccinations required for this tour?

    There are no specific vaccinations required to enter Israel.

  • Are airport transfers included in this tour?

    Yes - Transfers on arrival and departure are included in this tour.

  • Do I need a visa for Jordan?

    Certain nationalities are considered restricted to enter Israel and/or Jordan and/or Egypt, and therefore must arrange a visa in advance. If you are unsure, please check with the relevant consulates/embassies, or ask us to give you the information. As long as you are not holding a restricted nationality passport for Jordan: On our 3 or 4 day tours (either stand-alone or extension after touring in Israel), we arrange a free visa-waiver for your touring in Jordan. On our tours which have 1 day Petra (either stand-alone or extension after touring in Israel), your visa is issued on arrival at the border crossing (subject to fee). If you are holding a restricted nationality passport for entering Jordan: On our 3 or 4 day tours (either stand-alone or extension after touring in Israel), we can request a visa (free of charge) in advance for you – the process takes approx. 1 month, therefore we must receive your passport details in order to make the request at least 1 month prior to arrival. On our tours which have 1 day Petra (either stand-alone or extension after touring in Israel), we can request a visa (subject to fee) in advance for you – the process takes approx. 1 month, therefore we must receive your passport details in order to make the request at least 1 month prior to arrival.

  • Are children permitted to take part in the tours?

    Children aged 5 years old and above are permitted to join the Multi-day tours.

  • Do I need a visa for Egypt?

    Certain nationalities are considered restricted to enter Israel and/or Jordan and/or Egypt, and therefore must arrange a visa in advance. If you are unsure, please check with the relevant consulates/embassies, or ask us to give you the information. As long as you are not holding a restricted nationality passport for Egypt: Your can arrange a visa in advance by logging on to the EGYPT E-VISA PORTAL, or your visa is issued on arrival at Cairo Airport (subject to fee). If you are holding a restricted nationality passport for entering Egypt: You must arrange an entry visa in advance through your local embassy/consulate – the process can take a long time depending on which nationality you are (subject to fee).

  • What languages are offered with your tours?

    Many of our excursions are offered in different languages so you can enjoy the tour in your native tongue. We offer tours in English, Spanish, French, German, Italian and Portuguese. Please check the tours list to see which tours operate in your chosen language.

  • Do I need a visa for Israel?

    Certain nationalities are considered restricted to enter Israel and/or Jordan and/or Egypt, and therefore must arrange a visa in advance. If you are unsure, please check with the relevant consulates/embassies, or ask us to give you the information. All visitors to Israel must have either a valid visa or an ETA-IL (Electronic Travel Authorization) entry approval, before starting their journey. As long as you are not holding a restricted nationality passport for entering Israel: From 1st January, 2025, visitors from non-restricted countries are required to obtain an ETA-IL (Electronic Travel Authorization) to enter Israel. An approved ETA-IL (Electronic Travel Authorization), indicates that you are allowed to travel to Israel and stay for up to 90 days per visit. You can get an ETA-IL (Electronic Travel Authorization) using this link: https://israel-entry.piba.gov.il (subject to fee). If you are holding a restricted nationality passport for entering Israel: You must arrange an entry visa in advance through your local embassy/consulate – the process can take a long time depending on which nationality you are.

  • Do I need to present a voucher for my tour?

    It is not necessary to present a voucher on our tours.

Reviews from travellers on this tour

Travel04831468251  

FANTASTIC! You are in good hands with CTO

26-Apr-2019

FANTASTIC! You are in good hands with CTO Yuval, helped plan our trip and he was always available when l had questions. From the moment we landed at Ben Gurion and Boris, a CTO staff was holding up our names waiting for us, till 7 days later when we were timely transported back to the airport, CTO had us captivated with our tour of Israel. Our guide Ditza and driver Zacharias did an awesome job navigating from Tel Aviv to Masada, Dead sea, Jerusalem, Hagoshrim, Golan heights, Nazareth, Galilee etc. This was educational, informative and enchanting. My daughter and l spent our Birthday praying at the Western wall! I don't have enough room to talk about our wonderful experiences. Just remember though, that this is not a vacation, it is an escorted trip and could be quite exhausting! My only complaint is not enough time for trinket shopping! But you can catch up at Duty free. I loved every minute l spent on this trip with CTO. Now all my friends and family are going next year. A few tips - go in the off season if you can, prepay your dinners. And Go and make EVERLASTING memories.!

nixosia18  

Value for money

15-Mar-2019

had a fabulous time on this trip , booked on 4 star hotels and got just what i had expected . the rooms were nice and the food was mostly good. our guide Avi , was knowledgeable and efficient , he and the driver were highly coordinated and that saved a lot of time. Israel is an amazing place. and i feel that i saw the best of it in just one week ! thank you for the memories

Pratap Venugopal Menon  

A well organised and comfortable tour with an outstanding Guide

21-Jun-2019

I had along with my wife son and a family friend opted for a guided bus tour of Israel offered by CTO under a package titled “Highlights of Israel” There were about 20 persons including the 4 of us in the Tour which began and ended from Tel Aviv. The coach was clean and air conditioned with a truly great driver who not only expertly manoeuvred through traffic but also was very helpful. The tour guide Ms Ditza was outstanding. A very knowledgable person with a great sense of humour went out of her way to ensure that we missed nothing and truly comprehensive explanations. Always ready to answer any question our guide had all the answers as well whether about the site visited or culture, religions or food and virtually everything under the sun! Our guide tweaked the itinerary in accordance with traffic and local holidays in such a way that we did not miss out a single item of the itinerary. It was truly a great experience with comfortable and clean hotels to retire to each night. The tour was of 6 days duration covering among others Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Nazareth and Bethlehem, Masada, a visit to the Dead Sea, a boat ride in the sea of Galilee and a visit to the Golan Heights vineyard. Truly a great experience made memorable by our driver Haim and Tour guide Ms Ditza, we cannot thank them enough.

Pauer 99  

A most amazing journey into Biblical times and the history of the Holy Land as well as modern Israel

15-Feb-2019

Our 7 day coach tour of Israel began in Tel Aviv and ended in Jerusalem, taking in Masada, the Dead Sea, Bet She'an, Tiberias, and Akko, with visits to many Christian Churches and Jewish Holy sites, as well as a visit to a vineyard in the Golan Heights with delicious wines. Our CTO Guide GADI was a history professor who brought ancient history to life with humour and great deal of background knowledge as well as giving us an update on modern-day politics. This was a most enjoyable tour which also show-cased Israel as a young and dynamic Country with a huge 'joie de vivre'.

Enrica F  

Israel tour

27-Jun-2019

We have just finished our tour with CTO , what a wonderful experience, visiting so many historical sites and given such an in depth and comprehensive tour, we were so fortunate to have such a great guide as Yossi, ( he is a walking encyclopaedia ) he has the ability to make you think and question historic events Brilliant! This trip is full on, and we could not believe just how much we got to see and learn, we were in a small group of 15 which was perfect and what an amazing group of people who we will remain in touch with. Thank you Yossi!

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Book with Confidence

  • Low Deposit

    Consolidated Tour Operators requires a minimum deposit of 10% or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 42 days before departure.

  • Cancellation Policy

    We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of consolidated tour operators charges.

    Up to 42 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.

    At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 15% of booking price.

    At 7 days before tour starts: Forfeit 25% of booking price.

    At 2 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.

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