Israel Discovery - Classic Group, Winter
Israel Discovery - Classic Group, Winter
$4395
Israel Discovery - Classic Group, Winter
9 Days Starting and ending in Tel Aviv
Visiting: Tel Aviv, Tel Aviv-Yafo, Caesarea, Nazareth, Tiberias, Hula Valley, Capernaum, Dead Sea, Masada National Park, Jerusalem
Tour operator:
Tour code:
W944N20
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Tour operated in:
EnglishInterests:
Tour Overview
See some of the world's most sacred sites during this 9-day guided tour of Israel. Travel to Tel Aviv, where you’ll see the Habima National Theater, Rabin Square and Carmel Market. Walk through the ancient coastal city of Caesarea and the ruins of a once-raucous Roman amphitheater. Drive seaside roads to Tiberias and break challah during traditional multi-course dinner celebrating Shabbat, a day of rest. See Mount Beatitude, where Jesus is said to have preached the Sermon on the Mount — then journey to the Jordan Valley, where you can float in the buoyant waters of the salty Dead Sea. Traverse the cobbled alleyways of Jerusalem to the city’s most sacred monument, the Wailing Wall, and visit a Holocaust memorial honoring those who died in World War II.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1: Welcome To Tel Aviv
Location: Tel Aviv
Accommodation: Sheraton Tel Aviv Hotel.
Accommodation Name: Sheraton Tel Aviv Hotel.
You will be met at Ben Gurion Airport and driven to your hotel in Tel Aviv.
Day 2: Exploring Vibrant Tel Aviv Relaxed Start
Location: Tel Aviv-Yafo
Accommodation: Sheraton Tel Aviv Hotel.
Accommodation Name: Sheraton Tel Aviv Hotel.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Morning sightseeing showcases the highlights of this vibrant city, including the Habimah National Theater, Rabin Square and Carmel Market. Venture along the seashore to the ancient city of Jaffa to see the famous clock tower and the old harbor. Visit the artists' quarter with its galleries, boutiques and picturesque narrow lanes. Walk along the seaside promenade at sunset for spectacular views, as local musicians and street artists take to the stage. Meet a local artist at their gallery for an insight into their work and inspiration.
Day 3: Caesarea To Galilee
Location: Tel Aviv-Yafo, Caesarea, Nazareth, Tiberias
Accommodation: Leonardo Plaza Hotel, Tiberias.
Accommodation Name: Leonardo Plaza Hotel, Tiberias.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Travel from Tel Aviv, along the coastal road to Caesarea, to visit the archeological park. The ancient city built by King Herod was once a major port and hub of activity in the Judea province. Explore the ancient Roman and Crusader ruins, including the huge amphitheater. Travel via Haifa to Acre, fought over for centuries and captured in turn by Saracens and Crusaders, including Richard the Lionheart. See the fortress, the old harbor area and a Crusader crypt. In Nazareth, visit one of Christianity’s most sacred places, the Church of Annunciation, built on the site where the angel Gabriel is said to have appeared to Mary. Soon, ochre villages and seaside towns are replaced by green hills, rich crops and colorful groves, as you approach Tiberias, your home for the night. The day concludes with a brief introduction to life on a Kibbutz. This evening, break traditional challah bread with your travel companions over a cheerful Shabbat dinner.
Day 4: Hula Valley Relaxed Start
Location: Tiberias, Hula Valley, Tiberias
Accommodation: Leonardo Plaza Hotel, Tiberias.
Accommodation Name: Leonardo Plaza Hotel, Tiberias.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Join a MAKE TRAVEL MATTER® Experience and meet a ranger for a tour of the Agmon Hahula natural reserve. This nature reserve is home to endangered plant species native of the Hula Valley, and also hosts a bird park on one of the most important migration routes in the world.
Day 5: To The Dead Sea
Location: Tiberias, Capernaum, Dead Sea
Accommodation: Milos Dead Sea Hotel, Ein Bokek.
Accommodation Name: Milos Dead Sea Hotel, Ein Bokek.
Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner
Explore Galilee with Insight Choice. Choose to cruise the serene waters of lake Kinneret for glorious views of the Golan Heights. Alternatively, find out more about the remains of a first century fishing boat that was found embedded at the bottom of the lake. Visit Capernaum, where Jesus is said to have entered the synagogue to teach, before heading to the Mount of Beatitudes, where he preached the Sermon on the Mount. Journey through ever-changing landscapes along the Jordan Valley, past ancient Jericho, to take a dip in the buoyant salt waters of the Dead Sea.
Day 6: Masada And The Holy City Of Jerusalem
Location: Dead Sea, Masada National Park, Jerusalem
Accommodation: Leonardo Plaza Hotel, Jerusalem.
Accommodation Name: Leonardo Plaza Hotel, Jerusalem.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Take a cable car ride up to the fortress of Masada, where Jewish zealots held out for three years against King Herod's armies. Travel through the Judean Hills to Mount Scopus for breathtaking views of Jerusalem. Visit King David's Tomb on Mount Zion, and the Room of the Last Supper. Enter the Old City and follow the winding cobbled alleyways to the magnificent Wailing Wall, the most sacred monument in Judaism.
Day 7: Exploring Jerusalem
Location: Jerusalem
Accommodation: Leonardo Plaza Hotel, Jerusalem.
Accommodation Name: Leonardo Plaza Hotel, Jerusalem.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Today is dedicated to exploring the multiple facets of Jerusalem. Visit Yad Vashem, a memorial for those who perished in the Holocaust. Continue to the Israel Museum and retrace the history of the city. Visit the Shrine of the Book, home to ancient Dead Sea scrolls, and look out for the most ancient one, the Isaiah scroll, dating from the third century B.C.
Day 8: Optional Bethlehem Experience Relaxed Start
Location: Jerusalem
Accommodation: Leonardo Plaza Hotel, Jerusalem.
Accommodation Name: Leonardo Plaza Hotel, Jerusalem.
Meals Included: Breakfast
Enjoy a relaxed morning or alternatively choose to meet your Local Expert at the West Bank border and continue to the holy city of Bethlehem. The Optional Experience includes visiting the Church of the Nativity, one of the oldest continuously operating churches in the world. The structure is built over the cave that tradition marks as the birthplace of Christ, and is considered sacred by followers of both Christianity and Islam. In the afternoon, visit the Garden of Gethsemene and walk through the Old City to see the Temple Mount, one of Islam’s holiest sites. Continue along the Via Dolorosa past the Stations of the Cross, Ecce Homo Arch, and the Pool of Bethesda, to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. At night, toast your adventures over a hearty dinner.
Day 9: Depart Jerusalem
Location: Jerusalem
Meals Included: Breakfast
Your journey comes to an end with transfers to Ben Gurion Airport.
What's Included
-
Meals
8 Breakfasts, 2 Dinners with Wine, and 1 Dinner are included.
-
Activities
Choose between two carefully selected activities.
-
Sea of Galilee Cruise
Enjoy a relaxing cruise on Lake Kinneret, the very place Jesus is said to have walked on water.
-
Galilee Boat
Find out more about the ancient Galilee Boat and hear the story of its excavation.
-
Personal Radio Headsets
Personal radio headsets give you the freedom to wander during visits to famous highlights, without missing any of your Local Expert's fascinating commentary.
-
Tips and Taxes
Hotel and restaurant tips are included, as well as all taxes and porterage charges at hotels.
-
Luggage Handling
We carry your bags for you and promptly deliver them to your hotel door.
-
Insight Flourish
From time to time, your Travel Director will delight you with an Insight Flourish, which is a local specialty representing the destination.
-
Wi-Fi
Stay connected with friends and family with our complimentary coach and hotel Wi-Fi (where available).
-
Transfers
If your arrival and/or departure flights are as per the itinerary start and end dates, then transfers are available at scheduled times.
What's Not Included
-
Optional Experiences
Optional experiences such as the Bethlehem Experience are not included.
-
Flights
Flights to and from the tour start and end locations are not included.
-
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is not included and is recommended.
-
Personal Expenses
Personal expenses such as souvenirs, additional meals, and drinks are not included.
-
Additional Transfers
Transfers outside the scheduled times or for additional nights' accommodation are not included.
Mode of Transport
Travel in style with Insight's luxurious, air-conditioned, 40-seat coach featuring double the standard legroom, onboard washroom, and complimentary Wi-Fi. Physical distancing measures and sanitization protocols are in place for your safety.
Accommodation
Stay in comfort at the Sheraton Tel Aviv Hotel, Leonardo Plaza Hotel in Tiberias and Jerusalem, and Milos Dead Sea Hotel in Ein Bokek, offering luxurious amenities and prime locations.
Dining Summary
- 8 Breakfast (B)
- 2 Dinner with Wine (DW)
- 1 Dinner (D)
Additional Included Highlights
- Personal radio headsets give you the freedom to wander during visits to famous highlights, without missing any of your Local Expert's fascinating commentary.
- Hotel and restaurant tips are included - you'll never have to worry about how much to give, nor search for foreign currency. We also include all taxes and porterage charges at hotels.
- We carry your bags for you and promptly deliver them to your hotel door.
- From time to time, your Travel Director will delight you with an Insight Flourish, which is a local specialty representing the destination.
- Stay connected with friends and family with our complimentary coach and hotel Wi-Fi (where available).
- If your arrival and/or departure flights are as per the itinerary start and end dates, then transfers are available at scheduled times. If your flights are outside these times, or you have booked additional nights accommodation with Insight Vacations, you may purchase transfers or make your own way from/to the airport.
Insight Experiences
- Tel Aviv: Meet a local artist for a private tour of their studio in Jaffa's artists’ quarter.
- Sea of Galilee: Find out more about the ancient Galilee Boat and hear the story of its excavation.
Well-being
- Enjoy the comfort of Insight's luxurious, air-conditioned, 40-seat coach with double the standard legroom and onboard washroom. Our customized luxury coaches are sanitized before the start of your tour and are maintained to very high standards. Physical distancing measures have been implemented on our customized luxury coaches.
- Hand sanitizer is freely available on board for you to use throughout the day.
Check out our Q&As
-
What kind of activities can I choose from in Galilee?
In Galilee, you can choose to either cruise the serene waters of Lake Kinneret for glorious views of the Golan Heights or find out more about the remains of a first-century fishing boat that was found embedded at the bottom of the lake.
-
What unique experience is offered in the Hula Valley?
In the Hula Valley, you will join a ranger for a tour of the Agmon Hahula nature reserve, which is home to endangered plant species native to the region and hosts a bird park on one of the most important migration routes in the world.
-
What can I expect during the visit to Masada National Park?
At Masada National Park, you will take a cable car ride up to the ancient fortress of Masada, where Jewish zealots held out for three years against King Herod's armies. The visit includes exploring the historical significance of this site.
-
What are some of the highlights of the Jerusalem tour?
In Jerusalem, you will visit Yad Vashem, the Israel Museum, the Shrine of the Book housing the Dead Sea Scrolls, the Garden of Gethsemane, the Temple Mount, the Via Dolorosa, and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. You will also have the option to visit Bethlehem.
-
What special dinner experiences are included in the tour?
The tour includes a Friday night Shabbat dinner in Tiberias and a lively farewell dinner in Jerusalem to toast the culmination of your travels.
-
What is the significance of the visit to the Church of the Annunciation in Nazareth?
The Church of the Annunciation in Nazareth is built on the site where the angel Gabriel is said to have appeared to Mary, making it one of Christianity's most sacred places.
-
What kind of transportation is provided during the tour?
The tour provides transportation in Insight's luxurious, air-conditioned, 40-seat coach with double the standard legroom and an onboard washroom. The coaches are sanitized before the start of the tour and maintained to very high standards, with physical distancing measures implemented.
-
Are airport transfers included in the tour?
If your arrival and/or departure flights are as per the itinerary start and end dates, then transfers are available at scheduled times. If your flights are outside these times, or you have booked additional nights' accommodation with Insight Vacations, you may purchase transfers or make your own way from/to the airport.
-
Can I join the tour once it has departed?
We regret that no refunds can be made for absences from a tour, including experiences such as missed meals or sightseeing.
-
How long has the tour company been trading?
Since 1978.
-
What Ethical Travel credentials does the tour company have?
Insight Vacations is a founding member of the TreadRight Foundation, a joint initiative created by the brands within The Travel Corporation (TTC) almost 15 years ago to ensure our impact through tourism is positive. Our ethos to #MakeTravelMatter guides our decision-making at every level of our business.
-
Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
-
Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
You have two options as a solo traveller. Either choose to be matched with a same sex partner for a room share - at no extra cost. Or choose a room of your own with a reduced or even free private room upgrade on select tours.
-
What policies are in place for Covid-19?
Please contact us for latest COVID-19 policies
Reviews of this operator
1 Select your preferred date
Book with Confidence
-
Low Deposit
Insight Vacations requires a minimum deposit of 350 USD per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 90 days before departure.
-
Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of insight vacations charges.
Up to 91 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 90 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 29 days before tour starts: Forfeit 80% of booking price.
At 1 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
-
Terms and Conditions