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Jerusalem, Galilee & the Dead Sea

8 days from only £1,369pp

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Dome of the Rock | Jerusalem | Israel | Riviera Travel | escorted tour

Jerusalem, Galilee & the Dead Sea

8 days from only £1,369pp

Experience more with so much included

Seven nights in four-star hotels with daily breakfast and six dinners included
Guided tour of Caesarea, ancient Roman capital of Judea
Walking tour of Acre, the world’s only fully-preserved crusader city – stunning melange of medieval military architecture
Boat cruise on the Sea of Galilee
Visit the spectacular fortress of Masada, site of the final siege of Jewish Revolt against the Romans
Visit the serene site of the Sermon on the Mount and the Church of the Multiplication
See Nazareth and the Church of the Annunciation
Guided visit to Christendom holiest site, Jerusalem’s Church of the Holy Sepulchre
See the famous Dome of the Rock and the Western Wall, holy sites of Islam and Judaism
Visit Bethlehem and the Church of the Nativity
Walking tour of the Jewish, Christian and Muslim quarters of Jerusalem’s ‘Old City’
See the Dead Sea Scrolls & the Yad Vashem, the moving memorial to the Holocaust
Stay on the Dead Sea, the lowest point on earth
Escorted by our experienced tour manager

Departures available exclusively for solo travellers

Departures up to November 2019 & February to October 2020

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At a Glance

7 nights in 4-star accommodation

Return flights & transfers

Programme of daily tours & visits

13 meals: 7 breakfasts & 6 dinners

Expert tour manager

Checked Luggage

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Overview

Jerusalem and the Holy Land represent an extraordinary collection of both classical and Biblical sites unmatched anywhere else in the world. From the palaces of Herod the Great to the Sea of Galilee and the Old City of Jerusalem, the places we visit and the stories behind them are inextricably linked to the very basis of our Western civilisation, but it is only by actually going to see them that everything falls into place.

Uniquely nestling between Europe, Africa and Asia, at the heart of the ‘Fertile Crescent’, the world’s cradle of civilisation, this remarkable region probably has more remains and influences of more civilisations, religions and empires, and in such a small area, than anywhere else on earth! Fought over by countless generations, it has seen the clash of civilisations and religions since the dawn of history itself. The Canaanites, Alexander the Great, the Romans, the Saracens, the Crusaders, the Ottomans, the British: all have ruled here and all have left remarkable footprints.

We visit Caesarea, one of the three most important ports in the ancient world, plus the spectacular cliff-top fortress of Masada where the final battle of the first real revolt in the Roman Empire took place. It was in the decades leading up to the revolt that Jesus carried out his ministry and we’ll visit all the major sites associated with him, from his birth in Bethlehem, to his early years in Galilee and the final acts around Jerusalem.

We’ll also have a guided tour of Acre, the best-preserved and most complete Crusader city in the world, visited by Marco Polo, fought over by Richard the Lionheart, Saladin and even Napoleon. During more modern times we’ll find out about the British involvement and about the many challenges facing the region today.

Old Jerusalem, tiny at just one square kilometre, throughout recorded history has always been one of the world’s most evocative cities and it is no exaggeration to say you are literally tripping over monuments as you wander through its maze of streets, mercifully too narrow for motor traffic which only serves to amplify its ancient atmosphere.

Split into its four distinct quarters: Jewish, Islamic, Christian and Armenian, you notice the differences immediately as you wander amongst them. Changing little over the centuries, it is bustling, vibrant and so oddly ‘real’ it is almost a film set.

From the shores of the sparkling Mediterranean to the fertile valleys of the north, the great inland lake that is the Sea of Galilee, to the desert landscapes of the south and the lowest point on earth at the Dead Sea, our tour will cover an extraordinary panorama. So come with us and discover what makes the ‘Promised Land’ such a remarkable and totally unique place to visit.

Your Itinerary

DAY 1ARRIVAL IN TEL AVIV

ARRIVAL IN TEL AVIV

We fly to Tel Aviv and transfer to the four-star Grand Beach Hotel for one night.

Larger version of the map >

DAY 2CAESAREA & ACRE

CAESAREA & ACRE

Today we visit the ancient city of Caesarea, built by King Herod as capital of Roman Judea to honour Caesar Augustus, thus ensuring he was appointed Governor, a position subsequently held by Pontius Pilate. It was the biggest port in the Eastern Mediterranean, the site of one of Herod’s magnificent palaces and today it has a host of superb remains to explore. Next we have the 12th century, thoroughly amazing Crusader city of Acre: the beautifully vaulted and huge Knights’ Halls are in a state of almost unrivalled preservation and admirably display medieval European military architecture at its magnificent best. Leaving Acre we stop in Nazareth, where Jesus grew up and visit the great church of the Annunciation, before driving to Tiberias on the Sea of Galilee at the four-star Leonardo Plaza Hotel for one night with dinner. Some tours will stay at the fascinating Kibbutz Lavi in the hills above Tiberias.

DAY 3SEA OF GALILEE & CAPERNAUM

SEA OF GALILEE & CAPERNAUM

This morning we’ll be immersed in some of the most important events in Jesus’ early life. Crossing the Sea of Galilee by boat we arrive at Capernaum where Jesus lived, healed the sick and recruited his first five disciples. Nearby is Tabgha, the site of the miracle of the feeding of the 5,000. Overlooking the whole area is the Mount of Beatitudes, where Jesus gave the Sermon on the Mount. A simple octagonal church has been built, surrounded by beautiful gardens with wonderful views of the Sea of Galilee. Our hotel tonight, with dinner, is the four-star Daniel on the shores of the Dead Sea.

DAY 4DEAD SEA & MASADA

DEAD SEA & MASADA

Today you can enjoy one of life’s must-do experiences - ‘bob’ like a cork in the Dead Sea, surrounded by the desert scenery of the lowest point on earth! Your hotel also offers relaxing spa treatments using salt extracts from the mineral-rich waters. Then we have the opportunity to visit the spectacular fortress of Masada - site of one of the ancient Romans’ greatest sieges.

We continue to Jerusalem and the four-star Leonardo Hotel or Grand Court Hotel, just next door, for four nights with dinner.

DAY 5JERUSALEM

JERUSALEM

There is such an enormous amount to see, experience and absorb in this most remarkable of cities, it is almost overwhelming. Firstly we visit the Mount of Olives and the world’s oldest continually used cemetery for a panoramic view of the ancient city, punctuated by the startlingly beautiful Dome of the Rock where Muhammed rose to heaven. After touring the Garden of Gethsemane, we enter the remarkable warren of streets and alleyways that make up the Old City. Here, in such amazing proximity, lie some of the holiest places for over half the world’s population!

We visit the Western Wall and walk along the Via Dolorosa before we finally come to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre built over Golgotha, where Jesus was crucified. The richness of decoration is astounding and the atmosphere is indescribably moving.

DAY 6BETHLEHEM

BETHLEHEM

Today we drive to Bethlehem to visit the Church of the Nativity and the Shepherds' Fields. One of the oldest churches in the Holy Land still in use, it marks the site where the Virgin Mary is said to have given birth to Jesus. For centuries it was one of the most fought over holy places. It was seized and defended by a succession of armies, yet still retains fragments of mosaics and paintings from the 4th and 12th centuries. Back in Jerusalem we visit the Yad Vashem, the humbling Holocaust memorial and the Shrine of the Book where the Dead Sea Scrolls are displayed.

DAY 7FREE DAY

FREE DAY

Today is at leisure. The Tower of David museum built on the remains of another of Herod the Great’s palaces provides a particularly impressive history lesson plus spectacular views over the unchanged cityscape. Then you will just love to explore under your own steam: you can see Roman shops still being used and wander into some of the quieter churches – still spectacular and where a choir’s gentle harmonies resonate throughout the alleyways.

DAY 8RETURN FLIGHT

RETURN FLIGHT

At the appropriate time you transfer to Tel Aviv airport for the flight to the UK after a truly remarkable tour.

Jerusalem, Galilee & the Dead Sea

Price Includes

The price of this holiday is per person based on two people sharing a twin room. Single rooms are subject to availability at the relevant supplement per person. The price includes return scheduled flights to Tel Aviv; airport departure taxes; return transfers; seven nights’ accommodation with breakfast and 6 dinners staying in four star hotels; hotel porterage of one item of luggage per person; the services of a Riviera Travel tour manager and all touring as mentioned.

Included excursions are visits to Caesarea, Acre, Capernaum, Tabgha, Nazareth, Masada, Bethlehem and Jerusalem including the Western Wall, the Dead Sea, the Mount of Olives, the Garden of Gethsemane, Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Shrine of the Book and Yad Vashem.

Visits to certain sites, such as Bethlehem, may be dependent on the prevailing security situation in the region.

Where hotels feature a swimming pool, these are open in the summer months, weather permitting.

Useful Information

Mobility

We want to ensure you make the correct choice before you book your holiday with us. If you have any concerns regarding the suitability of the holiday due to reduced mobility we would encourage you to call us to discuss these concerns. General information on mobility in connection with our tours can be found here.

Fact File

Currency: New Israeli Shekel, US Dollars
Deposit: £100 per person
Flight Time: Approx. 4 hours 40 minutes
Languages: Hebrew, Arabic
Time Zone: GMT+2
Country: Israel

Transfer Times

All transfer times listed here are approximate, and dependent on traffic. If you have a question regarding transfer times please don't hesitate to contact us.