Israel 7 days tour

Israel 2023 - Departure from Bucharest

DAY 1 - Departure from Bucharest to Tel Aviv, arrival at Ben Gurion-Tel Aviv airport. After customs formalities we start our journey to Israel by climbing the Mediterranean coast. Drive to Caesaria, where we will visit King Herod's fortress, a 2000 years old city.
We continue to Haifa, a splendid port city on the Mediterranean, located in a large bay at the foot of Mount Carmel, where we will admire the Temple of the Bahai Cult with its terraced gardens. We will go to Nazareth where we visit the Church of the Annunciation (the largest church in the Middle East), then we head for the Sea of Galilee.
Dinner and overnight at Tiberias/Nazareth

DAY 2 - Northern Israel: we start the day at the Tel-Dan Preserve where the Jordan River flows and where ancient ruins dating back 3000 years stand. We visit Banias, the place where Jesus gave St. Peter the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven.

Optional: kayaking on the Jordan River (weather permitting)/lunch at a Druze fortress where we will admire the food, cuisine and culture of this religion.
Drive to Mount Bental (border with Syria).
Visit to the winery on the Golan Heights with tasting of special wines.
Dinner and accommodation at Tiberias

DAY 3 - We begin the day at Mount Happiness, a corner of Heaven, the place where Jesus gave the Sermon on the Mount. We continue to visit the ruins and the city of Capernaum (Jesus' city).
Optional: boat cruise on the Sea of Galilee and lunch at an authentic fish restaurant.
Visit a kibbutz where we will see a unique Jewish way of life.
We continue through the Jordan Valley and the Judean Desert until we reach the Jerusalem area.
Dinner and overnight at Bethlehem

DAY 4 - Visit the Temple Mount - the most important and holy site of Jews and Muslims in the Old City of Jerusalem.
The Wailing Wall - the holiest Jewish site with the Jewish Quarter.
Culinary excursion to Mahne-Yehuda Square, where we will stop to taste traditional dishes from several restaurants.
David's City - visit to the "real Jerusalem" of David's time with entrance to a tunnel dug by King Hezekiah 2700 years ago. We will admire and climb the newly excavated "pilgrims' way".
Dinner and overnight at Bethlehem

DAY 5 - Visit the Garden of Gethsemane with the Church of the Nations built on the spot where the Saviour prayed before being caught, the Church of the Tomb of the Virgin Mary where we will descend the 48 steps to the Tomb of the Virgin Mary and the Cave of Betrayal, the cave where Jesus was imprisoned before his trial.
We enter the Holy City of Jerusalem through St. Stephen's Gate and walk along the Via Dolorosa (Way of the Cross), with the 14 stops of the Saviour Jesus Christ, reaching the Church of the Holy Resurrection where we will see all the holy places: Golgotha, the Stone of Anointing, the Holy Sepulchre, the place where the Holy Cross was,
Optional: Tour Jerusalem by night in the centre of Jerusalem and if time allows we will go to a pub or bar for a beer.
Dinner and overnight at Bethlehem

DAY 6 - We start our journey through the Judean Desert and the Dead Sea until we reach Ein Gedi National Park, which is a special oasis in the desert.
We will enter the pools and waterfalls that are part of this park. We head to Masada - a 2000 year old ancient city built by King Herod and situated on a hill. Ascent by cable car.
Afterwards, we take a swim in the Dead Sea (the lowest place in the world).
Optional: Desert ride into the sunset by ATV or 4X4.
Jericho - the oldest citadel in the world, stop in the city (Carantania, the Duke of Zacchaeus). Return to Jerusalem.
Dinner and overnight at Bethlehem

DAY 7 - Visit the Orthodox Church of the Nativity (here is an icon of the Virgin Mary the Advocate of Bethlehem, the miracle worker); St. Catherine's Roman Catholic Church and the Milk Grotto visit the Yad-Vashem Holocaust Museum (time permitting) Drive to Ein Karem - home of St. John the Baptist, where we will visit St. John's Church built on the birthplace of St. John the Baptist.
Tour in Tel Aviv - the UNESCO White City
We admire the city that never sleeps, we visit Carmel Square with all the highlights. We go to Tel Aviv harbour where we visit the Mediterranean seafront and take a swim (weather permitting).
Jaffa - panorama and short city tour.
Transfer to the airport and return to Bucharest.