Itinerary

DAYS 1/2 ~ MONDAY/TUESDAY ~ MARCH 5/6
SAN FRANCISCO/TEL AVIV/JERUSALEM
Board your overnight flight to Israel. Upon arrival the next day, you will be greeted by your Classic Escapes guide, and
driven to your hotel in Jerusalem. En route, visit the Haas Promenade for stunning views of the entire Jerusalem
landscape including the Old City and
surrounding walls.
Spend the next five days exploring Jerusalem, a
mountainous city with a 5,000-year history,
sacred to the three great monotheistic religions
of the world – Judaism, Christianity and Islam.
It is a major site of pilgrimage for all three
religions as well as non-religious travelers,
thanks to its unmatched historical and spiritual
importance, its network of museums and
concerts, and the archeological treasures that are
continually discovered here. It is also a dynamic
modern city shared by Jews, Christians and
Arabs.
Renowned for its excellent personalized service,
the Inbal Hotel is modern, elegant and ideally
located in the center of Jerusalem. It is within easy access to the Old City and Liberty Park. Get to know your fellow
travelers at a welcome reception and the multi-national influences in Israel at a “Tastes of Israel” welcome dinner.
Overnight at the INBAL HOTEL. (Meals Aloft; D)
DAY 3 ~ WEDNESDAY ~ MARCH 7
JERUSALEM
You will have a very full day of sightseeing! Highlights include the Temple Mount, City of David, the Jewish Quarter,
Mount Zion and the Via Dolorosa.
Your first visit this morning is to the Temple Mount, an elevated plateau in the Old City of Jerusalem rich with history
and religious importance. It is currently governed by the Waqf, or Supreme Muslim Religious Council. Like many sites in
Jerusalem, the Temple Mount is sacred to Jews, Muslims and Christians alike. Originally, it was the site of the great
Temple of Jerusalem, the holiest place in Judaism. For Muslims, it is the site of the Prophet Muhammad's journey to
heaven described in the Qur'an. Finally, Christians
revere it as a place frequently visited by Jesus and some
believe it will play a major role in the end-time events.
From here you will go into the Davidson Center for a
lecture and virtual computer generated reconstruction of
the temple mount at the time of the 2nd temple. Leaving
the center you will travel along the Western Wall of the
Second Temple, destroyed in 70 A.D., and go to the area
of the wall held sacred to Jews today. Tour the City of
David, beginning with an observation position
overlooking Biblical Jerusalem that will send you 3,800
years back in time to the days of Abraham, when the
first foundations of the city were laid. View the Western
Wall, the only remaining part of the holy temple and the
holiest of Jewish sites.
Following a Falafel lunch, walk the Via Dolorosa, which for many Christian pilgrims to Jerusalem, the most important
and meaningful thing they will do while in the city, the route that Jesus took between his condemnation by Pilate and his
crucifixion and burial. The route of the Via Dolorosa begins near the Lions' Gate in the Muslim Quarter and ends at the
Church of the Holy Sepulcher in the Christian Quarter, home to the holiest site in all of Christendom – the tomb where
Christ was buried and was resurrected.
Next, step into the Jewish Quarter and discover tangible remains of a
dramatic chapter in Jewish history, the period of its greatest grandeur:
the time of the Second Temple. Following Babylonian captivity, Jews
returned to Jerusalem and the area that is now the Jewish Quarter was
inhabited by Jews once more and developed into an aristocratic and
priestly residential neighborhood, with many luxurious mansions
overlooking the Temple Mount.
Jerusalem was again leveled in 70 A.D. by Roman armies (the remains
of houses burned in that blaze have been uncovered in what is now the
Jewish Quarter); 65 years after the Romans destroyed Jerusalem, they
(and later their Byzantine successors) rebuilt the city. You can visit
several recently uncovered vestiges of Byzantine times in the Jewish
Quarter, including the Nea Church, and the southern end of the city's
colonnaded north-south thoroughfare, the Cardo Maximus which is
home to many shops and galleries.
Continue to Mount Zion where you will visit the room that is believed to have been the setting for the Last Supper and
then King David’s tomb.
Drive to the Rockefeller Museum with its extraordinary collection of antiquities dating from 10,000 BC, unearthed in
excavations conducted mainly during the British Mandate (1919-1948).
Return to the hotel where the rest of your evening is at leisure.
Overnight at the INBAL HOTEL. (B,L)

DAY 4 ~ THURSDAY ~ MARCH 8
JERUSALEM
Begin the day at the Israeli Supreme Court for a tour of the striking compound. Its architects leaned heavily on the Bible
and the precepts of Jewish thought in their design. The first thing you’ll notice at the entrance foyer is the narrow
staircase leading into the sky. Jerusalem stone walls on one
side, and a bare flat wall on the other, symbolize the
aspiration from the land (laws) towards the heavens (justice.)
This same theme is repeated in the visual leitmotif of straight
lines (''Your laws are straight,'' Psalms 119:113) and circles
(''He leads me in the circles of Justice,'' Psalms 23:3.) The
courtrooms are simple and elegant, the judges and lawyers sit
along two tables that form a circle. And the building is
conveniently situated between the Knesset (Israel's
parliament) and the site of the future Prime Minister's office
and residence – thus the judicial branch serves as mediator
between the executive and legislative branches.
Continue to the Israel Museum. The most popular part of the
museum is the Shrine of the Book, with its distinctive onionshaped
top. The roof was designed to resemble the jar covers in which the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered in 1947.
Inside, a long, subtly lit passageway, designed to evoke the environment that the scrolls were found, has a permanent
exhibition on life in Qumran when the scrolls were written. The main attraction of the Shrine of the Book is, of course, the
Dead Sea Scrolls themselves. Directly beneath the dome is an imposing showcase containing a replica of the Great Isaiah
Scroll (written c. 100 BC), comprised of 66 chapters on a 23 ft long, sewn-together piece of parchment. This find was
extremely important, as it is 1,000 years older than
the oldest biblical manuscript available before.
Another important exhibit here is the scale model
of Jerusalem at the time of the Second Temple.
Get a taste of the variety of people, produce and
goods that are part of Israel today as you have
lunch and shop at Jerusalem’s outdoor souk
Machane Yehuda
After lunch you will visit Mount Herzl Israel’s
National Cemetery named for Theodor Herzl, the
founder of modern political Zionism. Within the
cemetery is Yad Vashem Museum, Israel’s official
memorial to the Jewish victims of the Holocaust.
The new Hall of Remembrance is a remarkable
architectural and educational achievement. Here
you will also find the Children’s Memorial and the path of trees creating the “avenue of the righteous among nations”
honoring those who risked their lives to save Jews.
Return to your hotel (time permitting) to freshen up for dinner this evening at the Olive & Fish restaurant near your hotel
followed by the Sound and Light show at the Tower of David. The tower's ancient walls come alive during the show that
takes you on an inspiring open-air tour of Jerusalem's history.
Overnight at the INBAL HOTEL. (B,D)

DAY 5 ~ FRIDAY ~ MARCH 9
JERUSALEM: MASSADA/EIN GEDI NATURE RESERVE/QUMRAN
Leave Jerusalem this morning for Masada, near the Dead Sea. You can
climb up the ancient serpent path, or take a cable car to hill top ruins of
Massada, UNESCO World Heritage Site. Built by King Herod, the site
would later be the scene of the Zealots last stand against the Roman
Legion. Determined not to become slaves to the Romans, they did the
unthinkable, mass suicide. Some 960 souls chose death over surrender
on that fateful day. Explore the ancient excavation of Herod’s Palaces,
the bathhouse, storerooms, the ramp and one of the oldest synagogues
in the world.
Continue to Ein Gedi Nature Reserve, a lush oasis set between the
harsh Judean Desert and the barren Dead Sea. Take a short hike to the
beautiful waterfalls, en route enjoying the wonderful flora and fauna
around you.
The last stop of the day is at Qumran, the site of an Essene settlement and the place where the Dead Sea Scrolls were
discovered. Return to Jerusalem this evening.
Overnight at the INBAL HOTEL. (B,L)
DAY 6 ~ SATURDAY ~ MARCH 10
JERUSALEM: MOUNT OF OLIVES/BETHLEHEM
Enjoy a lecture by your guide, Amir Orly before
driving through the city’s various neighborhoods.
You will stop at the Mount of Olives with its stunning
views of Jerusalem. According to Jewish tradition, the
Messiah will appear here and bring the dead back to
life; as a result, the hillside became the holiest
cemetery, and is covered by thousands of graves.
There are also some olive trees remaining and
churches marking various acts in the life of Jesus.
Continue to the Garden of Gethsemane at the foot of
Mount of Olives. It is mostly famous as the setting
following the Last Supper where Jesus sorrowfully
prayed to God the night before his crucifixion.
Perched on a hill at the edge of the Judean desert, just five miles south of Jerusalem is Bethlehem, the childhood home of
the biblical King David. To get there you will pass thru a checkpoint in the fence separating Israel from the Palestinian
Authority. It is also the birthplace of Jesus Christ and has been a major site of Christian pilgrimage since the construction
of the Church of the Nativity in the 4th century AD. You will also visit the Shepherd’s Fields, identified since ancient
times with the shepherds who saw the Star of Nativity.
Not far away, you will stop at a home in an Israeli settlement within Palestine.
This evening you are invited to a Sephardic Center for a traditional Sabbath dinner.
Overnight at the INBAL HOTEL. (B,D)

DAY 7 ~ SUNDAY ~ MARCH 11
BEIT SHE’AN/GOLAN HEIGHTS/TIBERIAS
Leaving Jerusalem for the Galilee, your first stop is Beit She’an, home to some of Israel’s most spectacular archaeological
finds. The site features a large amphitheater (with a
capacity of about 7,000 people,) a Byzantine era
colonnaded street, ritual baths, a pottery workshop, a
basilica, a Roman temple and much more.
Ascend the Golan Heights for panoramic views and
proceed to the Golan Olive Oil Mill, adjacent to the
ancient city of Qatzrin. Enjoy lunch and a guided tour of
the olive oil press and skincare center.
In the afternoon, check into the Kibbutz Ein Gev set amid
eucalyptus and date palm groves right on the shores of
the Sea of Galilee, just across the lake from Tiberius. You
will go out on the lake in the Kibbutz boat, then a Kibbutz
member will take you on a tour of the Kibbutz and talk
about its’ history and role today. This evening enjoy a wonderful fish dinner in the guest house dining room overlooking
the lake. It's a paradisiacal place to unwind and swim the warm waters of the lake.
Overnight at KIBBUTZ EIN GEV GUEST HOUSE. (B,L,D)
DAY 8 ~ MONDAY ~ MARCH 12
TIBERIUS: CAPERNAUM/TABGHA/SAFED
Visit Capernaum, once a fishing village on the
shore of the Sea of Galilee. The town is first
mentioned in the New Testament, where it
figures prominently in the Gospel narratives
as the place where Jesus lived during much of
his ministry in Galilee. It was here, according
to the New Testament, that he "cured many
who were suffering from diseases," and "cast
out many devils" in those possessed. View one
of the oldest synagogues in the world as well
as the church ruins that were built above St.
Peter’s house.
Tabgha is not a city, but a small area on the
northwest shore of the Sea of Galilee, not far
from Capernaum. In ancient times, it was called Heptapegon, Greek for seven springs. These springs produce warm
water, which increases the production of algae in this part of the lake in turn attracting more fish. Fishermen have flocked
to Heptapegon for thousands of years. It is also the traditional site of the “miracle of the multiplication of the loaves and
fishes” and the third resurrection of Jesus. The hill above the two lakeside churches is the Mount of Beatitudes, where it is
believed that Jesus preached the Sermon of the Mount.
Visit the ancient Galilean city of Safed, the highest city in Israel, commanding breathtaking views of Galilee with its green
mountains and the white snow-capped peak of Mount Hermon. One of the four holy cities in Israel (Jerusalem, Tiberias,
Hebron), it has been a spiritual center since the 1600s when it was the center of Kabbalah. The Kabbalist mystics lived,
studied, taught, and wrote in the city and many of the graves are objects of worship. Wander through the alley ways past
charming stone houses with their artists’ studios and workshops and synagogues, some active for as many as 500 years.
The Dan Carmel Hotel sits high up on Mount Carmel
offering breathtaking views of Haifa Bay and the
Mediterranean coastline. This classic hotel is situated on the
prestigious, tree-lined Hanassi Boulevard and backs onto
Haifa's gorgeous hill-top promenade, only meters away
from the magnificent Bahai Temple. The hotel is also just a
couple of minutes walk from the attractive Carmel Center
with its many cafés, shops and entertainment venues.
Tastefully and elegantly designed in contemporary style, all
the guestrooms and suites offer marvelous views. Most
rooms have views of Haifa Bay and the coastline, while
others offer views of the wooded hillsides or of the city – as
well as of the sea.
Overnight at DAN CARMEL HOTEL. (B,D)
DAY 9 ~
TUESDAY ~
MARCH 13
HAIFA
Haifa is located in northwest Israel overlooking a bay on the Mediterranean
Sea, compared by some to the similarly-situated cities of San Francisco or
Naples. Israel's third largest city, Haifa is a major industrial center and has a
population of almost 300,000. According to a popular Israeli saying, "Tel
Aviv plays while Jerusalem prays. But Haifa works!"
Like most of Israel, Haifa has been populated since ancient times. Elijah is
the city's most famous early inhabitant; here he meditated in a cave before
defeating the priests of Baal. In April 22, 1948, the Arabs of Haifa
surrendered to Israeli forces and the town remains under Israeli rule today.
Most of Haifa's Arab inhabitants left after this, but the town still retains a
cosmopolitan mixture of Muslim Arabs, Christian Arabs, and Baha'is.
Begin your day at the Technion, the Institute of Technology that has been
the heart of the Israel’s technology miracle. You will learn about some the
discoveries for which Israelis have won Noble prizes.
Descend to the slopes of Mount Carmel where you’ll see the Stella Maris
Carmelite Monastery. In the 12th century, during the Crusader occupation
of the region, groups of religious hermits began to inhabit the caves of this area in imitation of Elijah the Prophet. Within
a century, these monastic hermits were organized into the Carmelite order and the Carmelite order spread throughout
Europe. While the Carmelite orders flourished in Europe throughout the Middle Ages, its founders on Mount Carmel
were exiled at the time of the Mamluk conquest in 1291 and did not return until the 18th century. Construction of the
present monastery and basilica began in 1836.
Visit Kababir, a former Arab village and the only settlement in Israel
whose residents come from the Ahmadiyya sect of Islam, originating
in India. According to the theology of the sect, holy war in the name of
Islam (jihad) must only be carried out by preaching and pleasantness
and not by force of a sword. The Ahmadiyyans fulfill all the
commandments of Islam, but oppose jihad 'holy war' and preach for
the brotherhood of nations.
Continue your cultural and religious journey as you drive through the
recently reconstructed German Colony, originally built by the German
Templar Society.
This afternoon travel north to the World Heritage Site of Acre, an
exceptional historic walled port-city with continuous settlement from
the Phoenician period. Acre became the capital of the Crusaders after
they lost Jerusalem. Walk through the restored underground
Crusaders City. The present city is characteristic of a fortified walled
town dating from the 18-19th centuries, with well preserved
components such as a citadel, mosques, khans, and baths.
This evening you will be joined at dinner by members of the various
religious and ethnic communities.
Overnight at DAN CARMEL HOTEL. (B,D)
DAY 10 ~ WEDNESDAY ~ MARCH 14
HAIFA/NAZARETH/TEL AVIV
First stop is the immaculate Bahai Gardens, with
their stone peacocks and delicately manicured
cypress trees, a restful, aesthetic memorial to the
founders of the Baha'i Faith. Pilgrims come to
Haifa from all parts of the world to pay homage to
the first leaders of their religion, which
emphasizes unity across cultures and religions.
They believe that messengers of God like Moses,
Jesus and Mohammed have been sent at different
times in history with doctrines varying to fit
changing social needs, but bringing substantially
the same message.
Continue to Beit Lechem HaGilit where you will
enjoy a special herbal cooking seminar followed
by lunch.
Head to Nazareth, the hometown of Jesus, and visit the Basilica of the Annunciation, a modern Catholic Church built over
the remains of Byzantine and Crusader churches. It incorporates the cave in which the Virgin Mary received the news
from Gabriel that she would give birth to Jesus. The site has been a pilgrimage destination since earliest times and
remains an important stop for Holy Land pilgrims today.
End the day at picturesque Ein Hod Artist’s Village, situated on a hillside amid olive groves, with a stunning view of the
Mediterranean Sea and a twelfth-century Crusader fortress. Many Israeli painters, sculptors and musicians live here, and
maintain studios and galleries that are open to the public which you will visit.
Situated on the shores of the sparkling
Mediterranean Sea you will find your luxury
hotel for the evening, the Dan Hotel Tel Aviv.
Enjoy all modern amenities including a
stunning outdoor pool and a large array of spa
facilities, everything from classic massages to
yoga.
Overnight at DAN HOTEL TEL AVIV. (B,L)
DAY 11 ~ THURSDAY ~ MARCH 15
CAESAREA/TEL AVIV
Visit Givat Haviva, an institute dedicated to
fostering the creation of a shared society,
resisting racism and discrimination and
building greater understanding between
different groups in Israeli society and among
nations, through education.
Drive to Binyamina to visit the world-renowned Tishbi Winery for wine tasting and lunch.
Continue south to Caesarea, an ancient city, now archaeological park, located on the Mediterranean Sea. Constructed by
Herod the Great between 22 and 10 BC and named for Caesar Augustus, Caesarea was one of the most splendid cities in
Palestine and was the capital of the province for almost 600 years. See ruins from the Roman, Byzantine and Crusader
eras and a virtual model of Ancient Caesarea and the enormous artificial port that even today would be considered an
important feat of engineering.
Situated on the shores of the sparkling Mediterranean Sea you will find your luxury hotel for the evening, the Dan Hotel
Tel Aviv. Enjoy all modern amenities including a stunning outdoor pool and a large array of spa facilities, everything
from classic massages to yoga.
Overnight at DAN HOTEL TEL AVIV. (B,L)
DAYS 12 /13~ FRIDAY/SATURDAY ~ MARCH
16/17
TEL AVIV/SAN FRANCISCO
Tel Aviv was founded in 1909 by a small group of
Jewish families that moved out of from the
overcrowded and hostile Arab town of Jaffa. Just
one hundred years later, it is Israel’s 2nd largest city
and its most vibrant. The sheer vigor and
determination of the place makes Tel Aviv seem
vastly bigger than it really is. In fact, the city is
smaller in area than Haifa or Jerusalem, but almost
one-half of Israel's population live in the greater Tel
Aviv metropolitan area.
Drive through the White City of Tel Aviv, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Here you will see a collection of over 4,000
Bauhaus or International style buildings built in Tel Aviv from the 1930’s by German Jewish architects who immigrated
here after the rise of the Nazis.
Stroll through Neve Zedek, the first neighborhood in Tel Aviv. For years, the neighborhood prospered as Tel Aviv itself,
the first modern city, grew up around it. Years of neglect and disrepair followed, but today, Neve Zedek has become one
of Tel Aviv's latest fashionable and expensive districts.
Continue to Jaffa, adjoining Tel Aviv and one of the world’s oldest cities, with a harbor that has been in use since the
Bronze Age. The city’s history is connected to a series of successive conquests that rocked Israel throughout the millennia.
Today Jaffa is a city with a diverse population of Jews, Muslims and Christians. Currently undergoing a wave of
gentrification, Jaffa is a socio-economic mix of young artists, new wealth and older, less affluent inhabitants. Culturally,
Jaffa has become a place where creative people live, work and set up shop, making its streets a maze of discovery – with
galleries, theaters, restaurants, a flea market and an antique district. You will have the honor of visiting a unique museum
and art gallery located in the private home of acclaimed artist Ilana Goor. Well known for her unusual designs of
tableware and furniture, she has renovated a beautiful old building in the Artists Quarter.
Enjoy a farewell dinner at the gourmet restaurant Cordelia before being transferred to the airport for your flights home,
arriving back in the USA next day. (B,D)

OPTIONAL POST-EXTENSION TO JORDAN
DAY 12 ~ FRIDAY ~ MARCH16
TEL AVIV
After your farewell dinner at the gourmet restaurant Cordelia, bid farewell to the rest of the group departing for the USA
enjoy some leisure time in Tel Aviv and prepare for your next adventure.
Overnight at DAN HOTEL TEL AVIV. (B,D)
DAY 13 ~ SATURDAY ~ MARCH 17
PETRA
Drive to Allenby Bridge where you cross into Jordan, continuing to Petra where you will stay for two nights. Your 183 room
luxury hotel is located at the entrance to Petra site. Boasting authentic antiques, artwork and fine gold inlay, it is one of the
most notable hotels in the Middle East and a recipient of the Aga Khan award for outstanding Islamic architecture.
Overnight at the PETRA MOEVENPICK HOTEL. (B) www.moevenpick-hotels.com/hotels/petra_resort/
DAY 14 ~ SUNDAY ~ MARCH 18
PETRA
Depart for a full day tour of Petra, the soul stirring, rose-red city and Jordanian national treasure, designated as a
UNESCO World Heritage Site. Petra was an ancient Nabataean capital settled by industrious Arab traders more than
2,000 years ago. Petra’s unique location enabled the Nabataeans to dominate the ancient Arabian trade routes, and the
city became wealthy from the tolls it levied on the caravans that sheltered there with their precious cargoes of spices,
silks, ivory and animal hides. In the ancient world, Petra was renowned for its refined culture, massive architecture, and
ingenuous system of dams and water channels. In the years following the Emperor Trajan’s annexation of Petra, the city
declined and slipped into obscurity until it was “discovered” in 1812 by a Swiss traveler. Excavations that revealed the
astounding workmanship and the incredible ruins at Petra did not begin until 1924. Ongoing excavations continue to
reveal more information about the Nabataean Kingdom.
Petra still forms part of the domain of the
Bedouin. You will see them with their horses
and camels as you begin your unforgettable
trip into this cultural landmark. After passing
tombs outside the city, you come to the “Siq,”
an immense crack in the Nubian sandstone
almost one half mile long. This winding fissure
separates overhanging cliffs that appear to
meet 300 feet overhead. Near the end of the
passage, the Siq makes one last turn and out of
the gloom Petra's most impressive monument
Al Khazneh (The Treasury) appears in the
sunlight. One of the most elegant remains of
antiquity, Al Khazneh is nearly 140 feet high
and was carved from the mountain’s solid rock
in the First Century B.C. Originally used as a
Nabataean king’s tomb, Al Khazneh was later
used as a Nabataean temple. Film buffs will
recognize it from its starring role in the final
scenes of the movie Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.
Beyond Al Khazneh you are surrounded by hundreds of Petra's sculpted
structures, soaring temples, elaborate royal tombs, a Roman
amphitheater (seating 3,000) large and small houses, burial chambers,
banquet halls, water channels and reservoirs, baths, monumental
staircases, cultic installations, markets, arched gates, public buildings
and paved streets – it’s quite overwhelming! This afternoon return to
your hotel in Petra. You will want to visit the nearby shop where you can
buy the fine traditional crafts of the Queen Noor project.
Overnight at the PETRA MOEVENPICK HOTEL. (B,L,D)
DAY 15 ~ MONDAY ~ MARCH 19
DEAD SEA
Follow the Araba Valley Road to the Dead Sea, the lowest point on earth,
lying some 1,300 feet below sea level. Float in the salty waters of this
historical site and enjoy the wonderful facilities of your hotel and world
class spa. You may want to take a trip to the tip of the Dead Sea to Lot’s
Cave, an ancient cave believed to be used as a sanctuary by Lot and his
daughters after the destruction of Sodom. The site, marked on the
Madaba map of Palestine, was just recently discovered. Artifacts from
3000 BC have been found here. This is a hot and arid place filled with
extraordinary geological formations. Enjoy the tranquility of your resort
and its natural resources. Float in the saltiest sea in the world while the
ozone-rich air fills your lungs and sunshine warms your skin. Reminisce
about all you have seen and experienced at tonight’s farewell dinner.
Overnight at the MOVENPICK DEAD SEA RESORT. (B,D)
www.moevenpick-hotels.com/hotels/dead_sea

DAY 16 ~ TUESDAY ~ MARCH 20
JERASH
Drive to Jerash, one of the best-preserved examples of Roman
civilization in the world. Jerash, part of the Decapolis, has been
called the “Pompeii of the East” for its unique state of
preservation. The city features theaters, churches, temples (Zeus
and

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