The Christian tours follow a route that mainly includes sites relating to the Christian heritage such as Nazareth, Capernaum, Mount of Beatitudes and more holy Christian sites in the old city of Jerusalem. Whether you really enjoy and feel connected to the Christian heritage, this is certainly the tour for you.
Tour Route
Day 1: Welcome to Israel
Welcome to the Ben Gurion Airport Tel Aviv, Israel. Ben Gurion Airport is located a 25 minute drive from Tel-Aviv and we head for Tel-Aviv where a room in a Tel-Aviv hotel awaits you (included in the package). On your first day when you arrive you can make use of the free time to do whatever you want to. We will be happy to give you suggestions and tips about how to spend your first day in Israel in the best possible way - tell us what you are interested in and we will help you build a plan for your first day.
Overnight Stay: Tel Aviv Hotel
Day 2: Bethlehem and Jericho
We’ll start our tour, leaving Jerusalem for its neighboring city Bethlehem, hometown of King David and birthplace of Jesus. Our first stop will be Manger Square, home to one of the world’s oldest churches, The Church of the Nativity. Below the Church we find the grotto and the exact location of Jesus’s birth. We continue to visit the adjacent Church of St. Catherine, and head on down to the Milk Grotto where Mary nursed Jesus as a newborn.
Before leaving Bethlehem we’ll also get a view of the Shepherd’s Fields and the church on site. We then descent to the Judea Desert via the Inn of the Good Samaritan and make a short stop at sea level on our way to Jericho, the world’s oldest city.
Our first stop at Jericho will be Tel Essultan, where excavations revealed ancient findings, among those crumbled Canaanite walls, providing insight to the conquest of Jericho by Joshua. We then stop at the Sycamore tree which Zacchaeus climbed on to get a better view of Jesus as he walked by. Then we'll stop for an overview of Mount Temptation. The tour ends with a visit the mound of Ancient Jericho where 25 ancient cities were uncovered.
Notes:
- A valid passport is required on the day tour.
- A moderate dress code is required to enter the holy places. Knees and shoulder must be covered.
- This tour is subject to Palestinian Authority regulations.
- Palestinian tour guide meets the tour only at border post.
- Change of a vehicle may be required for entry to Palestinian Authority territory.
- Entrance fees to Jericho sites are not included.
Overnight stay: Jerusalem Hotel
Day 3: Jerusalem - In the footsteps of Jesus
We’ll start our tour on Mount Olives, visiting the site of the Ascension and the Church of Patre Nostre, built by Constantine the Great, constructed on top of the site of a 4th century basilica to mark the Ascension of Jesus Christ. The church houses dozens and dozens of panels, each rendering the Lord’s Prayer in 123 different languages. After a mesmerizing overview of Old and New Jerusalem including the Temple Mount, we begin our descent, stopping by the Dominus Flevit Church where Jesus cried and mourned as he foresaw the destruction of Jerusalem.
We then continue to the Mount’s foot touring the Church of All Nations in the Garden of Gethsemane, the site of Jesus’s capture by the Romans. Before ascending to the Old City and entering through the Lion's Gate, we take a look back at the Kidron Valley and the three thousand years old Jewish cemetery on Mount Olives, with the monumental burial sites located at its base.
We then enter the Old City through the Lion’s Gate, making way towards the Church of St. Anne, home to the Virgin Mary and then move on to the Pools of Bethseda depicted in the Gospel of St. John. Our final stop will be the Convent of the Sisters of Zion located at the end of the Via Dolorosa. Underneath the convent we’ll see evidence reflected in ancient stone pavements, engraved with markings used by the Roman soldiers for playing games.
Notes:
- Entrance fees are not included.
Overnight stay: Jerusalem Hotel
Day 4: Nazareth, Tiberias & Sea of Galilee
The tour will begin its journey traveling north alongside Israel’s scenic coastal highway, providing a magnificent view of the Mediterranean Sea and the Plain of Armageddon whilst making way to Nazareth. Arriving in Nazareth we visit the Church of Annunciation, a significant remnant of the Byzantine era where it is said according to Catholic sources, The Annunciation was held. Next to the Church of Annunciation lies the Church of St. Joseph, the proclaimed site of residence of the Holy family and the carpenter’s workshop.
Leaving Nazareth we will head towards the Mount of Beatitudes where traditions states Jesus delivered his most famous sermon also known as The Sermon on the Mount. We then stop at Tabgha to visit the Church of the Multiplication of the Loaves and Fish, residing on top of two previously existing churches.
Moving on we’ll stop by the ruins to explore the City of Christ and the ancient synagogue residing within it. We then head towards the baptismal site on the Jordan River - the Yardenit, where you could participate in an optional baptismal service. The tour then ends, making way to central Israel whilst providing a panoramic view of Mount Tabor, the site of The Transfiguration of Jesus.
Overnight stay: Jerusalem Hotel
Day 5: Jerusalem - Old and New
This tour starts with a view of Jerusalem as seen from atop Mount Olives, looking down at the Old City and the Temple Mount. Mount Olives is also one of the oldest Jewish burial sites, over three hundred years old. We then descend and make our way along the Kidron Valley, offering a view of the Garden of Gethsemane and the Church of All Nations, where according to sources Jesus and his followers prayed the night before his crucifixion.
Along the Kidron Valley road we will get a view of the monumental burial tombs situated at the Mount’s feet. We then proceed into the Old City entering from Mount Zion, past the Armenian Quarter walking along the ancient Byzantine Cardo dating back to the Roman era, with our final stop being the Western Wall (the Kotel).
Leading to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre are the Stations of the Cross (Via Dolorosa) which we explore along the way to the church, the site of the crucifixion. Before leaving the Old City we’ll enjoy a brief strolls in the bazaars located in the Christian and Muslim Quarters. Finish the tour with a short walking into the New City and a visit to Yad VaShem, the Holocaust museum.
Overnight stay: Jerusalem Hotel
Day 6: Massada and the Dead Sea
We’ll begin our tour descending to the Judean Desert via the Inn of the Good Samaritan, on site we will tour the Inn and its adjacent museum. The Good Samaritan Museum is the only mosaic museum in the country and has on display a vast range of unique artifacts unearthed in excavations across Judea, Samaria and Gaza.
Moving forward we arrive at Masada and then ascent by cable car to tour the remains of the Herodian Fortress, built by King Herod two thousand years ago.Touring the sites, we’ll revisit its history and heritage, relating to the up rise of the Jewish Zealots against their Roman overlords.
We then leave Massada and head towards The Dead Sea, one of the most toured sites in Israel by tourists and locals alike. On shore you could enjoy a mud bath bearing many therapeutic. Dipping in the sea itself is also highly recommended, experiencing the Dead Sea’s unique attributes, allowing for extreme ease of floating and effortless swimming. On our way back we’ll get a view of the Ein Gedi oasis, the Qumran caves where the famous Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered and the ancient city of Jericho, the oldest city in existence with settlements dating back to 9000 BCE.
Notes:
- Recommended hats, bathing suits, towel.
Overnight stay: Tel Aviv Hotel
Day 7: Last Day in Israel (Tel Aviv)
Here it is, the last day has arrived, which is in fact a free day. You will have to vacate your hotel room at 11am so that if by chance your flight is in the evening you can leave your luggage at the hotel and enjoy the rest of your last day to the full. As always we will be happy to help you plan a tour for the last day, let us know what interests you and we will assist you in making a plan for your last day in Israel.
The Yourway Team wishes you a pleasant and safe flight and hopes to see you again soon in Israel.
Additional Information
The tour includes:
- Six nights at 3/4/5 star hotels in Jerusalem, Tel Aviv. Click here for Hotels Class & Prices.
- Five daily tours with a professional tour guide.
- Transport by air-conditioned vehicle/bus.
- Hotel pick-up and drop-off.
- Entrance fees. (unless otherwise specified in the tour route).
- Breakfasts.
The tour does not include:
- Lunch, Dinner, Drinks.
- Transfers to / from the Airport.
Notes:
- The tour departs on Sundays and Wednesdays.
- The order of the days might be changed on Wednesdays only.
- Possibility to book transfers to / from the Airport.
- Single Traveler Supplement: $45 - $110 per night (According to Hotels Class & Prices)
- High Season Supplement: $45 per person per night.
- A moderate dress code is required to enter the holy places. Knees and shoulder must be covered.
- Comfortable walking shoes are required.
- Confirmation will be received 24 - 48 hours post booking.