Israel Discovery - Small Group, Winter

Israel Discovery - Small Group, Winter

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Israel Discovery - Small Group, Winter

9 Days Starting and ending in Tel Aviv

Visiting: Tel Aviv, Tel Aviv-Yafo, Jaffa, Nazareth, Tiberias, Caesarea, Haifa, Acre, Hula Valley, Golan Heights, Mount of Beatitudes, Dead Sea, Capernaum, Jerusalem, Masada National Park

Tour operator:

Insight Vacations

Tour code:

SW944ZM19

Specialist Group:

Family/Kids

Guide Type:

Fully Guided

Group size:

12 - 24

Physical rating:

Low

Age range:

5-99

Tour operated in:

English

This tour is no longer available

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 Theatre, 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

  • Sea of Galilee: Enjoy a relaxing cruise on Lake Kinneret, where Jesus is said to have walked on water

  • Tel Aviv: Meet a local artist for a private tour of their studio in Jaffa's artists’ quarter

  • Hula Valley: Join a ranger for a safari tour of the Agmon Hahula nature reserve

  • Caesarea: Explore the Roman and Crusader ruins with a Local Expert

  • Nazareth: Visit the Church of the Annunciation where the angel Gabriel is said to have appeared to Mary

  • Masada National Park: Ascend to the ancient fortress by cable car

  • Jerusalem: Visit the Garden of Gethsemene, the Temple Mount, Room of the Last Supper, and the Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum

Itinerary

Expand All

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.At 19:30 meet your travel companions for a Welcome Reception and a short introduction to your Israeli adventures.

Day 2: Exploring Vibrant Tel Aviv Relaxed Start

Location: Tel Aviv-Yafo, Jaffa, Tel Aviv-Yafo

Accommodation: Hotel, Sheraton Tel Aviv .

Accommodation Name: Sheraton Tel Aviv Hotel

Meals Included: Breakfast

Morning sightseeing showcases the highlights of this vibrant city, including the Habimah National Theatre, Rabin Square and Carmel Market. Venture along the seashore to the ancient city of Jaffa to see the famous clock tower and the old harbour. 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: Nazareth, Tiberias, Caesarea, Haifa, Tel Aviv-Yafo, Acre

Accommodation: Hotel, Leonardo Plaza Tiberias.

Accommodation Name: Leonardo Plaza Hotel Tiberias

Meals Included: Breakfast, Dinner

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 amphitheatre. 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 harbour 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 colourful 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, Tiberias, Hula Valley

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: Golan Heights, Mount of Beatitudes, Dead Sea, Tiberias, Capernaum

Accommodation: Hotel, Milos Dead Sea Ein Bokek.

Accommodation Name: Herbert Samuel Hod Dead Sea Hotel

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: Jerusalem, Masada National Park, Dead Sea

Accommodation: Hotel, Leonardo Plaza 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 Celebration Dinner with wine.

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 (B), 2 Dinners with Wine (DW), 1 Dinner (D), and a Friday night Shabbat dinner.

  • Activities

    Choose between two carefully selected activities; enjoy a relaxing cruise on Lake Kinneret; visit the ancient Galilee Boat; meet a local artist in Jaffa; join a safari tour of the Agmon Hahula nature reserve; explore with a Local Expert in Tel Aviv, Caesarea, Nazareth, and Jerusalem; ascend to the ancient fortress of Masada by cable car; visit the Synagogue where Jesus taught and the Mount of Beatitudes; toast with a lively Celebration Dinner in Jerusalem.

  • Accommodations

    Stay in hand-picked hotels throughout the tour, including nights at Sheraton Tel Aviv Hotel, Leonardo Plaza Tiberias, Milos Dead Sea Ein Bokek, and Leonardo Plaza Jerusalem.

  • Transport

    All transport between destinations and to/from included activities.

  • Local Guides

    Expert local guides for city tours and select activities.

What's Not Included

  • Travel Insurance

    Travel insurance is not included and is recommended for all travelers.

  • International Flights

    International flights to and from the start and end points are not included.

  • Personal Expenses

    Items of a personal nature, including souvenirs, laundry, and telephone calls, are not included.

  • Optional Activities

    Any optional activities mentioned in the itinerary are not included in the tour price.

  • Tips and Gratuities

    Tips and gratuities for guides, drivers, and hotel staff are not included.

Check out our Q&As

  • Are there any age restrictions for participants?

    The tour does not specify any age minimum or maximum restrictions.

  • How many days does the tour last?

    The tour itinerary details span over 9 days.

  • What are the highlights of the Israel Discovery - Small Group, Winter tour?

    The highlights of the tour include 8 Breakfasts, 2 Dinners with Wine, 1 Dinner, a choice between two carefully selected activities, a cruise on Lake Kinneret, a visit to the ancient Galilee Boat, a Welcome Drink in Tel Aviv, a Shabbat dinner in Tiberias, a Celebration Dinner in Jerusalem, a private tour with a local artist in Jaffa, a safari tour of the Agmon Hahula nature reserve, sightseeing in Tel Aviv including the Habimah National Theatre and Carmel Market, exploring the Roman and Crusader ruins of Caesarea, visiting the Church of the Annunciation in Nazareth, ascending to the fortress of Masada by cable car, visiting the Synagogue where Jesus taught and the Mount of Beatitudes, visiting the Garden of Gethsemene and seeing the Temple Mount, Room of the Last Supper, the Pool of Bethesda and Ecce Homo Arch in Jerusalem, visiting the Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum, and wandering to the Shrine of the Book wing housing the Dead Sea Scrolls at the Israel Museum.

  • What are the included activities?

    Included activities are a cruise on Lake Kinneret, a visit to the ancient Galilee Boat, sightseeing in Tel Aviv, exploring Caesarea, visiting the Church of the Annunciation in Nazareth, ascending to the fortress of Masada by cable car, visiting significant religious and historical sites in Jerusalem, and a safari tour of the Agmon Hahula nature reserve.

  • Are meals included in the tour?

    Yes, the tour includes 8 Breakfasts, 2 Dinners with Wine, and 1 Dinner.

  • What are the dietary options available?

    The tour does not specify dietary options. It's recommended to inquire directly for any specific dietary needs.

  • What is the group size for this tour?

    The tour does not specify minimum or maximum group sizes.

  • What is the difficulty level of the tour?

    The tour does not specify a difficulty level.

  • What type of accommodations are provided?

    The tour provides accommodations at hotels such as the Sheraton Tel Aviv Hotel, Leonardo Plaza Tiberias, Milos Dead Sea Ein Bokek, and Leonardo Plaza Jerusalem.

  • Is there a private tour option available?

    The tour does not specify if a private tour option is available.

  • 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

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Great itinerary, good pace, tour director was friendly and very knowledgeable and organised. Bus was very spacious and driver was great. Yes would recommend insight to friends and families

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Book with Confidence

  • Low Deposit

    Insight Vacations requires a minimum deposit of 200 GBP 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.