Vacation Overview
9 days from Tel Aviv to Tel Aviv
Discover the Holy Land on this affordable tour through Israel. Israel has some of the most ancient biblical and fascinating modern sights in the world. Enjoy sightseeing tours in Tel Aviv; Jaffa, believed to be one of the oldest ports in the world; Caesarea, one of the most spectacular cities in ancient Palestine; Megiddo, where you’ll admire the ruins of the fortified town; Muhraqa, where the Bible says the prophet Elijah confronted the prophets of Baal; Bet She’an, one of the world’s best-preserved Roman cities; Haifa; Capernaum, home to the apostles Simon Peter, Andrew, James, John, and Mathew; and Jerusalem.
Visit the Mount of Beatitudes, where Jesus gave his Sermon on the Mount; Tabgha, where Jesus is said to have fed the 5,000 with two fish and five loaves; Cana of Galilee, where Jesus turned water into wine at a wedding feast; the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem, built over the spot where Jesus was born; the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus prayed on the night before his arrest; and more. Walk the Via Dolorosa (Way of the Cross) and see the Wailing Wall, the most holy shrine in the Jewish religion. You’ll also have an opportunity to join an optional excursion to the Dead Sea, the lowest dry point on earth.
All of this and more awaits you on this fabulous tour through the Holy Land.
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrive in Tel Aviv, IsraelWelcome to Israel! Check into your hotel and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure. This evening, meet your Tour Director and fellow travelers. |
Day 2: Tel Aviv–Jaffa–Caesarea–Megiddo–Muhraqa–HaifaEnjoy a full day exploring some of the ancient biblical and modern sights of this fascinating land. Leave Tel Aviv and drive to the old port of Jaffa, believed to be one of the oldest in the world. Set around a picturesque natural harbor, this atmospheric town is mentioned in the Bible as the place from which Jonah set sail before he was swallowed by a whale. Sightseeing continues at Caesarea, an ancient port turned stunning archaeological zone. Built by Herod the Great in the 1st century BC, the city was one of the most splendid in ancient Palestine and its capital for over 600 years. Admire what remains of Herod’s grandiose building works, including the restored 3,500-seat Roman theater, the aqueduct, harbor, and the crumbled moat and towers from the 12th-century Crusader fortress. From here, travel to the archaeological site of Megiddo—an age-old fortified town—and admire the ruins. Next, visit Muhraqa on Mount Carmel. Here, a 17th-century monastery marks where, according to the Bible, the prophet Elijah confronted the prophets of Baal. Overnight in Haifa, a city with a long history that dates back to biblical times. (B,D) |
Day 3: Haifa–Mount of Beatitudes–Capernaum–Sea of Galilee–Tabgha–NazarethToday, travel to the Sea of Galilee, stopping en route to visit the Mount of Beatitudes, where Jesus delivered his sermon on the mount. Next, Capernaum, home to the apostles Simon Peter, Andrew, James, John, and Matthew. While here, see its ancient synagogue and the House of St. Peter, then head for Tabgha, where Jesus is said to have fed the 5,000 with two fish and five loaves. View the church commemorating the miracle and stop at the baptismal site on the Jordan River. (B,D) |
Day 4: Nazareth. Excursion to Cana of Galilee and Bet She’anThis morning, visit the Church of the Annunciation, where the Angel Gabriel told Mary she would conceive and give birth to Jesus, the Son of God, and also see St. Joseph’s Church. Then, head for Cana of Galilee, the reputed site of Jesus’ first miracle, where he turned water into wine at a wedding feast. In the afternoon, stop at Gideon’s Spring, where Gideon tested his army so he could decide who would join him in battle against the Midianites. Then, visit Bet She’an, one of the world’s best-preserved Roman cities. Ongoing excavations at this UNESCO World Heritage Site have revealed time-worn colonnaded streets, bathhouses, and theaters. (B) |
Day 5: Nazareth–Bethlehem–JerusalemDrive through the Jordan Valley to Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus and King David. Visit one of Christianity’s holiest places, the Church of the Nativity, built over the cave traditionally regarded as the spot where Jesus was born. Reach Jerusalem in the late afternoon. (B,D) |
Day 6: JerusalemA fascinating day awaits as you set off on a walking tour of Jerusalem’s Old Town. From the Mount of Olives, take in memorable views over the city’s domes, walls, and rooftops before strolling in the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus prayed on the night before his arrest. Your guide will then lead you into the Jewish quarter, pointing out the Wailing Wall with its prayer notes tucked between the stones, and the Dome of the Rock, the gold-topped mosque on Temple Mount. Next, walk the famous Via Dolorosa (Way of the Cross), following in Jesus’ footsteps as he bore the cross to Calvary for his crucifixion, where the Church of the Holy Sepulchre now stands. (B) |
Day 7: Jerusalem. Optional Excursion to Masada & The Dead SeaToday is free to relax, explore Jerusalem at leisure, or join an exciting optional excursion to the Dead Sea, the lowest point on Earth. Travel through the mountainous Judean Desert; pass the Qumran Caves, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered; and then ride the cable car up to the magnificent Masada rock fortress. The fortification, perched high on a cliff-top plateau above the Dead Sea, was built by Herod the Great and was the site where 960 Jewish zealots committed mass suicide to evade capture by the Romans in 73 AD. Later, head for the shores of the Dead Sea, where you’ll have plenty of time to float in the famously buoyant waters that are almost nine times saltier than the ocean—an unforgettable experience. Toward the end of the afternoon, return to Jerusalem. (B,D) |
Day 8: Jerusalem–Tel AvivThis morning, enjoy more free time to take in everything that makes Jerusalem such a captivating place. Late this afternoon, head back to Tel Aviv for a final overnight. (B,D) |
Day 9: Tel AvivYour vacation ends with breakfast this morning. (B) |
Vacation Highlights
Headsets throughout the tour. Visits to Tel Aviv, Jaffa, Caesarea, Megiddo, Muhraqa, Haifa, Mount of Beatitudes, Capernaum, Sea of Galilee, Tabgha, Nazareth, Cana of Galilee, Bet She’an, Bethlehem, Jerusalem, Sea of Galilee.
Mass/Religious Service:
Nazareth, Bethlehem, Jerusalem
Guides:
Services of a professional Tour Director while touring
Hotels
TEL AVIV City (F) or Tal Hotel (F)
HAIFA Hotel Nof (F)
NAZARETH Hotel Gardenia (F)
JERUSALEM Jerusalem Gate (F)
Meals
Buffet breakfasts; 5 dinners
Dates and Prices
When you book your flights with us, you’ll find we offer competitive and hassle-free airfares, plus you’ll receive free airport transfers and flights coordinated with vacation dates.
The price listed does not include your airfare. Call us direct to receive an air quote.
| Departure Details | Tour Start Date | Return Date | Land/Cruise Price Only | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 5/28/2014 | 6/7/2014 | $1,729.00 | ||
| 6/19/2014 | 6/28/2014 | $1,729.00 | ||
| 7/03/2014 | 7/12/2014 | $1,729.00 | ||
| 8/14/2014 | 8/23/2014 | $1,729.00 | ||
| 8/21/2014 | 8/30/2014 | $1,729.00 | ||
| 8/28/2014 | 9/06/2014 | $1,729.00 | ||
| 9/4/2014 | 9/13/2014 | $1,799.00 | ||
| 9/11/2014 | 9/20/2014 | $1,759.00 | ||
| 10/09/2014 | 10/19/2014 | $1,759.00 | Last tour of the season | |
| 10/09/2014 | 10/19/2014 | $1,759.00 | Last tour of the season |
Travel Terms & Conditions
The purchase of any travel services offered by our travel providers, constitutes a contractual arrangement between you, Personalized Services International Travel Agency and our travel provider, and represents your acceptance of the Terms & Conditions. Please ensure that you read carefully and understand the Terms & Conditions prior to booking. These Terms & Conditions cover Deposit & Final Payment information, Air-Inclusive Deposits & Final Payment, Revisions & Revision Fees, Air Arrangements, Participation, Travelers Who Need Special Assistance, Young Travelers, Smoking, Price Policy, Visas and Passports, Hotels & Accommodations, Baggage Allowance, Travel Documents, Not Included in the Land Price, Refunds, Service Inquires After the Vacation, Holidays, Safety, Photos & Pictures, Optional Excursions, and Responsibility.
Important Notes
- Vacation departures, itineraries and prices are subject to change.
- A non-refundable, non-transferable deposit of $250 per person per vacation is required for Personalized Services International Travel Agency to reserve space for you.
- Charges not included in the land vacation price: airfare to and from the start of your vacation; airline baggage fees including checked and/or excess baggage fees; Federal inspection fees for the Federal U.S. Customs and Immigrations; agricultural tax; other per person taxes imposed by government entities; applicable cruise taxes, fees, fares and port charges; passports; visas and vaccinations; transfers; tips to your Tour or Cruise Director, Local Host, driver, Local Guides, and/or ships’ crew; gratuities on ferries, trains, and cruise ships; laundry; telephone; minibar; alcohol, beverages, and food outside of the contracted menu as presented at a hotel or restaurant (these extra items will be billed to you before leaving the hotel, ship, or restaurant); additional excursions and activities not listed as ‘included’ in the itinerary; porterage at airports or train stations; Travel Protection premiums; and all other items of a personal nature.
Booking your Vacation with Air
Our volume buying power saves you money. We may be able to provide you with flight arrangements from your gateway city. There are 2 air options: Flex Air and Instant Purchase Air. Flex Air allows flexibility if you want to make changes to your vacation schedule. Instant Purchase Air may offer additional airline options but has more restrictions. Some vacations may only offer one Air type option.
Guaranteed air-inclusive prices: air is only available to passengers traveling from the United States and only available when booked in conjunction with a land vacation. An additional non-refundable air deposit ($300 per person) is required for Flex Air booked in conjunction with any land vacation (i.e. air-inclusive vacation). Air can only be booked by our travel provider in conjunction with a vacation package. Instant Purchase Air requires air payment in full at time of booking (i.e. air-inclusive vacation) plus $50 per person non-refundable service fee. Once booked, Instant Purchase Air is non-refundable, and non-changeable. Some vacations may only offer one Air type option. However, once your airfare is confirmed we will connect your air with land. You will receive a confirmation e-mail once all travel has been coordinated with your full air and land deposit, your air-inclusive vacation price is guaranteed. We recommend that you purchase the travel insurance when traveling overseas.
Air-Inclusive Vacations — Applicable Taxes & Fees
Air inclusive price quotes will include all government-imposed taxes and fees applicable at the time of booking and will be shown as a Total Amount. Additional airline fees for baggage may apply. At the time of booking your air-inclusive vacation online, carrier Websites will be provided to check baggage fees, or you can visit www.iflybags.com for up-to-date baggage pricing/restrictions. The total airfare price, the base airfare price, and the applicable government taxes and fees are broken-out line-by-line and shown while booking online and on the invoice after your travel is booked. For return travel from some countries, international travelers are required to pay entry and/or exit fees at the airport. These fees will be collected by the local government and are payable by the traveler at time of travel. Your confirmation booking information will contain information about these fees.
Add on Jordan for a 10 Day Tour: Overview of Jordan
This wonderful vacation begins in Tel Aviv and travels via Caesarea (with visits to the Roman Amphitheater and the impressive Crusader Fortress) to the ancient fortified city of Megiddo, regarded as one of the most important biblical sights in Israel; Muhraqa; and Haifa, a city with a long history dating back to biblical times. Here, enjoy a visit to the Baha’i Shrine, the world center of Baha’i faith. In Acre, tour the excavated part of the vast underground Crusader City. Continue to Nazareth to visit St. Joseph’s Church and Cana, site of the miracle where Jesus changed water into wine. Arrive at Kibbutz, where you will enjoy a lecture on kibbutz life.
On the way to Jerusalem, visit the Mount of Beatitudes, where Jesus delivered his Sermon on the Mount; Capernaum, where Jesus recruited his first followers among the fishermen; and Bet She’an, with its Roman and Byzantine relics. Also enjoy a cruise on the Sea of Galilee. From Jerusalem, where you will stay for five nights, enjoy included excursions to Ein Karem; Bethlehem, where you will visit the Church of the Nativity on the site where Jesus was born; Masada; and the Dead Sea, the lowest point on the surface of the earth.
Enjoy a walking tour of Jerusalem and visit the Wailing Wall, the most holy shrine in the Jewish religion; the House of Caiaphas, where Jesus was kept the night after his arrest; the Church of the Holy Sepulchre; Mount of Olives; the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus prayed his last prayer before his arrest; and more. Follow the Way of the Cross along Via Doloroso. On your way back to Tel Aviv, stop in the Valley of Elah, site of David’s victory over Goliath; Latrun; and Jaffa.
Travel to Amman, Jordan, and continue to the rose-red city of Petra, one of the New 7 Wonders of the World®. A full-day excursion includes a walk down the Siq, the narrow gorge made famous in the movie Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade; the Treasury; and an opportunity to sip tea in a Bedouin tent. Next, travel to the Dead Sea via Kerak and Wadi Mujib, the “Jordanian Grand Canyon.” A highlight excursion from the Dead Sea includes a visit to Mount Nebo, where Moses saw the Promised Land, and Bethany Beyond the Jordan, where Christians believe Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist.
All of this and more is included on this fascinating Journey through the Holy Land.
Fundraising with Vacations — Program & Service Fees
Custom Designed Travel Options
If your organization can get enough people to take the spiritual vacation we can customize a tour outside of the published brochure dates. Please let us know your dates and how many people will be traveling with your group. A guided tour group consist of 16 travelers or more to hold a group rate. Our travel provider will donate an additional $1,000 to your religious or faith-based organization for a group of 50 travelers or more. This is a great fundraiser!
Group Travel Listing online:
Your group will be listed on our group travel website to allow better communication of your spiritual journey to the “Holy Land” and to allow you to communicate and advertise the trip; this is FREE . We will set up payment options via Paypal, at an additional 10% fee, to allow you to pay-over-time or travelers can call our office direct. We can custom design a website for an additional cost.
Contact us today! 1-866-774-4077 | (618) 589-9330 | (314) 549-8979
Complete our contact form on our Group Travel Website: www.yourfuturegrouptravel.com and one of our expert travel consultants will contact to get the planning started.