8 days tour

Classic Israel

Classic Israel

This tour includes:

Guide

At Encounters Travel we aim to only ever use local Israeli guides and reps. We feel this gives you the best experience of the country and the sites you are seeing. A different guide may be used for the Occupied Palestinian Territory sites to the rest of the tour

Others

All accommodation in 3 to 4-star hotels and a Kibbutz Hotel as stated in the itinerary All transport and transfers in AC vehicles 24-hour airport arrival & departure transfer service English speaking guide during touring days. All site entry fees. Meals as indicated in the itinerary (7 breakfasts)

Accommodation

We use good quality hotels rated at the Israeli 3 to 4-star level on this tour, together with a night in a Kibbutz hotel. The hotels and accommodations listed below are the ones we most often on this tour. From time to time we may exchange these for similar properties at the same level. In general, specific hotels cannot be guaranteed on our group tours, but you may select your preferred options if you are booking a tailor-made trip. Tel Aviv - Sea Net Hotel Jerusalem - Jerusalem Gold Hotel Tiberias - Kibbutz Lavi Options are available to upgrade the accommodation to a better 4-star, standard 5-star, or 5-star deluxe level. Please contact us for prices to match your dates. The normal hotels we use for these upgrades are shown below, though these may changes to alternate hotels of a similar standard on some dates: Superior (4/5-star) : Tel Aviv - Dan Panorama | Jerusalem - Dan Panorama | Kibbutz Lavi - Superior room Deluxe (5-star): Tel Aviv - Carlton | Jerusalem - Inbal | Kibbutz Lavi - Premium room Luxury (superior 5-star): Tel Aviv - Dan Hotel | Jerusalem - King David | Kibbutz Lavi - Premium room As different hotel levels are available, this does mean that if some people take up the upgrades there will be more than one hotel pick-up and drop-off each day, though we do aim to plan these to minimise any extra travelling time. Accommodation is based on twin or double en-suite rooms with air conditioning. All couples will be given a private double room.

Meals

7 breakfasts

Transport

Our trips feature a mix of different transport options. We want you to feel like youโ€™re really experiencing the country youโ€™re travelling through, but at the same time we want you to finish journeys refreshed enough to enjoy the next stage of the tour. Our routes in Israel and the small distances involved mean that we use private vehicles throughout this tour. Your airport transfers are only included on the first and last day of the set tour itinerary, plus on any additional days if you book your hotel room with us. If you make your own arrangements for additional accommodation at either the beginning or the end of the tour then you will need to arrange your own airport transfers on these days.

Not included:

Flights

Insurance

Start planning your experience

Itinerary of your trip Classic Israel

  • Day 1 Day 1: Welcome To Tel-Aviv
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 1: Welcome To Tel-Aviv

      After arriving at the airport one of our friendly representatives will welcome you and transport you to your hotel. The day is yours free to either relax or explore the city on your own. | OVERNIGHT: Tel Aviv hotel. | MEALS: N/A. | EXTRAS: Single Room Supplement, Extra night - pre-tour, Hotel upgrades

  • Day 2 Day 2: Masada โ€“ The Dead Sea - Jerusalem
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 2: Masada โ€“ The Dead Sea - Jerusalem

      We set off from Tel Aviv, driving south, passing by the cities of Ashdod, Ashkelon and Beersheba, the capital of the Negev Desert. We continue via Arad to Masada โ€“ Israelโ€™s foremost archaeological park and ascend via cable-car for a thorough visit that gives insight to the rituals, politics and culture of the people who inhabited this desert fortress. We also visit many interesting places today, such as the excavations, Herodโ€™s palaces, the synagogue, bathhouse and cisterns, and enjoy the incredible views of the Roman camps, and the Dead Sea. After descending to the lowest place on earth, the Dead Sea, weโ€™ll experience floating on its salty waters and taking advantage of the soothing properties of the lakes mineral-rich black mud. We end the day by passing by the oasis of Ein Gedi and proceeding through the Judean Desert to Jerusalem. | OVERNIGHT: Jerusalem hotel. | MEALS: Breakfast

  • Day 3 Day 3: Exploring Jerusalem
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 3: Exploring Jerusalem

      We start the tour today at the Israel Museumโ€™s Shrine of the Book with the famous Dead Sea scrolls, then a visit to the beautifully renovated model of the Herodian city of Jerusalem, dating back to the time of the Second Temple. We also visit Yad Vashem, the official memorial to the Jewish victims of the Holocaust, established at the foot of Mt. Hertzl in 1953. Later we will drive to the picturesque village of Ein Karem in the south western outskirts of Jerusalem. According to tradition, this is where John the Baptist was born and the village therefore has great significance in Christian histories. Our final stop is at Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus, where we see the Church of the Navitity and Manger Square, before returning to Jerusalem. | OVERNIGHT: Jerusalem hotel. | MEALS: Breakfast

  • Day 4 Day 4: Jerusalem
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 4: Jerusalem

      Today, we go back in time and visit the Old City of Jerusalem. Weโ€™ll enter through one of the Gates to the walled Old City to see the Western Wall, and the actual site of the Second Temple, the Temple Mount. We also walk the Way of the Cross, the Via Dolorosa, stopping at the Stations of the Cross, to Calvary and ending at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, which houses both the traditional site of the Crucifixion and the Tomb of the Resurrection. We also visit Mt. Zion and the tomb of King David, and the Room of the Last Supper just outside the Old City. From the Mount of Olives weโ€™ll enjoy a spectacular pamoranic view of Jerusalem, the holy city for three of the worldโ€™s great religious โ€“ Christianity, Judaism and Islam. Another stop is at the Garden of Gethsemane where Judas betrayed Jesus, before we head into downtown Jerusalem and the largest open market in Israel, Mahane Yehuda, where we can experience the hustle, bustle, flavours and smells of the traders and their stalls. | OVERNIGHT: Jerusalem hotel. | MEALS: Breakfast

  • Day 5 Day 5: Beit Shean, Nazareth And Safed
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 5: Beit Shean, Nazareth And Safed

      We leave Jerusalem today and drive north passing by Jericho โ€“ the oldest city in the world. Weโ€™ll travel through the Jordan Valley and the new settlements to Beit Shean and visit the excavations of this well-preserved Roman City. Then it is on to Nazareth to visit the Church of the Annunciation and Christian holy sites, before we proceed to Safed, city of the Kabbalah and a centre of Jewish mysticism where weโ€™ll explore the beautiful streets of the artistsโ€™ colony. | OVERNIGHT: Tiberias hotel. | MEALS: Breakfast, Dinner

  • Day 6 Day 6: Sea Of Galilee, Golan Heights, Wine Tasting
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 6: Sea Of Galilee, Golan Heights, Wine Tasting

      We follow the shore of the Sea of Galilee to Capernaum to visit the ruins of the ancient synagogue, the Mount of Beatitudes, traditional site of the โ€˜Sermon on the Mountโ€™ and Tabgha which is the traditional site of the โ€™miracle of the loaves and the fishโ€™. There is the option to take a boat trip on teh Sea of Galilee here to enjoy the scenery and tranquillity which has changed little over 2000 years (subject to weather conditions, fee payable locally). Next we head up into the Golan Heights to enjoy an Israeli wine country experience in vineyards surrounded by endless views. While here, we take a tour, do a wine tasting and learn about the wine production process. Finally we pass former Syrian fortifications, Druze villages and Banias, the source of the Jordan River before returning to Tiberias for the night. | OVERNIGHT: Tiberias hotel. | MEALS: Breakfast, Dinner

  • Day 7 Day 7: Acre, Haifa, Caesarea & Tel Aviv
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 7: Acre, Haifa, Caesarea & Tel Aviv

      After breakfast, the last day of our tour starts off with a drive through the hills of the Galilee, westwards to Acre for a visit of the old, famous Crusader stronghold and medieval fortifications. We then continue to Haifa, for a panoramic view of the city from Mount Carmel, including the Bahaโ€™i Shrine, Persian Garden, and Haifa Bay. We then head along the Mediterranean coast to Caesarea to visit the Roman Theater and the Crusader fortress at what is known as the โ€œmasterpiece of Herod the Greatโ€. We end the day, and the tour, with a short city tour of Tel Aviv and the ancient port of Jaffa. | OVERNIGHT: Tel Aviv hotel. | MEALS: Breakfast

  • Day 8 Day 8: Israel Tour Ends
    • 12:00 am - 11:59 pm

      Day 8: Israel Tour Ends

      Your time in Israel officially comes to an end today. Youโ€™ll be transferred to the airport for your departure back home. Donโ€™t hesitate to contact us if youโ€™d like to extend your tour. | OVERNIGHT: N/A. | MEALS: Breakfast. | EXTRAS: Extra night - post-tour

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Experience Style

Experience Style

Mixed

There will be challenging activities such as hiking, biking, canyoning and trekking, but youโ€™re also going to have other means of transportation and relaxed moments to just chill.

Accomodation level

Accomodation level

Medium

This accommodation includes essential services like a hot shower, electricity, and a nice and comfy bed.

Experience Type

Experience Type

Small Group

Youโ€™ll be accompanied by a small group of travelers just like you.

Physical Rating

Physical Rating

Basic

Almost everyone is fit for these activities. Every hike or physical exercise last less than 30 minutes, such as paragliding and horseback riding. Please ask about specific conditions.

Age range

Age range

Min: 8 / Max: 95

Age range allowed for this experience.

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