Biblical Israel tour
Biblical Israel tour
Biblical Israel tour
8 Days Starting in 32.066158,34.777821 and ending in 31.768319,35.213710
Visiting: Israel
Tour operator:
Tour code:
44
Recommended For:
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
1 - 45
Age range:
8-95
Special diets catered:
Request dietary needs
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Tour Overview
On this comprehensive 8-day Israel tour you’ll have the opportunity to tour many of the ancient biblical sites mentioned in the Bible. This tour has a specific focus on Christianity.
While on this Israel tour, be prepared to tour sites that played an important role in Jesus’ life – Bethlehem; Tiberias and the shores of the Sea of Galilee; Nazareth and Cana, Jerusalem, including the Mount of Olives, the Garden of Gethsemane, the Via Dolorosa, Calvary and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, and more!
IMPORTANT NOTE: Due to continued unrest we have temporarily suspended this tour in Israel. Reservations are still being accepted for later travel dates. Should the situation continue, we will contact you approximately 8 weeks prior to departure to discuss new dates/cancellation options (though you can be assured of a full refund if we are unable to operate the tour).
Highlights
Itinerary
After you've arrived at Ben Gurion Airport, one of our representatives will meet you after passport control for assistance and transfer to your hotel in Tel Aviv. The rest of the day is yours either to explore or relax from your long flight.
OVERNIGHT:
Tel Aviv hotel
MEALS:
None
DAY 2: Jaffa – Caesarea – Megiddo - Tiberias
We officially kick off the Israel tour with a visit of the port city of Jaffa (Joppa), where we will take a short walking tour in alleys of the old, fortified town. We'll also pass by the house of Simon the Tanner and marvel at the views from the hilltop.
Next, we head north along the coastal road - Via Maris - to the archaeological ruins of Caesarea, built by Herod the Great in honour of Augustus Caesar. From here we go on to visit Megiddo where the book of Revelations mentions a great battle at the place called "Armageddon", an ancient city inhabited continuously for more than five millennia (6000-500 B.C.).
We end our day with a drive toward the Sea of Galilee, descending to Tiberias, known as one of the Holy cities in Judaism.
OVERNIGHT:
Tiberias hotel
MEALS:
Breakfast
DAY 3: Sea of Galilee – Capernaum – Tabgha – Mount of Beatitudes – Golan Heights
Today, we visit the sites on the north shore of the Sea of Galilee, the stage for many of the events in Jesus' life.
We will also take a drive along the shore of the sea to Capernaum, known as 'His Town', the centre of Jesus ministry where he spent much time healing the sick and performing miracles. Next, we visit Tabgha, the site of Christ's miracle of feeding the 5,000, visiting the Church of Multiplication, and the Church of the Primacy of St Peter.
We continue to the Mount of Beatitudes overlooking the sea, where Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount and it is believed that he picked his 12 Apostles. We then ascend to the Golan Heights to view the panoramic view of the peaks of Mt. Hermon and the rugged Golan plateau.
We also get the chance to visit Banias (Caesarea Philippi), one of the sources of the River Jordan, and drive to the southern part of the Sea of Galilee to visit the Yardenit Baptismal Site.
OVERNIGHT:
Tiberias hotel
MEALS:
Breakfast
DAY 4: Galilee - Nazareth - Cana - Beit Alpha
We set sail on a boat on the Sea of Galilee and subject to conditions and fee. We journey through the Galilee to Nazareth, where Jesus spent his childhood, and the Church of Annunciation, built on the site where archaeologists believe the Archangel Gabriel appeared to the Virgin Mary and this is where you'll see Mary's Well and Joseph's Church.
We make a stop at Cana, the site of where Jesus performed his first miracle, turning water in to wine. We also visit the ancient synagogue at Beit Alpha, located at the foot of the northern slopes of the Gilboa Mountains which has one of most preserved and beautiful mosaics in Israel, and we end the day with a drive through the Jordan Valley, passing by Jericho, before ascending through the Judean Mountains to Jerusalem.
OVERNIGHT:
Jerusalem hotel
MEALS:
Breakfast
DAY 5: Masada - Qumran - Dead Sea
We start the day bright and early with a drive towards the remarkable scenery of the Dead Sea and nearly 1,300 feet below sea level, the lowest point on the earth's surface.
We make our first stop at Masada that is situated right on an isolated cliff in the Judean Desert. This site has been declared as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2001.
We then make our way to fortress known to be the last stronghold of the Jewish Zealots in their war against the Romans. While here, we will visit excavations, King Herod's palace, the synagogue, bathhouse, and more.
Our next stop will be at the Qumran Caves site where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered. A highlight of today is having the opportunity to 'float' in the Dead Sea and if the weather permits.
OVERNIGHT:
Jerusalem hotel
MEALS:
Breakfast
DAY 6: Israel Museum - Yad Vashem – Ein Karem - Bethlehem
Start the day at the Israel Museum'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'll also have the opportunity to enjoy Ein Karem; a picturesque village in the south western outskirts of Jerusalem. This small village has great significance in Christian traditions, since this is where according to tradition John the Baptist was born.
We then visit Yad Vashem the official memorial to the Jewish victims of the Holocaust, established in 1953, located at the foot of Mt. Hertzl, and a not forgetting we visit Bethlehem today; the birthplace of Jesus at the Church of the Nativity and Manger Square.
OVERNIGHT:
Jerusalem hotel
MEALS:
Breakfast
DAY 7: Jerusalem
Did you know that Jerusalem is the holy city for each of the world's three great religions, Christianity, Judaism and Islam. Today we head to Jerusalem where our tour will begin at Mt. Scopus for a panoramic view of the city.
The next stop will be at the Mount of Olives, the site where Jesus first gave the Lord's Prayer, followed by a visit to the Garden of Gethsemane where Judas betrayed Jesus.
While in the Old City we will stop at the Western Wall, a holy place for Judaism. We will also visit the actual site of the Second Temple, the Temple Mount. We visit other famous monuments such as Walk the Way of the Cross, the Via Dolorosa to Calvary and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, housing both the traditional site of Crucifixion and the Tomb of the Resurrection.
We then head just outside the Old City to Mount Zion where we'll stop at the traditional tomb of King David and the Room of the Last Supper.
OVERNIGHT:
Jerusalem hotel
MEALS:
Breakfast
DAY 8: Departure airport transfer
Our Israel tour has officially come to an end. Today you'l be taken back to the airport to head home. If you'd like to further your stay, please don't hesitate to contact us.
OVERNIGHT:
N/A
MEALS:
Breakfast
What's Included
What's Not Included
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- International Flights
- Visa fees
- Travel Insurance (compulsory)
- Single room supplements (chargeable if a same-sex room share is not available)
- Meals not indicated in the itinerary
- Drinks, snacks, tips and other personal expenses (e.g. laundry)
- Tips for tour leader
- Any other items not mentioned above
Mode of Transport
A/C minibus/coach
Accommodation
3 to 4-star hotels
Check out our Q&As
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Are all the relevant entry visa’s included in the price of the tour?
Visa arrangements are the responsibility of the traveller, and requirements are subject to change by the local authorities.
Many nationalities (including UK, European, USA, Canadian, Australian, New Zealand, South African) do not need to obtain a visa to enter Israel as a period as long as your stay is for less than 3 months. Other nationalities should check with their local consulate.
Most of our tours visiting Israel also enter the Occupied Palestinian Territories (OPT). No special visas are required but check points and border posts are operated by the Israeli authorities and access is sometimes limited or restricted. -
What should I know before I travel?
It is important when considering and preparing to travel anywhere in the world that you have a good understanding of the country you are visiting, its laws and customs, and the possible risks and situations that may occur. This includes specific risks related to your itinerary (eg. does it involve water & can you swim, are you fit enough for the activities included), as well as more general risks such as terrorism and natural disasters.
General details and links to more information about health risks, visa requirements, money, and travel insurance are given in these tour notes. We recommend that you re-read all these before your departure as well as the small print of your travel insurance policy so you know exactly what is covered and what is not.
You should take copies of your important travel documents with you and ideally also store them online securely as a backup. Make sure that you have given us your emergency contact details and told that person where and when you are travelling. Ensure you take enough money with you and that you have access to emergency funds.
Finally, you should read through and stay updated with the current official government travel advice for your destination. We are registered partners with the UK Foreign Office's 'Travel Aware' campaign which provides further useful and invaluable information. -
Are airport transfers included in 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.
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Are the local guides on the tour English speaking?
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
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Are all entrance fees included in the price?
The tour price includes entrance fees to all the tourist sites mentioned in the itinerary. You will need to cover the cost of entrance to any other extra sites that you may wish to visit.
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Are vaccinations required for this tour?
You should ensure you are fully insured for medical emergencies including emergency evacuation and repatriation.
Recommended vaccinations and other health protection measures vary according to the country you are visiting and where you are travelling from. We recommend you contact your GP/medical practitioner or a travel clinic for current information on vaccinations needed for your destination. You should ensure that you are up to date with vaccines and boosters recommended for your normal life at home, including for example, vaccines required for occupational risk of exposure, lifestyle risks and underlying medical conditions.
In addition, additional courses or boosters normally recommended for the countries in this region are:
Egypt: Tetanus, Typhoid, Hepatitis A
Jordan: Tetanus, Hepatitis A
Israel: Hepatitis A, Poliomyelitis
Lebanon: Dipheria, Hepatitis A
Malaria is not generally present unless it has been contracted abroad; you do not need to take malaria prophylactics.
More information is available here: Egypt, Jordan, Israel, Lebanon
Note: We are aware of some places in Egypt using 'black henna' instead of pure brown henna. Black henna contains a chemical dye PPD (paraphenylenediamine) which can result in severe allergic reactions and resultant scarring. To be safe we recommend avoiding any henna tattoos while in Egypt unless you are certain they are using pure brown henna. -
Is travel insurance compulsory?
Yes! Travel insurance is compulsory on all of our tours and needs to cover personal accident & liability, medical expenses and repatriation, travel delay & abandonment. We also strongly recommend that you take out cover against cancellation and lost/stolen baggage. Personal medical insurance does not normally provide sufficient cover and is generally not suitable for travel on our tours. You will not be able to join your tour if you have not provided us with details of your insurance or if you arrive without cover in place (no refunds will be due in this event).
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What happens if I need to change my holiday date once I’ve booked?
You are always able to change your travel date. However, some charges may apply depending on how long before your departure you make the change. Our flexible booking conditions and reduced charges will apply if you are changing date because of a Covid-19 reason or because your government is advising against travel to your destination. Please check our detailed booking conditions for full details.
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When is my balance payment due?
60 days prior to departure
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Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
On most of our group tours, solo travellers may choose to form a temporary 'tour bubble' and share a room with another traveller of the same sex in the group. If a room share is not available then a single room supplement may be payable, with the costs for these kept as low as possible. We have also removed compulsory single supplements from many of our tours, and are reducing the cost by 50% on s
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Can I transfer my booking to someone else?
Customers may transfer their booking or any Credit on File to another person who satisfies all the relevant conditions to the tour, provided that we are notified not less than 7 days before departure, and the transferee agrees to these booking conditions and all other terms of the contract between us. The Client and new booker are jointly and severally responsible for any outstanding payments and a transfer administration fee of GBP50 / USD75 / CAD100 / AUD100 / NZD100 / EUR75 / ZAR1000 / INR5000 or GBP100 / USD150 / CAD200 / AUD200 / NZD200 / EUR150 / ZAR2000 / INR10,000 if the transfer is made less than 60 days before departure. Important Note: Certain arrangements may not be amended or transferred after they have been confirmed (for example flight tickets, Gorilla Permits) and any alteration could incur a cancellation and rebooking charge of up to 100% of that part of the arrangements.
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Transfer as credit to Future Tours
Encounters Travel allows you to transfer existing payments to a future tour to avoid cancellation fees if you can't travel and inform encounters travel, 60 days before departure.
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Low Deposit
Encounters Travel requires a minimum deposit of 150 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 60 days before departure.
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Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of encounters travel charges.
Up to 61 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 60 days before tour starts: Forfeit 35% of booking price.
At 41 days before tour starts: Forfeit 70% of booking price.
At 27 days before tour starts: Forfeit 90% of booking price.
At 14 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
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