1
JERUSALEM: THE OLD CITY
Get a magnificent panoramic view of the Old City from the Mount of Olives before heading over to Mount Zion to visit the room of the Last Supper and the Tomb of King David, which is housed in an incredible thousand-year-old building. Continue into the Old City through the Jewish Quarter stopping at the Roman Cardo; the Herodian Mansions, which show how wealthy Jerusalemites lived 2,000 years ago; and then the Old City along the Via Dolorosa to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher where the crucifixion, burial and resurrection of Jesus took place. Travel to Bethlehem* to visit the Church of Nativity, Manger Square and Rachel’s Tomb. *Site under Palestinian Authority jurisdiction
2
JERUSALEM: THE NEW CITY
Delve into the ‘Old & New’ starting at the Israel Museum to check out the famous Dead Sea Scrolls and the Model of Jerusalem from the Second Temple period. Take a tour of the Knesset, Israel’s parliament, and then brace yourself for a powerful journey through the Holocaust with a visit to Yad Vashem and Mount Herzl Military cemetery. Next, head to Meah She’arim, one of Jerusalem’s most interesting neighbourhoods, to get a rare glimpse of ultra-Orthodox life. In the evening, enjoy a typical Middle Eastern feast before catching the popular ‘Sound & Light’ show at the Citadel
Breakfast
Dinner
Dinner
3
QUMRAN • MASADA • DEAD SEA
Spend the day out in the Judean desert stopping at Qumran, where the famous Dead Sea Scrolls were found. Then drive along the Dead Sea to Masada, an incredible mountain top fortress built by King Herod in 30 BCE and later the last stronghold for a group of Jewish zealots whose tragic story has become a symbol of perseverance, faith and ambition. The well-preserved remains are accessed by cable car and offer an incredible view of the Roman camps and the Dead Sea. Finish the day “floating” in the salty therapeutic waters of the Dead Sea, which at 1,300 feet (400 meters) below sea level, is one of the lowest points on the earth. Return to Jerusalem where the tour comes to an end.
Breakfast
