Israel – in the footsteps of 3 religions 2024/2025

FLIGHT TO TEL AVIV FROM ANY PREFERRED AIRPORT

Flight to the capital of Israel – Tel Aviv. A multitude of monuments, beautiful beaches with golden sand and interesting architecture is one of the many attractions of this extraordinary city. Tel Aviv is also a favorite city of young people.  That is probably why it recieved the name “the city that never stops”.

TEL AVIV – BETHLEHEM

After arriving in Tel Aviv, we will go to the hotel in Bethlehem for dinner and an overnight stay. Bethlehem is a place of pilgrimage and a center of Palestinian Christians. According to the Gospels, it is the birthplace of Jesus Christ. It is interesting to get around this town because of the narrow streets. Standing around the main square of the city, the tower of minarets and gray tenement houses are more conspicuous than the most famous city ​​building.

BETHLEHEM – JERUSALEM

After breakfast, we will drive to the Shepherds’ Field. This is the place from which shepherds more than 2000 years ago went to the Grotto of Bethlehem to worship the newborn Jesus. Then we will visit Church of the Nativity, one of the most important churches in the world. The basilica is now located under the care of the monks of three Christian denominations: Orthodox Greeks, Armenians, and Catholics (Franciscans). It is also one of the oldest continuously operating churches in the world. Upon arrival in Jerusalem, we will visit the Yad Vashem Holocaust Remembrance Institute and Museum. This place commemorates the death of over 6 million Jews murdered during World War II. Drive to the vicinity of the Knesset – the Israeli Parliament, where we will see the symbol of this state – the Menorah.

Return to the hotel for dinner and an overnight stay.

JERUSALEM

After breakfast, we will start exploring Jerusalem. We will see for example the Old Town. We will walk through the streets of old town towards the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Our route will run partly through the Via Dolorosa Street  (Way of the Cross).  We will visit the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. There will be an opportunity to visit the tomb of Jesus. After some resting time we will go to the Mount of Olives. We will go to the viewpoint from which  spreads a spectacular panorama of the Old City of Jerusalem. We will go down to the Basilica in the Garden of Olives – Gethsemane. Here, according to Christian tradition, Jesus prayed in the garden.

Return to the hotel for dinner and an overnight stay. In the evening, for those interested, an additional trip “Jerusalem by night” (cost: around $30).

DEAD SEA – JERICHO - TIBERIAS

Today we will go to the Dead Sea. We will begin with a visit to the famous Masada fortress, a symbol of heroic struggle and resistance of the Jewish people. Until recently, soldiers of the Israeli army during the submission oaths vow that “Masada will never happen again.” Next we will go to one of the beaches of the Dead Sea. We will be able to swim at the lowest point of land in the world – 430.5 m below the sea level. And it should be noted here that the water and mud from the Dead Sea are famous for their healing properties. After the bath, we will go to one of the oldest cities in the world – Jericho, located in the Palestinian Autonomy region. Here we will see the mountain of temptation and the sycamore tree, which we also know from the pages of the Gospel. We will have an opportunity here to eat a delicious Middle Eastern lunch (pay on your own). The last point of today’s trip will be Tiberias, a city located on the Sea of ​​Galilee, where we will have dinner and spend the night.

GOLAN HILL

After breakfast, we will visit places located on the Israeli-Syrian border that is the Golan Heights. These ancient mountains, which were formed as a result of volcanic activity, are known primarily from the ongoing wars between Syria and Israel. Today we can safely admire Syrian areas up to the suburbs of Damascus. We will also see Mount Hermon, which is considered the highest in the area. It is on the tri point of Israel, Syria and Lebanon. Then we will go to one of the local vineyards, where we will find out how grape growing and wine production looks like.  In the afternoon, we will have lunch in one of the restaurants on the shores of the Sea of ​​Galilee, where we will taste, among others, the famous St. Peter’s Fish (golden tilapia from equatorial Africa). After lunch we will go on a tour around the Sea of ​​Galilee. We plan to visit: Mount of Beatitudes, Church of the Primacy of St. Peter, Tabgha – the place of the multiplication of loaves and fish. At the end of the day we will take a short cruise on the Galilee Lake and then return to the hotel for dinner and an overnight stay.

ROSH HANIKRA - AKKA – HAIFA

After breakfast, we will drive to Rosh HaNikra – a place where the mountains meet the sea on the border with Lebanon. It is the most north-western point of Israel. We will walk around the grottos located on the border with Lebanon, into which the waters of the Mediterranean Sea flow. We’ll get to the caves with the world’s shortest cable car. We will drive to the Keshet Cave viewpoint. Thenwe will go to Akko, the last capital of the Kingdom of Jerusalem, where we will first of all visit the famous Crusader fortress, which was also the last capital of the Kingdom of Jerusalem during the Crusades.However, Akka itself has much more to offer than just the Crusader Fortress. No wonder that it has been inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List. After a walk through the streets of the old town we will go to Haifa – the third most important city of Israel. Haifa is the home of the Baha’i followers and the famous gardens located here are a showcase of the whole country. We will pay a visit to the Stella Maris Sanctuary in Caramel. Return to the hotel for dinner and an overnight stay.

HAIFA - CAESAREA - TEL AVIV-JAFFO – BETHLEHEM

After breakfast and check-out from the hotel, a drive to Caesarea Maritima, where the famous archaeological excavations are located. The city was expanded and gained fame in the times of King Herod the Great, over 2000 years ago. To this day, we can admire the floor mosaic decorating Herod’s palace, where after his death, the famous Pontius Pilate lived.

Then we will go to the largest city of Israel – Tel Aviv-Jaffo. It is said that the city has two lungs. One lung is the historic port of Jaffa, full of monuments dating back to ancient times of Egypt, but also numerous, more modern monuments. The other is Tel Aviv, a modern and stylish city. We will take numerous walks through the narrow old streets of Jaffa and the modern boulevards of Tel Aviv, where in the shade of plane trees we will admire the famous architecture of the white city, which is the city of Bauhaus.

Transfer to Bethlehem for accommodation, dinner and an overnight stay.

JERUSALEM – TEL AVIV

After breakfast, we will head back to Jerusalem’s old city to discover the beauty and significance of the Hill temple. In the times of Jesus and earlier, there was a Jewish Temple there, now there is a Golden Dome temple commemorating the act in which God gave the Qur’an to the Prophet Muhammad. We will walk towards the Western Wall (Wailing Wall). On the way, we will take a walk through the Jewish part of the old town to see the Hurva Synagogue, the ramparts from the time of Jesus as well as the streets of the Cardo from the period of Roman occupation. Then we will visit Mount Zion with the Upper Room and the Basilica of the Dormition of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

In the afternoon we will spend free time on Mamilla Street, which is entirely a pedestrian street where stylish shops, restaurants and bars are located.

Return back to the hotel for dinner and time to freshen up and change clothes before the flight. Transfer to the airport in Tel Aviv, passport and baggage check-in.

FLIGHT BACK HOME

Transfer to the airport and farewell to the group. A flight back home, where you can start planning your next trip with Rek Travel.