Itinerary Details
Abercrombie & Kent: Israel: Crossroads of History
DAY 1 Tel Aviv, Israel
Arrive in Tel Aviv, where you are met and transferred to your
hotel overlooking the Mediterranean Sea.
Dan Tel Aviv Hotel
Meals:
DAY 2 Caesarea & AcreDrive to the ancient Roman capital, Caesarea, where Herod
laid out a city and constructed a revolutionary, artificial
harbor. View a partial inscription mentioning Pontius Pilate,
the only secular reference to his existence. Then, visit the
UNESCO-listed seaport city of Acre to tour the Knights’
Halls, view the El Jazaar Mosque and explore the elaborate
covered markets. Gather for a Chef ’s Table welcome dinner
and savor a menu created to highlight Israel’s vibrant
culinary scene.
Scots Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 3 Sea of GalileeBegin a day that carries you back in history to the time of Jesus.
Cruise the Sea of Galilee and view Tabgha, where the miracle of the loaves and fishes is said to have occurred, and the Mount
of Beatitudes, site of the Sermon on the Mount. Continue
to Capernaum, home of St. Peter and the synagogue where
Jesus taught. Drive to Banias, a source of the Jordan River
where archaeological remains dating back millennia have been
discovered. Cap off the day with a sommelier-hosted Israeli wine
tasting in the hotel’s wine cellar.
Scots Hotel
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 4 NazarethToday, discover Nazareth, boyhood home of Jesus, to see the
Basilica of the Annunciation and an area below the Church of
St. Joseph, thought by some to be the site of Joseph’s carpentry
shop. Traverse the Jordan Valley to the Decapolis city of Beit
Shean. Later, arrive in Jerusalem.
The King David
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 5 JerusalemBegin today at the Mount of Olives for a view of the city, and
visit the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus prayed with his
disciples. Then, explore the fascinating Old City of Jerusalem,
built by King David in 1004 BC, and pause at the Western
Wall, one of Judaism’s most sacred sites. Also view the Temple
Mount (Al Haram el-Sharif), with its Dome of the Rock. In
the Christian Quarter, walk along the Via Dolorosa, a route
walked by Pilgrims for hundreds of years. Your day culminates
at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, traditional site of Jesus’
crucifixion, burial and resurrection.
The King David
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
DAY 6 JerusalemVisit Yad Vashem, Israel’s poignant and moving memorial to
Holocaust victims. Continue to the Israel Museum, which
houses a portion of the Dead Sea Scrolls and the impressive
Second Temple Model. Drive to Bethlehem, located in the
West Bank, for an A&K-exclusive private lunch with a local Christian family in their home, and enter the Church of the
Nativity, built upon the birthplace of Jesus. Conclude your
day with a Scenic Sundowner that offers inspirational views
of the Old City.
The King David
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
DAY 7 MasadaRide Like a Local by cable car up to Masada, last stronghold
of the Jewish Zealots who held out for three years against the
Romans. Float in the Dead Sea before returning to Jerusalem
for a special farewell dinner.
The King David
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner
DAY 8 JerusalemIf you wish, enjoy an early morning walk of the Temple
Mount. Stop for lunch at the Machane Yehuda Market. This
afternoon, enjoy one of these Design Your Day activities.
Explore the Historic Jewish Quarter for site visits of the
stunning new discoveries excavated at the City of David.
See More of the Christian Quarter, with the opportunity
to view the tomb within the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
Revisit the Old City to see the Tower of David and wander
myriad alleyways, home to local merchants for centuries.
Afterward, return to your hotel.
The King David
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch
DAY 9 Tel AvivTransfer to Ben Gurion Airport for your flight home.
Meals: Breakfast