5-Day Israel Heritage Tour with Jerusalem, Tzfat and Masada

• After breakfast and check-out, we drive north along the coastline to Caesarea, built by King Herod and the place where the first Jewish revolt against the Roman Empire broke out. We will be able to "talk" to some of the personalities connected with Caesarea, sit in the theatre, walk the floor of the great Hippodrome where chariot races were held, and get our feet wet in the Mediterranean Sea at the Roman aqueducts.
• Our next stop is Haifa, the city on the bay.
• On the slope of Mount Carmel, we will stop at the magnificent Baha'i Gardens for a view of one of the wonders of Israel.
• We leave Haifa and stop in Akko (Acre), the ancient port immortalized by the Crusaders, the Turks, and the British.
• We will see the underground Crusader City and the prison where Jews were hanged during the time of the British Mandate.
• Our next stop of the day is Rosh Hanikra on the extreme northwestern border. We descend by cable car into the magnificent limestone grottoes, or we take a short sunset hike on Mt. Meiron.
• We now travel to Tzfat (Safed) for dinner in a local restaurant or hotel, followed by an overnight stay in Tzfat.

• We start our day with an orientation session in the mystical city of Tzfat. Tzfat is one of the "Four Holy Cities of Israel" and, according to tradition, is renowned for its mystical atmosphere and Kabbalistic studies. This town was a centre of 16th-century mysticism and is still a magnet for spiritual "searchers." There will be time for shopping and browsing through the artists' workshops and galleries.
• Later, we travel to the Golan Heights. Our first stop is the observation point on Mount Bental, a former Syrian bunker overlooking the entire Golan Heights. From here, we can see the mountains of Galilee and Lebanon, and eastward into Syria.
• We continue to Oz 77, a battle heritage site in Kibbutz Elrom near the Valley of Tears. Here, we watch a fascinating film that tells the story of the battle of the Valley of Tears, when the Syrian Army tried to penetrate the Israeli frontline during the Yom Kippur War and was stopped by the Israeli Armored Corps' 77th "Oz." In the film, we hear testimonies and hair-raising recordings from the battlefield. The film describes how, even with smaller numbers and difficult conditions, without night vision equipment and with little ammunition, while tired and even exhausted, the Israeli fighters managed to overcome the enemy with only Zionism and determination on their side.
• Next, we take a long drive and overnight in Jerusalem.

• After an early breakfast, we explore the City of David, the original site of Jerusalem, where David made his capital 3,000 years ago and where most of the Tanach was composed and written.
• We will walk upon the area of King David's palace, then take out our flashlights for a walk through one of the marvels of King Hezekiah's reign: the Water Tunnel.
• Leaving the tunnel, we will walk a short distance to the Pool of Shiloah. Continuing to the recently discovered Herodian Road, this will lead us, as it once led so many pilgrims during the Second Temple period, up the ascent of the City of David in the direction of the Western Wall and the Temple Mount.
• Visit the Western Wall, followed by a walk through the meandering streets towards the reconstructed Cardo, a shopping arcade that once existed during ancient times.
• Follow the Via Dolorosa to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre for a short photo stop.
• Enjoy some shopping at the most atmospheric market of the Old City, offering a variety of handicrafts, clothes, foods, spices, and local delicacies.
• End the tour next to David's Citadel and Museum, located near the Jaffa Gate.
• Visit the Kotel Tunnels, one of the most amazing archaeological sites in all of Israel. We can walk alongside the Western Wall's massive foundation stones and stand opposite the place where the Holy of Holies once stood.

Overnight in Jerusalem.

• We walk back to the Old City to visit King David's Tomb, then pass through Zion Gate into the Old City of Jerusalem, where everyday life and customs within narrow, crooked streets have remained virtually unchanged for centuries.
• Visit the famed Temple Mount and Dome of the Rock, if possible, the holiest spot on earth.
• Then we start the day by driving past the Knesset (Israeli Parliament) and the Supreme Court building and continue to Mount Herzl for a tour of the Herzl Museum, offering an understanding of the life of the founder of modern Zionism.
• We continue to Yad Vashem, the Jewish people's memorial to the murdered six million during the Holocaust. We stroll through Machaneh Yehudah, the wonderful outdoor market where native Jerusalemites buy their food. The sights and smells of everything from fish to fresh-baked bread will stir your appetite.
• The Israel Museum is next. This museum houses the Shrine of the Book, the home of the Dead Sea Scrolls, and the miniature model of Jerusalem as it was during the Second Temple period.
• Before dinner, we will stop in Mea Shearim, where we can shop for Judaic items with exceptional values and learn about the unique lifestyle of this ultra-Orthodox community.

Overnight in Jerusalem.

• Starting our day along the Dead Sea, the lowest point on earth, we visit Masada, meaning fortress in Hebrew, surrounded on all sides by the Judean Desert, whose beauty is described as a lunar landscape.
• We will take a cable car ride and ascend Masada, where we will walk among the ruins of the great fort built by King Herod and hear its dramatic and heroic story. Jewish rebels took over Masada at the beginning of the revolt against the Romans. When the Roman army surrounded them, history says the rebels made a pact to end their lives rather than become slaves to cruel Roman masters. Masada's ruins have been fully restored to their full glory, and today it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• Descending by cable car, we will continue to the Dead Sea, one of the world's true natural wonders, currently in the running as one of the world's "new natural wonders." Floating in the Dead Sea, thanks to its unique natural elements, is a must when visiting Israel and is one of our most popular destinations. Queen of Sheba and Cleopatra were said to be great fans of the Dead Sea in the past.

Tour ends.