We depart Haifa and drive south along the coastline through the Sharon plain. Detouring Tel-Aviv, we ascend the scenic Judean Hills along the ancient route to Jerusalem. The tour of Jerusalem begins at the summit of the Mount of Olives where we will enjoy a breathtaking view of the walled Old City and the Temple Mount where we will see the golden cupola of the Dome of the Rock mosque. Visit the Garden of Gethsemane, the site where Jesus was arrested and explore the Church of All Nations. From there we will drive to the Old City and pass by the monuments to Absalom and the prophet Zachary in the Kidron Valley.

Our walking tour of the Old City of Jerusalem takes us to the Western Wall, the holiest site in the Jewish world which is believed to be the only remnant of the Jewish Temple in Jerusalem. The Wall, which was originally built by King Herod the Great in 20 BCE was traditionally known as the Wailing Wall since it was the place where Jews gathered throughout the ages to mourn the destruction of the Temple.

We will proceed through the Arab Bazaar to the Via Dolorosa, believed by many to be the route that Jesus followed while carrying the cross to Calvary. Visit the Church of the Holy Sepulchre on the Hill of Golgotha, marking the site of Jesus' crucifixion, burial, and resurrection.

Departing the Old City, we will pass some national landmarks including the Knesset (Israeli parliament), the Israel Museum and Shrine of the Book, the Supreme Court, and the President's Residence.

As we head east to the Dead Sea, we descend 3600 feet towards the lowest point on earth. To our north, we will pass by Jericho, the oldest continuously inhabited city in the world and drive through beautiful desert landscapes as we head south past the Qumran Caves. In 1947, the Dead Sea Scrolls, the oldest known biblical manuscripts in the world, were discovered in these caves by a Bedouin shepherd.

Stopping at Kalya Beach, we will have the opportunity to experience the sensation of floating on the waters of the Dead Sea. Eight times saltier than the ocean, the Dead Sea is believed to have curative powers that can reduce skin allergies and calm the nervous system. Departing the Dead Sea, we return back to Haifa.

* Please note:
With prior arrangement, the tour can end either at the Ben-Gurion airport or in Tel-Aviv.