Escorted Tours 2020 & 2021 - 2nd Edition - Mercury Holidays

90 MIDDLE EAST & AFRICA MEAL PLAN: 7 breakfasts & 6 dinners ACCOMMODATION Tel Aviv 1 night 3 ★ Metropolitan Hotel Galilee 2 nights 4 ★ Leonardo Hotel Tiberias Jerusalem 4 nights 3 ★ Ibis Jerusalem City Center Hotel DAY 1: UK TO TEL AVIV Depart London on your scheduled flight to Tel Aviv, located on Israel’s glittering Mediterranean coastline. On arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. DAY 2: TEL AVIV TO GALILEE B/D Embark on a morning tour of Israel’s second city Tel Aviv, home to the unique Bauhaus-style buildings of its UNESCO-listed White City and glorious stretches of beach. Reflecting Israel’s long and rich past, the city is also dotted with numerous historical sites and a visit to Jaffa, located on the outskirts of the city, allows you to explore this centuries-old city which has been conquered and re-conquered countless times throughout its history. Wander the cobbled alleyways of the area, taking in the historic port which has been in continuous use for over 4,000 years. Travel north to Caesarea to explore the harbour ruins and pillared amphitheatre of this ancient beach front archaeological site. Next, journey to the UNESCO- listed walled city of Akko (also known as Acre) teeming with fortifications, underground crypts and Ottoman- era structures. Join Marco Polo, the Knights of the Secret Order of the Templars and the Crusaders, who have all passed through the walls of this city, as you explore its landmarks before you make your way to your hotel in Galilee. DAY 3: GALILEE B/D A morning tour of a local kibbutz gives you a chance to witness this unique, communal style of living and learn more about the values of social equality and shared ownership that underpin these communities. Travel onward to the Sea of Galilee, home to some of Christianity and Judaism’s most important sites; the area around this lake also offers rolling hills, valleys and quaint, small towns. Enjoy a full day exploring the biblical sites of this region, set against this picturesque backdrop. Sail the Sea of Galilee as you cross these waters by boat to the ruins of the former fishing village of Capernaum, once home to the apostles Simon, Peter, Andrew, James and John. Continue onward to the secluded site of the feeding of the 5,000 before visiting the Mount of the Beatitudes, where Christ gave his Sermon on the Mount. Today, the site is a tranquil garden with a Byzantine church featuring stained glass depictions of the eight beatitudes and sweeping views over the lake and countryside. DAY 4: GALILEE TO JERUSALEM B/D After breakfast, depart Galilee for Jerusalem, stopping en route in Nazareth where you can wander the cavernous interior of the Church of Annunciation, believed to be the home of the Virgin Mary. Continue north to the extensive archaeological ruins of Bet Shean, best known as the site where King Saul was killed by the Philistines. Explore the fascinating excavations peppered throughout the area, which include amphitheatres, bathing houses and pagan temples. Continue on to Jerusalem, passing through the fertile plains of the Jordan Valley, dotted with palm-filled date farms, before checking into your hotel in time for your first dinner in Israel’s age-old city. DAY 5: JERUSALEM B/D Explore Jerusalem’s recent and ancient history on today’s full-day city tour. The morning starts with a moving visit to the Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum where you will gain insight into the grim experiences of the Jewish people during World War 2. The nine galleries of the museum display photographs, films, documents, letters, works of art, and personal items found in the camps and ghettos of Nazi Germany. After this poignant experience, visit the seat of the Israeli government at the Knesset before stopping in at the Israel Museum, home to almost 500,000 objects and artefacts. Witness the aged parchment of the Dead Sea Scrolls, which contain the oldest known biblical manuscripts, and marvel at the amazing reconstruction of Jerusalem as it was before its destruction by the Romans in 66CE. Next, wander the stall-lined alleyways in a spice-scented souk before walking through the sacred hallways of the UNESCO- recognised Church of Nativity in Bethlehem, where it is believed Christ was born. Take in the most sacred of these areas and structures as you visit the Virgin Mary’s home in Nazareth, cross the waters of the Sea of Galilee, ascend the Mount of Beatitudes and travel the path Christ took to his crucifixion. Nazareth ISRAEL: THE HOLY LAND 8 days from £1,329pp TOUR HIGHLIGHTS ✔ Enjoy two full-day tours of Jerusalem’s religious and historic sites, including the Israel Museum, Temple Mount and the Wailing Wall ✔ Sail the Sea of Galilee, seeing Mount of Beatitudes and ruins of Capernaum ✔ Learn about daily life in a kibbutz ✔ Explore the city of Tel Aviv and the nearby ancient port city of Jaffa ✔ Visit the Church of Annunciation in Nazareth and the Church of Nativity in Bethlehem ✔ The UNESCO-listed walled city of Akko ✔ The ancient ruins of Bet Shean PACE: To book or for further information visit your local travel agent or call us FREE on 0800 408 0556