The Israel Highlights Petra Tour

Day 01 – Sunday - Tel Aviv

Arrival at Tel Aviv (Ben Gourion) Airport where you will be met and assisted by a representative from Mazada Tour’s staff to begin The Israel Highlights Petra Tour. Transfer to Tel Aviv for accommodation and overnight.

Day 02 – Monday - Tel Aviv - Beer Sheba - Masada and Dead Sea

Depart Tel Aviv driving south, passing through Ashdod and Ashkelon en route to Beersheba for a drive through the Negev’s capital on the first day of touring in The Israel Highlights Petra Tour.

Continue via Arad to Masada. Ascend by cable car to the fortress which was the last stronghold of the Jewish Zealots in their war against the Romans. Visit the excavations, Herod’s palaces, the synagogue, bathhouse, etc. Enjoy the breathtaking view of the Roman camps and the Dead Sea.

Descend for a “float” in the very salty water at the lowest place on earth – the Dead Sea.

Proceed to Jerusalem for overnight.

Day 03 – Tuesday - Jerusalem - Sightseeing in the New City

You will proceed to a sightseeing tour of the new city. Start the day with a panoramic view of Jerusalem from atop the Mt. of Olives. You will then proceed to the Garden of Gethsemane and Church of the Agony. Continue to the Israel Museum’s Shrine of the Book with the famous Dead Sea scrolls, then a visit to the beautifully renovated model of the Herodian city of Jerusalem, dating back to the time of the Second Temple. From here you will travel to Yad Vashem (the memorial to the six million Jews who were killed in the Holocaust).

In the afternoon drive to the picturesque village of Ein Karem (the birth place of John the Baptist).

Return to your hotel for overnight.

Day 04 – Wednesday - Jerusalem - Old City and Bethlehem*

Enter through one of the Gates to the walled Old City to visit the renovated Jewish Quarter, the Western Wall, the Temple area and the colorful bazaars.

Walk along the Via Dolorosa and the Stations of the Cross, culminating in a visit to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

Drive to Mt. Zion and visit the tomb of King David, the Room of the Last Supper and Dormition Abbey.

In the afternoon continue to Bethlehem to visit the Church of the Nativity and a view of the Shepherd’s Fields. *

Return to Jerusalem for overnight.

Day 05 – Thursday - Beit Shean - Nazareth - Galilee

Depart Jerusalem and drive north via Jericho, the oldest city in the world. * Travel through the Jordan Valley to Beit Shean. Visit the excavations of this beautifully preserved Roman City.

Proceed to Nazareth to visit the Church of the Annunciation and the carpentry workshop of Joseph.

Continue on to Safed, the city of the Kabbalah, for a walk through the mystic alleys and the artists’ colony.

Continue to a Kibbutz hotel for overnight.

Day 06 – Friday - Golan Heights and Around the Sea of Galilee

Drive to the Golan Heights. Visit the former Syrian fortifications and the Druze villages. Travel via Banias, source of the Jordan River to the Mount of Beatitudes.

Visit the ruins of the ancient synagogue and Peter’s house at Capernaum. Visit Tabgha, where the miracle of the fish and bread took place.

Continue to Tiberius for a short tour of the old center of Jewish learning.

Return to the Kibbutz hotel for overnight.

Day 07 – Saturday - Acre - Haifa - Caesarea - Tel Aviv - Eilat

After Breakfast, you will drive west to Acre for a visit of the ancient Crusader stronghold and medieval fortifications.

Continue to Haifa for a sightseeing tour, including the Baha’i Shrine,Persian Garden and Mount Carmel for a panoramic view of the city.

Proceed southwards to Caesarea to visit the Roman Theater and the Hippodrome.

From here, you will continue to Tel Aviv‘s domestic airport for a short flight to Eilat, the sensational Red Sea resort.

Upon arrival, you transfer by taxi to the hotel for overnight.

Day 08 – Sunday - Eilat - Petra - Eilat

After breakfast, you will depart Eilat, Israel and cross into Jordan at the Arava border crossing.

You will transfer to Petra and enjoy the scenic Jordanian desert, passing through the Wadi Rum area.

Enter the Rose City of Petra through the Siq, a narrow passage through the mountains that has inspired travelers for centuries. Explore the Treasury which suddenly appears at the end of the gorge, leaving visitors breathless because of its unprecedented size, color and beauty. Continue into the heart of this ancient city carved into the mountains, passing hundreds of tombs and monuments and a spectacular Amphitheatre which once held 3,000 spectators. Exit the city and stop for a sit-down lunch in Wadi Musa – the new town of Petra, followed by a visit to Moses’ Spring before departing.

Drive to Aqaba for a short city tour before returning to the Arava border crossing and back to Eilat for an overnight.

Day 09 -Monday - Transit

After breakfast, you will proceed to the domestic airport for departure of your flight to Tel Aviv.

Or you can take evening flight from Eilat back to Tel Aviv and overnight in Tel Aviv.

This concludes The Israel Highlights Petra Tour.

Note: Site under the Palestinian Authority jurisdiction.  Visit subject to situation.