9 Day Private Guided Tour to All Parts of Israel

Day 1- We start our journey in Jerusalem. We'll drive up to the Mt. of Olives for a wonderful lookout over the Temple Mount, then drive to Jaffa Gate. There we will leave the car and spend the rest of the day walking through the Old City, including Mt. Zion, the Jewish Quarter, the Western Wall, the Moslem Quarter, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the Christian Quarter. We return to the car and return to your hotel. Overnight in Jerusalem.

Day 2- In our second day in Jerusalem we will visit the City of David and walk through the archaeological findings of ancient Jerusalem including an ancient water system. In the afternoon we will visit the Yad Vashem Holocaust Remembrance Center, where I will guide you through the Holocaust Museum as well as the outdoor monuments (children too young for Yad Vashem can visit the Jerusalem Zoo instead). Overnight in Jerusalem.

Day 3- We will travel a short distance outside of Jerusalem to visit the incredible palace/fortress of King Herod- the Herodion. Then we will visit nearby Bethlehem to see The Church of the Nativity and The Shepherds' Field. We will continue on to the Israeli administered area of Hebron to visit the Cave of the Patriarchs (Machpela) and Tel Romeida, ancient Hebron. Returning to Jerusalem in the afternoon, we will visit the Shrine of the Book, home of the Dead Sea scrolls, and the archaeological wing of the Israel Museum (about 2 hours total). Overnight in Jerusalem.

Day 4- We will drive down to the Dead Sea and visit the desert palace/fortress of Masada. You can either climb up the Snake Path early in the morning or take the cable car at a more leisurely hour- either way you will have a comprehensive tour on top! Afterwards we will float in the Dead Sea, the lowest place on earth. Then we'll wash off all that salty water during a short hike in the beautiful desert oasis of Ein Gedi with its refreshing pools and waterfalls. Drive south into the Negev Desert, overnight in Mitzpe Ramon.

Day 5- We'll drive in my Toyota Landcruiser off road and experience the fantastic scenery of the unique geological phenomenon of the Ramon Crater. Then we will visit the ruins of the ancient Nabatean way station and Byzantine city of Avdat on the Spice Route. After lunch we will stop by Ben Gurion's tomb, which is located on a cliff with an incredible view to the Zin Wilderness. We'll also visit Ben Gurion's desert home at Sde Boker which tells the story of the first prime minister of Israel and its "founding father"- which is in many ways the story of the modern state of Israel. Arrive in the early evening for your overnight in Tel Aviv.

Day 6- We'll spend the day in Tel Aviv. We'll start with a tour of the scenic old port of Jaffa, then through Historic Tel Aviv- Neve Tzedek and the other early neighborhoods of Tel Aviv. We'll also get to see parts of modern Tel Aviv, including the Habima National Theater and Heichal Ha Tarbut Concert Center. Overnight in Tel Aviv.

Day 7- We will drive north along the Mediterranean coast to Caesarea- the ancient city and port built by King Herod. Then we will drive north to the Zippori National Park, a fascinating site in the Galilee. It was a multicultural city that was also a center for Jewish life in the 3rd century, containing one of the most beautiful mosaics found in the country. Overnight in Nazareth.

Day 8- In the morning we will tour Nazareth, visiting the Church of the Annunciation, the Church of St. Joseph, and other sites. Then we will drive to the Sea of Galilee where we will first visit Magdala, the ruins of the ancient town of Mary Magdalene, where a first century synagogue was found. Then we will visit the nearby 2000 year old boat that was discovered in the Sea of Galilee. We'll continue driving around the Sea of Galilee and reach the important site of Capernaum, the ruins of the town in which Jesus was active and where there is a beautiful ancient synagogue. We'll end the day with a visit to Degania Aleph and learn the story of the first kibbutz (communal farm) established in Israel over 100 years ago and still going strong. Overnight in Tiberius.

Day 9- Our last day of touring will be on the Golan Heights. We'll start at Ein Keshatot (or Um El Kannatir), a little known, fascinating site where you can see how archaeologists rebuilt a beautiful ancient synagogue literally from a pile of stones! Then we will drive up to the top of the ancient volcano of Mt. Bental, with its amazing lookout across the border into Syria. We'll then visit the Golan Heights Winery for a chance to taste the world class wines produced here, and conclude with an adventurous visit to the Nimrod Castle, a medieval Ayubbi fortress. An evening drive will take you back to Tel Aviv to be close to the airport for your return flight the next day.