Israel & Spain
Year round
Itinerary:
Day 1 USA/TEL AVIV
Depart the USA to begin your spiritual journey to the Holy Land. Dinner and breakfast will be served on board your trans-Atlantic overnight flight.
Day 2 TEL AVIV
Upon arrival at Ben Gurion Airport, an Altura representative will meet and assist you. Transfer to your hotel in Tel Aviv. Welcome Dinner. D
Day 3 JAFFA/CAESAREA/HAIFA/ACRE/TIBERIAS
Drive through Cosmopolitan Tel Aviv to Jaffa , the ancient Joppa, city of Jonah and Simon the Tanner. See the restored Old City and visit the Church of St.Peter. Then travel along the Mediterranean coast to Caesarea , Old Crusader City and the Capital of the Roman Province. See the Amphitheater, the impressive Aqueduct and the harbor from which St.Paul was taken prisoner to Rome. Proceed to beautiful Haifa and ascend to Mount Carmel where Elijah confronted the profhets of Baal. Visit the Carmelite Monastery, Stella Maris and the Persian Gardens. Continue to Acre, famous old Crusader stronghold; then proceed to the biblical city of Tiberias for overnight. B,D
Day 4 GALILEE
Today drive to the Mount of Beatitudes including its church , site of the Sermon on the Mount. Then to Tabgha, to view a beautiful mosaic depicting the scene of the Miracle of the Loaves and Fishes. See Capernaum and the ancient synagogue, and Chorazim which along with Capernaum was cursed by Jesus for spurning His teaching. Enjoy a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee, then on to Mount Tabor to visit the church, traditional site of the Transfiguration. Proceed later for a Baptism ceremony at the River Jordan where it flows out of the Sea of Galilee. Return to Tiberias. B,D
Day 5 NAZARETH/JORDAN VALLEY/JERICHO/JERUSALEM
Leave Tiberias for Cana, site of Jesus’ first miracle and Nazareth where Our Lord spend His childhood and early years. Visit the church of Annunciation, Joseph’s Carpenter Shop and walk through the old bazaars to see Mary’s Well. Depart to Beit Shean, ancient Scythopolis and through the scenic Jordan Valley towards Jericho, the oldest known inhabited city in the World. Tour the ruins and archelogical site. See Mount of Temptation to the west then continue south to the Dead Sea, with a stop in Qumran, site of the Dead sea Scrolls discovery. View Mt.Nebo and follow the ancient Roman route through the Judean Desert, via the Good Samaritan Inn and Bethany, where Jesus raise Lazarus, before continuing to Jerusalem. B,D
Day 6 JERUSALEM: MT OF OLIVES/GETHSEMANE/KIDRON VALLEY/BETHLEHEM
Drive to the Mount of Olives and the place of Ascension for a wonderful view of the “Golden City” of Jerusalem. Visit the Pater Noster Church and the Chapel of Ascension. See the Palm Sunday road, on which Jesus made His triumphal entry into Jerusalem. Drive to the Garden of Gethsemane and the Church of All Nations. Drive down the Kidron Valley to the Church of St.Peter in Gallicantu, built over the Palace of the High Priest Caiaphas. Proceed to Mount Zion and visit the Room of the Last Supper, King Davids Tomb and Dormition Abbey. Continue to Bethlehem to see the Church of Nativity, built over the stable
where Jesus was born. Visit the plains of Boaz and Shepherd’s Fields. View Mt. Herodium where Herod’s Palace stood. Return to Jerusalem. B,D.
Day 7 JERUSALEM: EIN KAREM/NEW AND OLD CITY
This morning drive pass the Knesset, to the Israel Museum. Visit the Shrine of the Book and see the Dead Sea Scrolls. Proceed to the Model of Jerusalem during the time of Jesus and on to the Church of Visitation in Ein Karem, traditional home of Elizabeth and the birthplace of John the Baptist. Continue to Yad Vashem for a visit to the Memorial of the Holocaust. In the afternoon, enter the Old City of Jerusalem to visit the Western Wall, the Temple Area with the Dome of the Rock and the Al Aqsa Mosque, the Pool of Bethesda, St.Anne’s Church, birthplace of Mary, Arc of Ecce Homo (Behold the Man) , and the Via Dolorosa and Holy Sepulchre. Stroll through the Bazaars before returning to your hotel for a special farewell dinner. B,D.
Day 8 JERUSALEM/LOD/MADRID Transfer to the airport for your flight to Madrid, cultural capital of Spain. An Altura representative will meet and assist you. Transfer to your hotel. B,D
Day 9 MADRID Drive though Madrid’s vibrant avenues and see the Monuments ,Buildings and Plazas of this impressive city, the capital of the Kingdom since 1561. Visit the Royal Palace structures, a magnificent XVIII century building and see its rich collections of Tapestry, ceramics and clocks. Continue to the Prado Museum , home of one the most important World Galleries. Afternoon is at leisure. Tour in deph the Museum, take an optional tour or perhaps, explore on your own the Spanish Capital.. B,D
Day 10 MADRID/AVILA/ SEGOVIA Depart Madrid towards the Monastery of El Escorial, a monumental building from the XVI century, resting place of the Spanish Kings. Continue to the Valley of the Fallen to see an awe-inspiring memorial for those who perished in the Spanish Civil War. Continue to
Avila, the middle age wall city, center of Spanish mysticism. St.Theresa was born here, we visit her Convent and the XII century first gothic Cathedral in Spain. Proceed to Segovia, the ancient Roman city with its famous Alcazar and Roman Aqueduc. See the Cathedral and and return to Madrid for overnight. B,D
DAY 11 MADRID/USA Transfer to the airport for your return flight home. B
Every Spiritual Journey includes:
· Roundtrip air transportation via the finest scheduled service airlines
· Meeting and assistance service at airports
· First class and/or first class superior hotel accommodations
at selected hotels
· Breakfast and dinner daily
· Sightseeing by deluxe air-conditioned motorcoach including
entrance fees
· Professional English – speaking tour guides/escorts
· Roundtrip transfers including baggage handling
· Hotel taxes and service charges
· Travel documents
· Assistance by local Altura Representative
FREE TRIP INCENTIVE PROGRAM
· One free journey for every five paying passengers
· Travel credits for very odd-paying passenger
· Assistance with creating your program brochure
|
