Interfaith Family Tour & Itinerary
Many families today are blended from different faiths.
Israel Celebration Tours is anxious to tell the story and share the experience of the birth of Judaism and Christianity in the Holy Land with interfaith families – parents, children and grandparents. A sensitive, professionally designed Israel tour program with our specially trained tour guides, will offer a blended interfaith family an opportunity to explore its roots as it strengthens ties and mutual respect.
Nowhere else in the world can one explore his or her heritage as in Israel. No other tour company can tell the story in quite the same way as Israel Celebration Tours...with love and respect for all participants – young and old!
Join us in this family travel program of exploration and learning.
Remember, you can have a private tour designed specially for you – private tour guide, private driver and an itinerary to suit your needs. Contact us now.
Note: Actual locations, sites, times and details may change according to requirements.
9-day tour
Day 1: Jerusalem
Early arrival at Ben Gurion Airport. Travel to Bet Guvrin for participation in an archeological experience at “Dig for a Day.” Transfer to Jerusalem to Haas Promenade for an overview of Jerusalem. Check in to the hotel then walk through new city of Jerusalem.
Day 2: Jerusalem
We start with a visit to the Holyland Model of ancient Jerusalem, then visit the City of David to see the original site of Jerusalem in 1000 BCE. We now enter the walled city of Jerusalem and visit the Western Wall. Entering the Christian Quarter, we visit St. Ann’s Crusader Church, the Antonia Tower and the Via Dolorosa ending at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. Later this afternoon we visit the Garden Tomb.
Day 3: Jerusalem
Visit the Israel Museum and the Shrine of the Book where the Dead Sea Scrolls are kept, and then continue to Bethlehem. Driving via the Tomb of Rachel, we visit the Church of the Nativity and the Milk Grotto, continuing to the Scripture Gardens at the Biblical Resources Study Center.
Day 4: Jerusalem, Masada, Dead Sea, Qumran, Jerusalem
Descend through the Judean Wilderness, via the Inn of the Good Samaritan, to the Dead Sea. Drive along its shore to the base of Masada, the last stronghold of the Jews against the Romans. Ascend by cable car and tour this mountaintop fortress including Herod’s palace, an ancient synagogue and a bathhouse. After descending drive to a nearby oasis and enjoy an opportunity to swim or “float” in the unique waters of the Dead Sea. Before returning to Jerusalem, visit the Qumran Caves, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered.
Day 5: Jerusalem, Jericho, Galilee, Tiberius
Depart Jerusalem and continue through the Jordan River Valley to Bet Shean, where excavations have revealed 18 levels of history. Proceed to Bet Alpha and view the ruins of an ancient synagogue with a mosaic floor. The next stop is Mt. Tabor, site of the Transfiguration. Visit Nazareth, where Jesus grew to manhood and tour the Church of the Annunciation. Today’s tour ends at Yardenit, the baptism site on the river Jordan. Overnight Tiberius.
Day 6: Tiberius, Capernaum, Tabgha, Safed, Tiberius
Begin with a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee from Tiberius to Nof Ginossar to view the remains of the so-called "Jesus boat". Continue to Capernaum, center of Jesus’ Ministry, and view the ruins of an ancient synagogue and the site of St. Peter’s house. Proceed to Tabgha, the site of the Miracle of the Loaves and Fishes and see the fish mosaic from the 5th century Byzantine basilica. Drive to the Mount of Beatitudes, site of the "Sermon on the Mount". Continue to Safed (Tzfat), the city of Kabbala — Jewish Mysticism — and refuge for the Jews expelled from Spain in 1492. Safed also boasts a great artist colony which we will visit allowing some shopping time as well. Travel through the Upper Galilee to Banias Springs (Caesarea Philippe) where St. Peter made his confession of faith. Overnight: Tiberius.
Day 7: Tiberius, Caesarea, Tel Aviv Depart
Tiberius and drive towards the Mediterranean coast. Stop at the Mukraha, site of Elijah’s confrontation. Visit a Druze village and enjoy home hospitality. On Mt. Carmel visit the Stella Maris Monastery built over the caves of Elijah and the Bahai Shrine with its beautiful gardens. Traveling south on the coastal highway, stop at Caesarea and view the archaeological ruins of this ancient Herodian, Byzantine and Crusader city. Overnight: Tel Aviv.
Day 8: Tel Aviv-Jaffa-and conclude in Jerusalem
This morning take a short orientation tour of Tel Aviv. Visit the colorful Carmel fruit and vegetable market and the Rabin Memorial. Continue to the Diaspora Museum, which tells the history of the Jewish people in other lands. Visit the Independence Hall where the State of Israel was declared in 1948. End the tour in Jaffa, renowned to be one of the world’s most ancient cities and seaports. Continue to Jerusalem. Overnight in Jerusalem.
Day 9: Remembering Jerusalem—Our conclusion
We start the day with a meeting with a Holocaust survivor who will share a personal testimony and then continue to Yad VaShem, the memorial to the Holocaust. Next is a visit to Mt. Herzl where the founders and leaders of Israel are buried, and Israel’s national military cemetery. We continue on for a final view of Jerusalem from Mt. Scopus and a formal goodbye to Jerusalem until our next visit. On the way to Ben Gurion Airport we stop for an opportunity to plant a tree in the Holy Land.
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