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Days
7
Price from
4660NZD
Map of Journey Through Israel & the Palestinian Territories including Israel

Modern-day marvels beside wondrous sites of the biblical age

Welcome to the land of ancient cultures, biblical treasures, enigmatic history and thriving cities – Israel and the Palestinian Territories is layers upon layers to explore. Spend seven memorable days experiencing Roman Caesarea and the Crusader port of Acre to religious sites in Nazareth, Bethlehem, Jerusalem and Jericho, stopping by the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Via Dolorosa, Garden of Gethsemane and the Dead Sea. The Holy Land is so much more than churches, so discover a country with a beautifully preserved past and a vibrant beating heart.

Start
Jerusalem, Israel
Finish
Tel Aviv, Israel
Destination
Israel
Style
Peregrine
Code
PGTI
Physical rating
Trip rating
3 reviews
Ages
Min 15
Group size
Min 1, Max 12

Peregrine trips are now operated by Intrepid Travel

Why you'll love this trip

  • Experience for yourself some of the world’s most renowned religious sites – the Church of the Annunciation, the Church of the Nativity, Via Dolorosa and the Western Wall.

  • Visit the hilltop fortress of Masada overlooking the vast Dead Sea, and venture down into the valley for a gravity-defying swim in its salty waters.

  • Get a local perspective of daily life at dinner with a Christian family, and meet a local Rabbi to gain a better understanding on the Israel–Palestine conflict and its progress towards peace.

  • Taste the flavours of Israel and the Palestinian Territories while eating with a local family, and spend some time working out your favourite hummus at a tasting in downtown Tel Aviv.

  • Experience Israel and the Palestinian Territories with a touch of comfort and style, staying in a unique guesthouse in Bethlehem and enjoying a contemporary take on Palestinian cuisine at the renowned Fawda Café.

Is this trip right for you?

  • During your trip you will visit numerous religious sites. You will need to bring clothes that cover the arms and legs. A light scarf is a good idea for covering shoulders and arms when it’s hot. Your leader will be able to advise when such clothing is necessary.

  • At major sites you can expect to be exposed to the elements at length, so be prepared with a hat, sunscreen and plenty of fluids. Sites can get congested during peak travel periods with buses of large pilgrim groups. While we do our best to plan our visits around these times, it’s not always possible. There may be delays, queues and private services that prevent us from entering the site. Your trip leader will manage this as best as they can on the day.

  • It’s not all hot desert days in Israel and the Palestinian Territories, as the winter months (December–February) can be quite cold. Temperatures in northern parts of the country can drop to freezing overnight, and snowfall in these areas is common. Temperatures can differ dramatically from one place to the next, so it’s important to pack accordingly.

  • Israel and the Palestinian Territories is by no means a cheap destination, so it’s important to budget accordingly. The good news is that your expert local leader is on hand to help you uncover the best local deals.

  • Known as 'baksheesh' in the Middle East, tipping is an entrenched feature of the tourism industry. If you are satisfied with the services, tipping is appropriate and always appreciated. Don’t be taken back if this tipping culture is particularly apparent in Israel and the Palestinian Territories.

  • This destination caters primarily for large pilgrim groups, and it can be difficult to secure small, boutique style accommodation in central locations with local four-star amenities.

Travellers look out over the rocky landscape of Masada on a sunny day
Traditional tomato dish of shakshouka with pita on the side
Prayers at the west wall in Jerusalem
Sunset over the Sea of Galilee

Itinerary
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Welcome to Jerusalem – a city awash with ancient history and holy sites. You will be met at the airport by a Peregrine representative and transferred to the hotel (approximately 1 hour). There are no activities planned today until a welcome meeting at 6 pm, where you’ll meet your local leader and fellow travellers. Afterwards, join your leader on an orientation walk and drink, then consider having dinner with some of your group members on your free evening.
Accommodation
  • St Georges Guest House or similar (1 night)
Meals Included
There are no meals included on this day.
Special Information
An airport arrival transfer is included. This transfer is only valid if arriving today or if you have booked pre-trip accommodation through Peregrine. Please provide your flight details at the time of booking, or at a minimum 15 days prior to travel. Once you have provided your details, a transfer representative will be booked to meet you at the airport and transfer you to your hotel.

On occasion, it may be not be possible to confirm our preferred hotel in Jerusalem. For this reason, we have selected alternative hotels on selected departures in Jerusalem. If you would like to confirm which hotel your trip will be staying, please contact your booking agent 30 days prior to departure.

Meet your leader for a walk, beginning at St Stephen’s Gate (or Lion’s Gate) to enter the Old City, and visit the church of St Anne and the Pool of Bethesda. Walk along the Via Dolorosa – the 'Way of the Cross’ or ‘Way of Sorrows' following Jesus’ path to crucifixion – and stop by the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, built where Jesus is believed to have been crucified. Continue along the Cardo in the Jewish Quarter – a road that ran the entire length of the city in Byzantine times. Visit the remains of the Western Wall on the Temple Mount, where written prayers are slid into the cracks between stones. The rest of the afternoon is free for you to wander around the city at your leisure. Meet up with your group later this evening for a meal with a local family in the Old City, learning about living a Christian life in the Holy Land.
Accommodation
  • St Georges Guest House or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Jerusalem - Western Wall (Wailing Wall)
  • Jerusalem - Old City walking tour
  • Jerusalem - Church of the Holy Sepulchre
  • Jerusalem - Local Family Dinner
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Dinner

This morning, drive to the biblical town of Ma'aleh Adumim and the Inn of the Good Samaritan in the Judean Desert. This inn is a museum located near the original site mentioned in the parable of the Good Samaritan. Continue to Masada and take a cable car to discover the clifftop fortress of Masada. This World Heritage-listed site is important to Jewish people – a symbol of exile from the Holy Land, of bravery and self-sacrifice. Afterwards, drive to Qumran, an archaeological site on the West Bank, home to major discoveries such as the Dead Sea Scrolls. You will also have a chance to float in the extremely salty and buoyant Dead Sea. Discover the slow-paced town of Jericho in the West Bank, where people have lived for over 11,000 years. See the Mount of Temptations and a Sycamore Tree mentioned only in the Luke’s Gospel. Return to Jerusalem and meet up with a local Rabbi, learning of Jewish traditions and a different perspective on the Israeli–Palestine conflict.
Accommodation
  • St Georges Guest House or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Qumran - Archaeological site visit
  • Masada - Dead Sea & Fortress visit
  • Jerusalem - Conversation with a local rabbi
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

In the morning, drive out to visit the Garden of Gethsemane – the place where Jesus prayed beside his sleeping disciples before crucifixion. See the Church of All Nations, which holds inside a section of bedrock where Jesus is said to have prayed before his arrest. Continue to Yad Vashem for a sobering and moving visit to Israel’s memorial to the victims of the Holocaust and take a guided tour with a local. Travel to Bethlehem and visit the Church of the Nativity – marking the spot of the stable where Mary is said to have given birth to Jesus, and the Shepherds’ Fields in Beit Sahour just a couple of kilometres east of the city. This area has been identified as the scene where angels visited the lowly shepherds and informed them of Jesus’ birth. The rest of the evening is free for you to explore.
Accommodation
  • Hosh Al Syrian Guesthouse (Feature Stay) (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Jerusalem - Garden of Gethsemane & Basilica of the Agony
  • Jerusalem - Yad Vashem Museum
  • Jerusalem - Mount of Olives
  • Bethlehem - Church of the Nativity & Shepherds' Field
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
Our local leaders are not permitted to guide in this museum, so you will have a tour with a local guide which will take approximately 2–3 hours.

This morning, travel to Tiberias and, weather permitting, take a boat ride across the Sea of Galilee. Afterwards, visit Tabgha. This is where the Bible says Jesus performed the ‘Feeding of the 5000’ with loaves and fishes. Here, you can see the church and its ancient mosaics that were built to mark the spot of this miracle. A short way up the lakeshore is Capernaum, where you’ll see the site of two ancient synagogues and a church said to have been the home of Saint Peter. Here you will have the traditional St Peter’s Fish lunch – ask your leader about his significance. Visit the Church of the Annunciation, where Mary received the news of the Immaculate Conception, along with the well where she drew water every day. Continue to Haifa for the evening, perhaps taking a late stroll through the Baha’i Gardens. With 19 terraces flowing down to a domed shrine, these gardens are considered Haifa’s crowning glory.
Accommodation
  • The Colony Hotel or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Tiberias - Church of the Multiplication
  • Tiberias - Sea of Galilee boat ride
  • Capernaum - St Peter's Church
  • Nazareth - Church of Annunciation & Mary's Well
  • Haifa - Bahai Gardens view & photo stop
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch

Today, stop at the former crusader port of Acre. Visit the complex of buildings occupied by the Knights of St John, excavated to uncover rooms such as a large hall, dungeon, dining room and the crypt of an ancient Gothic church. You will also see the secret tunnel of their rivals – the Knights Templar. Continue to Caesarea, which served as the capital of Israel during the Roman and Byzantine eras. This was once a great port town built by King Herod around 25 BC, complete with an amphitheatre, hippodrome, palace, Roman temple and a network of aqueducts. The city was eventually abandoned and lost under the desert sands, but thanks to excavations since the 1950s, is on show once again. Arrive in Tel Aviv and spend the afternoon discovering the city with your leader, visiting the Old City of Jaffa and Peace Square. This afternoon, you’ll also partake in some hummus tasting – the city claims to have the best. Arrive at the hotel for an evening at leisure.
Accommodation
  • Cinema Hotel or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Acre - Knights of St John Complex
  • Caesarea - Roman ruins
  • Tel Aviv - Hummus Tasting
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

With no activities planned for today, your journey through Israel and the Palestinian Territories comes to an end after breakfast. You are free to leave the accommodation at any time, provided you comply with the hotel’s internal check-out times.
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
If you are catching a flight today, we recommend that you allow at least three hours to check-in and pass through security before your departure, due to strict security measures at Tel Aviv Airport.
Want to tailor this itinerary?

Meals

6 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 1 dinner

Transport

Boat, Private vehicle

Accommodation

Comfortable hotel (5 nights) Guesthouse Feature Stay (1 night)

Included Activities

  • Jerusalem - Western Wall (Wailing Wall)
  • Jerusalem - Old City walking tour
  • Jerusalem - Church of the Holy Sepulchre
  • Jerusalem - Local Family Dinner
  • Qumran - Archaeological site visit
  • Masada - Dead Sea & Fortress visit
  • Jerusalem - Conversation with a local rabbi
  • Jerusalem - Garden of Gethsemane & Basilica of the Agony
  • Jerusalem - Yad Vashem Museum
  • Jerusalem - Mount of Olives
  • Bethlehem - Church of the Nativity & Shepherds' Field
  • Tiberias - Church of the Multiplication
  • Tiberias - Sea of Galilee boat ride
  • Capernaum - St Peter's Church
  • Nazareth - Church of Annunciation & Mary's Well
  • Haifa - Bahai Gardens view & photo stop
  • Acre - Knights of St John Complex
  • Caesarea - Roman ruins
  • Tel Aviv - Hummus Tasting

Essential trip information

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