9 days from $2299*

Includes airfare, fuel surcharges, great hotels, transfers, most meals, comprehensive touring and more!

Classic Israel

Join us in Israel to see, touch and experience the land of the Bible, as it was in ancient times, and as it is today! We have been sending travelers to Israel for more than a quarter century, and that knowledge and experience makes our Israel tours special.

Our itinerary is exciting and comprehensive, featuring the most important Biblical sites you've come to see. You won't find any optional tours here, because everything you should see is already included in our program and part of our low, value-for-money tour price.

Every departure of this magnificent tour is escorted throughout by a carefully selected teacher-guide who knows and loves the land and will make the Land of the Bible come alive just for you. Every hotel has been selected for its location, comfort and service, and every day of your program has been carefully designed to be sure that your experience in Israel is the very best one a visitor can have! If you have dreamed of understanding and experiencing more about the origins of faith, we invite you to join us on this journey of Biblical discovery and spiritual renewal in Israel, Land of the Bible.

Our Touring Program

Day 1: USA, Israel. Departure on the first leg of your overnight flight to Israel via scheduled jet service.

Day 2: Tel Aviv, Israel. Arrival at Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv. Meet your guide who will assist you with customs formalities and escort you to your waiting touring coach. En route to your Tel Aviv hotel, visit Jaffa, ancient seaport and home of Simon the Tanner. Dan Panorama Tel Aviv or Sheraton Moriah Hotel (D)

Day 3: Caesarea, Mount Carmel, Megiddo & Tiberias. After breakfast, drive north along the Mediterranean Sea to Caesarea, the Roman capital of Judea, which King Herod built into the grandest city in Palestine, second only to Jerusalem. View the beautifully restored theater and extensive and ongoing excavations of the ruins of the ancient town, its harbor and aqueduct.

Next, travel inland to Megiddo, Biblical Armageddon, and the inspiration for James Michener's great novel, The Source. Designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005, Megiddo's twenty major strata contain the remains of around 30 different cities and holds a central place in the biblical narrative. Continue to Muhraka on Mt Carmel, where Elijah defeated the priests of Ba'al then on to Tiberias on the Sea of Galilee. Kibbutz Nof Ginossar Guest House (B,D)

Day 4: Capernaum, Mount of Beatitudes & Banias. Set sail on the Sea of Galilee aboard a wooden fishing boat built to represent vessels used during Bible times. Arrive at Capernaum, once a simple fishing village, where Jesus was often a guest of his disciple Peter, and where it is said He performed many miracles. Visit the ruins of the ancient synagogue and house of Peter, then continue to Tabgha, site of the multiplication of the loaves and fishes and the Mount of Beatitudes, site of the Sermon on the Mount.

Drive through the Hula Valley to Banias, ancient Caesarea Philippi, at the foot of Mount Hermon. After ascending the Golan Heights, visit the former Syrian fortifications, and then drive along the eastern side of the Sea of Galilee to Kursi, where Christian tradition relates that Jesus cast out the demons from the man of Gedara. (B, D)

Day 5: Jordan Valley, Beit She'an, Jericho & Dead Sea. Drive south via the Jordan Valley to Beit She'an, an extraordinary excavation of an ancient Greco-Roman city. Located some 30 km. south of the Sea of Galilee, Beit She'an was one of the major cities in the land of Israel, due primarily to its location at the intersection of the road to Jerusalem and the road to Transjordan. Continue to the overlook above Jericho, the oldest known city in the world, where you can view the Mount of Temptation, then drive to Qumran and the caves where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found by two Bedouin cousins in 1947.

The discovery of the Scrolls represented a turning point in the study of Jewish and early Christian history, and in 1954, the first seven scrolls were returned to Israel to be housed at the Shrine of the Book in Jerusalem. Later, drive to your Dead Sea resort hotel where there will be time to enjoy the wonderful facilities, including a complete spa and an opportunity to float in the mineral-rich waters of the Dead Sea. Daniel Hotel Dead Sea (B,D)

Day 6: Dead Sea, Masada & Ein Gedi. Ascend by cable car this morning to experience the historic fortress of Masada where, after the fall of Jerusalem in 70 C.E., Jewish resistance continued against Rome. When the Romans completed an assault ramp to the top of Masada and stormed the fortress, they found only dead bodies. Rather than fall into the hands of the Romans and live as slaves, the Zealots died by their own means. After a tour of the extensive excavations at Masada, continue to Ein Gedi, David's waterfall and a wonderful nature center. Later this afternoon, drive up to Jerusalem, highlight of your tour. Dan Panorama Jerusalem (B,D)

Day 7: Old City of Jerusalem. A full day of sightseeing in Jerusalem includes the Mount of Olives, Mount Scopus, Mount Zion, the site of the Upper Room, the Kidron Valley and the Garden of Gethsemane. Continue to the Old City within the walls, including the Via Dolorosa, the restored Jewish Quarter, the Western (Wailing) Wall, the Rabbinic Tunnels under the Wall, the Temple Site on Mt. Moriah and the Garden Tomb. (B, D)

Day 8: New City of Jerusalem. Today, visit the new city of Jerusalem, outside the walls, including the Shrine of the Book where the Dead Sea Scrolls are housed, and the Memorial to the Holocaust at Yad Vashem. Later, visit the Model of the city during the Second Temple period. Tonight, enjoy a farewell dinner in Jerusalem. (B, D)

Day 9: Jerusalem/USA. Early morning transfer to Ben Gurion Airport and board your return flight to the USA, arriving later this afternoon. Or, continue on our extension Eilat on the Red Sea.

Eilat & the Red Sea Post-Tour Extension

Plus Petra Optional Day Tour

Israel's wonderful Red Sea resort of Eilat is only a one hour flight from Jerusalem. But you may as well be a whole world away. Here, at the southern tip of Israel, you'll enjoy the warm, calm waters of Israel's most popular vacation destination. One of the world's best coral reefs is located here, and you can scuba dive, snorkel, dive with dolphins and even take an evening camel safari into the desert. The lost city of Petra in Jordan is a short drive from Eilat, and during your stay you will be able to take part in a full day tour to this fascinating red rose city.

Day 9: Jerusalem/Eilat. Transfer to the airport this morning for your short flight to Eilat on the Red Sea. Transfer to your centrally located hotel and enjoy the balance of the day at leisure. Dan Panorama or Royal Tulip Hotel (B)

Day 10: Eilat/Petra Optional Tour. Enjoy the day at leisure or take advantage of a wonderful day tour to Petra. Early this morning we'll cross into Jordan at the Arava border and drive to the Nabatean capital of Petra, a secret and mystical city carved more than 2,000 years ago in pink sandstone. After a tour of the ancient city, including a portion on horseback, we board our bus and return to Israel, arriving in Eilat for overnight. (B)

Day 11: Eilat/Afternoon Departure. Enjoy the morning at leisure to explore Eilat, swim in the Red Sea, visit the Underwater Observatory and see the extensive and magnificent corals and sea life of the Red Sea, or simply relax and enjoy the pool at your hotel. Depart midday for your transfer to the airport for the short flight to Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv where you'll board your flight to a European transit city, the first leg of your return trip to the USA. Upon arrival, transfer to your hotel near airport. (With some carriers, the extra night hotel will be in Israel with an early morning departure on Day 12) (B)

Day 12: Europe/USA. Transfer back to the airport to board your continuing flight to the USA, arriving later today.

Note: The Eilat Extension cost may vary, if flights are not available in the class of service on which we have based our tour. Please call for the actual price for your departure date which will be determined by availability of seats and available class of service at the time of reservation.

Destination FAQs

For quick answers to Frequently Asked Questions about travel to Israel, click here.

For quick answers to Frequently Asked Questions about travel to Jordan, click here.

Classic Israel: Land of the Bible
Included Features

• Round trip flights from New York via SWISS International Airlines, Lufthansa German Airlines or other scheduled, wide-bodied jet service* including fuel surcharges (flight schedule)
• 7 nights Superior First Class hotel accommodations throughout Israel
• On the Eilat Extension, 2 nights accommodations at the Superior First Class Dan Panorama Hotel or Golden Tulip Palmira, Eilat and one overnight in Zurich, Frankfurt or other European transit city
• 14 Meals including lavish Israeli buffet breakfast and dinner daily
• Arrival and departure transfers and all internal transportation throughout the tour in modern touring coaches
• Comprehensive touring for 6 full days, including entrance fees to places visited
• Eilat & Red Sea extension, including round trip air transportation and an optional day excursion to the Lost City of Petra

* Other gateways via alternate carriers are upon request at supplement in price and subject to confirmation.

TourCode: d-000

Classic Israel: Land of the Bible Departures & Prices* Depart Return Book by Dec 9 After Dec 9 2009 DEPARTURES Jul 28 Aug 5 $2599 Aug 11 Aug 19 $2599 Sep 15 Sep 23 $2499 Oct 27 Nov 4 $2299 Nov 24 Dec 2 $2349 Dec 8 Dec 16 $2299 2010 DEPARTURES Jan 12 Jan 20 $2299 $2599 Feb 16 Feb 24 $2399 $2699

Tour prices are per person, double occupancy, including airfare. Prices in red reflect an early booking discount if you reserve by Dec. 9, 2009. * Prices do not include Additional Taxes, Fees & September 11th Security Fee for this tour of $145.

Taxes & Fees Service Price Additional Taxes, Fees & September 11th Security Fee +$145

Supplements, Optionals & Upgrades Service Price Single Room Supplement   Dec 8, Jan 12, Feb 16 +$475 All other departures +$535

Eilat & the Red Sea Extension Service Price Eilat & Red Sea Extension (Double Occupancy) +$699 Single Room Supplement +$199 Petra Day Tour Option Petra Day Tour Option +$175 Jordan Border Crossing Fees* (paid separately) +$45

* Visa for entry to Jordan will be obtained at the border.

Departure Airport: This tour departs from New York Kennedy International (JFK).

Coming from somewhere else? Ask us about availability and prices for flights from other cities.

Note: The Eilat Extension cost may vary, if flights are not available in the class of service on which we have based our tour. Please call for the actual price for your departure date, which will be determined by availability of seats and available class of service at the time of reservation.

Transfers: Transfers for this tour are provided on a group basis only. For land-only passengers or for passengers deviating in any way from the group program, transfers are not provided. Individual, private transfers can be arranged at a supplement in price. Taxis and other forms of transportation are also available and may cost less than private transfers. If you wish to arrange private transfers, please request this service at the time of reservation.

Shop & Compare

Our tours may look similar to others you've seen, but we invite you to shop & compare. There are important differences that make Friendly Planet tours the best you can find.

No Compromise on Quality: Despite our extraordinary prices, there are no compromises on our Israel tours. In all three cities, you'll stay in Superior First Class, centrally located hotels that are noted for their amenities and service.

Included Features: Your transfers as well as important visits to the major sites around the Galilee, and even a boat crossing of the Sea of Galilee, are all included, not expensive extras as in other tours.

Credit Cards or Cash: Whether you pay by check, money order or your favorite major credit card, your tour price on this tour is the same. No extra cost to charge your dream vacation to Israel.

Personal Service: Most important of all, the extra ingredient that makes our tours stand apart from others—the wonderful, personal attention you'll receive from our friendly staff in the USA and our representatives in Israel —is completely free of charge. Compare our Israel programs to others, feature for feature. You'll see for yourself that ours are the very best value for money you'll find anywhere

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* Prices shown are good while inventory lasts, may reflect an early booking discount, and do not include Additional Taxes, Fees & September 11th Security Fee.

Though we do our best to provide accurate and up-to-date information on our site about our tours, sometimes oversights and typographical errors can occur. Please confirm all tour prices and details with us via email or phone prior to booking. We will not be held responsible for misunderstandings arising from such errors.

TourCode: d-000