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10 Day tour of Israel (with optional 5 day tour of Turkey)
April 26th to May 10th, 2015 (ending on May 11th if Turkey is included)
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Printable Itinerary
B = Breakfast, L = Lunch, D = Dinner
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Day 01 - Apr 26
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Departure – on our overnight flight to ISTANBUL and connect to TEL
AVIV.
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Day 02 - Apr 27 |
Arrive in Israel – Galilee Shalom!
 We
will be met by our Israeli host. Drive north to visit Caesarea, the old Roman capital.
Continue north via Haifa and Mount Carmel and stop for a panoramic view of
the city and the bay. View the Persian Garden of the Bahai Shrine. Drive to our hotel
in TIBERIAS. (D)
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Day 03 - Apr 28 |
Mt. Tabor – Nazareth – Cana
Ascend Mt. Tabor, site of the Transfiguration,
and enjoy the
panoramic view. Continue to Nazareth. Visit the Church of the Annunciation and celebrate
Mass in the Grotto followed by a visit to Nazareth Village.
Drive to Cana
where Jesus turned water into wine. Couples are invited to renew your marriage vows. Return to our
hotel in Tiberias. (B/D)
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Day 04 - Apr 29 |
Mt. of Beatitudes – Tabgha - Capernaum – Boat Ride
 Drive
to the Mt. of Beatitudes, recalling the Sermon on the Mount. Celebrate Mass. Continue to Tabgha, recalling
the feeding of 5000. Visit Capernaum, Jesus’ “home town” and enjoy a boat ride on
the Sea of Galilee. Return to our hotel in TIBERIAS. (B/D)
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Day 05 - Apr 30 |
Jordan Valley – Jericho
Depart Tiberias and drive down the Jordan Valley,
to Beit
Shean to see an extraordinary excavation of an Ancient Roman City. Continue to Jericho,
the oldest city in the world. Stop at Genesis Land to visit Abraham’s Tent. Continue to our
hotel in JERUSALEM. (B/D)
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Day 06 - May 1 |
Mt. Scopus – Pater Noster – Dominus Flevit – Gethsemane – Ein Kerem
Drive to the top of Mount Scopus for a magnificent view of Jerusalem where old and new
converge in ageless splendor.
Visit the Mt. of Olives, Pater Noster Church where Jesus taught
the Lord’s Prayer; the “Palm Sunday Road” to the Dominus Flevit, where Jesus wept
over the city.
In Gethsemane, we celebrate Mass at the Church of All Na-tions.
Continue to the village of Ein Karem and visit the Church of the Visitation where Mary proclaimed
the Magnificat. Visit the Church of John the Baptist. Return to our hotel in JERUSALEM.
(B/D)
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Day 07 - May 2 |
Pool of Bethseda – Church of St. Anne – Ecce Homo – Via Dolorosa –
Holy Sepul-chcre – Cardo – Western Wall - St. Peter in Gallicantu
Walk to
Lion/St. Stephen’s Gate. Visit the Church of St. Anne and the Pool of Bethseda
where Jesus cured a cripple. Continue to Ecce Homo, Sisters of Sion, and the Judgment Hall
of Pilate.
Walk along the Via Dolorosa to the Holy Sepulchere. Celebrate Mass. Walk through
the Old City
via the Cardo to the Wailing Wall, the last standing remnant of the ancient Temple.
Drive to Mt. Zion and visit the Upper Room and Dormition Abbey. Visit St. Peter in
Gallicantu, built over the Palace of Caiaphas and where Peter denied Jesus. Return
to our hotel in JERUSALEM. (B/D)
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Day 08 - May 3 |
Dead Sea Scrolls – Jerusalem Model – Bethlehem
Visit Yad Vashem,
memorial to Holocaust victims.
 Visit
the Israel Museum, Shrine of the Book, Dead Sea Scrolls and see the miniature model of Jerusalem during
the Second Temple period. In the afternoon visit Bethlehem where we can kneel at the Nativity
Grotto. We return to our JERUSALEM hotel. (B/D)
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Day 09 - May 4 |
Masada – Ein Gedi – Qumran
Travel through the Judean
wilderness to the Dead Sea, the lowest spot on earth. At Masada,
built by Herod the Great, ascend to the summit by cable car and visit the magnificent excavations.
Descend to the Dead Sea. At Ein Gedi Spa, float on the Dead Sea and experience the therapeutic
benefits of the Dead Sea’s pollen-free, oxygen-rich air, mineral-laden waters and famous black
mud. Return to our hotel in JERUSALEM for a farewell dinner.
(B/D)
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Day 10 - May 5 |
Jerusalem – Ben Gurion Airport Lehitra'ot!
Our journey comes to an end
as we board our flight back home to share this experience of a lifetime with family and friends….
OR .. Extend our stay for an exciting visit to TURKEY.
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TURKEY EXTENSION
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Day 10: May 5
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Arrive Istanbul – Attaturk international Airport
 We
will be met at the airport by our Turkish host who will transfer us to our hotel in the centre of
this exciting city. Afternoon free for independent activity. Welcome dinner at the hotel.
(B/D)
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Day 11 - May 6 |
After breakfast at the hotel, we begin our tour at Hagia
 Sophia,
built by the Emperor Justinian in the early 6th century AD. Its massive dome dominates the skyline
of old Istanbul. Next we visit the 17th century Blue Mosque, the only imperial mosque
with six minarets; Hippodrome, the stadium of ancient Byzantium, which held 100,000
spectators.
 We
browse through the Grand Bazaar to indulge in some shopping, Ottoman style. After
we stop for lunch, we continue our tour with Topkapi Palace, which, from the 15th
to the 19th century, was the principal residence of the Ottoman Sultans.
We then visit the
Rüstem Pasha Mosque, a masterpiece completed in 1563. Dinner tonight is on our own
to give us an opportunity to enjoy our favourite Turkish dishes. ISTANBUL
(B/L)
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Day 12 - May 7 |
 We
begin with a brief visit to the 17th century SpiceBazaar, one of Istanbul’s
most colorful, bustling attractions.
Next, we travel the Golden Horn on our
way to an unforgettable cruise along the Bosphorus, the majestic strait that runs
through Istanbul, linking Europe and Asia. From our cruise boat, we view the dramatic sights lining
the Bosphorus’ wooded shores:
 mosques,
a bridge that for a time was the world’s longest and Rumeli Hisari, a massive
fortress built by Mehmet the Conqueror in just three months as he prepared to take Istanbul.
Also noteworthy on this tour are the 19th century mansions of the Ottoman elite and the Sultans’
fanciful gingerbread palaces and hunting lodges. Transfer from hotel to Airport for the flight to
Kayseri. Arrival transfer from Kayseri Airport to hotel in Cappadocia. Dinner and overnight at
CAPPADOCIA. (B/D) |
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Day 13 - May 8 |
Cappadocia (optional – early morning hot air balloon ride)
Breakfast
will be served at the hotel. The full day tour of Cappadocia begins with the natural Citadel
of Uchisar, which will enable you get a panoramic view of the region, and continues with
the underground city of Kaymakli or Derinkuyu which were carved as refuges from persecutors
during the early Christian era. Lunch will be served en route at a typical regional restaurant.
 After
lunch, the tour continues with the visit to Goreme Valley which is the highlight
of the day. This valley houses the Goreme Open Air Museum with its churches hewn out of rock and the
colorful frescoes which decorate them. The last sites will be Pasabag Valley and Avanos. Dinner and
overnight will be at the hotel in CAPPADOCIA. (B/L/D)
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Day 14 - May 9 |
Cappadocia - Kayseri Airport / Izmir or Denzili
After breakfast at the hotel,
transfer to the airport for your domestic flight to Izmir or Denzili (depending on 2015 schedules).
Commence your tour with a visit to the ancient city of Hierapolis,
 the
ruins of the biggest necropolis graveyard of the ancient world, Roman Baths, Basilica and the incredible
Calcium Cliffs of Pamukkale – also known as the “Cotton Castle”.
After lunch visit the remarkably well preserved Greco-Roman Settlement. The
ancient city is dedicated to the goddess of love, Aphrodite. Drive to Kusadasi. Dinner and overnight
at the hotel in KUSADASI or PAMUKKALE. (B/L/D)
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Day 15 - May 10 |
Kusadasi / Ephesus / Izmir
After breakfast at the hotel, drive to Meryemana and
visit the House of Virgin Mary. Continue to Ephesus, the
Roman capital of Asia Minor. Visit the ruins of Odeon, Her-cules Gate, the
Temple of Hadrian, the magnificent library, Agora and a fantastic Greco-Roman theatre.
After lunch, visit the Basilica of St. John. At the end of the visit, we return to our hotel
in KUSADASI or IZMIR for dinner and overnight.
(B/L/D)
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Day 16 - May 11 |
Izmir - Istanbul - Toronto
After an early breakfast, we will be transferred to
Izmir airport for our flight to Istanbul to connect with our flight to Toronto.
(B)
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TOUR PRICE
Israel Portion Only: $2,459 per person sharing
double (Land only - excluding air fare & taxes)
Turkey Extension: $1,909 per person
sharing double (Land and domestic flights in Turkey)
International Air Fare: $849.00
plus taxes $ 552.00
Rate Includes:
8 Nights in Israel and 6 nights in Turkey in first class hotels throughout.
Meals as shown in the itinerary
Sightseeing tours with English Speaking guides in Israel and Turkey
Private coach for all transfers and touring.
All entrance fees to places visited in Israel and Turkey.
Domestic flights in Turkey – Istanbul – Kayseri – Izmir – Istanbul.
Gratuities to Tour guides, drivers and for included meals on the itinerary.
Rates Exclude:
Items of a personal nature not listed in inclusions above.
Beverages with meals.
Tips and gratuities for meals and services not included in the itinerary.
Travel Insurance.
Passport and Visa fees if applicable.
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