Israel & Greece + 4 Night Greek Island Cruise

HIGHLY RECOMMENDED:  FRIDAY U.S. DEPARTURE/SATURDAY ARRIVAL IN ATHENS GREECE (EXTRA PRE-TOUR NIGHT)

Due to the length of this journey, we recommend arriving in Athens 1 day before the tour starts, with a Friday Departure from the US to arrive in Athens on Saturday. This will allow you to rest and adjust to the time difference so you will be refreshed for the beginning of the tour. We have negotiated an amazing package that includes meet and assist at the Athens Airport, transfer from the Airport to your hotel , extra night at the Athens hotel including breakfast Sunday.

• Extra Saturday night stay in tour program hotel including VIP Airport Assist, hotel transfer and breakfast on Sunday – $xxx per person in double room ($xxxper single room)

U.S. DEPARTURE TO GREECE

• Our journey begins today as we depart on our flight to Athens!

• Meals: On Board flight
• Accommodation:  On Board Flight

• Upon arrival in Athens, the cradle of Western civilization, you will be transferred to the hotel.
• Enjoy a free evening around the area, maybe visit a popular restaurant and interact with the locals.

• At 8:30 in the morning we will transfer to the port of Lavrion to embark on a cruise. We will start a 4-night trip to the Greek Islands and Turkey, departing to the island of Mykonos at 11:30 AM. We will arrive at 6:00 PM.
•  The island of Mykonos offers beautiful sandy beaches and a cosmopolitan lifestyle combined with rich history. We recommend for you to explore on your own sites such as Little Venice or you may climb the sculpture at the Church of Paraportiani. Mykonos is considered one of the most important archaeological sites in Greece. You will love the culture, architecture and history this island has to offer.
• Embark on your cruise at 11:00pm and we will sail to Kusadasi in Turkey.

**There are no guided shore excursions included in Mykonos.

• • Meals:  Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner 
  • Accommodation:  On Board – Celestyal Cruises

• We will arrive in Kusadasi, Turkey at 7:30am and will start our guided tour of the ancient city of Ephesus provided by Celestyal Cruise line – please note that it is not a private AIT tour.
• The history of Ephesus can be seen in the excavations of the Roman Imperial period, including the Library of Celsus and the Great Theater, founded in the 10th century BC.
• Tour the marble streets and visits the Baths of Scholastica, the Temple of Hadrian and one of the seven wonders of the ancient world, the Temple of Diana of the Ephesians.
• Ephesus is also where the Apostle Paul preached to the Ephesians. After living in Corinth for a year and a half, he decided to travel to Ephesus where he lived for 3 years as part of his second evangelical journey. This is also where the church he most likely started received an epistle from him.
• After Ephesus, we return to Kusadasi for a short souvenir shopping stop before embarking on the cruises and sailing to Patmos, Greece at 1:00pm.
• We will arrive at the island of Patmos, Greece at 4:00pm. The enchanting island of Patmos hasn’t changed much since 2,000 year ago when the Apostle John wrote the Book of Revelation (Rev. 1:12-21). The cave believed to be the place where John received his visions of Christ is where the Monastery of St. John the Evangelist is located. Enjoy the beautiful views from the monastery and visit the Grotto of the Revelation – this is a guided tour offered by Celestyal Cruises – not an AIT private tour. After some free time to discover the sites in the area, we will return to the ship and sail to Rhodes, Greece at 9:30pm.

• Meals:  Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner 
• Accommodation:  On Board – Celestyal Cruises

• We will enjoy a delightful breakfast on board the cruise and get ready to arrive at the island of Rhodes at 7:00am. This stronghold was built by a Crusading Order, which originated from Palestine, and in older days, it boasted of another achievements of the then known world – The Colossus of Rhodes!
• Enjoy a half-day excursion to the Temple of Athena on the majestic rocky Acropolis of Lindos, with the blue Aegean Sea beneath it and the sophisticated, whitewashed artists’ colony at its foot. Local tradition has it that on his way to Rome; Paul’s vessels spent some time here in the small harbor (Acts 21:1). Continue to the old town of Rhodes and go through D’Amboise Gate to walk on the Street of the Knights! Lunch on board.
•  We will head to the cruise for a delightful lunch on board and then spend the afternoon strolling through the walled city during our free time. Interact with locals, enjoy the diverse atmosphere, and relish on the astonishing views Rhodes has to offer.
• We will sail to Heraklion, Crete at 6:00pm and enjoy a dinner on board.

• • Meals:  Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner 
  • Accommodation:  On Board – Celestyal Cruises

• We will arrive at Heraklion, Crete. (Acts 27:7-13).
• Enjoy your free time in the largest Greek island or join an optional tour of the Minoan Palace of Knossos, known for the Greek mythological creature with the head of a bull and the body of man, the Minotaur. This optional shore excursion is offered by Celestyal Cruises,
• We will sail to the Island of Santorini at 11:00am, where will arrive at 4:30pm.
•  Take a cable car (recommended) – cost of cable car is 8 Euro per person, per way) – to the town of Thera, a city built over the rim of a volcano and where an eruption in 1,600 BC of the volcano is believed to have originated the Atlantis myth. You will find excavations in Akrotiri of the buried town which disappeared after the eruption preserving the Bronze Age of the island of Santorini.
• We will then sail to Piraeus at 9:30pm.

• • Meals:  Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner 
  • Accommodation:  On Board – Celestyal Cruises
  • Optional:

Optional tour of the Minoan Palace of Knossos ($80)

Optional tour of the Village of Oia ($87)

• Disembarkations will be at the port of Lavrion-60KM from Terminal in Athens. Ship should arrive between 6:00-7:00 AM
• After a delicious breakfast onboard, we will disembark the cruise and drive to Ancient Corinth (Acts 18:1-18) for a half-day tour. It is here where the Apostle Paul visited at least three times, he founded Christian assemblies, and also wrote at least four letters to Christians in Corinth.
• Visit the ruins of the 5th century basilica at the ancient port Cenchrea (viewed from the bus) before we head to Athens and arrive at the hotel for an overnight stay.
• Enjoy a free evening around the area, maybe visit a popular restaurant and interact with the locals.

• Meals:  Breakfast and Dinner
• Accommodation:  Athens, Royal Olympic Hotel *
• ***Celestyal Cruises reserves the right to make any changes to included optional shore excursions.

• After we enjoy our breakfast, we will tour the city of Athens, learning more about the local culture and the ancient architecture as well as it’s modern sites.
• Visit one of the most famous sites in Athens, the magnificent temple of the Acropolis of Athens, known as the Parthenon. Built between 447 and 432BCE, this is the picture-perfect spot in Athens.
• Visit the Erechtheion on the north side of the Acropolis, dedicated to both Athena and Poseidon.
• In modern Athens we will visit the tomb of the Unknown Soldier, the Parliament House, Temple of Olympian Zeus, Panathenaic Stadium, Presidential Palace, the Academy, the University and the National Library.
• We will head to the Acropolis Museum before returning to the hotel and enjoying some free time in the afternoon.
• Enjoy a free evening around the area, maybe visit a popular restaurant and interact with the locals.

• Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
• Accommodation:  Athens, Royal Olympic Hotel *

ARRIVAL IN TEL AVIV/FREE TIME IN TEL AVIV / WELCOME DINNER AND ORIENTATION / VISIT OLD JAFFA

• Gather your luggage to transfer to the Athens Airport
• Arrive in Tel Aviv
• Enjoy a free time in Tel Aviv
• Enjoy a welcome dinner and orientation meeting where you will meet your guide and the rest of the travelers in your group.

• Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
• Accommodation: Tel Aviv, Herods Hotel
• Arrival Transfer:  Complimentary Transfer from Rome hotel to Rome Airport and Tel Aviv Airport to Tel Aviv Hotel
• EVENING ACTIVITY:

After the welcome dinner, we will meet our tour guide for an evening tour of Jaffa, the oldest port city in the world. Here you will see St. Peter’s Church and enjoy a view of the Tel Aviv Shoreline from Jaffa’s Hilltop.

TEL AVIV / COASTAL PLAINS / CAESAREA / MT. CARMEL / MEGIDDO / NAZARETH / SEA OF GALILEE / TIBERIAS

• Enjoy a relaxing drive along the coast of the Mediterranean Sea.
• Visit Caesarea Maritima, the center of early Christianity.
• Stop at Mount Carmel (Muhraka), where Elijah challenged the false prophets.
• See Tel Megiddo and the Valley of Armageddon, the site where the Battle of Armageddon will be fought according to Revelation 16:16.
• Take in a view of Nazareth from Mt. Precipice, where it is believed to have been the site of the rejection of Jesus.
• Visit Jesus’ boyhood town of Nazareth and the Church of the Annunciation, the traditional location of the angel Gabriel’s appearance to Mary.
• Drive by Cana of Galilee, where Jesus performed the miracle of turning water into wine at a wedding feast.
• Our drive will end at our hotel on the Sea of Galilee in Tiberias.

• Meals:  Buffet Breakfast and Dinner
• Accommodation: Sea of Galilee, Leonardo Plaza Tiberias or Magdala Tiberias
• Activity Level: 2.5 to 3.2 miles of walking – might involve uneven surfaces such as cobblestones, stairs, unpaved walkways

SAIL ON THE SEA OF GALILEE / JESUS BOAT / GOLAN HEIGHTS / UPPER GALILEE / CAESAREA PHILIPPI / MOUNT OF BEATITUDES / TABGHA / CAPERNAUM

• Board a wooden boat and sail on the Sea of Galilee before visiting the “Ancient Jesus Boat” – the remains of a 2,000 year old fishing boat that would have been the type used by Jesus’ apostles.
• Visit the Banias Spring in ancient Caesaria Philippi.
• Visit Magdala, best known as the home of Mary Magdalene. Walk through the ruins of a first century Jewish town where a synagogue from the time of Christ’s ministry was found.
• Visit the Mount of Beatitudes where Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount of Matthew 5:8.
• Drive up to the beautiful Golan Heights.
• See Tagbha, where Jesus fed the 5,000 with only five loaves of bread and 2 fish. Here you will visit the Church of Multiplication and enjoy its remarkable 4th century Byzantine mosaic floor.
• End the day by visiting the 2,000 year old remains at Capernaum and stand in the synagogue remains, where Jesus ministered.

• Meals: Buffet Breakfast & Dinner
• Accommodation: Sea of Galilee, Leonardo Plaza Tiberias or Magdala Tiberias
• Activity Level: 3 to 3.4 miles of walking – might involve uneven surfaces such as cobblestones, stairs, unpaved walkways

• Visit the baptismal site of Yardenit. The site on the River Jordan, where it is believed that the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist took place. For those who would like to be baptized today, a white robe can be obtained for $15 per person.
• Enjoy travelling in the Beit She’an Valley and visit the archaeological site of Beit Shean, which is now protected as an Israeli National Park.
• Drive through the Jordanian Valley
• Relax and float in the Dead Sea, the lowest place on earth.

• Meals: Buffet Breakfast & Dinner
• Accommodation: Dead Sea, Herods Hotel or Isrotel/Nevo Hotel
• Activity Level: 2.4 to 3 miles of walking – might involve uneven surfaces such as cobblestones, stairs, unpaved walkways

JORDAN RIVER BAPTISM:

Take the opportunity to be baptized in the Jordan River (required donation of $15).

FREE AFTERNOON TO ENJOY THE DEAD SEA:

Optional mud, mineral and spa treatments at our 5 star Herods Hotel, Dead Sea

• Climb by cable car to the mountaintop stronghold of Masada and explore the ancient sites while learning about the Jewish rebellion against the Romans.
• Enjoy a view of the oasis of Ein Gedi where David wrote many of his Psalms as he hid from Saul.
• Visit the ancient Essene Community of Qumran where the ancient biblical texts known as the Dead Sea Scrolls were found in 1947.
• Ascend to Jerusalem – the holy city if Zion.
• Visit Bethlehem, to see the Church of the Nativity and Shepherd’s Field

• Meals: Buffet Breakfast & Dinner 
• Accommodation: Jerusalem, Leonardo Plaza or Herbert Samuel
• Activity Level:  3 to 3.5 miles of walking – might involve uneven surfaces such as cobblestones, stairs, unpaved walkways

EVENING ACTIVITY:

Optional Sound and Light Spectacular on Jerusalem Old City wall.

NOTE:

* Please be advised that Bethlehem is administered by the Palestinian Authority and it is not part of the State of Israel, therefore a passport is required to enter Bethlehem. Due to an increase in tourists visiting the region, please expect long lines to visit the Grotto. If you wish not to visit Bethlehem and remain in Jerusalem during that time, please advise your tour guide at least 1 day in advance.

• Stand on the Mount of Olives in Jerusalem and reflect on the Lord’s ascension into heaven. Pass by Pater Noster Church and Dominus Flevit.
• Take the Palm Sunday Road to the Garden of Gethsemane.
• Explore the Old City of Jerusalem via the Dung Gate.
• Visit The Davidson Center Museum and the Southern Temple Mount archaeological excavations.
• Visit the Western Wall also known as the Wailing Wall and surrounding Plaza in the Jewish quarter, including Robinson’s Arch.
• Visit the Tomb of King David and the Upper Room on Mt. Zion.
• End the day with a visit to St. Peter of Galicantu commemorating Christ’s prophesy that Peter would deny him three times before the cock crows. Galli-cantu means cockcrow in Latin.

• Meals: Buffet Breakfast & Dinner
• Accommodation: Jerusalem, Leonardo Plaza or Herbert Samuel
• Activity Level:  2.5 to 3 miles of walking – might involve uneven surfaces such as cobblestones, stairs, unpaved walkways

• Enter the Christian Quarter of the Old City via the Lion’s Gate and walk along the Via Dolorosa, also known as the Stations of the Cross, which is the route that Jesus walked from the prison to the crucifixion.
• Along the way you will visit:
  • The Judgment Hall of Pilate.
  • St. Anne’s Church and the Pool of Bethesda.
  • Take time for reflection at the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, traditionally marked as the place of Golgotha – the site of the crucifixion.
• Walk through the historic Christian & Jewish quarters of the Old City. Take a break and shop at the bazaars.
• Celebrate the resurrection with prayer and communion at the Garden Tomb.
• Meet together to say goodbye at our conclusion meeting and farewell dinner!

• Meals: Buffet Breakfast & Dinner
• Accommodation: Jerusalem, Leonardo Plaza or Herbert Samuel
• Activity Level: 3 to 3.4 miles of walking – might involve uneven surfaces such as cobblestones, stairs, unpaved walkways

• Check-out and store your luggage by noon.
• Enjoy a free day in Jerusalem. Attend church service, shop, dine or revisit any of your favorite sites.
• Return to the hotel in the early evening to gather your luggage for our departure transfer back to the airport.

• Meals: Buffet Breakfast 
• Departure Transfer – Complimentary – Bus arrives at TLV Airport at 8:00 PM (for flights departing Tel Aviv Sunday night 10:30pm – 1:30am

RECOMMENDED SITES FOR YOUR FREE DAY EXPLORATION:

The Western Wall Tunnels, Friends of Zion Heritage Center, the Israel Museum (Holy Land Model / Shrine of the Book) & the City of David, Yad Vashem Holocaust museum. If you would like to visit any of these sites, please ask the host or your tour guide.

PLEASE NOTE:
Complimentary departure transfer from Jerusalem to the airport is provided at the end of the tour on Sunday evening for those taking night flights.

The sequence of your sightseeing may be subject to ground condition and tour guide recommendation.

In the rare event that a hotel is overbooked, the group will be provided with an equivalent level hotel or higher.

• Today you will arrive back in the US and start planning your next trip to the Holy Land…