Israel - Petra - St Catherine tour

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Israel, Petra and St Catherine tour. Visit the Middle East’s most important historical and religious sites of three diverse countries.  This will be a journey where the magic never ends. Explore Israel’s holy sites plus Petra and the famous Monastery of St Catherine in Egypt. Book this tour and you will get more than just a vacation. Your tour takes you through thousands of years of history. Wander and explore the remnants of ancient civilizations and have shaped the world we live in today. A professional tour guide will take you to the places where Jesus lived and preached. Travel southwards to Eilat, a resort town on the Red Sea, near Jordan. Visit Petra, dating to around 300 B.C. and once the capital of the Nabatean Kingdom. Continue your journey to the St. Catherine Monastery in the Sinai Peninsula. This Greek Orthodox monastery is located at the very place where, according to the Old Testament, Moses received the Tablets of the Law. St Catherine is the oldest Monastery still in use.

At a glance

SUN Arrive Tel Aviv. Meet and transfer to your hotel
MON Travel south to Beer Sheba, Masada & Dead Sea to Jerusalem
TUE New Jerusalem and Bethlehem Tour
WED Full day Old Jerusalem tour
THU Onwards to the Sea of Galilee
FRI Tour variousimportant  sites around the Dead Sea
SAT Return to Tel Aviv via Haifa and Caesarea. Flight to Eilat
SUN Full day tour to Petra
MON Full-day tour to St. Catherine Monastery. Return flight to Tel Aviv
TUE Service ends with transfer to Tel Aviv Airport

Highlights

> Visit Masada and the Dead Sea
> Spend two days in Jerusalem visiting all its major Christian sites
> Travel to Bethlehem and explore the Church of the Nativity and its Manger Square
> Travel to the Sea of Galilee, where Jesus performed many miracles (feeding 5000 people in Tabgha)
> Spend a day in Petra, a UNESCO World Heritage site
> Cross the Sinai Desert south of Eilat through amazing desert scenery to St. Catherine Monastery

Quick Contact

Itinerary

Day 1

Arrive Tel Aviv

  • Welcome to the Holy Land
  • On arrival at Tel Aviv Airport, you will be met by our representative immediately after passport control. Our representative will guide you to pick up your luggage, after which you will be escorted to Customs
  • Afterwards, meet your driver who will transfer you to your hotel.
  • Check-in at your hotel and the remainder of the day is free
  • Overnight in Tel Aviv

 

Day 2

Tel Aviv / Beer Sheba / Masada & Dead Sea (B)

  • Meet your tour guide in the morning and set off from Tel Aviv, driving south, passing by the cities of Ashdod and  Ashkelon to Beersheba, for a short visit of the capital of the Negev Desert.
  • Continue via Arad to Masada, Israel’s foremost archaeological park.
  • Ascend via cable-car for a thorough visit that gives insight to the rituals, politics and culture of the people who inhabited this desert fortress, which was the last stronghold of the Jewish Zealots in their war against the Romans.
  • Visit the excavations, Herod’s palaces, the synagogue, bathhouse, and cisterns, and enjoy the breathtaking view of the Roman camps and the Dead Sea.
  • Descend to the lowest place on earth – the Dead Sea, to experience the mineral-rich black mud and to float in its salty waters.
  • Passing by the oasis of Ein Gedi, proceed through the Judean Desert to Jerusalem.
  • Overnight in Jerusalem.
Day 3

Jerusalem (B)

  • Start the day at the Israel Museum’s Shrine of the Book with the famous Dead Sea scrolls, then a visit to the beautifully renovated Model of the Herodian city of Jerusalem, dating back to the time of the Second Temple.
  • Enjoy Ein Karem; a picturesque village in the southwestern outskirts of Jerusalem. This small village has great significance in Christian traditions since this is where according to tradition John the Baptist was born.
  • Visit Yad Vashem the official memorial to the Jewish victims of the Holocaust, established in 1953, located at the foot of Mt. Hertzl.
  • Visit Bethlehem - the birthplace of Jesus at the Church of the Nativity and Manger Square.
  • Return to your hotel in Jerusalem for overnight

Inclusions

  • Sightseeing tours and intercity transfers as per itinerary in AC vehicle
  • Arrival and departure Airport transfers
  • 09 Nights’ Accommodation at selected hotels in double/twin sharing
  • Meals: as mentioned 
  • Local English-Speaking Guide
  • Entrance fees
  • Return flight Tel Aviv/Eilat/Tel Aviv

Exclusions

  • International flights – Departure & Fuel taxes (Contact us for best airfares)
  • Personal expenses, meals and drinks unless otherwise specified
  • Travel insurance
  • Israel/Jordan/Egypt visa fee
  • Tips
  • Border taxes for Israel/Jordan and Israel/Egypt
  • Services not stated in the itinerary

Validity

  • Rate valid for travel between 11 OCT 20 and 28 FEB 21
    High Season: 21 DEC 20 to 02 JAN 21

    Contact us for alternative travel dates

Country information

Best time to go
Spring (April and May) and autumn (September and October) are the best time to visit Israel when temperatures are pleasantly mild throughout the country.

Israel food & drink
Food in Israel is of high quality, and of course and varies dramatically in price. Tel Aviv, Israel’s undeniable culinary capital, top restaurants are expensive, even by European standards, but most restaurants across the country are reasonable when you consider the quality and portion sizes. A main dish will cost around 15 USD. Street food is good and reasonably priced. Limonana is a refreshing non-alcoholic drink made up of icy lemonade and crushed mint leaves. Goldstar is a refreshing lager beer and can be found in every store and restaurants

Culture and Language
Israelis are very casual but are typically blunt and direct in speech, which could be interpreted as being rude. The expression “shalom” is very often used to say hello. Dress code is casual, but, when visiting holy sites modest clothing is required. Smoking is considered a violation of Shabbat. There will be a sign at your hotel or restaurant to remind you of the same. Do not ignore it. Hebrew and Arabic are the official languages however English is widely spoken and used on street signs

Getting around
Taxis in Israel can easily be hailed on the streets. They are metered and a concierge at your hotel will arrange a taxi with a set rate for your next destination. Drivers are friendly and talkative and will freely discuss any topic. Make sure that your driver is familiar with your end destination. Egged is the largest bus Company in Israel. Tel Aviv boasts a convenient bus system, Look out for the DAN buses in town and the Egged coach on the outskirts of the city. You can buy multiple passes or a day pass. Busses do not run on Shabbat and Jewish Holidays. Car rental may also be an option of getting around the country. Highways are modern and well maintained. The signage is in English. Street parking is free unless indicated by a “No parking” sign or a curb marked with red and yellow.

Tipping
The basic rule is 12-15% in restaurants and cafes. This is often added to your bill. If you join a group tour, plan on tipping between $ 10-12 per person per day for the guide and around $ 5 for the driver

Traditional dishes
Borekas: pastries can be filled with cheese, potatoes, or vegetables.
Baba Ganoush: a tangy eggplant spread
Falafel: deep-fried chickpea balls, often served in pita bread
Hummus: mashed chickpea spread, hummus can be served in many ways and is a staple in Israeli households
Shwarma: Sliced grilled meat served in pita bread with salad