2-Day Best of Israel Tour: Old Jerusalem, Bethlehem, Masada and the Dead Sea

Read the Itinerary for a full description.

Day 1
Departing from Jerusalem in your air-conditioned coach, stop at the Mount of Olives for scenic views of the Dome of the Rock at the Temple Mount Esplanade in Old Jerusalem.

Pass the Garden of Gethsemane before continuing into the Old City. See the famous Western Wall (Wailing Wall) which functions as an open-air synagogue, before walking the pilgrimage route of the Via Dolorosa. Look out for the 14 Stations of the Cross as you trace Jesus' steps to the site of his crucifixion at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

A short 6-mile coach journey takes you to Bethlehem, where you will see the Manger Square, flanked by the Church of the Nativity and also the Mosque of Oman. From here you visit Shepherds' Field where according to the Bible, the 'shepherds watched their flocks by night'. You will then be driven to your overnight accommodation at the following hotel (or one of a similar tourist grade standard):


• Park Plaza Hotel, Jerusalem
Day 2
After breakfast the next morning, set off through the Judean desert before arriving at the cable car that takes you to the mountaintop site of Masada. It was here that King Herod built two fortified palaces over 2,000 years ago.

Continue to the Dead Sea past the Ein Gedi oasis to the ancient caves of Qumran where you will see the fabled Dead Sea Scrolls.

Final stop is the Dead Sea, where you'll have approximately two hours to relax on the mineral beach and opportunity to float in the salt-rich water, 400m (1,312 ft) below sea level! Don't miss the chance to have a mud bath in the world's richest source of natural salts.

The drive back to Jerusalem and see the ancient city of Jericho, referred to in the Hebrew Bible as the 'City of Palm Trees' from the distance, before your multi-day tour concludes in the early evening.