Glimpse of the Holy Land

Shalom and welcome to the Holy Land where a private transfer to your luxury accommodation in the heart of the Old City. Jerusalem is an incredibly historic city with a fascinating mix of cultures and flavours. Overflowing with history, it’s a city of the ages, but it is also a living city, a microcosm of the region’s diversity and is home to Jews and Arabs, Israelis and Palestinians. Spend time soaking in the incredible views of Jerusalem’s Old City Walls, relax by the hotel’s pool or step out and take a leisurely stroll in the exclusive Yemin Moshe neighbourhood.

The King David

A day in the remarkable Old City begins with a dramatic view of this city sacred to so many, before entering the walled section to experience the Four Quarters, Christian, Moslem, Armenian and Jewish. Start at the Cardo located in the centre of the Jewish Quarter where you see the ancient Roman road and view the unearthed main thoroughfare and ancient marketplace lined with columns. Proceed to the Western Wall – the Kotel – with the Dome of the Rock in the background. There is also the option to take the fascinating underground Western Wall Tunnels tour, which traverses 4000 years of Jerusalem’s history.

In the afternoon visit the beautifully simple St Anne’s Church with the Pool of Bethesda where the water for the Temple rituals was stored. Walk along the Stations of the Way of the Cross, a route walked by Pilgrims for hundreds of years, to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. Here you can see the devotion and prayer, by many different denominations, at the site of the Crucifixion and the Tomb of Christ.

The King David | Meals: BL

Start the day with a visit to Yad Vashem – the Jewish people’s memorial to the six million lives lost in the Holocaust. Spend time in the museum and walk along the Avenue of the Righteous, dedicated to the people who risked their lives rescuing the Jews during the Holocaust. There is also time to explore the Israel Museum featuring a collection of nearly 500,000 objects includes art, Judaica and ancient artifacts from Israel and beyond.

From here, it’s on to Bethlehem, located in the Palestinian territory. Visit the UNESCO World Heritage Church of the Nativity, which sits over the cave where Jesus was born, and is one of the holiest sites in Christianity. It was originally built by the Emperor Constantine in the 4th century and spared destruction by the Persians out of respect for a mosaic of the Magi shown wearing Persian attire.

The King David | Meals: BL

Travel through the desert to Qumran on the north-western shore of the Dead Sea in the Judaean Desert where the Dead Sea scrolls were discovered in 1947. Continue on to Masada and you’ll marvel at the ancient fortress built by King Herod. Spend time at the Dead Sea, the lowest point on Earth, and take a dip in the salty waters to experience what visitors around the Mediterranean basin have been doing for thousands of years.

The King David | Meals: BL

This morning you are transferred to the Airport for your departure flight.