ITINERARY

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Once you've arrived at the airport, one of our representatives will welcome you and transport you to your hotel. The day is yours free to either relax or explore the city on your own.

OVERNIGHT:

Tel Aviv hotel

MEALS:

None

EXTRAS:

Extra night in Tel Aviv - pre-tour

Single room supplement (ISSGCI)

We officially start the Israel tour today and set off from Tel Aviv, driving south, passing by the cities of Ashdod, Ashkelon and Beersheba, the capital of the Negev Desert.

We continue via Arad to Masada, Israel's foremost archaeological park and 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.

We visit the excavations, Herod's palaces, the synagogue, bathhouse and cisterns, and enjoy the incredible views of the Roman camps and the Dead Sea.

We later descend to the lowest place on earth and the Dead Sea, to experience the mineral-rich black mud and to float in its salty waters.

We end the day by passing by the oasis of Ein Gedi and proceeding through the Judean Desert to Jerusalem.

OVERNIGHT:

Jerusalem hotel

MEALS:

Breakfast

EXTRAS:

None

Today, we drive to Mount Scopus, passing the WWI British cemetery, Hadassah Hospital, and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem for a panoramic view of the Old City.

We continue the tour to the Israel Museum, which houses the Dead Sea Scrolls in the Shrine of the Book after which we'll visit the large scale renovated model of the Herodian city of Jerusalem.

We also visit Yad Vashem and the world Holocaust remembrance centre and followed by an afternoon drive to the picturesque village of Ein Karem.

Later, we'll visit Bethlehem, the birthplace of Jesus, at the Church of the Nativity and Manger Square.

OVERNIGHT:

Jerusalem hotel

MEALS:

Breakfast

EXTRAS:

None

We go back into time and visit the Old City of Jerusalem and we start the tour by entering through one of the gates to the walled Old City to visit the renewed Jewish Quarter and the colourful Souk.

We also walk along the Via Dolorosa, stopping at the Stations of the Cross, ending at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. We also make a visit to Mt. Zion and the tomb of King David, the Room of the Last Supper and Dormition Abbey

In the afternoon we visit Mahane Yehuda to experience the flavors, aromas, colors and the traders' interaction with the crowds, at the largest open market in Israel.

OVERNIGHT:

Jerusalem hotel

MEALS:

Breakfast

EXTRAS:

None

We leave Jerusalem today and drive north passing by Jericho and the oldest city in the world. We'll travel through the Jordan Valley and the new settlements to Beit Shean and visit the excavations of well-preserved Roman City.

Drive up to the Golan Heights to enjoy an Israeli wine country experience, enjoying a tour, wine tasting and understanding of the wine production process. Later, we travel through the Golan, with its Druze villages, former Syrian fortifications and panoramic views of Mount Hermon and into Syria.

Descend to the Hula Valley and drive to Tiberias on the shores of the Sea of Galilee - regarded as one of the four Holy cities in Judaism, where the Jewish Talmud - the primary source of Jewish religious law - was compiled, with tombs of Rabbis scattered across the city.

OVERNIGHT:

Tiberias hotel

MEALS:

Breakfast, Dinner

EXTRAS:

None

Along the shoreline of the Sea of Galilee, proceed to Capernaum, to visit the ruins of the ancient synagogue, the Mount of Beatitudes, traditional site of the ‘Sermon on the Mount’ and Tabgha, the traditional site of the ‘miracle of the loaves and the fish’.

Whilst here we offer an optional sailing on a boat across the Sea of Galilee to experience the tranquility and scenery little changed during the past 2000 years (subject to conditions and extra fee if available).

Later in the day, we continue on to Nazareth to visit the Church of the Annunciation and Christian holy sites. Our day ends with a journey back to Tiberias where we spend the night.

OVERNIGHT:

Tiberias hotel

MEALS:

Breakfast, Dinner

EXTRAS:

None

After breakfast, we start the last day of our tour with a drive through the hills of the Galilee, westwards to Acre (Akko) for a visit of the old, famous Crusader stronghold and medieval fortifications.

We then continue to Haifa, for a panoramic sightseeing tour of the city, including the Baha'i Shrine, Persian Garden, Mount Carmel and Haifa bay. We then head along the Mediterranean coast to Caesarea to visit the Roman Theater and the Crusader fortress at what is known as the 'masterpiece of Herod the Great'

We end the day with a short city tour of Tel Aviv and the ancient port of Jaffa.

OVERNIGHT:

Tel Aviv hotel

MEALS:

Breakfast

EXTRAS:

None

Today, the tour officially comes to an end and you’ll be transferred to the airport for your departure back home. Don't hesitate to contact us if you'd like to extend your tour.

OVERNIGHT:

N/A

MEALS:

Breakfast

EXTRAS:

Extra night in Tel Aviv - post-tour

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Included:

Acommodation in 3 to 4-star hotels
All transport and transfers in AC vehicles
24-hour airport arrival & departure transfer service
English speaking guide during touring days.
All site entry fees.
Meals as indicated in the itinerary (7 breakfasts)

Excluded:

International flights (available on request)
Visa fees (if applied)
Travel insurance (compulsory, available on request)
Meals not indicated in the itinerary
Drinks, snacks, tips and other personal expenses (e.g. laundry)
Tips for driver & tour leader
Any other items not mentioned above

Notes:

Note: From March 2024 onwards please note that the itinerary will include the following changes:

Thursday - After visiting Beit Shean, the tour will go to the Golan Heights for wine tasting and tour of Golan Heights (for tours departing before March 2024 this will be on Friday)
Nazareth visit is moved to Friday (for tours departing before March 2024 this will be on Thursday)
Safed will no longer be included on this tour, instead of Safed we will include a tour of Tiberias

Dates and Prices

Departure dates and prices are given below. Please wait to receive your booking confirmation from us before finalising any international flights. Private tours are also available on other dates for a small supplement - please contact us for details.&am

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Note

Accommodation

The hotels and accommodations listed below are the ones we most often use on this tour. From time to time we may exchange these for similar properties at the same level. In general, specific hotels cannot be guaranteed on our group tours, but you may select your preferred options if you are booking a tailor-made trip.

Options

Our tours are designed to include all that you need to enjoy a really special time in the destination you're visiting. However, we do also offer some extra options to complement the tour and add some additional sightseeing or activities, or some extra time at either end of the tour.

All accommodation based options (e.g. Single supplements, extra nights, cruise upgrades) should be booked and paid for in advance so that we can make the appropriate arrangements. Other options may either be booked and paid for in advance or while you are on the tour, though we recommend booking in advance to ensure there are no issues with availability.

Many options are priced the same throughout the year, but some may incur single or high season supplements - full details are given on the tour reservation form or on request.

TOUR NOTES

The detailed Tour Notes below have been written to give you some more detailed information about how the tour runs, what to expect, and how to prepare for your holiday. We recommend downloading an up to date copy of these shortly before you travel in case of any changes.

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It is impossible not to have an impact on the local environment, cultures and eco-systems when you travel. However, it is very possible to try and ensure that these impacts are as limited, or positive as possible. We are committed to ensuring that we try to leave our host countries in a better state than we found them and encourage and assist our travellers to help us with this.
The following are a few simple tips that require very little effort on your part but which will help ensure that any effect you have on the locations you visit is positive rather than negative.

Don't prejudge: Things in different countries will almost certainly be different. That doesn't make them worse or inferior, just different.
Communicate: Don't expect locals to speak your language. Take the trouble to learn a few words or phrases of the local language. Don't worry about sounding silly. Most locals are patient and accommodating and appreciate you making the effort to communicate in their language.
Conserve energy: Be careful not to waste valuable resources. Use local resources sparingly. Switch off lights, air-conditioning and fans when you leave the hotel room and don't waste water. Remove superfluous packaging. Many countries have far less efficient waste disposal systems than ours. Remove packaging from newly acquired items before leaving home.
Don't litter: No matter how untidy or dirty the country you're travelling in may look to you, avoid littering, as there is no need to add to the environment's stress. Many of the countries we visit have a tough challenge dealing with rubbish and waste. Please consider taking home as much plastic waste as you can (e.g. water bottles).
Choose environmentally friendly products: By using environmentally friendly (bio degradable) sun creams, shampoos and detergents you can help reduce pollution.
Respect local customs and traditions: As you are a guest in these countries, you should also comply with the local customs. If you are friendly and well mannered, the locals will reciprocate and it will only enhance your experience. It's important to follow dress and behaviour guidelines especially when visiting religious or sacred sites (your tour leader will advise you how best to do this).
If a client commits an illegal act the client may be excluded from the tour and Encounters Travel shall cease to have responsibility to/for them. No refund will be given for any unused services.

All porters are employed and equipped following guidelines set by the International Porter Protection Group (IPPG).

Travel insurance is compulsory on all of our tours and needs to cover personal accident & liability, medical expenses and repatriation, travel delay & abandonment. We also strongly recommend that you take out cover against cancellation and lost/stolen baggage. Personal medical insurance does not normally provide sufficient cover and is generally not suitable for travel on our tours. You will not be able to join your tour if you have not provided us with details of your insurance or if you arrive without cover in place (no refunds will be due in this event).

Considering travel insurance for your trip? World Nomads Travel Insurance offers coverage for more than 150 adventure activities as well as emergency medical, lost luggage, trip cancellation and more.

If your tour includes car hire, or if you plan to arrange a hot air balloon flight locally or do some scuba diving during your tour, you should check the small print in your policy to make sure these are covered (these are covered in our policy). Please also check the maximum altitude that you will be reaching and that full cover including emergency evacuation is provided up to this altitude.

If you are taking expensive camera gear or other electronic equipment with you then please check the coverage and the fine print of your policy to ensure that you have sufficient cover.

IMPORTANT: We must have your travel insurance details (policy number and type of insurance) before you depart or you may not be allowed to join the tour. If you haven't told us already, please let us know the details when you can. You should take a paper copy of your insurance policy with you as you may be asked to show this at the start of the tour.

Covid-19
Before purchasing any travel insurance, please check the coverage provided for situations related to Covid-19, and for the rules about government travel advice. Your normal policy may not be suitable.

Traveling responsibly means minimizing plastic waste, but staying hydrated on the go is essential. At Encounters Travel we are committed to reducing single-use plastics, which is why we've partnered with Water-to-Go. Their portable filtration system removes over 99.9% of contaminants from any non-saltwater source, turning even questionable water sources into safe drinking water.

Given that tap water is un-safe to drink in many of the countries in which we operate, we recommend purchasing a Water-to-Go bottle prior to departure. This will help you avoid the use of single use plastic bottles and keep you hydrated on the go.

Save big! Get a huge 25% off your Water-to-Go bottle and other Water-to-Go products (such as filters, lids, and carriers). Use code ENCOUNTERS25 at checkout (valid in the UK, USA and Canada).

How Water-to-Go Technology works:

Their reusable, BPA free water bottles contain their own unique 3-in-1 filtration technology effectively providing clean safe drinking water from any non-salt water source around the world.
Three different (1 traditional and 2 nano) technologies are combined in one filter cartridge to remove up to 99.9999% of microbiological contaminants in water.

The three technologies used in a Water-to-Go filter are:

Mechanical filtration – A tiny pore size, so small contaminants can’t fit through.
Electrical – A positive charge reduces the pore size even further and attracts contaminants like a magnet, trapping them inside the filter.
Activated Carbon – Unlike most carbon based filters, instead of using adhesives to glue the carbon particles together, (which vastly reduces the carbon’s efficiency) it is contained within the membrane, helping to reduce contaminants whilst eliminating bad tastes and odours. Try filtering water from your tap at home and taste the difference!

Water-to-Go filter bottles deliver safe, healthy water worldwide

Water-to-Go filters remove bacteria, viruses, waterborne disease, protozoa, heavy metals such as lead as well as harmful chemicals.
Their filters remove Chlorine and Fluoride from tap water.
The filter will eliminate harmful contaminants from the water but allow beneficial minerals such as sodium and magnesium to pass through leaving you with the healthiest water possible.
Water-to-Go filters have been independently tested against internationally recognised standards by industry specialists including The London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (UK), BCS Laboratories (USA), Bangalore Test House (India) and IMI (China).

Use Water-to-Go products and you’ll be healthier, wealthier and helping to make the world a better place!

Depending on filter size, each Water-to-Go filter is able to replace 260 or 400 single-use plastic water bottles!
They ensure you have access to safe water anywhere in the world without ever having to buy environmentally damaging bottled water.
Their water bottles deliver safe, clean drinking water at just 5p per litre.
The filter membrane is biodegradable and the shrouds are recyclable.
The water bottles are used and approved by everyone from backpackers to commuters, gym users to expecting mums. Perfect for everyday, outdoor and travel.

We want to give you as much flexibility as possible when it comes to booking your holiday with us. So, to take account of people with varying travel plans, we don’t include your international flights in the main tour price. We are however very happy to suggest flights to go with the tour. Please contact us with your preferred dates and departure airport and we’ll give you a selection of airlines, times and fares to choose from.

Your airport arrival & departure transfers are included on the first and last days of the tour. All our group tours in Israel start and finish at Ben Gurion airport in Tel Aviv (TLV). Private and tailor-made tours may arrive into Tel Aviv or Eilat.

We do also sometimes advertise flight inclusive packages from selected airports. Where these are shown on our website, prices are correct at the time of quoting, but are subject to continued availability of the fare used. Prices will be reconfirmed at the time of booking, and we will also provide the flight times and airline details before tickets are issued.
Flight inclusive prices are based on the cheapest Economy ticket class available which is generally non-refundable and non-changeable unless the flight is cancelled for reasons such as Covid-19, in which case the airlines are more flexible. More flexible ticket options, as well as Premium Economy and Business Class tickets are available on request for an additional supplement. Any changes made to flight inclusive bookings will be subject to the airline rules on your ticket.

Flight CO2 Emissions:

Traveling by air is an amazing way to explore the world, but flights also contribute to carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions that impact the environment. By considering the airline's CO2 emissions when you choose your flight, you can help minimize your travel footprint.

When selecting your international flights and airline, we do therefore recommend that you try and also take into account the flight CO2 emissions. Some airlines and flight search websites (eg. Google Flights, Skyscanner) do publish this information, so you can compare between your flight options and make an informed decision. Thankfully, many airlines are working towards sustainability efforts, and choosing a greener option allows you to contribute to positive change while still enjoying your incredible adventure.

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Classic Israel OVERVIEW

TOUR SUMMARY

ITINERARY

Day 1: Arrive Tel Aviv, transfer to hotel

Day 2: Masada – Herod's Palaces - Dead Sea

Day 3: Israel Museum - Yad Vashem - Bethlehem

Day 4: Old City of Jerusalem - Mahane Yehuda

Day 5: Beit Shean - Golan Heights - Tiberias

Day 6: Capernaum - Mount of Beatitudes - Sea of Galilee - Nazareth

Day 7: Acre, Haifa & Tel Aviv

Day 8: Your Classic Israel tour ends

Notes:

Dates and Prices

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26th of Oct 2025 2nd of Nov 2025 A$ 3810 -

9th of Nov 2025 16th of Nov 2025 A$ 3810 -

23rd of Nov 2025 30th of Nov 2025 A$ 3810 -

7th of Dec 2025 14th of Dec 2025 A$ 3810 -

14th of Dec 2025 21st of Dec 2025 A$ 3810 -

21st of Dec 2025 28th of Dec 2025 A$ 4045 -

28th of Dec 2025 4th of Jan 2026 A$ 3810 -

4th of Jan 2026 11th of Jan 2026 A$ 3810 -

11th of Jan 2026 18th of Jan 2026 A$ 3810 -

18th of Jan 2026 25th of Jan 2026 A$ 3810 -

25th of Jan 2026 1st of Feb 2026 A$ 3810 -

1st of Feb 2026 8th of Feb 2026 A$ 3810 -

8th of Feb 2026 15th of Feb 2026 A$ 3810 -

15th of Feb 2026 22nd of Feb 2026 A$ 3810 -

22nd of Feb 2026 1st of Mar 2026 A$ 3810 -

1st of Mar 2026 8th of Mar 2026 A$ 3810 -

8th of Mar 2026 15th of Mar 2026 A$ 3810 -

15th of Mar 2026 22nd of Mar 2026 A$ 3810 -

22nd of Mar 2026 29th of Mar 2026 A$ 3810 -

29th of Mar 2026 5th of Apr 2026 A$ 4160 -

5th of Apr 2026 12th of Apr 2026 A$ 4160 -

12th of Apr 2026 19th of Apr 2026 A$ 3810 -

19th of Apr 2026 26th of Apr 2026 A$ 3810 -

26th of Apr 2026 3rd of May 2026 A$ 3810 -

3rd of May 2026 10th of May 2026 A$ 3810 -

10th of May 2026 17th of May 2026 A$ 3810 -

17th of May 2026 24th of May 2026 A$ 4045 -

24th of May 2026 31st of May 2026 A$ 3810 -

31st of May 2026 7th of Jun 2026 A$ 3810 -

7th of Jun 2026 14th of Jun 2026 A$ 3810 -

14th of Jun 2026 21st of Jun 2026 A$ 3810 -

21st of Jun 2026 28th of Jun 2026 A$ 3810 -

28th of Jun 2026 5th of Jul 2026 A$ 3810 -

5th of Jul 2026 12th of Jul 2026 A$ 3810 -

12th of Jul 2026 19th of Jul 2026 A$ 3810 -

19th of Jul 2026 26th of Jul 2026 A$ 3810 -

26th of Jul 2026 2nd of Aug 2026 A$ 4045 -

2nd of Aug 2026 9th of Aug 2026 A$ 4045 -

9th of Aug 2026 16th of Aug 2026 A$ 4045 -

16th of Aug 2026 23rd of Aug 2026 A$ 4045 -

23rd of Aug 2026 30th of Aug 2026 A$ 4045 -

30th of Aug 2026 6th of Sep 2026 A$ 3810 -

6th of Sep 2026 13th of Sep 2026 A$ 3810 -

13th of Sep 2026 20th of Sep 2026 A$ 3810 -

27th of Sep 2026 4th of Oct 2026 A$ 4160 -

4th of Oct 2026 11th of Oct 2026 A$ 3810 -

11th of Oct 2026 18th of Oct 2026 A$ 4045 -

18th of Oct 2026 25th of Oct 2026 A$ 3810 -

25th of Oct 2026 1st of Nov 2026 A$ 3810 -

1st of Nov 2026 8th of Nov 2026 A$ 3810 -

8th of Nov 2026 15th of Nov 2026 A$ 3810 -

15th of Nov 2026 22nd of Nov 2026 A$ 3810 -

22nd of Nov 2026 29th of Nov 2026 A$ 3810 -

29th of Nov 2026 6th of Dec 2026 A$ 3810 -

6th of Dec 2026 13th of Dec 2026 A$ 3810 -

13th of Dec 2026 20th of Dec 2026 A$ 3810 -

20th of Dec 2026 27th of Dec 2026 A$ 4045 -

27th of Dec 2026 3rd of Jan 2027 A$ 3810 -

3rd of Jan 2027 10th of Jan 2027 A$ 3810 -

10th of Jan 2027 17th of Jan 2027 A$ 3810 -

17th of Jan 2027 24th of Jan 2027 A$ 3810 -

24th of Jan 2027 31st of Jan 2027 A$ 3810 -

31st of Jan 2027 7th of Feb 2027 A$ 3810 -

7th of Feb 2027 14th of Feb 2027 A$ 3810 -

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Price: A$ 3810.00