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Map of Premium Israel & the Palestinian Territories including Israel

Modern-day marvels beside wondrous sites of the biblical age

Welcome to Israel and the Palestinian Territories, the land of ancient cultures, biblical treasures and thriving cities. Journey from Jerusalem to Tel Aviv with an experienced local leader and gain an understanding of the region’s diverse viewpoints. Meet with a Christian family, a geopolitical expert, a local affected by the Holocaust and a rabbi along the way. Get a taste of local life with a number of authentic food experiences, and visit major religious and historical sites with insights from local experts. Discover a country with a beautifully preserved past and a vibrant beating heart.

Start
Jerusalem, Israel
Finish
Tel Aviv, Israel
Destination
Israel
Style
Premium
Theme
Explorer
Code
ENPI
Physical rating
Ages
Min 15
Group size
Min 1, Max 12

Why you'll love this trip

premium accommodation

Our best accommodation and highest level of service.

premium experiences

Unusual, exceptional and authentic on-trip experiences.

premium knowledge

Led by our most experienced and highest rated local leaders.

  • Experience for yourself some of the world’s most renowned religious sites – the Church of the Annunciation, the Church of the Nativity, Via Dolorosa, Qumran and the Western Wall.

  • Explore the hilltop fortress of Masada overlooking the vast Dead Sea, and venture down into the valley for a gravity-defying swim in its salty waters.

  • Gain an unmatched understanding of the region while travelling with an experienced local leader and spending time with the locals. Discuss history with a geopolitical expert (Exclusive Experience), meet a local Rabbi and have dinner with a Christian family.

  • Taste the flavours of Israel and the Palestinian Territories during an Exclusive Experience in Tel Aviv. Regarded as the top spot in the world for hummus, find out for yourself with a delicious tasting session.

  • Be part of Bethlehem’s past during your Feature Stay. Converted from the home of the owner’s grandmother, this elegant 200-year-old property was Palestine’s first heritage hotel.

Is this trip right for you?

  • This trip takes in many religious sites, so it’s best to come prepared. You will need to bring clothes that cover arms and legs – a light scarf is a good idea for hot days.

Travellers look out over the rocky landscape of Masada on a sunny day
Traditional tomato dish of shakshouka with pita on the side
Prayers at the west wall in Jerusalem
Sunset over the Sea of Galilee
Hotel room at Dar Sitti Aziza, Bethlehem, Palestine
Hotel Dar Sitti Aziza exterior, Bethlehem, Palestine

Itinerary
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Welcome to Israel! Your journey begins in Jerusalem, a city brimming with ancient history and holy sites. You will be collected from the airport and transferred to your centrally located hotel, where you’ll meet your small group and experienced local leader for a 6pm welcome meeting. After your meeting, join your leader on an orientation walk to get acquainted with your home for the next three nights. Discover a captivating city influenced by its multicultural residents who have roots across the world, and leave feeling like a local. Then it’s time to get to know your group over an included dinner at a restaurant set in an atmospheric 120-year-old building, serving up traditional and international delights. You may like to try maqluba, one of the region’s most celebrated dishes, and find out why the name translates to “upside-down”.
Accommodation
  • Harmony Hotel or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Complimentary Airport Arrival Transfer
  • Jerusalem - Welcome Dinner
  • Jerusalem - Leader-led orientation walk
Meals Included
  • Dinner
Special Information
The arrival transfer is only valid if arriving on Day 1 or if you have booked pre-trip accommodation through Intrepid. Please provide your flight details at the time of booking, or at a minimum 14 days prior to travel, as we may not be able to confirm a request made within 14 days of travel.

Set off on a walk through Jerusalem as your leader shares local knowledge and ancient tales. Enter the Old City and visit Temple Mount Courtyard, where you can see the Dome of the Rock from the outside and Al Aqsa Mosque. Follow the Via Dolorosa along Jesus’s path to crucifixion and stop by the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, then visit the remains of the Western Wall on the Temple Mount. Take some time out for lunch before meeting with a local rabbi, learning of Jewish traditions and a different perspective on the Israel–Palestine conflict. Then check out the views from the rooftop of a 19th-century guesthouse. Your evening is free to explore on your own.
Accommodation
  • Harmony Hotel or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Jerusalem - Western Wall (Wailing Wall)
  • Jerusalem - Old City walking tour
  • Jerusalem - Church of the Holy Sepulchre
  • Jerusalem - Rooftop views from the Austrian Hospice
  • Jerusalem - Conversation with a local rabbi
  • Jerusalem - Temple Mount Courtyard
Meals Included
  • Breakfast

This morning, head to the clifftop fortress of Masada, where you’ll take a cable car to the top. Your leader will explain why this World Heritage-listed site is so important to Jewish people, as a symbol of exile from the Holy Land, of bravery and self-sacrifice. Afterwards, drive to Qumran, an archaeological site on the West Bank, home to major discoveries such as the Dead Sea Scrolls. You’ll even have a chance to float in the famously buoyant Dead Sea, which is not only fun but is also believed to provide numerous health benefits. Discover the slow-paced town of Jericho in the West Bank, where people have lived for over 11,000 years. Return to Jerusalem where you’ll have the unique opportunity to meet with a regional expert for a lively conversation about the fascinating geopolitics of the area.
Accommodation
  • Harmony Hotel or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Qumran - Archaeological site visit
  • Masada - Fortress visit by cable car
  • Dead Sea - Visit and float
  • Jerusalem - Conversation with a regional expert
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
Today’s total driving time is approximately 4 hours.

Drive out to visit the Garden of Gethsemane before stopping at the Mount of Olives, where you’ll be treated to incredible views of the Old City. See the Church of All Nations then continue to Yad Vashem for a sobering visit to Israel’s memorial to the victims of the Holocaust. Take a guided tour with a local expert to hear personal stories of those affected by tragedy. Continue to Bethlehem and see the Church of the Nativity and the nearby Shepherds’ Fields in Beit Sahour. Arrive in Bethlehem and head to your Feature Stay accommodation, the Dar Sitti Aziza, Palestine’s first heritage hotel. Converted from the home of the owner’s grandmother, the 200-year-old property hangs onto its original charm, with Ottoman influenced architecture and rooms named after their former purpose, such as the wine room and the olive room. If you’re lucky, the owner may be there to greet you and fill you in on the hotel’s history. Perhaps take some time to enjoy the peaceful courtyard, admiring views of the Church of the Nativity beneath the shade of pistachio trees. Then onto an activity you won’t find in the guidebooks - spend the evening with a local family in Bethlehem who will serve up a traditional Palestinian home-cooked dinner. Learn about life in this historic city, surrounded by churches and mosques. Hear the stories about daily life and enjoy traditional Palestinian food with your hosts.
Accommodation
  • Dar Sitti Aziza (Feature Stay) or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Jerusalem - Yad Vashem Museum
  • Jerusalem - Mount of Olives
  • Jerusalem - Church of All Nations
  • Jerusalem - Garden of Gethsemane
  • Bethlehem - Church of the Nativity & Shepherds' Field
  • Bethlehem - Home-cooked Dinner
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Dinner
Special Information
Today’s total driving time is approximately 2 hours.

Say goodbye to Bethlehem and travel to Tiberias, a holy city sitting on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee. If conditions allow, take a boat ride across the Sea of Galilee while your leader fills you in on its spiritual significance. Afterwards, pay a visit to Tabgha, said to be the site where Jesus fed 5000 people with five loaves of bread and two fish. Take the chance the see the church built to commemorate the miracle and admire the mosaics adorning its walls. Then it’s on to Capernaum, where you’ll find two ancient synagogues and the church said to have been the home of Saint Peter. Here you’ll tuck into a traditional St Peter’s fish lunch while your leader regales you with the story of how the fish got its name. After lunch, visit the Church of the Annunciation – it’s believed this is the place Mary was told by an angel she would conceive and bear God’s son. Finally, continue to Haifa, a dynamic city where old and new go hand in hand. On arrival, you’ll be able to catch a glimpse of the famous Baha’i Gardens and snap a picture of its 19 manicured terraces (garden entrance not included).
Accommodation
  • The Colony Hotel or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Tiberias - Church of the Multiplication
  • Tiberias - Sea of Galilee boat ride
  • Capernaum - St Peter's Church
  • Nazareth - Church of Annunciation & Mary's Well
  • Haifa - Bahai Gardens view & photo stop
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
  • Lunch
Special Information
Today’s total driving time is approximately 5 hours.

Today, stop at the former crusader port of Acre. Visit the complex of buildings occupied by the Knights of St John, and take a peek at the secret tunnel of their rivals – the Knights Templar. Continue to Caesarea, once a great port town built by King Herod around 25 BC, the city was eventually abandoned and lost under the desert sands. Thanks to excavations in the 1950s, an amphitheatre, hippodrome, palace, Roman temple and a network of aqueducts are now on display. Arrive in Tel Aviv and spend the afternoon discovering this high-energy city with your leader, visiting the Old City of Jaffa and Peace Square. Take a dip into some of the world’s most heavenly hummus during a special tasting session in downtown Tel Aviv. Tempt your tastebuds with a range of toppings, textures and flavours and find out why this city takes its hummus so seriously.
Accommodation
  • Melody Hotel or similar (1 night)
Included Activities
  • Acre - Knights of St John Complex
  • Caesarea - Roman ruins
  • Tel Aviv - Hummus Tasting
  • Tel Aviv - Leader-led tour of Old Jaffa
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
Today’s total driving time is approximately 4 hours.

With no activities planned for today, your journey through Israel and the Palestinian Territories comes to an end after breakfast. You are free to leave the accommodation at any time, provided you comply with the hotel’s internal check-out times.
Meals Included
  • Breakfast
Special Information
If you are catching a flight today, we recommend that you allow at least three hours to check-in and pass through security before your departure, due to strict security measures at Tel Aviv Airport.
Want to tailor this itinerary?

Meals

6 breakfasts, 1 lunch, 2 dinners

Transport

Private vehicle

Accommodation

Comfortable hotel (5 nights), Feature stay (1 night)

Included activities

  • Complimentary Airport Arrival Transfer
  • Jerusalem - Welcome Dinner
  • Jerusalem - Leader-led orientation walk
  • Jerusalem - Western Wall (Wailing Wall)
  • Jerusalem - Old City walking tour
  • Jerusalem - Church of the Holy Sepulchre
  • Jerusalem - Rooftop views from the Austrian Hospice
  • Jerusalem - Conversation with a local rabbi
  • Jerusalem - Temple Mount Courtyard
  • Qumran - Archaeological site visit
  • Masada - Fortress visit by cable car
  • Dead Sea - Visit and float
  • Jerusalem - Conversation with a regional expert
  • Jerusalem - Yad Vashem Museum
  • Jerusalem - Mount of Olives
  • Jerusalem - Church of All Nations
  • Jerusalem - Garden of Gethsemane
  • Bethlehem - Church of the Nativity & Shepherds' Field
  • Bethlehem - Home-cooked Dinner
  • Tiberias - Church of the Multiplication
  • Tiberias - Sea of Galilee boat ride
  • Capernaum - St Peter's Church
  • Nazareth - Church of Annunciation & Mary's Well
  • Haifa - Bahai Gardens view & photo stop
  • Acre - Knights of St John Complex
  • Caesarea - Roman ruins
  • Tel Aviv - Hummus Tasting
  • Tel Aviv - Leader-led tour of Old Jaffa

Premium Inclusions

  • Arrival airport transfer
  • Tipping for accommodation, activities and transport
  • Luggage transfer
  • Daily breakfast and signature local meal experiences
  • 24/7 on-ground support

Dates & availability

Trip departures are unavailable.

There are currently no scheduled departures on our Premium Israel & the Palestinian Territories trip. If you are interested in other trips in the region visit one of the links below.

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Important notes

Travellers on Intrepid trips are required to produce proof of full vaccination against COVID-19. Read details here.

1. A complimentary airport arrival transfer is included; valid if you are arriving on Day 1 or if you have booked pre-tour accommodation through us. You must provide your flight details to your booking agent at least 14 days prior to travel.
2. A single supplement is available if you’d prefer not to share a room on this trip. The single supplement applies to all nights of your trip and is subject to availability. Please speak to your booking agent for further information. 
3. Israel currently requires a PCR test upon arrival, with a quarantine until test results are received (24 hours or less). Please see ETI for more details.
4. Travel is always an adventure and, as destinations reopen, there are a few challenges as everyone gets back up to speed and adjusts to the new normal. Our leaders are experts when it comes to dealing with anything unexpected along the journey, so pack your understanding and flexibility, sit back and relax while they take care of the rest.

Essential trip information

Want an in-depth insight into this trip? Essential Trip Information provides a detailed itinerary, visa info, how to get to your hotel, what's included - pretty much everything you need to know about this adventure and more.

View Essential Trip Information

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