Classical Jerusalem, 3 days

 Day 1: Jerusalem Old and New

We take in the panoramic views of Jerusalem from the top of Mount of Scopus then travel down the mount passing the biblical Garden of Gethsemane, Church of All Nations, and Kidron Valley which holds monumental Jewish tombs. In the Jewish Quarter, we see the Cardo; the Byzantine-era main street of Jerusalem. We stop at the sacred Western Wall to place a prayer note between the ancient stones of the wall. The tour follows part of the Via Dolorosa to the stunning Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Here we see the site of Christ’s crucifixion and his burial tomb. After a lunch break and walk through the Old City bazaar we travel to new Jerusalem. Driving through the modern city we reach Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum. The museum’s exhibits include authentic artifacts, original documents, photos, and video testimonials of Holocaust survivors.

 Day 2: City of David and Underground Jerusalem

On this tour discover the original Jerusalem settlement built over 3,000 years ago and now hidden beneath the ground.

We'll start with an overview of Jerusalem from Mount Scopus where you can look down on an ancient Jewish cemetery, Garden of Gethsemane and Old City. See the Kidron Valley’s ancient Jewish tombs then go into the Old City through the Zion Gate.

Walk through the fascinating Armenian Quarter with its brightly colored ceramics and enter the Old City’s Jewish Quarter. Here highlights include the Byzantine-era Cardo and the iconic Western Wall. We stop to place a prayer note in the Wall then leave the Old City through the Dung Gate.

From here the tour takes you underground to the 3,000 year old City of David. See the ancient tunnels hewn from rock to bring water to the city thousands of years ago from the Spring of Gihon.

Note that this unforgettable tour includes over 5 Miles in a hilly city area - which might not be suitable for people with difficulty walking long distances. 

 Day 3: Jerusalem In the Footsteps of Jesus

We follow in the footsteps of Jesus on the Mount of Olives visiting the Church of the Ascension where Christ ascended to heaven, and the nearby Church of the Pater Noster, where Christ taught his disciples the Lord’s Prayer.

See the Dominus Flevit - the place Jesus looked out over Jerusalem and wept as he foresaw its destruction. We visit the Church of all Nations and the adjacent Garden of Gethsemane where Jesus was arrested on the eve of his crucifixion.

We view the Pools of Bethesda then go into the Old City where we stop at the Church of Saint Anne plus the Convent of the Sisters of Zion. From there we walk to the 3d Station of the Cross on Via Dolorosa, the path Jesus would have taken carrying his cross toward his crucifixion on Calvary.

Note that this unforgettable tour includes over 5 Miles in a hilly city area - which might not be suitable for people with difficulty walking long distances.