Turkey and Israel, 16 days

**Day 1 | Saturday | ISTANBUL**

Arrival at Istanbul Airport (IST). After reception at the airport, we proceed to the hotel. Accommodation in Istanbul. Dinner not included.

**Day 2 | Sunday | ISTANBUL – BOSPHORUS CRUISE – SPICE BAZAAR (OPTIONAL ASIAN PART TOUR WITH LUNCH) (Breakfast)**

Breakfast. Departure to experience one of Istanbul's most famous activities, a boat cruise on the Bosphorus, the channel that separates Europe from Asia. During this journey, you will admire the Sultan's Palaces, old and typical wooden houses, and enjoy history in a different way. Next, we will visit the Spice Bazaar, founded by the Ottomans five centuries ago and in use since then. Our included visit ends at the bazaar where you can enjoy its atmosphere and variety of shops. In the afternoon, you can optionally take a tour with lunch to the Asian part of the city, visiting the "Beylerbey" Palace located on the Asian side of the Bosphorus, the former summer residence of the Ottoman Empire sultans. Additionally, we can see the famous Bosphorus Suspension Bridge that connects the European and Asian parts of the city. After lunch, we will visit Camlica Hill located in the underestimated district of Üsküdar, on the Asian side, one of Istanbul's seven hills and the highest point in the entire city. At 268 meters above sea level, Camlica Hill offers panoramic views of both sides of the city. Return to the hotel. Accommodation. Dinner not included.

**Day 3 | Monday | ISTANBUL – ANKARA (Breakfast and dinner)**

Breakfast. Departure to Ankara passing through the Bolu Mountains. Upon arrival, we will take a panoramic bus tour to get to know the capital of the Republic of Turkey and the second most populous city in Turkey (Ankara), a modern and cosmopolitan city rich in history and millennia-old culture. Later, we will visit the Mausoleum of Anitkabir, a symbol of Ankara, as it is the place where the founder of the Republic of Turkey resides. In the late afternoon, arrival at our hotel. Dinner at the hotel included. Accommodation.

**Day 4 | Tuesday | ANKARA – CAPPADOCIA (OPTIONAL JEEP SAFARI IN CAPPADOCIA) (Breakfast and dinner)**

Breakfast. Departure to Cappadocia. On the way, we will see the second largest lake in Turkey, Lake Tuz, and a 13th-century caravanserai (medieval inn). Arrival in Cappadocia. Optionally, you can book a Jeep Safari tour in Cappadocia, one of the most exciting adventures in Cappadocia that will allow you to explore the region in an off-road vehicle, where you can reach unique landscapes of formations and valleys. Arrival in Cappadocia. Dinner at the hotel included. Accommodation.

**Day 5 | Wednesday | CAPPADOCIA (Breakfast and dinner)**

Breakfast. Visit this fascinating region and original landscape, formed by lava expelled by the Erciyes and Hasan volcanoes 3 million years ago. We will visit the Göreme Valley, an incredible Byzantine monastic complex formed by churches carved into the rock with beautiful frescoes. Next, we will visit Avcilar Valley and the Pasabagi and Gόvercinlik Valleys, where you can admire the best view of the volcanic formations called "fairy chimneys." We will visit typical carpet and onyx and turquoise stone workshops. Dinner at the hotel included. Accommodation.

**Day 6 | Thursday | CAPPADOCIA – KONYA – PAMUKKALE (Breakfast and dinner)**

Breakfast. Early departure to Konya, the capital of the Seljuk sultans. We will visit the Mausoleum of Mevlana, a poet and philosopher who founded the mystical and religious sect of the Whirling Dervishes. Continue the journey to Pamukkale. Arrival and visit to Hierapolis, an ancient Hellenistic city now in ruins. Visit the famous Cotton Castle, a natural wonder of gigantic white waterfalls, stalactites, and natural pools formed over the centuries by the passage of water laden with limestone salts from thermal springs. Arrival at the hotel. Dinner at the hotel included. Accommodation.

**Day 7 | Friday | PAMUKKALE – EPHESUS – IZMIR – FLIGHT – ISTANBUL (Breakfast)**

Breakfast. In the morning, depart for Ephesus, a Greco-Roman city, the ancient capital of Asia Minor, and one of the best-preserved in antiquity, where you will find the Temple of Hadrian, the Temple of Trajan, the Theater, and the Library of Celsus. Visit the House of the Virgin Mary, where she spent the last years of her life. Continue to Izmir airport for a domestic flight to Istanbul. Arrival in Istanbul. Transfer to the hotel. Accommodation. Dinner not included.

**Day 8 | Saturday | ISTANBUL – SULEIMAN THE MAGNIFICENT – REST OF THE DAY FREE (OPTIONAL HISTORICAL PART TOUR WITH LUNCH) (Breakfast)**

Breakfast. Departure to visit the Suleiman the Magnificent Mosque, located on the third hill of Istanbul, with one of the most well-known panoramic views of the city. Built by order of Sultan Suleiman the Magnificent, it was constructed by the famous imperial architect Sinán. After the visit, free time to explore the city on your own or optionally hire a full-day tour of the historical part of Istanbul where you can visit the Hagia Sophia, the pinnacle of Byzantine art, and the Pearl of Istanbul, the famous Topkapi Palace, the residence of Ottoman sultans for four centuries. Enjoy a typical lunch at a local restaurant in the Sultanahmet area, admire the Blue Mosque, a marvel of harmony, proportion, and elegance, and the Hippodrome that preserves the Obelisk of Theodosius, the Serpentine Column, the Emperor Wilhelm Fountain, and the Egyptian Obelisk. In the late afternoon, we will visit the famous Grand Bazaar where you will have free time to get lost among its 4,000 shops. Return to the hotel. Accommodation. Dinner not included.

**Day 9 | Sunday | ISTANBUL – TEL AVIV – JERUSALEM (Breakfast)**

Breakfast. Transfer from Istanbul Airport (IST) for a flight (not included) to Tel Aviv. Upon arrival at Tel Aviv Airport, you will be greeted and transferred to the chosen hotel in Jerusalem. Accommodation in Jerusalem. Dinner not included.

**Day 10 | Monday | JERUSALEM OLD CITY (OPTIONAL NIGHT TOUR OF SOUND AND LIGHTS AT DAVID'S TOWER)**

After breakfast, meet with the guide and depart for the Mount of Olives to enjoy a magnificent view of the city. We continue to the Garden of Gethsemane and the Basilica of Agony. We then head to the Old City, ascend to the Temple Mount (if possible), and visit the Western Wall. We will walk

 the Via Dolorosa to reach the site of Jesus' crucifixion and the Holy Sepulchre. Visit Mount Zion, where the Tomb of King David, the Cenacle (place of the Last Supper), and the Dormition Abbey are located. Continue to the modern part of the city to visit the Mahane Yehuda Market (Shuk), the most famous popular market in Jerusalem, where you can experience the true variety of Israeli cuisine. The main charm of the market, in addition to its products, is the interculturality that is breathed in its bustling stalls. Accommodation in Jerusalem. Dinner not included. Optional Night Tour Sound and Lights Show at David's Tower. 4,000 years of Jerusalem's history are reflected in a fascinating audiovisual show, illuminated by stunning virtual reality images projected on the walls of the Tower of David complex. Accommodation in Jerusalem. Dinner not included.

**Day 11 | Tuesday | JERUSALEM MODERN CITY (OPTIONAL BETHLEHEM)**

After breakfast, meet with the guide and depart for the Shrine of the Book at the Israel Museum, where the Dead Sea Scrolls are exhibited, and where the Model of Jerusalem from the time of Jesus is located. Panoramic view of the Israeli Parliament. We continue to the picturesque neighborhood of Ein Karem, where we will visit the Church of St. John the Baptist. We continue to Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Museum and Memorial. Accommodation in Jerusalem. Dinner not included. Optional Bethlehem - Visit Bethlehem with lunch (included), visit the Church of the Nativity, the Grotto of the Manger, and the 14-pointed Star (place of Jesus' birth). Return to Jerusalem. Note: We recommend booking the Optional Bethlehem Tour one week before the start of the program. Accommodation in Jerusalem. Dinner not included.

**Day 12 | Wednesday | JERUSALEM – GALILEE – HAIFA**

After breakfast, meet with the guide and depart for the Sea of Galilee. We continue along the Oasis of Jericho, where we will enjoy a panoramic view of the Mount of Temptation and the Dead Sea. We arrive at Yardenit, a traditional baptism site on the Jordan River, and then take an exciting boat trip on the Sea of Galilee. We continue towards the Mount of Beatitudes, the setting of the Sermon on the Mount. Visit Tabgha, the site of the Multiplication of the Loaves and Fishes, and Capernaum, where the Ancient Synagogue and the House of St. Peter are located. We travel along the Sea of Galilee towards Haifa. Accommodation in Haifa. Dinner not included.

**Day 13 | Thursday | HAIFA – AKKO – NAZARETH – HAIFA**

After breakfast, meet with the guide and depart for Acre to visit the ancient Crusader Fortress. We continue to Nazareth to visit the Basilica of the Annunciation and Joseph's Carpentry. We head to a winery in the Galilee region for a tasting in this region known for the best wines produced in Israel. Return to Haifa. We go to Mount Carmel, where we will contemplate a view of the Baha'i Temple and its Persian Gardens, and we will also have a panoramic view of the city and the port. Accommodation in Haifa. Dinner not included.

**Day 14 | Friday | HAIFA – CAESAREA – TEL AVIV**

After breakfast, meet with the guide and depart along the Mediterranean coast until reaching Caesarea Maritima, the ancient Roman capital, where we will visit its Theater, the Crusader city, and the Roman Aqueduct. We will arrive in Tel Aviv. Panoramic bus tour through Rothschild Street and the picturesque Neve Tzedek neighborhood, where we will visit HaCarmel Market (Shuk), which offers a variety of colors, aromas, and flavors of authentic and charming places to buy any type of food. We will go to Jaffa, one of the oldest ports in the world. We will enjoy free time at the Flea Market and its many galleries of art, crafts, and jewelry. Or the possibility of transferring to the hotel. Accommodation in Tel Aviv. Dinner not included.

**Day 15 | Saturday | TEL AVIV (OPTIONAL MASADA AND DEAD SEA)**

After breakfast, a free day. Possibility of taking the Optional Masada and Dead Sea tour. Meeting with the guide (in Spanish) and departure to the Dead Sea region, the lowest place on earth – cable car ascent to Masada, the last Jewish stronghold in the fight against the Romans. Visit to the excavations, Herod's Palace, and the Ancient Synagogue. Panoramic view of the Roman Camp and the Dead Sea. If the weather permits, we will have free time to enjoy a bath in the medicinal waters of the Dead Sea. Return to Tel Aviv. Accommodation in Tel Aviv. Dinner not included. Note: The Optional Masada and Dead Sea tour must be booked one week before the start of the program.

**Day 16 | Sunday | TEL AVIV**

After breakfast, at the appointed time, transfer to Ben Gurion International Airport in Tel Aviv.