Jerusalem & Bethlehem - Day 1 **ADDITIONAL SPACE**
Jerusalem & Bethlehem - Day 1 **ADDITIONAL SPACE**
This is the same Yachting Land Adventure as "JERUSALEM FOOD FOR THE SOUL" and adding more capacity! Guests will visit the same sights, and have a restaurant lunch due to the limited availability for a family home lunch.
Satisfy both your spirit and your palate on a perfect blend of Jerusalem and Bethlehem's spiritual sites and tasty delights. Follow the pilgrim's journey to Jerusalem, where Jesus spent His last days and was crucified. Explore all four Quarters of Jerusalem's Old City, including the vibrant shuk where you will savor local delights.
Drive to Bethlehem to visit the birthplace of Jesus, the Church of the Nativity in Bethlehem. It is the oldest Christian church in daily use, dating back to the 4th century AD. Meet a local monk who will escort you to the Grotto where Jesus was born. Afterwards, travel to a traditional local restaurant in Bethlehem for a tasty lunch.
Refreshed now, the journey continues to discover the cultural mosaic preserved in the Old City of Jerusalem. Visit all four Quarters – Muslim, Jewish, Christian, and Armenian, and behold their historic wonders. Touch the ancient stones, hear the Middle Eastern market vendors, and smell the incense wafting from the church doors as you wander through the cobbled streets. Behold the Wailing Wall, and the sole remnant of the 2nd Temple. The 2000-year-old wall was built by King Herod as part of the 2nd Temple's expansion, and ever since the Romans destroyed the 2nd Temple in 70 CE, Jews have prayed facing the holy wall. Walk past some stations of the Cross to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, where Jesus is believed to have been crucified, buried, and resurrected. Stroll through Jaffa Gate, one of the Ancient City’s seven open gates, in the Armenian Quarter. Guarded by the iconic, moated Tower of David, the Gate is named after the road that leads from it to the port city of Jaffa.
The magic of the Muslim Quarter is to be found in its markets. Locals and tourists mingle and haggle over clothing, jewelry, religious artifacts, food and spices, antiques, and souvenirs in centuries-old, covered bazaars bursting with color. Walk through the colourful and diverse market, enjoy some of the regional culinary delights that draw the locals to this market. As you stroll along the tour sample some local treats such as baklawa or halva, local bread with hyssop, and wash it all down with some fresh squeezed healthy juice before returning to the yacht in Ashdod.
Notes: Tour sequence and duration can vary to due to local conditions. Please wear comfortable clothing and walking shoes. The Old City can be very crowded and has over 100 steps. Guests should indicate any food allergies or sensitivities a minimum of 3 days before departure.
Bethlehem is in the Palestinian Authority. A local guide will guide in the City. Guests with Israeli Passports need to send us a copy of their passport 8 days prior to arrival in order that we can arrange their entry to Bethlehem with the rest of the group. A visit of the grotto in Bethlehem time permitting and dependent upon the lines to get in. The monk escort to the grotto is subject to availability.
Port: Ashdod
Duration: 10.5 hours
Current Price: 629 USD