Masada & Jerusalem Overnight Tour (Single)
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Port
Ashdod (Jerusalem), Israel
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Activity Level
Strenuous
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Excursion Type
All,68
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Wheelchair Accessible
No
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Starting At
$1099
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Minimum Age
Information Not Currently Available
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Duration
2 days/1 night
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Meals Included
Meals included
Day 1 (L/D) Ashdod - Masada - Jerusalem
Depart from Ashdod port and descend 1,400 feet to the lowest place on the surface of our planet—the Dead Sea in the Judean Desert.
You'll also visit the Masada Fortress, located a little to the north of ancient Sodom. The mountain fortress of Masada looms high above the Dead Sea's desolate landscape. It has often been described as the most spectacular archaeological site in Israel. Here King Herod built a luxurious refuge complete with magnificent palaces, swimming pools and excavated rock cisterns to provide water. Around AD 73, after a three-year-long Roman siege, more than 950 Jews took their own lives at Masada rather than face the brutal Romans and a future of slavery.
A cable car will convey you to the summit for a walk around the site of this last stand. Among the fascinating sights are the wall, bathhouses, upper palace, synagogue, western palace, and the Roman ramp and siege camp. Reboard the coach and drive to Ein Bokek in time for lunch at a hotel on the shores of the Dead Sea.
After lunch, take a swim in these waters that are so mineral-rich you can't sink.
Drive north past Jericho and Qumran. Take a picture of the caves where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered in 1947; then, continue to Jerusalem. Check into your hotel and, after dinner, you'll drive past the illuminated walls and monuments of Jerusalem and visit the Western (Wailing) Wall. This is the last vestige of the ramparts that surrounded the Holy Temple. Observe the crowds who come to pray by the ancient stones.
Hotel: Inbal Jerusalem Hotel (or similar)
Day 2 (B/L) Jerusalem - Bethlehem - Ashdod
After breakfast, begin your day with a magnificent view over the Golden City from atop Mt Scopus.
Then, walk through the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus spent the last moments before his arrest. Early Christians were already holding gatherings here before the first church was built around AD 380. Visit the beautiful church that is here today and see some of the oldest olive trees remaining in Jerusalem.
Reboard your coach for the short drive to Mt Zion and a visit to the Room of the Last Supper. Enter the Old City on foot via the Zion Gate and walk through the Jewish Quarter and the Roman Cardo to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher on the site of Christ's resurrection. The original vast sanctuary built here by Emperor Constantine was destroyed centuries later, but the Crusaders eventually rebuilt a replacement. In the church, you will see the last five Stations of the Cross. Walk through the colorful bazaar to the Jaffa Gate.
After lunch, drive to Bethlehem and visit the Church of the Nativity, built above the place Christ is said to have been born. The actual Cave of the Nativity is a small crypt with a vaulted masonry roof. Poor Bethlehem families used the rocky hollows of the region as stables or dwellings, so the tradition that places the Nativity in a cave is not at odds with the story of the manger. On your way out of Bethlehem, you will have an opportunity to shop for souvenirs before you return to the ship.
Notes:
Use of an audio headset (included) will enhance your tour experience. If you plan to swim in the Dead Sea, bring an old swimsuit, as the water can cause discoloration. Wear aqua shoes. Towels and lockers are provided at the hotel. Modest attire is required; knees, shoulders and midriffs must be covered. Bring sturdy non-skid walking shoes. Wear comfortable walking shoes. The tour is guided; an escort from the ship's staff may or may not also accompany the group. Tour operates subject to meeting a minimum number of participants. You must book this overland PRIOR to sailing; the cut-off date is 90 days before the ship's call at Ashdod. Accommodation is included (hotels are subject to change). Airport assistance and transfers (if any), transportation by air-conditioned coach, any flights and entrance fees indicated in the itinerary, an English-speaking guide (unless otherwise noted), water on the vehicle, and meals (as indicated) are also included. Gratuities and personal expenses are not included. Bring your passport with you on tour. Cancellation Policy: This excursion is non-refundable within 75 days prior to arrival at Ashdod. Any cancellations made after this deadline will be subject to full payment of the tour cost, including if you cancel your cruise within 75 days prior to arrival at Ashdod. Important information regarding visa requirements: You must bring your passport with you on the tour. It is solely each participant's responsibility to obtain any necessary visas, tourist cards and vaccinations, if required, to participate in Overland Adventures and/or Overnights and to keep apprised of any policy changes. Visas may be required for any/all countries your tour departs from and travels through, and for the country where you will rejoin the ship. Passports must be valid for at least six months beyond the completion of the cruise. Your travel agent can assist you with your visa needs. If you require further assistance, Holland America Line's preferred visa service is CIBTvisas. US and Canadian citizens can reach them by phone or email: US citizens: 866 788 1100 or email customerservice@cibtvisa.com. Canadian citizens: 866 935 8472 or email customerservice@cibtvisas.ca. CIBTvisas phone numbers and email addresses for Dutch, German, Australian, United Kingdom, Belgian, Singapore, Spanish, Swiss and French citizens can be found in the Frequently Asked Questions section of Holland America Line's website, in the Cruise Preparation area. Applications and additional information can be downloaded from the CIBTvisas website at https://CIBTvisas.com/hollandamerica. You must advise CIBTvisas of your Overland Adventures or Overnights, as the visa requirements for these vacation enhancements may vary from those required for your cruise.