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
Local Sightseeing,All,68
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Wheelchair Accessible
No
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Starting At
$999
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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)
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 desolated 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 supplies. 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. Re-board 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. After your Dead Sea experience, 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. Dinner and Overnight at the Inbal Jerusalem Hotel (or similar) after an exciting and memorable day.
Day 2 (B/L)
After breakfast, begin your day with a magnificent view over the Golden City from atop Mt. Scopus. Then walk through 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. Re-board 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 a replacement was eventually rebuilt by the Crusaders. 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 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 take a dip 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. You must bring your passport for the visit to Bethlehem. Modest attire is required; knees, shoulders and midriffs must be covered. Important: It is each guest’s sole responsibility to obtain (before traveling) any visas, vaccinations and/or tourist cards that are required for participating in overland adventures or overnight tours, unless noted otherwise in the description. Please be aware that you may need a visa for any and/or all countries that you will depart from and travel through as part of your overland adventure or overnight tour, and for the country in which you will re-join the ship.
Important: It is solely each guest's responsibility to obtain (before traveling) any visas, vaccinations or tourist cards that are required for participating in Overland Adventures or Overnights, unless noted otherwise in the description. Please be aware that you may need a visa for any and/or all countries that you will depart from and travel through as part of your Overland Adventure or Overnight, and for the country in which you will re-join the ship. 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 our 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.