Jerusalem Experience - Independent

Day 1 Jerusalem

Welcome to Jerusalem, a city steeped in spirituality and legend; a rich tapestry of the many cultures, religions and nationalities that call it home, be they Muslim Palestinians, Sephardic Jews, Ashkenazi Jews, Armenian Christians, Ethiopian Copts or Greek Orthodox monks. You'll be met by a local Peregrine representative at your hotel – they'll give you some info on your upcoming itinerary and some pointers on what to do in your free time. Take in the one of the great urban skylines this evening – the serried buildings and ancient ramparts of the Old City, the churches adorning the Mount of Olives and the iconic gold of the Dome of the Rock. Your hotel is located just outside the Muslim Quarter of the Old City, so tonight perhaps have a wander around the ancient streets and taste some of the excellent falafel and shwarma on offer from the restaurants and street stalls.

Day 2 Jerusalem

This morning you begin your tour of Jerusalem with a panoramic view of the city. Drive out to the Mount of Olives that looks over Jerusalem’s Old City and visit the Garden of Gethsemane, most famous as the place where Jesus prayed and his disciples slept the night before Jesus' crucifixion. Perhaps see the Church of All Nations (also known as the Basilica of the Agony), which holds inside a section of bedrock where Jesus is said to have prayed before his arrest. Enter the Old City via the St. Stephen’s Gate (also known as Lion’s Gate), passing the crusader church of St. Anne and the Pool of Bethesda. Now located in the Muslim Quarter of Jerusalem, this pool was mentioned in the Gospel of John and associated with healing. Walk along the ‘Cardo’ in the recently restored Jewish Quarter, which was a road that ran the entire length of the city in Byzantine times. Visit the Wailing Wall – the remains of the Temple Mount, which acts as an outdoor synagogue, where written prayers are slid into the cracks between stones. Walk along the Way of the Cross (Via Dolorosa) – the “way of sorrows” which follows Jesus’ path to crucifixion – and stop by the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, built where Jesus is believed to have been crucified, died, buried, and rose again. Then you will drive the short distance out to Bethlehem and visit the Church of the Nativity, marking the spot of the stable where Mary is said to have given birth to Jesus. After a fascinating day you will return to your Jerusalem hotel.

Day 3 Jerusalem

Today you will drive via the biblical town of Ma'aleh Adumim and the Inn of the Good Samaritan in the Judean Desert to visit Masada (approximately 75 minutes drive). The Inn of the Good Samaritan is a museum located near the site of the inn mentioned in the New Testament's parable of the Good Samaritan, and it displays mosaics and artefacts that were discovered throughout Israel. In Masada you will take a cable car to discover the spectacular cliff-top fortress of Masada, built by King Herod around 35BC. This UNESCO site is very important to the Jewish people, a symbol of their exile from the Holy Land and of bravery and self-sacrifice. The story goes that here a Jewish sect called the zealots held out against the Roman army in AD66. Rather than surrender, they either fought to the death or committed suicide, every last man, woman and child. Afterwards you will continue to the shore of the Dead Sea, where you'll have the chance to experience a unique swim. Named for the dearth of life in its waters, this lake is so intensely salty that the density of the water makes swimming and getting underneath the surface very difficult, so a relaxing float is really the only option. Continue up the shore town of Jericho (approximately 1 hour). Discover this slow-paced town in the West Bank, where people have lived for 11,000 years. On a drive around the city see the Mount of Temptations (where Jesus was tempted by the devil) and a Sycamore Tree mentioned in the Gospel of Luke. Return to Jerusalem for the evening.

Day 4 Jerusalem

Today you will drive to the hometown of Jesus – Nazareth (approximately 2 hours). Here you will visit the Church of St. Joseph and the Church of the Annunciation, where Mary received the news of the Immaculate Conception, along with seeing the well where she drew water every day. Continue up to the Sea of Galilee to Capernaum. See the ruins of this old fishing town, the site of two ancient synagogues and a church said to have been the home of Saint Peter. Visit Tabgha, where the Bible says Jesus performed the Miracle of the Multiplication of the Loaves and Fishes, one of the only miracles that’s in all the gospels. Here you can see the church and its ancient mosaics that were built to mark the spot of the miracle. Pass the lakeside city of Tiberias, and visit a baptism site located along the Jordan River. Qasr el Yahud, north of the Dead Sea and east of Jericho is where the Gospel according to Matthew says the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist took place. Return to Jerusalem for your final night.

Day 5 Jerusalem

Your exploration of the fascinating sites and sights of Jerusalem comes to an end this morning after breakfast. You are free to leave the accommodation at any time.