Perillo Tours

Arrive at the Tel Aviv airport where your tour director is on hand to greet you.  A short drive and we’re in Jerusalem, the capital of Israel and its largest city.  Jerusalem will be our home base for the next 5 nights.  It’s hard to believe we’re actually in one of the oldest cities in the world.  Tonight enjoy dinner and meeting our new-found friends.

There’s so much to see, be sure to have your travel journal and camera at the ready.  Our sightseeing includes all the sites we’ve learned and heard about all our lives:  the Mount of Olives, Dome of the Rock, Garden of Gethseman, the Old City of Jerusalem that has stood for nearly 5,000 years, the Western Wall, Masada, the Dead Sea and on and on.

After Jerusalem’s life altering experience, we’ll travel to Tiberias where we’ll spend 2 glorious nights.  Tiberias is on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee and has historically been known for its hot springs.  It’s hard to believe but there’s still so much more to see and do.  We’ll sightsee Tiberias, Nazareth, sail across the Sea of Galilee to visit Capernaum, and on to visit Nazareth Haifa.  As we travel south along the Mediterranean back to Tel Aviv, we understand all good things must come to an end but we’ve captured memories to last a lifetime.

• Superior First Class & Deluxe hotels
• Bountiful Israeli breakfast daily
• 3 luncheons
• 8 dinners (every night!)
• Complimentary wines, mineral water and coffee with all dinners
• All sightseeing described
• Tips for driver & guide
• Gratuities for all meals
• Deluxe air-conditioned motorcoaches
• Professional tour directors
• All transfers
• All baggage handling
• Personalized, worry-free and fully escorted

At A Glance:

• DAY 1 (Wednesday) - Depart USA 
• DAY 2 (Thursday) - Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Day of Leisure
• DAY 3 (Friday) - Jerusalem, Old City
• DAY 4 (Saturday) - Dead Sea, Masada
• DAY 5 (Sunday) - Jerusalem, New City & Bethlehem
• DAY 6 (Monday) - Jerusalem, Free Day
• DAY 7 (Tuesday) - Jerusalem, Mt. Tabor, Sea of Galilee, Tiberias
• DAY 8 (Wednesday) - Tiberias, Capernaum, Nazareth, Tiberias
• DAY 9 (Thursday) - Tiberias, Galilee, Haifa, Caesarea, Tel Aviv, Special Farewell Dinner in the old city of Jaffa
• DAY 10 (Friday) - Tel Aviv, New York

Full Itinerary:

DAY 1 (Wednesday) - Depart USA

Today we depart New York JFK on our way to Tel Aviv. Dinner will be served aloft and movies will be shown. D

DAY 2 (Thursday) - Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Day of Leisure

Pinch yourself! After a generous breakfast in the air, the giant Boeing lands at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv and your tour director is on hand to greet you. A short drive away is fabled Jerusalem – a city of incomparable riches and the sacred center of 3 major religions. We drive directly to Mount Scopus for a welcoming ceremony celebrating our arrival in Jerusalem. The remainder of the day is yours to relax, set your mind’s clock to 5,000 years ago and anticipate tomorrow’s adventures! We dine at our hotel tonight. D + W

DAY 3 (Friday) - Jerusalem, Old City

This morning history and the Bible come alive as we drive to the Mount of Olives for an awesome and unforgettable panoramic view of the old city of Jerusalem; and, at its center, the Dome of the Rock on the Temple Mount - sacred site for both Muslims and Jews.

We visit the devoutly restored ancient Jewish Cemetery in the Kidron Valley where it is said the Last Judgement will take place. Those buried there will surely have a ringside seat!

Next, we visit the inspiring Chapel of the Ascension and Pater Noster, walk down the slope of the mount to the beautiful Chapel Dominus Flevit and continue downhill to the Church of All Nations standing in the Garden of Gethsemane.

Kings and prophets, emperors and sultans, rabbis, bishops and sheiks have left their mark on Jerusalem. This afternoon will be both charming and moving as we start our stroll through the Old City that has stood for nearly 5,000 years. Through the millennia, Jerusalem has been one of the main stops on the Caravan routes carrying spices, herbs, henna and seeds from India to Europe. Enjoy the aroma of perfumes from the bakers’ shops cooking the pitas (Arab bread), the pastries with nuts and honey….all this intermingled with the different cultures living and worshiping here. You are never too far from the site of a miracle, a feat, or where a biblical event occurred.

Entering the Walled City of Old Jerusalem, we visit the sites sacred to the 3 major religions. We enter through Jaffa gate and through the Jewish Quarter to view the Byzantine Cardo and the Herodian mansions.

Next, we visit the Western Wall and the remains of the Second Temple destroyed by the Romans in the year 66, c.e. (current era). We walk along the Via Dolorosa to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre wherein are the last five Stations of the Cross.

We are in awe as we stop at the tomb of David and walk to the Upper Room (Caenecelum), believed to be the site of the Last Supper. Pope Paul VI celebrated Mass here, and the spot where he stood is marked on the stone floor.

We then visit the Garden Tomb regarded by the Protestant world as the burial place of Jesus. An interesting visit, as it is indeed the burial place from that time.

Tonight, it’s dinner and relaxation back at our hotel. BB, D + W

DAY 4 (Saturday) - Dead Sea, Masada

Leaving Jerusalem, we travel through the mountains of Judea to arrive at the Dead Sea, pausing at Qumran to see the cave where the “Dead Sea Scrolls” were found. On to Masada, the incredible rock fortress of Herod. Here, the Jewish zealots chose to fight the Roman legions to the last man. We drive along the shores of the Dead Sea, at the lowest point on earth some 1,200 feet below sea level, to view the spa at Ein Gedi. Tonight we return to Jerusalem for dinner at our hotel. BB, D + W

DAY 5 (Sunday) - Jerusalem, New City & Bethlehem

More excitement….today we commence with a drive via the Hebrew University (the foremost institute of higher learning in the Near East) to the Yad Vashem Memorial, honoring the six million Holocaust victims.

On to the Knesset, Israel’s Parliament and Seat of the Government, the Israel Museum and then to view the Dead Sea Scrolls, housed in the Shrine of the Book.

Next, we continue to Bethlehem, “the house of bread,” where we shall enjoy lunch at an Oriental restaurant. We follow with a visit to the Church of the Nativity erected over the site believed to be the exact place where the manger rested. Late in the afternoon, we return to Jerusalem to digest all that we have learned. Return to the hotel for dinner and overnight. BB, L, D + W

DAY 6 (Monday) - Jerusalem, Free Day

Today is yours to explore on your own the charm of this incredible city, or to do some shopping. Dinner and overnight at our hotel. BB, D + W

DAY 7 (Tuesday) - Jerusalem, Mt. Tabor, Sea of Galilee, Tiberias

We bid farewell to Jerusalem and travel to Beit Shean for a visit to one of the best preserved Roman theaters in Israel. The history of this timeless site goes back 5,000 years. There are eighteen cities built one on top of the other, the last of which saw its sunset at the time of the Crusaders.

Continuing via Afula to Mount Tabor, we visit the Franciscan Church on the site of the transfiguration and on toward the Sea of Galilee, which played such a prominent role in the ministry of Jesus. We arrive at our hotel in Tiberias to relax and enjoy a fine dinner. BB, D + W

DAY 8 (Wednesday) - Tiberias,Capernaum, Nazareth, Tiberias

The city of Tiberias, built for and dedicated to the Roman emperor Tiberius, does not appear in either the Old or the New Testament, as the city grew after the time of Christ. It achieved great prominence in later Jewish history, when it became the home of refugee rabbis from Jerusalem in the year 70 AD, the beginning of the “Diaspora.” It was the birthplace of the Talmud, the commentary on Scripture. The great scholars and rabbis Akiba and Maimonides are buried here. The still visible impressive fortifications are from the Ottoman Empire times.

We sail across the Sea of Galilee by boat to Capernaum. We visit the ruins of an old Byzantine church built on the ruins of an ancient synagogue, presumed to be the one from which Jesus preached during the Apostolate years. We continue by motorcoach visiting the site of the Sermon on the Mount and the miracle of the “bread and fishes.”

We continue to Nazareth, the sacred Galilean town where Jesus spent much of his youth. A visit will be made to the monumental Church of the Annunciation.

We will enjoy an included lunch in Nazareth.

Tonight we return to Tiberias for dinner of St. Peter’s Fish at a typical local restaurant. BB, L, D + W

DAY 9 (Thursday) - Tiberias, Galilee, Haifa, Caesarea, Tel Aviv, Special Farewell Dinner in the old city of Jaffa

Without question the most scenic part of Israel is Galilee.

Enjoy a full day excursion to Galilee, first touring the Crusader City of Acre. We view the fortress and wander through the picturesque street before continuing on to Haifa where we pause for a view of the marvelous Persian Garden at the Bahai Temple.

Luncheon will be provided at a Druze restaurant.

On the way south along the Mediterranean, we stop at Caesarea for a view of this Crusaders’ city. Noteworthy is the Roman Aqueduct and the theater. We motor southward to Tel Aviv, driving through the modern bustling city on Dizengof Street, the Via Veneto of Tel Aviv. Driving to the charming adjoining town of Jaffa, the ancient Roman port, we visit the artist quarters.

We will celebrate this, the final night in the Holy Land, with a special dinner of many Near Eastern specialties and local wines. After dinner we will transfer to Ben Gurion airport. BB, L, D + W

DAY 10 (Friday) - Tel Aviv, New York

1AM – Our flight departs for the US.

BB - Buffet Breakfast
L - Lunch
D - Dinner

Important Note: If a change in hotels becomes  necessary for any reason, the hotel substituted will be the equivalent, or better, of those shown.

We will be happy to arrange your round trip flights to Tel Aviv. The following sample “special rates” are based on current airfares (October 2009). Our airfares include your round trip airport transfers in Tel Aviv provided you arrive and depart on the scheduled tour dates.

Airfares are subject to change and do not include government imposed departure taxes, passenger facility charges or fuel surcharges.

We strongly recommend you book early as airfares are capacity controlled and limited. They are available on a first come, first serve basis and are subject to change or withdrawal at any time.
If your “special rate” is not available at the time you book, you may be offered the option to pay a surcharge.

Sample per person airfares are as follows:

• New York/Tel Aviv  - $899

• Boston - $999

• Chicago - $1099

• Miami - $1199

• Los Angeles - $1299

On a Perillo Tour, all hotel arrangements are taken care of for you; you don’t need to lift a finger! Rest assured that to become part of a Perillo Tour, a hotel must demonstrate consistently fine quality and an un-compromised level of service.

Below are the hotels you will experience on this Perillo Tour.

We include everything in one low price. The best hotels. Daily buffet or à la carte breakfasts. À la carte dinners with wine, beer or soft drinks. Sightseeing. And most importantly, Israel's best tour guides.

Want to start your vacation early or extend your stay in Israel?  A Perillo Tour’s representative will be happy to help with the arrangements.  Along with extra night hotel accommodations, your air tickets may be booked to arrive before your tour begins or remain after your tour ends.  

Many customers prefer to arrive early to unwind and relax prior to the tour’s start date. Others like to extend their stay to visit with friends or relatives or explore on their own.

Whatever you desire Perillo’s team will help you plan and coordinate your entire journey.

Memories are the most magical part of any Perillo experience. Here are a few memorable moments from our clients.

Have an interesting or inspiring story of your own? Tell us your story and it may be published on our website for others to enjoy!