Your Itinerary
Jerusalem Marathon Six Night Package | March 14 - 20, 2023
Tuesday, March 14: – Arrive at Ben Gurion Airport (TLV), be met and transferred to the Orient Jerusalem Hotel. The rest of the day is yours to enjoy.
Wednesday, March 15: - Following a lavish buffet breakfast, we will begin our full day tour of the New and Old City. We will start at the Mount of Olives for a panoramic view of the city, visit the Tomb of King David and the Room of the Last Supper on Mt. Zion. Upon entering the walled city, we will visit the Roman Cardo and the famous Western Wall. Next we will walk along the via Dolorosa to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Lunch is not included, but a restaurant will be recommended in the Old City. After ample time of sight-seeing, we will return to the Orient Jerusalem Hotel where you have some free time before we gather for our 'Welcome to Jerusalem' dinner at a local restaurant. (Breakfast and dinner included)
Thursday, March 16: - Start your morning with an optional group shake-out run. Following breakfast, visit Yad Vashem, Israel's official memorial to the victims of the Holocaust. Once inside the museum, it is a self-guided tour. On the return trip to the Orient, we will make a stop at the Mahane Yehuda Market, which has more than 250 vendors selling fresh fruits, vegetables, cheeses, wines, baked goods, and the list goes on. This is an optional stop for lunch, or if you wish, you can return directly to the Orient Hotel for a relaxing afternoon. Late in the afternoon, we will go as a group to the EXPO for your bib and race packet. You will find vendors for clothing, shoes, supplements and more. Immediately following shopping time, we will proceed to the buffet pasta dinner organized by the race and served at the expo venue. We will return you to the Orient Hotel immediately following dinner so you can have a restful sleep before the big day! (Breakfast and pasta dinner included)
Friday, March 17: – Race Day! Breakfast will be available early. We will meet in the Orient lobby and transfer by coach bus to the start. After your race, enjoy the family festival at Sacher Park and return to your hotel at your leisure. Please note that due to road closures, it is challenging to get to the hotel by bus. Therefore, we recommend a leisure walk back (approx. 1.2 miles) or taking a taxi. Tonight we will gather for a celebration dinner at Khan Restaurant. (Breakfast and celebration dinner included)
Saturday, March 18: - Today is a full-day excursion to the ancient ruins of Masada and the Dead Sea. Be sure to bring your bathing suit, towel, sunscreen and water shoes so you can experience floating in the Dead Sea! Upon returning to Jerusalem enjoy dinner in the city at one of the many local restaurants. (Breakfast included)
Sunday, March 19: - After breakfast is a guided tour of Bethlehem, a Palestinian town south of Jerusalem on the West Bank. This is the biblical birthplace of Jesus and is a major Christian pilgrimage destination. You will visit the Church of the Nativity and have time to explore Manger Square. Suggestions will be made for lunch before our short drive back to Jerusalem. This afternoon is free for you to see more of the Old City or perhaps visit the Israel Museum (available to pre-purchase at an extra cost £15), known as the largest cultural institution in Israel and is ranked among the world's leading art and archaeology museums. The Israel Museum is also famous for housing the Dead Sea Scrolls, the oldest biblical manuscripts in the world. This evening join us for a ‘Farewell to Jerusalem’ reception before you venture out for dinner at one of the many local restaurants. (Breakfast included).
Monday, March 20: - Departures or post-race extension to Galilee and Tel Aviv. (Breakfast included)
Itinerary subject to change.
Please note that this itinerary involves a lot of walking, some on cobblestones such as the Old City and Masada.
POST-RACE EXTENSION | March 20 – 24, 2023
Galilee and Tel Aviv: Minimum of 15 people required to operate this tour.
Monday, March 20: From Jerusalem, our first stop is Nazareth, the town where Jesus spent his childhood. We will visit the Church of Annunciation and the Church of St. Joseph, and then continue, via Kana, to Tiberias, the lovely resort town. We will drive along the Sea of Galilee to visit Capernaum and view the ruins of the ancient synagogue where Jesus taught. Other stops include Tabgha, the site of the miracle of fish and loaves located at the foot of the Golan Heights and Yardenit, the famous baptismal site where the Jordan River leaves the Sea of Galilee towards the Dead Sea. Lunch and a tour of a Kibbutz is also on the itinerary for today. Overnight is at the newly renovated Galei Kennereth Tiberias Hotel. (Breakfast at the Orient Jerusalem and lunch included)
Tuesday, March 21: This morning, we embark on a hike through the Gamla Nature Reserve set high in the Golan Heights of Northern Israel. It's a magical place where eagles nest, archaeological ruins lie, and the quaint and stunning setting, including the breathtaking view down towards the Sea of Galilee are inspirational! This afternoon enjoy a wine tasting in the Golan Heights area before we return back to the Galei Kennereth Tiberias Hotel. (Breakfast included)
Wednesday, March 22: Following breakfast and check-out, we will begin our drive northwest to the border of Israel and Lebanon to Rosh HaNikra and descend by cable car into the underwater grottoes to admire the spectacular natural formation. From here we will drive along the coast to Acre, the Old City recognized by UNESCO as World Heritage Site. You can walk through the market, the mosque and the old port. Restaurants will be recommended for lunch before we continue down the coast to Caesarea, the ancient Roman capital and port. Here you will enjoy a walking tour of the theatre and the archaeological ruins and excavations. The final stop before reaching Tel Aviv will be Haifa for a scenic view of the City, the Port and the magnificent Bahai Gardens and Shrine. Overnight accommodations will be at the Tel Aviv Renaissance where you can relax and enjoy an evening on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea. (Breakfast included)
Thursday, March 23: This morning you have the option to join a Tel Aviv 10KM Run and Tour (additional cost of £50)! We'll get an early start (6:30 AM) and spend approximately 1 hour and 45 minutes touring the streets of Tel Aviv. Some of the highlights will include Atarim Square, Ben Gurion Avenue, Rabin's Square, Tel Aviv Museum of Art, Sarona (formerly Templar's Village), Habima Square and Rothschild Avenue before returning to the beautiful Tel Aviv boardwalk along the beach in route back to the Renaissance Hotel. The pace is about a 10:30 (minutes per mile) and there will be stops along the route.
The rest of the morning will be spent exploring Tel Aviv with a guided tour starting in Old Jaffa, one of the oldest port cities in the world where we will visit the ancient ruins and walk along the Artist's Quarter. This afternoon will give you free time to continue exploring Jaffa, visit the Nahalat Benyamin Pedestrian Mall and/or stroll down Shenkin Street – the lively and colorful street known for its unique shops, café life and youthful ambiance. This evening we invite you to our Farewell Dinner held at a local restaurant. (Breakfast and dinner included)
Friday, March 24: Departure day. Airport transfers are included in your package price. We hope you enjoyed your time in Israel!
IMPORTANT TO NOTE:
· Modest dress (no shorts or sleeveless shirts) and head covering are required for visiting holy sites.
· Tour involves quite a bit of walking.
· Your international flight should be in and out of Tel Aviv, Israel (TLV).