Your Itinerary
Six Night Itinerary:
Tuesday 5 March, 2024 – Arrival Day
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 6 March, 2024 – Full Day Tour
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 7 March, 2024 – Shake-out Run, Expo & Dinner
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 (extra £15). 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 a great place to grab a quick bite to eat before we head to the EXPO to collect your bib and race packet. You will find vendors for clothing, shoes, supplements and more. The next stop will be back to the hotel for some rest before we gather at the Orient Hotel for our pre-race dinner.
(Breakfast and dinner included)
Friday 8 March, 2024 – Race Day & Celebration Dinner
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 9 March, 2024 – Full Day Tour
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 and lunch included)
Sunday 10 March, 2024 – Half Day Tour
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, 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’ drink at the hotel before you venture out for dinner at one of the many local restaurants.
(Breakfast included).
Monday 11 March, 2024 - 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 11 - March 15
Galilee and Tel Aviv (Itinerary subject to change.)
Monday 11 March, 2024
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 12 March, 2024
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 13 March, 2024
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 14
This morning you have the option to join a Tel Aviv 10KM Run and Tour (additional cost of £48). 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 colourful 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 15 March, 2024
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) required for visiting holy sites. Optional head covering for women. Men cannot wear hats.
- Tour involves quite a bit of walking.
- Your international flight should be in and out of Tel Aviv, Israel (TLV).
Accommodation:
Galei Kinnereth Tiberias - Enjoy this beautiful luxury hotel on the shores of the Sea of Galilee. Here you will find plenty of exciting opportunities - from lookout points to water tours to historical sites. There are unlimited options to satisfy every kind of adventurer. Each room is equipped with a seating area, coffee maker, safe, mini refrigerator, comfortable bed, hairdryer, WIFI, USB sockets and large rain showerhead.
Renaissance Tel Aviv - The Renaissance Tel Aviv Hotel is ideally situated - on the beach and within easy access to restaurants, shopping and entertainment. All guests will enjoy free Wi-Fi, access to the fitness center, and air-conditioned rooms with spectacular views of the Mediterranean Sea. This hotel has a smoke-free policy.
