It’s hard to imagine a place more storied, varied or immersive than Israel. Home to countless holy sites sacred to several of the world’s largest religions, Israel also offers everything from culture and sophistication to fast-paced nightlife, abundant natural beauty and evidence everywhere of thousands of years of tradition and history. In just 75 years since its foundation, Israel has become a top vacation destination in the Near East for travelers of all backgrounds and with a wide variety of interests.
While that might make it difficult to choose from the many top vacation packages available, AAA members are in luck: AAA offers great deals on a wide selection of outstanding vacations to the Holy Land, along with their convenient Trip Canvas tool, valuable and exclusive extras and options, dependable customer support and much more. In the following guide, we’ll take a look at some of the most tempting Israeli vacation packages offered by AAA and their partners.
Iconic Israel
·Price: Starting from $3,199
·Operator: AAA Member Choice Vacations
·Length: 8 nights accommodation
It can be a challenge to know where to begin in Israel for those new to the country. Luckily, there’s this wide-ranging vacation package to give travelers their first taste of the region’s culture, cuisine and sites of contemporary and historic significance. Kicking off with two nights in Tel Aviv, Israel’s nightlife hub and home to many of its most exciting modern experiences, on day three, you’ll visit Tel Aviv’s White City, a UNESCO World Heritage Site featuring sterling examples of Bauhaus architecture which predate the State of Israel itself. You’ll also enjoy walking food tours in one of Tel Aviv’s two busiest markets and chances to see the city’s lively waterfront.
Next, you’ll head north along the coast to explore the ruins of the ancient Roman capital of Caesarea, built by Herod the Great over 2,000 years ago, a working winery in Upper Galilee and finally, by boat to Tiberias, one of Judaism’s Four Holy Cities. From there, travelers can spend the next two days visiting members of the local Druze community, Nazareth, the Mount of Olives and Jerusalem itself, one of the most significant cities in history. Ending with four nights in Jerusalem, you’ll have the chance to make lasting memories at the Dome of the Rock, the Dead Sea, the ancient fortress of Masada and more. With accommodation in some of Israel’s most comfortable hotels and fresh, delicious Mediterranean food making up the bill of fare, this is an unforgettable introduction to the Holy Land.
Israel: Pilgrimage to the Holy Land
·Price: Starting from $2,599
·Operator: AAA Member Choice Vacations
·Length: 7 nights accommodation
For countless members of faiths practiced around the world, Israel is a destination with immense spiritual significance. If you’re looking for an experience to celebrate your beliefs and experience some of the most humbling and important religious sites on Earth, this is the top vacation package for you.
Beginning in Tel Aviv, you’ll dive into history with a visit to the Roman ruins of Caesarea, where St. Peter attracted his first convert, then on to Mount Tabor, the site of Jesus’ Transfiguration. Also on the itinerary is a stop in Cana, where Jesus delivered his first miracle and where travelers can renew their wedding vows on sanctified ground. Setting off from the ancient port city of Tiberias the following day, you’ll visit the Church of the Multiplication of the Loaves and the Fishes and the Mount of Beatitudes. Next, stop off to celebrate Mass at the Church of the Beatitudes before visiting the site of the home of St. Peter and Yardenit, a baptismal site along the banks of the Jordan River. You may even choose to renew your baptismal vows in the same waters where John the Baptist baptized Jesus himself.
Travel to the Sea of Galilee and visit numerous holy sites in Nazareth and Bethlehem before proceeding to Jerusalem, where the faithful can reflect at the site of the birth of John the Baptist and the Garden of Gethsemane. After a day spent exploring the city, experience an unforgettable chance to follow in Jesus’ footsteps along the Via Dolorosa, the path taken on the way to Calvary.
Jordan & Israel: Cultural Crossroads
·Price: Starting from $4,599
·Operator: AAA Member Choice Vacations
·Length: 13 nights accommodation
If there’s any country with a spiritual history to rival that of Israel, it’s neighboring Jordan, home to numerous sites mentioned in the Bible, the Quran, the Tanakh and other traditions. Start your journey in Amman, Jordan’s cosmopolitan modern capital, for two days of relaxation and a visit to the shores of the Dead Sea.
Next, you can head to Mount Nebo, where Moses is held to have had a vision of the Promised Land on his deathbed and then on to Madaba, a city long abandoned and now famed for its stunning collection of Umayyad and Byzantine mosaics. Then, choose between visiting the site of Jesus’ baptism at Bethany Beyond the Jordan or relaxing on the Dead Sea before heading to Petra, the ancient capital of the Nabataean kingdom carved into the rich red rock at the edge of the Dead Sea basin. Over two days, you’ll get the chance to try your hand at Arabic cooking and explore the stone city on your own.
Before heading across the border into Israel, you’ll pass through Wadi Rum, perhaps the most famous wadi (valley) in the Middle East. Once inside Israel, your first stop is Eilat, where you can explore the Gulf of Aqaba by boat or snorkel in the Red Sea and gaze out over four countries (Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Israel and Egypt) and the Sinai Peninsula from the Eilat Mountains. From there, you’ll head to Jerusalem to walk the Via Dolorosa and visit the Western Wall and the Dome of the Rock.
Other highlights on the trip include visits to the World Holocaust Remembrance Center, Magdala, thought to be the hometown of Mary Magdalene, the Mount of Beatitudes where Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount, the Golan Heights, Nazareth and Tel Aviv. Along the way, you’ll get to meet and relax with local families, soak up the culture and enjoy home-cooked Israeli and Arabic food and experience first-hand the bustle of Tel Aviv’s lively markets and nightlife.
No matter where you want to go or how you want to spend your time in the Holy Land, you’ll enjoy unbeatable vacation packages and top-quality support along the way when you book with AAA.
In addition to some of the top vacation packages in the region, members can choose from exclusive extras like optional tour experiences and add-ons, make use of the convenient Trip Canvas planning tool and count on 24/7 customer support from the team at AAA Vacations. When you’re ready to explore the Holy Land, get in touch with AAA for the best vacation packages and options available.