Historical and Cultural sites of Israel
December 1-9, 2008

The legendary three hills of Jerusalem...

Military Historical Tours is proud to offer another in our series of historic tours of the world. Our tour starts in Tel Aviv and proceeds to the historic sites of Israel, covering nearly three thousand years of history, with a comprehensive “on the ground” exploration of the areas visited, and continuing to Jerusalem, the legendary “City of Faith” - home to the world’s three great religions and where we conclude our historic pilgrimage in one of the most beautiful cities in the world. By popular demand, an optional extension to Jordan, visiting the fabled city of Petra and the capital of Amman, is included at an additional cost.

Our tours include exclusive cultural, religious and military events, such as guest dinner lectures and speakers on subjects of historic interest; optional battlefield explorations; exclusive access to private museums; private receptions and much more. Information on the events that are offered on your particular expedition will be included in your registration information packet. All of these things, along with the most experienced staff of Program Directors, Battlefield Guides and Historians will combine to make your trip the most enjoyable, relaxing, entertaining and educational experience possible. We welcome your phone calls, letters or e-mails to discuss your tour with one of our Battlefield Specialists. Call us toll free at 800-722-9501 M-F 9AM-6PM, write or e-mail us—we look forward to hearing from you!

Price: $2,795 (based on double occupancy)
Tour Director: Patrick Mooney
Tour Host: Col Warren Wiedhahn - Founder / President, Military Historical Tours

Tour Itinerary:
Monday, December 1: Depart from Newark International Airport via Continental Airlines.

Tuesday, December 2: Arrival in Tel Aviv Following our arrival at Ben Gurion Airport, we will tour the city as well as nearby Jaffa, before transferring to our hotel. This evening we join together for a traditional “Fisherman’s Feast” at the old Port of Jaffa for Welcome Dinner and briefing by your Tour Director and our Israeli hosts.

Wednesday, December 3: Latrun, Haifa & Caesarea Following breakfast we drive to Latrun, where ferocious fighting took place in 1948, and visit the nearby Armored Corps Museum. From here we will continue to Haifa for a panoramic view of the bay and the Bahai Hanging Gardens. We continue to the beautiful and captivating ancient port city Caesarea, once a Roman capital and former Crusader stronghold. We will also travel through the Galilee to Acre on the Mediterranean coast. This was the last stronghold of the Crusaders of the Knights of the Cross before their final expulsion from the Holy Land in 1291. Five centuries later at this same site Napoleon was forced to withdraw after an unsuccessful attempt to storm the walls. We arrive in Tiberias and check into our hotel for the night.

Thursday, December 4: Golan Heights Today we will visit the Holy Sites around the Sea of Galilee: The Mt. of Beatitudes, Tabgha and Capernaum and travel through the Hula Valley and the town of Kiriat Shemona to the Lebanese border. Here there will be a briefing by the IDF on the Israel-Lebanon situation followed by a visit to the former Syrian fortification of Tel Faher in the Golan Heights. We then visit the IDF Golani Brigade for a briefing on the strategic importance of the Golan and the battles of 1967 and 1973. Lunch will be provided for us at the base. After lunch we will continue to the town of Katzerin for a wine tasting at the Golan winery. The evening will be free to explore Tiberias at your leisure.

Friday, December 5: Jericho & Jordan Valley Following breakfast we will visit Jericho, said to be the oldest settlement in the world. We will also travel along the Jordan Valley to the town of Beit Shean, the ancient Scytopolis, to view its amazing archaeological excavations. Afterwards we will continue to Mt. Tabor, the site of the transfiguration of Jesus and of a battle between Napoleon’s forces and an Ottoman army in 1799. Before lunch we will view the Horns of Hittin where a battle took place between the Crusader Knights and the Muslim forces of Saladin. Lunch will be on your own at a lakeside restaurant on the Sea of Galilee, followed by check in at our hotel in Jerusalem. Group dinner this evening in the hotel.

Saturday, December 6: Old Jerusalem and Bethlehem We will begin our tour this morning with a tour of historic Jerusalem, starting with a panoramic view of the city from the Mt. of Olives. We will also visit Gethsemane, the Old City, the Temple Mount, the Western Wall, the Via Dolorosa and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Following lunch we will travel to Bethlehem to visit the Church of the Nativity. The late afternoon will be free for leisure and shopping in Jerusalem. Group dinner this evening will be at a Middle-Eastern style restaurant, with a lecture by a representative of the Israeli Defense Force.

Sunday, December 7: Dead Sea & Masada After breakfast we will drive via the Judean Desert to the Dead Sea, the lowest elevation on earth. We will continue to Masada, the ancient fortress of King Herod the Great, which rests atop an isolated mountain in the desert. It was here, in 79 AD, that Jewish Zealots under Eleazar ben Yair held out against the Roman Tenth Legion and, rather than submit to Roman rule, took their own lives in defiance. The site remains one of the most important archeological sites in the world. We will visit the Israeli Air Force Museum, where we will also enjoy a briefing and tour. Following lunch, we will return to Jerusalem where the remainder of the day and evening will be free to explore the city.

Monday, December 8: New Jerusalem Our tour of the New City will begin with a visit to “Ammunition Hill” with a focus on the story of the Six-Day War and the reunification of Jerusalem in 1967. We will continue to the military cemetery at Mt. Herzl, the Yad Vashem Memorial and the Shrine of the Dead, where the Dead Sea Scrolls are on display. After this you will be free in the afternoon to tour the city at leisure. You may wish to visit one of the many “Souks” - Arab Markets, to shop for souvenirs or just rest and relax in this beautiful and historic city. Tonight, we will join together at the historic American Colony Hotel for dinner.

Tuesday, December 9: Departure from Israel Following breakfast at the hotel we will transfer to the airport for our return flight to the U.S. via Continental Airlines OR extend to Jordan.

Tuesday, December 9: Depart Jerusalem for Jordan, stopping at the Allenby bridge, where we transfer to our Jordanian coach. From here, we visit the ancient biblical sites at Nadaba and Mount Nebo, before continuing on to our hotel in Petra for overnight.

Wednesday, December 10: Petra Today we visit Petra, exploring one of the most famous ruins of the ancient world, before continuing to Wadi Rum and Amman, where we overnight.

Thursday, December 11: Return to US Return to Israel via Allenby Bridge and late PM flight back to US, arriving home the next morning, December 12.