Jerusalem
Day Tours

Jerusalem Old City - A half day walking tour through the highlights of one of the most sacred and majestic spots in the world. During the tour we will discuss the history of the city and the different views of the 3 principal monotheistic religions, cultural differences between them and the political aspects of the conflict in historical and actual context.

Every effort is made to blend history, archaeology, geopolitics, religion, nature, adventure, culture, and of course food into every tour

Highlights:

• Jaffa Gate

• The Armenian Quarter

• Mount Zion: King David Tomb, the Last Supper Room, the Dormition Abbey

• The Jewish Quarter: Byzantine Cardo, Broad Wall, Synagogues, Western Wall

• The Muslim Quarter: The Market (shuk), Rooftops, Austrian Hospice

• The Christian Quarter: The Via Dolorosa and Church of the Holy Sepulchre

Jerusalem Old City - A full day walking tour through the highlights of one of the most sacred and majestic spots in the world. The full day tour will allow us a more relaxed pace than the half day with a more in depth exploration of the Old City and also time to get off the beaten track.

During the tour we will discuss the history of the city and the different views of the 3 principal monotheistic religions, cultural differences between them and the political aspects of the conflict in historical and actual context.

Every effort is made to blend history, archaeology, geopolitics, religion, nature, adventure, culture, and of course food into every tour.

Highlights:

• Temple Mount and/or Mount of Olives

• Palm Sunday Path

• Dominus Flevit Church

• Garden of Gethsemane

• Pools of Bethesda/St. Anne Church

• Muslim Quarter

• Arab Shuk

• Christian Quarter

• Via Delarosa

• Church of the Holy Sepulchre

• Old City Rooftops

• Jewish Quarter

• Western Wall

• Broad Wall

• Cardo

• Synagogues

• Mount Zion: Dormition Abbey, Last Supper Room and Tomb of David

Before the late 19th century there was an abundance of ancient cemeteries and tombs from the times of the First and Second Temples outside the walls of the Old City, but not much more than that. Then, in 1861, due to overcrowding and disease within the Old City, the first neighborhood called Mishkenot Sha'ananim was established outside the walls of the Old City. The new city of Jerusalem, what today we call “West Jerusalem”, grew from there! This day will be spent exploring Jerusalem outside the Old City wall, beginning with First and Second Temple Period burial tombs. After finishing with ancient history, we will step into modern day Jerusalem and walk through the “new neighborhoods” learning about the establishment of the early institutions, world class museums and the capital of modern Israel. No tour of West Jerusalem would be complete without visiting the colorful and vibrant Machane Yehuda Market.

Every effort is made to blend history, archaeology, geopolitics, religion, nature, adventure, culture, and of course food into every tour.

Highlights:

• Ketef Hinnom First Temple period tombs

• The windmill of Mishkenot Sha'ananim

• King David Hotel and the YMCA

• The “New” neighborhoods; German Colony, Talbyeh and Rechavia

• Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial

• Mount Herzl

• Machane Yehuda Market

• The Israel Museum

• Option of visiting the Knesset or Israel’s Supreme Court

• Ammunition Hill

Explore the place where “It all Began,” ancient Jerusalem, the city of King David! Navigate ruins of the walls, palace, residences, shafts and tunnels where ancient Jerusalem, the City of David was born. Pass through the underground tunnels through which the Jebusite city was conquered. Descend to the hidden spring where King Solomon was coronated. Wade through the cool and refreshing waters of Hezekiah’s Tunnel, where water has flowed for 2700 years. Ascend to the Temple Mount walking through the drainage channel below the Roman “Pilgrimage Road”. We will continue our subterranean adventures like moles exploring the many other caves, tunnels and hidden nooks and crannies underneath the Old City revealing past civilizations.

Every effort is made to blend history, archaeology, geopolitics, religion, nature, adventure, culture, and of course food into every tour.

Highlights:

• City of David

• City of David’s Underground water system

• Warren’s Shaft

• Gihon Spring

• Hezekiah’s Tunnel*

• Drainage system under the Roman “Pilgrimage Road”

• Southern Excavations of the Temple Mount/Davidson Center

• Tunnels of the Western Wall

• Herodian Mansions

• Struthion Pool

• Zedekiah's Cave and Quarries

• Roman Plaza below the Damascus Gate

* The tour includes walking through an underground tunnel (wet or dry options available). For those choosing to walk through the water tunnel, water shoes and flashlights are required (The water may briefly reach up to 70cm/28 inches).

Ein Kerem (“spring of the vineyard”), is a beautiful tranquil hamlet 10 minutes from the Jerusalem city center surrounded by beautiful natural groves and breathtaking landscape provided by the Jerusalem Hills.

Ein Kerem has both Jewish and Christian history. Referenced as “Beit HaKerem” in the books of Jeremiah and Nehemiah, the area was within the jurisdiction of the Tribe of Judah, from whom the classification of “Jew” originated.

For Christians, Ein Kerem is best known as the birthplace of John the Baptist, and where Mary, pregnant with Jesus, visited her cousin Elizabeth. The Spring of Mary is believed to be where Mary, pregnant with Jesus and Elizabeth, pregnant with John the Baptist, sat together drinking from the water of the spring.

After lunch and walking through the blissful artistic village of Ein Kerem, we will go to the nearby Yad Vashem and pay respects to the 6 million Jews murdered by the Nazis in the Holocaust during World War II. We will also walk the Memorial Path up to Mount Herzl, symbolizing the rebirth of a nation. This is a solemn yet beautiful and inspirational tour!

Every effort is made to blend history, archaeology, geopolitics, religion, nature, adventure, culture, and of course food into every tour.

Highlights:

• Mary’s Well

• The Visitation Church

• The Church of St. John the Baptist (John Ba-Harim)

• The "Notre Dame de Sion" Convent

• Yad Vashem

• Mount Herzl