Ancient History & Archaeology

Arrive at Ben Gurion Airport and transfer to your hotel in Tel Aviv. Welcome dinner and introductory lecture on Israel's archaeological significance by your expert guide.

Travel north to Caesarea Maritima, the magnificent Roman port city built by King Herod. Explore the amphitheater, hippodrome, crusader moat, and ancient aqueduct. Continue to Tel Megiddo (biblical Armageddon), a UNESCO World Heritage Site with 26 layers of civilization spanning 5,000 years. Descend into the ancient water tunnel system. Arrive at your Galilee hotel.

Visit Tel Hazor — the largest biblical-era archaeological mound in Israel and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Explore the Canaanite palace, Israelite citadel, and massive water system. Continue to Tel Dan to see the remarkable Middle Bronze Age gate, the Iron Age sanctuary, and the famous inscription mentioning the House of David. Walk through the lush Dan nature reserve along one of the Jordan River's sources.

Explore the ancient synagogue at Capernaum and the nearby ruins of Chorazin with its beautifully carved basalt synagogue. Visit Gamla — the Masada of the north — a dramatic clifftop site with a first-century synagogue. Tour the ancient boat museum at Ginnosar, housing a 2,000-year-old fishing vessel recovered from the Sea of Galilee.

Visit Beit She'an, one of the best-preserved Roman-Byzantine cities in the world. Walk through the colonnaded streets, bathhouses, amphitheater, and marketplace that once served a thriving population. Continue south through the Jordan Valley with stops at ancient sites along the route. Arrive at your Dead Sea hotel.

Ascend Masada by cable car to explore King Herod's mountaintop fortress — with its palaces, bathhouses, storerooms, synagogue, and the dramatic story of the Jewish last stand against Rome. Descend to visit the Qumran Caves, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered in 1947. Explore the archaeological site and visitor center. Enjoy time to float in the Dead Sea.

Drive south into the Negev to visit the ancient Nabataean city of Avdat (Oboda), a UNESCO World Heritage Site along the ancient Incense Route. Explore the remarkably preserved churches, wine press, and bathhouse. Visit the ruins of ancient Shivta, one of the best-preserved Byzantine-era desert cities. Return to Jerusalem.

Begin at the City of David — the original core of ancient Jerusalem. Explore the latest excavations, including the Pilgrimage Road recently uncovered beneath the streets. Wade through Hezekiah's Tunnel, a remarkable 8th-century BCE water channel carved through solid rock. Tour the Western Wall Tunnels for an underground journey along the full length of the Temple Mount's western retaining wall.

Walk through the Old City exploring the archaeological layers of Jerusalem. Visit the Roman Cardo, the Davidson Center and Southern Wall excavations, and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. Afternoon at the Israel Museum to see the Dead Sea Scrolls in the Shrine of the Book and the Holyland Model — a detailed replica of Jerusalem during the Second Temple period. Farewell dinner.

Transfer to Ben Gurion Airport for your departure flight. Carry home a deeper understanding of the ancient civilizations that shaped this extraordinary land.

Not at all. Our guides are experts at making archaeology accessible and exciting for everyone. They bring ancient sites to life with vivid storytelling, historical context, and a genuine passion for the subject.

Moderate. Archaeological sites often involve walking on uneven terrain, climbing steps, and sometimes navigating narrow passages. Hezekiah's Tunnel involves wading through knee-deep water in a narrow channel. We can suggest alternative routes for those with mobility concerns.

Yes. As a Discovery Tour, we can tailor the itinerary to focus on specific periods, regions, or themes. We can also arrange meetings with Israeli archaeologists and visits to active excavation sites (subject to availability).

Comfortable walking shoes with good grip, sun protection, water, and layers for underground sites which can be cool. For Hezekiah's Tunnel, water shoes or sandals with straps are recommended.

Yes. All entrance fees for sites listed in the itinerary are included in the tour price, including UNESCO sites, national parks, and museums.