You will experience the world's most incredible scenery and historical finds as you journey first to the Dead Sea and then on to Masada, a mountain fort that is now a national Jewish shrine, and world famous for its recognition by UNESCO for its unique structure and history.

Boarding your coach at the pier, you will first travel through the dramatic landscape of the Negev desert and descend 3,600 feet toward the Dead Sea - the lowest point on earth. Your first stop will be at the breathtaking location of Masada, the most spectacular ancient archaeological site in Israel. Upon arrival, you will ascend by cable car to the summit of this mountaintop fortress which was built by Herod the Great. Plenty of time will be allowed to explore the magnificent ancient ruins, which include Herod's three-tiered palace, the synagogue, the baths, the defending walls and the water cisterns that are still to this day considered an engineering feat.

After a morning of extraordinary vistas, you will be treated to a relaxing lunch overlooking the pale, still waters of the Dead Sea. Following your meal, you will be given the opportunity to experience the exquisite sensation of floating effortlessly upon the buoyant waters of the Dead Sea. With more salt and minerals than any other body of water in the world, the Dead Sea is considered to be a natural health and beauty spa.

Your afternoon continues with a picturesque drive along the shores of the Dead Sea to Qumran and the Qumran Visitor's Center. From this vantage point, the Qumran Caves are clearly visible. It was here in 1947 that a Bedouin shepherd boy discovered the famous Dead Sea Scrolls, the oldest known biblical manuscripts in the world.

Departing Qumran, you'll ascend into the Judean Hills, sighting Jericho to the north as you make your way back to Ashdod. Undoubtedly, the impact of the remarkable sites you have seen will remain with you for many years to come.

Your tour begins with a beautiful scenic drive from Ashdod into the Judean Hills. As you ascend into these hauntingly stark hills, your coach will be traveling along the same route used for centuries to reach Jerusalem. Jerusalem, the capital of Israel, is famous for its timeless beauty and was once considered the center of the world. As you navigate your way through this amazing city, you will pass Israel's most notable landmarks, such as the Hebrew University, home to 2005 Nobel Prize winner Professor Emeritus Robert J. Aumann, the Israel Museum, the Shrine of the Book, the Knesset (Israel's Parliament) and the State Supreme High Court. After an interesting overview of the city, you'll proceed toward the Mount of Olives where time will be allowed to take photos from this highly favorable vantage point that provides an unparalleled and breathtaking panorama of the walled Old City. Near the base of the Mount, you will find the picturesque Gardens of Gethsemane, site of an ancient olive oil press yard that is surrounded by 1,000 year-old trees and visit the impressive Church of All Nations.

Following an unforgettable morning, you will be treated to a relaxing lunch at a local hotel before it's time to continue your exploration of this fascinating destination with a walking tour of the historical Old City. Entering via the Jaffa Gate, your walk will take you past the most sacred sites in religious history. As you make your way along a route that flanks the colorful bazaar, you'll observe the Christian Quarter, which rests beside a part of the famous Via Dolorosa, believed by many to be the route Jesus followed as he carried his cross to Calvary. Amongst the sites you will view is the golden-topped Dome of the Rock. With its stunning blue and gold ceramic tiles, this amazing shrine is considered the third holiest site in Islam. You will also view the famous Western Wall, the holiest site in the Jewish world because it is believed to have been closest to where the Holy Ark once stood. A visit to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher is also included. Perched on the hill known as Golgotha, the Church marks the site of Jesus' crucifixion, burial and resurrection.

Rejoining your coach, you'll leave the city behind and make your way through the Judean Hills to the edge of the desert, where the legendary town of Bethlehem is found. Your time here includes a visit to Manger Square and the renowned Church of the Nativity. This extraordinary church is built over a grotto that is believed to be the location of Jesus' birth. Due to time constraints and very long lines to enter the actual grotto, doing so is usually not a possibility. After what will be an undoubtedly memorable visit, you'll re-board your coach and enjoy a leisurely drive back to the ship.

Marvel at Egypt’s most iconic wonders, including the pyramids at Giza, the enigmatic Sphinx and a wooden ship once buried for a pharaoh’s transportation in the afterlife.

After departing from the pier, you will settle in for a relaxing drive into the desert as you make your way to Cairo. Along the way, your guide will elaborate on the wonders that await you.

Upon arriving at the Giza Plateau, you will behold three pyramids, the Sphinx and several smaller tombs for royalty and priests. Your first stop will be at the Western Plateau which gives you a panoramic view of the three pyramids. Continuing on for a closer look, your second stop will be between the Cheops and Chephren pyramids, built for the pharaoh Cheops and for his son Chephren.

It’s an amazing setting, as the Great Pyramid is the only remaining Wonder of the Ancient World, dating back about 4,500 years. It was once entirely covered with a limestone casing, parts of which are still visible.

Ancient Egyptians buried wooden barges by the pyramids, so the pharaohs would have transportation in the afterlife. Your third stop, at the nearby Solar Boat Museum, allows you to behold one of these vessels, which was reconstructed from more than 1200 pieces found in the desert.

As you will discover, the Sphinx is equally breathtaking. The scale of this part-human, part-lion monument is staggering, and the details of its construction are still unknown.

After visiting these marvels of the ancient world, a quick shopping stop and Papyrus Institute visit will be offered. Then it’s on to a local restaurant where you will enjoy lunch before returning to the pier.

This unforgettable tour offers an excellent opportunity to experience some of mankind's most impressive and moving sights. Following the ancient route leading from Jaffa to Jerusalem, your coach will ascend into the stark, yet strikingly beautiful Judean Hills. As you wind your way through the hills, you will pass the Castle fortification before arriving at the remarkable Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Martyrs' and Heroes' Remembrance Authority. The museum, which was opened in 2005, is dedicated to documenting the history of the Jewish people during the Holocaust period, emphasizing each victim's experience through original artifacts, survivor testimonies and personal possessions. This unique perspective is presented in a sprawling complex of tree-studded walkways that lead to museums, exhibits, archives, monuments, sculptures and memorials.

Leaving Yad Vashem, you'll navigate your way into Jerusalem, viewing some of Israel's most notable landmarks, such as the Hebrew University, home to 2005 Nobel Prize winner Professor Emeritus Robert J. Aumann, the Israel Museum, the Shrine of the Book, the Knesset (Israel's Parliament) and the State Supreme High Court before stopping for lunch at a local hotel.

Your afternoon begins with a walking tour of the old city. Entering via the Zion Gate, scene of some of the fiercest fighting in Jerusalem during the siege of 1948, your walk will take you past some of the most sacred sites in religious history. As you make your way through the Jewish Quarter of the Old City, you'll see the Cardo, Jerusalem's main thoroughfare during the Roman and Byzantine eras. You will also see the newly rebuilt Hurva Synagogue. Burned by angry creditors in 1720, it was rebuilt in 1856, only to be destroyed again during the 1948 conflict. Descending into the lower city, you'll view the Temple Mount and the golden-topped Dome of the Rock. With its stunning blue and gold ceramic tiles, this amazing shrine built in the late 7th century is considered the third holiest site in Islam. You will also visit the famous Western Wall, the holiest site in the Jewish world because it is believed to have been closest to where the Holy Ark once stood.

Exiting the Old City, you'll re-join your coach and enjoy a drive past the city walls and through the Kidron Valley before it's time to travel back to the pier in Ashdod.

Spend several hours enjoying the beach amenities at a luxury resort that overlooks one of the prime areas of the Red Sea.

After departing from the pier, you will soon arrive at a luxury resort on the Red Sea, where you will spend the next several hours relaxing as you see fit. With no schedule to follow, you will be free to enjoy the amenities at the resort’s private beach at your leisure.

You might stroll the stretch of powdery sand with nothing on your mind but enjoying the gorgeous setting. Or you may prefer to lie back in a comfortable lounge chair and read an engaging bestseller. How you pass the time is totally up to you, but basking in the warm glow of the sun is always a great choice, even if only for a short while.

Swimming is another excellent option. Besides being immensely refreshing, the waters in the Red Sea are among the world’s saltiest because no freshwater rivers empty into the sea and rainfall is minimal.

Still, snorkeling draws most of the attention. Despite its name, much of the Red Sea is crystal-clear and the large coral reefs just offshore attract plenty of marine life. Schools of brightly colored tropical fish, sea turtles and graceful rays are commonly spotted.

Of course, you won’t be obliged to do anything more than relax. So settle in and enjoy the amenities at the private beach until it’s time to catch the transfer back to the pier.

OVERVIEW

Begin your tour with a scenic drive from Ashdod into the hauntingly stark Judean Hills, traveling along the same route used for centuries to reach Jerusalem. The capital of Israel, Jerusalem is famous for its timeless beauty and was once considered the center of the world. As you navigate your way through this amazing city, you will pass some of Israel's most notable landmarks, such as the Hebrew University, home to 2005 Nobel Prize winner Professor Emeritus Robert J. Aumann, the Israel Museum, the Shrine of the Book, the Knesset (Israel's Parliament) and the State Supreme High Court. From here, you will continue on to Mt. Zion, lying to the south of today's city walls. Upon arrival, visit the Room of the Last Supper, where according to tradition Jesus' last meal with his disciples and the descent of the Holy Spirit took place. Located on the ground floor is the Tomb of King David, one of the places most visited and venerated by the people of Jewish faith. Next, it's on to the Dormition Abbey, a massive yet serenely beautiful structure topped by a high domed bell tower, a conical dome and corner towers. According to tradition, this Benedictine basilica is built over the place where Mary, the mother of Jesus fell asleep. Enjoy a buffet lunch at a local hotel, then begin your walking tour of the old city. Observe the Christian Quarter, which rests beside a part of the famous Via Dolorosa. This via was believed by many to be the route Jesus followed as he carried his cross to Calvary. Continue to the golden-topped Dome of the Rock, with its stunning blue and gold ceramic tiles. This amazing shrine is considered the third holiest site in Islam. You will also view the famous Western (Wailing) Wall, the holiest site in the Jewish world, believed to have been closest to where the Holy Ark once stood. Visit the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, perched on the hill known as Golgotha, the Church marks the site of Jesus' crucifixion, burial and resurrection. Re-join your coach, to drive past the city walls and through the Kidron Valley. View the Church of All Nations at the Gardens of Gethsemane, as well as the sacred churches on the Mount of Olives: the Church of Ascension, Pater Noster, Dominus Flevit and the Church of St. Mary Magdalene. Enjoy a final panoramic view over Jerusalem's enchanting Old City before traveling back to the pier.

HIGHLIGHTS

• Pass by Israel's most notable landmarks, such as the Hebrew University, the Israel Museum, the Shrine of the Book, the Knesset, and the State Supreme High Court.
• Visit the Room of the Last Supper, where Jesus' last meal and the descent of the Holy Spirit took place.
• After a buffet lunch at a local hotel, begin your walking tour of the old city.
• Observe the Christian Quarter, which rests beside a part of the famous Via Dolorosa.
• Visit the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, which marks the site of Jesus' crucifixion, burial and resurrection.

HELPFUL HINTS

• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

Experience Oman's unique blend of historic and contemporary sites when you visit Nakhl Fort and Springs, the Bait Al Zubair Museum, as well as other city highlights.

A drive along the Batinah Coast takes you to the centuries-old Nakhl Fort, perched on a 200-foot high hilltop with spectacular views of the surrounding oasis. This impressive pre-Islamic fortress was the stronghold of the well-known Bani Kharous tribe during Medieval times, and offers a unique look into Oman's past. You'll then visit Nakhl Springs, a tranquil and picturesque area framed by majestic mountains and a dense green oasis.

Stop for photos at the Zawawi Mosque, Oman's most exquisite mosque and at the splendid Al Alam Palace, which offers scenic vistas overlooking Muscat Bay. Visit Bait Al Zubair, a private museum housing collections of traditional Omani items that include weaponry, jewelry, clothing, household items and more. You’ll enjoy lunch at a local hotel during the day.

A day in Muscat is not complete, until you visit the colorful Muttrah Souq, where the scent of exotic Arabian perfumes and spices fills the air. Here, a multitude of shops offer Omani daggers, or khanjars, as well as handmade Omani costumes, antiques, silver jewelry and a variety of handicrafts.

Explore the ruins of two ancient theatres and browse a collection of extraordinary artifacts that will reveal what life was like in Turkey millennia ago. Your immersion into the past will begin in an archaeological museum in the coastal city of Side. To enhance the historical atmosphere, the museum is housed within a 2nd-century Roman bath. You can expect to see an excellent collection of locally excavated statues, sarcophagi, jewelry and weapons. Not far away, you will find a Roman theatre with Greek influences that once presented gladiatorial combats and staged sea battles. By the 5th century, the theatre had been converted into an open-air church that could seat 15,000. The theatre that you will see in the town of Aspendos is larger and is known for its phenomenal acoustics. Although built during the reign of Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius, it too features Greek design elements such as a horseshoe shape built into a hillside.

HIGHLIGHTS
• Browse an archaeological museum housed in a 2nd-century Roman bath.
• Visit the excavated 2nd-century Roman theatre in the coastal city of Side.
• Tour a larger 2nd-century Roman theatre with even better acoustics in nearby Aspendos.

HELPFUL HINTS
• Dress in weather-appropriate clothing.
• Wear flat comfortable walking shoes.

On this full-day excursion, you’ll have the opportunity to explore both Petra, the ancient Nabataean caravan-city ideally situated between the Red and Dead Seas, and Wadi Rum, a nature lover's paradise.

Inhabited since prehistoric times, this area was an important crossroads between Arabia, Egypt and Syria-Phoenicia. The Nabataeans transformed the forbidding desert into a bustling metropolis with magnificent buildings carved directly into the rose-hued sandstone hills. Camel caravans passed through, loaded with spices, textiles and incense from distant regions, and the city of Petra flourished, until a massive earthquake left the structures of Petra in ruins.

You’ll travel deep within the desert for approximately two hours, to Wadi Musa, the gateway to Petra. Upon arrival, walk to the impressive entrance to Petra, a narrow gorge formed from a deep split in the sandstone rocks. Your first view is of its most elaborate ruin and achievement, the Treasury. Used as a backdrop in the movie, Indian Jones and the Last Crusade, enjoy time to explore the Treasury and the Outer Siq, leading to immense tombs, facades and doorways.

Enjoy a late buffet style lunch at a local hotel. Transfer to yorur off-road vehicles and begin a journey through the starkly beautiful Wadi Rum, with its sheer granite and sandstone cliffs, and uniquely shaped mountains. The stunning scenery, of the towering cliffs, ancient riverbeds and mauve-colored stretches of sand will amaze you, as you drive through the desert, en route to a Bedouin camp. Upon arrival, indulge in a buffet dinner served under Bedouin tents before your return to Aqaba and your ship.

Discover Israel's past and present on this delightful tour that has you discovering the thriving metropolis of Tel Aviv, as well as the charm of Jaffa.

Boarding your coach, you'll head north from Ashdod to Tel Aviv. This bustling city, with its skyscrapers and shops, nightlife and cafes, is the country's financial and business center as well as its cultural and entertainment capital.

Your route will take you along Rothschild Boulevard where you can admire the Bauhaus original buildings, which are credited with leading to Tel Aviv being named a UNESCO World Heritage town. In contrast to that, Tel Aviv's modern face is displayed in the Habimah National Theater and the Mann Auditorium.

Next, you will drive down Ibn Gvirol Street, named for one of Israel's most famous poets and which takes you past the Tel Aviv Art Museum, the Golda Meir Center and the Tel Aviv Court premises. Continuing on, you will then pass by the square where Prime Minister Itzhak Rabin was assassinated on November 4, 1995.

Leaving the memorable city of Tel Aviv behind, you will make your way along the scenic Mediterranean coast to Jaffa, one of the oldest cities in the world. Upon arrival, you will enjoy a view of Jaffa's picturesque harbor, where Jaffa oranges were once exported, as well as visit the city's old section which has been restored as a charming artists' colony and cultural center. The walking portion of your tour will take you along Jaffa's winding cobblestone lanes past art studios and intriguing galleries. You will also see the clock tower, where Old Jaffa begins, mosques, churches and the town's exotic flea market. You'll want to make sure to have your camera ready for the photo stop at Jaffa's observation point. This wonderful vantage point overlooks the white city of Tel Aviv, allowing fantastic picture opportunities.

Before it's time to re-join your coach and head back to the pier, you'll be allotted free time to further explore the many facets of Jaffa on your own or do souvenir shopping.

This tour offers an excellent overview of Jerusalem as you learn about the age-old story of Judaism and the almost eternal conflict of words and deeds, while retracing the steps of Christ.

Boarding your comfortable coach at the pier, you'll begin your day by leaving Ashdod behind and ascending into the Judean Hills. As you travel to Jerusalem, you will pass by Ramot, one of Jerusalem's newer suburbs, while on your way to Mt. Scopus. At the summit of the Mount of Olives, you will be treated to a breath-taking view of the Old City, Temple Mount, the Golden Gates, the Church of the Ascension, Pater Noster and Dominus Flevit. Traveling back to the base of the Mount, you will find the picturesque Gardens of Gethsemane, site of an ancient olive oil press yard that is surrounded by 1,000 year-old trees. At this location you will also find the impressive Church of All Nations where a visit is included.

Your coach will next proceed past the city walls and on to the Kidron Valley. From here you will have a view of Absalom's Tomb and the Tomb of Zacharia. Continuing along the eastern walls of the city, you'll enjoy a spectacular view of Kind David's City before arriving at the Dung Gate where you'll disembark your coach and walk to the famous Western Wall, the holiest site in the Jewish world because it is believed to have been closest to where the Holy Ark once stood. On your way, you will be able to see the Southern Wall excavations.

After what will surely be a memorable morning of sight-seeing, you'll be transferred to a local hotel for a relaxing buffet lunch. Following lunch, you'll re-join your coach and head to West Jerusalem to see some of Israel's most well-known landmarks, such as the Jerusalem Theater, the State President's residence, the Israel Museum, the Knesset (Israel's Parliament), the State Supreme Court and the Hebrew University. Next, it's a drive through Mea Shearim, a Jewish orthodox quarter where the old traditions and customs dominate the pace of life. This wide-ranging tour concludes with a leisurely drive back to the port in Ashdod.

For those who wish to maximize their day in Jerusalem, this full day tour to the Old City is a perfect opportunity.

Departing from the pier, board your coach in Ashdod for a scenic drive into the Judean Hills. At the summit of the Mount of Olives, you will be treated to a breathtaking view of the Old City, Temple Mount, the Golden Gates, the Church of Ascension, Pater Noster and Dominus Flevit. Traveling back down the Mount, at its base you will pass by the picturesque gardens of Gethsemane, the site of an ancient oil press yard that is surrounded by 1,000 year old trees and is the home of the impressive Church of All Nations.

Making your way to the Old City, your walking tour begins as you enter the Jaffa Gate, strolling past some of the most sacred sites in religious history. Your route takes you past the colorful bazaar and the Christian Quarter, which rests beside a part of the famous Via Dolorosa, believed by many to be the route Jesus followed as he carried his cross to Calvary. One of the incredible sites you will view is the golden-topped Dome of the Rock shrine, with its stunning blue and gold ceramic tiles, considered to be the holiest site in Islam. You will also have the opportunity to see the Western Wall, the holiest site in the Jewish world because it is believed to have been closest to where the Holy Ark once stood. A visit to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, the mark of the site of Jesus' crucifixion, burial and resurrection, is also included.

After what will surely be a moving and memorable morning, rejoin your coach for the drive to a local hotel for a relaxing buffet lunch. Following lunch, this comprehensive tour of Jerusalem concludes with a leisurely drive back to the pier in Ashdod.