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Haifa (for Nazareth and Galilee) Cruises, Israel

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Nazareth and Galilee. In the holy stakes, you don’t get much bigger. They’re home to the superleague of religious sights – the temples, churches and mosques you’ve only ever read about in guide books. And they’re all within easy reach of Haifa, a city with one impressive setting. Curving around a big yawn of bay, it’s tucked between the Carmel mountains and the sparkling Mediterranean Sea.

• Pay a visit to Acre, one of the oldest cities in Israel. The centre of it was built back in the 18th century from the ruins of a crusader citadel. The Baha’i Gardens are well worth a look, too – they’re the largest hanging gardens in the world.
• Nazareth’s must-sees include the Basilica of the Annunciation, where Mary’s said to have received that all-important visit from Gabriel. And don’t leave without checking out the Sea of Galilee, the beach-fringed lake where Jesus spent most of his ministry.
• Don’t miss the city of Caesarea, which Herod the Great dedicated to Emperor Augustus over 2,000 years ago. Here, you can explore Herod’s palace, a theatre, a Byzantine Market place and a moat built by crusaders.

Map of Haifa (for Nazareth & Galilee)

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Nazareth & The Sea of Galilee

Everyone’s heard of Nazareth - it’s packed with religious sites. On this full day tour you’ll get to see some of the most famous. Your first stop is the Church of the Annunciation, built on the site where the Angel Gabriel is said to have visited Mary. From here you’ll travel through the village of Kana, where Jesus turned water into wine, to the Sea of Galilee. We then visit Capernaum and Tabgha, where the feeding of the 5,000 took place and see the Mount of the Beatitudes, where the Sermon on the Mount was delivered before you drive to the River Jordan at Yardenit for lunch.

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Acre - The Crusader's Kingdom

Make sure you have your camera with you for this one. Your first stop is Mount Carmel, and the look-out point next to the Stella Maris monastery. You’ll have a panoramic view over Haifa’s bay and parts of northern Israel. Next stop will be an observation point at the Baha'i Shrine, home to the largest hanging gardens in the world. You’ll then drive around the bay to Acre, the oldest city in the northern region. Age-wise, the city is over 500 years old, and you’ll get a real feel for it as you wander its narrow alleyways. The centre you see today was built in the 18th century from the ruins of an old crusader citadel. The newly excavated Crusader’s halls and a Templar tunnel are among the spoils you can explore here.

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Jerusalem & Bethlehem

Jews, Christians, Muslims – they all hold this place dear. Sights here represent each of the faiths. Kicking things off is a fly-by driving tour, passing the Israeli parliament building known as the Knesset, the Museum of Israel and the Shrine of the Book. It’s the best way to see the city sights. Next you’ll drive to the top of the Mount of Olives. Named after its olive tree-planted slopes, this place is thought to be where the dead will be resurrected on Judgement Day. The views from here are epic. From here, you’ll head for the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus went to pray after the Last Supper and was betrayed by his disciple Judas. A visit to the Church of All Nations is also on the itinerary here. It’s followed by a walk through the old city following the path Jesus took as he carried his cross to Calvary, a visit the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, the site of Jesus’ crucifixion, burial and resurrection and a glimpse of the shimmering mosques of Al-Aqsa and The Dome of the Rock. You’ll also stop off at the Western Wall, the place where Orthodox Jews nod in prayer and put prayer notes into the cracks of the wall. Finally, you’ll head to Bethlehem for lunch in a restaurant and to see one of Christianity’s most sacred sights – the Church of the Nativity. Built on the same site as the stable where Mary gave birth to Jesus.

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