This 4-day private tour is designed for travelers passionate about archaeology, biblical history, and sacred tradition. From Jerusalem’s earliest foundations to the dramatic desert landscapes of the Dead Sea, the journey blends historical context with spiritual meaning. Your expert guide will illuminate the stories of prophets, kings, and disciples, weaving archaeology and scripture where they first unfolded.
Begin at the City of David, Jerusalem’s earliest core, where archaeologists uncovered monumental fortifications, tunnels, and remains possibly linked with King David. Continue to the Southern Wall Archaeological Park, where pilgrims once climbed broad steps and bathed in ritual mikvaot before entering the Temple. Nearby, stand at the Western Wall, the holiest accessible remnant of the Temple Mount, built with massive Herodian stones still inspiring prayer today.
Walk the Via Dolorosa, retracing the traditional path of Jesus carrying the cross toward Golgotha. Along the route, chapels and stations recall moments of devotion and suffering. The path ends at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, venerated as the site of Jesus’s crucifixion, burial, and resurrection. Archaeological studies revealed Roman, Byzantine, and Crusader layers beneath, making it one of the most complex sacred spaces in the world.
Pray in the Garden of Gethsemane, where ancient olive trees recall Jesus’s night of agony. On Mount Zion, visit the traditional Room of the Last Supper and King David’s Tomb, both deeply revered for centuries. Continue into the Jewish Quarter, where excavations revealed the ancient Cardo, Herodian mansions, and the Broad Wall, showing Jerusalem’s bustling life during biblical times.
At the Israel Museum, see the Dead Sea Scrolls in the Shrine of the Book and the detailed model of Second Temple Jerusalem. Continue to the Israel Antiquities Authority, where treasures from across Israel are curated and preserved, offering insight into the scientific work that uncovers and protects the Holy Land’s ancient past.
Stand at Tel Beth-Shemesh, overlooking the Sorek Valley, where the Ark of the Covenant was returned by the Philistines. Excavations revealed fortifications and domestic quarters that bring Israelite border life to light. Travel to the Valley of Elah, overlooked from Tel Azeqah, where David confronted Goliath. The biblical battlefield aligns with the dramatic landscape and artifacts uncovered at the site.
The great city of Lachish was second only to Jerusalem in the Kingdom of Judah. Excavations revealed an impressive gate complex, palace structures, and evidence of its destruction by the Assyrians under King Sennacherib in 701 BCE. The city’s fall was so significant it was memorialized in carved reliefs displayed in the Assyrian capital of Nineveh, today preserved in the British Museum. At the site itself, the new Visitors Center presents a striking replica of these reliefs, allowing you to see the dramatic scenes of the siege as Sennacherib’s artists depicted them. Walking among the ruins and then viewing these reconstructions makes the story of Lachish come alive with both archaeological and artistic detail.
Conclude the day with a visit to a nearby winery, where the ancient tradition of viticulture, so often mentioned in the Bible, continues in modern form.
Visit the Qumran Caves, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were hidden, providing unmatched insight into Jewish life in the Second Temple era. Nearby, explore Ein Gedi, a desert oasis mentioned in the Bible. Its ancient synagogue, decorated with colorful mosaics and inscriptions, reveals a community that thrived in trade and agriculture amid the barren wilderness.
Ascend Masada, King Herod’s desert fortress, later the final stronghold of Jewish rebels against Rome in 73 CE. Palaces, storerooms, and Roman siege works remain vividly preserved, telling a story of both defiance and tragedy. Conclude at the Dead Sea, the lowest point on earth, where you can float in mineral-rich waters that have been treasured since antiquity.
