Jerusalem

Jerusalem is a holy city to three religions (Judaism, Christianity, and Islam), whilst being the modern capital of the State of Israel and the country`s largest city. The City of Gold, as it has come to be known in Hebrew, is a fascinatingly unique place where the first century rubs shoulders with the twenty-first century, each jostling for legitimacy and space, and where picturesque "old" neighborhoods nestle against glistening office towers and high-rise apartments. It is one of those places which has to be seen to be believed.

Explore the Jerusalem Hills by jeep in an off-the-beaten track 4x4 jeep tour across the scenic countryside to the lesser visited ancient sites and monasteries of Jerusalem far away from the tourist traps and bus tour routes.

Although most hotels will provide tours; I think a combination of United Tours and Mozada tours is well worth your while. You can find them in a net search and they are both extremely reliable. Also, bus # 99 provides an orientation to the whole city. I would suggest you take it the first day just to give you perspective of the city. It cost 40 Shekels and starts at the Egged Central Bus Station. You can get on and off all day and is run and looks like the double decker tour busses in London.

The Western Wailing Wall/underground is a tour that is well worth your time. The female guide there was well versed in the history of the wall and the explanation of the 1st two temples and the subsequent construction of the Dome of the Rock will create a great picture of the conflict between relevant cultures. A reservation should be made through your hotel. But individual walkins can sometimes be squuezed in.