Here is the FULL Itinerary, with an additional night to be added somewhere; either in Jerusalem, North Israel (Tiberias and the Galilee Region) or in Petra.

I would also appreciate your feedback on whether or not to cut Tel Aviv short one day, and add an extra day to Jerusalem instead. We will be in Tel Aviv for a friend's wedding, and the majority of our time will be spent leisurely; eating, drinking, lounging on the beach, exploring the city, etc. Here's my dilemma - I really would like to get a local and cultural feel for the city of Tel Aviv and spend as much time there as possible, however, there seems to be so much more to see and do in Jerusalem and it's surrounding destinations. We're flying directly into TLV from NYC and will surely be jetlagged for the first couple of days, and so time spent exploring the city, eating well, relaxing on the beach, etc. will do us good! Is 6 days too much though? Or is it not enough to truly experience life in Tel Aviv? Should we cut it to 5 nights, in order to spend one more night in Jerusalem, living and breathing ancient history and touring amazing archaeological sites and natural wonders?

What about North Israel?? It's an area I haven't really explored much of.

From what I've read and pictured I've seen online, there are elevated cities in the Galilee that overlook the mountains and sea that could easily be mistaken for Greek peninsulas overlooking the Mediterranean! Then there are ancient seaside Crusader towns and fortified cities that could fit comfortably right into Southern Europe, and the Golan Heights region seems to be a far more rural part of the country, but surrounded by amazing wineries and nationl parks with the most picturesque natural scenery of rushing rivers, tropical flaura, lush forest reserves, towering waterfalls, canyons and gorges, etc!

Will two nights alone in Tiberias afford us enough time to visit all the highlights of this region?

I think that we'd be able to visit Caesarea and Acre/Akko on the same day as our drive into Tiberias, coming from Tel Aviv. It should be doable, but a whirlwind day of driving, right?

I would really love to spend one full day on the Galilee, sailing and swimming and visiting the island of Capernaum. I would do this the next morning. But then what about Golan Heights?

Would we need another full night/day to explore Golan Heights and is it worth extending our trip here? If so, where to stay in the area? Could we remain at our hotel in Tiberias as a homebase and drive further north to the Golan Heights the last day (perhaps dinner in Safed) before returning to Tiberias to sleep, and then on to Jerusalem in the morning? What do you thinkg about this itinerary? And what about Beit She'an? Where would that fit into our trip? Perhaps on the drive back to Jerusalem?

Lastly, does our time in Jerusalem (considering the first and last day will be entirely relegated to driving from previous and to next destinations) afford us enough time to see all we want to see, including a day trip to Masada?

I would really appreciate your help and feedback with all of this!

We basically have one night to add SOMEHWERE. I'm leaning towards Jerusalem or North Israel. We also have the option to depart from Tel Aviv a day earlier and extend another night somewhere else. Please let me know if you think that would be warranted and if an extra night in BOTH Jerusalem and North Israel would od us well!

If you have any recommendations for places to stay in Golan Heights (small luxe inn, historic accom, boutique b&b or really nice hotel embodying the vibrancy, art, architecture, culture, etc. of surrounding environs) it would also be greatly appreciated!

Thanks so much!!!

PS - we also have the option to extend an extra night in Petra INSTEAD of in Israel. Or 1 night in Petra and 1 night in Israel if we cut Tel Aviv a day short. I feel that despite the added comfort of doing so, our current itinerary seems more doable than our Jerusalem and N. Israel plans, in terms of accomplishing all there is to see. It'd be REALLY nice to have the extra night to not feel rushed. I always like to stay at least 2 nights wherever I go so that I'm not just checking-in & out which is tolling. But in this case with a limited number of days, I'm not sure it'd be worthwhile.

Thank you!


---------------------------------------------------------------------


• August 15 - The Maxim, Tel Aviv

• August 16 - The Maxim, Tel Aviv

• August 17 - The Maxim, Tel Aviv

• August 18 - The Maxim, Tel Aviv

• August 19 - The Maxim, Tel Aviv

• August 20 - The Maxim, Tel Aviv

• August 21 - The Scots Hotel, Tiberius

• August 22 - The Scots Hotel, Tiberius

• August 23 - The American Colony Hotel, Jerusalem

• August 24 - The American Colony Hotel, Jerusalem

• August 25 - The American Colony Hotel, Jerusalem

• August 26 - The American Colony Hotel, Jerusalem

• August 27 - Evason Ma'In Hot Springs, Madaba

• August 28 - Mφvenpick Resort, Petra

• August 29 - Kempinski Hotel Ishtar, Madaba

• August 30 - Kempinski Hotel Ishtar, Madaba

• September 01 - Return to Tel Aviv for Transfer to JFK




{Border Crossing: Enter Jordan/Israel via the Allenby King Hussein Bridge}





-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------->>
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------->>





TEL AVIV - (6 Nights)


• The Maxim Hotel




Sightseeing


• Old Jaffa

• Neve Tzedek

• White City

• Sheinkin Street

• The Tayelet

• Palmach Museum

• Independence Hall

• Old Tel Aviv Port Area

• Nachlat Binyamin Pedestrian Mall

• Museum of the Jewish Diaspora (Bet Hatefutsoth)

• Tel Aviv Museum of Art

• Tel Aviv Cinematheque

• The old Trumpeldor Cemetery

• Dive Tel Aviv, Scuba Diving Center - Night Diving, Sea Wolf Wreck, Gordon Caves




Nearby Destinations


• Caesarea

• Banias




Restaurants


• Catit

• Raphael

• Herbert Samuel

• Cordelia

• Messa

• Onami

• Adora

• Aladin

• Coffee Bar

• Segev Express

• Haj Kahil

• Thai House

• Orna & Ella

• Piccola Pasta

• Benedict

• Dallal

• Noa Bistro

• Abu Nassar-Hinnawi

• Cafe Suzanna

• Abu-Hassan (Ali-Karavan)

• Bezalel Market - Falafel Stalls!

• Carmel Market

• Napoleon Patisserie

• Max Brenner





-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------->>





TIBERIUS - (2 Nights)


• The Scots Hotel - Antique Lake View Room




Sightseeing


• Sailing on the Sea of Galilee

• Capernaum - (Remains of 4th Century Synagogue, House of Peter, Church of the Multiplication, etc)

• Optional Tours in the Gailee:

* Agamon Hula, Rosh Hanikra, Bental & Avital Hill, Dan Nature Reserve, Yehudia River, Mt. Hermon, Zavitan River, Hexagon Pools, etc.




Nearby Destinations


• Caesarea & Banias Archaeological Site - (En Route from Tel Aviv!)

• Acre / Akko / St. Jean d'Acre - (Old Town, Bahai Shrine, Crusader Fortress, Templars Tunnel) - (En Route from Tel Aviv!)

• Golan Heights - (Hexagon Pool, Meshushim Reserve, Yehudiya Forest Nature Reserve)

• Safed - (Crusader Ruins, Local Wineries, etc.)

• Rosh Pinna and the Tel Dan Nature Reserve

• Nazareth

• Beit She'an




Restaurants


• Roberg at Moshav Livnim

• Decks Restaurant

• Avi's Restaurant





-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------->>





JERUSALEM - (4 Nights)


• American Colony Hotel - Pasha Deluxe Room with Balcony / Jr. Suite




Sightseeing


• Western (Wailing) Wall

• Old City of Jerusalem - Ramparts Walk - Via Dolorosa - etc.

• City Gates - New Gate, Zion, Dung, Jaffa, Lions’ (St. Stephen's), Herod’s, Damascus (Shechem)

• Israel Museum

• Guided Tour of The City of David

• Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial

• Mount Zion

• Temple Mount & al-Haram al-Sharif

• Al-Aqsa Mosque

• Hezekiah's Tunnels

• The Citadel and Tower of David Museum

• Belz Synagogue

• Hurva Synagogue

• Notre Dame de Sion Ecce Homo Convent

• St. Anne's Church and the Bethesda Pool

• Christian Quarter - Church of the Holy Sepulchre, Alexander Nevsky Cathedral, Lutheran Church of the Redeemer, Church of John the Baptist, Church of St. Saviour, Deir al-Sultan Monastery, Mosque of Omar, Muristan, etc.

• Tisch Family Zoological Gardens

• Mount of Olives:

* Paternoster Church, Dominus Flevit, Church of Maria Magdalene, Garden of Gethsemane, Yad Avshalom, Tomb of Zechariah, Tomb of Benei Hezir, Mary's Tomb, Church of the Pater Noster, Church of All Nations, Orson Hyde Park, etc.

• Garden Tomb

• Saint George's Cathedral

• Bet Guvrin-Maresha National Park




Nearby Destinations


• Masada

• Qumran Caves




Restaurants


• Scala Restaurant at the David Citadel Hotel

• Chakra

• Machneyuda

• Mona Restaurant & Bar

• Dolphin Yam

• Zuni

• Angelica

• Gabriel

• Hachazer

• Amigo Emil

• The Eucalyptus

• Barood

• Abu Kamel

• Tmol Shilshom

• Yemenite Falafel Center

• Ta'ami

• Falafel Adir

• Falafel Ovadia

• Te'enim Vegetarian Cuisine

• Trezoro

• Mahane Yehuda Market





-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------->>





MA'IN - (1 Night)


• Evason Ma'In Hot Springs - The Honeymoon Suite




Sightseeing


• Natural Hot Springs and Thermal Pools

• Six Senses Spa - Hammam Ma’In Signature Journey

• Village, Goat Farm, Mosque, etc.

• Six Senses Gallery & Library

• Daily Movie Nights




Restaurants


• Sunset Cocktails and Tapas at Brown Bar

• Private Candlelit Table at Olive Bedouin Zarb Restaurant Overlooking the Hot Springs Falls

• Champagne Breakfast on Suite Terrace

• Lunch at the Pool Bar (Senses of Arabia and White Bar)

• Evening Wine & Cheese Tastings at The Cellar, Chef's Table

• Sunset Dining at Panorama {or} Private Cliff-Top Dining Area

• Breakfast At The Springs on the Outdoor Terrace





-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------->>





AL-KARAK - (En Route along the King's Highway!)




Sightseeing


• Kerak Castle





-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------->>





PETRA / WADI MUSA - (1 Night)


• Mφvenpick Resort Petra - Royal Suite




Sightseeing


• Moonlit Tour of The Lost City of Petra: Siq, Al-Khazna / Treasury, Al Dayr, Street of Facades, Al Beidha, The Temple of Al Uzza / Winged Lions

• Sunrise Walking Tour of Baths, Markets, Storerooms and Tombs




Restaurants


• Al Qantarah

• Sahtain Restaurant at Taybet Zaman Resort Hotel

• Al Iwan in Moevenpick Hotel

• Al Maq'aad Bar in Moevenpick Hotel

• Al-Afandi Restaurant

• The Cave Bar





-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------->>





WADI RUM - (Evening Trip from Petra)




Sightseeing


• Sunset Camelback Excursion to Lawrence's House & Spring / Ain Shalaaleh, Nabataean Temple, The Seven Pillars of Wisdom, Burdah Rock Bridge, etc.

• Desert Jeep Tour




Restaurants


• Bedouin Camp Dining on the Red Sand Dunes beneath the Desert Stars





-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------->>





SWEIMAH, DEAD SEA REGION - (2 Nights)


• Kempinski Hotel Ishtar Dead Sea - Ishtar Jacuzzi Suite / Ishtar Suite




Sightseeing


• Lounge by Beachfront and Float in Dead Sea

• Celestial Pools - Relax by Lazy River, Morning Dip in Sunken Pool, Sunset Swim in Ashur Pool, Twilight Plunge in Akkad Infinity Pool

• Tennis Courts by Starlight

• Anantara Spa: Royal Hammam Ritual & Traditional Thai Massage




Nearby Destinations


• Madaba - (Madaba Mosaic Map in the Church of St. George, Um er-Rasas / Kastrom Mefa'a, etc.)

• Mount Nebo

• Jerash

• Dana Nature Reserve




Restaurants


• Dinner at The Codes

• Single Malts and Cocktails at Kish Bar

• Breakfast at The Obelisk

• Lunch at Akkad Pool Grill

• Cocktails and Aperitifs at Sumerian Bar

• Dinner at Ashur Pizza & Grill

• In-Room Breakfast on Private Terrace





-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------->>





JERASH - (Day Trip from Dead Sea Region)




Sightseeing


• Explore the Ancient Roman Ruins of Jerash





-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------->>





MADABA - (Day Trip from Dead Sea Region)




Sightseeing


• Madaba Mosaic Map in the Church of St. George

• Um er-Rasas (Kastrom Mefa'a)





-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------->>
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------->>





Would an additional night in Jerusalem, North Israel (Tiberias?) or Petra afford us the most convenience for doing all we want in each region without feeling too rushed or pressed for time? Where would you place the most signifigance?

I'm leaning towards and extra night in Jerusalem.

Thanks!