Christian Sites by the Sea of Galilee Tour

Big thanks to the tour guide Itai and the driver Yaakov for a great experience! The trip was informative, packed with different places (Nazareth, lunch in Tiberias, Capernaum, Taghba and Yardenit…). Amazing storytelling from Itai and good organization ;) - the only delay that there was - it was on the way back due to crazy traffic when Shavuot was ending ;). I would advise to book and will book again when I’m back to Israel!

I am a repeat customer with Bein Haim Tourism Services because their tours are run well with helpful, knowledgeable and personable guides. Yoav Malachi was my guide again for this tour and I appreciate the sensitivity that Yoav and his colleagues extend to each tourist that come into their care. As before, I could focus on the business of enjoying my stay in Israel and learning more about her people, culture, and history. While the tour was chock full of informational activities, there was always time to internalize the experience which is much appreciated. Thank you again to Bein Haim Tourism Services and their wonderful guides!

We were picked up on time at our location, which was booked by Bein Harim, because we took a multiple day tour. It was a small group we were traveling with, only nine tourists. Therefore, our tourguide was the driver as well, which made it sometimes difficult to understand what he wanted to say when we've been traveling. When he turned his head to check the road, his mouth was no longer in front of the microphone. Therefore, a headset would have been better. Besides this, we could understand our Tourguide Avi better. Avi spoke about the different things pretty neutral, but sometimes not with much enthusiathm, but it was okay. He answered all our questions and due to the small group, I asked more questions than normally, which was an advantage. The places we've been visiting were more or less interesting, but just crazy how everywhere churches are built were something happened (or actually might have happened). If you like to visit such holy churches, you should attemp this trip. But for us, it was not completely our taste. Assumably, we would not have visited the Church of the Beautidues nor the Church in Cana. They are beautiful churches, but not our taste, therefore only four of five stars. Nevertheless, the City of Magdala was interesting to see the foundings from the time of Jesus and to see that Jews lived there at that time. The boat from about the time of Jesus was fascinating too, as well to read how they preseved it. All in all is the Tour good and depending on your taste worth to visit. ;)

He is so good and knowledgeable person. As an ex History teacher. Avishay could give you whole Jewish history in 5 minutes. I took the ‘Christian gems around the Sea of Galilee’ Avishay took in his car to all the individual sites as mentioned in the travel itinerary. In addition he went extra mile to show places that was not part of the travel plan. So he stopped at the ‘Heptapegon’ , Show Capernaum from far. Avishay even got us discounts at the stores of Yigal Allon Museum on Kibbutz Ginosar. Last for the best. He took us into the wedding church at cana. During an ongoing sermon. Of course we were quiet and polite. We got a vip access to the church. While other tourists were waiting outside. He patiently answered all of my annoying questions. Some of them were also sensitive questions. Avishay answered all of them honestly. He grabbed a map from the store 😂 to explain geography lessons on Dead sea tectonic plates. Seriously felt I am back to school. Out of all. The most important one!! Avishay risked his life by entering Palestinian territory (This was for another group tour to Bethlehem and jericho). Israeli guide inside a Palestinian territory is almost a suicide. Avishay is the man, myth the legend among the tourist guides. Ask him about the “Michael Schumacher” story. I bet you will love it. Summary is if you either book group tour or private tour with Avishay. You will have best guaranteed life time experience. Memories for life.

We had a very early start waking up at 5am in the morning. We were picked up on time and our group was directed to the small bus as we had only 10 participants. Our guide, Daphna, spoke perfect English and was very attentive to our requests. The weather was a bit chilly but no rain. The first part of the drive was on the highway, but then we passed by the Valley of Izrael, the place King Solomon died. After the WWII many emigrants from Europe came to the valley, which was basically a swamp at that time, but the new Aliyah built a kibbutz there and the swamp had become a fertile land. Then we passed by the Mounts of Nazareth, Mount Precipice and Nazareth, but didn’t stop there. Daphne also mentioned about Mount Tabor (the site of Transfiguration) and allowed us to take pictures. Our next stop was at Kfar Khanna to visit the Wedding Church of Cana. This is a very important Christian site but for us it didn’t mean much. The church I was built in the 19th century and its architecture is unattractive. The only thing that interested us was the ruins of the Byzantine Synagogue, discovered underneath the church. In a short while we arrived to the magnificent Sea of Galilee (Lake Kinneret).to see the Mount of Beatitudes. Again, the church was not something to remember for us, but hundreds of Christians flocked it, so apparently this site is very important to all of them and we tried to keep low profile and stepped outside immediately to give them more space. We came to this site to enjoy the beauty of Lake Kinneret and we were not disappointed. The view of the Sea of Galilee and the Golan Heights on a sunny morning as well as in the rain (we had both) is absolutely mesmerizing. Our next stop was Kibbutz Ginassar, where we have seen an amazing archeological find: the 2,000 years old fishing boat (Jesus’s boat). We also learned about its discovery and meticulously performed transportation from the excavator site to the museum at Kibbutz Ginassar. Then we headed to our last stop, Magdala, but first we had lunch at the Tamar Restaurant. Our lunch was very good, but our group had to seat at one big table, and this is something I don’t like. I had delicious grilled chicken breast with yellow rice and my husband had crusted sea bass fillet with the same rice. We also had a salad bar and their salads were mouthwatering. Not bad for a group lunch. The price was 180 shekels for the two of us. After lunch we explored fascinating Magala’s excavations, which are still ongoing. Magdala is a hometown of Mary Magdalene and also the site of the first century Synagogue. This is where the two main religions had their paths crossed. On the way back we stopped at Yardenit Baptismal site and witnessed the Baptism being performed. Not something we were interested in, but that’s what the tour itinerary had to offer. We passed Tiberias on the way to Tel Aviv and it didn’t look like a resort to me… really rundown and unattractive place, besides the long promenade. We arrived at the hotel around 6pm and went for a glass of wine with strawberries. Very tiring day but beautiful Lake Kinneret deserves it.