Why the Jerusalem Winner Marathon Tour is a Perfect Choice

For a truly unique experience in Israel, how about joining thousands of runners in the Jerusalem Winner Marathon, where you’ll get to enjoy the exciting course through the old and modern city of the beautiful Jerusalem?  If you feel excited at the thought of it, this special six days/five nights-tour is the perfect choice for you. But running the marathon is not all.

During your stay, you’ll get to see Jerusalem’s most celebrated, must-visit landmarks, and even float in the famous Dead Sea.  All this time, you will be accompanied by an experienced, knowledgeable full-time guide, while enjoying Wi-Fi on the bus, free entrance to various sights, a full Israeli buffet breakfast and a lovely group dinner daily, a Shabbat dinner after you complete the Marathon, and much more.

If you cannot make it to the 2020 Winter Marathon, or the current tour is no longer available, but you would still like to visit these awe-inspiring sites, it is not a problem at all – we’ll gladly make a tailored tour for you which includes these places. Let’s see where you could be going. 

Old City and Western Wall Tunnels

One of the most breath-taking places in the world is this absolute must-see while in Israel – the Old City and its ancient wonders that you’ll get to experience while walking down the cobbled streets of the city. As a marathon runner, you’ll start the day with a stretch and light run, and then you’ll enjoy Jerusalem's Old City with your private tour guide. In this UNESCO World Heritage Site, you’ll find some of the most famous places in Israel, such as the Temple Mount, the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, the Dome of the Rock, al-Aqsa Mosque, but also the Western Wall, or the Wailing Wall.

Interestingly, what we see today of this limestone wall is just a segment of a far longer retaining wall, built by Herod I during the expansion of the Second Jewish Temple in 19 BCE on the Temple Mount. While we can see some 60 meters (200 feet) of the wall, 488 meters (1,601 feet) of it is hidden underground, and you will get to see these phenomenal Western Wall Tunnels. At the end of the day, enjoy a lovely dinner with your group at a local restaurant.

Israel Museum and Yad Vashem

The next day for the runners also starts with a nice, morning stretch and a light run. This is followed by a visit to the fantastic Israel Museum, where you can explore everything from the Fine Arts, such as Israeli, European, Asian, African, Modern, Contemporary and other brilliant types of Arts, to the exquisite archaeological findings, such as jewelry, glass, coins, inscriptions, and various other objects truly worth your visit to one of the largest museums in the region.

In the mesmerizing Shrine of the Book, you’ll see the Dead Sea Scrolls found in Qumran. Adjacent to it, there is the miniature Model of Jerusalem as it was during the Second Temple Period, including a replica of Herod’s Temple.

After the museum, you will visit Yad Vashem, the official memorial to the victims of the Holocaust, established in 1953 on the western slope of Mount Herzl, also known as the Mount of Remembrance. It is dedicated to Jews who died in WWII, those who fought against the Nazi, as well as to Gentiles or non-Jews who helped and saved Jewish people during the Holocaust, recognized by Israel as Righteous Among the Nations.  

At the end of the day, you will go to the Marathon Expo to check in and take your runner's kit, before enjoying a tasty group dinner.

Marathon Day

Congratulations – today is the long-awaited marathon day! You do not need to worry about the organization of anything, you just need to run. There will be an early morning shuttle arranged to pick you up and take you to the starting line, where you’ll join your excited running colleagues. After the marathon, you get to rest and enjoy the rest of the day as please, crowned with a festive Shabbat dinner at the hotel. 

Masada and the Dead Sea

On your last day in Israel, you are in for another treat. You will have a well-deserved sight-seeing and relaxation time, which will start at the fascinating Masada. This is an isolated rock plateau where you’ll find another UNESCO World Heritage Site – a brilliant fortress and various other structures, mostly built by King Herod around 30 BCE. You can either ride the cable car or climb to the fortification and explore the ruins, such as King Herod’s Palace, a Roman-style bathhouse, and the archaeological exhibitions in the Masada Museum.

The sunrise and sunset are gorgeous here, and you’ll also experience some remarkable views during your cable car ride back down towards the Dead Sea. This is the lowest point on earth, almost 400 meters (1,300 feet) below sea level, where you are sure to have a fun and therapeutic experience while floating in the sea and reaping the benefits of its mud.