DAY 1
Arrive Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv. You will be greeted by your tour guide and will transfer to your hotel. Welcome dinner at the Herzl restaurant in the Mamilla complex. In the evening we will enjoy the Night Spectacular using the walls beneath the Tower of David as a backdrop. The moving images, sent from 20 projectors and two projection rooms, tell a wordless, politically neutral pictorial tale of the history of Jerusalem from the time of the Israelite kings down almost to the present day, treating viewers to dramatically larger-than-life reenactments of the deeds of David, the Romans, the monks, Muhammad, the Crusaders, Suleiman the Magnificent and the rest of the historical family.
Overnight in Jerusalem
DAY 2
After enjoying our Israeli breakfast, enjoy the Ramparts Walk of Jerusalem for a unique perspective of the city. We will walk through the Jewish Quarter and can visit the stores along the Cardo, a typical Roman street built in the 6th century, and stop at the four Sepharadic synagogues restored after the 1967 war. We will then stand at the Western Wall, the most holy site, as for centuries people have been going there to bewail the loss of the temple in 70AD. The Wall is not part of the temple itself, rather a continuation of Herod the Great's retaining structure that holds in the arches known as Solomon's stables (the huge dressed stones at its bottom date from that time), but this has not stopped its Sanctification and the practice of writing prayers on pieces of paper that are placed in cracks in the wall in the belief that God will take more heed of them. Descend through the many layers of Jerusalem’s past at the time of the Temple, we will head through the Western Wall Tunnels. Inside, we’ll view the most interesting model shows depicting the different dwelling periods and history of the inhabitants of Jerusalem. Stand on the site believed to be the nearest spot to the "Holy of Holies". Shabbat dinner at the hotel.
Overnight in Jerusalem
DAY 3
Day at Leisure. Shabbat lunch at the hotel. After lunch walk through picturesque Mishkenot She’ananim, in Jerusalem’s Yemin Moshe neighborhood see the first Jewish houses built outside the city walls, named after the philanthropist Sir Moses Montefiore. Montefiore's reconstructed carriage stands in a display-window next to the famous windmill, with the bonus of a beautiful view of the Old City walls. End the day along the pedestrian malls of Ben Yehuda St. and Nahalat Shiva, restored quarter of shops, galleries and cafes.
Overnight in Jerusalem
DAY 4
This morning after breakfast we will visit Yad Vashem, Israel’s Holocaust remembrance and education center which is an emotional and heartrending experience, but seeing the exhibits and remembering the Holocaust gives the more than one million individuals, world leaders and dignitaries who pass through its doors annually a meaningful way to commemorate the six million Jewish victims of the Holocaust. Next a visit to the colorful, bustling Machaneh Yehuda, the open-air market. Drive through the New City viewing old and new neighborhoods, the Knesset (The Israeli Parliament) (open for visits on Sundays and Thursdays) and the beautifully designed Supreme Court building. Next we will visit the Israel Museum, the largest cultural institution in the State of Israel and one of the leading art and archaeology museums in the world. We will then ride camels to visit and enjoy dinner with “Abraham” in his tent.
Overnight in Jerusalem
DAY 5
We start our day at the magnificent antiquities of the lofty desert fortress of Massada, overlooking the Dead Sea, symbolize human endurance. In 68 CE, Jewish rebels against Rome took Massada, but when the Romans finally captured the fortress, the historian Josephus relates that the Jews chose death over captivity. Climb the snake path or ascend by cable-car to tour the beautifully restored remains of this UNESCO World Heritage Site first built by King Herod, complemented by the dramatic display at the Massada Museum. Afterwards we descend to the lowest point on Earth to float on the unsinkable mineral rich waters of the Dead Sea. Enjoy a walk through the beautiful Ein Gedi nature reserve and hear the biblical story of kings David and Saul that took place there "on site". Travel northward to the Galilee via the Jordan Valley. If time permits, stop at Beit She’an, one of the most ancient cities in the country. It is a historical gem that unfolds the fascinating story of a rich period full of changes. Arrive to our Kibbutz guest house on Lake Kinneret.
Overnight at a Kibbutz in the Galilee
DAY 6
Enjoy a guided walking tour of our Kibbutz. Continue to the charming Rosh Pina, with galleries and a gift shop selling honey, spices and other regional products along the restored 19th-century street. Our exploration continues in the mystical city of Tzefat, The ancient Galilean city is the highest city in Israel, and commands a breathtaking view of the Galilee in the winter with its green mountains and the white snow-capped peak of Mount Hermon. The artists’ quarter is located in what was previously the Arab quarter of Safed. Artists reside and work in their studios in the ancient and magnificent houses, and their paintings and artifacts fill the display windows and can be viewed while walking through the narrow alleyways. Drive through the Hula Valley to the Teva Neot Kibbutz Shoe Factory, situated on Kibbutz Neot Mordechai. Enjoy dinner at the Dagei Dafna restaurant located on the banks of the Dan River.
Overnight at a Kibbutz in the Galilee
DAY 7
Climb the Golan Heights. Hear the story of the most expansive land battle in the world, which took place here during the 1973 Yom Kippur War. Then we will explore the Golan by Jeep. View Israel's neighbors from Mount Bental. Partake in a chocolate making workshop at De Karina. Continue to the Golan Heights Winery for a tasting and walking tour. Enjoy a sunset cruise on the Sea of Galilee with Israeli dancing. Dinner on the lakefront at Decks Restaurant.
Overnight at a Kibbutz in the Galilee
DAY 8
Travel westward to the Mediterranean coast. Stop along the way at an Israeli Army Base. Then on to Haifa, Israel’s third largest city with its highlights, including The Baha’i Shrine and Gardens World center of the young Baha’i faith with its magnificent terraced gardens that are a Haifa landmark. We will enjoy traditional Druze hospitality and lunch at Ussafiya Village. Continue to the ancient city of Caesarea, built by Herod the Great who once held the seat of Roman rule. We’ll view the excavated Roman Theater, with its acoustic and theatrical sound, which was used for many performances throughout the centuries. We will walk through the excavated fortress and view the aqueduct once used for conveying water to the city. We will continue on to Tel Aviv and check-in to our beachfront resort hotel followed by a sunset walking tour of the ancient Jaffa seaport.
Overnight in Tel Aviv
DAY 9
Visit the amazing underground, pre-State bullet factory built by the Palmach right under the noses of the British - the Ayalon Institute. Witness the moving declaration of the State at Independence Hall. Stroll along Ha-Carmel Street, whose entire length is the largest open market in Tel Aviv. The multitude of stalls offer a wide variety of goods, from inexpensive baby clothes to luxury-priced truffles. Next we’ll enjoy a walking tour of Neve Tzedek, Tel Aviv’s new hip neighborhood where the intellectual elite lived during Israel’s early days. Our day will conclude with a stroll through the funky shops and cafés along Sheinken Street, the “Greenwich Village of Tel Aviv”. Return to the hotel for Shabbat dinner.
Overnight in Tel Aviv
DAY 10
Day at Leisure. Enjoy Shabbat lunch at the hotel. After lunch take a walking tour of Tel Aviv, seeing Rabin Memorial, HaBimah Theater grounds and Dizengoff Square. Evening transfer to the airport: to Sde Dov for a flight to Eilat to continue your experience, or to Ben Gurion airport for your return flight home.
DAY 11 EILAT EXTENSION
Begin our day with an early breakfast before the arrival of our transportation to the Jordan border. After visa assistance at the Jordanian Border, drive straight to Petra through desert highways. Your ultimate destination is the astonishing rose-red city of Petra which was built by the Nabateans (an early Arab tribe). Petra was renowned for its massive architectures, pools, dams and water channels. Petra is the legacy of the Nabateans who settled in the South of Jordan more than 2000 years ago. The visit begins with the possibility of a short horseback ride, about 700m, until the entrance of the Siq, which is about 1.2 Km long (walking distance). There is also a possibility to rent a chariot to inside Petra and back to the gate outside. Petra is famous for its huge monuments such as The Treasury, Royal Tombs, the Court, Roman Theater, Roman Street, Qassier Rl-Bint (Palace of Pharaoh's daughter) and many other smaller monuments which fascinate visitors. After the visit, enjoy lunch at a nice restaurant, followed by a drive back to the border. En route, stop for a short visit in Aqaba, with possibility for a short walk in the town. Cross back to Eilat.
Overnight in Eilat
DAY 12
Day at Leisure. Transfer to Eilat airport for a flight to Ben Gurion airport to connect with your return flight home.
PLEASE NOTE! We reserve the right to omit any site and/or change the itinerary
Should it be necessary due to local conditions.
DAY BY DAY ITINERARY
Adult Israel Experience
SAMPLE ITINERARY
