DAY 1
Arrive in Tel Aviv and meet our guide. Then a world of entertainment and leisure awaits along the breathtaking shoreline of the Tel Aviv Port, including shows, culture, art exhibitions, shopping at leading stores, weekend markets and a culinary experience brought to you by the best restaurants and chefs that Tel Aviv has to offer – all against the backdrop of the city’s historic port.
Overnight in Tel Aviv
DAY 2
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.
Overnight in Tel Aviv
DAY 3
The most ancient site in the region is the Beit-Govrin-Maresha National Park, with its spectacular bell caves, columbarium and the remains of two ancient cities. Many ancient tels are scattered through the lowlands including Tel Azeka, Tel Tsafit, Tel Goded, all of which have remains of ancient civilizations. We will “dig for a day” and experience an exciting crawl through unexcavated cave systems. Drive through the Valley of Elah where David's epic battle against Goliath took place.
Overnight in Tel Aviv
DAY 4
Begin our day in 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. Today, it draws major venue attractions for concerts and festivals. We will walk through the excavated fortress and view the aqueduct once used for conveying water to the city. Visit an Israeli Army Base. Explore Old Jaffa by its restored Ottoman-era lanes, lined with galleries, Judaica shops, Gan HaPisga - the Summit Garden with its fabulous view of Tel Aviv, the Kedumim Square visitors center, and the authentic fishing port for strolling and dining. The flea market and more shopping is near the landmark Ottoman clock tower.
Overnight in Tel Aviv
DAY 5
We will depart the hotel after breakfast and travel north to Akko, a city of fascinating historical heritage, a rare blend of East and West, authentic sights form the past, a unique meeting place of art and religion alongside the remains of various cultures – all these have made Acre one of the most important cities of the ancient world. Finally we head to the gleaming white cliffs of Rosh Hanikra. Rosh Hanikra is the northernmost point on the Mediterranean shore of Israel, where a chalk mountain range meets the sea. 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.
Overnight at a Kibbutz in the Galilee
DAY 6
Visit the Hamat Gader park which has one of the largest crocodile farms in the Middle East with approximately 200 crocodiles of various species. The park also has ancient Roman baths and a thermo mineral pool area. Continue to 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. Continue to your hotel in Jerusalem.
Overnight in Jerusalem
DAY 7
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. 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". Afterwards we descend to the lowest point on Earth to float on the unsinkable mineral rich waters of the Dead Sea.
Overnight in Jerusalem
DAY 8
Enjoy the Ramparts Walk of Jerusalem for a unique perspective of the city. Continue to the City of David and explore a huge water cistern that evokes the story of Jeremiah’s imprisonment. The touring route descends via Warren’s Shaft and more recently discovered tunnels to the Gihon Spring where Solomon was crowned. The walk then continues to remnants of the actual Siloam Pool from Second Temple times. The adventurous can then slosh through the amazing engineering feat: the 1,500-foot-long-tunnel created by King Hezekiah in 701 BCE to protect Jerusalem’s water source, Hezekiah’s Tunnel. Tour the Southern Wall Excavations, visit Robinson's Arch, and experience a multi-media tour of the ancient Temple at the Davidson Center. 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.
Overnight in Jerusalem
DAY 9
Drive to Latrun and visit Yad La’Shiryon, the IDF Armored Corps center. Here we can climb on the tanks and learn about the battles that secured the road to Jerusalem. Adventure through the Judean Plain as we explore on ATV's. We will then 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 venture off to the Tisch Family Zoological Gardens, better known as the Biblical Zoo. True to its name, signs with verses from Scripture stand by every display of a biblical beast, including along the wooden bridge overlooking the Bible Land Wildlife Preserve and the walk-through raptors exhibit. Other attractions include elephants, an Australian section and a flamingo pond. Visitors can get an overview of the zoo’s approximately 61 acres from the Zoo Train, and the Noah’s Ark visitor center is actually shaped like the vessel of the Bible’s first zookeeper.
Overnight in Jerusalem
DAY 10
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". Next we will get a taste of Abraham’s hospitality at Genesis Land and experience life as it was in biblical times. We will then ride camels to visit and enjoy lunch with “Abraham” in his tent. 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. 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 11
Transfer to the airport for you 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
Israel Family Experience
SAMPLE ITINERARY
