Day 1: Welcome to Israel
Arrive at Ben Gurion Airport. Meet and greet by the Holiday Travel representative and transfer to your hotel. Overnight in Jerusalem.
Day 2: Jerusalem: Old City
Today we begin our heritage tour in the Old City of Jerusalem. We’ll visit the Tomb of King David on Mount Zion, and continue with a walk along the Cardo, an ancient Roman road. After we visit four Sephardic synagogues restored after the 1967 war in the Jewish Quarter. Then continue with a visit to the Western Wall Tunnels along the base of the Western Wall- the holiest site in Judaism and one of the original walls that retained the Temple, leading us through the Second Temple era and marvel at the amazing construction of your ancestors of the Temple Mount. Here we visit the Davidson center and on to the local Arab bazaar, where you can test your negotiation skills with the local vendors. Overnight in Jerusalem.
Day 3: New City of Jerusalem
After a full buffet breakfast at our Hotel in Jerusalem, we are off to visit the new city of Jerusalem. Our stops today will include: Yad Vashem, the memorial to the Holocaust. Visit the Museum, Children’s Pavilion and walk along the Avenue of the Righteous. We will then visit Mount Herzl, a national cemetery on the west side of Jerusalem, named for Theodor Herzl, the founder of modern political Zionism. Mt. Herzl is the burial place of three of Israel’s prime ministers. Passing by the Supreme Court Building & the Knesset (Parliament). Proceed to the Israel Museum. Here you will see the Shrine of Book, home of the Dead Sea Scrolls and view the Scale Model of ancient Jerusalem from the second temple times. We will return to the hotel to digest all that we have learned. Overnight in Jerusalem.
Day 4: Caesarea – Haifa – Boat Ride – Acre – Rosh Hanikra
After breakfast checkout your hotel & drive along the coastal plains in to Caesarea, once Judea capital under Roman rule. See this amazing port city build by built by Herod the Great, explore the aqueduct, amphitheater, and excavations of the crusaders and ancient city. Continue to Haifa for a breathtaking view from Mount Carmel. Enjoy a unique cruise in Israel; get to Acre from Haifa by boat a special experience enjoying the spectacular views of the cities by sea. Disembark at Acre and walk along its old harbor and local market. Continue to the northernmost point of Israel at Rosh Hanikra. Descend by cable into the limestone grottoes. Drive to Haifa. Overnight in Haifa.
Day 5: Safed – Gadot – Banias – Tel Hai
After breakfast checkout your hotel & drive to Safed the center of the Kaballa movement; visit the Joseph Caro synagogue and the Ha’Ari synagogue, the most important synagogues in the city; stroll around the Artists’ quarter. Next we’ll explore on a Jeep tour at the foot of the Golan. After we continue to Golan Heights and stop at Gadot overlook (Mitzpe Gadot), the memorial site for the fallen of the Golan, located over former Syrian bunkers and see the monument built on site in honor of the Alexandroni brigade; proceed for a magnificent observation point over the city of Keuneitra, and the Syrian territory. Visit the Banias springs. Next we’ll see Tel-Hai and see the “Roaring Lion” monument and learn about the heroic battle of Josef Trumpeldor and his comrades in 1920. Meet with a Kibbutz member tour the kibbutz & learn about their unique lifestyle. Overnight in Haifa.
Day 6: Beit Shean – Beit Alpha – Gan Hashlosha – Shabbat Hospitality
After breakfast checkout your hotel & drive to Tiberias and visit the Tomb of Maimonides (Kever ha-Rambam), one of the most important Jewish pilgrimage sites in Israel honoring the famous Jewish philosopher, and one of Tiberias most visited tourist attractions. Continue our travel on to Beit She’an, the largest archeological park in Israel with amazing excavations from the Roman and Byzantine periods. This site rivals those of ruins in ancient Rome. Next on your tour we stop at Beit Alpha to see beautiful mosaic floors of a synagogue from the Byzantine era. Onto Gan Hashlosha (Sachne), where you will have an opportunity to enjoy the water springs located at the foot of the Gilboa Mountain, the famous mountain on which King Saul was killed in the battle against the Philistines. Continue via the Jordan valley to Jerusalem with a stop at Mount Scopus for a blessing as you enter the Golden City of Jerusalem. In the evening; experience an authentic Shabbat (Jewish Sabbath) at the home of a host family in the heart of Jerusalem. The participants receive an informative introduction to Shabbat while dining on a five-course meal with their hosts. Overnight in Jerusalem.
Day 7: Qumran – Massada – Dead Sea
After breakfast checkout your hotel and derive to the Dead Sea. Enjoy and see the Judean Desert when we drive to the Dead Sea, the lowest place on earth. Beginning with a stop at Qumran, the site where the Dead Sea Scrolls where found in 1947 by a Bedouin boy. We’ll continue to perhaps one of the most impressive sites in Israel to the fortress of Masada, and the last stronghold of the Jews after the destruction of the Second Temple in 70 A.D. Here we ascend by cable car high up to Masada and tour the ancient fortress exploring the food storeroom, water irrigation system, bath houses and Herod’s Palace. After we descend Masada by cable car. Drive to your hotel at the Dead Sea & enjoy the SPA facilities your hotel is offering. Overnight at the Dead Sea.
Day 8: Mitzpe Ramon – Sde Boker – Beer-Sheva – Airforce Museum
After breakfast checkout your hotel & travel south to the Negev desert & to Mitzpe Ramon; stop to gaze into the Ramon crater, a geological wonder; The Ramon Crater is the world’s largest erosion crater, also termed a ‘machtesh’. Measuring 40 km in length and 2 to 10 km in width, the crater takes an elongated heart-shaped form, and comprises Israel’s largest national park. Continue to Sde Boker Kibbutz and see Ben Gurion’s hut and grave overlooking the magnificent Zin valley. Stop for a Camel riding experience and visit to an authentic Bedouin tent to learn about the Bedouin people, and enjoy a light lunch during our tour. Drive north to Beersheba, for a short visit of the capital of the Negev Desert. Proceed to the Israel’s Air force Museum at Hatzerim to view the planes and equipment and hear the story of this brave fighting force. Drive to Jerusalem. Overnight in Tel Aviv.
Day 9: ANU Museum – Archeological Dig – Pub Crawl
Visit the ANU Museum of the Jewish People in Tel Aviv offers a comprehensive and engaging exploration of the history, culture, and diversity of the Jewish people across the globe and throughout history. Through interactive exhibits and multimedia displays, it tells the ongoing story of Jewish identity, heritage, and contributions to the world. Noon time free time at the beach. Drive to Tel Maresha & participate in an Archeological dig. A rare opportunity which allows you to touch your roots. Drive back to Tel Aviv. Tel Aviv is the city that never sleeps, after dinner Join a Pub Crawl and experience a night you won’t forget. Discover the well-known bars and nightclubs of this party city. Let the fun begin! Overnight in Tel Aviv.
Day 10: Departure
Transfer to Ben Gurion Airport for departure.
