Thursday: En route
Depart the U.S.A. on your flight to Israel.
Friday: Tel Aviv
Welcome to Israel! Arrive Ben Gurion Airport; special meeting, assistance and transfer to your hotel on the Mediterranean shore in vibrant Tel Aviv. Balance of the afternoon at leisure in the “city that never sleeps”. Tonight, Get Together Dinner. (D)
Saturday: Tel Aviv
Following a delicious buffet breakfast at your hotel, enjoy a morning walking tour through the city’s well-known streets including Dizengoff Square ending at Ben Gurion House, former residence of the First Prime Minister. Remainder of the day at leisure to enjoy all of the delights of this Mediterranean paradise. Or, take the Optional full day tour of Masada and the Dead Sea ($149 per person based on locally scheduled bus tour). (B)
Sunday: Tel Aviv/Haifa
Breakfast at your hotel before starting out today. This delightful culinary experience will be happening each day of your trip! Depart Tel Aviv. Drive to the extraordinary Israeli Museum at the Yitzhak Rabin Center chronicling the life of the late Prime Minister and the development of the State of Israel. Continue to ancient Caesarea; explore the Roman and Crusader ruins including the impressive 2,000-year-old theater (still in use!) and aqueduct. Arrive in Nazareth, the sacred town where Jesus spent part of his youth; visit the Church and view Mary’s Well. On to the sparkling port city of Haifa; check into your hotel atop Mt. Carmel. Evening: Enjoy Dinner and a special cultural presentation (subject to min. 10 participants). (B.D)
NOTE: Visit to Nazareth requires modest dress. Shorts must be knee length and not shorter (for men and women); no sleeveless shirts or blouses.
Monday: Haifa
Begin the day with a view of the golden-domed Baha’i Shrine and visit the breathtaking “hanging gardens,” – a UNESCO World Heritage site. Drive along the coast to Rosh Hanikra; descend by cable car to see the magnificent underwater grottoes. Time to enjoy some fine wines at a local winery. Then continue to the timeless Crusader city of Acre; walk through the subterranean city and bazaars that recall the colorful middle Ages. Return to Haifa for an evening at leisure in the picturesque German Colony, with its great dining options and special ambiance. Your guide and driver will be available to assist with transportation to this charming neighborhood. (B)
Tuesday: Haifa/Jerusalem
Depart Haifa en route to Safed, one of Judaism’s holiest cities, where the Kabbalah was developed in the 16th-century; visit the ancient synagogues and the charming Artists’ Quarter. On to Capernaum, by the Sea of Galilee; see the fantastic ruins of the ancient 5th-century synagogue. Continue through the southern Golan Heights to visit a former Syrian army bunker at Kibbutz Kfar Charuv, settled by Americans and Israelis together; view the fertile valleys below as you tour the kibbutz and enjoy lunch. We’ll then have a thrilling afternoon as we board our Jeeps and ascend the strategic Golan Heights to learn about the 20th century battles that protected Israel’s future. We’ll stop at the Syrian Officers’ Club and hear the story of Israel’s most famous Mossad spies, Eli Cohen “Our man in Damascus”. Then drive south and rise through the mountains to “golden” Jerusalem, stopping first for a blessing and a toast to our arrival in the eternal city. Overnight in Israel’s capital. (B.L)
NOTE: Visit to Capernaum requires modest dress. Shorts must be knee length and not shorter (for men and women); no sleeveless shirts or blouses.
Wednesday: Jerusalem
Drive to Hadassah Medical Center to the see the sublime Chagall Windows. On to Yad Vashem, Israel’s national Memorial and Museum of the Holocaust, with its Children’s Pavilion and Avenue of the Righteous. Then, to Mount Herzl to pay respects to Israel’s founders and heroes. Pass the post-modern Supreme Court and the Knesset (Parliament) en route to the Shrine of the Book, home of the Dead Sea Scrolls. Time to walk through the Israel Museum and the Billy Rose Sculpture Garden; see the Scale Model of ancient Jerusalem.
Evening: Night Tour of illuminated Jerusalem followed by a Restaurant Dinner and the “Night Spectacular” Sound & Light Show at the Citadel accompanied by the Isram Israel Tour Manager. The walls of the Citadel serve as a stage for a nighttime show which is a celebration of sight and sound. Amidst the archaeological remains in the Citadel’s courtyard and to the sound of original music, the story of Jerusalem unfolds through giant, breathtaking, virtual reality images using spectacular laser technology. (Show runtime: 45 minutes. The Night Spectacular will not take place in the event of rain.) (B.D)
Thursday: Jerusalem
Drive to Mt. Zion to visit the traditional Tomb of King David and the Room of the Last Supper. Enter the Old City to the restored Jewish Quarter; walk along the Cardo, the colonnaded main street of Byzantine Jerusalem. Walk to the Western Wall, last remnant of the Second Temple. View the Dome of the Rock. Proceed through the extraordinary Hasmonean Tunnel or tour the Herodian Mansions, a completely excavated residential quarter from 2000 years ago. Follow the Via Dolorosa to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre; stroll through the exotic bazaars with their wondrous aromas. This afternoon, at leisure for relaxation and strolling the neighborhoods of Jerusalem. Or, an optional visit to Bethlehem may be arranged. A free night tonight. The shops are open late as it’s the start of the Israeli weekend. Enjoy the many eateries along the outdoor Mamilla Mall, Ben Yehuda Street, or the “Tachana”. (B)
NOTE: Visit to the Old City and Bethlehem requires modest dress. Shorts must be knee length and not shorter (for men and women); no sleeveless shirts or blouses.
Friday: En route
Transfer to the Airport for your international departure flight; Special assistance is provided for check in service. (B)
(B) Breakfast (L) Lunch (D) Dinner
