Wednesday Departures
14 Days/12 Nights (First 4 days)
Wednesday: En Route
Depart on your flight to Israel.
Thursday: Tel Aviv
Welcome to Israel! Arrive Ben Gurion Airport; Special meeting, assistance and transfer to your hotel in trendy Tel Aviv’s Mediterranean beach. Balance of the afternoon and evening at leisure in the “city that never sleeps”.
Friday: Tel Aviv
A fascinating day as we visit Machon Ayalon (Ayalon Institute); hear the riveting story of this pre-state underground Ammunitions Factory that functioned as a secret underground bullet factory making ammunition used in the struggle for Israeli independence. Under the disguise of a kibbutz above, the bullet manufacturing below was concealed from the British with the factory’s openings covered by a 10-ton oven and a large washing machine camouflaging the noise of manufacturing bullets. Afterwards, continue to the 4,000-year-old port city of Jaffa. Explore the magnificently reconstructed Artists’ Quarter with its galleries and boutiques. On to Tel Aviv’s bustling Carmel Market and lively Nachlat Benjamin Street with its delightful craft stalls. Adjacent is Sheinkin Street, one of the most popular streets in Tel Aviv, for the trendiest boutiques, cafes and people watching— definitely the place to be on Friday afternoon! Tonight, Get Together Dinner. (B.D)*
*
Saturday: Tel Aviv
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. Early afternoon Optional visit to Machon Ayalon, the fascinating underground Ammunitions Factory (must be pre-booked; $120 per person including roundtrip transfers-minimum 2 persons required). Remainder of the day at leisure to enjoy all of the delights of this Mediterranean paradise. Tel Aviv’s museums and restaurants are world-class. Don’t miss Tel Aviv’s hip port neighborhood, with its yachts, eateries and café-filled boardwalk. (B)
Thursday Departures
13 Days/11 Nights (First 3 days)
Thursday: En Route
Depart on your flight to Israel.
Friday: Tel Aviv
Welcome to Israel! Arrive Ben Gurion Airport; Special meeting, assistance and transfer to your hotel in trendy Tel Aviv’s Mediterranean beach. Balance of the afternoon at leisure in the “city that never sleeps”. Tonight, Get Together Dinner. (D)
Saturday: Tel Aviv
Morning walking tour through the city’s well known streets including Dizengoff Square and 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. Tel Aviv’s museums and restaurants are world-class. Don’t miss Tel Aviv’s hip port neighborhood, with its yachts, shops and café-filled boardwalk. (B)
Friday Departures
12 Days/10 Nights (First 2 days)
Friday: En Route
Depart on your flight to Israel.
Saturday: Tel Aviv
Welcome to Israel! Arrive Ben Gurion Airport; Special meeting, assistance and transfer to your hotel in trendy Tel Aviv’s Mediterranean beach. Balance of the afternoon and evening at leisure in the “city that never sleeps”.
Balance of Itinerary Continued
(for 14, 13 and 12 Day Programs):
Sunday: Tel Aviv/Haifa
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 minimum 10 tour participants). (B.D)
Monday: Haifa
Begin the day with a view 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. Free evening to enjoy a stroll under the Carmel skies and the glow of this beautiful port city. (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, to see the fantastic ruins of the ancient synagogue dating back to the 5th-century. Ascend the strategic Golan Heights and learn about the 20th century battles that protected Israel’s future. Continue for a visit to 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 a late lunch in the communal dining room. 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)
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 New 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 Museum (weather and schedule permitting). (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 (tunnel schedule permitting) 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.End today with a visit to the fabulous Friends of Zion Heritage Center celebrating the Christian heroes who have contributed to the Jewish people and the State of Israel. The cutting edge technology is amazing. 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)
Friday: Jerusalem
Descend through the Judean desert to the Dead Sea, lowest point on Planet Earth. Ascend Masada by cable car and see this last stronghold of the Zealots in their struggle against the Romans. Visit the excavations, Herod the Great’s palace, synagogue and bathhouse. Then, opportunity to enjoy an “unsinkable” swim in the buoyant waters of the Dead Sea. Drive via the Qumran Caves, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found, on your return to Jerusalem. We’ll stop at the Western Wall, beautifully illuminated on this Sabbath eve before arriving to the hotel (time permitting). Tonight, a traditional Friday dinner together. Afterwards, bid a final farewell to your guide before commencing the independent extension to Eilat. (B.D)
Saturday: Jerusalem
Enjoy a full day at leisure for relaxation and on your own exploration. For those still craving to see and do as much as possible, your tour manager will provide entrance tickets to the Museum of the History of Jerusalem in the Old City—definitely worth a visit. Overnight in Jerusalem. (B)
Sunday: Eilat
Transfer is provided to the Airport for your flight to Eilat. Upon arrival, you will be met and transferred to your hotel. Balance of day at leisure to enjoy the facilities at your hotel on the Red Sea. (B)
Monday: Eilat/Petra*/Eilat
A most unforgettable day touring Petra. Morning transfer from your hotel in Eilat to the Arava border crossing. Assistance at the border is provided. Arrive in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and drive to the “hidden” city of Petra. Start the visit with a horse ride, or, if you prefer, an exhilarating walk from the main gate to the beginning of the “Siq”. Continue by foot to visit the rose-red city of Petra—city of the Edomites and later the Nabateans. Visit the Treasury carved out of a single piece of rock. The site was made famous in the movie “Indiana Jones”; see the Theatre Tombs, Hall of Justice, Palaces and Temples. After Lunch, depart Petra driving to the resort city of Aqaba for a short panoramic tour before returning to the Arava border crossing back to Eilat. Transfer to your hotel in Eilat for overnight. (B.L)
*Petra over day tour is operated by a local company on group basis (number of participants is not guaranteed to be 28 or under.)
Tuesday: En Route
Day at leisure in glorious Eilat. We have arranged for a late check out for you (by 6:00 P.M.). Late afternoon, transfer is provided to Ramon airport in Eilat for your flight to Tel Aviv’s domestic terminal at Ben Gurion Airport. Upon arrival, a transfer service will meet you for the very short drive to the International Terminal where you will be met by our host and assisted through security and airline check in process for your ongoing flight . (B)
For all tours above:
Visa for Petra, border crossing/assistance fees are not included and are to be paid locally – $133 per person at
time of printing (Visa will be secured on your behalf by our representatives).
* Revised touring in Israel due to holidays.
Tour is guaranteed on minimum 4 passengers. Should the tour fall below 4 passengers, you’ll be offered the
option of touring by Share-a-Car in Israel at a supplement of $495 per person (3 persons minimum).
