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En Route

Today we leave on our overnight flight from New York to Tel Aviv. Dinner, breakfast, and entertainment provided onboard.  

Overnight, Tel Aviv

Ben Gurion Airport to Jerusalem

Upon our arrival to Jerusalem, we will be met and transferred to our hotel. Continue to Jerusalem for check-in and a chance to freshen up. In the evening, enjoy an exciting
Cocktail Hour/Welcome Dinner including wine and beer.

Jerusalem – Old City

After enjoying a delicious Israeli buffet breakfast, we will be visiting various parts of the city. We’ll enter the Old City via Jaffa Gate and visit the David Citadel Museum. We’ll then take a walking tour of the Old City, including the Kotel, and the exciting Rabbinical Tunnels recently excavated behind the Wall. Next, continue to the Southern Wall Excavations, and enjoy a multimedia presentation at the Davidson Center. In the afternoon, enjoy a colorful visit to the Arab Shuk. In the evening we’ll return to the hotel to freshen up.

Tonight dinner at Mike’s Place (an amazing non-kosher bar)  www.mikesplacebars.com

Overnight, Dan Boutique, Jerusalem

Jerusalem – New City

Today we’ll be touring the New City of Jerusalem. First we’ll visit Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial and Museum. Afterwards we’ll visit Mt. Herzl to see where some of Israel’s finest dignitaries are laid to rest. Continue to the Hadassah Medical Center to see the stunning Chagall Windows. Also, visit the Shrine of the Book, home of the Dead Sea Scrolls. Return to the hotel and freshen up. In the early evening , take a bus to Nachalat Shiv’a, a lively neighborhood known for its exciting nightlife to enjoy dinner and a night out on the town (on own). Take a taxi or walk the 15 minutes or so back to your hotel.
Dinner – on your own

Overnight, Dan Boutique, Jerusalem

Massada – Dead Sea

After breakfast, drive through the Judean desert to the Dead Sea. Stop at Qumran, the site where the Dead Sea scrolls were found. Continue to Massada and ascend by cable car and tour the ancient fortress; visit the remains of the walls, palaces, synagogue, the bathhouses, and learn about the Zealots’ fateful last stand. Descend by cable car. Then stop for a swim at the Dead Sea.  
This evening we will head to Kfar Hanokdim directly from the Dead Sea for a dinner feast and Bedouin Hospitality including camel rides and participation in a drumming session.

Overnight, Dan  Boutique, Jerusalem

Dig for a Day

This morning, depart Jerusalem and head to nearby Beit Guvrin. Here, participate in an archeological Dig for a Day. On the return to Jerusalem, drive down the Burma Road, which was the lifeline of Jerusalem during the siege of 1948. Ascend the Mount of Olives for a stunning view of the Old City at sunset. Those who wish may head to the Western Wall for Kabbalat Shabbat. Then enjoy a Shabbat Dinner together at the hotel.

Jerusalem

Shabbat Shalom! Enjoy a day at leisure in the Golden City. In the evening, you have the option to take a bus to Hahoman 17, the chicest club in Jerusalem, or walk to the lively Ben Yehuda Street to enjoy the colorful atmosphere and do some souvenir shopping.

Beit Shean

Jerusalem to Galilee

On the way we’ll stop in the archeological gem of Beit She’an. Afterwards we’ll visit Beit Alpha to see the beautiful mosaics in the ancient synagogue. Afterwards we’ll drive to Sachne to enjoy the wonderful hot springs and magnificent waterfalls. Next we’ll travel to D’Gania, Israel’s oldest kibbutz. From there we’ll proceed to dinner at Kibbutz Ein Gev where we’ll enjoy a traditional St. Peter’s Fish Dinner. Then we’ll dance the night away on a Sea of Galilee cruise.

Galilee

Today we’ll explore the beautiful north of Israel. Fist we’ll take an exciting Jeep Ride through the Golan Heights. Afterwards we’ll take an invigorating hike in Gamla, the “Camel Back”, and a mountain written about by Josephus Flavius in his History of the Jewish Wars. Next we’ll visit the Katzrin Talmudic Village including a stop into the interesting museum dedicated to the ancient community. Afterwards we’ll travel to Ramat Ha’Golan for a delicious wine tasting. In the evening we’ll travel to the hot springs at Hamat Gader for an optional spa activity and dinner.
Dinner at Hamat Gader.

Overnight, Kibbutz Nof Ginosar, Galilee

Galilee to Tel Aviv

After breakfast we’ll hike Mount Arbel and ride donkeys up to a vista point. Next we’ll travel to the ancient city of Zippori to explore the ruins. We’ll then ascend Mount Carmel and enter Haifa where we’ll visit the Bahai Hanging Gardens and get an excellent panoramic view of the city and the Mediterranean Sea below. In the afternoon we’ll visit the ancient Roman city of Caesarea, built by Herod in the first century. It was subsequently inhabited by the Byzantines and the Crusaders, whose influences can be seen in the layers of spectacular ruins. Be sure to check out the myriad of multimedia forums that bring the ancient city to life. We’ll then continue to Tel Aviv where we’ll check into our hotel. In the evening we’ll enjoy
Dinner at the Tel Aviv Port.

Overnight, Dan Panorama, Tel Avi

Tel Aviv

Today we’ll explore Israel’s social and cultural center, Tel Aviv. We’ll enjoy a walking tour of this bustling city in the morning, highlighting famous sites at the quaint neighborhood of Neve Tzedek. We’ll also walk through Tel Aviv’s Soho, Shenkin Street. We’ll then travel down Rothschild Boulevard to see some of the best examples of Bauhaus Architecture, which was all but destroyed in the bombing of Germany during WWII. We’ll then travel to nearby Jaffa, a 5000 year old port town located just south of Tel Aviv. We’ll end our tour at the amazing Carmel Open-air Market.
Farewell Dinner together at Maganda.

Enroute