Israel: Ultimate Jewish Heritage Tour 2017-2018

En Route for your tour to Israel

Depart from the USA for your Jewish Heritage Israel Tour.

Jaffa Beach

Welcome to Israel! Upon arrival to Ben Gurion Airport, proceed to Arrivals Hall. Meet your driver at the La Farina Bakery where he will be holding a sign with your name. Transfer to your hotel in Tel Aviv.

Overnight, Tel Aviv

Independence Hall

Start the day with a visit to the Independence Hall where the establishment of the state of Israel was declared. Next, drive to Latrun to visit the Armored Corps memorial museum also considered as one of the most diverse tank museums in the world. Continue to Beit Guvrin national park, declared by UNESCO as a world heritage site. Explore some of the caves and archaeological remains.

Proceed to Ayalon Institute, once a secret underground ammunition factory established by the “Haganah”, the Jewish underground movement before May 1948.

Overnight, Tel Aviv

Jaffa Sunset

Visit the Diaspora Museum; Drive around the main streets of Tel Aviv, center of business and entertainment of Israel. Stop at Rabin’s Square, place of assassination of Prime Minister Itzhak Rabin. Continue to Old Jaffa, an 8000 year old port city. Visit the ancient ruins and walk along the restored artist’s quarter. Visit Neve Tzedek, the first neighborhood of Tel Aviv, built in 1909 and Nahalat Binyamin, the pedestrian street of the city with its musicians, hand made jewelry and artifacts. Next, stop at Sheinkin, the lively and colorful street especially known with the unique shops, café life and youthful ambiance.

Overnight, Tel Aviv

Tel Aviv

Enjoy a free day in Tel Aviv.

Overnight, Tel Aviv

Haifa

Drive north to Caesarea, once the Roman capital of the region. See the excavations of the crusaders’ city, the aqueduct and the amphitheatre which has been restored as a concert venue. Proceed to Haifa for a panoramic view from Mt. Carmel. Drive to Acre; walk along the old harbor and local market; Continue to the northernmost point of Israel at Rosh Hanikra, descend by cable into the limestone Grottoes.

Dinner and Overnight, Kibbutz Lavi

Golan Heights

Drive to Safed, center of Kaballa movement; Visit the Joseph Caro and the HA’ ARI synagogues, the most important synagogues in the city; stroll around the Artist’s quarter. Enjoy a jeep tour to the foot of the Golan. Continue to the Golan Heights; Stop at an observation point over the city of Kuneitra, and the Syrian territory. Stop at Tel Facher, a former Syrian army camp; Visit the Banias Springs. Next, a visit to Tel-Hai; See the “Roaring Lion” monument and learn about the heroic battle of Josef Trumpeldor and his comrades in 1920. Meet with a Kibbutz member and learn about their unique lifestyle.

Dinner and Overnight, Kibbutz Lavi

Sea of Galilee

Drive to Tiberias to visit Rambam’s grave. Then proceed to Beit Shean, also called “Scythopolis”, the biggest archeological park in Israel with beautiful excavations from Roman and Byzantine periods. Stop at Beit Alpha to see the beautiful mosaic floor of a synagogue from the Byzantine period. Onto Gan Hashlosha, (Sachne) where you will have an opportunity to enjoy in 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. Stop at Mount Scopus for a blessing as you enter the city.

Overnight, Jerusalem

Jewish Quarter, Jerusalem

Tour the old city of Jerusalem. Start with a visit of the tomb of King David on Mt. Zion. Walk along the Cardo, the ancient Roman road; Visit the four Sepharadic synagogues restored after 1967 war in the Jewish quarter. Tour the Western Wall Tunnels. Visit the Davidson center and walk through the Roman Cardo, to the local Arab bazaar. Walk through Jaffa gate to David’s Tower museum and see the ancient remains of the city beginning with the first Temple period.

Overnight, Jerusalem

Western Wall

Depart the hotel and arrive to the Western Wall in the old city of Jerusalem.

*Celebrate your Bar/Bat-Mitzvah ceremony at the Kotel. See below for details.

Continue to Mea Shearim and learn about the unique lifestyle of the ultra orthodox communities. Drive by the Knesset, Israel’s parliament and see the Menorah with the biblical emblems. Next visit the Israel Museum, the Shrine of the Book where the Dead Sea scrolls are housed, and the new Holyland model – a miniature replica of Jerusalem as it was during the second temple period. Drive to Mount Herzl, the military cemetery and Yad Vashem, the memorial to the Holocaust. Visit the Ammunition hill, a former Jordanian army stronghold, conquered by the Israeli army in the Six Day War, and converted into a national memorial site and museum.
Overnight, Jerusalem

STARTING MARCH 2016

Depart the hotel and arrive to the Western Wall in the old city of Jerusalem.

*Celebrate your Bar/Bat-Mitzvah ceremony at the Kotel. See below for details.

Drive through Mea Shearim, one of the oldest Jewish neighborhoods in Jerusalem and learn about the unique lifestyle of the ultra orthodox communities.

Proceed to Mount Herzl, the military cemetery, and Yad Vashem the memorial to the Holocaust. Visit the Ammunition Hill, a former Jordanian army stronghold, conquered by the Israeli army in the six day war, and converted into a national memorial site and museum.

Drive by the Knesset, Israel’s parliament and see the Menorah with the biblical emblems.  Next visit the Israel Museum, the Shrine of the Book where the Dead Sea scrolls are housed, and the Holy Land model, a miniature replica of Jerusalem as it was during the second temple period.

Overnight Jerusalem

OPTIONAL BAR MITZVAH / BAT MITZVAH:
For families who wish to celebrate a Bar/Bat Mitzvah ceremony at the Wall. This will be a perfect opportunity, while the rest of the group will tour Mea Shearim, arrangements will be made at the Wall with a Rabbi. At the end of the service, rejoin your tour group at the entrance of the Israel Museum. For this special option, see below.

Dead Sea

Drive through the Judean Desert to the Dead Sea. Stop at Qumran, the site where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found. Continue to Massada, ascend by cable car and tour the ancient fortress; visit the remains of the walls, palaces, synagogue, the bathhouses etc. Descend by cable car. Next we will stop for lunch and the use of spa facilities in one of the leading hotels in the area. Return to Jerusalem.

Overnight, Jerusalem

Machane Yehuda

Enjoy a free day in Jerusalem.

Overnight, Jerusalem

Red Sea, Eilat

Travel south through the Negev Desert. Visit Timna and see the copper mines and King Solomon’s pillars and marvel at the huge multi-colored rock formations. Continue to Eilat and stop to visit the Underwater Observatory, one of the largest sea aquariums in the world, built into a coral reef.

Overnight, Eilat

Petra

Optional day tour to Petra at additional cost: After assistance with visa to the Jordanian border, drive straight away to Petra through desert highways, your ultimate destination is the astonishing rose-red city of Petra which was built by the Nabateans (An early Arab tribe). Petra was renowned for its massive architecture, pools, dams and water channels. Petra is the legacy of the Nabateans who settled in the south of Jordan more than 2000 years ago. The visit begins with the possibility of a short horseback-riding for about 700 m. until the entrance of the Siq, which is about 1.2 km long (walking distance). There is a possibility to rent a chariot (extra) to get inside Petra and back to the gate outside. Petra is famous for its huge monuments such as the Treasury, Royal Tombs, the Court, Roman theatre, Roman Street, Qassier El- Bint (Palace of Pharaoh’s daughter) and many other smaller monuments which fascinate the visitors. The city itself is almost 45 square km and is considered to be the second wonder of the world. After the visit, time for lunch in a nice restaurant. After lunch drive back to border. On the way, a short visit to Aqaba with the possibility to stop and take a walk around. Transfer to the border at around 18:00 p.m and crossing back to Eilat.

Overnight, Eilat

Ramon Crater

Depart Eilat via Mitzpe Ramon. Stop to gaze into the Ramon crater, a geological wonder. Proceed to Sde Boker and see Ben Gurion’s hut and grave overlooking the magnificent Zin valley. Stop for a camel riding experience and a visit to an authentic Bedouin tent, learn about the Bedouin hospitality and enjoy a light lunch. Continue to Hatzerim and visit Israel’s Air Force Museum to view the planes and equipment and to hear the story of this brave fighting force. Drive back to Tel-Aviv.

Overnight, Tel Aviv

Transfer to Ben-Gurion airport for departure.