Day One
Welcome to Israel
Welcome home! A representative of the tour company will meet you as you disembark from the plane and streamline your visa and customs processing. You will be brought to a waiting VIP van which will bring you to your hotel.
Sleep Tel Aviv
Day Two
Machon Ayalon – Clandestine Bullet Factory
Just outside of Tel Aviv, on a small hill is located one of the State of Israel’s best kept secrets. Now a museum, this former bullet factory was hidden under a laundromat in a kibbutz training facility and arguably saved the State of Israel. In 1943 as the War of Independence was approaching the Hagana (the pre state army) desperately needed weapons and ammunition but the British ruled the land. This secret underground factory was established, and in 3 years produced over 2 million bullets under the nose of the British. It was so secret that for the next 30 years no one had even heard of it!
Old City of Jaffa
Tradition tells us that Jaffa, or Yafo as it’s called in Hebrew, was founded by Yefet the Son of Noah many, many years ago. Throughout history it’s known as one of the most famous Middle Eastern ports and the one from which Jonah set forth on his famous voyage. Today its artists colony, alleyways, and views sets it apart as one of the most beautiful places in Tel Aviv. It’s for this very reason that one can spot brides and grooms having their photoshoots on almost everyday of the week in Yafo.
Independence Hall
On May 14th 1948, 2,000 years of hopes and dreams finally came to fruition with the founding of the modern State of Israel. The first modern Hebrew city was established here on what was once sand dunes, and it is in the former home of the first mayor that the state will be declared. We will hear about the founding of the city of Tel Aviv and how from it sprang forth the modern state.
Sleep Tel Aviv
Day Three
Shuk HaCarmel – The Carmel Market & Nachalat Binyamin
There is no better place to get in touch with the real Tel Aviv than in its most famous and vibrant market. There is never a dull moment when wandering through this dizzying array of fruits and spices, clothing and tchotchkes, with local Tel Avivians just out for a snack. On Fridays Nachalat Binyamin Pedestrian becomes a must see artists’ market with craftsmen and artists from all over Israel setting up booths and selling their crafts.
Palmach Museum Multimedia Experience
Founded in 1941, the Palmach became a fully trained underground military force made up of volunteer men and women who fought to rid Palestine of the British – later merging with the IDF for Israel’s War of Independence. Palmach’s story comes to life at this interactive multimedia museum.
Graffiti Tour
Can one find a better way to get to know a city, than by taking a walking tour through her most colorful parts? We’ll get to know the hippest and most vibrant parts of Tel Aviv by learning about her street art. These pictures are worth more than a thousand words,and we will learn from these murals about the people and culture, as well as history and current events.
Sleep Tel Aviv
Day Four
Caesarea
This picturesque 2,000 year old port city was a dream of King Herod. The Caesarea port was an unparalleled feat of engineering and instrumental in solidifying trade agreements with the Roman Empire. It was at the time, one of the largest cities in the Roman Empire and the capital of Rome in Israel. We will visit the excavated hippodrome, theater and bathhouse. Once a symbol of Roman power, today Caesarea is a testament to the eventual victory of the Jews over Rome.
Haifa Baha’i Gardens Lookout
Over half a million visitors from around the world flock to Haifa to see the UNESCO World Heritage Site Baha’i Gardens covering some 200,000 square meters and majestically cascading down 19 different terraces. Besides being a holy place for the Baha’i, it is all the burial site for the Bab, the founder of the Baha’i faith. It offers one of the most stunning views of Haifa from the Carmel Mountains.
Akko Old City and Knights Halls
On a small peninsula jutting out of Israel’s northern coast, lies a walled port city that has almost 4,000 years of continual use. Although Akko has seen the Phonecians, Greeks, Romans, Byzantines, besides numerous other conquerors, its golden age was in the 12th century when it became one of the most important and wealthiest city of the Crusaders.
We will explore the walls and moats of Akko, as well as the newly uncovered Hospitallers fortress. We will go underground through tunnels and crypts going back in time 800 years to the age of knights and maidens.
If we have time we can explore the market and port and perhaps even walk on her ramparts!
Rosh Hanikra Grottoes & Cable Car
On Israel’s northern border with Lebanon sits one of the most magnificent natural phenomenons in Israel. We will take cable cars down to grottos that were carved into the mountainside over thousands of years by the beating waves of the Mediterranean Sea.
Sleep Galilee
Day Five
Golan Heights Jeep Adventure
There’s practically no better way to see the beauty of the Golan Heights than by off-roading with a local. On the shores of the Sea of Galilee we can find some of the most stunning views of valleys, canyons, and wildlife of all kinds. Although it’s more than 200 meters below sea level, the Kinneret Basin is a tropical zone, with agriculture, fruit trees, streams that run year round, as well as a plethora of wild animals that we will search for as we drive through streams and pick the fruit.
Tzfat Old City & Artist Quarter
In Judaism’s most mystical book, the Zohar, Tzfat is described as having the purest air in all of Israel and that’s not only because Tzfat is almost 3,000 feet in elevation. Of Judaism’s four Holy Cities, Tzfat is the one described as mystical and connected to the element of air, that which is intangible… hidden. It is for this reason that 500 years ago Tzfat attracted mystics and rabbis, and built breathtaking synagogues which we will explore. In recent years Tzfat’s beauty has attracted artists from all over who have opened their galleries to the public, making Tzfat a highlight of any trip to Israel.
Har Bental Viewpoint and Bunkers
We will climb up a dormant volcano to a height of 1,260 feet above sea level to take in a breathtaking 360 degree view of the Golan Heights. From this former Israeli defensive position we can look down into Syria and on a clear day even see the approaches to Damascus only 45 miles away. We can also climb through the decommissioned bunker and trenches of the IDF.
Golan Heights Winery & Wine Tasting
Just over 30 years ago a revolution took place in Israel… A wine revolution! Although Israel was famous in the ancient world for its extraordinary wines, the trade seemed to die with the withering of the Land of Israel throughout the long Jewish exile. Today Israel exports nearly 30 million dollars worth of wine and has been winning awards throughout the world!
The Golan Heights Winery led the charge in the rebirth of the Israeli wine industry. As the country’s third largest winery and producing over 6 million bottles annually, the Golan Heights Winery was named World Winery of the Year in 2012 by Wine Enthusiast Magazine.
Sleep Galilee
Day Six
Tiberias & Sea of Galilee
Resting on the Lake Kinneret and one of the four Holy Cities of Judaism, Tiberias is a 2,000 year old city both home to a vibrant Jewish community and the resting place of great rabbis. Besides the stunning views of the Golan Heights and upper Galilee, we will learn about Rabbi Akiva and Maimonides as Jewish history comes alive beneath our feet.
Gan Hashlosha
Gan Hashlosha, or the Sachne as the locals call it, was listed by Time magazine as one of the most beautiful places in Israel and one of the top 20 exotic places in the world. This natural thermal spring has a year-round water temperature of 82 degrees. These pools are a welcome relief to the temperature outside, whether it be hot or cold, swimming in this paradise is enjoyable year round.
Kasr Al Yahud – Jordan River
Nearly 3,400 years ago in this very place, the Children of Israel crossed over from the desert into the Land of Israel. Though the Jordan River is no longer split, only a few dozen feet away lies the modern country of Jordan. Just over the water, one can envision Elijah the Prophet’s transcendental ascent from this world. Kasr al Yahud was opened to the public in 2011 just across from Jericho on the lush banks of Israel’s longest river, the Jordan.
Welcome to Jerusalem – Mount Scopus viewpoint
The rabbis of theTalmud state that Jerusalem is the highest place in the world because everyone “ascends” to Jerusalem. The spiritual plateau of the world is here in this most famous and yearned after city. As we enter Jerusalem we will breathe in her beauty from the Mount Scopus Viewpoint and recall the words of the sages that one “doesn’t come to Jerusalem, rather they return to Jerusalem.”
Night Recommendation – Shabbat at the Western Wall
Friday night is a special time to be in Jerusalem. As the day ends a new day begins – Shabbat. The Kotel in Jerusalem becomes a unifying place for the Jews as holiness of time and place intertwine. Soldiers and Hassids, tourists and locals, dance arm in arm to welcome the Jewish Sabbath with song and joy. This celebration has no parallel in the world and should not be missed.
Sleep Jerusalem
Day Seven
Four Quarters Walking Tour
From the Hotel we will ascend on foot to the Old City Via the Jaffa Gate, passing through Jerusalem’s oldest and most picturesque neighborhood outside the Old City’s walls, Yemin Moshe. Besides being Judaism’s holiest city, it is a holy city to both Christianity and Islam. Today Jerusalem has four distinct areas colloquially called “the four quarters, the Jewish Quarter, Christian Quarter, Muslim Quarter, and Armenian Quarter. Together we will explore the hidden gems of this holy city, climb the rooftops, wander her alleys, and unlock her secrets.
Evening activity – Western Wall Tunnels
The Kotel Plaza today has an exposed section of 57 meters out of 488 meters of wall! Underneath the Muslim Quarter of today is the excavated sections of the Western Wall which were once open to the sky. Although the average stone in the wall is only 2-3 tons, we will see the largest stone that weighed a whopping 570 tons, making it one of the largest hewn stones in the world.
Sleep Jerusalem
Day Eight
Tower of David Museum
Immerse yourself in the rich history of Jerusalem at the Tower of David Museum. Located within the ancient citadel, this captivating museum offers a journey through time, exploring the city’s diverse cultural heritage. From interactive exhibits to panoramic views of Jerusalem’s skyline, discover the layers of civilization that have shaped this remarkable city for thousands of years.
City of David
Just outside of the Old City we will explore the ancient city where King David held his capital. Ir David, or the “City of David” as it is known in English, is the actual location of the biblical city of Jerusalem captured by King David over 3,000 years ago. Highlights include entering the secret tunnel leading to the Gihon Spring, walking through Hezekiah’s water tunnel, the Olei Regalim street from the Shiloach Pool up to “Wall Street” the ancient financial district and shopping area.
Southern Wall Excavations
At the Southwest corner of the Temple Mount lies the excavated ruins of the Second Temple Period, downtown Jerusalem from 2,000 years ago! From here we will be able to recreate in our mind’s eye the sights and sounds of a bustling marketplace filled with priests and prophets, rabbis and pilgrims. The archeological gardens are littered with the treasures of the Jewel in the Crown of Jerusalem…the Holy Temple.
Jewish Quarter
The Jewish Quarter has been home to Jews almost continuously for 2,700 years! Home today to nearly 3,300 residents it combines history, religion, and archeology as well as shops and restaurants, yeshivas and synagogues. Although there is a modern neighborhood on top of these ancient ruins, the stones come to life and whisper the prophecy of Zachariah that “there will once again sit old men and women in the squares of Jerusalem, and the streets will be filled with playing children.”
The Kotel – Western Wall
If Jerusalem is the heart of the Jewish People then the Temple Mount and its western retaining wall are its soul. After the Temple’s destruction in the year 70 CE, the Western Wall or Kotel, is one of its last remaining walls. Today we only see a fraction of it exposed, yet it spans over a quarter of a mile and once stood, 20 stories high! Although made of limestone, local tradition holds that it is made of the tears and prayers of 2,000 years of Jews yearning for “Next year in Jerusalem.” According to Jewish thought this is the holiest place on earth and the entryway to the spiritual world.
Sleep Jerusalem
Day Nine
Masada
Masada stands as a powerful reminder of Jewish resilience and strength. Built by King Herod in 30 BCE atop a rugged desert plateau, its cliffs and towering walls made it a near impenetrable stronghold above the Dead Sea. Decades later, it became the final refuge for Jewish rebels fighting against the Roman Empire. Their last stand has come to symbolize unwavering courage, with Masada forever embodying the pledge that “Masada shall not fall again,” a promise of endurance and defiance that echoes through generations.
Ein Gedi National Park
We will visit this desert oasis where King David hid from his enemy Saul as recounted in the Bible in the Book of Samuel. Here we can do easy to difficult hikes through the beautiful Judean Desert, periodically stopping to dip in the cold water springs, and cool off under the waterfalls. It’s not uncommon while hiking in this nature reserve to see wild ibex drinking from the stream, hyraxes climbing the trees, or eagles soaring overhead.
Dead Sea float
Have you ever wondered what it feels like to be weightless? Here in the lowest place on earth we have the saltiest lake in the world. The water is so dense it’s impossible to sink. The waters of the Dead Sea have been known throughout antiquity to have healing qualities, and a day at the Dead Sea has the power to rejuvenate the skin. The hypersalinity and high mineral content have been shown to be therapeutic for arthritis, psoriasis, eczema, much much more.
Sleep Jerusalem
Day Ten
Yad Vashem – Israel’s Holocaust Memorial
Yad Vashem was founded in 1953 as Israel’s central holocaust memorial and museum. It’s for this reason that, after the Kotel, it is Israel’s most visited site. It is here where visitors will hear the story and the meaning of the holocaust within the greater story of the people of Israel and the Land of Israel. All political delegations that come to Israel must come to Yad Vashem to see for themselves what can happen when the Jews don’t have a place to call home.
Mount Hertzl National Cemetery
Perched on one of the highest hills in western Jerusalem is our country’s national cemetery. Buried at the peak, is the namesake of the mountain, Theodore Hertzl, the founder of modern Zionism. Flanking Hertzl are Presidents and Prime Ministers, on a foundation of our boys…IDF soldiers who have fallen in battle. No nation is given its land on a silver platter; those who sacrificed their lives are here as a monument to the struggle for our homeland.
Knesset
Israel’s Knesset or parliament is made of 120 elected lawmakers who toil day and night for the State of Israel. We will stop by the outside of the building where we can see the Menorah, the symbol of the State of Israel. This menorah was made in 1966 and is an amazing work of art composed of 30 relief engravings creating a visual textbook of the History of the Jewish People.
Machane Yehuda Shuk – Jerusalem Market
There are no words to accurately describe the “shuk”…one must immerse themselves in the sights, smells, and above all, tastes of Jerusalem’s largest outdoor food market. It teems with locals and tourists alike, and is a meeting place for the Jerusalmites from all over. Make sure to taste the chalva, techina, the famous marzipan rugalach, and get a fresh Juice from Uzi.
Sleep Jerusalem
Day Eleven
Latrun Tank Museum
Latrun has controlled a strategic intersection from time immemorial. It has seen the armies of Joshua, the Maccabees, Romans, Egyptians, Byzanitnes, Persians, and more. Most recently it saw two major battles between Israel and Jordan in 1948 and 1967. It is the main memorial for the IDFs Armored Corp and tank museum. We will see and crawl all over tanks and armored vehicles from the State of Israel’s history hearing and hear stories about them and the wars in which they fought.
Khan Shaar HaGai Battle Museum
In 1948 when Israel was fighting for its independence, Jerusalem with one sixth of the Jewish population of Israel living was under intense siege. The battle for the soul of Israel – our eternal capital – was raging and it seemed as though Jerusalem might have been lost. At the Shaar HaGai museum we will learn about the battle for the roads, and the challenges our soldiers had when trying to capture Jerusalem. After coming here and seeing the armored cars that fought in the battles, and hearing the personal stories of the soldiers, we can truly appreciate our modern and eternal capital city.
Plant a Tree
One of the best ways to connect with the Land of Israel is to set your own roots here. The Jews have planted more than 250 million trees in Israel in the last 100+ years literally making the deserts bloom with life. This is our way of tikkun olam, making the world a better place. Planting trees in Israel is so important that it says in the talmud Rabbi Shimon Bar Yochai said “If while holding a sapling in your hand you are told that the Messiah is about to arrive, first plant the sapling and then go out to receive the Messiah.”
Beit Guvrin National Park
Beit Guvrin or Maresha as it’s known in the bible, is the land of 5,000 caves. Maresha was the hometown of the biblical prophet Michah and has a 3,000 year history, as well as having been conquered and destroyed numerous times. The city sat on hills of soft chalk which the ancients quarried under their homes for building material resulting in an unbelievable underground systems of caves, and tunnels. We will get to explore these underground caves that haven’t been seen for 2,100 years, as well as perhaps seeing the famous bell caves, columbarium, and amphitheater of the Roman city.
Legends Distillery
Let’s experience the allure of Legends Distillery in Beit Shemesh, Israel’s pioneer American-style Whiskey distillery. We will embark on a captivating tour that unveils the artistry behind crafting exceptional spirits, followed by a tasting journey that lets you savor the rich flavors of their meticulously distilled creations. Discover the fusion of tradition and innovation at Legends Distillery, a testament to Israel’s burgeoning presence in the world of fine whiskey.
Sleep Jerusalem
Day Twelve
VIP Transfer and Departure
In Israel we don’t say goodbye we say l’hitraot…that means “see you later”.
A representative of our company will meet you and check you in for your flight, and streamline your departure. Looking forward to next time!
