Day One
Tuesday – Bruchim Ha’Baim, VIP Arrival and Hotel Transfer
Welcome to Israel – VIP Arrival and Transfer
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 who will bring you to your apartment.
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 2,000 years ago, the Western Wall or kotel is one of its last remaining walls. Although it’s 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 the Temple Mount is the holiest place on earth and the entryway to the spiritual world.
Sleep Jerusalem
Day Two
Wednesday – Jerusalem
Ramparts Walk
We will walk from the Jaffa Gate on top of the old city’s walls recounting the words of King David,
סֹ֣בּוּ צִ֖יּוֹן וְהַקִּיפ֑וּהָ סִ֜פְר֗וּ מִגְדָּלֶֽיהָ שִׁ֚יתוּ לִבְּכֶ֨ם לְֽחֵילָ֗ה פַּסְּג֥וּ אַרְמְנוֹתֶ֑יהָ לְמַ֥עַן תְּ֜סַפְּר֗וּ לְד֣וֹר אַֽחֲרֽוֹן
“Walk about Zion and encompass her, count her towers. Mark well in your hearts her ramparts, raise up her palaces, that you may tell it to subsequent generations.”
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 Breichat Hashiloach up to “Wall Street” the ancient financial district and shopping area & Shaarei Chulda.
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 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.”
Sleep Jerusalem
Day Three
Thursday – Masada & Dead Sea,
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, and much, much more.
Sleep Jerusalem
Day Four
Friday – Jerusalem New City
Temple Mount Sifting Project
In 1999 a new giant staircase was illegally dug into the Temple Mount, destroying tons of archeological remains. 400 truckloads of unsifted archeological debris spanning thousands of years from Judaism’s holiest mountain were dumped like garbage into the Kidron Valley. At this unique site we will get the chance to be amateur archeologists sifting through the debris of Har Habayit! In 15 years nearly ¾ of the debris has been sifted and sorted giving us a greater understanding of the Temple mount in Jerusalem. There are few things as meaningful as finding the remains of the Beit Hamikdash with your own hands.
Ammunition Hill Battle Site
On the night of June 6th 1967, a pinnacle four-hour battle took place here at Ammunition Hill in which 36 IDF soldiers lost their lives. This battle was the turning point in the Six Day War that led to the redemption of the Old City and saw the return of the Western Wall and the Temple Mount to Jewish hands. Here we will tell the stories of the heroes of Jerusalem, run through the trenches in which they fought, and even climb on tanks as we relive one of the most glorious days in modern Jewish History…the unification of our capital.
Mount Hertzl National Cemetery
Perched on one of the highest hills in western Jerusalem, is our country’s national cemetery. Buried at the peak of this hill, 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.
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 has become 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 Five
Shabbat – Shabbat Shalom (Free Day)
Shabbat Rest – time to re-JEW-venate
Take a day to recover from a hectic week of travel and touring. As the State of Israel takes a rest, why not take this opportunity to visit one of Jerusalem’s hundreds of synagogues, lay out by the pool, or stroll through one of the many parks Jerusalem has to offer.
Evening suggestion – Ben Yehuda Street
Experience the vibrant pulse of Jerusalem on Motzei Shabbat as you leisurely stroll along Ben Yehuda Street. Lit by the warm glow of streetlights, the lively atmosphere invites you to explore the chachka shops, enjoy a shawarma, and immerse yourself in the unique blend of modernity and tradition that defines this iconic avenue. Let the post-Shabbat energy envelop you in the heart of the city.
Sleep Jerusalem
Day Six
Sunday – Shomron
Shiloh
In the center of the hill country of Ephraim was discovered the first capital of Israel, from over 3,000 years ago! Walking through the excavations of Tel Shiloh is like walking through a time machine back to the period of the Judges when Eli HaKohen was high priest and the navi Shmuel was just a lad. Here the Mishkan stood for 369 years as the spiritual center of Am Yisrael and the resting place of the shekhina. One can almost smell the Ketoret as we stand at the entrance to the Mishkan where the righteous Chana taught us the proper way to Daven.
ATVs in Nachal Shiloh
Every four amot in Eretz Yisrael is a mitzvah, and what quicker way to rack up the mitzvot than on all terrain vehicles? We will take ATVs through Nachal Shiloh which is unsurpassed in beauty, especially in the winter season when the nachal flows and everything is green. As we pass the vineyards we will recall the words of Jeremiah the prophet עוֹד תִּטְּעִי כְרָמִים, בְּהָרֵי שֹׁמְרוֹן; נָטְעוּ נֹטְעִים
“Once again you will plant vineyards upon the mountains of Samaria; You will plant and redeem.”
Genesis Land – Camel Ride, Abraham’s Tent Hospitality & Dinner
We will go back in time 3,800 years and leave our four wheeled vehicle for one of the four legged variety. Our camels will transport us back to the tent of the Patriarchs – Avraham and Sara. We will learn about hachnasat orchim (hospitality) and bake our own pita bread. As the day ends sets we will enjoy a meal fit for kings and queens served by Avraham Avinu himself and take in the glory of the setting sun over the mountains of Moav.
Sleep Jerusalem
Day Seven
Monday – Mediterranean Coast
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.
Neve Michael Children’s Home (Including Lunch With the Children)
For over the last 75 years Neve Michael has been providing a safe haven for children ages 5-15 who have been removed from their homes by the Israel’s social welfare department due to abuse by their caretakers. Every child deserves a home full of warmth and love, and at Neve Michael this is their core mission. We will see their seven acre campus, tour the school, and see a family home. The highlight is sharing lunch with the children in the dining room and showing our solidarity.
Haifa Bahai Gardens
Over half a million visitors from around the world flock to Haifa to see the World famous Bahai Gardens covering some 200,000 square meters cascading down 19 different terraces. Besides being a holy place for the Bahai, it is also the burial site for the Bab, the founder of the Bahai faith. It offers one of the most stunning views of Haifa from the Carmel Mountains.
Rosh Hanikra Grottos & Cable Car
On Israel’s northern border with Lebanon sits one of the most magnificent natural phenomenon 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 North
Day Eight
Tuesday – Galilee & Golan
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.
De Karina Chocolate Factory & Workshop
Karina & Gyora Chepelinski made aliyah in 2003 and brought with them a three generations old trade. The Chocolatiers have made the Golan Heights bloom with their family chocolate recipes. We will tour this one of a kind boutique chocolate factory, situated in picturesque Kibbutz Ein Zivan less than a mile from the Syria/Israel border . Besides seeing the factory floor, and tasting the delicious treats, we will get our hands dirty making our own truffles in a one of a kind workshop.
IDF Bunker Challenge
Capt. Yaakov Selavan will take us on an exciting field adventure in the footsteps of the 188th brigades holding back the advancing Syrian army during the 1973 Yom Kippur War. We will descend into the darkness of Tel Saki and work together to turn our fears into strengths as we connect the experiences of IDF soldiers to our own Jewish identity.
Sleep North
Day Nine
Wednesday – Jordan Valley
Gan-Garoo Australia Park
Israel welcomes olim hadashim (new immigrants) from all over the world, but we are thrilled when they are this cute. Gan-garoo was established over 30 years ago, and is a one-of-a-kind attraction in Israel where we can get up close and personal with some of the cutest animals in the world…kangaroos. The only thing that beats taking a selfie with a kangaroo is feeding baby kangaroos from your hand. There is also a goat petting zoo and a miniature zoo filled with Australian flora and fauna.
Gan Hashlosha Swim
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, and swimming in this paradise is enjoyable year round.
Kasr Al Yahud – Jordan River
It was here that nearly 3,400 years ago the Bnai Yisroel crossed over from the Midbar into Eretz Yisrael finally coming home after 40 years in the desert. The Jordan is no longer split, yet it’s only a few dozen feet to the other side as well as the modern border between Israel & Jordan. One can envision Eliyahu HaNavi’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 the Talmud 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.”
Sleep Jerusalem
Day Ten
Thursday – Gush Etzion
Caliber 3 Anti-terrorism Training
Established in 2003 by Colonel Sharon Gat, Caliber 3 has since become the leading counter terror and security training academy in Israel. The training includes a simulation of a terror attack in a Jerusalem marketplace, a demonstration with attack dogs, and a live fire sniper tournament. This activity is the closest one can come to being part of an elite counterterrorism team but still remain a civilian.
Gush Etzion Zipline
Get ready for the thrill of a lifetime! At a quarter of a mile long and more than 350 feet high, the Gush Etzion Zipline is the longest zipline in Israel. More amazing than the thrill of speeding over valleys and trees are the stunning views out into the Judean hills.
Gush Etzion ATVs
It says that every 4 amos (six feet) that one travels in Israel is a mitzvah…some places are just too hard to reach though. Until now! We will travel through the heartland of the Judean mountains on four-wheel drive vehicles, traversing rocky terrain and getting to those hard to reach spots of Eretz Yisrael We will see springs, and ancient roads, excavated waystations of the oleh regel (pilgrims coming to the temple) on the main Jerusalem road where our forebearers once tread.
Herodion National Park
2,000 years ago atop a mountain on the edge of the Judean Desert, at the site where he wanted to be buried, King Herod built a summer palace par excellance. Atop this artificial mountain sits an architectural marvel that still inspires wonder today.
We will see the recently excavated and reconstructed site of King Herod’s grave, as well as his private palace and theater. In two successive wars with the Romans, Jewish rebels commandeered this site and dug escape tunnels as well as a synagogue which stood at the same time as the Second Temple, making it one of the oldest synagogues in the world!
Sleep Jerusalem
Day Eleven
Friday – Judean Lowlands
Dig For a Day
At Beit Guvrin/Maresha, the land of 5,000 caves, we will take part in a modern archaeological excavation. Maresha was the hometown of the prophet Michah and has a 3,000 year history, as well as having been conquered and destroyed numerous times.
Dig For a Day is a unique opportunity to get your hands dirty with the past by participating in an active archaeological dig searching for lost treasure and exploring underground caves that haven’t been seen for 2,100 years.
Bar Kochva Tunnels
Almost 1,900 years ago the soldiers of Bar Kochva fought a guerrilla war against the Roman Empire. The ruins of a town from that period were discovered here with escape tunnels running underneath the ruins that we will explore on our hands and knees. This is not for the claustrophobic! You must bring flashlights and clothes that you don’t mind getting dirty.
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 Jerusalemites from all over. Make sure to taste the chalva, techina, the famous marzipan rugalach, and get a fresh Juice from Uzi.
Sleep Jerusalem
Day Twelve
Shabbat January 25 – Gut Shabbos, (Free Day)
Shabbat Rest
Take a day to recover from a hectic week of travel and touring. As the Holy City takes a rest let’s take this opportunity to visit one of Jerusalem’s hundreds of synagogues, stroll through one of the many parks Jerusalem has to offer, or just rest up and recover from our touring.
Sleep Jerusalem
Day Thirteen
Sunday January 26 – Jerusalem New City
Knesset – Israel’s Parliament
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 comprised of 30 relief engravings creating a visual textbook of the History of the Jewish People.
Pantry Packers
The root of the Hebrew word ahava is hav which means giving, thus to love is to give. This is our chance to give to those less fortunate than us. Pantry Packers is part of an initiative of feeding the hungry in Israel regardless of religion, ethnicity, or nationality. Besides wholesale supermarkets, soup kitchens, meals- on-wheels etc. at their warehouse in Jerusalem, volunteers pack boxes of dried goods to be shipped all over the country. Nothing is more rewarding than giving back and giving tzedakah to those in need.
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.
Sleep Jerusalem
Day Fourteen
Monday January 27 – L’Hitraot, VIP Departure and Airport Transfer
VIP Transfer and Departure
In Israel we dont say goodbye we say l’hitraot…that means “see you later.”
A representative of our company will bring you to Ben Gurion Airport and streamline your flight check-in and departure. Looking forward to next time!
