Past to the Future – The Highlights of the Jewish State

Our representative will meet you after passport control upon your arrival to Ben Gurion Airport, assisting as you pick up your luggage and head out for the transfer to your hotel. Check in at the hotel in Tel Aviv. Overnight: Tel Aviv

Our first day of touring will begin immediately after breakfast. An interesting walking tour of Tel Aviv and Jaffa is ahead of us. We will start on Rothschild Boulevard, where we’ll explore Tel Aviv’s beautiful Bauhaus style architecture, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Amongst the buildings will be the newly renovated Independence Hall, the site commemorating the declaration of the founding of the state of Israel on the 14th of May 1948. We will continue on to Neve Tzedek, Tel Aviv’s very first neighborhood and then enjoy free time at one of Tel Aviv’s busiest areas on Friday afternoons, the Nahalat Binyamin Crafts Fair and Carmel Outdoor Market – for great sounds, smells and of course, great shopping! End the day at Jaffa, the world’s oldest port city, for a view of the old city and its well-known artist’s colony. Overnight: Tel Aviv

Day at leisure in Tel Aviv. Overnight: Tel Aviv

After breakfast, we check out of the hotel and drive south to Rehovot. Our first stop will be at the Weizmann Institute which played a key role in the development of the state. We will enjoy the new, amazing presentation of high technology and see the mansion of Chaim Weizmann, the first president of Israel. We will then continue to Caesarea, built over 2000 years ago by King Herod the Great, which served as a key Mediterranean port for centuries. Hear about Caesarea’s role in Jewish history, including its part in the Great Revolt of AD66, and interact with three-dimensional historical figures that come to life using cutting-edge technology. Onwards to the Carmel Mountain range to visit Zichron Yaacov for a stroll through the historic streets of one of the earliest settlements from Israel’s first immigration period. Then visit the Atlit Detainee Camp and learn the heroic story of the struggle of Jewish immigrants at this detention centre established by the authorities of the British Mandate in the 1930s. Finally, we are on to Haifa – Israel’s major port city, with a stop at the Louis Promenade for a great view of Haifa Bay and the beautiful Baha’i Gardens. Overnight: Haifa

Check out after an Israeli breakfast in the hotel. Our journey will begin with a drive through the mountain ranges and valleys which extend from the west to the east of the Galilee region. Visit a Galilee Winery for an Israeli wine-tasting tour and get an up close and personal view of the wine production process. We will continue to Rosh Pina, originally founded in 1878 by a group of ultra-orthodox Jews intending to become farmers, with the support of Baron Edmund de Rothschild. Rosh Pina is one of Israel’s oldest colonies and today boasts a small town known for great restaurants, cafés and art galleries. We’ll drive up to Safed (Tzfat), where we will walk through ancient sections of the city and hear stories of the Kabbalists and their ancient synagogues. Our Tzfat tour will end with a visit to its famous artists’ colony where we’ll meet a Kabala artist and learn about his special techniques and content. In the afternoon, we will visit the beautiful Hula Valley, Israel’s first Nature Reserve. The HaHula Tourism Complex is located at the center of the Hula Valley and is considered to be one of the world’s most important centers for bird watching and ornithology. Overnight: Kibbutz hotel

This touring day will give you an opportunity to enjoy the north of Israel in a unique and exciting way. We will start our day by driving up into the Golan Heights with a visit to Mount Bental, a beautiful spot for a panoramic view of the Upper Galilee, the Golan Heights, Mount Hermon and Syria. Visit Golan Magic, an entertaining 3-D multi-media adventure viewed on a 180-degree screen. After the film, walk through a giant model of the Golan Heights, the largest of its kind in the world, accompanied by special narration, sound and light effects. We will then visit The Golan Olive Oil Mill and Visitor Center, a uniquely-designed building with ancient ambience, as your guide explains the olive oil production process, including the evolution from antique tools to modern machinery. We will finish the first half of the day at Mitzpe Gadot, which once served as a Syrian base, commanding a spectacular view of the Hula Valley and kibbutzim below. The rest of the day is free! We will be happy to provide you with a list of the options in the area and recommend those most suitable for your party. Some options include: biking or hiking tour, rappelling, kayaks, participating in a gourmet chocolate workshop and so much more. Evening Option (Seasonal) – a lantern tour in either the Valley of the Lost River or Nimrod Fortress. Overnight: Kibbutz hotel

Check out of the hotel and depart for our touring day. Our first stop will be the Tel Hai Museum. This memorial is dedicated to a dramatic battle in 1920 led by Joseph Trumpeldor, a hero known for his national loyalty. Next we will descend to the shores of Lake Kinneret (Sea of Galilee) for a short visit to Tiberias, a city which was a significant spiritual center during the Mishna and Talmudic periods. We will continue south along the Jordan Valley to visit the “Naharayim Experience at Gesher”. Nicknamed the “start-up” of last century, this unusual light and sound show is filled with models demonstrating the dam system. The demonstration shows how the desert transformed into a symbol of – and a vision for – Jewish immigration and industrial development in Israel. Our day will continue with a drive to Jerusalem through the Jordan Valley’s stunning landscape. We’ll stop at Mt. Scopus upon our arrival in Jerusalem for a magnificent view of the city and a brief explanation about the capital’s past and future. Overnight: Jerusalem

After breakfast, we will start our tour through the Old City of Jerusalem. We’ll walk through one of this ancient walled city’s many gates to see the restored Jewish Quarter, the Western Wall (Ha Kotel), the colorful bazaars and the Cardo. Then, we will walk to the City of David for a virtual reality movie about King David’s historical city, and a “wet” walking tour of the ancient water system connecting Warren’s Shaft to the Shiloah tunnel (Hezekiah’s Tunnel). We will continue to the Archaeological Garden and the new Southern Wall excavations (Davidson Center) – the same steps once used by pilgrims entering the Holy Temple. *Thursday is the day many Bar Mitzvah celebrations take place at the Western Wall. During our walk we will meet some of them and get to wish them a MAZAL TOV! Overnight: Jerusalem.

This morning we’ll visit the graves of Israel’s former prime ministers, and soldiers who died in battle, at the Mount Herzl Military Cemetery. We will then continue to the museum at the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial, including the Valley of the Communities. We’ll pass by the Knesset – Israel’s Parliament building, as well as the famous Menorah and the new home of Israel’s Supreme Court. We will visit the Israel Museum to see the Shrine of the Book with a display of Dead Sea Scrolls and visit the model of Jerusalem during the Second Temple period, then continue on for a neighborhood tour around the Mahane Yehuda Market to meet different local ethnic groups and taste some of their cultural foods. We’ll end the day with a drive to the Western Wall to participate in meaningful Kabbalat Shabbat services as the Jewish Sabbath descends over Jerusalem. Overnight: Jerusalem

Evening Option – Enjoy a breathtaking sound & light show at the Tower of David Citadel. The show is highly recommended due to its unique way of depicting the different periods in Jerusalem’s long history. Duration: Around one hour. Overnight: Jerusalem

We will drive south, starting with Masada where we will ascend by cable car to see where Jewish defenders made their last stand against the Romans in AD 73. After a short drive, we will arrive at Ein Gedi Nature Reserve for an easy hike through this natural desert oasis. Next we’ll continue to our hotel by the Dead Sea shore for free time at the hotel spa and a float on the salty waters. Overnight: Dead Sea

Check out after breakfast, and start the day with a tour to explore the wonders of the desert, salt pillars and powder canyons. Continue on to Kibbutz Neot Smadar, founded in 1989 on a shared desire to understand the spirit of cooperation and its expression in daily life. Neot Smadar’s main work divisions are organic farming, small scale organic food production (wines, cheese, olives, jams, nectars, etc.), the Art Center (offering workshops, galleries and a gift shop) and a roadside restaurant. We will continue to marvel at the immense, multi-colored rock formations with a tour of Timna Park, viewing the ancient copper mines and the spectacular King Solomon’s Pillars. Our day will end with a Desert Jeep Safari through the Eilat Mountains to Eilat and check-in at the hotel. Overnight: Eilat

Check out after breakfast, and start the day with a tour to explore the wonders of the desert, salt pillars and powder canyons. Continue on to Kibbutz Neot Smadar, founded in 1989 on a shared desire to understand the spirit of cooperation and its expression in daily life. Neot Smadar’s main work divisions are organic farming, small scale organic food production (wines, cheese, olives, jams, nectars, etc.), the Art Center (offering workshops, galleries and a gift shop) and a roadside restaurant. We will continue to marvel at the immense, multi-colored rock formations with a tour of Timna Park, viewing the ancient copper mines and the spectacular King Solomon’s Pillars. Our day will end with a Desert Jeep Safari through the Eilat Mountains to Eilat and check-in at the hotel. Overnight: Eilat