Jewish State 10 Day Tour
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Past to the Future The Highlights of the Jewish State 10 nights
Day 1 – Thursday, Arrival
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
Day 2 – Friday, Tel Aviv tour
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 will see 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. The next stop will be Jaffa, the world’s oldest port city, for a view of the old city and its well known artist’s colony. To end our day, you will 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! Overnight: Tel Aviv
Day 3 – Saturday, Free time
Day at leisure in Tel Aviv – Overnight: Tel Aviv
Day 4 – Sunday, Travel to the North
After breakfast, we check out of the hotel and drive 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 house of Haim Weizmann, the first president of Israel. We will then continue on to Zichron Yaacov for a stroll through the historical streets of one of the earliest settlements from Israel’s first immigration period, followed by a visit to the Carmel Mizrahi Winery for a wine tasting tour. We will then drive to Daliat El-Karmel, a Druze village located on top of Mount Carmel, to learn about the unique Druze community and enjoy free time for an authentic Druze lunch (on own account). Finally, we are on to Haifa with a stop at the Louis Promenade for a great view of the Haifa Bay and the beautiful Baha’i Gardens. Overnight: Haifa
Day 5 – Monday, Tzfat and the Galilee
Check out after an Israeli breakfast in the hotel. Our journey will begin with a short visit to Tiberias, a city located on the shores of Lake Kinneret and a significant spiritual center during the Mishna and Talmudic periods. Continue on to 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 will meet a Kabala artist and learn about his special techniques and context. We will drive 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 but today boasts a small town known for great restaurants, cafés and art galleries. In the afternoon, we will drive over to 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
Day 6 – Tuesday, Adventure Day
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 to the Golan Heights to visit Mount Bental, a beautiful spot for a panoramic view of the Upper Galilee, the Golan Heights and Syria. We will then continue on to 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. Then we will finish the first half of the day with a visit to The Golan Olive Oil Mill and Visitor Center. As we walk through this uniquely-designed building with ancient ambience, our guide will explain the olive oil production process, including the evolution from antique tools to modern machinery. 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 the most suitable ones for your party. Some options include: biking or hiking tour, rappelling, kayaks or even 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
Day 7 – Wednesday, Travel to Jerusalem
Check out from 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. Then, we will 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, running water and a combination of sounds and colors. 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 will stop at Mt. Scopus upon arrival in Jerusalem for a magnificent view of the city and a brief explanation about the capital’s past and future. Overnight: Jerusalem
Day 8 – Thursday*, Old City of 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 tunnels (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!
After dinner at the hotel, we’ll listen to a fascinating lecture entitled “Behind the Scenes” about Israel’s current events including recent highlights and future plans. Overnight: Jerusalem
Day 9 – Friday, Jerusalem’s New City
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 will 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. Drive to the Western Wall to participate in meaningful Kabbalat Shabbat services as the Jewish Sabbath descends over Jerusalem. Overnight: Jerusalem
Day 10 – Saturday, Free
Day at leisure in Jerusalem – or an optional tour to Masada and the Dead Sea. Evening Option: Enjoy a breathtaking night tour of the Old City, including a light and sound show combined with 3D slides projected onto the great wall. This 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
Day 11 – Sunday, Departure
Check out of the hotel following breakfast. Transfer to Ben Gurion Airport for the flight home.
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