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WEDNESDAY
Upon arrival to Ben Gurion Airport, you will
be met by the local representative in the “Baggage Claim” area, just past the
“Passport Control” counters. You will be assisted to the driver who will
transfer you to your hotel in Tel Aviv. Enjoy the remainder of the day at
leisure in Tel Aviv.
Overnight
Tel Aviv
THURSDAY
INDEPENDENCE HALL-MINI ISRAEL-LATRUN-YAD MORDECHAI
Start the day with a visit to the
Independence Hall, which was the setting of the historic declaration that
brought the State of Israel into being. Next, drive to Latrun to visit the new
“Mini Israel” park including miniature models of the most important sites and
buildings in the country. Continue to visit the Ayalon Institute, once an
ammunition factory for the Haganah, the underground movement before May 1948.
Proceed to Yad Mordechai, named after Mordechai Anilevitz, the leader of the
Warsaw Ghetto. Visit the restored battlefields of the war of liberation and
learn about their heroic story.
Overnight
Tel Aviv
FRIDAY
TEL AVIV
Visit the Museum of the Jewish Diaspora at
the Tel Aviv University, which depicts more than 2000 years of Jewish life in
the Diaspora. Drive then through the main streets of Tel Aviv, Israel's center
of business and entertainment. Stop at Rabin Square, and pay your respects
to the former Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, who was assasinated there in 1995.
Continue to Old Jaffa, where you would visit the ancient ruins, walk along the
winding streets, visit some galleries and enjoy the view from the promenade.
Next is Neve Tzedek, the first neighborhood of Tel Aviv, built in 1909 and
recently restored. Also visit Nahalat Benyamin, the pedestrian street of the
city with its musicians, hand-made jewelry and artifacts. Before returning to
your hotel, stop at Sheinkin, the lively and colorful street especially known
for its unique shops, café life and youthful ambiance.
Overnight
Tel Aviv
SATURDAY
Enjoy
a day at leisure in Tel Aviv. You might want
to stroll by the Mediterranean beach,
visit Jaffa, or the newly restored old Tel Aviv port, or just relax by
the
hotel’s swimming pool.
Overnight
Tel
Aviv
SUNDAY
CAESAREA-HAIFA-AKKO-ROSH
HANIKRA-KIBBUTZ
Travel
through the Sharon Plain to Caesarea, once
the Roman capital of the country; see the excavations of the Roman
statues, the
aqueduct and the Roman theater, which has been restored to its former
glory as
a concert venue. Proceed to Haifa and to the summit of Mount Carmel,
for a
panoramic view of Haifa Bay and the Western Galilee. View the Bahai
Temple,
with its golden dome and the exotic Persian gardens. Visit then the
Clandestine
Immigration and Naval Museum, “AF AL PI CHEN”. Its exhibitions
tell the story of the efforts to bring Jewish immigrants to Israel from
war-thorn Europe. Drive to Acre and walk along the old harbor and the
local
market. Continue to the northernmost point of Israel, Rosh Hanikra. Ascend
to the top of the
cliffs overlooking the Mediterranean and descend by
cable car into the limestone Grottos. Continue then to Kibbutz Lavi,
just in
time for dinner.
Overnight
Kibbutz
MONDAY
SAFED-JEEP
RIDE-GOLAN HEIGHTS
Travel
to Safed, the mystic city in the Upper
Galilee. Visit two of its beautiful ancient synagogues, Joseph Caro and
Ha’Ari,
and the artists' colony. On to the Golan Heights, stopping for an
exiting jeep
ride in the area. View the former Syrian fortifications and stop
at Tel Facher, a former Syrian army camp. Proceed to
Tel Dan Nature reserve and then hike to the Banias Waterfall. Continue
on to the Tel Chai Museum and the nearby Roaring Lion—a monument
dedicated to
the brave fighters who tried to hold off invading Arab forces. Return
then to Kibbutz Lavi, just in time
for dinner.
Overnight
Kibbutz
TUESDAY
TIBERIAS-BEIT
SHEAN-BEIT ALPHA-SACHNE-JERUSALEM
Start
the day with a visit to the Rambam Grave in
Tiberias. Travel then to Beit Shean and
see the new excavations, the exciting new Tel uncovered recently and
the
ancient Roman Amphitheater. Drive to Beit Alpha, where a
most beautiful
Byzantine synagogue mosaic floor is displayed. On to Gan
Hashlosha, (Sachne) where you will have an opportunity to enjoy the
water
springs located at the foot of the Gilboa Mountain, the famous mountain
where
King Saul was killed in the battle against the Philistines. Proceed
along the Jordan Valley
onto Jerusalem. Before checking into your hotel, stop
at Mount Scopus for a blessing as you enter the city.
Overnight
Jerusalem
WEDNESDAY
JERUSALEM OLD CITY
Visit
the traditional Tomb of King David on Mount
Zion. Enter the Old City and walk along the ancient Roman road – the
Cardo. Visit
the four Sephardic synagogues in the Jewish quarter, all beautifully
restored
after the Six Days War. Walk to the Western Wall and view
the Temple Mount with the Dome of the
Rock Mosque, which marks the site of the Temple. Visit the underground
tunnels,
which take you through Jerusalem's ancient civilization. Also visit the
Davidson
Center, where you could see a
real-time virtual
reality reconstruction of the Herodian Temple Mount as it stood prior
to its
destruction by Roman troops in the year 70 AD.
Walk through the Cardo to the local
Arab
bazaar. Proceed then to the Tower
of David Museum, which tells the city’s
5,000-year-old history through visual and audiovisual aids, including
models,
maps, holograms and videos.
Overnight
Jerusalem
THURSDAY
JERUSALEM NEW
CITY
Drive
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. Continue
to the Israel Museum; visit the Shrine of the
Book, where the Dead Sea scrolls are housed. Also
view the scale model of Jerusalem as it was during the Second
Temple period. Drive to Mount Herzl, the military
cemetery.
Continue to Yad Vashem, a memorial to the Holocaust, and visit the
museum. End
today’s sightseeing with a visit to the Ammunition Hill. This is
a former Jordanian army stronghold that was conquered by the Israeli
army in
the Six Days War and later converted into a national memorial site and
museum.
Overnight
Jerusalem
FRIDAY
DEAD
SEA-QUMRAN-MASSADA
Drive
through the Judean Desert to the Dead Sea, the
lowest spot on the surface of the globe. Stop at Qumran and visit the
caves
where the Dead Sea scrolls were discovered by desert Bedouins. Proceed
along
the Dead Sea to Massada, the site of the most dramatic act in the
Jewish
history. Ascend by cable car and tour the mount; see the excavations,
enjoy the
view of the wilderness. Descend by cable car. Next stop is
for lunch and Spa facilities at one of the leading hotels in the area.
You would have an
opportunity to float on the Dead Sea, before returning to Jerusalem, in
time
for the Shabbat dinner at the hotel.
Overnight Jerusalem
SATURDAY
Enjoy
a day at leisure in Jerusalem. A visit to one
of the museums might be interesting or just strolling and soaking in
the
atmosphere of this beautiful city on Shabbat may be just enjoyable.
Overnight
Jerusalem
SUNDAY
TIMNA-EILAT-UNDERWATER
OBSERVATORY
Drive
to Timna,
to see the copper mines and King Solomon’s Pillars and marvel at the
huge
multi-colored rock formations. Continue to Eilat and visit the
Underwater
Observatory, one of the largest seaquariums in the world, built into a
coral
reef. Check into your hotel.
Overnight
Eilat
MONDAY
Day
at leisure in
Eilat OR
Optional
tour to Petra.
Overnight
Eilat
TUESDAY
MITZPEH
RAMON-SDE
BOKER-MAMSHIT-AIR FORCE MUSEUM-TEL AVIV
Leave
Eilat and
stop at Mitzpeh Ramon to gaze into the Ramon Crater, a geological
wonder. Continue
northward, visiting Kibbutz Sde
Boker, where you will see Ben Gurion’s Hut and grave, overlooking the
magnificent Zin Valley. Drive to Mamshit for a camel riding experience
and
visit to an authentic Bedouin tent. Learn about the Bedouin
hospitality and enjoy a light lunch. Next stop is to visit Israel’s Air
Force
Museum near Beer Sheva, to view the planes and the equipment and to
hear the
story of this brave fighting force. Drive then back
to Tel Aviv and check into your hotel.
Overnight
Tel Aviv
WEDNESDAY
Your driver will meet you next
to your hotel’s front
desk and you will be transferred to Ben Gurion Airport, for your
departure
flight.
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