Classic Israel Tour

•   Yitzhak Rabin Center museum
•   The new Sarona (Templars’ quarter in Tel Aviv)
•   Palmach Museum
•   Tel Aviv art museum
•   Atlit detention camp
•   Yigal Alon museum
•   City of David
•   Western Wall tunnels and much more
•   Ethiopian hospitality including  home cooked lunch
•   Machene Yehuda tasting tour
•   Archeological activity
•   Lunch and spa facilities at a deluxe Spa Dead Sea hotel
•   Dinner at a local Middle Eastern Restaurant
•   Sound & Light show at the Tower of David Jerusalem

Day 1 – Welcome to Israel!  Upon arrival at Ben Gurion airport you will be met and assisted just before passport control by our VIP representative.  After luggage collection transfer to your hotel in Tel Aviv – the city that  never sleeps, and business and financial center of Israel Overnight: Royal Beach hotel, Tel Aviv Day 2- Tel Aviv   Begin the day at the Ayalon Institute where you will visit the authentic site of a secret munitions factory built on the site of a kibbutz. Learn the story of how pre-state Israel illegally manufactured munitions in order to defend itself. Next we will go to ancient Jaffa, where the story of Jonah occurred. We will see the multimedia presentation of the 8,000 year old port town and its history; walk around the restored old city now an artists’ quarter and see the renovated harbor morning. From here we will proceed to Sarona the 140 year old German Templar’s colony which was occupied by the British forces and handed back to the Israelis in 1947; the complex served as the Israel Defense Force’s headquarters for many years. his area has now been restored, preserving the original architecture and converted into a lively pedestrian open air commercial center After lunch we will visit the Tel Aviv Museum of Art, Israel’s largest art museum that displays a wide collection of permanent and temporary exhibits of both local and international artists Our orientation tour of Tel Aviv to include Rabin’s Square – site where the assassination of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin took place in November 1995.   Overnight: Royal Beach hotel, Tel Aviv   Day  3: Tel Aviv   Begin the day with a visit to the Yitzhak Rabin Center – learn about the legacy of the late Prime Minister of Israel and explore the history and the development of the State Next visit is Independence Hall where the establishment of the State of Israel was declared in 1948 headed by Ben Gurion. The hall where the visit takes place is the actual hall where “it all happened”. We will also see the UNESCO World heritage Bauhaus architecture which the city is known for. Walk through Neve Tzedek – the first neighborhood of Tel Aviv established in 1887 when the old walled City of Jaffa became too overcrowded for its residents. While the area has undergone many changes in recent years, it has still managed to retain its charm and beautiful architecture can be seen Continue to the Carmel market (shuk) and experience the vibrant noises, smells and colors End the day at Nahalat Binyamin, Tel Aviv’s twice weekly outdoor crafts market and enjoy some time at leisure.   Overnight: Royal Beach hotel, Tel Aviv   Day 4: At leisure Suggest a visit to the old train station within walking distance of your hotel Overnight: Royal Beach hotel, Tel Aviv   Day 5:  Caesarea and the Northern Coast Depart Tel Aviv and drive via the coastal road to Caesarea, once the Roman capital of the region. Explore the ruins and excavations of the Crusader’s city and the amphitheater which has been restored and used for cultural events during the summer months. Tour the old port and learn about the history through a multi-media presentation Proceed to the Atlit – a national monument. This was used a detention camp during the British mandate that detained the illegal Jewish immigrants Drive through the port town of Haifa, home to the Baha’i Faith – ascend the Carmel and enjoy the panoramic view of the beautifully sculptured Baha’i Gardens the Haifa Bay Visit Acre (Akko) one of the ancient port cities in Israel, declared by UNESXO as a world heritage site. Hear about the history of this city through its unique buildings, fortresses and intact fortifications. Visit the underground Crusader city and walk through the old city with its turrets and mosques and a local market. Dinner and overnight: Kibbutz Kfar Giladi   Day 6: Safed and the Golan Heights Begin the day with a visit to Safed, one of the four holy cities in Israel and the center of the Kabbalah, the Jewish mysticism.  Tour will include a visit to the Joseph Caro and Ha’Ari synagogues; browse through the artists’ quarter and the picturesque alleyways. Ascend the Golan Heights and stop at Mitzpe Gadot a former Syrian base. This site commemorates the fallen Israel soldiers of the 33rd. Battalion of the Golani Brigade. Proceed to the Talmudic village of Katzrin and experience the ancient life through the restored home, olive press and ancient synagogue Proceed to Mt. Bental a dormant volcanic mountain and enjoy the panoramic view of Mt. Hermon and the Golan Heights. Hear about the story of one of the largest tank battles that took place during the 1973 war. End the day with a visit to Banias known as Caesarea Philippi which has one of the largest waterfalls in Israel that runs into the Jordan River. The water no longer gushes from the cave but seeps from the rocks below it. There are grottos in a nearby cliff that are remnants of a shrine to the god Pan. Dinner and overnight: Kibbutz Kfar Giladi   Day 7: Sea of Galilee and Nazareth Descend the Upper Galilee and visit Capernaum – explore the ruins of the synagogue and church of St. Peter.  Enjoy a serene boat ride across the Sea of Galilee Visit the Igal Alon Museum where an ancient 2,000 year old ancient boat was discovered Drive to Nazareth and visit the Church of the Annunciation, one of the largest churches in Israel Visit the Ethiopian cultural center and hear about the legacy and culture of the Ethiopians through real life stories, taste their traditional dishes and enjoy the unique hospitality and ceremonies. Proceed via the Jordan Valley to Jerusalem – ascend Mt. Scopus of a blessing as you enter the city   Overnight: Mamilla Hotel, Jerusalem   Day 8: Old City of Jerusalem Today will be spent touring the old city of Jerusalem Walk along the Cardo – former market place during the 2nd Temple Visit the Western Wall (waiting wall) directly below the Temple Mount Continue to the City of David that began more than 3,000 years ago when King David left Hebron for a small hilltop city known as Jerusalem Depart the old city and drive to the foot of the Mt. of Olives for a unique archeological project at Emek Tzurim – a short lecture followed by a ‘hands on’ sifting through debris removed from the Temple Mount Return to the old city for a tour through the labyrinth of underground Western Wall tunnels directly below the Western Wall/Temple Mount and learn about the history from centuries ago Return to the hotel and freshen up Dinner at a Middle Eastern restaurant Evening: the spectacular Sound & Light show at the Tower of David Overnight:  Mamilla hotel, Jerusalem   Day 9 : Jerusalem – Yad Vashem, the market and the Israel Museum Explore the new city of Jerusalem Visit the Israel Museum and enter the Shrine of the Book where the Dead Sea Scrolls are housed; see the new holy land model a miniature replica of Jerusalem as it was during the 2nd Temple Drive past the Knesset – Israel’s Parliament and see the Menorah with the biblical emblems in the gardens of the Knesset Experience the contemporary Jerusalem at the renowned Machane Yehuda Market (shuk) with its authentic and colorful stands. Enjoy the shuk bites (a card) that enables you to sample the delicacies of the market Continue to Yad Vashem – Holocaust Memorial Overnight: Mamilla hotel, Jerusalem Day 10: The Dead Sea , Ein Gedi and Masada Drive through the Judean Desert home of the Bedouin (nomads of the desert) and along the shore of the Dead Sea, lowest spot on earth Visit the Ein Gedi nature reserve and explore the lush oasis with its waterfalls, vegetation and rare wildlife. Continue to the mountain top fortress of Masada – ascend by cable car and explore the ruins of this ancient fortress built by King Herod – explore the palace, synagogue and ritual bath houses. Descend by cable car Buffet lunch at one of the hotels at the Dead Sea Experience a float in the therapeutic waters of the Dead Sea (towel and locker provided for your convenience) Return to Jerusalem and bid farewell to your guide and driver Overnight: David Citadel hotel, Jerusalem   Day 11: -Day at leisure Overnight: David Citadel hotel, Jerusalem   Sunday: Day 12 Transfer to Ben Gurion airport where you will be met and assisted by our VIP representative through the airport procedures including passport control   Have a safe return flight – Shalom and see you again!!