Sample Israel itinerary we’ve designed for 3 generation family, midrange 4* hotels
Day 1: Arrive in Tel Aviv!
Overnight Dan Panorama Tel Aviv
Day 2: Caesarea / Haifa / Acre / Rosh Hanikra
Drive north to Caesarea, once the roman capital of the region and largest port. Visit the Roman theatre, the crusaders’ city, the aqueduct and the new interactive multi media museum. Continue to Beit Shearim, once the town of the Sanhedrin, the Jewish supreme court; Proceed to Haifa to visit “AF AL PI CHEN” ,the naval museum of the clandestine immigration to Israel (during the British mandate). Drive to Acre; walk along the old harbor and visit the underground Knight’s halls. Continue to the northernmost point of Israel, along the Mediterranean, at Rosh Hanikra. Descend by cable into the beautiful limestone grottoes.
Overnight: Kibbutz Hagoshrim
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Day 3: Safed / Golan Heights / Upper Galilee
Drive to Safed, center of the Kabala movement. Visit the old synagogues and stroll the old Artists’ Colony. Continue for a Jeep tour to the foot of the Golan Heights, and drive to Mount Bental; See the former Israeli fortification overlooking Kuneitra and what was the Syrian part of the Golan Heights. Walk to Brechot ha Meshushim (hexagonal pools) . Continue to Tel Facher, a former Syrian army camp and continue to visit the Banias springs. Stop at Tel-Dan, a beautiful nature reserve around the Dan River, one of the sources of the Jordan River.experience a rafting trip down the river Continue to Tel-Hai to see the famous statue of the lion.
Overnight: Kibbutz Hagoshrim
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Day 4: Bait Shean / Beit Alpha / Dead Sea
Drive to Beit Shean to visit the largest excavations in the Middle East, of a Roman town; Continue to Beit Alpha to see the beautiful mosaic floor of a synagogue from the Byzantine period. Continue via the Jordan Valley to the Dead Sea. Arrive to the guesthouse of Ein Gedi to enjoy a bath in the relaxing and healthy sulphur springs of the Dead Sea. At sunset, walk through the botanical gardens and learn about the exclusive collection of desertic flowers growing between the paths of the Kibbutz. Visit Nahal David Spring .
Overnight: Kibbutz Ein Gedi
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Day 5: Massada / Qumran – (Erev Pessach)
After Breakfast depart the hotel. Arrive at Massada – Ascend the cliff top fortress by cable car. As you explore the ancient remains of fortifications, King Herod’s palaces, storerooms and baths, you will hear about the spirit of its last Jewish defenders. The myth of Massada still plays a major roll in the life of the Israeli state. Stop at Qumeran, the place where the Dead Sea Scrolls where found. Keep your eyes open and cameras ready for the rare ibyx. Onto Jerusalem for overnight. Go to Mt. Olive observation point.
Dinner reservation at 19:30 at Minaret restaurant (nonkosher) 80 King David St. Jerusalem, phone 02 6234470.
Take taxi or 15 min walk from hotel . Price approx $35 per person, pay at restaurant.
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Day 6: Hag in Jerusalem
Guide and driver for this day
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Day 7: Jerusalem
Early departure for 10 am visit Yad Vashem museum. Afterwards the Old City of Jerusalem – the Jewish Quarter of the Old City of Jerusalem, for guided visits to some of the sites excavated over the past 30 years, including: Guided visit through the 2000 year old Herodian Mansions in the Jewish quarter of Jerusalem’s Old city. Ein Kerem (southwest Jerusalem). Arrive to the Kotel (Western Wall) and visit the Rabbinical Tunnels, the underground continuation of the Western Wall along the Temple Mount. Guided visit to the Davidson Archeological park with a special visit to the Davidson center, to view the new three-dimensional computer generated presentation of Life During the Time of the Temple, followed by a guided visit to the Southern Wall excavations. Adjoining the Western Wall is a small hill, the biblical City of David – one of Jerusalem’s most important historical and archaeological treasures. This city was appointed the capital of Israel more than 3,000 years ago by King David. Visit the many spectacular excavations and underground sites unearthed – the Spring House, the royal water cistern, the ritual bath. Area G dating back to the Canaanite period, as well as the Siloach Pool, Warren’s Shaft and more.
Noah Sorkin arrives DL86 from NY, 2:55pm. Transfer to hotel.
Overnight Dan Panorama Jerusalem
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Day 8: Jerusalem Old City
Visit at the Israel Museum and view the magnificent collection of Judaica including Jewish artifacts and traditional costumes. On the premises, housed in a specially built structure – an architectural masterpiece, is the Shrine of the Book, where you will be able to view the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Model of the 2d Temple – a miniature replica of Jerusalem as it was during the second temple period. Guided visit to the museum of the history of Jerusalem at David’s Citadel, for a walk through the History of Jerusalem from the time of Abraham 4,000 years ago to the end of the British Mandate over Palestine. Walk along the Cardo, a Byzantine street that is now the world’s oldest shopping arcade. The Hurva Square, the center of the Jewish quarter. Walk along the rooftops of the old city for a behind the scenes look at the various communities in Jerusalem and how they live together. Shabbat walk through hidden alleyways to Mt. Zion, including the Temple Mount Overlook and King David’s tomb.
Ben Kodesh Lechol Havdallah overlooking the city.
Overnight Dan Panorama Jerusalem
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Day 9: Jerusalem – Tel Aviv – Jerusalem
Sorkin family of 4 checking out by noon from hotel. Luggage will be stored at reception or with other families.
Leave Jerusalem for Tel Aviv. Start with the Palmach museum continue to the the Independence hall. After short sightseeing of Jaffa Tel Aviv continue to Ayalon Institute, see a clandestine ammunition factory built right Under the nose of the British in Rehovot -near the Weitzman Institute of Science. Imagine holding a special celebration in a huge cave, in a place known as the site of the Site of the ancient cities of Maresha and Beth Govrin. Visit the new “Mini Israel” park including miniature models of the most important sites and buildings in the country.
19:40 reservation for temple tunnels Reservation.
Back to Jerusalem
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Transfer for DL 87 for JFK leaves 00:40 – dropoff airport 9pm Apr 12 4 people Sorkin family – please reconfirm with guide exact time.
Overnight Dan Panorama Jerusalem 10 people
Day 10: 10 people transfer airport.
AF 2221 leaves TLV 8:15am, 10 pax