Day 2, Saturday: SHABBAT SHALOM!
After breakfast join us for optional Shabbat services this morning. This afternoon we enjoy a walking tour to the first neighborhood outside the walls and experience the special atmosphere of Montefiore's Windmill in Yemin Moshe. At night we can walk through the city center including Ben Yehuda Pedestrian promenade and Nachalat Shivah.
Day 3, Sunday: JERUSALEM OLD AND NEW
We return to the Old City for a visit to the ancient City of David - where it all begun. Continue our day of touring at the new Mt. Herzl Museum, and the cemetery at Mt Herzl to visit the gravesites of Theodore Herzl, Golda Meir, and Yitzhak Rabin. Walk through the military cemetery where many of Israel's fallen heroes lie.
This afternoon we visit Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial Museum. We continue to Hadassah Hospital, where we view the magnificent Chagall Windows. We drive through Givat Ram, where Israel's Past, Present and Future is presented to us through Israel's Museum, the Knesset, Government buildings and the Supermen Court, and Hebrew University.
Optional: A night tour of the tunnels under the Western Wall.
Overnight Jerusalem.
Day 4, Monday: BAR/BAT MITZVAH DAY! We depart Jerusalem and head toward the Dead Sea.
Ascend Masada by a cable car for our Bar/Bat Mitzvah ceremony. Continue to a Dead Sea spa to enjoy the mud baths and swim in the salty waters of the Dead Sea. Tonight we celebrate at a gala dinner and Bar/Bat Mitzvah party at a Jerusalem restaurant.
Overnight Jerusalem
Day 5, Tuesday: HEADING NORTH
We depart Jerusalem, traveling north through the Jordan Valley Rift. Stop to tour the Roman ruins of Beit Shean. View the unique mosaic floor of the synagogue at Beit Alpha. Enjoy a refreshing swim at Gan Sachne and check in the hotel
Overnight in the Galilee.
Day 6, Wednesday: EXPLORING THE NORTH
We climb the Golan Heights, drive through a Druze village and continue to Bental Mountain to a breathtaking view of the Golan and the Syrian border. We visit the Talmudic village at Katzrin. In the afternoon tour the city of Safed, the center of Jewish mysticism with ancient synagogues, artists' galleries and market. Optional Jordan River kayaking - summer only.
Dinner and overnight in the Galilee.
Day 7, Thursday: THE COAST OF ISRAEL
We head across the Galilee to the ocean to Rosh Hanikra, the grottos and the cable car that will take us down to see the natural caverns. Optional visit to the ancient city of Akko (Acre), including the fortresses with the secret Crusader escape tunnel and British Prison
Continue southward, via Haifa, to Caesarea and its Roman and Crusader antiquities. You will be able to view the Caesarea Harbour projects cinematic exhibition and audiovisual experience that will take you on a majestic virtual tour of the site.
Overnight Tel Aviv.
Day 8, Friday: CAVES, BULLETS AND A WHALE
We drive to the Ela Valley, where the battle of David and Goliath took place. We continue to Bet Guvrin/Tel Maresha 2,200 year old city where we have a chance to participate at an authentic archeological dig in the caves of. Next we visit the underground ammunitions factory in Ayalon Institute that saved the State of Israel during the War of Independence. We head back toward Tel Aviv and walk through the ancient City of Jaffa with its old port, archaeological museum and Artists' Colony. Shabbat dinner.
Overnight: Tel Aviv
Day 9, Saturday: SHABBAT SHALOM TEL AVIV
Breakfast at the hotel with optional Shabbat services. Balance of the day at leisure. Spend time on the beach, visiting Tel Aviv museums or exploring the city. Departure to airport
