Itinerary:
FRI: TEL AVIV
Arrive Tel Aviv, transfer to
Overnight: Tel Aviv
SAT: SHABBAT AT LEISURE IN TEL AVIV
Shabbat at leisure on your own or join the locals on the beach. Many museums in Tel Aviv are open on Saturdays.
Overnight in Tel Aviv
SUN: CAESAREA – HAIFA – ACRE– ROSH HANIKRA
Drive north to Caesarea, once the Roman capital of the region. See the excavations of the crusaders' city, the aquaduct and the amphitheatre which has been restored as a concert venue. Proceed to Haifa for a panoramic view from Mt. Carmel and visit “Af al pi chen”, the naval museum of the illegal immigration to Israel at the time of the British mandate. Drive to Acre; walk along the old harbor and local market; Continue to the northernmost point of Israel at Rosh Hanikra. Descend by cable into the limestone Grottoes.
Overnight at a Kibbutz guest house.
MON: SAFED – JEEP TOUR – GOLAN HEIGHTS - BANIAS
Drive to Safed, center of Kaballa movement; Visit the Joseph Caro and the Ha‟Ari synagogues, the most important synagogues in the city; stroll around the Artist‟s Quarter. Enjoy a Jeep tour to the foot of the Golan Heights. Stop at an observation point over the city of Kuneitra, and the Syrian territory. Stop at Tel Facher, a former Syrian army base; Visit the Banias springs. Next, a visit to Tel-Hai; See the “Roaring Lion” monument and learn about the heroic battle of Josef Trumpeldor and his comrades in 1920. In the late afternoon or early evening meet with a Kibbutz member and learn about their unique lifestyle.
Overnight at a kibbutz guest house.
TUES: TIBERIAS – BEIT SHEAN – BEIT ALPHA –SACHNE – JERUSALEM
Begin the day with a tree planting ceremony (depending time of the year as this Jewish year is a Shmita year). Drive to Tiberias to visit Rambams grave. Proceed to Beit Shean, also called "Scythopolis", the biggest archeological park in Israel with beautiful excavations from Roman and Byzantine periods. Stop at Beit Alpha to see the beautiful mosaic floor of a synagogue from the Byzantine period. On to Gan Hashlosha, (Sachne) where you will have an opportunity to enjoy the water springs located at the foot of the Gilboa mountain (where King Saul was killed in the battle against the philistines) Continue via the Jordan valley to Jerusalem; Stop at Mount Scopus for the She‟HeCheyanu blessing.
Overnight in Jerusalem.
WED: OLD CITY OF JERUSALEM
Start with a visit of the tomb of King David on Mt. Zion. Walk along the Cardo, the ancient Roman road. Visit the four Sephardic synagogues restored after 1967 war in the Jewish quarter. Tour the famous Kotel Tunnels. After a visit of the Davidson Center walk to the local Arab bazaar. Visit the David Citadel Tower Museum and see the ancient remains of the city beginning with the first Temple
period.
Overnight in Jerusalem
THUR: NEW JERUSALEM – YAD VASHEM
View Bar / Bat Mitzvah ceremonies at the Kotel. Continue 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. Next visit the Israel Museum,
where you will find the Shrine of the book, home to the Dead Sea Scrolls and the new Holyland Model - a miniature replica of Jerusalem as it was during the second temple period. Drive to Mount Hertzl, where we visit the military cemetery. On to Yad Vashem, the memorial to the Holocaust. Visit Ammunition Hill, a former Jordanian army strong hold, conquered by the Israeli army in the Six Day War, and converted into a national memorial site and museum.
Overnight in Jerusalem
FRI: MASSADA – DEAD SEA LUNCH AND SPA
Drive through the Judean desert to the Dead Sea. Stop at Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found. Continue to Massada. Ascend Massada by cable car and tour the ancient fortress; visit the remains of the walls, palaces, synagogue, the bathhouses and more. Descend by cable car. Next stop is one of the leading hotels on the shores of the Dead Sea for lunch and Spa.
Overnight in Jerusalem
SAT: SHABBAT AT LEISURE IN JERUSALEM
Shabbat at leisure on your own. Sleep in or go to the Kotel or join one of the local synagogues for Shabbat services (a list of synagogues is available on request) Tonight you may want to go to Ben Yehuda to join the locals for some shopping.
Overnight in Jerusalem
SUN: JERUSALEM
Transfer to the airport for your return flight.
Please note: The sequence of the tour, hotels used and sites visited may be amended due to circumstances beyond our control.
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