Month: January 2020

We will drive south, through the Judean hills to the shore of the Dead Sea, starting at Ein Gedi Nature Reserve for an easy hike through this natural desert oasis. Continue along the shoreline of the lowest place on earth to the infamous Masada where we will ascend by cable car to see where Jewish defenders made their last stand against the Romans in AD 73. Next, continue to our hotel by the Dead Sea shore for free time at the hotel spa and floating on the salty waters. Overnight at the Dead Sea

Day at leisure in Jerusalem. Evening Option: Enjoy the breathtaking light and sound show at the Tower of David inside the Old City, combined with 3D slides projected onto the great wall. This show is highly recommended due to its unique way of depicting the different periods in Jerusalem’s long history. (Duration: Around one hour – subject to fee). Overnight: Jerusalem

Check out from the hotel and depart for our touring day. Our first stop will be at the Tel Hai Museum. This memorial is dedicated to a dramatic battle in 1920 led by Joseph Trumpeldor, a hero known for his national loyalty. Then we will descend to the shores of Lake Kinneret (Sea of Galilee) for a short visit to Tiberias, a city which was a significant spiritual center during the Mishna and Talmudic periods. We will continue south along the Jordan Valley to visit the “Naharayim Experience at Gesher”. Nicknamed the “start-up” of last century, this unusual light and sound show is filled with models demonstrating the dam system, running water and a combination of sounds and colors. The demonstration shows how the desert transformed into a symbol of – and a vision for – Jewish immigration and industrial development in Israel. Our day will continue with a drive to Jerusalem through the Jordan Valley’s stunning landscape. We will stop at Mt. Scopus upon arrival in Jerusalem for a magnificent view of the city and a brief explanation about the capital’s past and future. Overnight in Jerusalem

Our first day of touring will begin immediately after breakfast.  An interesting walking tour of Tel Aviv and Jaffa is ahead of us. We will start on Rothschild Boulevard, where we will see Tel Aviv’s beautiful Bauhaus style architecture, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Amongst the buildings will be the newly renovated Independence Hall, the site commemorating the declaration of the founding of the state of Israel on the 14^th of May 1948. We will continue on to Neve Tzedek – Tel Aviv’s very first neighborhood. The next stop will be Jaffa, the world’s oldest port city, for a view of the old city and its well known artist’s colony. To end our day, you will enjoy free time at one of Tel Aviv’s busiest areas on Friday afternoons – the Nahalat Binyamin Crafts Fair and Carmel Outdoor Market – for great sounds, smells and of course, great shopping! Overnight in Tel Aviv

Day at leisure in Jerusalem – or an optional tour to Masada and the Dead Sea. Evening Option: Enjoy the breathtaking light and sound show at the Tower of David inside the Old City, combined with 3D slides projected onto the great wall. This show is highly recommended due to its unique way of depicting the different periods in Jerusalem’s long history. (Duration: Around one hour – subject to fee). Overnight in Jerusalem

Visit the graves of Israel’s former prime ministers, and soldiers who died in battle, at the Mount Herzl Military Cemetery. We will then continue to the museum at the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial, including the Valley of the Communities. We will pass by the Knesset – Israel’s Parliament building, as well as the famous Menorah and the new home of Israel’s Supreme Court. We will visit the Israel Museum to see the Shrine of the Book with a display of Dead Sea Scrolls and visit the model of Jerusalem during the Second Temple period. Then continue on for a neighborhood tour around the Mahane Yehuda Market to meet different local ethnic groups and taste some of their cultural foods. Drive to the Western Wall to participate in meaningful Kabbalat Shabbat services as the Jewish Sabbath descends over Jerusalem. Overnight in Jerusalem.