Day 01: Arrive Tel Aviv

Welcome to Israel!  Upon arrival at Ben Gurion International Airport we are met and assisted through the baggage claim and customs and introduced to escort us to our driver.  We are transferred to our hotel in Tel Aviv (check in time starts from 3:00 PM). Balance of the day free. Dinner at our hotel.

Overnight: Tal by the Beach Hotel, Tel Aviv (2 nights) (D)

Day 02: Tel Aviv

Following a delicious Israeli breakfast, we will meet our fellow group members and set off on our exploration of Tel Aviv. We start with a visit to the “State of Mind” Innovation Center at the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange to learn about cutting-edge developments by Israeli start-ups in fields such as science, medicine, security, space and more. This will be followed by a walk around the Old Port City of Jaffa, home to a vibrant multiethnic community of Muslims, Christians and Jew; and get to know the first Jewish city of the modern era, established in 1909.

We then have a choice of two culinary experiences that will introduce us to the very best of Tel Aviv’s food scene:  - Carmel market tasting tour: enjoy a fascinating variety of culinary riches, colorful spices and intriguing characters in the main market of Tel Aviv, where the flavors and scents of the old town combine with the young bustling atmosphere of the city’s central market. - Vegan culinary tour: Here traditional vegan and innovative vegetarian cuisine young chefs meet, creating a one-of-a-kind savory adventure for food lovers, regardless if vegan or not. We take a stroll along Rothschild Boulevard, the heart of the White City, Tel Aviv*. The White City was constructed from the early 1930s until the 1950s, based on the urban plan by Sir Patrick Geddes, reflecting modern organic planning principles. The buildings were designed by architects who were trained in Europe where they practiced their profession before immigrating. They created an outstanding architectural ensemble of the Modern Movement in a new cultural context. Balance of the day is free to explore Tel Aviv on our own. (B)

Day 03: Tel Aviv/Western Galilee (Drive)

After breakfast, we leave Tel Aviv and head to the ancient city of Caesarea, built by Herod the Great and once the administrative center of the Roman Empire for the Province of Judaea. The ancient port, the Roman hippodrome and amphitheater and the impressive palace are among the many historical treasures we get to see in this fascinating ancient city.
We visit the Ein Shemer Kibbutz Museum, where we will learn about the kibbutz way of life from the early days of the kibbutz to the present and enjoy a delicious lunch at the kibbutz dining hall. We continue with a tour of innovation at Kibbutz Magal, visiting the Netafim greenhouse innovation center, a pioneering enterprise in the field of drip irrigation technology.  Afterwards we head to Western Galilee.

Overnight: NEA Resort, Western Galilee (2 nights) (B, L, D)

Day 04: Western Galilee

Today we drive to the city of Katzrin, the “Capital of the Golan Heights”.  We walk through a Talmudic village and get a sense of what it was like to live in the times of ancient Israel.  We then enjoy a tour and wine tasting at local family-owned boutique winery in the Golan Heights. We continue to the Sea of Galilee and take a boat ride on the calm waters. We then head to the mystical city of Tzfat, the birthplace of the ancient Jewish mystical text, the Kabbalah. As we stroll through the narrow, winding alleys, we take a peek inside some of the beautiful synagogues; and browse through workshops and galleries in the flourishing artists' quarter. (B, D)

Day 05: Western Galilee/Acre/Haifa/Jerusalem (Drive)

We start this very interesting day exploring the Old City of Acre* (Akko). Acre is a historic walled port-city with continuous settlement from the Phoenician period. The present city is characteristic of a fortified town dating from the Ottoman 18th and 19th centuries, with typical urban components such as the citadel, mosques, khans and baths. The remains of the Crusader town, dating from 1104 to 1291, lie almost intact, both above and below today's street level, providing an exceptional picture of the layout and structures of the capital of the medieval Crusader kingdom of Jerusalem. We visit the Crusader Halls and follow the underground tunnels. See the port and fortifications that enabled the inhabitants of the town to resist the invasion by Napoleon Bonaparte.  We than spend time walking through the Arab Bazaar, enjoying a Middle Eastern shopping experience. We then drive to Haifa and visit the amazing Baha’i Gardens, comprising a staircase of 19 terraces extending all the way up the northern slope of Mount Carmel. At its heart stands the golden-domed Shrine of the Báb, which is the resting place of the Prophet-Herald of the Baha’i Faith and one of the Baha’i Holy Places in Haifa* Time permitting, we drive to the Druze village of Dalyet El Carmel, at the top of Mount Carmel. The Druze are Arab-speaking citizens of Israel, who are renowned for their hospitality. We take a fascinating walk of the alleys and old quarter of the village. We then drive to Jerusalem and check in to our hotel. In the evening, we experience a special “Shabbat of a Lifetime” dinner, with hospitality in the home of a local Jewish family. We get to enjoy a traditional meal as we learn about and observe the customs of the Jewish Shabbat.

Overnight: Leonardo Boutique Hotel, Jerusalem (4 nights) (B, D)

Day 06: Jerusalem

An exciting day ahead as we start with an excursion to Masada*, a rugged natural fortress, of majestic beauty, in the Judaean Desert overlooking the Dead Sea. It is a symbol of the ancient kingdom of Israel, its violent destruction and the last stand of Jewish patriots in the face of the Roman army, in 73 A.D. It was built as a palace complex, in the classic style of the early Roman Empire, by Herod the Great, King of Judaea, (reigned 37 – 4 B.C.). The camps, fortifications and attack ramp that encircle the monument constitute the most complete Roman siege works surviving to the present day. Ascending by cable car to the ancient fortress, we shall explore the site, with its synagogue and bathhouse.
Enjoy a leisurely afternoon at the Dead Sea shore 423m (1388 feet) below sea level, including lunch. We get to cover ourselves in mineral-rich mud and experience floating in the buoyant waters. Afterwards we drive to a lookout point for a view of Wadi Qelt and the cliff-hanging Greek Orthodox Monastery of St. George. After our return to Jerusalem, we enjoy the Sound and Light Show at the Tower of David in the evening – a creative depiction of the history of the city of Jerusalem projected onto the ancient stones (weather permitting). Dinner is on our own. (B, L)

Day 07: Jerusalem

Today we explore Old City of Jerusalem and its Walls*. As a holy city for Judaism, Christianity and Islam, Jerusalem has always been of great symbolic importance. We start the day by taking in a panoramic view from the Mt. of Olives. Our exploration of the Old City of Jerusalem begins at the City of David, with its fascinating tunnels. See the newest exciting excavations revealing Jerusalem during the time of the First Temple period. We walk through the Old City and visit some of its famous sites, including the Western Wall and the Cardo, an ancient commercial street where you can still shop today. We walk through the Arab Bazaar and experience traditional Middle Eastern life, with its rich colors, flavors, and smells. We then embark on a rooftop tour of the Old City neighborhoods, for a behind-the-scenes look at the various communities living alongside each other in this ancient walled city. We then walk along part of the Via Dolorosa to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, home of the two holiest sites in Christianity: the site where Jesus of Nazareth was crucified, known as "Calvary" or "Golgotha“; and Jesus's empty tomb, where he is said to have been buried and resurrected. We then have a free evening with dinner on our own. (B)

Day 08: Jerusalem

Today we visit Yad Vashem, considered to be the world’s primary Holocaust memorial and museum. We also visit the new Holocaust History Museum, which occupies over 4,200 square meters, mainly underground; the moving exhibit at the Children’s Pavilion, commemorating the death of over 1.5 million Jewish children in the Holocaust. From Yad Vashem, we head to the Israel Museum to see the Dead Sea Scrolls exhibition, and view the famous Model of Jerusalem, depicting the city as it was in the Second Temple period.
In the afternoon we may engage in an optional visit of Bethlehem to see the Church of the Nativity* and the remains of ancient Bethlehem, or spend leisure time at Mamilla Mall and Ben Yehuda Street. We meet again for our farewell dinner at a local restaurant. (B, D)

Day 09: Depart Jerusalem/Tel Aviv

Today we leave Israel with everlasting memories! We are transferred to the airport and depart on our flight back home.  Check out time is by 11:00 AM. (B)

B=Breakfast, L=Lunch, D=Dinner

Departure Dates & Prices

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Notes

Inclusions

Participants

This tour operates on a minimum of 02 and a maximum of 25 participants

Customised Itinerary

If you would like to have a tour on dates other than the above ones or with a customised itinerary, please contact us and we will be happy to work out an exclusive program for you.

Contact Info
You may e-mail us at bestway@bestway.com or call 1-604-264-7378. Residents of U.S.A./Canada may call us toll free at 1-800-663-0844.

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