Day 1 – Tel Aviv and Jaffa

  • We will walk the alleys of old Yaffo (Jaffa, Joppa), a town built of sandstone, see its excavations, listen to its outstanding stories and visit the port and the flea market.
  • We will start the tour of restless Tel Aviv by visiting Independence Hall, where the State of Israel was declared, and have a fascinating look into these times.
  • Experience the unforgettable Palmach Museum.
  • An evening walk through the old charming neighborhood of Neve Tzedek will be a lovely way to finish the day.
  • Overnight in Tel Aviv.

Day 2 – Tel Aviv

  • This morning we’ll drive out of town to learn the fascinating story of a 1940's clandestine bullet factory, the Ayalon Institute.
  • Return to the city to enjoy the colors, sounds and smells of the main market of the city – the Carmel Market, and the nearby arts and crafts pedestrian street, Nachalat Binyamin.
  • Later, we will walk along Rothschild Boulevard, and drive by the Habima Theater and Rabin Square to the old Tel Aviv Port at the Yarkon River.
  • Overnight in Tel Aviv.

Day 3 – Going north

  • Leaving Tel Aviv in the morning, we will start the day by visiting the magnificent ruins of Caesarea Maritima – the city built by Herod the Great, with one of the biggest ports in the Mediterranean, an amphitheater, hippodrome, Herod's palace and aqueduct.
  • We will then drive to and tour the compelling Jewish necropolis at nearby Beit She’arim, where many Jewish scholars found their final rest during the 3rd century CE.
  • After lunch, our next stop will be the top of Mount Carmel. We will stand atop the mountain at the location of the fight between Elijah the Prophet and the false Baal prophets, to tell and interpret the story and admire the magnificent view.
  • The end of the day will bring us to the Carmel Center in Haifa, to admire the view of the breathtaking Bahai Gardens, and the beautiful panorama of Haifa Bay and the German Colony.
  • Overnight in Haifa.

Day 4 – The Galilee

  • The magnificent remains of the rich town of Tzippori (Sepphoris), which was a residence of the Mishna scholars (200 C.E.), will be our first stop. We will savor the view of the entire Lower Galilee from the top of the Tzippori fortress. There are beautiful mosaic floors here, which are remarkable for their artistic qualities.
  • Later, and after lunch, we will have a complete tour of the World Heritage Site – the old town of Akko, walking on the tops of the walls, ramparts, admiring a mighty Crusader fortress and exploring its mysterious subterranean world.
  • Drive to our hotel in the Galilee.

Day 5 – The Galilee

  • Starting in the morning, hear enchanting tales of the mysterious Kabbalistic mountain city of Tzfat (Safed), and visit its unique synagogues and its beautiful artists' quarter.
  • Walking and swimming in the Majrasse, one of the loveliest streams flowing into Lake Kinneret, (the Sea of Galilee) is great fun for the afternoon.
  • We will stroll through the preserved part of the first Jewish colony, dating back to the 1880's, Rosh Pina, at sunset. Enjoy its special atmosphere and have dinner in one of the lovely restaurants here.
  • Overnight in the Galilee.

Day 6 – The Golan Heights

  • We will begin the morning at the ancient city of Dan and will see the place from which a main source of the Jordan River springs. We will also walk along the water on a relaxing hike.
  • Driving up the mountains, we will get to the unique Nimrod fortress, also named "The Leaping on its Prey," built on a special place on Mount Hermon.
  • We’ll stop to have a delicious lunch at one of the Druze villages of the Golan.
  • After lunch we will enjoy a fun jeep ride on the slopes of the Golan Heights and converse with the driver, a Golan kibbutznik.
  • Visit the Talmudic 4th century village of Katzrin, and its lovely museum, or visit an ancient synagogue and a beautiful spring in the middle of this enchanted nowhere.
  • Overnight in the Galilee.

Day 7 – Going south

  • This morning, we will leave for Jerusalem, and drive south through the Jordan Valley. Beit She'an, our first stop, is the most remarkable and well-preserved Roman city in the country. Here we will have an opportunity to understand Roman everyday life, by wandering its streets and learning about the many buildings there.
  • Understand the way mosaic floors were created during a visit to the ancient synagogue of Beit Alpha, with its impressive mosaic floor.
  • After lunch, we will relax by swimming at the great natural pools of Sahne National Park.
  • Drive to Jerusalem by way of the Jordan Valley.
  • Overnight in Jerusalem.

Day 8 – Your heritage in Jerusalem

  • The day will start at the most beautiful lookout in the city – the Mount of Olives.
  • The foundation of an Israelite capital and a holy center – learn about King David’s life, while viewing the City of David. Walk through the underground tunnels of the immense water system down to the newly-excavated Siloam Pool. Then we’ll walk all the way up to the Temple Mount through the ancient drainage tunnel of the Jewish city.
  • At the southern wall excavations, we’ll walk on the same paving stones and climb the very same steps upon which Jewish pilgrims walked 2,000 years ago.  We will see the remains of the gates they used when visiting the Temple.
  • Visit the Wailing (or Western) Wall and observe one of the bar mitzvah celebrations (Mondays and Thursdays).
  • Have a late lunch in the Jewish Quarter.
  • Experience the colors, sounds and smells of the Arab and Crusader markets. Walk through the Jewish Quarter. Learn the story of the destruction of the Jewish city in the Burnt House, and the Herodian Quarter.
  • Overnight in Jerusalem.

Day 9 – Judean Lowlands

  • We will drive out of the city into the hills to see the site of the battles of Joshua in the Ajalon Valley.
  • Driving by the ancient town of Beit Shemesh we will stop nearby at a beautiful area, which was the place where Samson killed the lion. Learn of Samson’s extraordinary story. We’ll also ponder the conflicts between the Israelites and the Philistines.
  • Was David an innocent boy when he fought Goliath? We will view the battlefield in the Elah Valley from the top of Tel Azeka , and learn about the mind of a politician in formation.
  • Explore the amazing underground world of Tel Maresha. You can also enjoy an archaeological dig in it.
  • Overnight in Jerusalem

Day 10 – Modern Jerusalem

  • A morning three-hour visit to the Holocaust Museum – Yad Vashem and the Mt. Herzl Cemetery.
  • See Chagall’s colorful stained glass windows in the synagogue of the Hadassah Hospital.
  • Touring Sataf – a place in the mountains, where two families restored ancient agriculture. We will see the irrigation systems and the springs, and will crawl through a cave, into which one of the springs flows.
  • Ein Kerem – walk through an extremely picturesque neighborhood with lovely sights and stories.
  • Overnight in Jerusalem

Day 11 – Dead Sea

  • This morning, we will drive to the Dead Sea area, and in Qumran, we will learn about one of the earliest communities of ascetics, Jews who lived at the end of the Second Temple time, and who retreated into the desert to live pure and simple lives.
  • We will focus on facts, myths and symbols concerning the famous fight of a bunch of Jewish Zealots against masses of Roman soldiers at the mighty cliff of Masada.
  • Enjoy the many colors of nature, and see some unique animals at the lovely oasis of Ein Gedi. Take showers and dips at the waterfalls and pools.
  • In the afternoon, we will lose all sense of gravity, while floating on the heavy water of the Dead Sea. Cover yourself with the therapeutic black mud, for which the Dead Sea is famous.
  • Overnight in Jerusalem

Day 12 – Modern Jerusalem

  • In the morning, we’ll examine the private history of the greatest Jewish king - King Herod, at the incredible artificial mountain, the Herodium, which was built by Herod, and where his tomb was recently found.
  • Exploring the Israel museum is a must, pairing it with the Shrine of the Book, which houses the Dead Sea Scrolls.
  • See the ultra-Orthodox Jewish neighborhood of Me'a She'arim, either by driving or walking through it.
  • Wander through the frenetic Mahane Yehuda Market, with its abundant stands of fruits and vegetables, the endless variety of cheeses, fish, breads, halva, cakes, and more, and have lunch in one of its wonderful restaurants
  • Before sunset, we will stroll through the charming neighborhood of Yemin Moshe and will learn about its history.
  • Overnight in Jerusalem