This In-Depth Jewish Heritage Tour of Israel begins on Wednesday and features the best of Israel with a focus on Jewish heritage and culture. This is an excellent tour for individuals who seek an in-depth perspective of Jewish history and religion.
Tel Aviv, Caesarea, Haifa, Acre, Rosh Hanikra, Galilee, Safed, Golan Heights, Tiberias, Beit She’an, Beit Alpha, Gan Hashlosha, Jerusalem, Qumran, Masada, The Dead Sea, The Negev Desert, Timna, Eilat , Mitzpe Ramon, Sde Boker, Tel Aviv.
This same tour is also offered as a 12-night duration including Eilat; a 9-night duration (Friday Arrival-2nts Tel Aviv – 2nts Galilee – 5nts Jerusalem) ; or an 11-night duration (Wednesday Arrival -4nt Tel Aviv – 2nts Galilee– 5nts Jerusalem).
On arrival at Ben Gurion Airport our representative will meet you and assist with your transfer to your hotel.
The balance of the day is free.
We begin our visit of Tel Aviv at Independence Hall where the signing of Israel’s Declaration of Independence took place. Continue to Latrun located half-way between Tel Aviv and Jerusalem to visit Yad La’Shiryon (the Armored Corps Museum), Israel’s official memorial site for fallen soldiers.
Visit the new and exciting “Mini Israel” Park with over 350 miniature models of the most important sites and buildings in the county. On Kibbutz Hill we find the Ayalon Institute, once an ammunitions factory for the Haganah (the Jewish underground). The remainder of the day is at leisure.
Overnight in Tel Aviv.
Our tour of Tel Aviv continues this morning as we head to Beit Hatfutsot located on the campus of Tel Aviv University in Ramat Aviv. Also known as the Diaspora Museum, the museum traces the history of communities of the Jewish Diaspora throughout the ages. Drive around the main streets of Tel Aviv, the center of business and entertainment in Israel. Stop at Rabin Square.
Next is the old port city of Jaffa where we visit the ruins and walk along the restored artist’s quarter. Visit the large outdoor market, Nahalat Binyamin Pedestrian Mall, located between Allenby Street and the Carmel Market, with some time for shopping and exploring lively Shenkin Street nearby.
Overnight in Tel Aviv.
The day is at leisure to attend Shabbat services or relax on your own. Overnight in Tel Aviv
We drive north to Caesarea to see the excavations of the Crusaders’ city, the aqueduct and the amphitheater which has been restored as a popular concert venue. Proceed to Haifa for a panoramic view from Mt. Carmel and visit the Af Al Pi Chen Museum, which displays the only remnant of the 116 ships that participated in the enormous struggle to bring Jews to Israel during and after World War II.
Proceed to Acre (Akko) in Galilee, the holiest city of the Baha’i faith, for a walk along the harbour and local market. Continue to the northernmost point of Israel at Rosh Hanikra where you descend by cable car for an exhilarating two minute ride down the 210 foot cliff into the limestone grottoes, a natural wonder and a fascinating site.
Dinner and overnight in Galilee.
We head to Safed, the center of the Kaballah movement (Jewish mysticism) where you will visit the Yosef Caro (Rabbi Joseph Ben Ephraim Caro) and the Ari Sephardic Synagogue (Ari, Rabbi Isaac Luria), the most important synagogues in the city, and have time to stroll around the bustling Artist’s Quarter. Later enjoy a jeep tour through the lush landscape in the Golan stopping at an observation point over the strategic city of Kuneitra and the Syrian territory.
Proceed to Tel Facher where you will find the remnants of a Syrian base to learn about one of the fiercest battles in the history of Israel. Next is Banias Springs, a nature reserve and archaeological site emerging from the foot of Mount Hermon in the Golan Heights. Continue to the historic site of Tel Hai, and meet with a Kibbutz member who will tell you about their unique lifestyle.
Dinner and overnight in Galilee.
Our day begins in Tiberias, located on the western shores of Galilee, where we visit the grave of Moses Ben Maimon, known as one of the most important Jewish pilgrimage sites. Proceed to Beit She’an to see where excavations uncovered the remains of 20 settlements dating from the Neolithic/Chalcolithic period.
Stop in Beit Alpha located in the Beit She’an Valley to see the beautiful mosaic floor dating back to the 5th century and remarkably still very much intact. Continue to Gan Hashlosha (Sachne) National Park. We end the day driving via the Jordan Valley towards the Holy city of Jerusalem, stopping at Mount Scopus to say the “Shehechiyanu” blessing before entering the holy city.
Overnight in Jerusalem.
Our tour of the Old City begins at Mount Zion with a visit to the Tomb of King David at the remains of the former Hagia Zion Church. We continue to the four Sephardic Synagogues located in the Jewish Quarter. Descending into the Kotel Tunnels adjacent to the Western Wall we learn the story of how the Jews lived during the period of these two temples. Next is the Davidson Center, located near the Western Wall. Walk through the Roman Cardo to the local and colourful Arab Bazaar.
Enter through the Jaffa Gate, one of the eight gates of Jerusalem’s Old City walls to the Tower of David, an ancient citadel located near the Jaffa Gate housing important archaeological artefacts relating to the history of Jerusalem. The Tower of David Museum is located in a series of chambers in the citadel with exhibits depicting the 4,000 year old history of the city.
Overnight in Jerusalem.
Optional viewing of the Bar-Mitzvah ceremonies celebrated at the Kotel (Wailing Wall) before continuing to Mea Shearim to learn about the unique lifestyle of the ultra Orthodox communities. A short drive takes us to Mount Herzl and then to Yad Vashem, the somber and moving memorial to the Holocaust.
Later we stop at Ammunition Hill, the site of one of the bloodiest battles during the Six Day War now converted into a national memorial site and museum. Drive by the Knesset, Israel’s parliament located in Givat Ram to see the five meter high bronze Menorah. Then to the remarkable Israel Museum, located on a hill in Givat Ram, and housing the Shrine of the Book and the famous Dead Sea Scrolls. Nearby is the Holyland Model of Jerusalem, a 1:50 scale model of Jerusalem in the late Second Temple period. The remainder of the afternoon and evening are at leisure.
Overnight in Jerusalem.
We drive through the Judean desert to the Dead Sea and stop at the archaeological site of Qumran in the West Bank where the famed Dead Sea scrolls were discovered. Continue to the fortress of Masada and ascend by cable car to the top of the mountain.
Tour the ancient fortress and visit the remains of the palaces, synagogues, the bathhouses and the walls before descending. Stop for lunch and then experience floating in the unsinkable waters of the Dead Seas and perhaps a mud bath infused with a high salt and mineral content, all of which are essential for the body, before returning to Jerusalem.
Overnight in Jerusalem.
The day is at leisure to enjoy on your own.
We travel south through the Negev Desert to Timna to see the world’s most ancient copper mines and dazzling stone formations. Afterwards, we head to Eilat. On arrival we visit the Coral World Underground Observatory, one of the largest seaquariums in the world.
Overnight in Eilat.
The day is at your leisure to enjoy Eilat on your own. Alternatively you may choose to take an optional day tour to the city of Petra (Jordan).
Overnight in Eilat.
We depart Eilat for Mitzpe Ramon, a town in the Negev Desert established in 1951 as a camp for the workers building the road to Eilat. Stop to gaze at the impressive Ramon Crater, known as makhtesh, which is 38km long, 65km wide and 450 meters deep. Next is Sde Boker, a kibbutz in the Negev established by a group of discharged soldiers and best known as the burial place of Israel’s first Prime Minister David Ben Gurion.
Stop for a camel ride experience and a visit to an authentic Bedouin tent. Learn about Bedouin hospitality and enjoy a light lunch. Continue to Hatzerim, a kibbutz 8km west of Beersheba established in October of 1946. Nearby is an Israeli Air Force Base and Israeli Air Force Museum, where you will be able to view the planes and equipment and hear the story of this brave fighting force. Afterwards drive back to Tel Aviv.
The evening and dinner are on your own. Overnight Tel Aviv.
Transfer to Ben Gurion Airport for your flight home.
Tours are guaranteed outside 14 days of departure. Bookings made within 14 days of departure are on a request basis. Extended stays are optional and can be arranged.
This same tour is offered as a 9-night duration (Friday Arrival-2nts Tel Aviv – 2nts Galilee – 5nts Jerusalem) or 11-night duration (Wednesday Arrival -4nt Tel Aviv – 2nts Galilee– 5nts Jerusalem).
We can also custom-design tours of any size according to your individual requests.