Day 1 Arrival to Tel Aviv, Pickup and transfer to Jerusalem, Old City Jerusalem Overnight: Dan Panorama Hotel, Jerusalem
Day 2 Jerusalem: Foot step of Jesus, Garden Tomb, Church of Agony and other Christian sites, night show in David Citadel Overnight: Dan Panorama Hotel, Jerusalem
Day 3 Drive to Dead Sea, Qumeran, Ein Gedi, Enjoy floating on the Dead Sea Overnight: Oasis Dead Sea Hotel, Dead Sea
Day 4 Massada, Drive to Mitzpe Ramon via the desert and the Big Crater, Sde Boker to Ben Gurion Tomb Overnights: Ramon Inn Hotel, Mitzpe Ramon
Day 5 Ramon Crater, Alpaca and Lama pharm in Mitzpe Ramon, Ein Avdat, Chan HaShayarot activities Overnight: Chan HaShayarot
Day 6 Drive to Eilat, Yotvata, Timna Park Overnight: Caesar Premier Hotel, Eilat
Day 7 Diving with Dolphins at the Dolphin Reef, Camel ride Overnight: Caesar Premier Hotel, Eilat
Day 8 Drive to Tel Aviv Overnight: Sheraton Tel Aviv Hotel & Towers, Tel Aviv
Day 9 Drive through the cost, Caesarea, Zichron Yaacov, Haifa Overnight: Colony Hotel, Haifa
Day 10 Akko, Rosh HaNikra, drive to Ramot Overnight: Sagi Lodging, Moshav Ramot
Day 11 Golan Heights: Wineries in Katzrin, Chocolate ‘De Karina’ and workshop, Tel Dan reserve and night Jeep Ride at Golan to look for animals Overnight: Sagi Lodging, Moshav Ramot
Day 12 Safed, Hula Valley and the restored Hula lake Overnight: Sagi Lodging, Moshav Ramot
Day 13 Drive to Jerusalem, Machane Yehuda market, Time elevator Overnights: Eldan Hotel, Jerusalem
Day 14 Sites in Jerusalem: Zoo, Science Park, Botanical Gardens Overnights: Eldan Hotel, Jerusalem
Day 15 Archeological Dig in Beit Guvrin, National stalactites cave, Mini Israel, drive to the airport
Monday, August 16, 2010: Arrival to Israel Arrival to Ben Gurion Airport, Transfer to family for some time on your own Overnight: On your own with family
Tuesday, August 17, 2010: With Family Spend time with family on your own Overnight: On your own with family
Wednesday, August 18, 2010: Tel Aviv: Palmach, Independence Hall, Ayalom, Jaffa Palmach Museum, Independence Museum, Tel Aviv, Ayalon Museum Overnight: Dan Hotel, Tel Aviv
Thursday, August 19, 2010: Caesarea, Haifa, Rosh HaNikara, Sea of Galilee Caesarea, Haifa, Rosh HaNikra, Sea of Galilee and Tiberias Overnight: Rimonim Galei Kinereth Hotel, Tiberias
Friday, August 20, 2010: Safed, Hula Valley, Jordan River Safed, Bycles around the Hula Valley, Ein Tina hike Overnight: Rimonim Galei Kinereth Hotel, Tiberias
Saturday, August 21, 2010: Tel Dan, Banias, Golan Heights Tel Dan Nature Reserve, Banias Hike, Golan Heights Overnight: Rimonim Galei Kinereth Hotel, Tiberias
Sunday, August 22, 2010: Archeological dig, Mt. Scopus, Old City Jerusalem Drive to Jerusalem, Archeological dig in Beit Guvrin, Mt. Scopus, Old City Jerusalem including Jewish Quarter, Arab and Christian Quarters, Western Wall Overnight: David Citadel Hotel, Jerusalem
Monday, August 23, 2010: City of David, Israel Museum, Tad Vashem City of David and water tunnel, Model of Jerusalem from second temple period, Israel Museum, Yad Vashem Overnight: David Citadel Hotel, Jerusalem
Tuesday, August 24, 2010: Ein Gedi, Massada, Dead Sea, Mitzpe Ramon Ein Gedi, Masada, Dead Sea, Mitzpe Ramon Overnight: Ramon Inn Hotel, Mitzpe Ramon
Wednesday, August 25, 2010: Jeep Tour in Ramon Crater, Eilat Sunrise Jeep Tour in the Ramon Crater, Drive to Eilat, Underwater Observatory in Eilat Overnight: Herods Hotel, Eilat
Thursday, August 26, 2010: Petra Jordan Day trip to Petra Jordan Overnight: Herods Hotel, Eilat
Friday, August 27, 2010: Leisure day in Eilat, Departure Day at leisure in Eilat, Flight to Sed Dov, Pick up, time in Jaffa with family, Transfer to Ben Gurion for your departure
Departure back to the US
Sunday, July 25, 2010: Arrival to Israel, Haifa Arrival to Ben Gurion Airport. Meeting and assistance. Transfer to your hotel in Haifa. Overnight: Dan Panorama Hotel, Haifa
Monday, July 26, 2010: Akko, Rosh ha’nikra, Haifa, Bahai Gardens, Technion Akko (Acre), Rosh Ha’nikra, Bahai Gardens and Mount Carmel, German Colony, Technion Overnight: Dan Panorama Hotel, Haifa
Tuesday, July 27, 2010: Zippori, Safed, Hula Valley Tzippori, Safed, Firing Range Ayelet Ha’Shahar, Hulla Valley nature reserve or Agamon HaHulla Overnight: Nof Ginosar Kibbutz Hotel, Sea of Galilee
Wednesday, July 28, 2010: Banias or el Dan, Golan Heights, Wineries, Rafting, Jeep Tel Dan or Banias, Golan Heights, border with Syria, Golan Wineries, Rafting down the Jordan River and Jeep Tour in the Golan Overnight: Nof Ginosar Kibbutz Hotel, Sea of Galilee
Thursday, July 29, 2010: Sea of Galilee, Beith Shean, Megido, Caesarea Around the Sea of Galilee, Beith Shean, Beith Alpha, Megido, Caesarea Overnight: Carlton Hotel, Tel Aviv
Friday, July 30, 2010: Independence Hall, Diaspora Museum, Palmach Museum Independence Hall, Diaspora Museum, Palmach Museum, Nachalat Binyamin, Carmel Market Overnight: Carlton Hotel, Tel Aviv
Saturday, July 31, 2010: Zichron Yaacov, Jaffa, Tel Aviv Zichron Yaacov for Bar Mitzvah, Jaffa, Neve Tzedek, Tel Aviv Harbor Overnight: Carlton Hotel, Tel Aviv
Sunday, August 1, 2010: Latrun, Mount Scopus, Mount Olives, Old City Jerusalem Drive to Jerusalem, Latrun Tank Museum, Mount Scopus Panoramic View, Mount Olives, Old City walking tour from Mount Zion to Jewish, Arab and Christian Quarters Overnight: Inbal Hotel, Jerusalem
Monday, August 2, 2010: Ein Gedi, Massada, Dead Sea Ein Gedi, Massada, Dead Sea Overnight: Inbal Hotel, Jerusalem
Tuesday, August 3, 2010: Israel Museum, Mount Hertzel, Yad Vashem, Tunnels Knesset, Israel Museum, Mount Hertzel and Hertzel Museum, Yad Vashem, Western Wall Tunnels Overnight: Inbal Hotel, Jerusalem
Wednesday, August 4, 2010: Departure back to the US
This trip to Israel included total of 15 participants from the US, to participate in the Bat Mitzvah celebratiob of Tamar Waxman and Samantha Neff.
We visited Israel from the North to the South, and of course celebrated the Bat Mitzvah on top of Massada, followed by a special night at a Bedouin village near Massada.
Here is the itinerary for this trip, together with few comments participants had about this trip:
Friday, June 11, 2010: Arrival to Israel, Jerusalem, Western Wall for Shabbat
Arrival to Ben Gurion Airport (on Delta flight #152 at 17:00). Meeting and assistance by our representative, transfer to your hotel in Jerusalem. Time permitting, we might stop for a panoramic view of Jerusalem from Mt. Scopus and a traditional entrance for the Holy city with blessings. We will end the day at the Western Wall, the holiest place for Jews, to pray to God’s presence, put a note in the wall and join the people there for Shabbat services. Overnight: David Citadel Hotel, Jerusalem
Saturday, June 12, 2010: Old City Jerusalem, Israel Museum, Bethlehem Full day tour of the Old City of Jerusalem. Starting with a panoramic view from Mt. of Olives, we will then continue pass the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus “often met with his disciples” (John 18:2) and where he spent his last hours in solitude before being captured by the Romans (Luke 22:47-53). Up to Mt. Zion to visit the Upper Room, Cenaculum, the place of the Last Supper (Luke 22:14-22) and the place where the gift of the Holy Spirit came upon believers who were gathered there on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2). Here is also King David’s Tomb, today an active Jewish Synagogue. Continue to walk the Via Dolorosa, the fourteen stations of the cross, ending at the Church of the Holy Sepulchure. We will then continue to visit the Israel Museum, the place where the Dead Sea scrolls are on display and the model of 2nd temple Jerusalem. Time permitting, we will then continue with a visit to Bethlehem. Overnight: David Citadel Hotel, Jerusalem
Sunday, June 13, 2010: Western Wall Tunnels, Davidson Center, Ir David
We will start our day today with an early morning visit to the Western Wall Tunnels, walking under the Western Wall plaza to the base of this remarkable wall and along it, all the way up north, to where the Antonia Military Fortress used to stand. Back to the hotel for breakfast, then we leave again to visit the Jewish Quarter. We Walk through the Zion Gate to visit the Jewish Quarters and the Roman Cardo, the main street in the Byzantine period of Jerusalem. On to the Davidson Center to see the Robinson Arch and the excavations of the southern base of the wall. We will end the day in the City of David, Jerusalem of 3000 years ago. Overnight: David Citadel Hotel, Jerusalem
Monday, June 14, 2010: Bat Mitzvah on Massada, Dead Sea, Bedouin reception and dinner Today is a special day for Tamar Waxman and Samantha Neff, we will celebrate their B’not Mitzvot today at Massada. We will leave early to Massada to have the Bnot Mitzvah together with the Rabbi. We will then continue to enjoy the Dead Sea, where we can experience ‘floating’ on the water. We will then drive down to Kfar Hanokdim, where we will enjoy a festive Bedouin reception, dinner, Camels and many more activities. We will spend the night there in the Desert. Overnight: Kfar Hanokdim, Arad
Tuesday, June 15, 2010: Air Force Museum, Mitzpe Ramon, Rappeling and Jeep Tour We will drive today to Beer Sheva to visit the Air Force Museum there before driving to Mitzpe Ramon, via the Crater and Desert. In the Machtesh Ramon, we will enjoy activities such as Rappeling and a Jeep tour at the Crater towards sunset. Overnight: Ramon Inn Hotel, Mitzpe Ramon
Wednesday, June 16, 2010: Archeological Dig Beith Guvrin, Sea of Galilee We leave Mitzpe Ramon today and drive to Beith Guvrin to participate in an Archeological dig at the Tel Maresha caves. We will then continue to the Sea of Galilee, stopping at a very nice and interesting shop in Kibbutz Kineret that has dates, honey, spices, olive oil, wine and lots of other Israeli products. We will then drive to Safed to hotel. Overnight: Rimonim Hotel, Safed
Thursday, June 17, 2010: Safed, Golan Wineries, Katzrin, Rafting on the Jordan River We will visit the City of Kabalah today. Safed is considered one of the 4 holly cities in Israel and was the home of many Rabbis in the 16th century. Kabalah was created here, the Shulhan Aruch was written here by Rabbi Joseph Carro and the city is special with its mystical synagogues and allies. We will continue from Safed to visit the Golan Wineries in Katzrin and will finish the day rafting down the Jordan river Overnight: Rimonim Hotel, Safed
Friday, June 18, 2010: Naot factory, Agamon Hachula, Jeep Tour in the Golan Heights Our day will start in the NAOT factory shop. We will visit the Nature Reserve Agamon Hachula and ride around the lake. Our day will end with a Jeep Tour in the Golan Heights. Overnight: Rimonim Hotel, Safed
Saturday, June 19, 2010: Rosh Ha’Nikra, Boat ride and Tiberias at night This Shabbat we will have the morning to spend it at leisure in Safed, enjoying the special atmosphere of the city on Shabbat. In noon time, we will drive to Rosh Ha’Nikra to visit the famous grottos there. In the evening, we will take a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee and have a festive dinner at Decks in Tiberias Overnight: Rimonim Hotel, Safed
Sunday, June 20, 2010: Tree planting, Haifa, Bahai Gardens, Caesarea, Tel Aviv Leaving our hotel in Safed, we will drive to Tel Aviv. We will plant trees in the Lavi forest on our way to Haifa. We will then visit Haifa, see the beautiful Bahai Gardens from the top of Mt. Carmel and walk through the German Colony. We will continue to Caesarea, the port city built by King Herod the great 2000 years ago and the place where Simon Peter shared the gospel with Cornelius, the Roman centurion who became the first Gentile convert (Acts 10: 44-48). The day will be over in Tel Aviv with some free time at the Tel Aviv Harbor before we leave to the airport for your return flight home (on Delta flight #153 at 23:35)
Day 2 Arrival to Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv. Meeting and assistance. Transfer to our hotel by the Lake of Tiberias (Sea of Galilee). Overnight: Hotel in Tiberias
Day 3 We start our day with a Boat Ride on the Sea of Galilee and spend some time in a prayer service on the same waters Jesus walked (Mark 6:48-50). Visit to the museum in Nof Ginosar where the “Jesus Boat” is displayed. This amazing ancient fishing boat, from the 1st century, was discovered sunk in the mud in the Lake of Galilee. Then we will walk the path of Jesus in the land of Galilee. We will visit the sites where his ministry began; where he preached, performed miracles and gathered the multitude to follow him: Mount Beatitudes, site of the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5:1-12), Capernaum, the headquarters of his ministry and Tabgha, where the multiplication of the loaves and fish took place (Matthew 14:19-21). Continue to Beth Shean, the biggest roman city in the Jordan Valley and the capitol of the Decapolis. Our day will end in the baptismal site Yardenit, where even today, Christians are being baptized (Luke 3:21-22). Overnight: Hotel in Tiberias
Day 4 We will start our day by ascending the Golan Heights for a breathtaking view of the Lower Galilee. We will start with the viewpoint towards the Israeli-Lebanese border, from the town of Metula. Through the remains of the Syrian bunkers on the Golan Heights, controlling the Kibbutzim in the valley, we will drive up north, learning about the 6-day war in 1967 and the Yom Kippur war in 1973 and understand Israel’s unique situation in the Golan. Pass and visit Banias Nature Reserve and waterfalls, known as Caesarea Philippi, where Peter confessed Jesus’ Messiahship (Matthew 16:13-17). After lunch, we will visit Mt. Bental, an Israeli bunker in the Golan Heights where we can view the border between Israel and Syria and learn about army life in Israel. Continue to visit the village of Cana where Jesus performed his first public miracle of changing water into wine (John 2:1-10); here we will visit the Wedding church. Visit Nazareth, the “City of the Annunciation”, where the angel Gabriel revealed to Mary the imminent birth of Jesus and John the Baptist (Luke 1:26-38). Overnight: Hotel in Tiberias
Day 5 Check out of our hotel and drive to Jerusalem through the coast. On to the top of Mt. Carmel, where the great prophet Elijah defeated the prophets of Baal and proved to the people that the God of Israel is the true God (1 Kings 18:17-40). On to Megiddo, the city of King Solomon and King Ahab, where 20 different layers of civilization were excavated also known as the valley where the kings of the earth will gather for the battle commonly referred to as the Battle of Armageddon (Revelation 16:12-16). Caesarea, the port city built by King Herod the great 2000 years ago and the place where Simon Peter shared the gospel with Cornelius, the Roman centurion who became the first Gentile convert (Acts 10: 44-48), will be our next site. We then continue to Jerusalem. Depending on arrival, we might stop for a panoramic view of Jerusalem from Mt. Scopus and a traditional entrance for the Holy city. Overnight: Hotel in Jerusalem
Day 6 Full day tour of the Old City of Jerusalem. Starting with a panoramic view from Mt. of Olives, we will then continue to the Garden of Gethsemane, where Jesus “often met with his disciples” (John 18:2) and where he spent his last hours in solitude before being captured by the Romans (Luke 22:47-53).
Continue to visit the house of Caiaphas the high priest during the 2nd temple period. This church called the Church of St. Peter in Gallicantu is where Peter denied Jesus three times before the crowing of the cock (Mark 14: 53-62). Here we will see the underground rooms which may have been used as guard houses and a prison. We will also see the ancient steps, which were cut into the hill and led to the City of David, the Kidron Valley and Gethsemane. This is likely the path Jesus took in his way from the Upper Room to Gethsemane.
If possible, we will end the day with a visit to Bethlehem. Overnight: Hotel in Jerusalem
Day 7 Descend the eastern slopes of the Judean Hills to the lowest place on earth, the Dead Sea. On to visit Qumran, the place where the Dead Sea Scrolls were written by the Yahad (Essene) Sect 2200 years ago and where they were discovered in 1947. View of the Ein Gedi waterfalls where King David escaped from his enemies and continue to Massada, the royal fortress built by King Herod and used by the Jewish Zealots as the last stronghold during the great revolt against Rome between 66-73 AD. Rest of the afternoon we will enjoy the Dead Sea, where we can experience ‘floating’ on the water. Overnight: Hotel in Jerusalem
Day 8 Full day tour of the Old City of Jerusalem. We will start the day with a visit to the Temple Mount to view the mosques, the location of the Jewish Temples and the Eastern Gate. On to the Western Wall, the holiest place for Jews, to pray to God’s presence and put a note in the wall. We will tour the Western Wall Tunnels, walking under the Western Wall plaza to the base of this remarkable wall and along it, all the way up north. Walk to visit the Jewish Quarters and the Roman Cardo, the main street in the Byzantine period of Jerusalem. From there to the Temple Institute where Jewish scholars study the Jewish Temple and its vessels and see the exhibition of Temple Tools.
Up to Mt. Zion to visit the Upper Room, Cenaculum, the place of the Last Supper (Luke 22:14-22) and the place where the gift of the Holy Spirit came upon believers who were gathered there on the day of Pentecost (Acts 2). Overnight: Hotel in Jerusalem
Day 9 Full day tour of the New City of Jerusalem. Pass the Knesset, Israeli Parliament with the famous Menorah, view the Supreme Court and drive to Yad Vashem, the holocaust memorial. On to the Israel Museum, the place where the Dead Sea scrolls are on display and the model of 2nd temple Jerusalem.
End of our day will be in the Garden Tomb, Golgotha or Calvary. Here, Jesus was crucified, died on the cross, was buried and raised from the dead (Matthew 27:33-61) and here we will have a service. Overnight: Hotel in Jerusalem
Day 10 Free day for you enjoy the Holy City on your own. Overnight: Hotel in Jerusalem
Day 11 Early morning departure to the airport for your flight home