Depart from USA for a transatlantic flight to Israel. Dinner, breakfast and in-flight entertainment on board.
Assistance by aviatours staff. We meet our tour guide and together proceed to our hotel in Tel Aviv. On our way, we will have a panoramic city tour of Tel Aviv. See the new high rise buildings, the beautiful beach, the Opera house and more. Dinner and overnight at our Tel Aviv hotel.
After a rich breakfast we visit one of Tel Aviv Museums (Rabin Center, Palmach or Hall of Independence or both if time permits), Proceed to Caesarea – the ancient port city built by King Herod, now a major archeological site. Proceed to beautiful Haifa; see the Bahaii Center with its most impressive gardens. Drive along the Carmel Mountain until we reach our hotel in Tiberias (Sea of Galilee). Dinner and overnight in Tiberias.
After an abundant buffet breakfast we visit Zafed – the center of Kabala. We ascend the Golan Heights to visit Katzrin with its impressive museum. Proceed to Mt.Bental to have a view over Syria. See the unique video presentation about the Yom Kippur battle that took place near Kibbutz El Rom. Our last point is the Shalom Observation with a magnificent bird’s view of the Sea of Galilee.
the unique story of the “Bat Anussim” from Portugal who rebuilt Tiberias. Zippori is our next stop. This Galilee capital during the Mishna times with outstanding mosaic floors. We also visit Beth Shearim which became a prominent Jewish cultural center when the Sanhedrin, the religious-social leadership body of the Jews, moved there following the destruction of Jerusalem by the Romans in 70 CE. Continue to Jerusalem. Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.
the Hebrew University, Mt. Olives with its panoramic view over Jerusalem and Mt. Zion that houses King David’s tomb and the next door room of the Last Supper. Continue to a visit to David’s City – the place that David established as his residence before taking the city. Visit the Machne Yehuda Market to see how Jerusalemites make their last shopping for Shabbat. Kabbalat Shabbat at the Wailing Wall (optional)
Relaxation in your hotel. Walking tour in Jewish Quarter of the Old City.
The new city After breakfast we will visit the modern city of Jerusalem, the famous Menorah near the Israeli Parliament (Knesset) andthe YadVaShem Museum (the Holocaust Museum). Before returning to the Old City we visit the Shrine of the Book where the Dead Sea Scrolls are exhibited. We will visit the Wailing Wall (the Western Wall) - the last remains of the Temple built by King Herod and the Rabbi’s Tunnel which exposes to you the unique size of the Wall or the Chain of Generations (whichever is available). Our day ends with dinner and overnight in our hotel in Jerusalem.
We drive south to the Dead Sea and to Qumran, to visit the caves where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found. Continue on to Massada, the palace-fort built by King Herod. Here, in 73 A.D., 960 Jewish zealots committed suicide rather than surrender to the Romans. The plateau is reached via a cable car ride with a spectacular view of the plains surrounding it. We’ll also dip in the Dead Sea – rich with minerals, God’s gift to your skin. Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.
Transfer to the airport. Fly back home. Arrive same day. You have just returned from a journey of a life time
Head south to visit Sde Boker where David Ben Gurion spent his last years in solitude and modesty. Visit the Mitzpe Ramon crater – the world’s largest. Visit the Timna Park and arrive Eilat (on the Red Sea) for dinner.
Liesure at your Red Sea hotel or join a tour to neighboring Petra. This is one of the most striking sites upon earth. After a short and easy horse ride in a beautiful canyon we come upon an old temple carved into the sand stone of the canyon, beyond which lays the city. It was built in the 6th century BC as a shelter city for caravans that crossed the desert between Egypt and Syria. Petrawas chosen by the BBCas one of "the 40 places you have to see before you die". UNESCO declared it as one of the wonders of the World. Return to Eilat for dinner.
Return home to the USA either by a plane from Eilat or by a vehicle through Ben Gurion (Tel Aviv) airport. If by vehicle, more sites will be visited on the way such as the Ayalon Institute (underground ammunition factory during the British Mandate). Arrival on same or the following day (depending on flight). Welcome home! You have just returned from a lifetime dream.
THIS PROGRAM MAY BE ALTERED TO FIT THE NEEDS OF YOUR GROUP.
For more information about this program and prices, please email us at info@aviatours.net or call us during our office hours (weekdays 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM EST) at 1(800) 950-0747