Upon arrival in Israel, you will be met by a Ya'lla Tours USA representative and transferred to your hotel for overnight.
Day at leisure in Tel Aviv.
After breakfast, we check out of the hotel and drive south to Rehovot. Our first stop will be at the Weizmann Institute which played a key role in the development of the state. We will enjoy the amazing presentation of high technology and see the mansion house of Haim Weizmann, the first president of Israel.
Continue to Caesarea, built over 2000 years ago by King Herod the Great, which served as a key Mediterranean port for centuries. Hear about Caesarea's role in
Jewish history, including its part in the Great Revolt of AD66, and interact with three-dimensional historical figures through cutting-edge technology.
Onwards to the Carmel Mountain range to visit Zichron Yaacov, for a stroll through the historic streets of one of the earliest settlements from Israel’s first immigration period founded in 1882 by Baron Edmond de Rothschild.
Finally, we are on to Haifa - Israel's major port city, with a stop at the Louis Promenade for a great view of the Haifa Bay and the beautiful Baha'i Gardens.
Arrive at your hotel for overnight.
Check out after an Israeli breakfast in the hotel. Our journey will begin with a drive through the mountain ranges and valleys of the Galilee region.
Drive to Safed (Tzfat), where we will walk through ancient sections of the city and hear stories of the Kabbalists and their ancient synagogues. Our Tzfat tour will end with a visit to its famous artist colony.
We will continue to Rosh Pina, originally founded in 1878 by a group of ultra-orthodox Jews intending to become farmers, with the support of Baron Edmund de Rothschild. Rosh Pina is one of Israel’s oldest colonies but today boasts a small town known for great restaurants, cafés and art galleries.
In the afternoon, we will drive over to the beautiful Hula Valley, Israel’s first Nature Reserve. The HaHula Tourism Complex is located at the center of the Hula Valley and is considered to be one of the world's most important centers for bird watching and ornithology.
Continue to the kibbutz hotel for dinner and overnight.
This touring day will give you an opportunity to enjoy the north of Israel in a unique and exciting way. We will start our day by driving up to the Golan Heights to visit Tel Faher, a former Syrian outpost and site of intense fighting during the Six-Day War. We continue to Mt. Bental, a beautiful spot for a panoramic view of the Upper Galilee, the Golan Heights and Syria.
Walk through the Golan Olive Oil Mill and Visitor Center and learn about the olive oil production process.
We finish the touring today with a visit to the Golan Heights Winery for a tour of the facilities and wine tasting.
The rest of the day is free to relax in the pastoral surroundings of your kibbutz hotel. Dinner at the kibbutz is included. |
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Check out from the hotel and depart for our touring day. Our first stop will be the Tel Hai Museum. This memorial is dedicated to a dramatic battle in 1920 led by Joseph Trumpeldor, a hero known for his national loyalty.
Then we will descend to the shores of Lake Kinneret (Sea of Galilee) for a short visit to Tiberias, a city which was a significant spiritual center during the Mishna and Talmudic periods.
Then we head south through the Jezreel Valley, a green fertile plain and inland valley covered with fields of wheat, melon, oranges, beans, chickpeas, cotton, sunflowers and corn.
Passing by the city of Afula, we continue south to the point where the road begins ascending from the coastal plain to the hills of Jerusalem.
Situated in the narrow opening known as Bab-al-Wad (Gate of the Valley), we arrive at Khan Sha'ar HaGai, a reconstruction of an old Ottoman building commemorating the courageous men and women who fought fierce battles and brought food, supplies and manpower to under-siege Jerusalem during the War of Independence.
Continue to Jerusalem, stopping at Mt. Scopus upon arrival in Jerusalem for a magnificent view of the city and a brief explanation about the capital’s past and future.
Continue to the Jerusalem hotel for overnight.
After breakfast, we will start our tour at the City of David for a virtual reality movie about King David’s historical city, and a “wet” walking tour of the ancient water system connecting Warren’s Shaft to the Siloam Tunnel (Hezekiah’s Tunnel).
Then walk through one of the Old City of Jerusalem’s many ancient gates to the Archaeological Garden and the new Southern Wall excavations (Davidson Center), the same steps once used by pilgrims entering the Holy Temple.
Visit the Western Wall (Ha Kotel), the colorful bazaars and the Cardo and the restored Jewish Quarter. Thursday is the day many Bar Mitzvah celebrations take place at the Western Wall. During our walk, we will meet some of them and get to wish them a MAZAL TOV!
Return to your hotel for overnight.
Visit the graves of Israel’s former prime ministers, and soldiers who died in battle, at the Mount Herzl Military Cemetery.
We will then continue to the museum at the Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial, including the Valley of the Communities.
We will pass by the Knesset - Israel's Parliament building, as well as the famous Menorah and the new home of Israel's Supreme Court.
We will visit the Israel Museum to see the Shrine of the Book with a display of Dead Sea Scrolls and visit the model of Jerusalem during the Second Temple period.
Then continue on for a neighborhood tour around the Mahane Yehuda Market to meet different local ethnic groups and taste some of their cultural foods.
Finally today, we'll drive to the Western Wall to participate in meaningful Kabbalat Shabbat services as the Jewish Sabbath descends over Jerusalem.
Return to your hotel for overnight
Day at leisure in Jerusalem
You will be transferred to Ben Gurion Airport for your departure flight. |
