16 Days Israel Grand Jewish Heritage

This tour is available also with private guide. For information call us at 1.877.977.4268 

 


DAY 1 Tuesday

Ben Gurion Airport / Tel Aviv

Overnight flight to Tel Aviv


DAY 2 Wednesday

DAY 2 Wednesday

ARRIVE TO TEL AVIV

After arrival at Ben Gurion airport, You will be warmly greeted by
an IBMT Tours representative at the airport and transferred to your hotel in Tel Aviv. Remainder of the day is free to spend at leisure. Overnight Tel-Aviv


DAY 3 Thursday

Independence Hall / Latrun / Beit Guvrin / Ayalon Institute

Drive to Latrun to visit the Armored Corps Museum and memorial, also considered as one of the most diverse tank museums in the world. Continue to Beit Guvrin National Park, declared by UNESCO as a world heritage site; explore parts of the archaeological remains and unique caves. Proceed to Ayalon Institute, once a secret underground ammunition factory established by the "Haganah," who were the Jewish underground movement before May 1948. Continue to Weizmann House in Rehovot built in 1936, the private home and later the formal residence of Dr. Chaim Weizmann, the first president of the state of Israel and founder of the Weizmann Institute of Science. Visit the house with its impressive structure and fascinating gardens, which now form part of the Weizmann Institute of Science. Learn the story of Dr. Chaim Weizmann, an outstanding scientist and head of the Zionist movement for over 30 years. Overnight in Tel-Aviv


DAY 4 Friday

DAY 4 Friday

TEL-AVIV / DIASPORA MUSEUM / OLD JAFFA

Visit Beit Hatfutsot, the Diaspora museum; drive around the main streets of Tel Aviv, the center of business and entertainment in Israel. Also known as the "White City," Tel Aviv was declared as a UNESCO world cultural heritage site for its collection of over 4,000  Bauhaus style buildings. Stop at Rabin Square, the site of assassination of Prime Minister Itzhak Rabin in 1995. Continue to Old Jaffa, one of the oldest port cities in the world; Visit the ancient ruins and walk along the Artists Quarter. Visit Neve Tzedek, the first neighborhood of Tel Aviv, built in 1887, following by Nachalat Binyamin, the pedestrian mall of the city where you can enjoy live street music, arts, crafts and handmade jewelry. Overnight Tel-Aviv


DAY 5 Saturday

TEL AVIV - FREE DAY AT LEISURE

Enjoy the great beach in Tel Aviv


DAY 6 Sunday

CAESAREA / HAIFA / ACRE / ROSH HANIKRA

Drive north to Caesarea, once the Roman capital of the region. See the excavations of the crusaders' city, the aqueduct and the amphitheatre which has been restored as a concert venue. Proceed to Haifa for a panoramic view from Mt. Carmel and visit "AF AL PI CHEN", the naval museum of the illegal immigration to Israel at the time of the British mandate. Drive to Acre; walk along the old harbor and local market. Continue to the northern most point of Israel at Rosh Hanikra, descend by cable into the limestone Grottoes. Overnight at a Kibbutz guesthouse


DAY 7 Monday

DAY 7 Monday

SAFED / GOLAN HEIGHT / KIBBUTZ

Drive to Safed, center of Kaballa movement. Visit the JOSEPH CARO and the HA' ARI synagogues, the most important synagogues in the city; stroll around the Artist's quarter. Enjoy a Jeep tour to the foot of the Golan. Continue to the Golan Heights; stop at an observation point over the city of Kuneitra, and the Syrian territory. Stop at Tel Facher, a former Syrian army camp; visit the Banias springs. Next, a visit to Tel-Hai see the "Roaring Lion" monument and learn about the heroic battle of Josef Trumpeldor and his comrades in 1920. Meet a kibbutz member and learn about their unique lifestyle. Overnight at a kibbutz guesthouse


DAY 8 Tuesday

TIBERIUS / BEIT ALPHA / GAN HASHLOSHA / JERUSALEM

Drive to Tiberius to visit Rambam's grave. Proceed to Beit Shean, also called "Scythopolis", the biggest archeological park in Israel with beautiful excavations from Roman and Byzantine periods. Stop at Beit Alpha to see the beautiful mosaic floor of a synagogue from the Byzantine period. Onto Gan Hashlosha, (Sachne) where you will have an opportunity to enjoy in the water springs located at the foot of the Gilboa mountain, the famous mountain on which King Saul was killed in the battle against the philistines. Continue via the Jordan valley to Jerusalem. Stop at Mount Scopus for a blessing as you enter the city. Overnight Jerusalem


DAY 9 Wednesday

DAY 9 Wednesday

JERUSALEM : OLD CITY

Tour the old city of Jerusalem. Start with a visit of the tomb of King David on Mt. Zion. Walk along the Cardo, the ancient Roman road. Visit the four Sephardic synagogues restored after 1967 war in the Jewish quarter. Tour the Western Wall Tunnels. Next up, the Davidson center and walk through the Roman Cardo, to the local Arab bazaar. Continue through Jaffa gate to David's Tower museum and see the ancient remains of the city beginning with the first Temple period. Overnight Jerusalem


DAY 10 Thursday

JERUSALEM : NEW CITY

Depart to Mea Shearim and learn about the unique lifestyle of the ultra orthodox communities. Drive by the Knesset, Israel's parliament and see the Menorah with the biblical emblems. Next visit the Israel Museum, the Shrine of the book where the Dead Sea scrolls are housed, and the new Holyland model - a miniature replica of Jerusalem as it was during the second temple period. Drive to Mount Herzl, the military cemetery and Yad Vashem, the memorial to the Holocaust. Visit the Ammunition hill, a former Jordanian army stronghold, conquered by the Israeli army in the Six Day War, and converted into a national memorial site and museum, Overnight Jerusalem

* Optional: For families who wish to celebrate a Bar/Bat Mitzvah ceremony at the Wall. This will be a perfect opportunity, while the rest of the group will tour Mea Shearim, arrangements will be made at the Wall with a Rabbi. At the end of the service, rejoin your tour group at the entrance of the Israel Museum


DAY 11 Friday

DAY 11 Friday

QUMRAN / MASADA / JERUSALEM

Drive through the Judean desert to the Dead Sea. Stop at Qumran, the site where the Dead Sea scrolls were found. Continue to Masada, ascend by cable car and tour the ancient fortress; visit the remains of the walls, palaces, synagogue, the bathhouses etc. Descend by cable car, next stop enjoy "Swim & Lunch" at the Dead Sea and spa facilities at one of the leading hotels in the area. Time to float at the Dead Sea and enjoy all the minnerals that it has to offer us. Return to Jerusalem. Overnight Jerusalem


DAY 12 Saturday

JERUSALEM - FREE DAY AT LEISURE. OVERNIGHT IN JERUSALEM

Enjoy a stroll on your own at the Old City of Jerusalem. Over night Jerusalem


DAY 13 Sunday

DAY 13 Sunday

TIMNA / UNDERWATER OBSERVATORY / EILAT

Travel south through the Negev desert. Visit Timna and see the copper mines and King Solomon's pillars and marvel at the huge multi-colored rock formations. Continue to Eilat and stop to visit the Underwater Observatory, one of the largest sea-aquariums in the world, built into a coral reef. Overnight Eilat


DAY 14 Monday

DAY 14 Monday

FREE DAY IN EILAT or OPTIONAL DAY TO PETRA

Enjoy a free day in Eilat or Optional Day Tour to Petra: After assistance with visa to the Jordanian border, drive straight away to Petra through desert highways, your ultimate destination is the astonishing rose-red city of Petra which was built by the Nabateans (An early Arab tribe). Petra was renowned for its massive architecture, pools, dams and water channels. Petra is the legacy of the Nabateans who settled in the south of Jordan more than 2000 years ago. The visit begins with the possibility of a short horseback-riding for about 700 m. until the entrance of the Siq, which is about 1.2 km long (walking distance). There is a possibility to rent a chariot (extra) to get inside Petra and back to the gate outside. Petra is famous for its huge monuments such as the Treasury, Royal Tombs, the Court, Roman theater, Roman Street, Qassier El- Bint (Palace of Pharaoh's daughter) and many other smaller monuments which fascinate the visitors. The city itself is almost 45 square km and is considered to be the second wonder of the world. After the visit, time for lunch in a nice restaurant. After lunch drive back to border. On the way, a short visit to Aqaba with the possibility to stop and take a walk around. Transfer to the border at around 18:00 p.m and crossing back to Eilat. Overnight Eilat


DAY 15 Tuesday

DAY 15 Tuesday

MITZPE RAMON / SDE BOKER / TEL AVIV

Depart Eilat via Mitzpe Ramon. Stop to gaze into the Ramon crater, a geological wonder. Proceed to Sde Boker and see Ben Gurion's hut and grave overlooking the magnificent Zin valley. Stop for a camel riding experience and a visit to an authentic Bedouin tent, learn about the Bedouin hospitality and enjoy a light lunch. Continue to Hatzerim and visit Israel's Air Force museum to view the planes and equipment and to hear the story of this brave fighting force. Drive back to Tel-Aviv. Overnight Tel Avi


DAY 16 Wednesday

TRANSFER TO BEN GURION AIRPORT FOR YOUR FLIGHT BACK HOME

Aboard the transatlantic flight, with time to think about your exciting visit and vibrant memories, you can start planning your next visit to Israel! Arrive back home the same day


Included Services:

  • Welcome to Israel meet & greet upon arrival by an IBMT Tours representative   
  • Sharing transfer on arrival and departure (from/to Ben Gurion Airport)                    
  • 14 nights accommodation on BED & BREAKFAST
  • 2 Dinners at kibbutz hotel Lavi
  • Lunch and Spa at the Dead Sea area
  • Light lunch in a Bedouin tent of the way back from Eilat
  • 10 touring days in a Deluxe air-conditioned motor coach 
  • Jeep tour in the Galilee
  • Professional licensed English speaking guide
  • All transport and entrance fees to the sites visited as per itinerary

 

Not included services:

  • Airfare & Departure taxes
  • Tips to guide/driver & hotel staff
  • Travel Insurance
  • Personal extras and meals not mentioned above
  • Optional Petra Day Tour is offered at the cost of  USD $280/person. Please note: Border tax and visa to Jordan to be paid locally, approx USD $130/person.

 

*The hotels appearing in the table might be replaced with similar ones

**Our Jewish tours are Kosher and Shomer Shabbat (Shabbat observant)