Sunday
1:30 PM Depart Toronto, Pearson International Airport, terminal #3 on EL AL #104.
Check in 3 hours prior to departure.
Monday
7:40 AM Arrive Tel Aviv, Ben Gurion Airport.
Welcome to Israel, on arrival our representative will meet you and assist with your transfer to Jerusalem. Before entering the City of Gold, stop to participate in a Shehecheyanu ceremony at the Haas Promenade, which offers a fantastic view of the entire Jerusalem landscape including the sparkling Old City and surrounding walls. Check-in to the David Citadel, your home for the next 6 nights. Dinner at a local restaurant.
Accommodation: David Citadel
D
Tuesday
This morning, following breakfast at the hotel, enjoy “Neighbourhoods”, a fun and educational tour game where participants navigate a picturesque route through one of Jerusalem’s historic neighbourhoods, like Mea Shearim and the outdoor market Machane Yehuda. Enjoy the afternoon at leisure. This evening, head south to Genesis Land; here you will be greeted by Eliezer, Abraham's manservant, and by a train of camels which lead you down to Abraham's tent, where you will experience his legendary hospitality. At Genesis Land, the stories of the Bible come to life in the very landscape in which they took place
Accommodation: David Citadel
B,D
Wednesday
After breakfast, visit Yad Veshem memorial to the six million martyred Jews of the Holocaust. Experience the solemnity of the Children’s' Memorial, a testimony to the million and a half children who perished. Walk along the Path of the Righteous Gentiles to the Valley of the Destroyed Communities. Lunch at a local restaurant. Continue to Mt. Herzl, where famous Jewish leaders like Herzl, Ben Zvi, Jabotinsky are buried. Drive through the Givat Ram campus of the Hebrew University to the Israel Museum, site of the Shrine of the Book, where the Dead Sea Scrolls are displayed, as well as the Billy Rose Art Garden. Drive by the Knesset, the Israeli parliament. See the Supreme Court.
This evening, the Bnei Mitzvoth will meet with the Rabbi.
Accommodation: David Citadel
B,L
Thursday
Enter the Old City and head towards the Southern Wall. Here the Bar and Bat Mitzvahs in the group will celebrate. The atmosphere is tranquil; the view of the Judean Hills and the Mount of Olives is haunting. The congregation sits on the ancient, stone Hulda Steps, the original stairs leading to the Second Temple. Then visit the Davidson Centre, one of the largest and most significant archaeological sites in the country. Walk through the Jewish Quarter; see the Cardo, Hurva Square and the Burnt house. Descend into the Kotel Tunnels, an incredible labyrinth of tunnels, arches, and passageways, revealed through extensive archaeological excavations. Visit the City of David where the story began over 3,000 years ago, when King David left the city of Hebron for a small hilltop city known as Jerusalem, establishing it as the unified capital of the tribes of Israel. Years later, David's son, King Solomon, built the First Temple next to the City of David on top of Mount Moriah, the site of the binding of Isaac, and with it, this hilltop became one of the most important sites in the world.
This evening, celebrate the Bnei Mitzvoth with dinner and entertainment at a local restaurant.
Accommodation: David Citadel
B,D
Friday
Enjoy breakfast at the hotel, then head west to Latrun, site of a monastery which is well-known for its wines. Not far, visit the Armoured Corps Museum, an open-air exhibition of more than 200 tanks and other armoured vehicles. Continue south towards Beit Shemesh to visit the Soreq Cave, a central feature of the Avshalom Reserve - an underground world of beauty. Early evening, you may want to join the throng of worshippers gathering to greet the Sabbath at the Western Wall (Kotel).
Enjoy Shabbat dinner at the hotel.
Accommodation: David Citadel
B,D
Saturday
Following breakfast, descend from the hills of Jerusalem through the rugged Judean Wilderness to the rift valley at the Dead Sea. Arrive at the foot of Massada, built by Herod as a possible refuge against rebels but famous in history for being the last stand of the Jewish Zealots
against the Romans. Ascend by cable-car to the summit which has a magnificent view of the surrounding desolate terrain. See the excavations including the synagogue, Herod's Palace, water cisterns and bathhouses. Down below, change into bathing suits for a “float" in the buoyant and therapeutic waters of the Dead Sea. After lunch at the Hod Hotel, continue to the refreshing freshwater falls of Ein Gedi, where David hid from the wrath of King Saul.
Accommodation: David Citadel
B,L
Sunday
This morning head north along the Jordan Valley road to Beit Shean, an ancient city from the time of King Saul; see the astounding remains
of a Roman city. Continue to Kochav Hayarden (Belvoir), an impressive Crusader Fortress with a stunning view, overlooking the Jordan Valley and meandering Jordan River. Travel north along the western shore of the Kinneret to Tiberias one of the four sacred Jewish cities, built by the son of Herod the Great. Christians and Jews have lived side by side for two thousand years and so Tiberias is rich in Churches from the Crusader and Byzantine periods, as well as many synagogues from various Jewish sects. Enjoy a boat ride on the Kinneret. Following lunch at Decks restaurant, visit Bat Ya’ar, a genuine Israeli Dude Ranch, located in the hills of the northern Galilee. Continue to Safed, a small mountaintop city which was a centre of Jewish philosophy and mysticism, and boasts many 17th century synagogues. It is also known for its Artists' colony. Dinner at Kfar Blum.
Accommodation: Kfar Blum Guest House
B, L, D
Monday
Following breakfast, drive to Manara where the kids and the “kid” in you can enjoy zip lining, before heading to the picturesque Banias River and Waterfall, one of the sources of the Jordan River. The day continues with a Jeep tour; marvel at the beautiful natural scenery, gaining insight to the strategic complexity of the Golan. Enjoy water rafting on the Jordan River. Then nestled among the Kibbutzim and Moshavim of the Golan Heights is the town of Katzrin. Visit the Golan Heights Winery, founded in 1983. By combining state-of-the-art technology with traditional techniques, the company has succeeded in producing award-winning wines, firmly placing Israel on the international wine map. Located near Katzrin is a reconstruction of a Jewish village from Talmudic times. It features a reconstructed synagogue including a house furnished with domestic artifacts of the period.
Dinner at Kfar Blum
Accommodation: Kfar Blum Guest House
B,D
Tuesday
Head towards the coast and descend by cable car into the grottoes at Rosh Hanikra; observe their natural yet eerie beauty. Then, enter the port city of Akko, known in history as the eastern limit of Napoleon's conquests. Visit the underground Crusader city and the former
British prison, which housed Jewish patriots during the struggle for statehood and was made famous in the movie "Exodus".
Within its walls are labyrinthine networks of alleys and streets filled with life. Located in the hills of the Carmel range, visit a
Druze village; enjoy warm welcome home hospitality. Continue to Haifa, Israel's major port and an important centre of industry and commerce. See the beautiful terraced and sculptured gardens at the Bahai Shrine. Continue south along the coast road to the ancient city of Caesarea, one of the greatest archeological treasures of the entire Mediterranean. Much of this Roman city remains, including an aqueduct, theater, as well as acres of excavated houses, mosaics and palaces.
Enjoy the multi media presentation that brings Ceasarea back to life, frame by frame. A fascinating cinematic exhibition will take you on an enchanted voyage throughout the thrilling history of Caesarea.
Accommodation: David Intercontinental Hotel, Tel Aviv
B,L
Wednesday
Tel Aviv is a lively combination of entertainment venues, shopping malls, exotic markets, nonstop active nightlife, gorgeous golden beaches and wonderful restaurants. Visit the Palmach History Museum, an experiential museum, covering the Palmach legacy through the stories of individuals and groups. A fascinating story accompanied by three-dimensional decor, films and various effects incorporating documentary materials Continue to Independence Hall, the building where David Ben-Gurion declared Israel's independence on May 14, 1948. The building was restored in 1978, and preserved as it was on the evening of the declaration. Drive south to Rehovot to discover the Ayalon Institute, a secret military factory in the early pre-state days. Above ground, this appeared to be no more than a kibbutz. Eight meters below ground things were quite different; this was actually the largest bullet factory, where 45 people worked. At nearby Weizmann Institute visit the Clore Garden of Science, an outdoor science museum, designed to bring people of all ages closer to science in all its fascinating aspects. The garden enables the visitor to experience science through interactive exhibits that demonstrate the principles and natural phenomena that influence life. Farewell dinner at a local restaurant.
Accommodation: David Intercontinental Hotel, Tel Aviv
B,D
Thursday
6:00 AM Transfer from the hotel to Ben Gurion Airport.
9:20 AM Depart Tel Aviv, Ben Gurion Airport on EL AL #103
2:50 PM Arrive Toronto, Pearson International Airport, terminal #3
This itinerary is subject to change at the discretion of the guide and/or tour company.