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Home , Ein Gedi, Gadot, Hula Valley, Kfar Blum, Mount Gilboa

Sample Family Trip

Suggested Itinerary

9 days • 8 nights

DAY 1 • ARRIVAL / Welcome to ! After arriving into Ben Gurion Airport, meet the driver and transfer to the hotel in Tel Aviv. This evening, take a stroll along Tel Aviv’s port and enjoy dinner at a local restaurant.

Overnight, Tel Aviv

Tel Aviv

DAY 2 • TEL AVIV This morning, visit the multimedia Museum, to learn more about the fight for Israeli independence and the development of the renowned Israeli army.

Afterward, enjoy lunch at a beachfront restaurant followed by an afternoon of Palmach Museum relaxation on Tel Aviv’s beach, situated along the sparkling waters of the Mediterranean.

This evening, see an exciting performance by the Mayumana dance group. Inspired by the beat band “Stomp,” Mayumana adds uniquely Israeli elements to its pulsating mixture of music, beat, movement humor and joy (TBC). Following the show, enjoy dinner at a local restaurant in Old .

Overnight, Tel Aviv Jaffa

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DAY 3 • WESTERN COAST / NORTH After checking out of the hotel, drive north to Caesarea, once the Roman capital of the . See the excavations of the Crusader’s city, the aqueduct and the amphitheatre that has been restored as a concert venue.

Continue to the nearby Druze Village of Daliyat el‐Carmel, located high on the

Roman aqueduct in Caesarea slopes of Mt. Carmel. During lunch in the village, dine on authentic Druze ethnic foods including olive oil, olives, pita bread, locally produced labaneh cheese and sweet baklava pastries. Following lunch, take a stroll through the bustling village and become immersed in the rich and unique culture of the Druze people.

An alternative to the Druze village is a visit to Zichron Ya’acov, a town rich with Zionist history. Take a stroll through the town’s cobblestone streets and learn about the many challenges that Zichron Ya'acov’s settlers faced in their attempts Druze Village to establish the town and how Baron Edmond de Rothschild’s vision for the growth of community and his commercial enterprise helped to establish the town.

Also known as the “Napa Valley” of Israel, Zichron Ya’acov is home to several world famous wineries. Enjoy lunch and a wine tasting at the Tishbi Winery’s restaurant overlooking part of the Tishbi Estate vineyards. Dine on local cuisine including fresh vegetables, homemade bread and fresh cheeses from the nearby Ya’acov and Meiri Dairy farms, and taste some of the spectacular wines produced here. Zichron Ya’acov Next, choose 1 of the 3 options below:

Option 1: Drive north to Acco, an underground crusader city and one of the only cities never conquered by sea. Explore the gates, towers, tunnels and secret passageways of this ancient city before visiting the famous Acco Prison, built by the Turks and later used by the British to imprison members of the underground.

Acco Option 2: Continue to the port city of . Go to Mt. Carmel for a panoramic view of the entire Haifa bay. Continue to the magnificent Bahai Hanging Gardens, an UNESCO World Heritage site. Walk through the garden terraces to witness the beauty that many describe as the “eighth wonder of the world.”

Option 3: Drive to the Atlit Illegal Immigration Camp. Converted into a detention camp by the British Mandate, Atlit imprisoned thousands of Jewish immigrants upon arriving into Israel. During a tour of the camp, experience the trauma of the immigrants who were subjected to imprisonment so soon after their release from Nazi extermination camps. Haifa

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Later this afternoon, visit Rosh Hanikra, the northernmost point on the Mediterranean coast of Israel. Take a cable car ride from the mountain top down to sea level to see the magnificent grottos carved out of the limestone cliffs. Continue to the hotel to check in. This evening, enjoy dinner at the hotel.

This evening, head to Beit She’an and be transported through history to Israel’s Roman period. After a short presentation, stroll through the streets of the Rosh Hanikra Grotto excavated city of Scythopolis for a multi‐sensory and multi‐media tour. See audiovisual presentations projected onto giant screens on the columns, walls and even the tel behind the site. Meet local characters, experience the earthquake that destroyed the city in 749 CE and watch a performance in the Roman amphitheater.

Overnight, Guest House,

Beit Shean at night DAY 4 • After breakfast, depart the hotel for the mystical city of . Stroll through the blue‐painted alleys of this mystical city and learn about the origins of Kaballah, the famous rabbis that lived here and the artist’s community that remains.

Afterward, continue to the magnificent for a scenic golf cart tour along the migration route for birds in their journey between and .

An alternative option is a visit to the Top­Rope Adventure Park, located near Safed . A great activity for children 5 years and older, the Top Rope Adventure Park offers a rope‐course, rock climbing wall and zipline.

A third option is to go to the Manara Cliff, the highest cliff in Israel. Take a cable car ride to the top, stopping at various stations along the way that offer bungee trampolines, rock climbing, repelling, water slides and apple picking. At the top, take a dip in the childrens swimming pool before departing.

After lunch, take an exciting jeep ride to the foot of the . . During the jeep

Bungee Trampoline at the Manara tour, stop in Mitzpe , a former Syrian base and site of particularly harsh Cliff battles during the 1967 war. Walk through an old army bunker to see what life was like for soldiers manning the outpost.

Continue to the Springs, one of Israel’s most breathtaking natural treasures. Take a walk along the ancient paths to the Banias Waterfall, which gushes fresh water out of a limestone cave, creating natural pool‐like enclaves.

This evening, enjoy dinner at Decks Restaurant overlooking the .

Jeep Ride Overnight, Kibbutz Guest House, Galilee

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DAY 5 • NORTH / After breakfast and checking out, head to Gan Hashlosha, located at the foot of the , where King was killed in the battle against the . Take a dip in the natural hot springs and relax in the natural jacuzzi underneath the waterfalls.

Gan Hashlosha Following a picnic lunch, continue towards Jerusalem and stop at the Yad Kennedy Memorial, built in honor of former President John F. Kennedy. Designed as a tree stump to symbolize a life cut short, it has 51 pillars representing the United States of America and is almost 24 feet tall. Here, each person will have the opportunity to plant a tree and contribute to JNF’s ongoing afforestation efforts in Israel.

Upon arrival, drive to the Haas Promenade for a beautiful panoramic view of the city. This evening, enjoy dinner at a local restaurant in Jerusalem.

Planting a Tree Overnight, Jerusalem

DAY 6 • JERUSALEM After breakfast go to Jerusalem’s Old City for a walking tour. Enter through the Jaffa Gate and head straight to Ramparts Walk and take a jaunt along the walls of Jerusalem to see fascinating views of the Old City. Continue to the Western Wall, the last remaining retaining wall which enclosed the Temple Mount in the Western Wall Tunnels Second Temple Period. Continue to the Western Wall Tunnels, an incredible labyrinth of tunnels, arches and passageways that expose Jerusalem’s rich history, archeology and topography.

Following lunch in the colorful Mahene Yehuda Market, choose from one of the following options:

Option 1: Visit Emek Zurim Park and participate in an exciting (and easy) archeological dig: sifting through the debris taken out of Solomon’s stables Kotel under the Temple Mount. So far, many exciting objects have been found, from Second Temple pottery to Crusader ceramics, not to mention an inscription or two, coins, and all types of other things that were thrown into the cisterns under the Temple Mount platform over the last 2,000 years.

Option 2: Visit Ir for a tour of the City of David, which is the actual location of the Biblical City of Jerusalem captured by King David over 3,000 yrs. ago. Here, see the world's most significant archeological finds relating to the Biblical Period in Jerusalem, evidence of the more than 3000 year‐long Jewish presence in the city beginning with King David. Ir David Tunnel

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After dinner tonight, see the Light and Sound Show at the Tower of David, a cutting‐edge pyrotechnics show that unfolds with a blaze of images that the story of Jerusalem’s history.

Overnight, Jerusalem

The City of Light depicted in the footlights at the Tower of David

DAY 7 • JERUSALEM This morning, go to Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum & Memorial for a solemn tour. A sprawling complex of tree‐studded walkways leading to museums, exhibits, sculptures, and memorials, Yad Vashem tells the story of the Holocaust from a uniquely Jewish perspective, emphasizing the experiences of the individual victims through original artifacts, survivor testimonies and personal possessions. Yad Vashem

While some people are at Yad Vashem, take the children to the world famous Biblical Zoo, which houses animals from Biblical Times, a children’s petting zoo, “Noah’s Ark” Sculpture Playground and many other fun activities. If the kids don’t feel like walking, take the zoo train, which provides riders with a general overview of the zoo.

After lunch, spend the afternoon exploring parts of the “new city” of Jerusalem.

Petting Zoo at the Biblical Zoo Begin at the Knesset, Israel’s Parliament building. Take a guided tour and learn about how Israel’s government works. Afterward, stop by the famous Menorah, the emblem of the State of Israel.

Next, view the architectural splendor of Israel’s Supreme Court building before driving to the Hadassah Medical Center in Ein Kerem to see the Chagall stained glass windows. Chagall’s 12 exquisite stained‐glass windows depict the blessings that Jacob bestowed to each of his 12 sons, who later became the founders of the 12 Tribes of Israel. Chagall windows

Later this afternoon, the children will enjoy the Time Elevator, an exciting simulator ride through Jerusalem’s 3,000 year history. Amid crashing ceilings, splashing water, billowing smoke, stunning computer‐generated animation and other special effects, journey through Jerusalem's historic turning points beginning with the city of David and ending at the 1967 Six‐Day war.

Overnight, Jerusalem

Time Elevator

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DAY 8 • TEL AVIV After breakfast, make your way to Tel Aviv. Along the way, visit the Ayalon Institute, a secret bullet factory established by the Haganah in 1945. As the largest bullet factory during that time, it produced 2.25 million bullets from 1946 – 1948, completely in secret.

Ayalon Institute After lunch in Tel Aviv, choose from one of the following options:

Option 1: Visit Tel Aviv’s Safari Park, offering 250 acres of animal life. The uniqueness of the Safari is that many of the animals roam around freely, with no cages to confine them.

Option 2: Take advantage of some of Tel Aviv’s best shopping areas. Start at Nahalat Benyamin, the famous pedestrian street filled with musicians, handmade jewelry and artifacts. Continue to Tel Aviv’s own Soho on Shenkin Street, the lively and colorful street especially known for its unique shops, café Carmel Market life and youthful ambiance before ending at the open‐air Carmel Market.

Option 3: Spend a leisurely afternoon relaxing on the beach.

Later this afternoon, return to the hotel to prepare for Shabbat. Tonight, enjoy a special Shabbat dinner at the hotel.

Overnight, Jerusalem

Tel Aviv beach

DAY 9 • / After breakfast this morning, drive south towards the Dead Sea. Along the way, stop in the ancient oasis of and hike to the famous waterfall Nahal David. Proceed to Masada for a cable car ride to the top of the Herodian Palace Complex. This is the location of the ancient fortress where the Zealots made their last stand against the Romans before committing suicide in 73 AD. Cable Car Ride over Masada Next, descend to the depths of Dead Sea, for an afternoon at leisure. After lunch, take a swim in the buoyant waters of the Dead Sea, indulge in an optional spa treatment or simply relax at the beach.

Late this afternoon, begin the drive to Tel Aviv. Head to the airport for the return flight back to the USA.

Overnight, En Route Dead Sea

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