Day 1, Wednesday: Departure from the U.S.

Day 2, Thursday: Arrival Israel, Ben Gurion Airport… Meet our guide and begin our journey to Jerusalem… We stop at the Haas Promenade for a special "SH'HEKIANU!" ceremony overlooking the City of Gold…Welcome dinner this evening…Overnight Jerusalem.

Day 3, Friday: Breakfast... This morning we visit Ammunition Hil, site of one of the toughest battles during the Six Day War, and now a national monument commemorating the event…We next visit Yad Vashem, Israel's memorial to the victims of the Holocaust…At the new Mt. Herzl Museum, we learn about the life and work of one of Israel's most important historical pioneers… Continue to Mt. Herzl's military cemetry, where we have the chance to visit the gravesites of Golda Meir, Theodore Herzl and Yitzhak Rabin… At the Machane Yehuda outdoor market, we see Jerusalemites busily shopping for the approaching Shabbat… In Mea Sherim, we get a glimpse of Jerusalem's Ultra-Orthodox community… This evening we enjoy a special Kabbalat Shabbat with candle lighting at the Southern Wall, and a moment for reflection at the Western Wall… Special Shabbat dinner together at our hotel…Overnight Jerusalem.

Day 4, Saturday: Breakfast... Optional Shabbat services this morning at one of the local synagogues…This afternoon we take a walking tour to Montefiores Windmill in Yemin Moshe… View Mount Zion…Enter the Old City and walk along the narrow cobblestone streets of the Jewish Quarter…Visit the Cardo's ancient marketplace…Continue through the Christian Quarter and visit the Citadel Museum of History at David's Tower…Exit through the Jaffa Gate… Enjoy the evening at leisure... Overnight Jerusalem.

Day 5, Sunday: Breakfast... Begin our day with a tour of the Hadassah Hospital, stopping to admire the magnificent Chagall Windows…Outside the Knesset building we pause for a group photo under the famous bronze Menorah …View the Supreme Court buildings… We then re-enter the Old City for a fascinating visit to the tunnels under the Western Wall… At the Davidson Center, we enjoy an in-depth archaeological and historical introduction to the Jerusalem Archaeological Park including a real-time virtual reality reconstruction of the Herodian Temple Mount as it stood prior to its destruction by Roman troops in the year 70 CE...Southern Wall excavations… Enjoy leisure time for shopping in the Jewish Quarter and Cardo…Rehearsal for B'nai Mitzvah ceremony with Israeli rabbi… Overnight Jerusalem.

Day 6, Monday: After breakfast we depart Jerusalem, traveling north…Visit Mini-Israel, a park displaying miniature replications of famous sites and cities throughout Israel… Marvel at the outdoor armored corps museum at Latrun…Continue north, passing through Caesarea, where we stop to explore the ancient ruins including the Roman Theater and aqueduct… In Haifa we stop atop Mt. Carmel for breathtaking panoramic views of the Bahai Temple and Persian Gardens…Visit the Crusader city of Akko, for an in-depth look at the fortresses and British Prison… At Rosh Hanikra, we view the grottoes carved into the chalk cliffs…Continue to the Galilee, where we enjoy dinner and overnight at our kibbutz.

Day 7, Tuesday: Breakfast... Enjoy a morning jeep tour up to Golan Heights…Visit the ancient synagogue ruins at Katzrin…Continue to Safed, center of Jewish mysticism, where we walk through the Artist Colony and visit the beautiful ancient synagogues… This afternoon we enjoy an outdoor adventure, with a special kayaking trip down the Jordan River…Dinner and overnight kibbutz in the Galilee.

Day 8, Wednesday: After breakfast this morning we depart the Galilee and journey through the Jordan Valley… Along the way we stop to view the Roman ruins of Beit Shean and intricate mosaic floor and the Synagogue at Beit Alpha… Enjoy a refreshing swim in the warm spring waters of Gan Sachne…Arrival at Dead Sea hotel and spa…For those who wish, there will be time to explore the Flour Caves …Dinner and overnight Dead Sea.

Day 9, Thursday: Breakfast... Ascend Masada for a moving and memorable Bar/Bat Mitzvah ceremony… Enjoy a special kiddush… Tour King Herod's ancient fortress and learn about the Jewish Zealots' last stand against the approaching Roman armies... Descend Masada and continue through Arad to Be'er Sheva…Visit a Bedouin community, enjoying their hospitality and a camel ride… Continue to the Air Force Museum before arriving at our hotel in Tel Aviv... Overnight Tel Aviv.

Day 10, Friday: Breakfast... Today we enjoy a city tour of Tel Aviv, beginning at Rabin Square… We then visit the Bet Guvrin region, traveling through Haella Valley where the battle between David and Goliath took place…Participate in a unique "hands-on" experience of an archeological dig in the caves of Tel Maresha… Next we visit the Ayalon Institute, the secret underground manufacturer of bullets that saved the State of Israel during the War of Independence… Our afternoon takes us to Nachalat Binyamin,the pedestrian area by the sea full of artisans and entertainment…Carmel Market…Walk the ancient streets of the Old City of Jaffa…This evening we have a wonderful Shabbat dinner together…Overnight in Tel Aviv.

Day 11, Saturday: Breakfast... Enjoy the day at leisure, with optional Shabbat services this morning … Spend time on the beach or explore one of the city's neighborhoods before enjoying a Gala farewell dinner and Gala Bar/Bat Mitzvah party…Overnight Tel Aviv.

Day 12, Sunday: Breakfast before transfering to the airport for our flight home.

OR An Amazing Desert Adventure to Mitzpe Ramon-Eilat-Petra

Day 12, Sunday: After breakfast, we depart Tel Aviv and travel to Ashdod, Israel's man made port… In Ashkelon, we explore the ancient ruins… Visit the Yad Mordechai Kibbutz before continuing to Sde Boker, Ben Gurion's kibbutz and gravesite…Learn about the innovative Solar Program developed in the Negev… At Ein Avdat, we enjoy the fresh water pools and beautiful natural surroundings… Arrival at Mitzpe Ramon for dinner and overnight at the Ramon Inn.

Day 13, Monday: Early morning jeep tour into the amazing Ramon Crater… Continue to Eilat, where we enjoy an afternoon at leisure on the beaches... Overnight Eilat.

Day 14, Tuesday: After breakfast we enjoy a full day tour to Jordan… Arrive in Petra, the Red Rose City, the Eighth Wonder of the World… We visit the Nabatean City (as seen in Indiana Jones & the Last Crusade) and walk through the awe-inspiring Siq... View the ancient temples, the famous Treasury and Roman Theater… Stop at the Wadi as we return to the border and cross back into Israel... Overnight Eilat.

Day 15, Wednesday: Breakfast... Enjoy a Snorkeling cruise on the Red Sea… After lunch we visit the underwater aquarium for a look at the life thriving in the Israeli waters… Afternoon at leisure in Eilat... Overnight Eilat.

Day 16, Thursday: After breakfast, we depart for our flight to Tel Aviv to connect with our flight home, arriving home the same day.

The memories last forever!!!
*Itineraries subject to change