BAR/BAT MITZVAH EXPERIENCE
(with our Desert Adventure extension)

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

Day 2, Thursday: WELCOME TO ISRAEL!
Arrive at Israel's Ben Gurion Airport… Meet our guide and begin our journey… As we enter Jerusalem we stop at the Haas Promenade overlooking the City of Gold for a special "Shehechianu" ceremony… Check into our hotel… Welcome dinner this evening… Overnight Jerusalem.

Day 3, Friday: THE PATH TO ISRAEL'S FOUNDATION
Breakfast… Begin our day of touring at the new Mt. Herzl Museum… Continue to Mt. Herzl's military cemetery to visit the gravesites of Golda Meir, Theodore Herzl and Yitzhak Rabin… Next we tour the Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum, Israel's moving memorial to the victims of the Holocaust… We walk through Machane Yehuda Market as Jerusalemites busily shop for the approaching Shabbat…Mea Sherim for a look at Jerusalem's Ultra-Orthodox community… Special Kabbalat Shabbat with candle lighting at the Southern Wall…Greet Shabbat with the people of Jerusalem at the Western Wall… Special Shabbat dinner together at our hotel…Overnight Jerusalem.

Day 4, Saturday: SHABBAT SHALOM!
Breakfast… Optional Shabbat services this morning… This afternoon we enjoy a walking tour to Montefiores Windmill in Yemin Moshe… Walk through history in the Old City, exploring the Jewish Quarter, Cardo Market, and Christian Quarter… Exit through the Jaffa Gate… Overnight Jerusalem.

Day 5, Sunday: JERUSALEM OLD AND NEW
After breakfast, we begin our day at the Hadassah Hospital, where we view the magnificent Chagall Windows… Photo opportunity at the Knesset's bronze outdoor Menorah… Supreme Court… Take a fascinating tour of the tunnels under the Western Wall… Visit the Davidson Center and Southern Wall excavations… This afternoon enjoy some time at leisure for shopping in the Jewish Quarter and Cardo…Rehearsal for B'nai Mitzvah ceremony with Israeli rabbi… Overnight Jerusalem.

Day 6, Monday: CELEBRATING OUR B'NAI MITZVOT!
Early this morning we depart Jerusalem and head toward the Dead Sea Basin… Ascend Masada for our memorable Bar/Bat Mitzvah ceremony with an Israeli rabbi… Special celebratory kiddush on Masada!… Enjoy the mud baths and an unsinkable swim in the salty waters of the Dead Sea… For an authentic desert experience we enjoy a Camel ride with Bedouins…Return to Jerusalem…Gala farewell dinner and Gala Bar/Bat Mitzvah party… Overnight Jerusalem

Day 7, Tuesday: THE JORDAN VALLEY RIFT
Breakfast… Depart Jerusalem, traveling north through the Jordan Valley… Stop to view the Roman ruins of Beit Shean and the intricate mosaic floor and the Synagogue of Beit Alpha… Enjoy a refreshing swim at Gan Sachne… Arrive at our kibbutz for dinner together…Overnight at our kibbutz in the Galilee.

Day 8, Wednesday: NORTHERN ADVENTURES
After breakfast, we enjoy a jeep tour up to Golan Heights… View the archeological site at ancient Katzrin…Visit the mystical city of Safed, where we visit the ancient synagogues and Artists' Quarter… This afternoon we enjoy a special kayaking trip down the Jordan River (summer only)…Dinner and overnight kibbutz in the Galilee.

Day 9, Thursday: THE BEAUTY OF THE COAST
Breakfast… Depart the Galilee for our tour of Israel's west coast shoreline, beginning with the amazing grottoes in Rosh Hanikra… Visit the Crusader city of Akko, including the fortresses and British Prison… In Haifa we enjoy the stunning views of the Bahai Temple and Persian Gardens from atop Mt. Carmel… In Caesarea we explore the relics from ancient times, including the Roman Theater and aqueduct… Arrive in Tel Aviv and stop for a moment of reflection at Rabin Square… Free time for Dinner…Overnight Tel Aviv.

Day 10, Friday: DIGGING INTO HISTORY
After breakfast we journey to the Bet Guvrin region through the Haella Valley where the battle between David and Goliath took place… Take part in a unique "hands-on" experience at the archeological dig in the caves of Tel Maresha… Visit the Ayalon Institute, the underground manufacturer of bullets that saved the State of Israel during the War of Independence… Walk on the cobblestone streets in the Old City of Jaffa… Wonderful Shabbat dinner together…Overnight in Tel Aviv.

Day 11, Saturday: FREE DAY IN TEL AVIV
Breakfast… Enjoy the day at leisure… Optional Shabbat services this morning… Time on the beach or exploring the city…Overnight Tel Aviv.

Day 12, Sunday: RETURNING HOME
Departure to airport for our flight back to the United States.

OR An Amazing Desert Adventure to Mitzpe Ramon, Eilat, & Petra, Jordan!

Day 12, Sunday: ISRAEL'S DESERT BLOOMS
After breakfast, we depart Tel Aviv… Visit Ashkelon to view the ancient ruins… At the Yad Mordechai Kibbutz we visit the military memorial… Tour the Airforce Base outside Beer Sheva… In Sde Boker, we visit Ben Gurion's kibbutz and gravesite…Learn about the Solar Program of the Negev… At Ein Avdat, we enjoy the fresh water pools and beautiful natural surroundings… Arrival at Mitzpe Ramon… Dinner and overnight Ramon Inn.

Day 13, Monday: THE AMAZING RAMON CRATER
Early morning jeep tour into the amazing Ramon Crater… Continue to Eilat… Afternoon at leisure on the beaches in Eilat. Overnight Eilat.

Day 14, Tuesday: PETRA - THE EIGHTH WONDER OF THE WORLD
After breakfast, we cross the border into Jordan and begin our full day tour of Petra, the Red Rose City, the Eighth Wonder of the World… Explore the Nabatean City (as seen in Indiana Jones & the Last Crusade)… Walk through the Siq and view the ancient temples… Discover the famous Treasury, the Roman Theater, and view the Wadi before returning to Israel. Overnight Eilat.

Day 15, Wednesday: FUN IN THE SUN
Breakfast…. Cruise on the Red Sea including lunch… Visit the underwater aquarium… Afternoon at leisure in Eilat... Overnight Eilat.

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