Our 2013 itinerary!

Day 1, Sunday, February 24, 2013 - Depart USA

Day 2, Monday, February 25 - Arrival in Israel / Jerusalem

Arrival at Ben Gurion Airport, where you will be met by our representative and transferred to your hotel.
Overnight in Tel Aviv two nights.

Day 3, Tuesday, February 26 - Tel Aviv

After breakfast, drive through the highlights of Tel Aviv, the city that “never sleeps”. Tour the Diaspora Museum and the Hall of Independence. Walk in the fascinating streets of Old Jaffa and Nave Zedek. Enjoy the beautiful view of Tel Aviv from Azrieli Tower. This is also one of the biggest shopping malls in Tel Aviv. Return to your hotel for dinner.

Day 4, Wednesday, February 27 - Beit Govrin/ Qumran / Masada / Dead Sea

Depart Tel Aviv to Beit Govrin for a “first hand” archaeological dig. Drive to the Dead Sea, the lowest point on earth, almost 1300 feet (400 meters) below sea level. Stop at Qumran to visit the site where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found. Drive along the shores of the Dead Sea to Masada. Ascend by cable car and tour the ancient fortress where the Zealots made their last stand against the Romans before committing mass suicide in 73 AD. Descend by cable car. Enjoy floating on the Dead Sea and drive to Jerusalem. Check in at your hotel. Enjoy dinner and overnight four nights in Jerusalem.

Day 5, Thursday, February 28 - Jerusalem: The Old City

After breakfast, drive to Mount Scopus and then to the Mount of Olives for a magnificent panoramic view of the Old and the New City of Jerusalem. Today we tour the Old City of Jerusalem. First stop on Mt. Zion to see the tomb of King David and the room of the Last Supper. Enter the walled city and walk to the City of David; see the archaeological gardens and tour the Davidson Center. Stop for a prayer at the Western Wall and walk through the newly restored Jewish Quarter. Visit the Roman Cardo, the Herodian Quarter and continue to the Western Wall. Walk along the Via Dolorosa to the church of the Holy Sepulchre. Return to your hotel.

Day 6, Friday, March 1 - Jerusalem: The New City

Drive to Ein Karem to visit the Church of Visitation and proceed to Yad Vashem, the memorial to the Holocaust. Visit the Shrine of the Book located at the Israel Museum, where the Dead Sea Scrolls are housed. Tour the model of Jerusalem as it was during the Second Temple period. Proceed to Bethlehem* to visit Rachel’s Tomb and the Church of Nativity. Return to your hotel.

Day 7, Saturday, March 2 - Shabbat (Sabbath) at leisure in Jerusalem

Enjoy breakfast and dinner at the hotel. Join synagogues in prayer or tour Jerusalem on your own.

Day 8, Sunday, March 3 - Jordan Valley, Beit She'an, Yardenit, Nazareth

Enjoy breakfast and depart Jerusalem. Drive north through the Jordan Valley for about 2.5 hours. We will stop at Beit She’an to see the excavations of the city where the Philistines hung the bodies of Saul and Jonathan. Drive to Yardenit, where the Jordan river leaves the Sea of Galilee, for a baptism ceremony for those who are interested. Drive to Nazareth via Cana of Galilee. Visit the Church of Annunciation, St. Joseph’s workshop and Mary’s Well. Visit Tzipori. Drive to your hotel for dinner and overnight. Overnight at your kibbutz hotel three nights.

Day 9, Monday, March 4 - Around the Sea of Galilee

After breakfast, arrive at the Sea of Galilee and Kibbutz Ginosar to see the ancient boat from the time of Jesus. Take a boat ride to Capernaum to visit the remains of the 2nd century synagogue. Proceed to Tabgha, the site of the Miracle of Fishes and Loaves, and visit the Church of Multiplication with its 4th century mosaic floor. Continue to Mount Arbel for a donkey ride. Tour Mount of Beatitudes, the place where Jesus delivered the sermon on the Mount.

Day 10, Tuesday, March 5 - Dan, Golan, Caesarea Phillippi, and Banias

Enjoy breakfast at the Kibbutz. Start the day with a short hike in the Tel Dan national reserve- a beautiful paradise that lies in the ruins of the ancient city of Dan. Walk the gorgeous trails leading through a dense forest, streams and the Chatzbani River. Continue to the Golan Heights to see the former Syrian bunkers, Kuneitra and the new Israeli town of Katzrin. Learn about the battles, the borders and the beauty of this important and strategic region. Tour Caesarea Phillippi and the Banias Springs. Return to your Kibbutz hotel for dinner and overnight.

Day 11, Wednesday, March 6 - Haifa, Megiddo, Caesarea, Tel Aviv, and back home

Depart Galilee and drive along the coastal plain. Stop in Haifa to stand at Mt. Carmel to view the Persian Gardens at the Bahai Temple. Stop at a Druze village to enjoy their hospitality and learn about this unique community. Continue to El-Maharrakah (meaning the “burning”), the site associated with Elijah’s altar. Proceed to Megiddo, identified as the site of Armageddon. Visit the archaeological excavations including the well-preserved water supply system. Stop in Caesarea, capital of Judea under the Romans. Visit the excavations of the ancient city, the Roman theatre and aqueduct. Arrive at Tel Aviv and enjoy farewell dinner before transfer to the airport for your night flight back home.