Day 1
Sunday 2:40 PM Depart Toronto, Pearson International Airport, terminal #3 on EL AL #104. Check in 3 hours prior to departure.
Day 2
Monday 7:45 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 Inbal Hotel., your home for the next 4 nights. Welcome dinner at the hotel.
Accommodation: Inbal Hotel
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Day 3
Tuesday Breakfast at the hotel. 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. Enter the new Holocaust History Museum, combining the best of Yad Vashem’s expertise, resources and state-of-the-art exhibits to take Holocaust remembrance well into the 21st century. 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; the area of its jurisdiction is the entire State. This afternoon enjoy “Neighbourhoods”, a fun and educational tour programme where participants navigate a picturesque route through one of Jerusalem’s historic neighbourhoods, like Mea Shearim and the outdoor market Machane Yehuda. This evening, the Bnei Mitzvoth will meet with the Rabbi.
Accommodation: Inbal Hotel
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Day 4
Wednesday 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. Following lunch at one of hotels located in the Dead Sea area, continue to the refreshing freshwater falls of Ein Gedi, where David hid from the wrath of King Saul.
Before returning to Jerusalem stop at 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: Inbal Hotel
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Day 5
Thursday Enter the Old City via the Dung Gate 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 at a local restaurant.
Accommodation: Inbal Hotel
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Day 6
Friday 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. Visit nearby Gan Hashlosaha (Sachne) – time permitting. Then 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. Visit Bat Ya’ar, a genuine Israeli Dude Ranch, located in the hills of the northern Galilee, enjoy a hearty lunch before continuing 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 Hagoshrim.
Accommodation: Hagoshrim Kibbutz Guest House
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Day 7
Saturday 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; enjoy 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. Time permitting, visit a reconstruction of a Jewish village from Talmudic times located near Katzrin, featuring a reconstructed synagogue.
Enjoy dinner on the shores of the Kinneret at Decks Restaurant.
Accommodation: Hagoshrim Kibbutz Guest House
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Day 8
Sunday 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 a warm welcome home hospitality. Continue to Haifa, Israel's major port and an important centre of industry and commerce. Marvel at the beautiful terraced and sculptured gardens at the Bahai Shrine. Enjoy a light lunch and the hospitality in a Druze village located in the hills of the Carmel range. Then 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. Enoy 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: Renaissance Hotel, Tel Aviv
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Day 9
Monday Tel Aviv is a lively combination of entertainment venues, shopping malls, exotic markets, nonstop active nightlife, gorgeous golden beaches and wonderful restaurants. Head towards Ramat Aviv to visit the Palmach History Museum, an experiential museum, covering the Palmach legacy through the stories of individuals and groups. The manner of presentation is extremely innovative. There are no displays or documents, but rather an account of a fascinating personal story accompanied by three-dimensional decor, films and various effects incorporating documentary materials. Then on 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. Farewell dinner at a Beny HaDayag, a local restaurant located in Tel Aviv’s trendy New Port area.
Following dinner transfer to Ben Gurion Airport.
9:50 PM Check in for your flight to Toronto
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Day 10
Tuesaday
12:50 AM Depart Tel Aviv, Ben Gurion Airport on El Al #103
7:45 AM Arrive Toronto, Pearson International Airport, terminal #3.
This itinerary is subject to change at the discretion of the guide and/or tour company.