Tour Route
Day 1: Welcome to Israel
Welcome, when you arrive at Ben Gurion airport and after going through passport control, one of our representatives will be waiting for you (in the arrivals hall) where they will welcome you and make sure you are taken straight to your hotel making your landing in Israel pleasant and problem free
Overnight stay:
Tel Aviv
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Day 2: Independence Hall, Mini Israel and Latrun
Following a lavish hotel breakfast we will start the day with a visit to Independence Hall, the site at which David Ben-Gurion declared the State of Israel in 1948; the first Jewish State in 2 millennia. These days the modest hall functions as a museum telling the moving story of how Israel got her independence. The next stop will be Latrun Police Station & Tank Museum, the site of several important battles during the War of Independence. It was only during the 1967 Six Day War that the site was recaptured from the Jordanians.
After this, we will travel down to Mini Israel Park, where all Israel's most famous sites are reproduced at a ratio of 1:25. Finally, the day will end at the underground bullet factory built by the Hagana in 1945. From the outside it looks like a simple kibbutz laundry room, but hidden below is a factory that produced two million bullets in the lead up to the War of Independence. We will then return to the Tel Aviv hotel.
Overnight stay:
Tel Aviv
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Day 3: Tel Aviv & Jaffa Tour
First stop will be the Diaspora Museum at the Tel Aviv University campus, tracing Judaism from the 2nd Temple period up until modern times and presenting the varied faces of Judaism, defined into the 6 groups of family, faith, community, culture, Jews in other lands, and the return to the Jewish homeland. Next we will pay a visit to Rabin Square and see the memorial that allows visitors to retrace the last moments of Yitzhak Rabin's life before the tragic assassination.
From here we will head to the Old Port & Market of Jaffa built over 4,000 years ago. The oldest port in the world is today one of the most picturesque areas in the region with authentic old alleyways, a beautiful park and unique restaurants. Then it is on to Neve Tzedek, the first neighbourhood of Tel Aviv which is restored to reflect its original Bauhaus buildings and artistic atmosphere. The neighbourhood has historically been home to many writers and artists. Finally, we will stop off at the Nahalat Binyamin Art Market. Twice a week, one of Tel Aviv's original streets bursts into life with a huge variety of crafts, art, and even massages on offer. This is the perfect place for buying souvenirs. We will then return to the hotel in Tel Aviv.
Overnight stay:
Tel Aviv
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Day 4: Day of Leisure in Tel Aviv
Take a day off in Tel Aviv, this is your time to explore Tel Aviv on Your Way...
For tourist information about Tel Aviv -
Click Here.
Overnight stay:
Tel Aviv
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Day 5: Caesarea, Acre and Rosh Hanikra Tour
Head north to Caesarea, the former Roman capital of Judaea, to see the Crusader excavations, the aqueduct, and the amphitheater which is now a prominent concert venue. Move on to Haifa's Mount Carmel for a stunning view of the region and visit "Af Al Pi Chen", the naval museum of illegal Jewish immigration to Israel during the British mandate. Proceed to Acre to visit the ancient harbor and take in the marketplace.
Continue up the most northern point of Israel's coastline to Rosh Hanikra where we ascend via cable car to the spectacular limestone grottoes situated on the water front. On top of Rosh Hanikra, we will also get a view of the Lebanese border with Israel.
Overnight stay:
Galilee
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Day 6: Safed, Tel Facher, Banias, Tel Hai
Following a tasty kibbutz breakfast we'll drive to the city of mysticism, Tsfat (also Safed). The home of Kabbalah is one of the four Holy cities of Israel, and has been a center of spirituality since the 1600s when the original Kabbalists came to live here. The city is a haven for art lovers with the amazing art market and famous candle shop, and history buffs will enjoy the exciting war stories, original cobblestone alleys, and medieval synagogues. From Tsfat we'll drive over to the Golan Heights for a memorable Jeep Tour. Experience the lush surroundings in style, taking in the variety of plant life and roaming animals.
Then we'll visit the ex-Syrian military base, Tel Facher, and learn about the Six Day War from one of the key locations of the war that changed the face of Israel in 6 days. The next stop will be the beautiful Banias Spring, home to picturesque waterfalls and streams among the lush green of the North. See the ancient remains of Herod's Temple in front of the caves.
Finally, we will learn about the battle of Tel Chai, the infamous 1920 battle led by Josef Trumpeldor to defend the Kibbutz against hundreds of Arab attackers. His last words "It is good to die for our country" are eternalized on the monument commemorating the hopeless battle. That night we will return to Kibbutz Lavi.
Overnight stay:
Galilee
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Day 7: Beit Shean, Beit Alpha, Gan Hashlosha
First off we'll visit Tiberius, an ancient town dating back to the 1st century on the world-famous Sea of Galilee. The town is home to the graves of famous Rabbis like the Rambam and Rabbi Akiva and there are fantastic stories to hear. The second stop is Beit She'an where King Saul was defeated in a ferocious battle against the Philistines. Later it was converted to a Greek city by Alexander the Great with colonnaded streets, theatres, temples and fountains. All this was unfortunately destroyed in an earthquake in the year 749 but the remains of the city can still be seen today.
From there it's on to Beit Alpha Synagogue, an excavated synagogue from the Byzantine era with a magnificently preserved mosaic floor depicting the Zodiac, the Binding of Isaac, and the Temple of Jerusalem. Onwards to Gan Hashlosha National Park, chosen by Time Magazine as one of the world's most beautiful parks. Here you can really relax in stunning surroundings, bathe in the hot springs and swim through the waterfalls. Finally, we will drive through the Jordan Valley to Jerusalem, stopping at Mount Scopus to receive a blessing upon entering the eternal capital of Jewish life.
Overnight stay:
Jerusalem
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Day 8: Jerusalem Old City
There's nothing like waking up in the Holy city of Jerusalem. The day will start with a visit to David's Tomb on Mount Zion, where many come to pay homage to the Israelite hero who notably unified the tribes with a central capital. Then we will go down into the Jewish Quarter, a hectic neighbourhood established in the 8th century BC which houses countless historical landmarks all within one square kilometre. We will see the four Sephardic Synagogues, where residents took refuge for two weeks during the War of Independence.
They were restored in 1967 when the Old City was recaptured. We'll then move on to the Archaeological Park where you will experience Jerusalem as it was on the eve of the Second Temple's destruction by the Romans. You'll see a virtual model of how the Temple looked, walk through the ancient markets, and see the staircase that led up to the Holiest spot in Judaism, the Holy of Holies. From here you'll experience the Western Wall Tunnels Tour, the underground remnants of the Western Wall and Second Temple. This is the closest Jews can come to where the Ark stood, connecting us to 3,000 years of our Jewish ancestors.
The final stop will be the Tower of David, a museum of Jerusalem's history inside a converted military tower used up until 1967. The museum features the most complete collection of artefacts stretching over Jerusalem's 4,000 year history. That night we will return to the tower for a spectacular depiction of the city's many conquests, using awesome special effects to tell the tale.
Overnight stay:
Jerusalem
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Day 9: Jerusalem New City
The day will begin at the Western Wall, the supporting wall of the ancient Israelite Temple closest to the Holy of Holies. This most famous of Jewish sites is visited by countless tourists and pilgrims every day who come to pray at the historic center of Judaism and touch the ancient stone. It is traditional to write a prayer on piece of paper and stick it in the wall. Next on our schedule is the Israel Museum which houses the Dead Sea Scrolls, one of the most fascinating archaeological discoveries of the last century. This is the country's largest cultural institution and one of the most important art and archaeology museums in the world.
After this we will visit the national cemetery Mount Herzl, where many soldiers are buried as well as most of the State's political leaders, including Theodore Herzl in pride of place at the peak of the mountain. The cemetery shows just how many people have had to pay with their lives to secure Israel's freedom over such a short amount of time. After that we will take a tour of the Holocaust memorial institution, Yad Vashem, an incredibly moving museum as well as a center of research and education.
The final stop of the day is Ammunition Hill, where we will learn about the four hour battle that took place here. The bunkers have been reconstructed so that you can easily imagine and recreate the historic battle that led to the reunification of Jerusalem. At the end of the day we will return to the Jerusalem hotel.
Overnight stay:
Jerusalem
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Day 10: Masada, Qumran and the Dead Sea
After breakfast we begin driving towards the Dead Sea region in the famous Judean Desert. We stop at the Qumran Caves where the famous Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered. After our visit at the site we continue our drive to the iconic Mount Masada, while driving along a road overlooking the Dead Sea, an incredible experience in itself. When we arrive at Masada we ascend the mountain with the help of a cable car giving us one of the most incredible views in the world. After we arrive at the mountain plateau we begin our tour of the mountain top fortress where one of the Jewish people's most famous stories of heroism unfolded. The fortress is one of the oldest remains in the world – over 2,000 years old.
After our visit to Masada we continue on to the Dead Sea beach where you'll be able to enjoy a dip in the sea at the lowest point in the world. Apart from being the lowest point on Earth and having the highest concentration of salt in water (up to 100 times normal water) the water has health benefits for all forms of skin disease. Besides of course the fact that you can simply float on the water without any help. After we have enjoyed the sea water and Dead Sea mud (there are showers and rest rooms at the site) we begin our drive back to the hotels.
Overnight stay:
Jerusalem
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Day 11: Day of Leisure in Jerusalem
Take a day off in Jerusalem, this is your time to explore Jerusalem Your Way...
For tourist information about Jerusalem -
Click Here.
Overnight stay:
Jerusalem
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Day 12: Last Day in Israel
Here it is, the last day has arrived, which is in fact a free day. You will have to vacate your hotel room at 11am so that if by chance your flight is in the evening you can leave your luggage at the hotel and enjoy the rest of your last day to the full. As always we will be happy to help you plan a tour for the last day, let us know what interests you and we will assist you in making a plan for your last day in Israel. 4 hours before your flight departure we will come to pick you back to the airport.
The Yourway Team wishes you a pleasant and safe flight and hopes to see you again soon in Israel.
Additional Information
The tour includes:
- Eleven nights' accommodation on Bed & Breakfast basis except Kibbutz Lavi on a Half Board basis (Breakfast and Dinner). Click here for Hotels Class & Prices.
- Eight touring days as per itinerary, with English speaking guide.
- Lunch and Spa in the Dead Sea area (Day 10).
- Jeep tour in the Galilee.
- Two Dinners in Kibbutz Lavi Hotel Galilee.
- Entrance fees to the sites visited as per itinerary.
- Transfers from/ to Ben Gurion Airport Tel Aviv.
- Hotel pick-up and drop-off.
- Transport by air-conditioned vehicle/bus.
The tour does not include:
- Lunch, dinner, drinks (Unless otherwise specified above).
Notes:
- The tour departs on Wednesdays only.
- All the tour guides are certified by the Israeli Ministry of Tourism.
- A moderate dress code is required to enter the holy places. Knees and shoulder must be covered.
- Comfortable walking shoes are recommended.
- Confirmation will be received 24 - 48 hours post booking.