 | 9 Day Private Israel Tour |
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|  Participants on the Best of
Israel Tour have told us that this trip is the perfect choice for a first-time
traveler or repeat visitor seeking a comprehensive tour of Israel. One
participant wrote: “I wanted to thank all of you for making my Israel tour a
phenomenal experience. I can't think of single thing I would have done
differently. The tour educator was great, the trip was coordinated without
a hitch, and I was provided with knowledge, spirituality and cultural immersion.
It was a perfect blend!” | | | | Tour Highlights | - The Jezzar Pasha Mosque in Acre
- Special tour to the Western
Wall Tunnels and the City of David
- The new Davidson Center in
Jerusalem
- The refurbished Yad Vashem
complex in Jerusalem
- Visit Masada and swim in the
Dead Sea (optional with additional cost)
- Rafting on the Jordan River
(seasonal)
- Jeep tour on the Golan
Heights
- Explore Caesarea National
Park
Trip Includes
- 7 nights
accommodation in selected hotels
- 1 night Tel
Aviv
- 2 nights
Galilee
- 1 night
Haifa
- 3 nights
Jerusalem
- Breakfast daily and 5
dinners
- Sightseeing per itinerary in
a modern air-conditioned motor coach with panoramic windows, reclining seats
and footrests
- Services of a friendly and
professional English-speaking Expedition Educator throughout the
trip
- Entrance fees per
itinerary
- All hotel and airport portage and
tipping included
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| DAY ONE:
Sunday DEPARTURE Overnight: Flight DAY TWO:
Monday ARRIVAL IN ISRAEL - Land in Israel. Welcome by our
representative and assistance with arrival formalities at Ben Gurion
International Airport.
- Transfer to your hotel in
Tel Aviv, known as the ‘city that never sleeps.'
- Check into your hotel.
- Pick up from your hotel for
orientation and dinner in Tel Aviv with your tour educator.
- Visit the Jaffa
Overlook for an introduction to Tel Aviv at one of its important,
historical reference points.
- Enjoy a Middle-Eastern style
dinner with a Yemenite touch at Maganda, serving a varied
selection of salads and grilled meats, located in Tel Aviv's Yemenite Quarter.
Overnight: Tel Aviv DAY THREE:
Tuesday ALONG THE COAST - Breakfast at your hotel.
- Check out and departure.
- Begin the day with an introduction
and special visit to Independence Hall, site of David Ben
Gurion's monumental proclamation of the State of Israel in December 1948.
- Stroll down Rothschild
Boulevard, Tel Aviv's Bauhaus architecture district that is
recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage site and led to Tel Aviv's other name,
the ‘White City'.
- Visit the Nachalat
Binyamin pedestrian mall, with its restored buildings and sidewalk
artists, and continue onto the colorful Carmel Market and then to Sheinkin, a
trendy Tel Aviv shopping street.
- Lunch on your own.
- Depart Tel Aviv.
- Guided visit to
Caesarea, one of ancient Israel's most important cities
during the Roman Period. Visit the Herodian Theater and new excavations along
the Mediterranean shore, concluding with a visit to the 900-year-old Crusader
city built on the same site.
- Walk through the 2,000 year old underground water tunnels at
Park Alona, which once brought water to Caesarea (weather
permitting, water shoes recommended) or visit to Zichron
Ya'acov, one of the first communities established by the early
Zionist pioneers, including Wine
tasting.
- Dinner at the
guesthouse.
Overnight: Kibbutz guesthouse, Upper
Galilee DAY FOUR:
Wednesday NATURE AND SECURITY - Breakfast at your kibbutz
guesthouse.
- Walk through the Tel Dan
Nature Reserve located on the largest tributary of the Jordan River
and near the biblical settlement of the tribe of Dan.
- Take a jeep tour
climbing into the Golan Heights, following in the footsteps
of IDF soldiers and their battles in the Six Day War, Enjoy the beautiful,
natural scenery and gain insight into the strategic complexity of the Golan,
followed by a tour of the Golan Heights.
- Cross the Golan
Plateau to the border with Syria and observe the abandoned city of
Kuneitra and the United Nations outpost located nearby.
- Lunch on your own.
- Enjoy rafting or
kayaking on the Jordan River (weather permitting, water shoes
recommended) or visit the Hula Nature
Reserve and the Ophoria Interactive Experience, connecting birds,
water and the Zionist endeavor.
- Return to your kibbutz for dinner
at the guesthouse.
Overnight: Kibbutz guesthouse,
Upper Galilee DAY FIVE:
Thursday THE GALILEE AND THE CARMEL - Breakfast at your kibbutz
guesthouse.
- Check out and departure.
- Explore Safed,
ancient and modern center of Jewish mysticism, and the city's contemporary
artists' colony, including guided visits to: The Ari,
Caro or Abuhav synagogues with their great
stories and mystical messages, followed by a shopping stroll through the
quaint artists' colony and galleries.
- Drive north to Rosh
Hanikra, a collection of rock grottoes at the very northern tip of
Israel. Rosh Hanikra was created when the strong Mediterranean waters carved
subterranean tunnels out of the soft limestone rock, creating beautiful caves
and formations.
- Lunch on your own.
- Visit Acre
(Akko), a UNESCO Heritage Site with history ranging from the Crusader period
into modern times.
- Tour includes guided visits to the
newly renovated Crusader city, Jezzar Pasha
Mosque, one of the most important mosques of Israel's Muslim
community, and the Ottoman Fortifications around the city.
- Continue to Haifa.
- Check into your
hotel.
- Dinner on your own.
Overnight: Haifa
DAY SIX:
Friday THE LAYERS OF JERUSALEM Breakfast at your hotel.
Check out and departure. Stand on top of Mount Carmel for a
scenic overlook of the Haifa Bay and Bahai
Gardens and Shrine, one of the holiest sites of the Bahai religion.
Drive to Jerusalem via the
Trans-Israel Highway for a close up view of the ‘Security Barrier' along the
seam line between Israel and the Palestinian territories. Upon entering Jerusalem stop to
recite the ‘shehechiyanu' blessing, traditionally recited
upon entering Jerusalem, followed by an introduction to the city. Guided visit through the
Old City of Jerusalem, travelling through 3,000 years of
Jewish life. Experience the sites, smells, and
tastes of Jerusalem while walking through the Machaneh Yehuda
market, with lunch on your own. Check into your hotel. Optional Kabbalat Shabbat
services at local synagogues in Jerusalem, on your own. Festive Shabbat Dinner at the
hotel.Overnight: Jerusalem DAY
SEVEN: Saturday SHABBAT IN JERUSALEM (NO
GUIDE) - Breakfast at your hotel.
- Optional Shabbat services.
- Optional Day visit to
Masada and the Dead Sea, with lunch on own (optional with additional
cost).
- Afternoon at leisure.
- Enjoy dinner on your own in
Jerusalem, at a choice of a wide array of restaurants.
Overnight:
Jerusalem DAY EIGHT:
Sunday HEAVENLY AND EARTHLY JERUSALEM Early breakfast at your
hotel. Guided visit through the newly
renovated Yad Vashem complex, the Jewish National Memorial to
the six million Jews who perished in the Holocaust, including the new
Historical Museum, the Children's Memorial, and a memorial service. Lunch on your own. Return to the Old City and
experience the special energy at the Western Wall (the
Kotel), followed by a visit to the Western Wall Tunnel, the underground
continuation of the Western Wall alongside the Temple Mount. Guided visit through the
City of David's new excavations, which have redefined the
origins of Jerusalem and wade through the 2,600-year-old Hezekiah's Water
Tunnel in the Kidron Valley (depending on weather conditions. Water shoes
recommended). Return to the
hotel. Enjoy dinner at Olive
& Fish, a meat and fish restaurant, located across from the
Liberty Bell Gardens.Overnight: Jerusalem DAY NINE: Monday RETURN TO THE U.S.
- Breakfast at your
hotel.
- Check out and
departure.
- Transfer to Ben Gurion
International Airport for your flight to the U.S. (arrival on the same day).
| | Need to Know | - Tour prices are per person in U.S.
dollars. All hotel accommodations, motor coach transportation, special
dinners, sightseeing, admissions, luggage handling and the services of local guides, drivers, and the Expedition Educator
are included.
- Please note that an $800 per
person supplement applies for parties of less than four when travelling on the
9 Day program.
- Hotel Accommodations: The
tour price includes all hotel accommodations, in hotel rooms with private
baths. Our standard is to provide the best available hotels while considering
value. Although the level of the accommodations may differ slightly from hotel
to hotel, we are committed to your comfort. Two-bed rooms are reserved in most
hotels. Triples are two-bed rooms with a rollaway cot where available and are
not recommended when considering the comfort of those in the room. King-size
beds are not available in most hotels; what is considered king-size usually
consists of two single beds pushed together and made up separately, but with
one headboard. Some two-bed rooms may have two twin - not full- or queen-size
- beds.
- Meals are included as
specified in the itinerary.
- Expedition Educator: All
trips are conducted by our Expedition Educators or local guides who remain
with the group throughout the tour.
- Gratuities Included: All
gratuities for restaurant and hotel staff.
- Luggage Responsibility: All tour
packages allow one piece of luggage per person and one carry-on bag. Excess
luggage will be subject to charge of up to $100 per piece. The Travel Agent
and/or Tour Operator shall not be held responsible for any damage to or loss
of luggage/personal items. All damage/loss must be reported at time of
incident and documented in writing by local authorities for submission to your
insurance company.
Not Included
- Airfare to the tour
departure point and from the tour ending point is not included. Airfare may be
purchased from us for travel originating in the United States. Please see
Flights tab in the right-side toolbar.
- Personal Expenses: All
personal expenses such as: laundry, valet service, cables, telephone calls and
postage are not included.
- Guide and Driver
Gratuities:
- 4 seater -
$70 (i.e. 2 pax) - per day
- 7 seater - $90
(i.e. 3-5 pax) - per day
- 10 seater - $110
(i.e. 5-7 pax) - per day
- 10-19
passengers: Guide $10, driver $5 - per participant per day
- 20 passengers
and more: Guide $8, driver $4 - per participant per
day
Additional Information
- Airline Security Measures:
In the U.S., you must provide identification in the form of a passport at the
time of airport check-in for travel to international destinations. Your
passport name must match the name on your tour reservation and airline ticket
or you may be denied boarding.
- If you are traveling from an
airport outside the jurisdiction of the U.S, you will need to determine what
travel documentation and identification is required for that particular
airport.
- Due to heightened security
regulations, certain items such as a metal nail file, pocketknife, cigarette
lighter or tweezers, and some liquid, gel, or aerosol items may not be
permitted in your carry-on luggage. Please call your airline prior to
departure to obtain current information on non-permissible carry-on items and
recommended airport check-in times. You may also wish to visit the
Transportation Security Administration website at www.tsa.gov to obtain more
information on acceptable identity documentation and prohibited luggage
items.
- Holidays and Museum Closures
- Museum visits and personal shopping time may be disrupted due to unforeseen
circumstances or the many religious, state and local holidays locally observed
in the destinations being visited.
- Photography During Tours: We will
occasionally use photographs taken by fellow guests or your trip director for
promotional purposes. If you prefer that your photo not be used in any
marketing activities, please notify us at the start of your
tour.
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| |  | View MapAccommodations- 9 Day - Private Bronze
 | Day 2: Prima Tel Aviv HotelTel Aviv The Prima Hotel is only a few minutes away from Tel Aviv beach, night clubs,
the famous Tel Aviv boardwalk, historical sites and the old city of
Jaffa.
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| |  | Day 3 - 4: Hagoshrim Kibbutz HotelKibbutz Hagoshrim The Hagoshrim Kibbutz Hotel is situated in the center of the Galilee, with
views of Mount Hermon. Located in a pastoral landscape, it offers comfortable
accommodations and facilities as well as an array of nearby
activities.
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| |  | Day 5: Dan PanoramaHaifa Haifa's Dan Panorama Hotel rises twenty-one stories high above Mount Carmel
Bay and Israel's beautiful Mediterranean coastline, and is a short walk from the
nearby entertainment venues and sightseeing areas.
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| |  | Day 6 - 8: Prima Royale HotelJerusalem The Prima Royale Hotel is centrally located in
Jerusalem's Talbieh district and within walking
distance to all the tourist attractions of the
ancient and modern city.
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- 9 Day - Private Silver
 | Day 2: Dan PanoramaTel Aviv Ideally located on Tel Aviv's lively seafront, the Tel Aviv Dan Panorama has
a pool and the sandy beaches of the Mediterranean are just across the
road. |
| |  | Day 3 - 4: Hagoshrim Kibbutz HotelKibbutz Hagoshrim The Hagoshrim Kibbutz Hotel is situated in the center of the Galilee, with
views of Mount Hermon. Located in a pastoral landscape, it offers comfortable
accommodations and facilities as well as an array of nearby
activities.
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| |  | Day 5: Dan PanoramaHaifa Haifa's Dan Panorama Hotel rises twenty-one stories high above Mount Carmel
Bay and Israel's beautiful Mediterranean coastline, and is a short walk from the
nearby entertainment venues and sightseeing areas.
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| |  | Day 6 - 8: Dan PanoramaJerusalem The Jerusalem Dan Panorama is centrally located in the city, within easy
reach of modern Jerusalem's lively downtown, theaters, shopping and eateries,
while still within walking distance of the Old City and other historic
sites.
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- 9 Day - Private Gold
 | Day 2: CarltonTel Aviv Tel Aviv's Carlton Hotel is for tourists who want to fully experience the
dynamic city of Tel Aviv. Centrally located in the heart of the city, and a
short walk from the city's expansive Mediterranean beaches, many of its
guestrooms offer a gorgeous view of the sea. |
| |  | Day 3 - 4: Pastoral HotelKibbutz Kfar Blum Kfar Blum's Pastoral Guesthouse is a comfortable, tranquil hotel located
in the Upper Galilee and close to the sites of Mount Hermon, the Golan Heights,
the nature reserves of the Hula Valley and other attractions of the
north. |
| |  | Day 5: Dan CarmelHaifa The Dan
Carmel Hotel is perched on Mount Carmel with breathtaking views of Haifa Bay and the Mediterranean coastline. The hotel is situated on Haifa's beautiful
hilltop promenade, just a short walk from the
many entertainment venues of the Carmel
neighborhood.
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| |  | Day 6 - 8: InbalJerusalem The deluxe Inbal Jerusalem Hotel provides its guests with the most luxurious
facilities, pampering services and discerning cuisine. Overlooking Jerusalem's
Liberty Bell Park, on the corner of King David Street, the Inbal's 283 rooms and
suites are within easy walking distance of the city's main cultural venues and
the Old City. |
| |  | Day 6 - 8: Mamilla HotelJerusalem Located in the remarkable position in the city centre with breath-taking views of the Old City walls, and alongside Alrov Mamila Avenue, the hotel brings world-class lifestyle hospitality. Mamila Hotel offers modern international style with the unique and vibrant culture of Jerusalem. |
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- 9 Day - Private Platinum
 | Day 2: Dan Tel AvivTel Aviv The Dan Tel Aviv on Tel Aviv's lively seafront promenade offers luxurious
accommodations overlooking the soft sandy beaches of the Mediterranean and easy
access to leisure venues.
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| |  | Day 3 - 4: Pastoral HotelKibbutz Kfar Blum Kfar Blum's Pastoral Guesthouse is a comfortable, tranquil hotel located
in the Upper Galilee and close to the sites of Mount Hermon, the Golan Heights,
the nature reserves of the Hula Valley and other attractions of the
north. |
| |  | Day 5: Dan CarmelHaifa The Dan
Carmel Hotel is perched on Mount Carmel with breathtaking views of Haifa Bay and the Mediterranean coastline. The hotel is situated on Haifa's beautiful
hilltop promenade, just a short walk from the
many entertainment venues of the Carmel
neighborhood.
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| |  | Day 6 - 8: King David HotelJerusalem The King David Hotel Jerusalem is Israel's majestic landmark hotel,
steepedin history and the preferred choice of world leaders and celebrities
alike. A member of The Leading Hotels of the World, the King David is superbly
located, withinwalking distance from the historic sites ofthe Old City, and
modern Jerusalem's lively center.
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| |  | Day 6 - 8: David CitadelJerusalem Located in Western Jerusalem on
the prestigious King David Street, this Jerusalem hotel faces the ancient walls
of the Old City. With modern decor, 384 sumptuous suites and guestrooms with
state of the art communication facilities, fine restaurants and a wide range of
amenities for its discerning guests.
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