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13-Day Best of Istanbul and Israel |
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Explore Ottoman palaces, harems, historic and still
active synagogues, romantic alleyways and side streets dating back centuries.
Return to the time of the Sultans and Pashas at area museums. Explore Jewish
life in modern-day Turkey, home to more than 25,000 Jews, most of Sephardic
origin, many of who arrived in the area in the 16th century during the time of
the Spanish Inquisition. Consider the challenges of being a Turkish Jew in an
Islamic, albeit secular, democratic republic. And then arrive in Israel to
discover the joys and nuances of life in a modern Jewish country steeped in
history, tradition and complex realities.
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Tour Highlights
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- Visit to the Jewish Quarter in Istanbul
- Ferry ride along the Bosphorus
- Visit to the Underground Basilica Cisterns
- Israel: An Inside View of the Unique Character of the
Country, an active discussion and walking tour with your tour educator
- Kibbutz Ideology and Israeli Reality in the 21st
Century, night walk and dialogue
- Participate in a program focused on kabbalah through
artwork
- Kabbalat Shabbat services at a Reform synagogue in
Jerusalem, followed by a dialogue with Israeli members of the congregation
- An Inside View into the Israeli Political Arena,
dialogue with a Political Analyst
- 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
- Rafting on the Jordan River (seasonal)
- Jeep tour on the Golan Heights
- Stars of Caesarea interactive center
Trip Includes
- 11 nights
accommodation in selected hotels
- 3 nights Istanbul
- 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:
WEDNESDAY
DEPARTURE
- Departure from the U.S. to
Turkey.
Overnight:
Flight
DAY TWO: Thursday
ARRIVAL TO TURKEY
-
Arrive in
Istanbul.
- Welcome by our
representative and assistance with arrival formalities.
- Transfer to your hotel and
check in. Airport transfer included.
- Dinner on your own at an area
restaurant.
Overnight: Istanbul
DAY THREE: Friday
THE JEWS OF
ISTANBUL
-
Breakfast at the
hotel.
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Visit the site of the
Jewish Quarter of Istanbul - enjoy a guided tour of the Galata neighborhood,
once the center of Jewish life in Istanbul and home to many Jews of Italian
descent who fled Spanish-controlled Italy during the 16th
century.
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Visit the Neve Shalom
and Ashkenazi Synagogues in the Byoglu district of
Galata.
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Tour the Jewish Museum
and continue to the Ahrida Synagogue, founded by Jews from modern-day
Macedonia who were escaping Ottoman Empire oppression. False messiah Sabbatai
Tzvi, founder of the 17th century Jewish Sabbatean movement, prayed there.
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Lunch on your
own.
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Visit a UNESCO World
Heritage Site, the Topkapi Palace, a unique palace complex, where you can gaze
at the priceless works of art in the Imperial Treasury, home to precious
jewels, spoils of war and handcrafted, bejeweled armor of the Sultans. See the
Imperial Harem, which was home to many Jewish women and girls during the
Ottoman Empire.
-
Visit Istanbul's Grand
Bazaar, which dates from 1461 and is a known haven for its spice, carpet and
pottery stalls.
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Dinner on your own at an
area restaurant.
Overnight: Istanbul
DAY FOUR: Saturday
SHABBAT IN ISTANBUL
- Breakfast at the hotel.
- Optional
Shabbat morning services at the Etz Hayim synagogue, originally built in 1661
- destroyed by fire in 1941, it was rebuilt and continues to serve its
community.
- Day at
leisure or enjoy one of a number of optional tours.
- Dinner on your
own
Overnight: Istanbul
DAY FIVE: Sunday
ISTANBUL LAYERS OF
HISTORY
- Breakfast at the hotel.
- Begin your day with a
visit to the Sultan Ahmed Mosque, the National Mosque of Turkey built in the
18th century, and also known as the Blue Mosque. A classical example of
Ottoman architecture, the impressive structure incorporates traditional
Islamic architecture with popular Byzantine elements.
- Visit the
Hagia-Sophia, once the largest cathedral in the world. A massive, sixth
century Byzantine basilica, it was converted into a mosque in the 15th century
and by 1935 became a museum.
- Descend to the
underground Basilica Cisterns, a vast cathedral-sized water collection space
with 13-foot walls and 30-foot high decorated columns - 336 in total, it is
one of a network of cisterns in the city.
- Lunch on your
own.
- Take the ferry
and cruise along the Bosphorus. Experience the mix of local architecture;
imperial palaces mingle with wooden seaside mansions, decorative ferry
landings, the impressive twin fortresses of Rumeli Hisar and Anadolu Hisar,
and Istanbul's two suspension bridges, the Bosphorus and the Fatih Sultan
Mehmet Bridge.
- Return to the
hotel.
- Dinner on your own at
an area restaurant.
Overnight: Istanbul
DAY SIX: Monday
ARRIVAL IN ISRAEL
- Breakfast at the
hotel.
- Check out of the
hotel.
- Transfer to the airport for
flight home. (Airport transfers included. Please allow a minimum of three
hours for check-in).
- Flight to Tel Aviv (Airline
tickets are not included).
Arrive at Ben
Gurion International Airport.
- Welcome by our representative and
assistance with arrival formalities.
Transfer to Tel Aviv, known as the “city that
never sleeps” with its centers of culture and recreation such as the Habima
Theater, sprawling beaches, Dizengoff Street and Rabin Square. Airport
transfer included.
- Check into the hotel.
- Enjoy a free day in Tel Aviv, sometimes known as the Big Orange.
- Walk the busy streets, have a cup of coffee and sit by
the beach.
- Meet your Expedition director and fellow travelers and
enjoy a Middle Eastern style dinner with a Yemenite touch at
Maganda, offering a varied selection of salads and grilled meats,
and located in the Yemenite Quarter of Tel Aviv.
- Da'at Encounter: An Inside
View of the Unique Character of the Country. Enjoy an active discussion
and walking tour with your tour educator through the colorful re-gentrified
Neve Zedek neighborhood OR the 'White City', the collection of
Tel Aviv's magnificent Bauhaus architectural structures, now recognized as a
UNESCO World Heritage site.
Overnight: Tel Aviv
DAY SEVEN: Tuesday
ALONG THE
COAST
- Breakfast at the hotel.
- Check out and depart the hotel.
- Begin your trip 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.
- Visit the Nachalat Binyamin pedestrian mall, with its
restored buildings and sidewalk artists, and continue onto the colorful Carmel
Market and then to Sheinkin, one of Israel's most avant-garde streets.
- Depart Tel Aviv.
- Lunch on your own at the Caesarea Port.
- Guided visit to Caesarea, one of the Land of 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.
- Summer programs:
- Walk through the 2,000-year-old underground water
tunnels at Park Alona, which once brought water to Caesarea (water shoes recommended).
- Winter programs:
- Special visit to the Tavor Marzipan Factory and
Museum in Kfar Tavor
- All:
- Check into the kibbutz guesthouse.
- Dinner at the
guesthouse.
Overnight: Kibbutz Guesthouse,
Upper Galilee
DAY EIGHT: Wednesday
NATURE AND
SECURITY
- Breakfast at the kibbutz guesthouse.
- Walk through the Tel Dan Nature Reserve located on the
largest tributary of the Jordan River and near the biblical settlement of Dan.
- Take a jeep tour climbing to the Golan Heights in the
footsteps of IDF soldiers and their battles in the Six Day War, to enjoy the
beautiful natural scenery and gain an 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.
- Summer programs:
- Enjoy rafting or kayaking on the Jordan
River.
- Winter programs:
- Visit the Hula Nature Reserve and the Ophoria
Interactive Experience, connecting birds, water and the Zionist
endeavor.
- All:
- Return to the kibbutz for dinner at the guesthouse.
- Da'at Encounter: Optional visit with kibbutz
members.
Overnight: Kibbutz
Guesthouse, Upper Galilee
DAY NINE: Thursday
WESTERN
GALILEE
- Breakfast at the kibbutz guesthouse.
- Check out and depart the kibbutz guesthouse.
- Explore Safed, a center of Jewish mysticism for
hundreds of years, and a contemporary artists' colony, including:
- Guided visits to the Ari, Caro and Abuhav Synagogues
with their great stories and mystical messages.
- A stroll through the quaint art galleries and shopping
in the artists' colony.
- Da'at Encounter: Participate in a program focused on
kabbalah through artwork.
- Continue to the Western Galilee.
- Drive north to Rosh Hanikra, a rock formation 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, and a
multi-layered experience from the days of the Crusades through contemporary
Israel, including guided visits to:
- The newly renovated Crusaders' City.
- The famous British prison used in pre-state days for
Jewish and Arab prisoners and the site of the famous prison break re-enacted
in the movie Exodus.
- The Ottoman fortifications around the city.
- Continue to Haifa.
- Check into the hotel.
- Da'at Encounter:
Visit a Druse village in the Carmel Mountains for a window into the
unique world of the Israeli Druse community, with a home hospitality
dinner.
Overnight: Haifa
DAY TEN: Friday
HEAVENLY AND
EARTHLY JERUSALEM
- Breakfast at the hotel.
- Check out and depart the hotel.
- Drive to Jerusalem via the Trans-Israel Highway for a
close up view of the ‘Security Barrier' along the seam zone between Israel and
the Palestinian Territories.
- Stop at Mount Scopus to say the traditional
“shehechiyanu” blessing, recited upon entering Jerusalem, followed by an
introduction to the city.
- Walking tour through the Jewish Quarter of the Old
City of Jerusalem, for guided visits to some of the sites excavated over the
past 30 years, including:
- The Cardo, a Byzantine street that is now the oldest
shopping arcade in the world.
- The Hurva Square, the central square of the Jewish
Quarter.
- Guided visit through the 2,000-year old Herodian
Mansions in the Jewish Quarter of Jerusalem's Old City OR Guided visit to
the Davidson Archaeological Park with a special visit to the Davidson
Center, followed by a guided visit to the Southern Wall
Excavations.
- Visit the Western Wall Tunnel, the underground
continuation of the Western Wall alongside the Temple Mount.
- Experience the sites, smells, and tastes of Jerusalem
while walking through the Machaneh Yehuda market with lunch on your own.
- Check into the hotel.
- Da'at Encounter: Kabbalat Shabbat services at a Reform
synagogue in Jerusalem, followed by a dialogue with Israeli members of the
congregation.
- Festive Shabbat Dinner.
Overnight: Jerusalem
DAY ELEVEN: Saturday
SHABBAT IN
JERUSALEM
Option 1
- Optional day visit to Masada,
Ein Gedi and the Dead Sea, with lunch on own.
Option 2
- Optional Shabbat
services.
Lunch on your own.
Free afternoon
All:
- Enjoy dinner on your own in
Jerusalem, choosing from a wide array of restaurants.
Overnight: Jerusalem
DAY TWELVE: Sunday
THE LAYERS OF
JERUSALEM
- Early breakfast at the hotel.
- Depart the 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, and the Children's
Memorial, with a memorial service (children under 10 will have a separate
program).
- Lunch on own.
- Guided visit through the City of David's new
excavations, which have redefined the origins of Jerusalem; and possibly wade through the 2,600 year-old-Hezekiah's Water
Tunnel in the Kidron Valley (weather permitting, water shoes
recommended).
- Return to the hotel.
- Enjoy dinner at Olive & Fish, a meat and fish
restaurant, located across from the Liberty Bell Gardens.
Adults
- Da'at Encounter: An Inside View into the Israeli
Political Arena, dialogue with a political analyst.
Youth
- Da'at Encounter: Special Mifgash with the Israeli youth
movement, including a falafel dinner.
Overnight: Jerusalem
DAY THIRTEEN: Monday
RETURN TO THE
U.S
- Breakfast at the hotel.
- Check out of the hotel.
- Transfer to the airport for flight
home. (Hotel transfers included. Please allow a minimum of three hours for
check-in).
- Flight back to the U.S. (Arrival
on the same day).
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Need to Know
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- 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.
- 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 Map
Accommodations
- 13 Day Turkey - Gold
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Day 2 - 5: Titanic Hotel
Istanbul
Opened in 2008, the Titanic is an urban hotel
located in Istanbul's city center, with all the comforting amenities of a spa,
gym and indoor pool, while located within walking distance to all the sights of
Istanbul. Spend time after a long day touring relaxing in the pool, or having a
drink in the hotel bar, with the addition of live music, a Titanic
touch.
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Day 6: Carlton
Tel 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.
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Day 7 - 8: Pastoral Guesthouse
Kibbutz 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.
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Day 9: Dan Carmel
Haifa
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 10 - 12: Inbal
Jerusalem
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.
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- 13 Day Turkey - Platinum
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Day 2 - 5: The Ritz Carlton
Istanbul
Overlooking the Bosphorus Straits, the Ritz Carlton Istanbul is located in
the prestigious Dolmabahce district, walking distance to Old Pera and Beyoglu,
as well as Taksim Square, Beyoglu and Dolmabahce Palace, and a short drive to
the Blue Mosque.
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Day 6: Dan Tel Aviv
Tel 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 7 - 8: Pastoral Guesthouse
Kibbutz 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.
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Day 9: Dan Carmel
Haifa
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 10 - 12: King David Hotel
Jerusalem
The King David Hotel Jerusalem is Israel's majestic
landmark hotel, steeped
in 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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Dates & Prices
Program
The AW Added Value
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Need to Know
Peace of Mind
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