17 days, $2250

Includes airfare, great hotels, transfers & more!

Israel Discovery for Veteran Travelers

Join Carol Pederson, veteran tour host and avid Israel explorer, and her group of veteran Israel travelers on an "off the beaten track" tour of Israel. You'll explore new places in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem then head south to Eilat, visiting sites along the way such as Beit Guvrin, the Valley of Zin, Mitzpeh Ramon, Timna and much more. You'll enjoy the warm mineral waters of a spa in the middle of the desert, visit Israel's popular resort on the Red Sea, Eilat, and take an optional day tour to the Lost City of Petra in Jordan. A post-tour extension in Jerusalem, including a traditional Thanksgiving dinner, are also offered. If you've visited Israel before and are yearning to return, don't miss this wonderful opportunity to explore new and exciting places in one of the world's most fascinating destinations.

Detailed Itinerary

Saturday, Nov. 6: USA/Israel. Departure from the USA on the first leg of our overnight flight to Israel.

Sunday, Nov. 7 Tel Aviv & Jerusalem. Upon arrival at Ben Gurion Airport, our Israel representatives will meet us, assist with customs formalities and transfer us to Jerusalem to participate in the opening activities of the Bridges for Peace Solidarity Mission.

Monday, Nov. 8 - Thursday, Nov. 11: Bridges for Peace Solidarity Mission, Jerusalem. Spend four days at the Bridges for Peace Solidarity Mission. Information about the Mission program will be available shortly.

Friday, Nov. 12: Tel Aviv, Jaffa & Jerusalem. After breakfast, we'll drive to Tel Aviv and spend the day touring some of the most interesting sites of Israel's modern center. We'll take a walking tour of Neveh Zedek, the first Jewish quarter outside of Jaffa, The Palmach Museum and Tel Aviv's Bauhaus (UNESCO Heritage site). Continue to Jaffa where we'll enjoy Shabbat dinner—Israeli style—at a restaurant along the coast. Return to Jerusalem to check in to our hotel.

Saturday, Nov. 13: Jerusalem. Synagogue visits in the morning: Orthodox, Conservative and Reformed. Afternoon walking tour of Rehavia for a look at the stately homes of Jerusalem. This evening we will have a special event. Overnight in Jerusalem.

Sunday, Nov. 14: Jerusalem. Church services this morning for those who wish to participate. Later, we'll take a walking tour to Mahane Yehuda Mall, visit the Bible Land Museum, and, time permitting, the Biblical Zoo. Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.

Monday, Nov. 15: Valley of Elah, Beit Guvrin & Beersheva. Say goodbye to Jerusalem as we begin our drive south. Visit the Valley of Elah, where David slew Goliath, then continue to Beit Guvrin with its hundreds of caves dating back to Roman and Byzantine times. Drive on to Beersheva, capital of the Negev for a short tour and a visit to the Israel Air Force Museum. Overnight at Kibbutz Mashabei Sadeh.

Tuesday, Nov. 16: Sde Boker, Avdat & Mitzpeh Ramon. Continue our journey south to Sde Boker, Ben Gurion's kibbutz. Visit his house and his beautiful grave site. Walk through the Valley of Zin, remembering the journey of the Israelites from Egypt. Perhaps we'll even see the eagles and vultures! Continue to Avdat, a Nabatean city. Visit the Visitor's Centre at Mitzpeh Ramon to see and hear about the earth's formation. Overnight at Mitzpeh Ramon.

Wednesday, Nov. 17: Timna National Park & Eilat. Continue our drive south to Eilat. En route, we'll visit Timna National Park where we'll find "Solomon's Pillars" and the site of ancient copper mines used by the Egyptians. Overnight in Eilat.

Thursday, Nov. 18: Eilat & Petra. Optional day trip to Petra, where "Indiana Jones & the Last Crusade" was filmed. Petra was a Nabataean caravan-city, a crossroads of ancient trade between the Red Sea and the Dead Sea. Petra's magnificent pink sandstone edifices were half-built and half-carved into the rock, surrounded by mountains riddled with passages and gorges. Or stay in Eilat and enjoy relaxing by the pool, walking the beach, shopping, snorkeling, etc. Overnight in Eilat.

Friday, Nov. 19: Eilat. Day in Eilat to visit sites such as Underwater Observatory, take an optional cruise on the Red Sea, dive with dolphins or simply enjoy the beach.

Saturday, Nov. 20: Tel Aviv. Departure from Eilat and drive directly to Tel Aviv. We'll arrive in time to enjoy an afternoon free in Tel Aviv to relax, recover, shop and walk the beach. Overnight in
Tel Aviv.

Sunday, Nov. 21: Tel Aviv & Caesarea. We'll begin our day with a visit to Independence Hall in Tel Aviv. Then we'll drive to Caesarea. Here we'll visit Kibbutz Sdot Yam and its archaeological museum, enjoy a comprehensive tour of the excavations including recent work being conducted at the site, the Ralli Museum with a fabulous, modern, South American art collection as well as an extremely good wing about Caesarea's archaeology and the achievements of King Herod. Perhaps we'll enjoy an optional lunch overlooking Israel's only golf course. Return to Tel Aviv for overnight.

Monday, Nov. 22: Tel Aviv. A half day of touring in the morning. The afternoon is free to shop, pack and rest before the early morning departure home. Final dinner. Overnight in Tel Aviv.

Tuesday, Nov. 23: Israel/USA. Those returning to the States will leave for the airport at about 2:00am to check in for the return flight to the USA, arriving in the USA later today. For those wishing to extend their stay in Israel, please join us as we explore Jerusalem further. See information below.

Bridges for Peace Solidarity Mission

The Solidarity Mission price is not included in our tour price and will be billed as a separte item to everyone who reserves this tour. At the present time, final pricing for the Solidarity Mission is not available. In previous years, the Mission program has cost approximately $450 per person, double occupancy, land only, including all fees and activities. If you do not plan to participate in the Mission, you will depart from the USA on Wednesday, November 10.

There will be a supplement in cost of $85 per person to our tour price to cover an extra night in Jerusalem upon arrival on November 11 plus an extra transfer from Ben Gurion Airport to your Jerusalem Hotel.

Tour Prices from Minneapolis*

Departing Minneapolis on Nov. 6 to attend the Solidarity Mission*:
TWIN: $2250

Departing Minneapolis on Nov. 10, not attending the Solidarity Mission*:
TWIN: $2335

Single Room Supplement: $500
Airport Departure Taxes & tips: $225
Solidarity Mission: see above
Optional Petra Day Tour: $189

*Departures are available from other gateways on request basis.

Jerusalem 4 Day Tour Extension

Why not take advantage of your already included airfare and spend some precious extra time in the City of Gold, Jerusalem, on our four-day tour extension?

Jerusalem is a "living city", a soul-stirring and unforgettable experience. Stay for the Extension so you can experience her unique charm a little longer. The Jerusalem Extension begins on Tuesday, Nov. 23 in Tel Aviv, with a visit to the Ben Shemen Forest and the house of Theodore Herzl, the founder of modern Zionism, continues via Kibbutz Tzora where we'll have lunch, and the incredible Stalactite and Stalagmite caves en route to Jerusalem, arriving in Jerusalem in the evening. We'll spend Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, Nov. 24, 25 and 26, exploring Jerusalem's hidden treasures such as the Tanner's Gate, the City of David, and Zedekiah's Tunnel. Thursday, Nov. 25, we'll gather at a Jerusalem restaurant for a festive Thanksgiving dinner, complete with turkey and all the trimmings. We'll return to the USA on Sat. Nov. 27, arriving in the USA later that day.

Extension price, double occupancy: $580
Single supplement $200

The extension includes 4 nights in Jerusalem at the Dan Panorama Hotel with buffet breakfast daily, transfers, touring and entrance fees and escorted throughout by our licensed guide.

Reservations

Please download the reservation application and fax or mail it to us, together with your $300 per person deposit. Fax to: 215-572-9803. Mail to P.O. Box 505, Jenkintown, PA 19046.

Reservation application PDF

For additional information, contact:

Carol Pederson
1006 Hill Court
Shoreview, MN 55125
651-490-9012

Israel Discovery
Included Features

• Round trip flights from Minneapolis* via United/Lufthansa German Airlines wide-bodied jet service

• First Class and Superior First Class Hotels and Kibbutz Guest Houses with private bath

• Lavish Israeli buffet breakfast and dinner daily on the pre-tour Solidarity Mission and the Veterans Tour of Israel

• Lavish Israeli buffet breakfast and Thanksgiving Dinner on the post-tour extension

• Arrival and departure transfers

• Professional, English-speaking guide host throughout

* Included flights are from Minneapolis. Many other gateways are available at low fares. Please call for more information.

Single occupancy rooms: add $500 for the main tour and $200 on the Jerusalem extension.

Additional costs: U.S. departure taxes and personal tips are $225 and will be billed to each passenger who reserves this tour. Tips on the Jerusalem Extension are $30 and will be billed to each passenger who reserves the extension.