B'er Chayim Temple Tour to Israel
Overview
Reservations deadline: October 20, 2022
Style | Custom Group Dedicated tour escorts & guides throughout |
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What to Expect | Travel safely and confidently with our new health & safety protocols. | ||
Already booked? | Find everything you need to know before you go, including information about passport & visa requirements, flights, luggage, and more. |
Package includes
- Flights
- Coach
- Transfers
- Hotel
- Meals
- Guides
- Round trip flights from IAD to TLV via scheduled carriers, including fuel surcharges, taxes & fees (fuel surcharges are subject to change until tickets are issued)
- Arrival & departure transfers with meeting, assistance, and porterage
- All intra-Israel transportation and transfers via air-conditioned motorcoach
- Accommodations in 4 and 4 ½ star hotels throughout
- Israeli buffet breakfast daily plus 6 dinners (welcome dinner in Tel Aviv, 2 dinners in Galilee, 3 dinners in Jerusalem (hotel dinner, Shabbat dinner, and farewell dinner)
- Dedicated English-speaking guide throughout
Why you'll love it
- Visit Jaffa, the oldest seaport in the world
- Experience Israel’s world-class culinary scene which begins at the Carmel Market
- Pay respects to Yitzchak Rabin, Israel’s fifth Prime Minister, at the square and memorial dedicated to his memory
- Learn the fascinating story of the Jewish people at ANU, the Museum of the Jewish People
- Explore Caesarea, built by Herod the Great
- Tour Haifa and Akko including the underground tunnels of the Crusader city
- Walk through the meandering streets of Safed, center of Kabbalah and a flourishing artists’ colony
- Travel to among the largest archeological sites in Israel, Beit Shean
- Visit the Dead Sea and enjoy the mineral-filled waters and curative mud
- Ascend the mountaintop plateau of Masada
- Hike at Ein Gedi to David’s Waterfall
- Witness the magic of Old and New Jerusalem
- Experience Shabbat dinner with a local family
Itinerary at a Glance
- 1 February 17: Depart Washington, DC (IAD)
- 2 February 18: Arrive Tel Aviv
- 3 February 19: Jaffa & Tel Aviv
- 4 February 20: Mediterranean Coast, Haifa & Akko
- 5 February 21: Safed, Golan Heights, Kibbutz Tour
- 6 February 22: Tiberias, the Jordan Valley, and Jerusalem
- 7 February 23: Jerusalem’s Old City
- 8 February 24: Jerusalem New City
- 9 February 25: Masada and the Dead Sea
- 10 February 26: Jerusalem/PM departure to Zurich.
- 11 February 27: Depart Zurich/Arrive USA
Detailed Itinerary
Day 1 February 17: Depart Washington, DC (IAD)
- Depart from IAD on your overnight flight to Tel Aviv
Day 2 February 18: Arrive Tel Aviv
- Arrival and transfer to hotel
- Welcome dinner
Dan Panorama Tel Aviv Dinner
Full Day ItineraryUpon arrival in Tel Aviv, the bustling “White City,” meet your guide and transfer to your centrally located hotel. Join your fellow travelers tonight for a welcome dinner at your hotel.
Day 3 February 19: Jaffa & Tel Aviv
- Morning visit to Jaffa, Independence Hall (time permitting) and Carmel Market for a culinary tasting tour.
- Afternoon at Rabin Square and memorial then explore ANU, Museum of the Jewish People
Dan Panorama Tel Aviv Breakfast
Full Day ItineraryAfter breakfast, begin your exploration of Israel with a visit to Jaffa’s Old Port, built 4000 years ago. It is the oldest seaport in the world, and home to a vibrant multiethnic community of Muslims, Christians, and Jews. The prophet Jonah embarked on his ill-fated journey from this port, and building materials for the First and Second Temples were delivered to Jaffa.
Later, stroll along Rothschild Boulevard in the heart of Tel Aviv. Here you will see some of Tel Aviv’s most prominent collection of Bauhaus (International Style) buildings, built during the 1930s and 1940s. The distinctive and functional architecture has created an unparalleled urban landscape. Time permitting, stop at Independence Hall, where David Ben Gurion declared the independence of the State of Israel in 1948.
Then, head to Carmel Market to take part in a culinary tasting tour of your choice.
Option 1: Market Culinary Tour - You’ll enjoy a fascinating variety of colorful spices, flavors, and scents that combine with the bustling atmosphere of the city’s central market. This is a foodie hub filled with exciting new restaurants and food counters run by chefs reinventing Israeli cuisine.
Option 2: Vegan Culinary Tour - Today, Tel Aviv is the #1 vegan destination in the world and a place where traditional vegan and vegetarian cuisine combine with innovative young chefs to create a one-of-a-kind savory adventure.
This afternoon, visit Rabin Square and Memorial. Visit the spot where the fifth Prime Minister of Israel, Yitzchak Rabin, was assassinated. The remodeled memorial square in central Tel Aviv is home to a monument dedicated to his memory. Learn about the assassination and Rabin’s resonating impact on the State of Israel.
Visit ANU – Museum of the Jewish People. This completely renovated museum tells the fascinating story of the Jewish people and the essence of Jewish culture, faith, and purpose while presenting the contribution of world Jewry to humanity. Previously known as Beit Hatfutsot and located on the campus of Tel Aviv University, the museum represents all parts of the Jewish people and highlights the creative works and cultural riches of a variety of communities in different periods of history. This story is about all of us ,and each and every one of us is part of it.
Day 4 February 20: Mediterranean Coast, Haifa & Akko
- Morning tour of Caesarea, Herod’s port, and administrative center then continue to Haifa and Mt. Carmel
- Afternoon exploration of Akko, a UNESCO World Heritage site
Kibbutz Lavi Breakfast & dinner
Full Day ItineraryLeave Tel Aviv as you head north along the Mediterranean Coast. Visit the ancient city of Caesarea, built by Herod the Great. The city became the administrative center of the Roman Empire for the Province of Judea and later was an important Crusader stronghold. See the ancient port, the Roman hippodrome and amphitheater, which is still a concert venue today.
Continue north to Haifa, a city where all religions coexist and where Jewish and Arab neighborhoods intertwine throughout the city. Take a walk on the Louis Promenade, which offers magnificent views of Haifa Bay and the beautiful Baha’i Gardens. Ascend Mt. Carmel, the only major Biblical Mountain of Jewish interest located completely within the borders of Israel.
Drive further north to the Crusader port city of Akko, a UNESCO World Heritage site, with its new excavations revealing what life was like 1000 years ago. Visit the Crusader Halls and follow the underground tunnels, see the port and fortifications that helped the inhabitants resist the invasion by Napoleon Bonaparte, and spend some time walking through the active Arab Bazaar.
Day 5 February 21: Safed, Golan Heights, Kibbutz Tour
- Morning drive to Safed, center of Kabbalah, with many beautiful synagogues, workshops, and galleries
- Afternoon tour of the Golan Heights with a stop at a family-owned winery for a tour and tasting. Visit Katzrin and the former Syrian fortifications
- Meet a Kibbutz member for a tour and a discussion about Kibbutz life
Kibbutz Lavi Breakfast & dinner
Full Day ItineraryThis morning, head to the mystical city of Safed, the center of the Jewish mystical Kabbalah school of thought. As you stroll through the narrow, winding alleys, take the opportunity to peek inside some of the beautiful synagogues, as well as workshops and galleries in the flourishing artists’ quarter.
Drive up to the Golan Heights for a tour and wine tasting at the family-owned boutique winery. Continue to Katzrin, the “capital of the Golan Heights.” Walk through a reconstructed Talmudic Village and get a sense of life in ancient times. Visit the Syrian fortifications which, from 1948 until 1967 (6 Day War), Syrian troops fired relentlessly on the Jewish communities below.
Note: Time permitting, take a jeep tour to the beautiful and off-road to hard-to-reach places, such as streams, fields, and mud tracks. The Golan is green and lush, with small villages nestled into the hills. Learn about the biblical and historical importance of the Golan Heights while enjoying a bumpy jeep ride.
This evening after dinner, meet a “kibbutznik” for a tour and discussion about what life is like living in a communal settlement.
Day 6 February 22: Tiberias, the Jordan Valley, and Jerusalem
- Morning drive to Tiberias on the Sea of Galilee (Kinneret)
- Explore Beit She’an to view the excavation that has uncovered over 20 layers of civilization
- Afternoon drive along the Jordan valley up to Jerusalem
Dan Panorama Jerusalem Breakfast & dinner
Full Day ItineraryDepart this morning for Tiberias on the Sea of Galilee (Kinneret) and learn about some of the most famous Jewish sages, including Maimonides and Rabbi Akiva, as you take a walk along the Promenade. The city, founded in the 1st century, is located on the shores of Israel’s main source of fresh water, the Sea of Galilee.
Continue to Beit She’an, one of Israel’s oldest cities and among its largest archaeological sites. Excavations at the site have uncovered over 20 layers of civilizations, but the remarkable main attraction today is the excavated and partially reconstructed Roman city. You’ll see the ancient wall that surrounded the city, its public baths, a Roman temple, and other well-preserved structures.
Drive along the Jordan Valley to Jerusalem, highlight of your tour. As you near the city, stop at Mt. Scopus for the She’hecheyanu blessing celebrating your arrival to Jerusalem, then continue to your hotel.
Day 7 February 23: Jerusalem’s Old City
- Morning visit to the Old City of Jerusalem, the Western Wall Tunnels, the Kotel, the Cardo and Old City neighborhoods
- Afternoon visits include the Burnt House and other excavations.
Dan Panorama Jerusalem Breakfast
Full Day ItineraryBegin your exploration of the Old City of Jerusalem at the City of David. See the Western Wall tunnels and excavations revealing Jerusalem during the First Temple Period.
Walk through the Old City, beginning at the Western Wall (also known as the Kotel and the Wailing Wall) and the Cardo, the Rodeo Drive during Roman times, where you can still shop today.
A rooftop tour of the Old City neighborhoods provides a behind-the-scenes look at the various communities living side-by-side in the walled city.
Visit the “Burnt House” located just steps from the Western Wall. The house, maintained as a small museum, gives a fascinating glimpse into Jewish history. The house was destroyed during the massive fire 2,000 years ago that also destroyed the Second Temple. The family home of the Katros family, they are mentioned in the Talmud as one of 24 families of Cohens (priestly families) who served in the Temple. Time permitting, visit the Yvel Design Center and Megaera School of Jewelry & Art for Ethiopian immigrants.
Day 8 February 24: Jerusalem New City
- This morning tour Yad Vashem including the Holocaust History Museum, the Children’s Pavilion, and the Valley of the Communities
- Visit the Israel Museum, the Shrine of the Book, and the Second Temple model
- Rest of the day at leisure to explore independently
- Shabbat dinner with an Israeli family
Dan Panorama Jerusalem Breakfast & dinner
Full Day ItineraryBegin the day with a visit to Yad Vashem, the world’s foremost Holocaust memorial and museum. Tour the new Holocaust History Museum, which occupies over 4,200 square meters, much of it underground. Visit the moving exhibit at the Children’s Pavilion and the Valley of the Communities.
From Yad Vashem, it’s a short drive to the Israel Museum to view the Dead Sea Scrolls exhibition and the Model of Jerusalem depicting the city as it was during the Second Temple Period.
Enjoy the balance of the day at leisure.
This evening, welcome the Shabbat and enjoy Shabbat dinner with a local Jerusalem family.
Day 9 February 25: Masada and the Dead Sea
- Visit the mountaintop fortress of Masada
- Float in the Dead Sea
- Explore Ein Gedi, and hike to David’s Waterfall
- Join your fellow travelers at a farewell dinner
Dan Panorama Jerusalem Breakfast & dinner
Full Day ItineraryDepart Jerusalem for a visit to the legendary mountaintop plateau of Masada overlooking the Dead Sea, the last stronghold of the Jewish Zealots in their struggle against the Romans in 73 CE. Ascending via cable car, explore the site, with its synagogue, bathhouse, and winter-palace built by Herod the Great.
Continue to the Dead Sea, the lowest point on earth at 1,388 feet below sea level, for an opportunity to cover yourself in mineral-rich mud and float in the buoyant waters.
Stop at Ein Gedi, a nature reserve and one of Israel’s most beautiful places. Take an easy hike to David’s Waterfall to enjoy the lush surroundings, then continue to Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered in 1947.
Return to Jerusalem and join your group for a Farewell Dinner.
Day 10 February 26: Jerusalem/PM departure to Zurich.
- Day at leisure in Jerusalem
- Depart to Zurich
Breakfast
Full Day ItineraryEnjoy your last day in Jerusalem at leisure. Later this afternoon, transfer to Ben Gurion Airport to board your evening flight to Zurich.
Note: Accommodation in Zurich TBA.
Day 11 February 27: Depart Zurich/Arrive USA
- Transfer by hotel shuttle to Zurich Airport to check in for your return flight to IAD, arriving later today.
Hotels
In the unlikely event that a particular hotel is not available, a similar or better hotel may be substituted.
Trip Details
- What should I know before I go? We've compiled a comprehensive checklist, including information on how to pay your balance due, flights & transfers, packing & luggage, and more.
- Do I need a visa or other documents? Are there any entry requirements? Please review the visa & entry requirements.
- Can I make changes to my trip? Want to upgrade your seats? Stay a few extra days? Something else? Just ask!
- Can I bring my kids? Are there any age restrictions? To book this package, you must be 18 or older. Your traveling companions must be 8 or older at time of travel.
- Should I purchase travel insurance? Yes! We recommend you purchase travel insurance to help protect you and your travel investment against the unexpected. For your convenience, we offer a plan provided by Travelex Insurance Services.
- What's the fine print? Review the terms & conditions for this package.
- What should I know about Israel? Check out our guide for practical travel tips, the best time to go, videos, and more.