Experience Israel Itinerary
Day 1 - Thursday: Depart Hometown
Depart from your home town on flight to Jerusalem Israel.
Day 2 - Friday: Jerusalem
On arrival at the Ben Gurion Airport, you will bemet by our guide and transferred to our
hotel. To give everyone a chance to arrive, no activities are planned today. We will meet for
an optional dinner at 7:00pm.
Day 3 - Saturday: Jerusalem
After breakfast we begin our Jerusalem experience on the Mount of Olives, with its
panoramic view of the Old City and its ancient Jewish cemetery. Then we continue to the
Western Wall, the only remaining portion of the Herodian Temple standing and Judaism’s
most sacred site. We will visit theWestern Wall Tunnel, a 2000-year-old network of caverns
and passageways, which run parallel to theWestern Wall and reveal valuable insight into
where the First and Second Temples stood. Let's take a lunch break before we walk
through the restored Jewish Quarter to the Cardo, once a main shopping street of ancient
Jerusalem. Visit the Herodian Mansions, a complete residential quarter preserved for over
2000 years. Our day tour will conclude with a visit to Mount Zion to see King David’s Tomb.
Tonight let's break bread over ourWelcome Dinner at a local restaurant.
Day 4 - Sunday: Jerusalem
Today is devoted to the New City, beginning with a visit to the Yad Vashem Holocaust
Memorial.Walk through this astounding Museum with its new and moving focus on the
individual in the Holocaust. Also visit the Children’s Memorial and Hall of Remembrance.
Drive through the New City viewing old and new neighborhoods, the Knesset (The Israeli
Parliament) and the beautifully designed Supreme Court building. At the nearby Israel
Museum, among many other fascinating exhibits, discover the mysteries of the Dead Sea
Scrolls at the Shrine of the Book and see the Model of ancient Jerusalem. Then take a stroll
through the city’s venerable ultra-Orthodox Me’ah She’arim quarter (modest dress required)
to get a sense of Jewish life of yesteryear.
At picturesque Mishkenot She’ananim, in Jerusalem’s Yemin Moshe neighborhood see the
first Jewish houses built outside the city walls. Montefiore's reconstructed carriage stands in
a display-window next to the famous windmill, with the bonus of a beautiful view of the Old
City walls.We will end our day along the pedestrian malls of Ben Yehuda Street and Nahalat
Shiva, restored quarter of shops, galleries and cafes.
Put on your best clothes because tonight we meet and mingle with local Jewish Singles!
Day 5 - Monday: Jerusalem- Dead Sea - Masada
Today our day begins early as we depart Jerusalem and drive through the Judean
wilderness to the Dead Sea. Our first stop is Qumran, visit the caves where the Dead Sea
Scrolls were discovered. The Visitor Center tells its fascinating story and is a great place to
buy Dead Sea products!
Then we proceed to Masada. We take the cable-car up to explore this fortress built by Herod
the Great, the scene of the epic stand by Jewish rebels at the end of the Great Revolt
against Rome nearly 2,000 years ago. Watch the movie at the Visitor Center as it reveals
the secrets of the rebels’ daily life, the story of the excavations, and how Masada became
one of Israel’s most important symbols.
Let's end our day with a relaxing float in the healthful waters of the Dead Sea, the lowest,
saltiest body of water on earth. Then we will return to Jerusalem and our hotel.
Day 6 - Tuesday: Jerusalem - Tiberias
Say goodbye to Jerusalem this morning, as we drive north through the Jordan River Valley
to the ancient remains of Beit Shean, one of the biggest excavated sites in Israel. Ancient
Beit Shean, once a Roman city, has been extensively excavated to reveal public streets,
bath houses, and theaters. The Talmud refers to this site as the "entrance to paradise."
Then we continue on to the Sea of Galilee and take a relaxing boat ride to Kibbutz Nof
Ginosar. Our visit here will highlight Israel’s unique form of communal living and see the
perfectly intact 2,000 year old boat that was recently uncovered on it shores.
Continue on to Tiberias and check in at our hotel located on the shores of the Sea of Galilee.
The remainder of the afternoon will be free to walk the local market or take a dip in the
hotel pool.
Day 7 - Wednesday: Tiberias
Begin our day with a visit of Capernaum to see the ancient Synagogue dating back to the
5th century.
Then stop in the ancient capital city of Jewish mysticism - Safed, where the Kabbalah faith
has originated. The old part of town consists of narrow cobblestone alleys revealing artists'
galleries, medieval synagogues, private homes and small guest houses.
Continue on to Hazor, a Canaanite city rebuilt by King Solomon. Visit the Hazor Museum
filled with artifacts found in the area through 21 historic layers. Then ascend the Golan
Heights to visit the Tel Dan Nature Reserve where we will see old-water springs gush right
up from the ground, forming the Dan River, which is one of the three principal sources of
the Jordan River.
Return to Tiberias for a relaxing evening.
Day 8 - Thursday: Tiberias - Haifa
Depart Tiberias and drive northwest to Akko (Acre) on the Mediterranean shore. Explore the
Upper Galilee and step back in time as we walk the ancient Phoenician and Crusader seaport
city of Akko/Acre. The former capital of the Crusader kingdom and the birthplace of the
Bahai religion is a UNESCO Site. Tour the newly excavated Knights Halls, the Al-Jazzar
Mosque, the bathhouse and the new ethnic museum, built right into the rooms of the old
wall. There will be time to explore the colorful Oriental markets and city walls.
Then continue north to Rosh Hanikra where we will descend by cable car to the cool grottos
of the sea sculpted caves, carved out of chalk cliffs by the force of the beating waves. Walk
through the grottos with the salty spray on your faces, and wonder at the fainting colors
that come from the blue lagoon waters.
Then we drive south to the sparkling port city of Haifa and check-in at our hotel.
Day 9 - Friday: Haifa - Tel Aviv
This morning ascend Mount Carmel for a panoramic view of the city and the bay. Then
depart Haifa as we drive south to Caesarea National Park where we will explore the
magnificent remains of Herod’s city, the Roman capital, port and fortified Crusader town.
Tour the Roman theater, hippodrome and walk the promenade to the renovated port area.
Continue on to Old Jaffa, the world’s oldest port, and stroll along the winding cobble stoned
streets with its charming artists’ colony, art galleries and high quality craft shops.
Continue on to Tel Aviv and check-in at our hotel and relax before dinner.
Dinner tonight in Abraham's Tent. Take a short camel ride (or walk) to the tent where we
are seated on pillows on the carpeted floor. Enjoy a meal like your ancestors ate.
Day 10 - Tel Aviv
In the morning prepare to ‘get dirty’ as we participate in an archaeological dig under Tel
Maresha at Beit Guvrin, ancestral home of King Herod. Vast underground labyrinths of manmade
rooms are being systematically cleaned and give evidence of underground industrial
complexes dating from the Hellenistic period. Remains of olive oil production, weaving
installations, water cisterns and baths confirm a high level of material culture. This site
offers a wealth of discoveries and practical experience for those who want to "dig". You’ll
discover pottery from the time of the Maccabees and get an appreciation for the tedious
work of archaeologists!
Visit the Palmach Museum, an experiential museum, covering the Palmach legacy through
the stories of individuals and groups. The Palmach was founded in May 1941 (World War II)
in order to help the British defend the country (then Palestine) against the approaching
German armies.
The remainder of the day is free for last minute shopping and explore on our own.
It's Saturday night and our final night in Israel so put on your best clothes because we meet
and mingle with local Jewish Singles!
Day 11 - Sunday: Depart Israel
Our Jewish Singles Trip ends after our final breakfast. Say goodbye to all your new friends
as you transfer to the airport and your flight home. Shalom from Israel.
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