7 DAYS IN ISRAEL

Availablilty: Year round

DAY 1 – Tel Aviv and Jaffa

“The white city” , “The city that never sleeps” , “Startup nation” – All these are different names for Tel Aviv.

We will walk or cycle around the first Hebrew city dating back to 1909, today the most modern and advanced city in the Middle East.

We will explore old neighbourhoods and hear about the founding of tel-aviv. Then follow the timeline to today’s modern city, see all the vibrant cafes, restaurants, food markets, And Bauhaus buildings. Walk through Rothschild boulevard , Rabin square and the city hall. we’ll enjoy people watching and much more as time permits…

DAY 2 – Mediterranean shoreline

We will visit the beautiful roman city of Caesarea – the old roman capital of Israel, sitting on the shore of the Mediterranean Sea.

We will continue to Haifa to view the amazing Baha’i gardens.

Then we will visit Akko to visit the “Crusaders halls” dating back to the 11^th century, see the lively port and local market and maybe have fish for lunch.

Then we will head up all the way up north near the Lebanon border (it’s safe don’t worry) to visit Rosh Hanikra and walk through beautiful grottos carved by water.

we can add a short hike up by the border for a beautiful viewpoint of northern Israel

DAY 3 – The Golan heights

We will visit the northern part of Israel, known as the Toscana of Israel.

Start the morning with a short 40 minute hike at the “Banias” waterfall,
including a great walk on a suspended bridge above the Banias strem.
Visit Nimrod fortress – an impressive 12^th century fortress, that protected the country from northern attacks.
Local lunch in a Druz village.
Visit Mount “Bental” – an old volcano overlooking the Syrian border. Where we will be less then a mile from the Israeli Syrian border (in a very safe spot) on top of an old Israeli army bunker from 1967. You’ll have an option to Hike down from the mountain (40 minutes)

Additional options:
Longer hikes ( 1,2,6 hours)
ATV/Jeep ride to an old Syrian base by the border.
Visit and taste local wine at one of the boutique wineries and on the Golan
Visit a local chocolate workshop where you make your own chocolate (great for kids)

DAY 4 – The Galilee hills and the sea of Galilee

Visit the beautiful sea of Galilee (Lake Kineret) – Israel’s only fresh water lake. The sea of galilee is very famous in Christianity, here Jesus Christ met his disciples and preformed several miracles, such as walking on water. We will visit “Capernaum” (and see the house of st. peter), we will go up to the Mount of Beatitude (where Jesus gave the sermon on the mount) ,we will also visit the baptism site at the Jordan river and more.

It’s a also a great lake for a swimming stop.

Visit Zefad- a small spiritual town high up on the mountains. Zefad was the birth place place for kabbalah – a method, discipline, and school in Judaism which explores the Mystic elements of the Torah (the jewish bible). We will visit the artist colony and meet the very friendly local artists, some of them create their art in the spirit of Kabbalah

Hula Valley, walk/cycle around a beautiful lake in the middle of Hula Valley and see some of Isarel’s northern wildlife.

DAY 5 – Jerusalem, old city

We will tour the holiest city in the world, and find out why is is considered the No.1 sacred site for Judaism and Christianity, and 3rd holiest site for Muslims

We will visit the western wall (wailing wall) upon which the Jewish temple was build at the 1^st century B.C . We will walk through the Via Dolorosa and visit the church of holy sepulchre (burial place of Jesus Christ), view or visit temple mount, enjoy the local stories, legends, vibrant bazaars , spices and local food.

Options: add the Mount of olives or Scopus mountain for a spectacular viewpoint of the old city

more sites we can add (with an entrance fee): the Tower of David museum and viewpoint. The city of David – A walk in an old water tunnel (great for kids). The southern wall excavations site and the western wall underground tunnel tour.

DAY 6 – Jerusalem, new city

Today we will visit more sites outside the walls of the old city, in New Jerusalem
(Israel’s capital and largest city)

Sites to choose from: Yad Vashem museum
(The best World Holocaust Remembrance Center)

“Machne Yehuda” food market – enjoy a lively food market, watch the local residents of Jerusalem come for fresh shopping, great food and drinks.

Israel Museum, see the “Dead sea scrolls” – the Earliest version of the bible, dating back to the first century. We will see the model of the 1^st century Jerusalem. Visit amazing art and archeology exhibitions and an outdoor sculpture garden.

Visit the “kneset” – the Israeli parliament building, for a tour or just an outside visit.
Visit Ein karem neighborhood, nice quiet romantic area (Also the birth place of John the Baptist).

Optional: visit Betlehem – the birth place of Jesus christ, today a part of the Palestinian authority.

DAY 7 – A day at the Dead sea

Visit and tour the mountain of Masada – a fortress in the desert, dating back to the 1^st century
where king Harrods built his palace and where the rebels fought the roman empire.
we will go up by cable car (or an early morning sunrise hike) and explore the mountain.

Then head to the the dead sea for some relaxed floating in the lowest sea on earth.

Enjoy putting the nutritious mud on your body and feel 10 years younger!

Optional hike at the Ein Gedi oasis (on warm days you can sit under fresh water waterfalls)

We might spot some wild Ibex around the springs.

More Options:

Visit Kumeran – the caves in which the “Dead sea scrolls” were found.
Visit AHAVA – dead sea products factory and factory store, AHAVA are known worldwide for their cosmetics and health care products containing dead sea minerals.