Nafshenu’s Journey to Israel – Itinerary
Our journey will be hands-on, learning from ancient artifacts and new age discoveries. A cultural, socio-historical, spiritual unearthing of Israel from inside out!
Day 1: Sunday, July 24, 2022: DEPARTURE
- We depart the United States on our overnight flight to Israel.
Day 2: Monday, July 25, 2022: WELCOME TO ISRAEL!
- We arrive at Ben Gurion Airport and are met by an Ayelet Tours representative.
- We transfer to Tel Aviv for a welcome ceremony on the beach celebrating our arrival in Israel.
- Later this afternoon, we check into our hotel with time to relax and refresh.
- This evening, we enjoy a welcome dinner together at a local restaurant.
Overnight in Tel Aviv
Day 3: Tuesday, July 26, 2022: A TASTE OF TEL AVIV
- Breakfast at our hotel.
- We begin our day in Old Jaffa, where we wander through the cobblestone alleyways to visit artgalleries and take in the views of the sea as we learn about this historically important port.
- Next, we stroll through Neve Tzedek, one of Tel Aviv’s oldest neighborhoods, where we see theartistic graffiti painted on the walls and buildings of the community and learn how this is animportant form of expression.
- We follow the Independence Trail through the Rothschild District, discovering thearchitectural, cultural and intellectual foundations of this great city along the way, including astop outside the famed site of Israel’s Independence Hall.
- With stop for lunch on own and we enjoy time exploring Nachalat Binyamin, where the artistsand entertainers bring the streets of Tel Aviv to life, then continue to the adjacent Carmel Market to take in the sights, smells and sounds of this bustling marketplace.
- We continue to the Peres Center for Peace and Innovation, an institution which was foundedby the late President Shimon Peres. The center was created as a non-political, non-governmentalorganization focused on building a more prosperous Israel and a more peaceful Middle Eastthrough innovation, technology, and cutting-edge coexistence programs.
- We return to Tel Aviv for an evening to swim in the sea or at the hotel pool and enjoy dinner on own.
Overnight in Tel Aviv
Day 4: Wednesday, July 27, 2022: THE MEDITERRANEAN COAST
- Breakfast and check out of our hotel.
- This morning, we depart Tel Aviv and travel north along the Mediterranean coast to Caesarea,where we view the aqueduct, Herod’s palace and the ancient theater now used as a concert venue.
- We travel to Haifa for a falafel lunch on own in the Arab neighborhood of Wadi Nisnas.
- After lunch, we drive to the top of Mt. Carmel to take in the panoramic view overlooking thebeautiful Bahai Gardens and northern coastline.
- We next tour the ruins of the once thriving city of Zippori, where Jews and Gentiles lived side byside for centuries and where the Mishnah was codified almost 2,000 years ago.
- Our next stop is in Tzomet HaGoma to enjoy the fabulous Buza ice cream before continuing tothe Galilee to check into our kibbutz and have a chance to relax and refresh.
- This evening, we enjoy dinner together at our kibbutz.
Overnight in the Galilee
Day 5: Thursday, July 28, 2022: NORTHERN ADVENTURES
- Breakfast at our kibbutz.
- We begin our day with an exciting jeep tour through the Golan Heights, passing former Syrianbunkers on the way to the top of Har Bental, where we take in the views of Syria and learn aboutthe current geopolitical situation.
- While the children are learning to make chocolate at the DeKarina Chocolate Factory, the adults will have the option to visit the adjacent Pelter Winery for a tour and tasting.
- Lunch on own in the area.
- We stop in Bukata, a Druze village, and join local woman Nasiba we learn about her inspiring story of success and independence in a traditional society.
- This afternoon, we travel to the mystical city of Safed, one ofthe four holy cities in Israel and the center of Kabbalah.
- We return to our kibbutz for a relaxing evening and dinner together.
Overnight in the Galilee
Day 6: Friday, July 29, 2022: THE ROAD TO JERUSALEM
- Breakfast and check out of our kibbutz.
- This morning, we visit Atlit, a former detention compound forJewish immigrants who arrived in Israel illegally during theBritish Mandate period.
- We travel along Route 6 and the barrier to Jerusalem.
- We ascend to Jerusalem and stop atop Mt. Scopus to say theShehecheyanu as we look out over the City of Gold for the firsttime together.
- Our next stop is at the Tachana, the renovated train stationfilled with cafes and restaurants for lunch on own.
- After lunch, we check into our hotel and have time at leisure.
- As the sun sets, we join together for Kabbalat Shabbat with members of Kol Haneshama,followed by Shabbat dinner.
Overnight in Jerusalem
Day 7: Saturday, July 30, 2022: SHABBAT SHALOM!
- Breakfast at our hotel.
- Today, we tour the recently renovated Israel Museum. The galleries range from pop and modernart, back through the Renaissance and Classical periods, with a strong emphasis on Jewish andIsraeli archeological history with evidence going back thousands of years. We walk through theiconic Shrine of the Book, which houses the Dead Sea Scrolls, and see the impressive miniaturereplica of Jerusalem as it was during the Second Temple period.
- This afternoon choose to enjoy a walking tour of the Old City, including a stroll along the ViaDolorosa to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in the Christian quarter and time for lunch onown OR return to our hotel to relax and enjoy the facilities.
- Dinner on own this evening.
- After dinner, we walk to the Tower of David to watch the spectacular Sound and Light show.
Overnight in Jerusalem
Day 8: Sunday, July 31, 2022: ANCIENT JERUSALEM
- Breakfast at our hotel.
- This morning, we visit Ir David, the City of David, where we wander through the carefullypreserved archaeological excavations dating back to the time of King David, including a walkthrough Hezekiah’s tunnel.
- Next, we visit the Davidson Archaeological Park to see the remains from the First and SecondTemple periods.
- We return to the Old City and visit the Kotel (Western Wall) with time for personal reflection.
- Lunch on own and free time to shop in the Jewish quarter’s Cardo market.
- Later this afternoon, we head underground for a tour of the Western Wall tunnels, where wediscover the archaeological wonders that once remained untouched for centuries.
- Evening at leisure to explore and enjoy dinner on own.
Overnight in Jerusalem
Day 9: Monday, August 1, 2022: THE DEAD SEA BASIN
- Breakfast at our hotel.
- We depart early this morning and travel south to the Dead Sea basin. Upon arrival, we ascend Masada by cable car or snake path to view the remains of King Herod’s fortress, including the synagogue, walls and bathhouses, as we learn about the Jewish Zealot’s last stand against the Roman forces.
- We descend the mountain and head to the beach for lunch, achance to enjoy the mineral-rich mud baths and anunsinkable swim in the healing, salty waters of the Dead Sea.
- Later this afternoon, we enjoy a short hike to the hiddenwaterfalls in the desert oasis of Ein Gedi.
- We travel to Eretz Beresheet for an authentic Bedouin experience, including a camel ride and a traditional hafla dinner.
- We return to Jerusalem later this evening.
Overnight in Jerusalem
Day 10: Tuesday, August 2, 2022: WE REMEMBER
- Breakfast at our hotel.
- This morning, we participate in tikkun olam and engage in an unforgettable hands-on experience packing food staples included in monthly food baskets delivered to Israel’s neediest families at Pantry Packers.
- Next, we tour Yad Vashem, Israel’s memorial to the Holocaust, where we view the many moving exhibitions, including the Hall of Names and the Avenue of the Righteous Among the Nations. Our group will divide into two tracks; first timers and those who have visited before.
- We continue to the famed Machane Yehuda, where we take in the sights, smells and sounds of the bustling marketplace and try some of Israel’s delicacies on our tasting tour. Time for lunch on own.
- At Mt. Herzl, Jerusalem’s military cemetery, we pay our respects at the gravesites of Theodore Herzl, Golda Meir, Yitzhak Rabin and Shimon Peres and hear stories of some of the lesser known heroes buried here.
- Evening at leisure and dinner on own.
Overnight in Jerusalem
Day 11: Wednesday, August 3, 2022: DIGGING ISRAEL
- Breakfast at our hotel.
- Today, we travel to Beit Guvrin to participate in a hands-on archaeological dig, unearthing remnants from Israel’s ancient past and a chance to cave crawl at Tel Maresha.
- We return to Jerusalem for an afternoon at leisure.
- This evening, we check out of our hotel and join together for a festive farewell dinner, recalling all that we have experienced on this journey together.
- We transfer to Ben Gurion Airport for our overnight flight back to the United States.
Day 12: Thursday, August 4th, 2022
Day 13: Friday, August 5th, 2022
Nafshenu’s Journey to Israel – Tour Information:
INCLUDED IN MAIN TOUR:
- Hotel stays
- All touring and sightseeing per an agreed upon itinerary in a deluxe air-conditioned vehicle with an expert English-speaking guide
Meals:
- Breakfast daily
- 1 Lunch:
- Dead Sea celebration lunch and swim at the Dead Sea
- 6 Dinners:
- Welcome dinner
- 2 Kibbutz dinners
- Shabbat dinner
- Hafla Beduin Dinner
- Farewell dinner
Featured Experiences:
- Golan Heights jeep tour
- Chocolate workshop or wine tasting
- Sound and Light show
- Camel ride
- Pantry Packers
- Airport Transfers included if arriving/departing with the main group
- Entrance fees as per itinerary
- Porterage
- Bottled water (2 bottles per person per day on the bus)
Not Included:
- Roundtrip airfare, departure taxes and fuel surcharges (contact Ayelet Tours for flights)
- Border taxes or visa fees (Jordan visa fee is $69 paid in advance – border tax for Jordan of approx. $60 payable in USD at the border)
- Tips to guides, driver, and dining room waiters ($20 per person, per day; pre-collected) (For more information on Ayelet’s tipping policies, click here)
- Any meals not listed above
- Any items of a personal nature
- Any costs associated with testing or related to proof of Covid/vaccine status. Currently proof of traveler health insurance and vaccination are required to enter Israel.
- Travel insurance (recommended – group policy available)
This price is based on a guaranteed land price. Airfare cannot be guaranteed until the tickets are written and may vary.
Individual Deposit and Cancelation Policy:
There is a $500 per person deposit due upon registration. Full payment is due 90 days prior to departure. CANCELLATION POLICY (for groups traveling in 2022): No land penalty if canceled 91 or more days before departure for payments by check (for credit card payment, minus $25 per person non-recoverable cost), plus any applicable airline penalties. $500 per person charged if canceled 90 to 31 days prior to departure, plus any applicable airline penalties. 100% per person charged if canceled 30 days or less before departure. Applicable airline penalties may still apply. If purchased, group travel insurance policy becomes non-refundable 90 days before departure. Please note: See our website for latest Covid policies. For the full terms and conditions, click here.
Travel App:
Participants can download our customized Travel App, specifically created for your tour. The app includes the full itinerary, hotel info, site photos, emergency contact info, destination guides and more. The app is available for download/offline access throughout the trip.
Steps Towards a Healthy Tour:
About Ayelet Tours:
Ayelet Tours is proud to be the official Tour & Missions provider for Hadassah and the World Union for Progressive Judaism. We have been creating and operating Israel and Jewish Heritage tours worldwide since 1986. In planning unique experiences, we partner with a diverse range of clientele – from synagogues, to private families, to universities. To learn more about who we are and what we do, please read our history and visit our website.