ISRAEL TOUR 2008
Tuesday, October 21
Meet at New York, JFK airport for group flight
You will be checking in at the El Al flight counter. Do NOT forget your passports.
We will be at the El Al flight counter area to assist. I will be collecting the copies of your passports at this point as well as giving you your tour name badges. Badges will be required at all times during our travels. Once you have your ticket you will go through and meet up with the other travelers at our departure gate.
Wednesday, October 22
4:51pm arrival at Ben Gurion Airport
We will be meeting our Israel tour staff after we go through passport control. We will pick up luggage, load buses and drive to Jeruslaem.
Hotel check-in
General Orientation Meeting, Group dinner
Thursday, October 23
Group breakfast
Departure for Mount of Olives – one of the most impressive sites to see in the city of Jerusalem. We will walk down Palm Sunday road to the Church of Gat-Shemani and then to the City of David (today’s most visited site in Jerusalem other than the western wall). We will have lunch en route. Visit the Davidson center with the southern steps of the temple. Return to Hotel
Workshop, Group dinner
Depart for the old city to visit underground Tunnels of the western wall.
IMPORTANT NOTE – When we go to the city of David everyone will need to bring with them a small flashlight and water shoes. There will be some walking through water. You can choose not to do this as there is one smaller tunnel that is dry that you can walk through.
Friday, October 24
Group breakfast
Visits to the Holocaust Memorial, Yad BaShem-Israel Museum with the Dead Sea Scrolls and the Model of the Old City from Jesus’ time, continuing to the Mahane Yehuda market to see the preparations for the Sabbath.
Afternoon workshop.
Before group dinner we will get explanations on what the Sabbath symbolizes to the Jewish world
Saturday, October 25
Group breakfast
IMPORTANT – Wear comfortable walking shoes for this day. We will be on our feet and walking the majority of this day.
Today we will visit the old city, including Mount Zion – room of the last Supper – Garden Tomb and the different markets
Group Dinner
After dinner, short night tour by bus to a very nice Jewish and Arab folklore performance at the YMCA right across from the famous King David Hotel. The performance is well received by all and explains a lot on both cultures.
Sunday, October 26
Group breakfast
Departing Jerusalem. We will check out and get luggage loaded. We will make our way north to Cesarea-Meguido-Haifa and Akko in our agenda for today. It is a long day with much driving in the bus. At some point either before we leave or at one of the Arab towns we will have a lecture by an Arab Israel-Palestinian
Lunch enroute
Group dinner
Monday, October 27
Group breakfast
If birds are in migration, we will visit early in the morning the “Hula Valley” nature reserve site ascending right towards the Golan Highs. We will see an IDF bunker from where you can see Syria’s and Lebanese towns in order to understand the complicated issues with those borders.
We will descent towards Kibbutz Ein Gev to have a very good fish lunch or pizza for those who do not prefer fish. Afterwards we will cross by boat to the other side of the Sea of Galilee.
Return to the hotel and Caroline’s workshop before group dinner.
IMPORTANT NOTE – This hotel has a beautiful Spa. We will send you a list of services offered for this location as well as the Spa at the Dead Sea for people to be able to make reservations before we get there if you are interested in pre-booking.
Tuesday, October 28
Group breakfast
We will visit the mystical city of Safed with 2 old synagogues and art galleries, at 10:30 we are going to be seated at the Sermon of the Mount site on the open theatre for the 1 ˝ hour lecture. Then the important sites around the Sea of Galilee will be seen including the Boat from Jesus’ time. We will be entertained later at the Kibbutz by a Trio playing soft classical music.
Workshop scheduled before group dinner
Wednesday, October 29
Group breakfast
We will be driving south towards the very important archeological city of Beit Shean and see the well preserved synagogue floor from the 3rd century.
After a light lunch we will proceed towards the Dead Sea area driving via Jericho.
We will have time to float on the Dead Sea and enjoy the facilities of the hotel before the last workshop in Israel.
Workshop
Gershon will give all final instructions for the departure schedule for the following day and night as there will be different departure times for some.
Group Dinner
IMPORTANT NOTES – The spa at the hotel has agreed to open early and remain open later for appointments at this hotel. Should bring bathing suits.
Thursday, October 30
Group breakfast
Late check out, 11am
Blue bus will depart with only those on the Egypt extension. This will be explained in detail the evening before. Buses will be assigned for the Group flight travelers and their luggage will be loaded before departure. One bus will be designated for those that are not on the group flight with alternate departure arrangements. Again, this will all be discussed the night before we leave in detail.
IMPORTANT NOTE – Do not forget your medication. It is important to bring along all prescriptions or bring a copy of your prescription from your doctor in case of an emergency.