Day 1 Friday

WELCOME TO HOLY ISRAEL!

VIP Welcome at Ben Gurion Airport

After landing, a Shalom Israel Tours representative will be waiting to welcome you as you exit the plane. Your party will be transported in a private vehicle to the flight staff passport control, continue to luggage identification and transfer to your luxury chauffeured vehicle.

Transfer to Tel Aviv

Stretching along a beautiful beach strip of the Mediterranean Sea for 100 years, Tel Aviv is considered the face of modern Israel. Nicknamed “The White City” for its abundance of Bauhaus style architecture, Tel Aviv was declared a UNESCO World Heritage City in 2003.

The Carmel Market

Tel Aviv’s main marketplace is the open-air Carmel Market (Shuk HaCarmel), located in southern Tel Aviv. Here you’ll find mounds of colorful, locally grown produce, fish, meat and more. Just wandering the aisles of the Carmel Market is a Middle Eastern experience.

Nachlat Binyamin Arts & Crafts Fair

The first and biggest of its kind in Israel, this average street comes alive every Friday. Displaying Israeli-made crafts, jewelry, home décor and art, all goods on display are hand made and sold by the artists, making a visit to this market a memorable experience.

Overnight: The Dan Panorama Hotel, Tel Aviv

Day 2 Saturday (Photography Instructor)

TEL AVIV & OLD JAFFA PORT

Old Jaffa Port & Market

Built 4,000 years ago, the Jaffa Port is the oldest in the world. 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. The metropolis of Tel Aviv is largely an extension of Jaffa.

Famous Jaffa Flea Market

Experience an exotic flavor known only to the Middle East, including antique furniture, jewelry, hookahs with all the accessories.  At the Jaffa Flea Market you’ll find a wide variety of treasures, including European vintage clothing, colorful delights, and rare items.

Overnight: The Dan Panorama Hotel, Tel Aviv

Day 3 Sunday (Photography Instructor)

ISRAEL’S COAST – ANCIENT PORTS

Ancient City of Caesarea Ruins

The Caesarea National Park contains the remains of a prestigious port city established by Herod the Great, which flourished during the Byzantine period. Visit the Roman Amphitheatre, the Hippodrome horse racing arena, and the impressive Roman Aqueducts.

Haifa Bahai Gardens

Welcome to “The Eighth Wonder of the World.” Considered the most striking landmark in Haifa, the magnificence of these gardens leaves visitors stunned. The terraced gardens are built around a religious tomb/shrine and landscaped with precision, beauty and creativity.

Akko Fortified Walls & Market

One of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world, Akko dates back to the time of the Pharaoh Thutmose III and was a central city of the Ottoman Empire. Stop by the market and stroll along shoreline walls built by the Ottoman governor using old Crusader stones.

Rosh Hanikra Grottos & Cable Car

Formed over a period of thousands of years from waves hitting the soft chalk rock on Israel’s coast, these beautiful grottoes (sea caves) offer stunning views of waves crashing against the rocks and spraying the air. A cable car ride and a sound and light show complete your visit.

Dinner & Overnight: The Ramot Resort, Overlooking the Sea of Galilee

Day 4 Monday (Photography Instructor)

THE GALILEE AND TZFAT – CITY OF KABALLAH

Golan Heights Jeeping

Take an exhilarating ride through the Golan Heights. With the sun on your face and the wind in your hair, you’ll venture up, down and all around the luscious green hills of the North. Keep an eye out for bright and blooming fields of flowers and wild animals grazing.

Mount Bental IDF Bunker

Enjoy views of Syria from a key mountaintop location on Israel’s northern border. From the top of this dormant volcano, you will see the majestic Mount Hermon, the picturesque Druze villages of the Golan and bunkers and trenches left over from the Yom Kippur War.

Tzfat Old City & Artist Quarter

Tzfat is one of the four holy cities in Israel. It has served as a spiritual center since the 1600s, when famous Kabbalists roamed here. Tzfat awaits art lovers, soul-seekers and historians to cobblestone alleys, medieval synagogues, galleries and mystical atmosphere.

Sea of Galilee & Capernaum National Park

Visit the remains of a Second Temple period fishing village and its synagogue, and imagine the lives of those who lived there. We’ll learn about the location where Jesus selected his Apostles and the modern day church that stands where the house of Peter once stood.

Dinner & Overnight: The Ramot Resort, Overlooking the Sea of Galilee

Day 5 Tuesday (Photography Instructor)

TIBERIAS AND THE JORDAN VALLEY – HIGHWAY OF KINGS

Beit She’an National Park

It is here that King Saul was defeated by the Philistines in a vicious historical battle. Later, Beit She’an was reestablished as a Greek city with colonnaded streets, temples, theaters and fountains. The city was devastated by an earthquake in 749 CE; now only remnants remain.

Qasr Al Yahud Jordan River Crossing

We’ll stop at the point where the Nation of Israel crossed the Jordan River and entered the Land of Israel after their 40 years of wandering in the desert. This is also the site of Elijah’s ascension to heaven in a fiery chariot after he and Elisha crossed the Jordan River.

Jericho Valley Lookout Point

The community of Mitzpe Jericho is located on the edge of the Judean desert and offers stunning panoramic views of the Dead Sea, Jordan River, the ancient city of Jericho and the surrounding hills. The observation deck here is shaded and surrounded by a lush garden.

Jerusalem Promenade Lookout

Arrive in Jerusalem and ascend to the Haas Promenade. In a single view, you will perceive both the Old City and the expanse of modern Jerusalem. This site helps us understand why the Talmud says that of the ten measures of beauty in the world, nine reside in Jerusalem.

Overnight: The Dan Panorama Hotel, Jerusalem

Day 6 Wednesday (Photography Instructor)

JERUSALEM’S OLD CITY – THE ETERNAL CAPITAL

Old City Jewish Quarter

The Jewish Quarter remains one of the single most-visited spots in all of Israel. Nestled within one square kilometer of land lay millennia of ancient history. The Old City dates back to the 8th century BCE and is home to numerous landmarks of historical significance.

Western Wall Tunnels Tour

These famous underground tunnels contain remnants of entire rooms from the Second Temple period. At Warren’s Gate, you’ll stand just a few feet away from where the Holy Ark stood, and feel the yearning of the Jewish people for the Temple for thousands of years.

Jerusalem Archaeological Park

Experience Second Temple-era Jerusalem on the eve of its destruction by the Romans. See a virtual reconstruction of the Temple, visit the stores and walkways of the surrounding city and see the remnants of the staircase that led to the Temple Mount and the Holy of Holies.

Overnight: The Dan Panorama Hotel, Jerusalem

Day 7 Thursday (Photography Instructor)

JERUSALEM NEW CITY – THE MODERN CAPITAL

1967 Six Day War – Ammunition Hill

On the night of June 6th, 1967, a four-hour battle took place here at Ammunition Hill in which 36 men lost their lives. Today you can view the trenches and reconstructed bunker that serves as a museum and tells the story of the liberation and reunification of Jerusalem.

Mount Herzl National Cemetery

A burial place for prominent Zionist figures such as Theodore Herzl, Golda Meir and Yitzhak Rabin, here you will also find an expansive military cemetery; one quite full for a country so young. The loss of the soldiers who fought for the land of Israel is palpable.

Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum

In 1963, the Yad Vashem Museum was established as the world center for Holocaust research, education and commemoration. With survivor testimonies, powerful displays, artifacts and memorial gardens, this museum embodies one crucial message: Never again.

Israel Museum & Dead Sea Scrolls

Founded in 1965, this is the largest cultural institution in the State of Israel and one of the world’s leading art and archaeology museums. Here you will find the oldest existing biblical manuscripts in the world, the Dead Sea Scrolls, which are housed in the Shrine of the Book.

Overnight: The Dan Panorama Hotel, Jerusalem

Day 8 Friday (Photography Instructor)

THE JUDEAN DESERT – KING HEROD’S FORTRESS

Masada Mountain & Cable Car

Ride via cable car to the top of Masada and explore what remains of King Herod’s palace. See what it was like to live there as you view the preserved baths, cisterns and barracks. It was here that leader Eleazer Ben Yair kept the Roman Legion’s siege at bay for three years.

Dead Sea Float Experience

Yam Hamelach, literally meaning “Sea of Salt,” is 417 meters below sea level, making it the lowest place on earth. Its salty water contains unique healing properties, which, combined with the nutrient-filled mud found on its shores, creates one luxurious and healthy day.

Shabbat at The Western Wall– Evening Recommendation

Here stand the sacred remnants of the ancient Jewish Temple. On Friday night come to the Wall and join the joyful event together with soldiers and people from all over the world dancing together in lively in celebration of Shabbat, a truly unforgettable experience.

Dinner & Overnight: The Dan Panorama Hotel, Jerusalem

Day 9 Saturday (Photography Instructor)

JERUSALEM’S CHRISTIAN QUARTER

Jerusalem’s Old City Four Quarters

Explore the Old City’s ancient quarters with an experienced guide. Visit the historical sites of the Old City, including synagogues, churches, markets and squares. Learn about the 3000 year-old history of the city of Jerusalem, from King David’s conquest until the present day.

The Christian Quarter Via Dolorosa

Walk in the final path of Jesus, starting at the location where Pontius Pilate sentenced Jesus. There are fourteen Stations of the Cross that line the Via Dolorosa, ending with the final station – the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, where the crucifixion took place.

Ben Yehuda Street – evening recommendation

Here you’ll find all the restaurants, shops, street vendors and street performances you could ever ask for. Sip a latte at one of Ben Yehuda’s many sidewalk cafes, grab a delicious frozen treat, invest in some Judaica, purchase souvenirs, and soak up the vibrant atmosphere.

Overnight: The Dan Panorama Hotel, Jerusalem

Day 10 Sunday (Farewell Transfer)

FAREWELL FOR NOW…WE’LL MISS YOU!

Farewell Transfer…We’ll Miss you!

Transfer to Ben Gurion Airport for your temporary departure from Israel…Farewell for now!