8 Day Standard Family Tour
(More tours listed below)
Thursday - VIP Arrival and Hotel Transfer
Welcome to Israel - VIP Arrival and Transfer
Welcome home! A representative of the tour company will meet you as you disembark from the plane and streamline your visa and customs processing. You will be brought to a waiting VIP van who will bring you to your hotel.
Sleep Jerusalem
Friday - Jerusalem
(Private Guide & Van)
Ramparts Walk
We will walk from the Jaffa Gate on top of the old city’s walls recounting the words of King David from the book of Psalms,,
“Walk about Zion and encompass her, count her towers. Mark well in your hearts her ramparts, raise up her palaces, that you may tell it to subsequent generations.”
City of David
Just outside of the Old City we will explore the ancient city where King David held his capital. Ir David, or the “City of David” as it is known in English, is the actual location of the biblical city of Jerusalem captured by King David over 3,000 years ago. Highlights include entering the secret tunnel
leading to the Gihon Spring, walking through Hezekiah’s water tunnel, the Pilgrims ascent from the Shiloach Pool up to “Wall Street” the ancient financial district and shopping area.
Jewish Quarter
The Jewish Quarter has had a Jewish presence almost continuously for 2,700 years! Home to nearly 3,300 residents, it combines history, religion, and archeology as well as shops and restaurants, yeshivas and synagogues. Although there is a modern neighborhood on top of these ancient ruins, the stones come to life and whisper the prophecy of Zachariah that “there will once again sit old men and women in the squares of Jerusalem, and the streets will be filled with playing children.”
Night Recommendation - Shabbat at the Western Wall
Friday night is a special time to be in Jerusalem. As the day ends a new day begins - Shabbat. The Kotel in Jerusalem becomes a unifying place for the Jews as holiness of time and place intertwine. Soldiers and Hassids, tourists and locals, dance arm in arm to welcome the Jewish Sabbath with song and joy. This celebration has no parallel in the world and should not be missed.
Sleep Jerusalem
Shabbat - Jerusalem Walking Tour
Four Quarters Walking Tour
From the Hotel we will ascend on foot to the Old City Via the Jaffa Gate, passing through Jerusalem’s oldest and most picturesque neighborhood outside the Old City’s walls, Yemin Moshe. Besides being Judaism’s holiest city, it is a holy city to both Christianity and Islam. Today Jerusalem has four distinct areas colloquially called “the four quarters, the Jewish Quarter, Christian Quarter, Muslim Quarter, and Armenian Quarter. Together we will explore the hidden gems of this holy city, climbing her rooftops, wandering her alleys, and unlocking her secrets.
Evening Activity - Tower of David Night Spectacular
4,000 years of Jerusalem come alive as they are projected on the walls of the Tower of David. In this citadel, where once the palace of King Herod and the Maccabees stood, the history of the city will be projected in a beautiful swirl of sounds and images which will bring the stones almost literally to life.
Sleep Jerusalem
Sunday - Mediterranean Coast & Western Galilee
(Private Guide & Van)
Caesarea
This picturesque 2,000 year old port city was a dream of King Herod. The Caesarea port was an unparalleled feat of engineering and instrumental in solidifying trade agreements with the Roman Empire. It was at the time one of the largest cities in the Roman Empire and the capital of Rome in Israel.
We will visit the excavated hippodrome, theater and bathhouse. Once a symbol of Roman power, today it is a testament to the eventual victory of the Jews over Rome.
Kfar Kedem Mishnaic Village - Donkey Ride & Lunch
Let’s go back in time to a more simpler time before modern conveniences such as packaged sliced bread and cars and trucks. In this reconstructed Mishnaic era village we will get to glimpse, if only for a few hours, what life was like for our ancestors in the Land of Israel. We will learn about ancient agriculture, ride donkeys, and even bake our own fresh pita bread. The experience includes a delicious rustic lunch served outdoors,
Rosh Hanikra Grottoes & Cable Car
On Israel’s northern border with Lebanon sits one of the most magnificent natural phenomenons in Israel. We will take cable cars down to grottoes that were carved into the mountainside over thousands of years by the beating waves of the Mediterranan Sea. From the cliff sides we will get one of the most picturesque views of the meditteranean coast that you can imagine.
Sleep Ramot Resort
Monday - Golan Heights & Galilee
(Private Guide & Van)
Golan Heights Jeep Adventure
There's practically no better way to see the beauty of the Golan Heights than by offroading with a local. On the shores of the Sea of Galilee we can find some of the most stunning views of valleys, canyons, and wildlife of all kinds. Although it’s more than 200 meters below sea level, the Kinneret Basin is a tropical zone, with agriculture, fruit trees, streams that run year round, as well as a plethora of wild animals that we will search for as we drive through streams and pick the fruit.
De Karina Chocolate Factory & Workshop
Karina & Gyora Chepelinski made aliyah in 2003 and brought with them a three generations old trade. These Chocolatiers have made the Golan Heights bloom with their family chocolate recipes. We will tour this one of a kind boutique chocolate factory, situated in picturesque Kibbutz Ein Zivan less than a mile from the Syria/Israel border. Besides seeing the factory floor, and tasting the delicious treats, we will get our hands dirty making our own truffles in a one of a kind workshop.
Tzfat Old City & Artist Quarter
In Judaism’s most mystical book, the Zohar, Tzfat is described as having the purest air in all of Israel and that’s not only because Tzfat is almost 3,000 feet in elevation. Of Judaism’s four Holy Cities, Tzfat is the one described as mystical and connected to the element of air, that which is intangible... hidden.
It is for this reason that 500 years ago Tzfat attracted mystics and rabbis and built breathtaking synagogues which we will explore. In recent years Tzfat’s beauty has attracted artists from all over who have opened their galleries to the public, making Tzfat a highlight of any trip to Israel.
Sleep Ramot Resort
Tuesday - Golan Heights & Jordan Valley
(Private Guide & Van)
Shofar Factory
One of the most prominent symbols of Judaism is the Shofar, which is blown on the most important days of the hebrew calendar. Although most Shofars come from rams, they can be made from the horns of any animal except for the bull, who’s shofar is not kosher. Shimon Keinan has been blowing shofars as long as he can remember and when he isn’t blowing shofars he’s making them. We will explore his factory which is only one of two in Israel and we may even get to help him finish one.
Gan Hashlosha Swim
Gan Hashlosha or the Sachne as the locals call it, was listed by Time magazine as one of the most beautiful places in Israel and one of the top 20 exotic places in the world. This natural thermal spring has a year-round water temperature of 82 degrees! These pools are a welcome relief to the temperature outside, whether it be hot or cold, and swimming in this paradise is enjoyable year round.
Kasr Al Yahud - Jordan River
Nearly 3,400 years ago in this very place, the Children of Israel crossed over from the desert into the Land of Israel. Though the Jordan River is no longer split, only a few dozen feet away lies the modern country of Jordan. Just over the water, one can envision Elijah the Prophet’s transcendental ascent from this world. Kasr al Yahud was opened to the public in 2011 just across from Jericho on the lush banks of Israel’s longest river, the Jordan.
Welcome to Jerusalem - Mount Scopus Viewpoint
The rabbis of the Talmud state that Jerusalem is the highest place in the world because everyone “ascends” to Jerusalem. The spiritual plateau of the world is here in this most famous and yearned after city. As we enter Jerusalem we will breathe in her beauty from the Mount Scopus Viewpoint and recall the words of the Sages that one “doesn’t come to Jerusalem, rather they return to Jerusalem.”
Sleep Jerusalem
Wednesday - Dead Sea
(Private Guide & Van)
Eretz breishit - Camel Ride
We will go back in time 3,800 years and leave our four wheeled vehicle for one of the four legged variety. Our camels will transport us back to the tent of the Patriarchs - Avraham and Sara. The experience is almost as amazing as the view of the desert of Judea and mountains of Moab that we will take in from atop our camels..
Masada
In the year 30 BCE King Herod built here his desert fortress par excellence. Perched on a mesa 450 meters above the Dead Sea yet only 58 meters above sea level, surrounded by a four meter high double wall and steep cliffs, it was thought to be impregnable. Nearly 100 years after it was built the drama unfolded as the most famous battle in Israel; the last stand of the Jews in their Great Revolt against the Romans.
Ein Gedi National Park
We will visit this Desert Oasis where King David hid from his enemy Saul as recounted in the Bible in the Book of Samuel. Here we can do easy to difficult hikes through the beautiful Judean Desert, periodically stopping to dip in the cold water springs, and cool off under the waterfalls. It’s not uncommon while hiking in this nature reserve to see wild ibex drinking from the stream, hyraxes climbing the trees, or eagles soaring overhead.
Dead Sea float
Have you ever wondered what it feels like to be weightless? Here in the lowest place on earth we have the saltiest lake in the world. The water is so dense that it’s impossible to sink. The waters of the Dead Sea have been known throughout antiquity to have healing qualities, and a day at the Dead Sea has the power to rejuvenate the skin. The hypersalinity and high mineral content have been shown to be therapeutic for arthritis, psoriasis, eczema,and much much more.
Evening suggestion - Machane Yehuda Shuk - Jerusalem Market
There are no words to accurately describe the “shuk”...one must immerse themselves in the sights, smells, and above all, tastes of Jerusalem's largest outdoor food market. It teems with locals and tourists alike, and is a meeting place for Jerusalemites from all over. Make sure to taste the chalva, techina, the famous marzipan rugalach, and get a fresh Juice from Uzi. At night the stalls close but the bars and restaurants are open for business and is a site to be seen..
Sleep Jerusalem
Thursday - Shfela
(Private Guide & Van)
Dig For a Day
At Beit Guvrin/Maresha, the land of 5,000 caves, we will take part in a modern archaeological excavation. Maresha was the hometown of the prophet Michah and has a 3,000 year history, as well as having been conquered and destroyed numerous times.
Dig For a Day is a unique opportunity to get your hands dirty with the past by participating in an active archaeological dig searching for lost treasure and exploring underground caves that haven’t been seen for 2,100 years.
Iza Paziza Lunch Followed By Cheese Workshop and Goat Farm
The Land of Israel is known in the Bible as the “Land of Milk and Honey”; honey of dates and milk of goats. We will see the fresh milk flow and make our own cheese in this delicious workshop. Afterwards we will have the opportunity to taste a variety of cheeses. Iza Paziza is also home to an award winning restaurant that serves amazing dairy dishes, in a lovely rustic atmosphere.
Plant a tree
One of the best ways to connect with the Land of Israel is to set your own roots here. The Jews have planted more than 250 million trees in Israel literally making the deserts bloom with life. This our way of tikkun olam, making the world a better place. Planting trees in Israel is so important that it says in the talmud "If while holding a sapling in your hand you are told that the Messiah is about to arrive, first plant the sapling and only then go out to receive the Messiah."
Graffiti Tour
Can one find a better way to get to know a city, than by taking a walking tour through her most colorful parts? We’ll get to know the hippest and most vibrant parts of Tel Aviv by learning about her street art. These pictures are worth more than a thousand words,and we will learn from these murals about the people and culture, as well as history and current events.
Airport VIP Departure
In Israel we dont say goodbye we say l’hitraot...that means “see you later”.
A representative of our company will bring you to Ben Gurion Airport and streamline your flight check-in and departure. Looking forward to next time!
This itinerary is the property of “Israel With Daniel” and may not be copied, replicated or shared without the written permission of Israel With Daniel.
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