Sample Family Winter Trip inc. South and North (Daniels)

Activities:

• Welcome to Israel

• Arrival at Ben Gurion Airport - You will be greeted at Ben Gurion Airport by your driver and guide, who will transfer you to the hotel.

• Check in to and enjoy dinner at the hotel

• South

Activities:

• Breakfast at your hotel - Each day, you will enjoy a delicious Israeli buffet breakfast at your hotel.

• Begin at the beautiful lookout over Tzin River Bed and visit the grave of Ben Gurion - David Ben Gurion was Israel’s first Prime Minister, whose vision for settling the desert continues to bloom today. Throughout the day, you’ll see his vision come to life.

• Hike in the Ein Avdat oasis - Located in a beautiful canyon in the Negev desert, the Ein Avdat spring flows down in a waterfall towards an 8-meter deep pool of water. The canyon is part of Nahal Zin, which is the longest wadi or dry riverbed, in the Negev desert.

• Authentic, delicious Bedouin meal and camel ride

• A fun Jeep tour in the Ramon Crater - Start at the top of the Atzmaut Ascent, descend into the Makhtesh (crater), and cross to Wadi Ramon. Continue to the summit of Mt. Gvanim which offers a stunning view of the entire Makhtesh. From there, travel along Wadi Gvanim, and continue to the Ein Sahronim spring and the nearby Nabatean ruins. During the tour you will have time to hike various parts of the crater.

• Dinner at the hotel lobby restaurant - (Meal not included)

• Optional add-on: Magical desert night experience: star gazing, bonfire and smores - Guided professional star gazing (weather permitting, not included in the package)

• South

Activities:

• Breakfast at your hotel and check out

• Beit Guvrin - be an archaeologist for a day - Archaeological Seminars invites you to experience the thrill of unearthing the hidden past on Dig-for-a-Day, our ground-breaking archaeological experience designed for active travelers of all ages. Tour the national park and discover what's hidden underground in the Land of Thousands of Caves.

• Lunch at Iza Pziza Goat Farm - In Moshav Tal Shahar, at the foot of the Jerusalem Mountains and the heart of the agricultural fields, is a family goat farm called "Iza Pziza" which includes a small herd, a dairy and a visitors' center with a cheese shop. Eat a light meal, taste cheese and meet the goats.

• Ayalon Institute - Visit the Ayalon Institute, a clandestine ammunitions factory built in 1945 by the Haganah. In just three weeks, preparations for the factory were completed and it was code named the Ayalon Institute. Above ground, it appeared to be no more than a kibbutz. However, located eight meters below ground, this was the country's largest bullet factory. It has been said that the bullets manufactured at the Ayalon Institute played a crucial role in the success of the War of Independence.

• Travel to Jerusalem and check-in to your hotel

• Dinner at a local restaurant - (on your own, meal and transfers aren't included)

• Jerusalem

Activities:

• Breakfast at your hotel

• Begin the day with a visit to the Israel Museum - Visit the unique collections and expansive grounds of the Israel Museum, the country’s national museum. Linger over the renowned international and Israeli art, the world’s most complete Judaica collections and the charming Billy Rose Sculpture Garden. You can also visit the Shrine of the Book, home to the exceptional archaeological finds of the Dead Sea Scrolls and other rare ancient manuscripts.

• Recite the She'he'cheyanu blessing from the magnificent Mount Scopus lookout - Mount Scopus, or “tzofim” in Hebrew, is one of the tallest hills surrounding Jerusalem. This hill is the place to go for the finest views of the Old City, the Dome of the Rock, and the sprawl of New Jerusalem.

• Lunch in the Arab Market - Browse in the famous Arab shuk (market) in the Muslim Quarter. Check out the local hummus and sweets, the market's many stalls that sell spices, pastries, pottery, sheepskin, embroidered clothes and so much more. Meet store-owners whose stores have been in their family for generations.

• Tour the Jewish Quarter - The Jewish Quarter is best known for the Western Wall, but there’s a lot more to see and do here. See archaeological finds from First and Second Temple periods, Roman ruins, and vibrant synagogues, learning institutions which jostle for space in these busy stone streets. Take time to browse through the local art galleries in the ancient Roman Cardo.

• Proceed to the Kotel (The Western Wall) - Sacred because it is one of the last remnant of the Second Temple that was destroyed by the Romans, at the Kotel, feel the stones that have witnessed so much in the history of the Jews. Place your special and personal prayer in the cracks of the stones.

• Dinner at a local restaurant - (on your own, meal and transfers aren't included)

• Jerusalem

Activities:

• Breakfast at your hotel

• Visit the museum at Yad Vashem - Israel’s National Memorial to the Holocaust. Tour this memorial to the darkest moment in world and Jewish history, its children’s memorial, and exquisite gardens. Yad Vashem is an unforgettable place of tribute and remembrance. You'll be guided by a member of the Yad Vashem staff.

• Younger Kids Track: Jerusalem Aquarium - The aquarium takes you on a fascinating journey through the four seas of Israel; Mediterranean Sea, Sea of Galilee, Dead Sea, and Red Sea. All of the different seas have different aquatic life based on the different water.

• Lunch at the Machane Yehuda Market - After a meaningful morning focusing on our past, we will head to experience the present and modern day. In the heart of Jerusalem sits this bustling, multi-ethnic market bursting with life, art, and flavor, and a tasting tour through Machane Yehuda market is an adventure for your taste buds! Enjoy the hustle and bustle with all the rich fragrances, colors, and sounds this iconic Jerusalem market offers.

• Free time to shop and explore

• Proceed back to your hotel, relax and get ready for Shabbat - Optional and suggested - join a local community for Kabbalat Shabbat.

• Friday night Shabbat dinner - Options: at the hotel / a local restaurant / experience an authentic traditional Shabbat at the home of a host family. (meal and transfers aren't included)

• Jerusalem

Activities:

• Early breakfast and check out from the hotel

• Tour of Masada National Park - Ascend the mountain on a cable car to explore Masada, scene of the epic stand by Jewish rebels at the end of the Great Revolt against Rome nearly 2,000 years ago. The new museum at the Visitor Center reveals the secrets of the daily life of the rebels, the story of the excavations, and how the site became one of Israel’s most important symbols.

• Time permitting: Ein Gedi Hike - Nahal David beautiful desert oasis, is a spectacular water hike for all ages. Trails in a range of levels of difficulty take you alongside and through the cool, fresh waters of Nahal David, down waterfalls, along sheer cliffs, and past caves. According to tradition, David sought refuge from King Saul, and his courage and leadership are commemorated here. If you’re both quiet and lucky, you might even glimpse the sure-footed ibex and other local animals.

• Lunch on route - (meal not included)

• Swim and float in the Dead Sea - At 1,300 feet below sea level, the Dead Sea is the lowest point on earth. Known in Hebrew as "The Sea of Salt", it is also one of the saltiest lakes in the world - with about 34.2% salinity.
  This is a stunning, other-worldly landscape of shimmering blue water ringed by bare, orange and yellow hills. The waters of the Dead Sea hold a potent solution of minerals and salts that have strong healing properties. Together with its ethereal beauty, these health-giving minerals make the Dead Sea’s beaches and spas popular vacation spots for Israelis and tourists alike.

• Head north through the Jordan Valley

• Check in to your hotel - Please note: check-in time on Saturdays is at 6:00PM.

• Dinner at a local restaurant - (on your own)

• North

Activities:

• Breakfast at your hotel

• Begin your day with a nature hike in Tel Dan - This national park combines a lush nature reserve with a biblical archaeological experience with an easy trail for all ages. At the heart of the park is “Tel Dan”, the capital of the ancient northern Israeli biblical kingdom.

• Agamon HaHula National Park - At one time, the Hula Valley was an important resting place for migrating birds and many species of rare fish and plants creating a wonderland of flora and fauna. In 1948, the government decided to drain the swamps and pond and convert them into agricultural fields. Due to efforts to conserve at least part of the original landscape, the Hula Valley Nature Reserve was the first nature reserve in Israel. Explore the magnificent bird sanctuary on a motorized golf cart, stopping on the way to do some bird watching.

• Lunch on route

• Explore Rosh Pina - The earliest major wave of immigration, the First Aliya, created small agricultural colonies along the coastal plain. Rosh Pina, established in 1882 on deserted, rocky land, was the first settlement in the Galilee. Walk along the historical main stone-paved street, explore the local artist's studios, and hear about the story of this place.

• Harp Musical Workshop - In Rosh Pina, enjoy a Harp Workshop with harp maker - Scott Isacowitz, who founded Woodsong Harps and fulfilled his life-long dream. In this musical workshop, Iscacowitz will play on the various instruments he built: Celtic Harps, Door Harps, Belly Harp and more.

• Druze home hospitality and cooking workshop - Together with your hosts in their private home, prepare traditional Druze Galilean dishes and then enjoy the feast you create. Learn about Druze culture and history from your hosts and from the food you eat.

• North

Activities:

• Breakfast at your hotel

• Begin with a magical visit to the ancient Jewish city, Ein Keshatot - Also known as Um el Kanatir, Ein Keshatot is home to a Jewish village from the period of the Mishna and Talmud, with a magnificent synagogue in its center. Featuring the most preserved and magnificent original Ark Complex, the synagogue was excavated and reconstructed with advanced technological methods, and today it stands at a height of one story. The Ein Keshatot site also offers a visit to the village spring, which flows into ancient pools, surrounded by shaded areas.

• Track 1: De Karina Boutique Chocolate Factory - Participate in a chocolate workshop at De Karina on Kibbutz Ein Zivan in the Golan Heights: Taste some of the finest chocolate in Israel and then make some of your own to take home.

• Track 2: Pelter Winery - The Pelter Winery was established in 2005 and is a study in terroir. Taste the wines made from grapes grown on the rich Golan soil and hear the story of the winery. Together with the wine, enjoy local cheeses.

• Jeep tour of the northern Golan Heights - While traversing the rich landscape, learn about the history, flora, and fauna of the area. Stop for a lookout over the border with Syria from Mt. Bental to get a better understanding of the geography and strategical roll this region has for the State of Israel. Your local guide touches on the nuances of living so close to the Syrian border and what that has meant for Israel as it relates to security and humanitarian issues. In Merom Golan, you'll also learn about the kibbutz and the ideology behind of this unique communal life.

• Dinner at the hotel

• North

Activities:

• Breakfast and check out from hotel

• Travel to Rosh Hanikra - Here at Rosh Hanikra ("Head of the Grottos"), you will see stunning chalk-white cliffs on Israel’s northernmost coastal border. Enjoy the view of the Mediterranean coastline stretched out before you, then take the cable car down beneath the cliffs to the grottos below and tour the system of underground marine caves eroded by pounding waves over thousands of years.

• Visit the unique Tunisian Synagogue - The Ohr Torah Tunisian synagogue in Akko is unique even in a land of synagogues. Built by a community of Tunisian Jews from Djerba, it offers four stories of glorious mosaics and stained-glass windows both inside and out, showing a varied range of stories, plants, and animals.

• Lunch at a local street food restaurant

• Drive south along the coastline and tour Caesarea National Park - Situated on the Mediterranean coast, Caesarea is one of Israel’s most impressive archeological sites. A national park where amazing ancient harbor ruins, beautiful beaches, and impressive modern residences sit side by side. The city was initially built by King Herod in the 1st century BC, who dreamed of a major seaport to connect the Province of Judea with Rome. For this purpose, the king's men designed an entirely artificial harbor that was in use for about a Millenium. The city became a central city in Roman and Byzantine times as can be seen from the massive archeological remains on site. View the spectacular Roman amphitheater, still used as a performing venue today and the hippodrome that held 20,000 spectators for chariot races.

• Drive to Tel Aviv and check in to the hotel

• Dinner at a local restaurant

• Tel Aviv

Activities:

• Breakfast at your hotel

• Begin Tel Aviv visit with a tour of the picturesque Old City in Jaffa - Discover the ancient and modern situated side-by-side. Stroll through the alleyways of the Old City filled with artist studios as well as archaeological discoveries. Discover which Jewish and Christian stories took place in the city.

• Wind your way through the Flea Market - This unique market features everything from antiques to hip new clothing and design stores, galleries, cafes, restaurants, and bars.

• Continue with a visit of the American-German Colony - In 1866, a group of 150 Christian Americans from Maine and the New England region, led by the eccentric (some say charlatan) preacher George Adams, left the United States, where the Civil War had just ended. They carried with them their faith, and the materials to rebuild their houses in the Holy Land, sailing 42 days to the disease-ridden Middle East. Join a fascinating journey that weaves its way through religious fervor, nationalistic jingoism, renewal and modern speculation to create a uniquely Tel Aviv neighborhood. Today, the neighborhood has both crumbling ruins and new villas, meticulously preserved 150-year-old homes next to four-story buildings with luxury apartments. Visit the Maine Friendship House and Immanuel Church, walk through the surprising streets, and learn the stories of the place.

• Carmel Market Tasting Tour - Continue to Carmel Market (Shuk HaCarmel), the largest market in Tel Aviv. Touring the market reveals the taste of the ages of Tel-Aviv in the youthful atmosphere of the city's central market. The Polish, the Persian, and the Yemeni... in this case, it is not the start of a joke, but the fascinating culinary traditions that mix in this place. The established market that was founded over 90 years ago, can now reveal its secrets, stories, and legends to you. (The tasting tour replaces lunch)

• Learn about the birth of the Jewish State and the First Hebrew City along the Independence Trail - Inspired by the Freedom Trail in Boston, the new Independence Trail leads to several of Tel Aviv’s heritage sites teaching visitors the history of this great city along the way. The trail begins at the intersection of tree-lined Rothschild Boulevard and Herzl Street, home to Tel Aviv’s first kiosk. The trail ends across the street at Independence Hall, where on May 14, 1948, David Ben-Gurion read aloud the Declaration of Independence as Israel was declared an independent Jewish state. Along the way you will also explore the multiple architectural styles that can also tell the story of the First Hebrew City.

• Dinner at a local restaurant - (on your own, meal and transfers are not included)

• Tel Aviv

Activities:

• Breakfast at your hotel

• Free day to explore on your own - Please note: on this day a guide, transportation, and activities are not included.
  see our suggestions for additional unique tours with expert guides that we can offer and recommend:

• What is Israeli Art? - In this dynamic tour, we'll figure out what makes Israeli art into what it is, and learn about its relationship with the Zionist narrative as well as the international art world. This tour through the extensive Israeli collection at the Tel Aviv Museum of Art is an amazing way to visually explore the Israeli narrative from the early 20th century until today. What is the story the Arts Establishment tells about Israeli Art?

• Graffiti tour and workshop - Tour the dynamic neighborhood of Florentine, Tel Aviv’s most bohemian and upbeat neighborhood and learn about contemporary Israeli culture through the writing on the wall, graffiti, bumper stickers and even painted garbage bins. In recent years Tel Aviv has become Israel's capital of urban art. Take part in an interactive fun graffiti workshop, where you'll make something on your own and take it with back home.

• Dinner at a local restaurant

• Tel Aviv

Activities:

• Breakfast at your hotel - Check-out by noon. You may leave your luggage with the hotel concierge until you need to leave for your departure flight.

• Easy day to explore on your own - Some suggestions for your day: (please note: activities, guide and transfers are not included)
  - Bike ride along the beach promenade.
  - ANU Museum of the Jewish People
  - Check-out the Nahalat Binyamim art and craft market open on Tuesdays and Fridays.

• Private transfer to the airport - Your driver will drive you to Ben Gurion Airport for your return flight home. VIP fast-track assistance is available for an additional cost.

• Farewell! - We look forward to hosting you again in our beautiful country!