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Price range
From $3,350 per person
Upcoming Date
22 Dec 2024 - 28 Dec 2024
Tour Time
7 Days (Inc. Arv./Dpt.)
BOOK THIS TOUR

Itinerary

1 - Sunday ( December 22 ) : Shalom, Welcome to Israel!

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Activities:

  • Arrive at Ben Gurion International Airport. - After arrival procedures and collecting your luggage, you will meet your driver outside the terminal.

  • Private transfer to Tel Aviv & Check-in to the hotel. - Please note: check-in time is after 3:00 PM. If you arrive earlier you can leave the luggage at the hotel's storage room.

  • Settle in and enjoy the time to explore on your own - A guide, transportation, and activities are not included.

  • Dinner at a local restaurant - We will be happy to give restaurant recommendations and assist with making reservations closer to the time of the trip. (meal not included)

  • Tel Aviv - Dan Panorama Hotel

Overnight: Tel Aviv - Dan Panorama Hotel

2 - Monday ( December 23 ) : Tel Aviv - Cultural Israeli Center

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Activities:

  • Breakfast at the hotel - Every day you will enjoy a delicious buffet Israeli breakfast at the hotel.

  • Free morning for walk and explore your way - Recommended: walk on the beach promenade, visit Ramat Gan Safari, engage in a creative art workshop, or rent a bike to enjoy a morning ride. (guide, activity and transfers are not included - can be added)

  • Meet your guide for a culinary and cultural tour of the Carmel Market and the Yemenite Quarter

  • Carmel Market Tasting Tour - A culinary tasting tour and cultural experience in the Yemenite Quarter and Shuk HaCarmel, the largest market in Tel Aviv. Touring the market reveals the taste of the ages of Tel Aviv and the diverse cultures and culinary traditions mix in this vibrant shuk. Through the delicious authentic tasting tour, its secrets and legends will be revealed to you. (The tasting tour replaces lunch, will be vegeterian and vegan)

  • Enjoy time on your own to explore the Art and Crafts Open-Air Market - It has become synonymous with quality Israeli crafts and folk art. The market comprised over 100 stands representing specialty local crafts in virtually every medium imaginable: wood, stone, glass, ceramics, and various metals, all original and handmade.

  • Dinner at a local restaurant - (meal and transfers are not included)

  • Tel Aviv - Dan Panorama Hotel

Overnight: Tel Aviv - Dan Panorama Hotel
Meal Plan: breakfast, lunch - tasting tour

3 - Tuesday ( December 24 ) : Digging Deep

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Activities:

  • Breakfast at the hotel & check-out

  • Dig 4 a Day - For a real hands-on and exciting experience head to Beit Guvrin-Maresha National Park, in the heart of The Land of Thousands of Caves, and become an archeologist for the day. Take part in the digs at the vast spaces beneath the houses, these caves served as storerooms, olive presses, water cisterns, and later on as safe havens during the time of the Bar Kochba revolt against the Romans. Don't miss out on a visit to the amazing Bell Caves in Tel Maresha as well as the impressive Roman amphitheater in Beit Guvrin. This activity is fun for all ages.

  • Light Lunch at a local Coffee Truck

  • Arrive at the Desert Kfar Hanokdim Londge - This is a green oasis shaded by palm trees and crowned with biblically inspired gardens where you will find a picturesque scene-Bedouin tents comfortably fitted with colorful rugs and mattresses. Kfar Hanokdim, surrounded by the magical views of the Judean desert, offers relaxed desert hospitality, a real break from daily life. Enjoy a warm Bedouin hospitality accompanied by explanations of Bedouin life and culture, hot tea and authentic meal.

  • Experience the desert at night and sit around a bonfire.

  • Kfar HaNokdim

Overnight: Kfar HaNokdim
Meal Plan: breakfast, lunch, desert style meal

4 - Wednesday ( December 25 ) : The Desert's Wildlife and Wilderness

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Activities:

  • Breakfast at the Desert Lodge

  • Begin your day with a fun donkey ride in the Judean Desert - (camel ride is available from the age of 8 and over).

  • Get ready for a fun adventure in the Midbarium - One-of-a-kind Desert Animal Park recently opened in Be'er Sheva. It is home to about 100 species of animals living in four different habitats - Canyon, Desert Plains, Oasis, and Savannah. This unique wildlife sanctuary is designed to achieve educational goals while offering an interactive and entertaining experience. The park features 15 interactive experiences that allow visitors to 'walk in the shoes' of the animals they are observing, helping them understand how these creatures survive and thrive in the desert.

  • Lunch break on route. - (meal not included)

  • Drive to Jerusalem.

  • Welcome to Jerusalem - stop at a magnificent lookout - At an excellent vantage point enjoy the finest views of the Old City, the Dome of the Rock, and the sprawl of New Jerusalem. Say She'echeyanu and appreciate the moment of being here together in Israel, in Jerusalem, as a family.

  • Check-in to the hotel.

  • Hannukah - first candle lighting

  • Free evening and dinner on your own - We will be happy to make restaurant recommendations in Jerusalem and assist with reservations, upon request. (meal and transfers aren't incldued)

  • Jerusalem - Leonardo Boutique Hotel

Overnight: Jerusalem - Leonardo Boutique Hotel
Meal Plan: breakfast

5 - Thursday ( December 26 ) : The Land of Milk and Honey

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Activities:

  • Breakfast at the hotel.

  • A driver will pick you up from the hotel and drive you to Jerusalem Hills. - Two transfers are included, roundtrip from Jerusalem.

  • Neot Kedumim - private family tour & tree planting - Neot Kedumim is the Biblical Landscape Reserve in Israel which is a unique endeavor to re-create the physical setting of the Bible in all its depth and detail. During your visit, you'll engage in a multitude of activities: pressing olives using ancient methods, discover the emblematic biblical plants and the Seven Species, see ancient wine press, sampling wild-grown herbs, crush Hyssop to make Za'atar spice to bring back home. Conclude your visit by planting a tree, leaving behind roots that will flourish and contribute to a greener, better tomorrow. (you will be guided by a local guide)

  • Transfer back to Jerusalem.

  • Eat lunch and enjoy time to explore on your own - (guide, meal and transfers aren't included)

  • Hannukah Private Tour in Jerusalem - As the sun sets, wander through one of Jerusalem's oldest residential neighborhoods, see the Hannukah Menorahs lighting the streets, amidst the scenic pathways, delve into the stories and enduring customs of the holiday. Conclude with a sweet treat - Sufganiyot.

  • Dinner at a local restaurant on your own - (meal not included)

  • Jerusalem - Leonardo Boutique Hotel

Overnight: Jerusalem - Leonardo Boutique Hotel
Meal Plan: breakfast

6 - Friday ( December 27 ) : Jerusalem - exploring your way

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Activities:

  • Breakfast at the hotel.

  • A day to explore on your own - A guide, lunch, and transportation are not included.

  • Israel Aquarium (OR Jerusalem Zoo) - Check out the new Israel Aquarium, a huge aquarium that tells a fascinating submarine story. Visit the “Four Seas” gallery, where you will find an extraordinary exhibit of Israel’s seas – namely, the Mediterranean, Red Sea, Sea of Galilee, and the Dead Sea. Your next destination are the different galleries displaying local fish farming and aquaculture techniques. Among these galleries, you’ll find treasures from the Mediterranean, the Suez Canal, and the Red Sea. (tickets included)

  • Take time to Reflect at the Western Wall - The Kotel is sacred because it is one of the last remnants of the Second Temple that was destroyed by the Romans. 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.

  • Return to the hotel, rest and prepare for Shabbat.

  • Light Shabbat Candles, Hannukah candles, and enjoy a Shabbat Dinner at the hotel - You are welcome to join Shabbat services at a local congregation, or walk to the Kotel for Kabbalat Shabbat. (meal included)

  • Jerusalem - Leonardo Boutique Hotel

Overnight: Jerusalem - Leonardo Boutique Hotel
Meal Plan: breakfast, Shabbat dinner at the hotel

7 - Saturday ( December 28 ) : Shabbat Shalom and Take Israel Back Home

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Activities:

  • Breakfast at the hotel.

  • Enjoy Shabbat at Leisure - Guide, transfers and meals aren't included.

  • Shabbat Lunch with a local family - At the home of Shana and Yonatan Neril. Yonatan is the founder and director of the Interfaith Center for Sustainable Development. Hear about Yonatan’s work in sustainability and enjoy a vegan Shabbat lunch with his lovely family. Yonatan is coauthor of the bestselling book Eco Bible, which shines new light on how the Hebrew Bible and great religious thinkers have urged human care and stewardship of nature for thousands of years as a central message of spiritual wisdom. (depending on their availability)

  • Havdallah and Hanukkah Candle Lighting

  • Check-out after Shabbat ends. - Can keep your luggage in the hotel's storage room if needed.

  • Private transfer from Jerusalem to Ben Gurion Airport - Fly back home.

  • We Look Forward to Hosting You again in Our Beautiful Country!

Meal Plan: breakfast, lunch

FAQ

General guide for tipping

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Tips are not included in the cost of a tour and are always at your discretion. Having said that, in Israel, it is customary to add a gratuity of 15-20% at a restaurant and to tip your guide and driver. For all groups ranging from 2-6 people, it is suggested that you tip the tour guide $70 -$100 (from the group) per day. For groups larger than 8, it is recommended to tip $8-$12 per person, per day + 50% for your bus driver. Please note! Unless stated otherwise, on our group tours, the hotels, restaurants with meals included and serving staff is being generously tips by our staff - on your behalf. If you are not sure, check with your guide or operator for further details.

What's the weather like in Israel?

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In Israel, the northern and coastal areas enjoy a Mediterranean climate, meaning summers are hot and dry, while winters are cool and rainy. Down south and in the east, it's much drier. Rainfall usually comes between October and early May, with the most rain falling from December to February. It is always best to check the weather forecast beforehand. Spring (late March – May): Daytime temperatures are generally very pleasant - around 65-70°F, though it can still be hot in some areas (such as the Dead Sea and Eilat). There is a slight chance of rain, but it doesn't happen often. It can be cooler in the evenings in the North and Jerusalem - approximately 45°F. Summer (late May - late September): Temperatures are usually in the high 80s-90s. At this time of year, humidity will be highest in Tel Aviv and Tiberias. Other areas such as Jerusalem are drier and cooler, particularly at night. The desert, Masada and Eilat are extremely hot, but dry. It will almost never rain in the summer in Israel! Fall (late September – November): Same as Spring, but the rain can begin towards the end of the season. Winter (December - early March): Winter can be mild and sunny, or severe and overcast. There's often heavy rain and, in January and February, even snow at times! Temperatures will be in the 50s-60s most places, but in the 40s in Jerusalem and the Galilee hills, and cold at night. Pack layers and be prepared for anything! Weekly weather forecast

Terms of Payment

Deposit is due immediately to secure the booking.

Balance for the trip is due no later than 60 days prior to the first day of trip. An invoice will be sent 90 days before the trip.

Please refer to our full Terms and Conditions here.

Please note: 

  • The itinerary is subject to change as a result of unforeseen changes from suppliers, weather, etc.
  • This proposal is valid for 1 week for private clients and 10 days for groups. 

 

Cancellation Policy

Bookings can be cancelled within 48 hours AFTER REGISTRATION, with a full refund.

For cancellations made:

·         Up to 60 days prior to departure, any payments above the deposit towards the trip will be refunded. The deposit is non-refundable.

·         60-30 days prior to departure, 50% of the total tour cost per person will be refunded.

·         29-0 days prior to departure, the client will incur 100% of the cost of the tour.

All cancellation requests must be made in writing.

 

What’s Included
Meals: all breakfasts, 3 lunches, and 2 dinners, as listed in the meal plan at the end of each day. v
Late check-out on Saturday after Shabbat ends v
A private, licensed, English speaking tour guide for 2 days in the south, including transportation (guide will be driving) v
A private licensed, English speaking tour guide for a four hours tour of Tel Aviv, including tastings v
A private tour at Neot Kedumim and two roundtrip transfers to the nature park v
Desert experience - stay in a desert lodge, bonfire, donkey ride, Bedouin hospitality and more v
Hannukah Private Tour in Jerusalem v
Tickets to the Israel Aquarium OR Biblical Zoo in Jerusalem v
Hotel accommodation v
Transfers to and from the airport v
Fees for sites and activities listed v
Bottles of water, as needed, and snacks v
Transportation for dinners, time on your own, and walking day tours v
Airfare v
VIP services upon arrival & departure v
Tips for tour guides and drivers v
Optional and suggested activities v
Know before you go
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Early bird special - $200 off per person.

Available only between October 1-10, 2021!!

Registration for the trip will open on October 1. Fill out this form to be notified when registration for the trip opens, so you can take advantage of early bird special pricing!

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