Ben and Debbie Rosenblum- October 2022

Activities:

• VIP Arrival - Arrival at Ben Gurion airport. Your VIP agent will be waiting to greet you at the sleeve of the plane. After assisting with arrival procedures and collecting your baggage you will be taken to meet your driver.

• Transfer to your hotel in Jerusalem - Get settled and relax or get to know the neighborhood and have a good meal- we can make recommendations.

• Jerusalem

Activities:

• Breakfast at the hotel

• Meet your guide at the hotel and go on your first date with Jerusalem

• Begin at the Haas Promenade - From the Haas Promenade take in a wide view of Jerusalem's Old and New Cities and the surrounding Judean Desert as far as the eye can see. See Jerusalem's complex geography, strategic setting, and beauty and begin the conversation about Jerusalem's centrality to Islam, Christianity, and Islam.

• Continue to 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 jostle for space in these busy stone streets. The central plaza offers an excellent place to contemplate the power this quarter holds for so many.

• Davidson Center - Walk through the Southern Wall Archaeological Gardens. Get a glimpse of the glory of the Second Temple, the heart of the ancient Jewish kingdom, and the devastation that followed. Visit the Davidson Visitors' Center and enjoy a modern, interactive virtual presentation. The museum presents a taste of the archaeology of Jerusalem from different eras - covering the First Temple, Second Temple, Byzantine, Islamic, and the Crusades periods.

• The Western Wall Tunnels - Explore what’s under the Kotel through the Kotel Tunnels Tour. The Western Wall is impressive, but its greatness is truly discovered when you descend underground to the Western Wall Tunnels. The tunnels run along approximately 488 meters (1601ft) of the Western Wall, giving visitors a taste for the challenge that stood before Herod the Great during this biggest of all his immense building projects - the expansion of the Temple Mount.

• Evening: Shabbat Dinner - Dinner at a restaurant or home hospitality with a local family

• Jerusalem Lodging General

Activities:

• Jerusalem Lodging General - Overnight: Jerusalem

• Morning hike in Sataf - Explore the Jerusalem Hills at the beautiful Sataf forest for a hike through the area. The Sataf is on the site of ancient agricultural terraces which date to the time of the ancient Israelites. If it’s warm enough, there’s even an option to take a dip in some of the natural springs.

• Seahorse Winery - The Seahorse winery is a small operation and is one of the better places to get to know the Judean Hills' terroir. Zeev Dunie, a filmmaker turned winemaker, has pioneered coaxing authentic Mediterranean flavors from unusual grapes.

• Beit Jamal

• Late lunch at Majda restaurant - Majda is a restaurant in the Jerusalem Hills village of Ein Rafa, famous for its innovative fusion cuisine, beautiful property and views from its rooftop and an appearance on Anthony Bourdain: Parts Unknown. The menu is full of creative local dishes all prepared by Yakub and Michal, the Arab-Jewish couple who own Majda.

• Return to Jerusalem - Evening on your own

• Jerusalem Lodging General - Overnight: Jerusalem

Activities:

• Breakfast at the hotel

• Ramparts Walk - Discover the Old City on the Rampart Walls which were built in the 16th century for patrolling by the Ottomans. Today you can enjoy a bird's eye view of the old city and the surroundings.

• Old City Tasting Tour - Walk through the Muslim and Christian Quarters of the Old City seeing the historical and religious sites. See some off-the-beaten track sites in the winding alleyways and enjoy some Jerusalem delicacies. We will have a “taste of history” that interweaves stories and anecdotes, historical information and, of course, combine the senses of smell, taste, and sound

• Take the Jerusalem Light Rail to the Machane Yehuda Market area

• Tour Nachlaot - Nachlaot is known for its narrow, winding lanes, old-style housing, hidden courtyards and many small synagogues. In the wake of gentrification projects in the area, the face of the neighborhood has changed while retaining its unique character.

• Explore the Machane Yehuda Market - In the heart of Jerusalem, a bustling multi-ethnic market bursting with life, art, and flavor, a tasting tour through Mahane 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.

• Jerusalem Lodging General

Activities:

• Breakfast at the hotel

• Yad Vashem - 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.

• Take the rest of the day to explore the city - Option to visit the Israel Museum

• Jerusalem

Activities:

• Breakfast at the hotel

• Early departure for Masada

• Masada National Park - Hike up the snake path and tour King Herod’s private fortress which, following the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple in 70 BCE, became a base for a small band of Jewish zealots in revolt against the Romans. Although the rebels held their own, they were eventually overcome by siege, and according to historian Josephus, chose mass suicide over surrender. Masada has come to symbolize the fierce determination of the people of Israel, but its tragic history also raises questions about the price of freedom.

• 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. At one of the local hotels, have lunch and 'float' in the Dead Sea.

• Continue driving south to Mitzpe Ramon

• Stop at the Sde Boker Grave of Ben Gurion - Visit the grave of David Ben-Gurion, Israel’s first Prime Minister, whose vision for settling the desert is continuing to bloom. Throughout the day, you’ll see his vision come to life.

• Check in to the hotel - Dinner at the hotel

• Beresheet

Activities:

• Breakfast at the hotel

• Maktesh Ramon Hike

• Jeep Tour in Mitzpe Ramon - From the top of the Atzmaut Ascent and descend into the Makhtesh and cross to Wadi Ramon. Continue to the summit of Mt. Gvanim which offers a stunning view of the entire Makhtesh and from there along Wadi Gvanim then continue to the Ein Sahronim spring and the nearby Nabatean ruins. During the jeep tour you will have time to hike various parts of the crater.

• Nana Winery - Tour and tasting at Nana Farm Winery. In the heart of desert, between ancient stone terraces and barren golden sand hills, wine vineyards appear. The powerful site is hard to describe in words. Experienced vintner Eran Raz, nicknamed "Nana", has created a quality leading wine in what some may be surprised to call ideal conditions for quality vine growth.

• Time to enjoy the hotel's facilities - Dinner at the hotel

• Beresheet

Activities:

• Breakfast at the hotel

• Drive to Eilat and cross the border into Jordan

• Drive to Petra - Visit Jordan's Jewel, The Capital City of the Nabateans, a city fully carved in the rose red stones of Wadi Mousa Mountains. Upon arrival, you will take a horse back ride (optional), walk through the Siq, the only access to this city. Lunch included.

• Dinner in the hotel

• Petra

Activities:

• Breakfast at the hotel

• Drive to Wadi Rum

• Tour Wadi Rum - Wadi Rum is a protected desert wilderness in southern Jordan. It features dramatic sandstone mountains like the many-domed Jebel Um Ishrin, and natural arches such as Burdah Rock Bridge. Many prehistoric inscriptions and carvings line rocky caverns and steep chasms, such as Khazali Canyon.

• Drive back to the border and cross into Israel - Fly from Ramon airport to Ben Gurion Airport then transfer to your hotel in Tel Aviv

• Dinner in a restaurant

• TLV ISR LODGING general

Activities:

• Breakfast at the hotel

• Enjoy the city - Walk or run on the beach promenade, get lost in the streets, sit for a few hours in a cafe and people-watch, take it in!

• TLV ISR LODGING general

Activities:

• Breakfast at the hotel

• Tour Jaffa - Jaffa is one of the most ancient port cities in Israel and the Mediterranean basin. Today Jaffa is a mixed city, where Jews and Arabs live alongside each other. Tel Aviv, Jaffa's much younger sister, was established centuries later, in the year 1909, but the two were united into one municipality already in 1949, yet each part kept its unique feel and atmosphere. Jaffa has been regenerated in recent years with the old narrow streets and courtyards becoming a highly popular part of Tel Aviv’s urban tapestry.

• Continue to Neve Tzedek - Neve Tzedek, the first Jewish neighborhood to be built outside of Jaffa and currently one of the most beautiful and desired locations in Tel Aviv. It was built by some of the dignitaries of the old Jewish community of Jaffa in 1887. They were looking to head out of the ever-growing and over-crowded Jaffa, to build what was considered back than modern and comfortable housing. In recent years, after a period of neglect, the neighborhood was resorted and became a trendy fun beautiful part of the city and a good place to try some Israeli Gelato!

• Enjoy Street Food along the way in Carmel Market

• Walk on Rothschild Boulevard - Rothschild Boulevard was one of the first streets to be built in the city of Tel Aviv a little over 100 years ago. In the heart of the “White City”, it is lined with Tel Aviv’s iconic architecture, the Bauhaus style, which led to its recognition as a UNESCO World Heritage site. Many of these buildings have been beautifully restored and now house the offices of financial institutions, creative firms, cafes and luxury residences.

• Time permitting-Kikar Rabin - Renamed in honor of Israeli Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin, who was assassinated in this square in 1995, Rabin Square is a public space at the heart of Tel Aviv. Ringed by trendy cafes, the square often hosts political rallies and demonstrations, parades, and public events.

• Dinner on one of Tel Aviv's many restaurants

• Tel Aviv

Activities:

• Breakfast at the hotel

• Florentine Graffiti Tour - Explore Florentine on an urban Graffiti Tour. Who are the people going out at night and changing the face of the neighborhood? What kind of story do these images and words tell us about the people living there? What is unique about graffiti in Israel and in Tel Aviv? We will walk through Florentine, the neighborhood of Tel Aviv best-known for graffiti art to answer these questions and many more in a dynamic and inquisitive tour.

• Tasting tour in Levinsky Market - The Levinsky Market specializes in spices and Mediterranean delicacies. It is, in many ways, the best market in Tel Aviv, for its variety, freshness and special atmosphere. Whether you are looking for a rare Indian spice or some good quality saffron - this is the place. Shops offer a cornucopia of excellent cheeses, smoked fish, wines and other delicacies. Tour the market and have "tastings" throughout.

• Depart Tel Aviv

• Stop at Caesarea National Park - Caesarea National Park is where King Herod built a large port in honor of Emperor Augustus Caesar 2,000 years ago. Pontius Pilate later ruled the country from his Caesarea, Paul set sail to the communities where he preached all over the Mediterranean from this site. Visit the Roman Theater, Herod’s palace, the walled Crusader town with its galleries and restaurants and Caesarea’s latest attraction, the Time Trek, a fascinating multimedia presentation.

• Drive to your hotel

• If in Akko, Dinner at Uri Buri - For the past 20 years , the popular Uri Buri restaurant has been offering different kinds of delicately prepared fresh fish and seafood dishes served with more than 100 different kinds of fine Israeli wines.

• Akko- Effendi Hotel - If Effendi Hotel is available with your points, it is recommended

Activities:

• Breakfast at the hotel

• Drive to the Banias National Park - Take a refreshing walk around the Banias, one of Israel’s most beautiful nature reserves. The Banias spring feeds into the Jordan River, the reserve’s large waterfall tumbles down a 33-foot precipice year-round, and a nearby cave houses remains of a temple to the Greek god Pan. In the wars of 1948 and 1967, when the Golan was held by Syria, the site housed a Syrian officers’ club.

• Druze Hospitality in Majdl Shams - Visit one of the Druze villages of the Galilee. The Druze are known for their hospitality and warm welcome of visitors. Learn about their fascinating history, unique religion, an ancient tradition, and engage in a fun and delicious culinary workshop, followed by an amazing Druze feast.

• Golan Heights - Explore the Golan Heights by Jeep or ATV. Learn about the recent history of the region and explore the issues that have confronted Israel during the civil war in Syria. Stop at Har Bental, an extinct volcano and an army stronghold.

• Return to the hotel - Dinner at a restaurant or at the hotel

• NORTH

Activities:

• Breakfast at the hotel

• Visit Avtalyon Oil Press - Avtalyon Olive Press is a boutique olive press that has been making extra virgin Olive oil from the local olives in the Galilee for the past 17 years. Its products are all locally based and are only sold straight to the consumers. October is harvest time-hear how the olives are pressed and taste the different varieties.

• Goats with the wind - At Goats with the Wind, have a magical lunch at this family-owned goat cheese farm and restaurant. Everything you will eat comes from the farm. Meet the goats and enjoy the special touches of the place.

• Final trip visit to Tzippori National Park - At Tzippori, view the ruins and ancient mosaic floor to see how native species have been part of the national iconography for centuries.

• Drive towards the Center - Stop for dinner before going to the airport for departure.

• Depart - L'hitraot- Until we meet again!