Costin Day Trips in Israel – Fall 2024

Activities:

• After breakfast head north - Your private driver will pick you up from the hotel in Tel Aviv.

• Light hike in the Carmel Mount - Embark on a scenic hike through the lush greenery, acquaint yourself with the beautiful Mediterranean woodland of the region, and take in the magnificent vistas of the coastline and the picturesque Carmel Mount hills.

• Wine & cheese at Bat Shlomo Winery - Taste wine and hear the incredible story of the Bat Shlomo Winery and settlement, founded by Baron Edmund de Rothschild.

• Explore the local art in Ein Hod artists' village - Meet a local artist who will guide you through this quaint village, located on a hill, at the foot of Mount Carmel overlooking the Mediterranean coast. In the fifties, a group of artists led by the acclaimed Dada artist Marcel Janco decided that Ein Hod would be a place where they could work, build studios and workshops, and form a creative environment for art and art education. Walk between picturesque alleyways surrounded by natural greenery, meet local artists in their galleries, delve into the artwork, and get inspired by artistic creativity.

• Druze cooking workshop and dinner - Together with your hosts in their private home, prepare traditional Druze Galilean dishes and then enjoy a meal of the foods you learned to cook. Get to know your hosts and their culture and history. Hear about the strong bond between the Druze community to the State of Israel and their contribution to the IDF. Dinner is included.

• North

Activities:

• Breakfast at the hotel.

• Morning at leisure to enjoy the hotel's facilities.

• Discover Beit She'arim Ancient Necropolis - Carved into the limestone slopes overlooking the Valley of Jezreel, Bet She'arim's catacombs form a remarkable necropolis dating back to the 2nd century AD. After the second Jewish revolt's defeat, this site emerged as the primary Jewish burial ground outside Jerusalem. The catacombs unveil a treasure trove of diverse artworks and inscriptions in Greek, Aramaic, Hebrew, and Palmyrene, offering a glimpse into ancient cultures. The site holds significance as the domain of Judah ha-Nasi, a pivotal spiritual and political leader of the Jewish people known for being the chief redactor and editor of the Mishnah.

• Visit Galili Olive Oil Press - Located in the pastoral Templar town, Beit Lehem HaGlilit, visit a family-owned olive press. Conditions permitting, pick olives, meet the family, see the process of making olive oil, and taste the various organic olive oil produced here.

• Foraging and outdoor cooking - Meet Dr. Uri Mayer-Chissick, a food historian, an expert on local and traditional food, and a guide of foraging tours of wild edible plants. Uri specializes in making natural and nutritional food tasty to all. He reconstructs historical and periodical recipes and cooks with wild plants. Join Uri for a walk to pick wild greens then make lunch with him from food that has grown native to this land.

• - OR -

• Option 2 - not included: Journey of Hope in Nazareth - Embark on a unique tour with Maoz Inon - Traversing the enchanting streets of Nazareth's Old City. Amidst individual and communal challenges, it's crucial to spotlight the transformative power that cross-community partnerships can yield. Maoz personal experience in Nazareth is a true testament to that power. Inspired by the partnerships you will observe, one can collectively shape a lasting vision of hope and cooperation. Inon's parents were murdered in their home on October 7 by Hamas terrorists. Amid his grief, the tragic loss and war have not quashed his compassion and hope for peace. (additional cost)

• Travel back to Tel Aviv