Adele Family Birthday Trip Fall 2023

Activities:

• 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 Jerusalem & check-in to your hotel

• Free evening and dinner on your own

• Jerusalem - booked on your own

Activities:

• Breakfast at your hotel

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

• The Night Spectacular - Amidst the archaeological remains in the Tower of David courtyard, the story of Jerusalem unfolds through virtual reality images. The Night Spectacular uses trompe l'oeil technology – the stones of the walls and structures fade into the scenes and the viewers are part of a multi-sensory experience.

• Jerusalem

Activities:

• Breakfast at your hotel

• Meet your guide at the Jaffa Gate and begin your Jerusalem tour - Tour Jerusalem’s Old City and meet the people and places that make this place so unique. Throughout the tour explore the complexity of a city that is holy to the three major religions - Judaism, Christianity, and Islam. (transfers are not included on this day).

• Visit the Tower of David Museum - A newly renovated and stunning museum that has pioneered the use of new and interactive digital technologies, games and apps that add a new dimension to understanding the site itself and Jerusalem as a whole. This is a great way to begin your tour of Jerusalem.

• Tour the Jewish Quarter - Uncover the layers of Jewish history from the time of the First Temple until the present day, and see vibrant synagogues, and learning institutions, all jostling for space in these busy stone streets.

• Meet The Jerusalem Scribe - Kalman Gavriel Delmoor is a traditional Scribe with a modern lens. Through his unique perspectives and expertise in the ancient craft, Kalman brings the Torah to life in his art. Discover the fusion of artwork and tradition below. Meet Kalman, see him work, and learn about his mission.

• Lunch break at the Arab Market - Browse in the famous Arab shuk (market) in the Muslim Quarter. Check out the local hummus and sweets, the many stalls selling spices, pastries, pottery, sheepskin, embroidered clothes, and so much more. (meal not included)

• Visit the Church of the Holy Sepulchre - The church is situated on the hill called Golgotha or Calvary and contains the last five Stations of the Cross, including the sites of Jesus' crucifixion and burial. Several Christian denominations claim ownership to various parts of this site so holy to Christendom.

• Take time to reflect at the Kotel - (The Western Wall) 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.

• Proceed back to your hotel and dinner on your own - (transfer and meal are not included)

• Jerusalem

Activities:

• Breakfast at your hotel

• Tour of the West Bank - Travel to Gush Etzion, drive through a check-point, see Jewish settlements as well as the Palestinian villages. Learn about the geo-political historical and current situation.

• Stop at "Pina Chama" - Can be translated from Hebrew as "Warm Corner" where soldiers come in to have a drink or a snack. This place is run by volunteers from this region. Founded in the memory of Dr. Shmuel Gillis and Tzachi Sasson, Hy’d who were both killed by terrorists in the Gush Etzion area. You are welcome to donate goodies to the IDF soldiers who serve in this area.

• Visit Kibbutz Kfar Etzion and lunch break - A settlement in Judea, a kibbutz that was re-established on the same site evacuated in 1948 when it was overrun by invading Arab armies. See the prospering lives today and hear about the challenges.

• Tour Bethlehem with a local guide - Travel to Bethlehem and tour with a Palestinian Christian guide. Visit the traditional birthplace of Jesus, the site where The Church of the Nativity now stands. This is also one of the oldest Christian churches in existence. During the Crusades, it was a primary place of pilgrimage. We’ll see artwork by the infamous Banksy on the security barrier (separation wall) and spend some time discussing his increased presence in the West Bank since 2003. This will be an opportunity to discuss the barrier from a Palestinian perspective.

• Travel back to Jerusalem and free afternoon

• Friday night Shabbat dinner on your own - Options: at the hotel / at a local restaurant / a traditional meal at a home of a local family (not included).

• Jerusalem

Activities:

• Breakfast at your hotel

• Tour of Masada - Ascend the mountain by a cable car to explore Masada, a 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.

• Swim and lunch at the Dead Sea and a local spa hotel - Israel’s Dead Sea is the lowest point on earth, 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.

• Visit Kibbutz Ein Gedi Botanical Garden - Ein Gedi oasis is a sight not to be missed. Imagine an oasis with over 800 unique and rare species of trees, shrubs and flowers from all over the world. The result is a one-of-a kind, exotic and well-tended botanical garden containing biblical plants, rare trees such as the baobab, tropical plants, date palms and other palm trees, fruit trees, local plants such as the Sodom Apple, and many more.
  
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• Travel back to Jerusalem for rest and time on own

• Jerusalem - Overnight: Jerusalem

Activities:

• Breakfast at your hotel & check-out

• Private transfer to Tel Aviv & check-in to your hotel

• Free day in Tel Aviv

• Tel Aviv - booked on your own

Activities:

• Breakfast at your hotel

• Private transfer to Rehovot and back - Transfer included. Guide isn't included on this day.

• Ayalon Institute bullet factory - This clandestine ammunition factory was 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.

• Enjoy the rest of the day exploring on your own

• Tel Aviv

Activities:

• Breakfast at your hotel

• Tour of Old Jaffa and the Flea Market - 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 younger sister, was established centuries later, in the year 1909. Though the two were united into one municipality in 1949, each part has retained 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.

• Time to explore the Nahalat Binyamin Arts and Crafts Market - Open on Tuesdays and Fridays, an open-air market in the heart of Tel-Aviv that has become synonymous with quality Israeli crafts and folk art. The market is comprised of over 100 stands representing specialty crafts and folk art in virtually every medium imaginable: wood, stone, sand, glass, ceramics, and various metals with most if not all containing materials or themes found only in Israel.

• Lunch break at the colorful Carmel Market - 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. (meal not included)

• Independence Trail - history and architecture tour - Inspired by the Freedom Trail in Boston, the new Independence Trail follows several stops of Tel Aviv’s heritage sites learning about 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 Rothchild Blvd., you will also discover the development of the city through the architecture styles. As you might know, Tel Aviv has more Bauhaus buildings that any other city in the world, so many that it is designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site.

• Free afternoon and dinner on your own - (meal and transfers are not included)

• Tel Aviv

Activities:

• Breakfast at your hotel

• A visit to Rish Lakish - A family-owned olive oil press. Meet the family, hear their personal story, see the process of making olive oil, and taste the various organic local olive oils produces here.

• Nature walk in Arbel National Park - Take in the dramatic cliffs and mountains, and enjoy a beautiful panoramic view over the Kinneret, Golan Heights and the Galilee. Visit the ancient Arbel Synagogue dating back to the Second Temple Period. Learn about Jewish settlement during this period and contemplate why the synagogue has the only ‘ark’ in the world that does not face Jerusalem.

• Magical boat ride in the Kinneret - The best way to appreciate the beauty of the Sea of Galilee is by taking a boat ride across the blue water, especially at sunset as the sky changes color and the sun sinks behind the dreamlike hills that surround the lake.

• Travel back to Tel Aviv and dinner on your own

• Tel Aviv

• Lido - The best way to appreciate the beauty of the Sea of Galilee is by taking a boat ride across the blue water, especially at sunset as the sky changes color and the sun sinks behind the dreamlike hills that surround the lake.

Activities:

• Breakfast at your hotel

• Stroll around Ein Hod Artists' village - Located on a hill at the foot of Mount Carmel overlooking the Mediterranean coast. After the War of Independence, the area was abandoned and left in ruin. 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.

• Visit to Ramat HaNadiv - Ramat Hanadiv combines formal gardens, an extensive nature reserve presenting the native plants and wildlife of the Carmel, and an eco-friendly visitors’ center for environmental education. The gardens are named after Baron Edmund James de Rothchild (1845-1934), who was a major and pivotal supporter of the Zionist movement in its early years ("Hanadiv" - the generous, the philanthropist). Around the park are different hiking trails and easy walking paths, some archeological relics, and in its center - the burial ground of Baron de Rothschild and his wife, Ada.

• Travel north to Haifa

• Lunch break in Wadi Nisnas - This is one of Haifa’s most colorful neighborhoods, full of narrow streets, picturesque stone houses, and a market. It is a mixed neighborhood that captures the nature and atmosphere of the city of Haifa - a city of many faiths and communities, that live alongside each other in an exemplary co-existence. The Wadi Nisnas market is the place to go and experience some of the local flavors: taste pastries, spiced tea, the best falafel in Israel, and strong Turkish coffee, along with other delicatessens and aromas that will have your mouth watering.

• The Bahai Gardens lookout - From the Louis Promenade at the top of Mount Carmel, we will admire the stunning scenery. Nicknamed the Balcony of the Country, a 400-meter long promenade at the top of the Baha'i Gardens offers a view of the entire Haifa Bay, all the way to the border with Lebanon. This impressive spot offers a truly spectacular view, so have a camera ready!

• Optional: Druze cooking workshop, home hospitality and meal - (not included)

• Travel back to Tel Aviv

• Tel Aviv

Activities:

• Breakfast at your hotel

• Check-out and private transfer to Ben Gurion Airport - Your VIP agent will meet you at the departures terminal to assist with check-in and security procedures for your flight.

• Fly back home - We look forward to hosting you again in our beautiful country.