Luxury Women’s Tours – Israel Trip Spring 2024

Activities:

• Welcome to Israel! - Upon arrival we can offer a VIP fast track service and private transfer to your hotel (not included)

• Check-in to your hotel, rest and get aquainted to the local time - Please note: check-in time is from 15:00.

• Reception and introduction - We'll meet at the hotel for a welcome drink, introduction and to get to know our group members.

• Welcome group dinner

• Jerusalem

Activities:

• Breakfast at the hotel - Every morning you'll enjoy a delicious Israeli buffet breakfast at your hotel.

• Mount of Olives lookout and welcome to Jerusalem - The Mount of Olives offers a panoramic lookout over the city. There are countless Jewish, Christian and Muslim traditions about Mt. Olives, including that from here the Messiah will come, and from here the dead will be resurrected in the vision of the End of Days. Enjoy a beautiful lookout of the Holy Basin, the old and new city of Jerusalem.

• Tour of the Israel Museum and the Shrine of the Book - 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. You'll have a guided tour as well as free time to explore on your own.

• Culinary and tasting tour at the Machane Yehuda Market - In the heart of Jerusalem sits this bustling, multi-ethnic market bursting with life, art, and flavor. 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. This tour replaces lunch.

• Free time at downtown Jerusalem

• Tower of David Sound & Light Show - Amidst the archaeological remains in the David Citadel 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.

• Dinner on own

• Jerusalem

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.

• Ein Kerem - After a meaningful morning, we'll continue to the quaint neighborhood of Ein Karem. Tucked into the hills of Jerusalem is the biblical Ein Kerem, whose name means "the spring in the vineyard." Step into another world while visiting local artists' studios and important sites.

• Lunch break - not included

• Optional: join a local Jewish Reform Kehilat Harel synagogue for a musical Kabbalat Shabbat

• Shabbat meal and home hospitality with Rabbi Josh and his family - Rabbi Josh is a Talmud scholar, a documentary filmmaker, a registered tour guide and specialty chef at Jerusalem’s iconic Tmol Shilshom Restaurant. Overyour meal, Rabbi Josh speaks on a wide range of topics from his riveting personal story to an explanation of Jewish tradition and an introduction to the Talmud.

• Jerusalem

Activities:

• Breakfast at the hotel

• Travel to the Judean Desert

• Tour of Masada National Park - Ascend the mountain by 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.

• Dead Sea Resort for swim and lunch - The rest of the day you'll spend in one of the Dead Sea local spa hotels. 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 the hotel, have lunch and 'float' in the Dead Sea, or swim in the pool and enjoy the spa facilities.

• Travel back to Jerusalem

• Dinner on own

• Jerusalem

Activities:

• Breakfast at the hotel

• Tour the Old City, learn about the importance to three religions, the complexity, and the ancient history

• Mount Zion - The traditional site of the tomb of King David, is holy to Jews, Christians, and Muslims. On the ground level are several Jewish synagogues. The second level the contains the Cenacle room where two major events in the early Christian Church are commemorated: the Last Supper and the coming of the Holy Spirit to the apostles.

• Jewish Quarter - Explore the Jewish Quarter including synagogues, alleys and small shops of the Byzantine Cardo. You will see the artifacts uncovered during archaeological excavations that confirm two thousand years of Jewish presence in the Old City.

• Lunch break and time to explore 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. Meet store owners whose stores have been in their family for generations. (lunch is not included)

• Tour of the Davidson Center and the Archeological Gardens - 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 and 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.

• Take time to reflect at the Western Wall - Proceed to 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.

• Via Dolorosa and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre - Walk the Via Dolorosa, believed to be the path that Jesus walked on the way to his crucifixion. This is one of the most celebrated places on a Christian pilgrimage. Continue to the Holy Sepulchre situated on the hill called Golgotha or Calvary. The Church contains the last five Stations of the cross including the sites of Jesus' crucifixion and burial.

• In the afternoon enjoy free time in Jerusalem - An optional additional private tour to Bethlehem can be offered (not included).

• Dinner in Jerusalem - (not included, on your own)

• Jerusalem

Activities:

• Breakfast at your hotel & check-out

• Travel north and drive along the coast line

• Caesarea National Park - On the Mediterranean coast, Caesarea National Park is one of Israel’s most impressive archeological sites. Here, 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 dreamt 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 millennium. Caesarea 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 today as a performance venue, as well as the hippodrome that held 20,000 spectators for chariot races.

• Travel to Haifa for a panoramic view of the Bahai Gardens - 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!

• Druze home hospitality, cooking workshop and meal - 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.

• Travel to the Sea of Galilee and check-in to your hotel

• Time for a dip in the water or rest - Dinner is available at the hotel's lobby (not included)

• NORTH

Activities:

• Breakfast at your hotel

• Relaxed morning and time for a morning swim in the Sea of Galilee or the hotel's pool - The sea known to Israelis as the Kinneret, is fed by the Jordan River, rainfall and springs on the northern side. More properly designated a lake, The Kinneret is the only fresh-water lake in Israel, as well as the lowest fresh-water lake in the world, at an altitude of 209m (685ft) below Sea Level.

• Drive to Mount Bental for a lookout over the border with Syria - Learn about the history of this region as well as a geopolitical discussion overlooking the Israeli-Syrian border. The Golan Heights are a geological and biogeographical region and is a plateau formed by a volcanic action.

• Tel Winery - This is a woman-owned micro boutique winery, offering intimate tours led by the passionate and knowledgeable Lital. All wines are single varietal, made exclusively from Northern Golan grapes and feature high acidity and fruits flavors which provide for a refreshing sip. Meet the wine maker and taste the excellent local wines.

• Magical sunset ride in Agamon HaHula - The Hula Valley sits in part of the northern Syrian African Rift Valley which stretches as far south as Mozambique in Africa. Each migration season, over 500 million birds travel through the Hula Lake. Enjoy a magical visit, ride a golf cart or bike and watch the birds flying and land before roosting when night falls.

• Free time at Rosh Pina and dinner on own - (meal not included)

• NORTH

Activities:

• Breakfast at your hotel

• Ginosar Ancient Boat and Magdala stone - See the 2,000-year-old boat excavated on the shores of Sea of Galilee. Radiocarbon dating shows that the boat dates back to 100 BC to 100 AD. This is both the time and place in which Jesus operated and in which in the Jewish tradition, the Battle of Migdal, part of the Great Revolt of the Jews against the Romans took place. At the exhibition you'll also see the 2,000 years old Magdala Stone bearing depictions of Jewish symbols and the Second Temple that stood in Jerusalem from 516 BCE to 70 CE.

• Mount of Beatitudes - Firstly, you'll enjoy the beautiful views of the Sea of Galilee, Golan, Tiberias and Mount Arbel. This is where it is believed Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount. A Catholic Church was built 1930's by the well-known "Architect of the Holy Land" Antonio Barluzzi, using the local dark basalt stone. Its octagonal walls commemorate the Eight Beatitudes, each graced with the first words of one of the eight verses of the Sermon on the Mount. The church is surrounded by a marvelous garden, that allows the visitors a quiet place to contemplate and pray.

• Havat Rom - 'farm to table' - A visit to a magical organic farm, located on a mountain with a beautiful view of Meron Mountain. This is an agricultural organic farm, where they use ancient knowledge along with modern tools. Trying to find the balance between humans and nature. After a tour of the farm, visit the goats, and enjoy an excellent meal from the fresh produce and excellent cheese.

• Tour of the old city of Tzfat - Spend the rest of the day in Tzfat which sits at a higher altitude than any other city in Israel and has been known since the 16th century as a major center of Kabbala, Jewish mysticism. Tzfat’s mystical aura adds to its special status as one of Israel’s four holy cities, along with Jerusalem, Tiberias, and Hebron. The old synagogues, narrow alleyways and artists’ studios add to the hilltop city’s unmistakable charm.

• Dinner on own - In Tzfat or at the hotel's lobby

• NORTH

Activities:

• Breakfast at your hotel & check-out

• Our day will begin with a tour of Nazareth - Israel’s biggest Arab city, Nazareth is a fascinating place, set in the Lower Galilee. It combines traditional, simple Arabic charm, Christian history, and grand old Arabic architecture. Nazareth is home to many important early Christian sites. Visit the Basilica of the Annunciation and living Arab souk (market).

• Travel south - Approximately 1 hour and 45 min. drive

• Beta Yisrael Ethiopian Village - The Beta Israel Village Project is a unique social-educational center on the outskirts of Kiryat Gat, which combines agricultural and educational activities with the intent of preserving Jewish-Ethiopian heritage and establishing it as a sustainable national asset. Hear about an incredible personal story of making Aliya, the journey from Etheopia to Israel, the challenges and the unique traditions of this Jewish community. Traditional dancing workshop can be added.

• Street food lunch break - (not included, guide will give recommendations)

• Travel to the Negev Desert and check-in to your hotel - Approximately 1.5 hours drive.

• At the hotel get an introduction to the Negev and the Ramon Crater - There is a hanging terrace providing a marvelous observation point over the depths of the crater.

• Dinner at the hotel's chef restaurant - (meal included)

• Mitzpe Ramon - Beresheet Hotel

Activities:

• Breakfast at your hotel

• We can offer a morning yoga class (not included) and relaxed time - Enjoy the hotel's facilities. Spa treatments are available.

• For lunch - there is a lobby bar that offer meals - (not included)

• A visit to Ramon Visitor Center - We can offer a visit to the Mitzpe Ramon Visitors Center and learn the geological story behind this unique and amazing work of nature through interactive exhibits. At the center, pay tribute to Ilan Ramon, Israel’s first and only astronaut, who tragically died on a space mission in 2003.
  View the crater from a stunning vantage point, at the heart of the promenade which stretches along the Ramon Crater mouth.

• Afternoon and sunset jeep tour - Guided fun jeep ride in Makhtesh Ramon. Ride through the stunning Negev Desert and get to know the endless variations of the landscape. Explore the area of Makhtesh Ramon and immerse yourself in the details of the land around you.

• Friday night dinner at the hotel's restaurant - Meal included.

• Mitzpe Ramon - Beresheet Hotel

Activities:

• Breakfast at your hotel

• Relaxed morning to enjoy the hotel's facilities

• Optional morning hike with your guide

• Check-out by noon

• Ein Avdat oasis nature hike - Hike in the Ein Avdat National Park, 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.

• Picnic lunch in nature

• Drive to Tel Aviv & check-in

• Free afternoon and dinner on your own - We'll be happy to give restaurant recommendations and help with reservations. (meal not included)

• Tel Aviv

Activities:

• Breakfast at your hotel

• Tour and time to explore Neve Tzedek - Begin the day at the First Train Station that was established during the Ottoman period and connected Jaffa with Jerusalem and other cities in the region. Walk to Neve Tzedek, which is the first Jewish neighborhood to be built outside of Jaffa and is 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. Looking to head out of the ever-growing and over-crowded Jaffa, they built, what was considered back then, modern and comfortable housing. In recent years, after a period of neglect, the neighborhood was restored and has become a trendy fun beautiful part of the city and a good place to try some Israeli Gelato!

• Independence Trail - 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 also includes the 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.

• American-German Colony (if time permits) - 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 Immanuel Church, walk through the surprising streets, and learn the stories of this place.

• Jaffa Flea Market - lunch and explore - Wind your way through the Flea Market which features everything from antiques to hip new clothing and design stores, cafes, restaurants, and bars. (meal not included)

• Afternoon tour of the picturesque Old 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. Jaffa has been regenerated in recent years with the old narrow streets and courtyards and local artists' studios. The tour will Include a visit to Yemenite heritage site, St. Peter's church and art galleries.

• Dinner at a local restaurant or optional dinner at BlackOut in Jaffa Port - The restaurant is part of the Nalaga’at center. This is a one of a kind non-profit arts and cultural center that represents a meeting place between deaf, blind and deaf-blind individuals together with the public. Thus advancing the needs and aspirations of each person, from the belief that all men are equal and each one has the right to accept responsibility and contribute to society. (not included)

• Tel Aviv

Activities:

• Breakfast at your hotel

• Israeli Fashion tour - The tour addresses the relationship Israeli fashion has with the various aspects of living in Israel including identity questions, sub-groups in Israel, immigration to Israel, wars and cultural life and social entrepreneurship. Meet old and new fashion brands, designers who use ancient crafts and other professionals who use the best technology. The tour will focus on women designers and innovation in the fashion world. We will walk, talk and shop.

• Lunch at Levinsky Market - The Levinsky Market specializes in spices and Mediterranean delicacies. It is, in many ways, the best market in Tel Aviv, known for its variety, freshness, and special atmosphere. Enjoy a local lunch and enjoy the cool sparkling "Gazoz" drink.

• Israeli Art collection in the Tel Aviv Art Museum - During this dynamic tour with Shirel Horovitz we'll figure out what makes Israeli art what it is and learn about its relationship with the Zionist narrative as well as the international art world. Tour the extensive Israeli collection at the Tel Aviv Museum of Art and visually explore the Israeli narrative from the early 20th century until today.

• Farewell group dinner and closing session

• Tel Aviv

Activities:

• Breakfast at your hotel & enjoy a free easy morning

• Check out at 11:00 - For those who are extending we can offer extra nights at the same hotel.

• Recommended: Nahalat Binyamin Arts and Crafts Market - Open on Tuesday or a Friday, visit Nahalat Binyamin, 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.

• Group transfer to the airport - Fly back home. we look forward to hosting you in our beautiful country.