Wednesday
Welcome to Israel
Arrival at Ben Gurion Airport, where you will be met by our local representative and transferred to your hotel.
Overnight: Tel Aviv

Thursday
Independence Hall / Latrun / Beit Guvrin / Ayalon Institute
Start the day with a visit to the Independence Hall where the establishment of the state  of Israel was declared. Next, drive to Latrun to visit the Armored Corps memorial museum, considered to be one of  the most diverse tank museums in the world. Continue to Beit Guvrin national park, declared by UNESCO as a world heritage site; Explore some of the caves and archaeological remains. Proceed to the Ayalon Institute, once a secret underground ammunition factory established by the "Haganah", the Jewish underground movement before May 1948.
Overnight: Tel-Aviv

Friday
Diaspora museum / Old Jaffa / Tel-Aviv
Visit the Diaspora museum. Drive around the main streets of Tel  Aviv, center of business and entertainment of Israel. Also known as the "White City", Tel-Aviv was declared by UNESCO as a world cultural heritage site for its Bauhaus style buildings. Stop at Rabin's Square, place of assassination of Prime Minister Itzhak Rabin. Continue to Old Jaffa, one of the oldest port cities in the world; visit the ancient ruins and walk along the Artist's Quarter. Visit  Neve Tzedek, the first neighborhood of Tel Aviv built in 188$7, as well as Nahalat Benyamin, a pedestrian street where you can enjoy live music,  arts, crafts and handmade jewelery. Next, stop at Sheinkin, a lively and colorfull street known for its unique shops, café life, and youthful ambiance.
Overnight: Tel-Aviv

Saturday
At leisure
Overnight: Tel Aviv

Sunday
Caesarea / Megiddo / Druze village / Haifa
Drive along the coastal plain to Caesarea, once the Roman capital of the region. See the excavations of the Crusaders' city, the Roman port, aqueduct and the amphitheater which has been restored to its former glory as a concert venue. Proceed to Megiddo, identified as the site of Armageddon; visit the archaeological excavations including the well-preserved water supply system. Continue to Daliat-el-Carmel, a Druze village, and enjoy a late lunch at a local restaurant. Proceed via Mount Carmel to Haifa for a panoramic view of the Haifa bay and the golden domed Baha’i shrine and gardens.
Overnight: Kibbutz Guest House

Monday
Safed / Golan Heights / Winery
Drive to Safed, the center of Jewish mysticism; visit the ancient synagogues and the artists’ colony. Continue to the Golan Heights to see the former Syrian bunkers, Kuneitra and the new Israeli town of Katzrin. Stop at the Golan Winery for a tour and wine tasting. Proceed to "Golan Magic" for a multimedia presentation of the area and its history.
Overnight: Kibbutz Guest House

Tuesday
Sea of Galilee / Nazareth
Start the day with a visit to Nazareth and visit the Church of Annunciation. Continue to Tiberias to visit Capernaum and see the ruins of the synagogue and octagonal Church of St. Peter. Visit the Mount of Beatitudes, where Jesus delivered the sermon on the mount. Continue via Beit Shean to Beit Alpha to see the remains of the mosaic floor of an ancient synagogue depicting the zodiac. Drive to Jerusalem and check in at your hotel.
Overnight: Jerusalem

Wednesday
Jerusalem: the Old City
Start the day with a magnificent panoramic view from the Mount of Olives. Drive to the Old City and visit the Tomb of King David and the Room of Last Supper on Mount Zion. Enter the walled city and walk through the newly restored Jewish quarter. Visit the Roman Cardo, the Herodian quarter, and continue to the Western Wall. Walk along the Via Dolorosa to the Church of Holy Sepulchre. Continue to Bethlehem; view Rachel's tomb and proceed to visit the Church of  Nativity and Manger's Square.
Overnight: Jerusalem

Thursday
Jerusalem: the New City
Drive to the Israel Museum and visit the Shrine of the Book, where the Dead Sea scrolls are housed, and a miniature model of Jerusalem as it was during the Second Temple period. Proceed for a tour at the Knesset, Israel's parliament. Continue to visit Mount Hertzel cemetery and Yad Vashem, the Holocause museum and memorial. Drive through the ultra orthodox neighborhood of Mea Shearim in Jerusalem and learn about their unique lifestyle. In the evening, enjoy a middle eastern dinner followed by the spectacular "Sound & Light" show at the Tower of David Museum (weather permitting).
Overnight: Jerusalem

Friday
Qumeran / Masada / Dead Sea
Drive through the Judean desert to the Dead Sea, the lowest point on earth, almost 1,300 feet (400 meters) below sea level. Stop at Qumeran to visit the site where the Dead Sea scrolls were found.  Drive along the shores of the Dead Sea to Masada. Ascend by cable car and tour the ancient fortress where the Zealots made their last stand against the Romans in 73 AD.  Descend by cable car. Continue to the Dead Sea to cover yourself with the mineral rich mud and experience a swim in the Dead Sea (weather permitting).
Overnight: Jerusalem

Saturday
At leisure
Overnight: Jerusalem

Sunday
Timna / Underwater Observatory / Eilat
Travel south through the Negev desert; stop at Timna, a large geological and archaelological park. Marvel at the multi-colored rock formations and copper mines, and view Solomon's pillars. Continue to Eilat, Israel’s southernmost resort city on the shores of the Red Sea. Visit the Underwater Observatory marine park built into a coral reef, and enjoy the opportunity for a close up look at the rich sea-life of the Gulf of Eilat.
Overnight: Eilat

Monday
At leisure or optional tour to Petra
(additional charge)
After assistance with visa to the Jordanian border, drive straight to Petra, the astonishing rose-red city built by the Nabateans (An early Arab tribe). Petra was renowned for its massive architecture, pools, dams and water channels. The visit begins with the option of a short horseback-riding for about 700 meters until the entrance of the Siq, which is about 1.2 km long (walking distance). Petra is famous for its huge monuments such as the treasury, royal tombs, the court, roman theatre, roman street, qasser el- bint (Palace of Pharaoh’s daughter) and many other smaller monuments which fascinate the visitors. The city itself is almost 45 square kilometers and is one of the Wonders of the World. Enjoy lunch at a local restaurant and drive back to the border. On the way, a short visit to Aqaba with the possibility to stop and take a walk around. Transfer to the border at  around 6pm and cross back to Eilat. 
Overnight: Eilat

Tuesday
Mitzpe Ramon / Sde Boker / Hatzerim
Depart Eilat via Mitzpe Ramon; stop to gaze into the Ramon crater, a geological wonder. Proceed to Sde Boker and see Ben Gurion's hut and grave overlooking the magnificent Zin valley. Stop for a camel ride and a visit to an authentic Bedouin tent; learn about the Bedouin hospitality and enjoy a light lunch. Continue to Hatzerim and visit Israel's Airforce Museum to view the planes and equipment, and to hear the story of this brave fighting force.
Overnight: Tel Aviv

Wednesday
Shalom Israel
After breakfast, check out of the hotel and transfer to Ben Gurion Airport for departure.

* Program is subject to change due to local conditions