Israel Highlights 14 Nights (Wednesday Arrival)

*Please note that all rates displayed are based on standard room double occupancy.
Upgraded room categories may be available to book later in the booking process.
If Land & Air price is displayed, the air portion includes tax and fuel surcharges, which are subject to change until ticketed.

Tour Overview:

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Discover Israel's amazing history & breathtaking beauty on our Israel Highlights Tour!
(Tour package is Land Only - Contact Ayelet Tours for flight assistance)

The Israel Highlights tour is our classic, cross-cultural tour of Israel. With several itineraries to choose from, these tours offer participants a sense of inspiration - from the Tomb of King David at Mt. Zion in Jerusalem, to the vista of the Bahai Temple Gardens atop Haifa's Mt. Carmel, to Capernaum nestled between the foothills of the Galilee overlooking the Sea of Galilee. Travelers will tour Israel with an outstanding licensed guide, and experience the different cultures that come together in this amazing destination. Israel Highlights tours enable one to see, do, explore, and experience all that this ancient land has to offer. These tours are perfect for travelers who want to learn more about both the ancient and modern history of Israel, as well as increase their understanding of the origins of religious roots - Christian, Jewish, and more.

Online booking is available for all our Israel Highlights Tours to Israel.
Explore the possibilities online, or call us at 800-237-1517 to find the right tour for you!

This Highlights Tour Includes:

4 Nights in Tel Aviv
2 Nights in the Galilee
5 Nights in Jerusalem
2 Nights in Eilat
1 Night in Tel Aviv
Breakfast daily
2 kibbutz dinners
1 dinner in Jerusalem
1 lunch in the north
Lunch in a Bedouin tent
All touring and sightseeing with a professional English-speaking guide throughout
Viewing the Roman ruins in Caesarea
Stopping at the Bahai Gardens in Haifa
Exploring the roots of Kabbalah the mystical city of Safed
Enjoying a wine tour and tasting at the Golan Winery
Visiting Capernaum, where Jesus preached, in the Galilee
Discovering Jerusalem, the City of Gold, from atop the Mount of Olives
Viewing the Roman ruins of Beit Alpha & Beit Shean
Visiting the tomb of King David at Mt. Zion
Exploring the treasures at the world class Israel Museum
Seeing the Knesset, Israel's Parliament
Touring Yad Vashem, Israel's memorial to the Holocaust
Experiencing the Tower of David Night Spectacular Sound & Light show
Hearing the stories of King Herod's desert palace at Masada
Enjoying an unsinkable float in the Dead Sea
Marveling at the beautiful desert landscape of Timna
Visiting Eilat's fascinating Underwater Observatory
Seeing the breathtaking Ramon Crater in Mitzpe Ramon
Visiting an authentic Bedouin tent & enjoying a camel ride

AND SO MUCH MORE!

Note: Standard rooms are offered throughout. If standard rooms are unavailable at time of booking at any given property, upgraded rooms, if available, may be offered to client at an additional charge. Hotels may be substituted with similar hotels in the same category.

*Itinerary subject to change

Rates Do Not Include:

Roundtrip airfare, departure taxes and fuel surcharges
Transfers upon arrival and departure (from/to Ben Gurion Airport) beginning March 2019
Optional tour to Petra, Jordan
Border fees & taxes for Petra trip - roughly $65 per person, payable in USD at the border
Jordan Visa - $69 per person, including processing. Ayelet Tours will coordinate the visa - passport information must be accurate and submitted no later than 10 days prior to arrival
Tips to driver, guide, wait staff, porters, housekeepers, etc. (Budget $15-$20 per person, per day)
Meals not listed above
Items of a personal nature
Travel insurance (highly recommended; see options at www.ayelet.com)

Tour Itinerary:

Day 1: Tuesday - DEPARTURE

• Depart the United States on your overnight flight to Israel. (Contact Ayelet Tours for assistance booking flights.)

Day 2: Wednesday - WELCOME TO ISRAEL

• Shalom and welcome to Israel! Upon arrival at Ben Gurion Airport you will be greeted and assisted by an Ayelet Tours representative.
• We transfer to our hotel to check in and enjoy the remainder of the afternoon and evening at leisure on own.

Overnight in Tel Aviv

Day 3: Thursday - TEL AVIV UP CLOSE

• Breakfast at our hotel.
• This morning, we drive through Tel Aviv and learn more about this vibrant city.
• Next, we visit Latrun, Israel's outdoor armored corps museum, where we explore and touch the tanks and artillery used by the Israeli Defense Forces and enemy armies throughout the country's history.
• We continue to Beit Guvrin National Park, where we explore parts of the archeological remains and unique caves.
• We continue to the Ayalon Institute, an underground ammunition factory that played a pivotal role in Israel's fight for independence at the end of the British Mandate.
• Evening at leisure and dinner on own.

Overnight in Tel Aviv

Day 4: Friday - EXPLORING TEL AVIV

• Breakfast at our hotel.
• This morning, we visit the Diaspora Museum, where we learn about the history of Jewish emigration since the destruction of the Second Temple and see models of some of the world's most well-known and majestic synagogues.
• We drive around the main streets of Tel Aviv, Israel's vibrant center of business and entertainment.
• We stop for a moment of reflection at Rabin Square, place of the assassination of Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin.
• This afternoon, we visit Old Jaffa, one of the oldest ports in the world, where we walk among the many artists, vendors and cafes as we hear the history of the ancient port.
• We continue to Neve Tzedek, the first neighborhood of Tel Aviv, built in 1887, now experiencing a renaissance.
• We proceed to Nachalat Binyamin to enjoy the entertainers, artists, shop owners, colorful vendors and craftspeople who bring the streets to life, then visit the adjacent Carmel Market filled with foods of every variety.
• We complete our day with a chance to browse along Sheinkin Street, the lively and colorful street especially known for its unique shops, cafes and youthful ambience.
• Evening at leisure and dinner on own.

Overnight in Tel Aviv

Day 5: Saturday - SHABBAT SHALOM!

• Breakfast at our hotel.
• Enjoy a day at leisure to explore Tel Aviv on own. Relax at the beach, take in a museum or art gallery or just stroll around the city.
• Dinner on own tonight.

Overnight in Tel Aviv

Day 6: Sunday - THE MEDITERRANEAN COAST

• Breakfast and check out of our hotel.
• Today, we drive along the Mediterranean coast to Caesarea, the former Roman capital of the area. Here, we view the ancient theater, the aqueduct, and ancient port as well as the impressive excavations of the Crusaders' city.
• We continue to Megiddo, site of biblical Armageddon, whose 20 layers of civilization were featured in James Michener's The Source.
• Our next stop is the Druze village of Daliyat al Carmel, where we have the opportunity to learn about their unique culture. We enjoy a late lunch at a local restaurant.
• We drive to the top of Mt. Carmel in Haifa, where we take in the panoramic views overlooking the amazing terraced Bahai Gardens.
• We continue to the Galilee to check into our kibbutz and refresh before dinner together this evening.

Overnight in the Galilee

Day 7: Monday - SAFED AND THE GOLAN

• Breakfast at our kibbutz.
• Today, we tour the mystical city of Safed, center of Kabalistic practice, exploring the narrow alleyways lined with ancient synagogues and artists' galleries.
• We enjoy a drive through the Golan Heights, passing former Syrian bunkers on the way to the top of Har Bental for panoramic views stretching far into neighboring Syria. Our guide updates us on the geopolitical situation in the area.
• We continue to Kuneitra, the former Syrian administrative capital of the region and Katzrin, the Israeli administrative capital of the region.
• Next, we stop at the award-winning Golan winery for a tour and wine tasting.
• Our final stop is at Kesem Hagolan to watch a spectacular multimedia presentation of the area and its history in the 180-degree IMAX movie theater.
• We return to our kibbutz for dinner this evening.

Overnight in the Galilee

Day 8: Tuesday - THE SEA OF GALILEE AND NAZARETH

• Breakfast and check out of our kibbutz.
• We begin our day with a visit to the Church of the Annunciation in Nazareth, ** which some believe marks the site of Mary's childhood home and the Annunciation by the angel Gabriel.
• We continue to Tiberias, one of four holy cities in Judaism, where we visit the grave of the medieval sage Maimonides.
• Our next stop is at Capernaum, where Jesus began his ministry, and site of numerous miracles. We see the ruins of several synagogues and the octagonal Church of St. Peter.
• At Mount of Beatitudes, we see the place where Jesus delivered the Sermon on the Mount.
• We drive by the Roman ruins of Beit Shean, destroyed over 1,300 years ago by earthquake, recently excavated and reconstructed on a massive and impressive scale.Then we visit Beit Alpha to view the intricate mosaics in the synagogue.
• We ascend to Jerusalem and check into our hotel.
• Spend the evening at leisure discovering Jerusalem and enjoying dinner on own.

Overnight in Jerusalem

Day 9: Wednesday - ANCIENT JERUSALEM

• Breakfast at our hotel.
• We begin our day with an ascent up the Mount of Olives for a magnificent panoramic view of the City of Gold.
• Next, we drive to the top of Mt. Zion, where we visit the tomb of King David and then proceed to the Upper Room, believed to be the site of the Last Supper.
• We enter the walled Old City and walk through the newly restored Jewish quarter, including the Roman Cardo marketplace, the Herodian quarter excavations and the Western Wall, where we have time for personal reflection.
• We walk the Stations of the Cross along the Via Dolorosa, ending at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre in the Christian quarter.
• We continue to Bethlehem** (security permitting) to view the tomb of Rachel, wife of biblical patriarch Jacob.
• We complete our day with a visit to the Church of the Nativity and Manger Square.
• We return to Jerusalem for an evening at leisure and dinner on own.

Overnight in Jerusalem

Day 10: Thursday - MODERN JERUSALEM

• Breakfast at our hotel.
• Today, we browse the extensive galleries of the Israel Museum, which recently completed a $100 million renovation and is world class in every way. The galleries range from pop and modern art, back through the Renaissance and Classical periods, with a strong emphasis on Jewish and Israeli archeological history with evidence going back thousands of years. We walk through the iconic Shrine of the Book, which houses the Dead Sea Scrolls, and see the impressive miniature replica of Jerusalem as it was during the Second Temple period.
• We continue to the Knesset, Israel's parliament, where we take a tour and have time for a unique photo opportunity by the amazing outdoor bronze menorah sculpture.
• At Mt. Herzl, Jerusalem's military cemetery, we learn from our guide some of the heroic stories of those buried here, including Theodore Herzl, Golda Meir, Yitzhak Rabin and Shimon Peres.
• We continue to Yad Vashem, Israel's Holocaust memorial, where we view the many moving exhibitions, including the Hall of Names and the Avenue of the Righteous Among the Nations.
• We drive through Mea Shearim, an Ultra-Orthodox neighborhood in Jerusalem to learn about the unique lifestyle of the residents.
• Tonight, we enjoy a Middle Eastern dinner together, followed by the spectacular Sound and Light Show at the Tower of David (weather permitting).

Overnight in Jerusalem

Day 11: Friday: MASADA AND THE DEAD SEA

• Breakfast at our hotel.
• Early this morning, we depart for the Dead Sea basin.
• Along the way, we stop at the Qumran caves, the site where the Dead Sea scrolls were found by a local shepherd.
• We ascend Masada by cable car to view the remains of King Herod's fortress, including the synagogue, walls and bathhouses, as we learn about the Jewish Zealots' last stand against the Roman forces.
• We descend the mountain and head to the beach to experience the mineral-rich mud and enjoy an unsinkable swim in the healing, salty waters of the Dead Sea.
• Later this afternoon, we return to Jerusalem for a quiet Shabbat on own.

Overnight in Jerusalem

Day 12: Saturday: SHABBAT SHALOM

• Breakfast at our hotel.
• Enjoy a day at leisure to explore Jerusalem on own, or just relax and enjoy the calm of the Jewish Sabbath.
• Evening at leisure and dinner on own.

Overnight in Jerusalem

Day 13: Sunday: THE SOUTH

• Breakfast and check out of our hotel.
We travel south through the Negev Desert to visit Timna with its impressive and beautiful desert stone landscapes, once home to King Solomon's copper mines, and marvel at the huge multi-colored rock formations.
• We continue to Eilat and visit the fascinating Underwater Observatory, one of the largest seaquariums in the world, built into a coral reef in the Gulf of Eilat.
• We check into our hotel and enjoy a relaxing evening and dinner on own.

Overnight in Eilat

Day 14: Monday: EILAT/PETRA

• Breakfast at our hotel.
• Enjoy a day of leisure relaxing or enjoying some of the many water sports on the shores of the Red Sea OR opt for an exciting day tour to Petra, Jordan*.
OPTIONAL DAY TOUR TO PETRA
*(additional cost applies)
• A mini-bus will provide early morning pick-up at our hotels and transfer to the Jordanian border for crossing formalities.
• After assistance with visa processing, we continue across the border into Jordan, meet our Jordanian guide and board our bus to begin our touring experience.
• We drive along desert highways to the astonishing red rose city of Petra, once renowned for its massive architecture, pools, dams and water channels. Petra is the legacy of the Nabateans, an early Arab tribe who settled in southern Jordan more than two thousand years ago.
• Our visit begins with the possibility of a short horseback-ride for about a half mile to the entrance of the Siq.
• Petra is famous for its huge monuments such as the Treasury, Royal Tombs, the Court, Roman Theatre, Roman Street, Qassier El- Bint (Palace of Pharaoh's daughter) and many other smaller monuments which fascinate visitors. The city itself is almost 45 square km and is considered to be the Eighth Wonder of the World.
• We enjoy a late lunch together.
• We return to the Jordan-Israel border around 6:00 PM to conclude crossing formalities.
• We return to our hotel in Eilat for a free evening and dinner on own.

Overnight in Eilat

Day 15: Tuesday: DESERT ADVENTURES

• Breakfast and check out of our hotel.
• This morning, we travel north to Mitzpe Ramon to gaze into the Ramon Crater, a geological wonder.
• We proceed to Sde Boker to view David Ben Gurion's gravesite and original hut, where we recall his dream of turning the desert green and see the ways it is becoming a reality.
• Afterwards, we enjoy an authentic biblical experience at a Bedouin tent, including a camel ride, desert hospitality and a light lunch.
• This afternoon, we head north to the Israeli Air Force Museum at Hatzerim to view the aircraft and learn the history of Israel's brave fighting force.
• We continue on to Tel Aviv. Upon arrival, we check into our hotel and refresh, followed by an evening at leisure and dinner on own.

Overnight in Tel Aviv

Day 16: Wednesday: DEPARTURE

• Breakfast and check out of our hotel.
• We depart for Ben Gurion Airport for our flights back to the United States, landing later today. L'hitraot!

THE MEMORIES LAST FOREVER!
*Itinerary subject to change
**Visit subject to availability
The above program can be extended and customized for groups and private families.

See Day Tour to Petra details below.

A PUBLIC GROUP DAY TOUR TO PETRA may be added for $280.00 per person, not including visa fee or border taxes. Listed tour cost and Jordanian visa fee/processing charge of $69.00 are payable in advance and are
non-refundable.

NOTE: Travelers to Petra must provide accurate passport information to allow Ayelet Tours to secure your Jordanian visa a minimum of 10 days in advance of travel. In addition, travelers must carry a valid passport and $65.00 per person in US currency for border taxes on the day of the Petra tour. Credit cards and travelers' checks are not accepted at the border crossing. Rates subject to change without notice.

Please note: If you depart from Israel during your visit (for example to go to Jordan or Egypt even for one day) VAT refund must be requested from customs at your departure land border at the time you depart. VAT at
Ben Gurion airport will only process the refund for any goods purchased since last date of entry into Israel.

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