Day 1: Wednesday, July 15, 2020: DEPARTURE

• We depart the United States on our overnight flight to Israel.

Day 2: Thursday, July 16, 2020: WELCOME TO ISRAEL!

• We arrive in Israel and are met by an Ayelet Tours representative.
• Our first stop is at Neot Kedumim for a welcome snack and tree planting, connecting us physically and spiritually to the land of Israel.
• We enjoy lunch on own along the way.
• Upon entering Jerusalem, we stop at the Haas Promenade to say the “Shehecheyanu” as we look out over the City of Gold.
• We check into our hotel and join together for our welcome dinner this evening.

Overnight in Jerusalem

Day 3: Friday, July 17, 2020: THE ROOTS OF OUR PAST

• Breakfast at our hotel.
• This morning, we have a moving experience at Yad Vashem, Israel's memorial to the Holocaust, where we visit several exhibits, including the Hall of Names and the Avenue of the Righteous Among the Nations (options for children available). We conclude our visit with a memorial service.
o Returnees track - explore the Holocaust art exhibit led by a Yad Vashem Expert.
• This afternoon, we visit Machane Yehuda to watch the locals busily preparing for Shabbat and split into groups for a tasting tour at the restaurants and food stalls.
• This evening, we attend Shabbat services at various Jerusalem synagogues with community members, followed by Shabbat dinner together at our hotel.

Overnight in Jerusalem

Day 4: Saturday, July 18, 2020: SHABBAT IN JERUSALEM

• Breakfast at our hotel.
• Free time to attend Shabbat services or explore the city.
• We enjoy Shabbat lunch together at our hotel.
• Choose one option for your afternoon adventure:
          o This afternoon, we set out on a walking tour of charming Yemin Moshe, one of Jerusalem's historic neighborhoods established in the late 1800s outside the Old City.
OR
          o We participate in a scavenger hunt through the Old City.
• We gather together to enjoy a special Havdalah overlooking the Old City.
• Dinner on own tonight.
• Optional: We join together later this evening and walk to the Tower of David to see the spectacular Sound and Light show

Overnight in Jerusalem

Day 5: Sunday, July 19, 2020: OLD CITY

• Breakfast at our hotel.
• Just outside the Old City walls, we visit Ir David, the City of David, where we wander through the carefully preserved archaeological excavations dating back to the time of King David. We head underground and travel through the tunnel to the Davidson Center.
• Lunch on own in the Old City.
• We enjoy a special behind the scenes tour of the Western wall tunnels.
• We enter the Old City and walk through the alleyways
of the Jewish quarter while hearing the stories of those who have lived here throughout the ages.
• We return to Jerusalem and enjoy an evening at leisure and dinner on own.
• Optional: We return to Machane Yehuda to enjoy a causal dinner followed by a graffiti tour to view the graffiti art painted on the shutters of the closed stalls.

Overnight in Jerusalem

Day 6: Monday, July 20, 2020: MASADA & THE DEAD SEA OR THE MEDITERRANEAN COAST (Optional)

• Breakfast at our hotel.
• This morning, we travel south to the Dead Sea basin.
• Upon arrival, those who wish may climb the snake path or ascend by cable car to the top of Masada, view the remains of King Herod's palace and hear the story of the Jewish Zealots' last stand against the Roman forces.
• We descend the mountain and head to the beach for lunch and an unsinkable swim in the healing, salty waters of the Dead Sea.
• We begin traveling north, passing through the Jordan Valley and see the amazing cliffs of the desert.
• We return to Jerusalem for dinner on own.

OR

• This morning, we drive to the Mediterranean coast, driving north.
• We stop in Caesarea, where we view the amazing Roman ruins, including the Roman Theatre and the aqueduct. We also visit the multi-media center to "interact" with some of Caesarea's most famous residents and visitors of centuries past well as the hologram show.
• We stop at Tishbi Winery for lunch and a wine tasting.
• We return to Jerusalem for dinner on own.

Overnight in the Jerusalem

Day 7: Tuesday, July 21, 2020: THE WAY NORTH

• Breakfast and check out of our hotel.
• This morning, we visit the Ayalon Institute, where we discover the underground ammunition
factory that played a pivotal role in Israel's fight for independence.
• Continue by bus to Tzippori. In ancient times, this was a prosperous and well-endowed city with stone-paved roadways (rutted over time by wagons and chariots), an amazing water supply system, synagogues, churches, and a 4,500-seat theatre. The star attraction is a mosaic portrait of a contemplative young woman nicknamed the Mona Lisa of the Galilee, one of several superb early 3rd-century mosaics.
• We continue north to our kibbutz to check in and enjoy dinner together.

Overnight in the Galilee

Day 8: Wednesday, July 22, 2020: THE BEAUTIFUL NORTH

• Breakfast at our kibbutz.
• This morning, we take a short hike in the Banias Nature Reserve.
• Next, we set out on an exciting jeep tour through the Golan Heights, then passing former Syrian bunkers on the way to the top of Har Bental, where we take in the views reaching into Syria.
          o Track 1: This afternoon, we try our hands at chocolate making and learn from the experts in a delicious and fun experience at the DeKarina Chocolate Factory.
          o Track 2: This afternoon, we enjoy a wine tasting at the Pelter Winery adjacent to the chocolate factory.
• We continue to Kibbutz Malkia located along the Israel-Lebanon border, where we meet with IDF unit on the border and security personnel to learn about the steps they take to protect a small frontier community.
• Our next stop is at Dubrovin Farms, where we participate in a hummus making workshop.
• We complete our day with dinner at our kibbutz.

Overnight in the Galilee

Day 9: Thursday, July 23, 2020: THE MYSTICAL NORTH

• Breakfast and check out of our kibbutz.
• Today, we travel to the mystical city of Safed, where we explore the ancient synagogues and the artist's quarter.
• We begin traveling south and stop to visit the UNESCO World Heritage site of Akko, where we walk through the old port and colorful bazaar.
• We continue to the European style village of Zichron Yaakov to visit the Nili Spy Museum.
• Upon our arrival in Tel Aviv, we check into our hotel, then set out for an evening at leisure to explore this metropolitan city and enjoy dinner on own.
• Optional: Enjoy a moving performance of “Not by Bread Alone” at the Nalagaat Center for the deaf and blind.

Overnight in Tel Aviv

Day 10: Friday, July 24, 2020: FIGHTING OUR WAY TO TODAY

• Breakfast at our hotel.
• We begin our day at the Palmach Museum, where we “join up” with the paramilitary forces from Israel's pre-statehood days.
• Next, we follow Independence Trail, a historical walking tour through the Ahuzat Bayit neighborhood, where the city was originally developed.
• This afternoon, we stroll along Nachalat Binyamin, where the artists and entertainers bring the streets to life and the locals busily prepare for Shabbat.
• As the sun sets, we join together for informal Shabbat services, followed by Shabbat dinner together at our hotel.

Overnight in Tel Aviv

Day 11: Saturday, July 25, 2020: SHABBAT SHALOM

• Breakfast at our hotel.
• Free time to attend Shabbat services or explore the city on own.
• Tonight, we check out of our hotel and enjoy a festive farewell dinner together, remembering all that we have experienced on our journey.
• We transfer to Ben Gurion Airport for our overnight flight back to the United Stated (arriving tomorrow morning).

OR

JOIN US ON AN EILAT/PETRA, JORDAN EXTENSION

• Tonight, we transfer to the airport for our short flight to Eilat.
• Upon arrival, we transfer to our hotel to check in.

Overnight in Eilat

Day 12: Sunday, July 26, 2020: PETRA - THE EIGHTH WONDER OF THE WORLD

• Breakfast at our hotel.
• This morning, we cross the border into Jordan for our day tour of Petra, the Red Rose City and Eighth Wonder of the World.
• We explore the Nabatean City (as seen in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade) and walk through the Siq, view the ancient temple, the famous Treasury, the Roman theater and more.
• As we return to the border, we view Wadi Rum, a protected desert wilderness with sandstone mountains and natural arches.
• We return to our hotel for a relaxing evening and dinner
on own.
(Note, border taxes are due in USD at the border crossing - currently $65 per person)

Overnight in Eilat

Day 13: Monday, July 27, 2020: LEISURE IN EILAT/DEPARTURE

• Breakfast at our hotel.
• Enjoy the day at leisure in Eilat. Optional on own activity suggestions include:
          o Visit the Underwater Aquarium
          o Barbeque lunch and snorkeling cruise on the Red Sea
          o Swimming with the dolphins
          o Scuba diving
• We check out of our hotel later this afternoon and transfer to the airport for our short flight back to Tel Aviv to connect with our overnight flight back to the United States.

Day 14: Tuesday, July 28, 2020: WELCOME HOME!

• We arrive back in the United States this morning.

THE MEMORIES LAST FOREVER!!
*itinerary subject to change