The Ultimate Israel Tour

16 Days / 14 Nights - 10 Touring days 2008 season

Tuesday

Departure from USA

---

Ayalon Institute

Wednesday

Arrival

Arrival to Israel.

Overnight Tel Aviv.

---

Old Jaffa

Thursday

Tel Aviv

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 new “Mini Israel” park including miniature models of the most important sites and buildings in the country.

Continue to visit Ayalon Institute, once an ammunition factory for the Hagana, the underground movement before May 1948.

Proceed to Yad Mordechai, named after Mordechai Anilevitz, leader of the Warsaw Ghetto; Visit the restored battle fields of the war of liberation and learn about their heroic story.

Overnight Tel Aviv.

---

Tel Aviv Marina

Friday

Tel Aviv

Visit the Diaspora Museum.

Drive around the main streets of Tel Aviv, center of business and entertainment of Israel.

Stop at Rabin's Square, place of assassination of Prime Minister Itzhak Rabin.

Continue to Old Jaffa, an 8000 year old port city. Visit the ancient ruins and walk along the restored artist's quarter.

Visit Neve Tzedek, the first neighborhood of Tel Aviv, built in 1909 and
Nahalat Benyamin, the pedestrian street of the city with its musicians, hand made jewellery and artifacts .

Next , stop at Sheinkin , the lively and colorful street especially known with the unique shops, café life and youthful ambiance.

Overnight Tel Aviv.

---

Saturday

Tel Aviv

At leisure.

Overnight Tel Aviv.

---

Caesarea

Mount Carmel

Sunday

Caesarea | Haifa | Rosh Hanikra

Drive north to Caesarea, once the Roman capital of the region. See the excavations of the crusaders' city, the aqueduct and the amphitheatre which has been restored as a concert venue.

Proceed to Haifa for a panoramic view from Mount Carmel and visit “AF AL PI CHEN”, the naval museum of the illegal immigration to Israel at the time of the British mandate.

Drive to Acre. Walk along the old harbor and local market.

Continue to the northernmost point of Israel at Rosh Hanikra, descend by cable into the limestone grottoes.

Overnight at a Kibbutz guesthouse.

---

Golan Heights

Monday

Safed | Golan Heights | Kuneitra | Banias | Tel Hai

Drive to Safed, center of Kaballa movement. Visit the Joseph Caro and the HA’ ARI synagogues, the most important synagogues in the city; stroll around the the Artist’s quarter.

Enjoy a jeep tour to the foot of the Golan.

Continue to the Golan Heights.

Stop at an observation point over the city of Kuneitra, and the Syrian territory.

Stop at Tel Facher, a former Syrian army camp.

Visit the Banias springs.

Next, a visit to Tel-Hai. See the “Roaring Lion” monument and learn about the heroic battle of Josef Trumpeldor and his comrades in 1920.

Overnight at a kibbutz guesthouse

Meet with a Kibbutz member and learn about their unique lifestyle.

---

Tiberias and the Sea of Galilee

Tuesday

Tiberias | Beit Shean | Beit Alpha | Gan Hashlosha | Jerusalem

Begin the day with a tree planting.

Drive to Tiberias to visit Rambam’s grave; proceed to Beit Shean, also called "Scythopolis," the biggest archeological park in Israel with beautiful excavations from Roman and Byzantine periods.

Stop at Beit Alpha to see the beautiful mosaic floor of a synagogue from the Byzantine period.

Onto Gan Hashlosha, (Sachne) where you will have an opportunity to enjoy in the water springs located at the foot of the Mount Gilboa, the famous mountain on which King Saul was killed in the battle against the philistines.

Continue via the Jordan valley to Jerusalem.

Stop at Mount Scopus for a blessing as you enter the city,

Overnight Jerusalem.

---

Tunnels

Wednesday

Jerusalem

Tour the old city of Jerusalem.

Start with a visit of the tomb of King David on Mount Zion.

Walk along the Cardo, the ancient Roman road; Visit the four Sepharadic synagogues restored after 1967 war in the Jewish quarter.

Tour the Western Wall Tunnels.

Visit the Davidson Center and walk through the Roman Cardo, to the local Arab bazaar.

Walk through Jaffa gate to David’s Tower museum and see the ancient remains of the city beginning with the first Temple period.

Overnight Jerusalem.

---

Mea Shearim

Thursday

Jerusalem

Depart the hotel and arrive to the Western Wall in the old city of Jerusalem.

*Celebrate a Bar Mitzvah / Bat Mitzvah at the Wall (Kotel)

 

Continue to Mea Shearim and learn about the unique lifestyle of the ultra orthodox communities.

Drive by the Knesset, Israel’s parliament and see the Menorah with the biblical emblems.

Next visit the Israel Museum, the Shrine of the Book where the Dead Sea Scrolls are housed, and the new Holyland Model – a miniature replica of Jerusalem as it was during the second temple period.

Drive to Mount Herzl, the military cemetery and Yad Vashem, the memorial to the Holocaust.

Visit the Ammunition Hill, a former Jordanian army stronghold, conquered by the Israeli army in the Six Day War, and converted into a national memorial site and museum.

Overnight Jerusalem.

*BAR MITZVAH / BAT MITZVAH OPTION For families who wish to celebrate a Bar Mitzvah / Bat Mitzvah ceremony at the Wall (Kotel), this will be a perfect opportunity. While the rest of the group tours Mea Shearim, arrangements will be made at the Wall with a Rabbi. At the end of the service, you will be transferred from the Wall area to meet the group at the entrance of the Israel Museum. For prices for this special option, see below.

---

Dead Sea

Friday

Dead Sea | Qumeran | Massada

Drive through the Judean desert to the Dead Sea.

Stop at Qumeran, the site where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found.

Continue to Massada, ascend by cable car and tour the ancient fortress; visit the remains of the walls, palaces, synagogue, the bathhouses etc.

Descend by cable car, next stop for lunch, swim (actually float ) at the Dead Sea and use of spa facilities in one of the leading hotels in the area.

Return to Jerusalem.

Overnight Jerusalem.

---

Tower of David

Saturday

Jerusalem

At leisure.

Overnight in Jerusalem.

---

Sunday

Negev | Mitzpeh Ramon | Timna | Eilat

Travel south to the Negev desert, visit Israel’s airforce museum at Hatzerim to view the planes and equipment and to hear the story of this brave fighting force.

Visit Sde Boker and see Ben Gurion’s hut and grave overlooking the magnificent Zin valley.

Stop at Mitzpeh Ramon to gaze into the Ramon crater, a geological wonder.

Drive to Timna to see the copper mines and King Solomon’s pillars and marvel at the huge multi-colored rock formations.

Arrive to Eilat for overnight.

---

Scuba Diving

Monday

Eilat

Day at leisure.

Stroll around the city’s streets, the beach promenade and enjoy water sport activities – on your own or take an optional tour to the Rose city of Petra.

Overnight in Eilat.

---

Underwater Observatory

Tuesday

Eilat

Visit the Underwater Observatory, one of the largest seaquariums in the world, built into a coral reef.

Drive to Mamshit for a Camel ride experience and a visit to an authentic Bedouin tent, Learn about the Bedouin hospitality and enjoy a light lunch.

Drive back to Tel Aviv for overnight.

---

Wednesday

Tel-Aviv | Ben-Gurion Airport

Transfer to Ben-Gurion airport for departure.

---

 

Ultimate Israel Tour & Bar Mitzvah / Bat Mitzvah Tour

The Ultimate Israel Tour departure  dates from the USA  for 2008/2009 will be:

• June 10,17,24
• July 1,8,15,22,
• July 29 &  Aug 5,12,19  confirmation and rates on request only.
• September 2, 9,16
• October 21,28
• November 4,11,18,25
• December 9,16,23
• January 20, 2009
• February 17, 2009s

Hotels during tour

ULTIMATE ISRAEL TOUR	5-Star Deluxe	5-Stars	Superior 4 Stars	Standard 4 Stars	Nights
Tel Aviv	Dan	Carlton	Dan Panorama	Mercure	4
Galilee	Kibbutz Hotel Lavi - Hod Wing	Kibbutz Hotel Lavi - Hod Wing	Kibbutz Hotel Lavi - Hod Wing	Kibbutz Hotel Lavi - Hod Wing	2
Jerusalem	King David	Inbal	Dan Panorama	Prima Royal	5
Eilat	Dan	Sheraton	Dan Panorama	Palmira	2
Tel Aviv	Dan	Carlton	Dan Panorama	Mercure	1

Valid: Mar 1, 2008 - Feb 28, 2009

For reservations and rates
please contact Kenes Tours.
Email address: hnatan@kenes.com

ULTIMATE ISRAEL TOUR	5-Star Deluxe Hotels	5-Stars Hotels	Superior 4 Stars	Standard 4 Stars
Per person in double room, including breakfast	3170	2955	2299	1988
Single room supplement	1790	1555	965	720
Child under 18 yrs in parents' room	2096	1796	1626	N.A
High Season supplement X-Mass departures Dec. 16,23	230	260	120	290

July 29 & Aug 5, 12, 19 confirmation and rates on request only!

Included services in our tour rates:

1. Private transfer from Ben Gurion Airport to your Hotel in Tel Aviv and from the Hotel in Jerusalem to the Airport.
2. Meeting point on arrival at the Steimatzky bookstore at the Main Arrival Hall at the Ben Gurion International Airport.
3. 10 full days of touring with all entrance fees and attraction as per the above itinerary.
4. 14 nights accommodation on bed and breakfast basis at the hotels as mentioned above.
5. Two dinners at the hotel in Kibbutz Lavi / Galilee.
6. Lunch and swim at a Dead Sea spa hotel.
7. Jeep ride in the Golan Heights.
8. Light lunch and camel ride at a Beduin village.

Not included services in our tour rates:

1. Tips to guide/driver and hotel staff.
2. Lunches en route on sightseeing days.
3. Treatments at the Dead Sea spa.
4. Petra tour

 

Bar Mitzvah / Bat Mitzvah Service rates: Rabbi’s fee for one Bar Mitzvah / Bat Mitzvah participant is $440. The rate includes: Correspondence with family by the Rabbi, meeting in Jerusalem by the Rabbi prior to the ceremony, officiating at service, use of prayer pamphlets and Rabbi’s personal Torah scroll, Rabbi’s transportation, and including Bar Mitzvah / Bat Mitzvah certificate from the Ministry of Tourism. Reform and Conservative ceremonies will be officiated at the Southern Wall area. To the above rate, please add for the transfer to be arranged by Kenes Tours, from the Western Wall Plaza to the Israel Museum $10 per taxi (4 passengers per taxi).