ISREAL SYMPHONY -
2009-2010
Sunday Departure
15 Days █ 13 Nights
Monday Departure
14 Days █ 12
Nights
Tour Includes:
*
Professional Tour Director
*
Choice of 9 Deluxe Hotel Plans
*
10 Days of Comprehensive Sightseeing, (9 Days on Monday Departures)
*
Plus! Walking Tours in Tel Aviv & Jerusalem
*
Arrival and Departure Transfers
*
USTOA $1 Million Traveler Asssistance Program
18 Meals:
*
Daily lsrael Buffet Breakfast
*
Lunch at Kibbutz Kfar Charuv
*
Dinner In Tel Aviv
*
Dinner at a Druze Restaurant
*
Seaside Dinner in Tiberias
*
Restaurant Dinner in Jerusalem
*
Traditional Friday Night Dinner in Jerusalem
Plus!
*
Visit the underground Ammunition Factory at Machon Ayaton
*
Tourt the fascinating Palmach Museum
*
Archeologicl “Dig" in Beit Guvrin National Park
*
Seet the Multi-media Presentation at Caesarea Harbor
*
Boat Cruise on the Sea of Galilee
*
Descend to the Under water Grottos at Rosh Hanikra
*
Tour a Golan Heights Kibbutz
*
Night Tour of "illuminated “
Jerusalem
*
Visit the Museum of the History of Jerusalem
*
Tourt the Herodian Mansions or Hasmonean Tunnel
*
Complimentary Entrance to the exclusive Dan VIP Lounge at Ben Gurion Airport
(return
to Canada.)
(B) Breakfast (L) Lunch (D) Dinner
ITINERARY
SUNDAY DEPARTURES 13 NIGHTS
Sunday: En Route
Depart CANADA on your flight to lsrael .
Monday: Tel Aviv
Welcome to lsrael! Arrive Ben Gurion Airport meeting
assistance and transfer to your hotel
in vibrant Tel Aviv.
Tuesday: Tel Aviv
Begin the day with a visit to Ben Gurion House in Tel
Aviv, former home of lsrael's first Prime Ministers; see his personal belonging
and expansive library. Continue along
the coastal road to the town of Zichron Yaacovo, one of the first modern
Zionist settlements; the magnificent gardens here are dedicated to Baron Rothschild
one, of lsrael's great benefactors. Time to taste the superb Rothschild wines
before continuing on to the Af-al-Pi-Chen Immigrations and Naval Museum, which
chronicles the heroic efforts to bring Jewish Immigrants to Palestine; the
exhibits depict moving stories of courage. Then, on to Atlit, with its
reconstructed detention camp where illegal immigrants and underground fighters
were confined before 1948. Return to Tel Aviv for overnight. (B)
Wednesday: Tel Aviv
Drive along Tel Aviv's main streets see the colorful
shops and bustlings sidewalk cafes. Continue past the Mann Auditorium, home of
the lsrael Pihilharmonic, Habimah Theatre, the impressive Opera House and
Yitzhak Rabin Square, dedicated to the late Prime Minister. On to Independence
Hall where Ben Gurion fervently proclaimed lsrael's independence in 1948. Then,
visit the Haganah Museum, former home of the movements organizer, founded during the British
Mandate. Learn more about the activities of the Haganah as we drive south to
visit the pre-state underground Ammunitions Factory at Machon Ayalon. Proceed
to the Weizmann Institute of Science in Rehovoto, one of the world's leading
research institutes before returning to Tel Aviv. ( B)
Thursday: Tel Aviv
Begin your day with a visit to the fascinating Palmach
Museum (subject to appointment confirmation), for a virtual tour of the history
of this underground military
organization prior to the establishment of the State of lsrael. Then on
to the Absalom (Soreq) Caves discovered by chance in a miner's blast some 40
vears ago, containing stalactites and stalagmites that vary in shape and size,
with some dating back 300,000 years. Continue to Natan Rappaport's brilliant
bronze monument, the Scrolls of Fire, soaring high in the scenic Judean Hills. Then,
to the military junction at Latrun, once the border with Jordan; view the
French Trappist Monastery and visit the Tank Division Memorial. Return to Tel
Aviv. (B)
Friday: Tel Aviv
Today, a great adventure! Spend the morning digging
and excavating at the Tel Maresha Dig at Beit Guvrin National Park (weather
permitting). Continue to the old port city of Jaffa, magnificently restored.
Explore the reconstructed Artists' Ouarter with its galleries and boutiques.
Afterwards, on to Tel Aviv's Carmel Market (be sure to taste the delicious
strawberrles!) before continuing to lively Nachlat Benjamin with its delightful
cafes and crafts talls- definiteltyh e place to be on
Friday afternoonl
Tonight, Get Together Dinner (B.D.)
Saturday: Tel Aviv
Morning walking tour. Remainder of the day at leisure
to enjoy all of the dellghts of this seaside city. Don't miss afternoon Israeli
folk dancing on the seaside promenade! Or, visit Little Tel Aviv a lively area
dotted with yachts and a pub-filled board walk (just a short ride from your
hotel). (B)
Sunday: Tel Aviv/Haifa
Depart Tel Aviv. Drive to the Diaspora Museum;
experience 2500 years of the Diaspora through unconventionl vaisual aids.
Continue to ancient Caesarea; explore the astounding Roman and Crusader ruins
including the impressive theater and aqueduct. Visit Caesarea Harbor, with its
thrilling, multi-media presentation-you'll see ancient history come to life!
Arrive in Nazareth. the sacred town where Jesus spent part of his youth; visit
the Church and Mary's Well. On to the sparkling port city of Haifa; check into
your hotel atop Mt. CarmelT. His evening, visit to a Druze Village where you'll
meet these unique Israelis in their home, hear of their traditions and enjoy a
Druze Dinner. ( B.D.)
Mondav: HaifalTiberias
View the golden-domed Bahai Shrine and the colorful
Persian Gardens before departing Halfa. Drive along the coast to spectacular
Rosh Hanikra; descend by cable car to see the magnificent underwater grottoes.
Continue through the picturesque seaside town of Nahariya to the timeless
Crusader city of Acre; walk through the subterranean city and the bazaars
recalling the colorful Middle Ages. Then, to Safed, one of Judaism's holiest
cities, where Kabbalah flourished during the golden age; visit the ancient synagogues
and the charming Artists'O uarter. Late afternoon Boat Ride on the Sea of
Galilee takes you to Tiberias on the lake's shore for overnight. Evening: Dinner at a fabulous seaside restaurant (.B
.D)
Tuesday: Tiberias{erusalem
Begin the day with a drive to Capernaum; see the ruins
of the ancient synagogue dating back to the 5th century. Then, ascend the
strategic Golan Heights for a greater understanding of the fierce battles that
took place during the 1967 Six Day War and the 1973 Yom Kippur War. Visit Mt.
Ben Tal, site of a former lsraeli bunker, for a spectacular view of the region.
Arrive at Kibbutz Kfar Charuv, settled by Americans and lsraelis together; view
the fertile valleys below as you tour the kibbutz and enjoy lunch in the
communal dining room. Travel to Bet Shean, an ancient city from the time of
King Saul; see the excavated remains of a Roman city. Continue to
"golden" Jerusalem for overnight (.B.L.)
Wednesday: Jerusalem
Drive to the Hadassah Medical Center to see the
brilliant Chagall Windows. On to Yad Vashem, memorial to the Holocaust; visit
the Museum, Children's Pavilion and walk a long the Avenue of the Righteous.
Then, on to Mount Herzl to pay respects to lsrael's military heroes. Visit the
Herzl Museum (schedule permitting). Drive via the Supreme Court Building and
the Knesset (Parliament) to the Shrine
of the Book, home of the Dead Sea Scrolls. Time to walk through the Israel
Museum and the Billy Rose Sculpture Garden; see the Scale Model of ancient
Jerusalem. Evening: Restaurant Dinner and Night Tour. ( B.D.)
Thursday: Jerusalem
Enter the Old City from the Dung Gate; walk to the
Western Wall, the only remaining portion of the Second Temple. Witness joyous
Bar Mitzvah or Bat Mitzvah ceremonies! View the Dome of the Rock. Drive to Mt.
Zion to visit the traditional Tomb of
King David and the Room of the Last Supper. Proceed to the restored Jewish
Quarter; walk along the Cardo, the colonnaded main street of Byzantine
Jerusalem. Visit the HerodianM ansionsa, completely excavated residential
quarter from 2000 years ago, or walk through the extraordinary Hasmonean Tunnel
(tunnel schedule permittlng.) Follow the Via Dolorosa to the Church of the Holy
Sepulchre; walk through the exotic bazaars with their wondrous aromas. End the
day with an optional visit to Bethlehem (.B )
Friday: Jerusalem
Travel via the Judean desert and the shores of the
Dead Sea, the lowest place on earth, to Masada. Ascend by cable car to this
last stronghold of the Zealots in their
struggle against the Romans. Visit the excavations, Herod the Great's palace,
synagogue and bathhouse. Then, opportunity to enjoy an "unsinkable"
swim in the buoyant waters of the Dead Sea. (We provide the changing facilities and lockers.) Drive via the
Qumran Caves, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found, on your return to
Jerusalem. Evening: Traditional Friday Night Dinner (B.D.)
Saturday: Jerusalem
Morning walking tour with your Tour Director to the
Museum of the History of Jerusalem at David's Citadel, and to the Old City.
Remaindeorf the day at leisure (B)
Sunday: En Route
Transfetro the airport for your departure flight. Relax and enjoy complimentary entrance to the exclusive Dan VIP Lounge at Ben Gurion Airoort.
Monday Departure
14 Days █ 12
Nights
Tour includes:
* 9 days of Sightseeing
17 Meals:
Breakfast Daily* | Lunch * 5 Dinners
ITINERARY:
Monday / EnR oute-
Depart Canada
Tuesday / Tel Aviv –
Meeting, assistance, transfer to hotel.
Wednesday / Tel Aviv - Tel Aviv city,
Independence Hall, Haganah Museum, Machon Ayalon,
weizmann Institute (B)
Thursday / Tel Aviv - Palmach Museum,
Absalom (Soreq) CavesS, crolls of Fire, Latrun (B)
Friday / Tel Aviv - Beit Guvrin Dig, Old,
Jaffa, Carmel Market, Nachalat Binyamin. Evening: Get
Together Dinner (B.D.)
Saturday / Tel Aviv –
Morning walking, tour. Afternoon at leisure (B)
Sunday / Haifa –
Diaspora Museum, Caesarea, Nazareth, Haifa, Dinner (B.D.)
Monday / Tiberias –
Rosh Hanikra Acre, Safed, Galilee Cruise, Evening:
Seaside Dinner (B.D.)
Tuesday / Jerusalem –
Capernaum, Golan Heights, Kibbutz Lunch, Bet Shean,
Jerusalem (B.L.)
Wednesday / Jerusalem –
Chagall Windows, Yad Vashem, lsrael Museum, Scale
Model. Dinner & Night Tour (B.D.)
Thursday / Jerusalem –
Western Wall, Mt. Zion, Herodian Mansions or ,
Hasmonean Tunnel, Via Dolorosa, Holy Sepulchr. (B)
Friday / Jerusalem –
Masada, Dead Sea, Qumran, Evening: Traditional: Friday
Night Dinner. (B.D.)
Saturday / Jerusalem –
Morning: walking tour, Afternoon at leisure. (B)
Sunday / En Route –
Transfer to the airport for departure flight.
Complimentary entrance to Dan VIP Lounge
We Wish You A Most Enjoyable Trip!