THE ULTIMATE FAMILY & BAR/BAT MITZVAH TOUR - ISRAEL 2009
This tour was created so that parents, children of all ages, grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins could experience together the wonders, thrills, emotion and the excitement of visiting Israel. This isn’t just an adult tour with kids tagging along, nor is it a Bar-Bat Mitzvah convention with convoys of buses and confusion. This is a finety, carefully and innovatively crafted, designed to be a spectacular experience for all ages. And for families celebrating Bar-Bat Mitzvahs, our poignant and unique service atop Masada is designed specifically to suit children and familes from the broadest spectrum of Jewish affiliation.
THIS TOUR IS OPERATED IN CONJUNCTION WITH ISRAMWORLD.
TOUR INCLUDES
13 nights Deluxe hotels
Comprehensive Sightseeing
Professional Tour Manager
Bar/Bat Mitzvah Ceremony atop Masada
Arrival & Departure transfers
Deluxe flight bag & Document Case
USTOA $1 Million Traveler’s Assistance Program
HIGHLIGHTS
Bar/Bat Mitzvah Ceremony atop Masada
Visit the Herodian Excavations
Rabbinical Tunnel
Davidson Center
Time Elevator
Mini-Israel Park
Archeological Dig
Camel ride in the desert
Boat ride on the Sea of Galilee
Kayak on the River Jordan
Visit to an Army Base
PLUS!
A festive Bar/Bat Mitzvah Celebration Evening
Many more meals, special event, and lots of surprises!
SUNDAY – EN ROUTE Depart the U.S.A. on your flight to Israel.
MONDAY – JERUSALEM
Welcome to Israel. Arrive Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv; meeting, assistance and transfer to your hotel in Jerusalem. Time to relax before this evening’s lovely Welcome Dinner.D
TUESDAY – JERUSALEM
Enter the gates of the Old City to the Jewish Quarter. Walk along the Cardo, the colonnaded main street of Byzantine Jerusalem, for a timely, guided introduction to the history of Israel and the region. Inside the Davidson Center you’ll see a fantastic computer imaging presentation of the Temple. Continue to the Southern Wall Excavations and of course, the Kotel – the Western Wall, Judaism’s holiest site and the “Hafirot Hakotel” (the new Wall excavations). Visit the Burnt House and the Herodian Mansions, a completely excavated residential quarter from 2000 years ago! Continue to the Rabbinical Tunnel (schedule permitting) under the Temple Mount – another monumental achievement of the ancient Israelites who inhabited Jerusalem thousands of years ago. Travel through time at the lively Jerusalem Time Elevator. Enjoy this multi-media production for a colorful over-view of Jerusalem’s history. Evening: Restaurant Dinner. BD
WEDNESDAY – JERUSALEM
The morning begins at Yad Vashem; visit the unforgettable Memorial Museum and Children’s Pavillion .Walk along the Avenue of the Righteous and the Dead Communities Valley. After a special “Yizkor” (memorial service), visit Mount Herzl, the military cemetery where Theodore Herzl and most of Israel’s great statesmen are buried. At Ein Karem; visit the Hadassah Hospital’s synagogue to view the magnificent Chagall Windows. On to the City of David , that was the Capital of the Israeli kingdom. Learn about Jerusalem’s water supply in ancient times, walk through the water collected at the bottom of Hezekiah Tunnel. Tonight, meeting and rehearsal with the Rabbi for the Bar/Bat Mitzvah families and celebrants. B
THURSDAY – JERUSALEM
Visit the famous Absalom’s Caves to see the Stalactites and Stalagmites formed in these caves over millions of years. Continue to the ancient sites of Beit Guvrin and Tel Maresha for another day of family experience and fun. Participate in a real archaeological dig ! Visit the new site of the Arefuge caves where Jewish warriors lived and hid. Observe ancient olive oil manufacturing facilities. Drive west to the Latrun Armed Forces Museum, site of many critical battles. Climb on tanks and learn about the battles that secured the road to Jerusalem. During our visit to astonishing Mini-Israel, (time permitting) see the fantastic mini-replicas of major buildings and sites in Israel, followed by Dinner. BD
FRIDAY – JERUSALEM
Begin at Ammunition Hill to learn about the 1967 battle that resulted in the unification of Jerusalem. Continue to “Otef Yerushalayim” the defense wall built around the city to protect it from the entry of unwanted elements. Learn about the effects on this wall on the daily life of Jews and Arabs. Drive via the Supreme Court Building and the Knesset (Parliament) to the Israel Museum to visit the Shrine of the Book, home to the Dead Sea Scrolls. Early return to the hotel. Before sunset, participate in the Friday evening prayers at the Western Wall and watch the procession of Yeshiva students dancing their way to the Kotel to greet the Sabbath. Tonight, a traditional Shabbat Dinner at the hotel. BD
SATURDAY – JERUSALEM
If you wish, attend morning Shabbat services at the Great Synagogue. Remainder of the day at leisure to enjoy this endlessly fascinating city or time to visit family and friends. B
TUESDAY, DAY 8- TIBERIAS
This morning visit the vast Roman city of Bet Shean, including the reconstructed public buildings from the Roman and Byzantine periods. Then, ascend the monumental Golan Heights for a panoramic view of the Sea of Galilee and surrounding areas. Arrive at Kibbutz Kfar Haruv, settled by Americans and Israelis together and meet kibbutzniks over lunch. Drive to Katzrin, and the Golan winery. Return to Tiberias for dinner and overnight at your hotel. BLD
SUNDAY – DEAD SEA
Early this morning, we bid farewell to Jerusalem as we begin another day of family excitement with our Desert Experience! Ride through the Southern part of the Judean desert on special vehicles – camels! Meet the Bedouins (desert people), and see the breathtaking rock formations and endless shapes. Experience Bedouin style hospitality, feasting on a “Chafla” lunch, literally a taste of Bedouin customs and culture. Situation permitting, visit Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found. Then, visit Ein Gedi Nature Reserve and enjoy a hike to David’s Waterfall. Then, continue to your spa-hotel located on the Dead Sea. The remainder of the day is at leisure to swim in the unsinkable waters of the salty sea, or the hotel’s pool. Enjoy the fabulous facilities at htehotel! Dinner and overnight at your hotel. BLD
MONDAY – MASADA-TIBERIAS
Bar/Bat Mitzvah Day! Mazel Tov! Today will be a most unforgettable day! After breakfast, ascend Masada by cable car to the last stronghold of the Zealots in their struggle against the Romans. Join together in Masada’s ancient synagogue for a compelling Bar/Bat Mitzvah ceremony. Tour the excavations before descending this legendary mountain. On to the Ein Gedi nature reserve before we begin our drive to the Galilee. Stop at Beit Alfa to visit one of the oldest synagogues ever excavated. Then on to Kibbutz Kinneret – the first kibbutz and the burial place of many of the founding fathers of the modern state. Continue to Tiberias for dinner and overnight. BD
TUESDAY – TIBERIAS
Today, visit to Kfar Haruv, overlooking the Sea of Galilee to see how exposed it was to the Syrian armies before the 1967 war. Continue to Katzrin, the capital of the Golan. Join the wonderful multi media presentation at Kesem Ha’golan; that will enhance your understanding of this part of Israel. Visit the local winery, and Mt. Ben Tal at the Israel/Syrian border for a view of Kuneitra and beyond the border into Syria. End the day visiting Army Base;chance to observe the equipment upfront and to speak with the soldiers who defend the northern border of Israel. Return to Tiberias for dinner and overnight. BD
WEDNESDAY- TIBERIAS
Everyone gets a chance today to test their target shooting skills at Kibbutz Ayelet Hashachar. Continue to the ancient and sacred city of Safed. Explore the galleries in this artist’s colony and the small synagogue. Drive north to Kibbutz Manara for a cable car taking you to to ascend by cable car to the top of the mountain for a breathtaking view of the Lebanese territory. More fun!! Drive to the Jordan River for a kayak, rafting and canoeing downstream; test your skills on the Omega (another surprise). This evening dinner at Decks, an Israeli grill restaurant on the Sea of Galilee. After dinner, another evening of family surprises and fun as we embark on a boat cruise on the Sea of Galilee. Overnight in Tiberias. BD
THURSDAY – TEL AVIV
Today begins at Mitzpe Hoshaya – where the kids will have a chance to experience donkey riding, participate in cheese making and bread baking. Drive to the seaport of Haifa to view the magnificent Bahai Temple and Gardens. Visit a Druze village before continuing to the ancient city of Caesarea to explore the astounding Roman Ampitheater, Hippodrome and attend the new Multi-Media Show. (You’ll be able to ‘speak’ to King Herod and other rulers of that period). Proceed along the coastal road to your hotel in vibrant Tel Aviv. Evening: Enjoy the Festive Bar/Bat Mitzvah Celebration Dinner at your hotel. Bar/Bat Mitzvah children will be presented with a special certificate from the Government of Israel. BD
FRIDAY – TEL AVIV
Morning visit to the old port city of Jaffa, magnificently restored. Then, drive south to Machon Ayalon to visit the pre-state underground ammunition factory. On to the Carmel Market shopping district; mingle with the crowd and become part of this bustling life style. Visit the Diaspora Museum for a special family adventure. The children will have a special role in discovering “The routes of the Roots”. Continue to Independence Hall, and feel the excitement of Ben Gurion, where in May 1948, he declared the establishment of the state of Israel. Spend the rest of the afternoon at lively Nachlat Benjamin with its delightful cafes and craft stalls – the place to be on Friday afternoon! Tonight, Traditional Shabbat and Farewell Dinner at the hotel. BD
SATURDAY – TEL AVIV
Free day in Tel Aviv to enjoy the sun, the beach and relax. Evening transfer to the airport for the midnight flight back to the U.S. B
SUNDAY – EN ROUTE
Arrival in the U.S.A.
This is a sample itinerary – Distribution of sites & leisure time are subject to change.
Notes: BM boy–age 13, BM girl-age 12 Air Fare is not included in tour price & will be quoted upon request. Dec 17 & Dec 20 itinerary is revised to include Eilat – 2nts Tel Aviv, 5nts Jerusalem, 1nt Dead Sea & 2nts Eilat Aug 2 departures utilize the David Citadel Hotel in Jerusalem
