Bar Mitzvah in Israel - 14 days touring program

Day One

Welcome to Israel!  Your guide will meet you at the International Arrivals Concourse of Ben Gurion Airport and assist you with your luggage.  Once you're all settled in your waiting vehicle, you'll depart the airport and drive on to Tel Aviv where you'll be driven on sightseeing tour of the city.  After your tour, you'll check into your hotel, have time for a rest and then you can head over to the beach for a stroll on the promenade or go to one of Tel Aviv's great restaurants for your first dinner in Israel. 

Overnight:  Tel Aviv.  

Day Two

Tel Aviv Day. We will explore the beautiful streets of old Jaffa. We will head to Tel Aviv's first neighborhood – Neve Tzedek – which is now hip and trendy and full of artist galleries and boutiques. We will then go to Independence hall and Rothschild Boulevard , and end our day of site-seeing atthe Palmach museum or the Rabin Heritage Museum. 

Day Three

day three you will drive north out of Tel Aviv, taking the coastal road to Caesaria. Here you will walk the ancient Roman ruins left along the beach front including the hippodrome, the amphitheatre, the shops and the baths.  You'll also enjoy an exciting tornado boat ride and if you like, you'll have time to go scuba diving here as well. From Caesarea you'll go further north to Haifa, Israel's third largest city where you'll have some time to view the gloriously beautiful Baha'i Gardens. Then it's on to Akko to walk the Crusaders Halls, the mosques and the charming market. Toward the end of the afternoon you'll visit Rosh Hanikra, Israel's furthest northern point on the sea and here you will take the cable cars to the grottos and learn about the strategic importance of this site in the history of modern Israel. 

Overnight:  Northern Israel. 

Day Four

This is a day of fun and new experiences!  You'll begin with a visit to the Dan or Banias nature reserves which is where the Jordan River begins.  From here you'll drive up into the Golan for a visit to Mt Bental where you'll tour an underground Israeli Army bunker and view our border with Syria.  From here you'll enjoy a fun ATV ride which begins at Merom Golan kibbutz , heading through the orchards of the kibbutz all the way to an old Soviet era hospital (built when this area was part of Syria) and then back to the kibbutz.  A relaxing raft ride down the Jordan River or a boutique, chocolate making workshop are included in the days activities.

Overnight:  Northern Israel. 

Day Five

Today you will head south, seeing the Kineret and the city of Tiberias as you go.  You'll stop at the Sachne springs for a swim in the natural hotsprings and then you'll go to Beit Alpha synagogue where you'll learn about the ancient mosaic floor there.  From Beit Alpha you'll continue on to Jerusalem, Israel's eternal capital where you'll go to one of the great panoramic viewpoints to say the traditional Shehecheyanu blessing.  After a short being driven on a sightseeing tour of the city you'll go on to your hotel to check in for the evening. 

Overnight:  Jerusalem

Day Six

Today is the bar/bat mitzvah day!  After a wonderful ceremony  of Bar Mitzvah in Israel you’ll go on to enjoy a festive lunch.  After lunch you’ll have time for a mitzvah project and an opportunity to plant trees in the nearby Jerusalem Forest.

Overnight:  Jerusalem

Day Seven

Today is a full day tour of Jerusalem, beginning with a walking tour of the four quarters of the Old City.  You'll see all of the points of interest, including the tunnels below the Western Wall.  You'll also enjoy a walk through the ancient water tunnels in the City of David.  In the evening you'll go to the fantastic Sound and Light Show also in the City of David. 

Overnight:  Jerusalem. 

Day Eight

This morning you will depart Jerusalem and drive south.  You'll pass Qumeran on your way to Ein Gedi Nature Reserve.  Here you'll take the short hike to the natural waterfalls and sweet water pools Perhaps you'll spot some of the endangered wildlife that thrives here.  From Ein Gedi you'll go on to Masada.  You'll take the cable car to the summit and here you'll tour the Roman ruins left here 2,000 years ago after a group of intrepid Jewish rebels tried to evade capture and enslavement by the Romans. From Masada you'll go on to the Dead Sea for a relaxing float before you return to Jerusalem for the night. 

Overnight:  Jerusalem. 

Day Nine

You will go to cool caves for a Day where you will dig, sift, examine pottery and tour the national park of Bet Guvrin.  Then we will head to the Ayalon institute, an underground bullet factory set up by the Hagana in preparation for war before the State of Israel was established in 1948.  You will finish the day at Latrun, Israel's official memorial site for fallen soldiers from the armored corps, as well as one of the most impressive tank museums in the world.

Overnight: Jerusalem

Day Ten

This morning you will drive to the Arava border After meeting your Jordanian Guide, you'll cross the border and cross the desert on your way to Petra.

.  You will spend a few hours exploring this amazing ancient city and then you’ll enjoy a refreshing and delicious lunch at the Movenpick Petra.  From Petra you’ll drive through the desert and on to Aqaba, Eilat’s sister city where you’ll be driven on a sightseeing tour before returning to the border crossing and Israel. 

Overnight:  Eilat.

Day Eleven

Today, after a relaxing morning you will spend the day driving through the Negev back to Tel Aviv by way of Mitzpeh Ramon. At Mitzpe Ramon you will look into the machtesh from the visitors and go rappelling from the top of the cliff. Then we will continue to Sde Boker to Ben Gurions tomb. At the end of the day, we'll cross the city of Beer Sheeva on our way back to Tel Aviv and your Hotel.

Overnight:  Tel Aviv.

Day Twelve

You’ll visit important and exciting sites in Tel Aviv today. You’ll have time to go to the new Yitzchak Rabin museum (which will give you a great overview of Israeli history, nicely tying up everything that you’ve seen while you’ve been touring!) and you’ll walk the beautiful artist’s lanes of Jaffa as well as the exciting market in Tel Aviv.  You’ll have time to explore Neve Tzedek, Tel Aviv’s first neighborhood which is full of lovely cafes and shops.  Overnight:  Tel Aviv.

Day Thirteen

Today will be our last day to walk around and relax in Tel Aviv. You will go to "Dialogue in the Dark" also known as the Blind Museum.  Here you will be lead by blind guides  through specially constructed dark rooms in which scent, sound, wind, temperature and texture convey the characteristics of daily environments – for example a park, a city, a boat cruise or a bar. Afterwards you will  walk around the artist market with time to further explore  any neighborhoods that particularly interested you, as well as take care of any last minute shopping. You’ll have a great farewell dinner this evening to celebrate an outstanding tour! 

 Day Fourteen

Depart for the airport and say goodbye to Israel. Until next time!!

Your tour ends here.

Thanks for traveling with us!