TAGLIT BIRTHRIGHT ISRAEL: ISRAEL EXPERIENCE SAMPLE ITINERARY ISRAEL JOURNEY *This is subject to change
DAY ONE: WELCOME Touch down in Israel as a group and meet your amazing tour guide and Israeli soldiers who will be with you for all 10 days! Load onto the bus and head north to explore the lush, majestic Golan Heights that were once part of Syria. Check in at Kibbutz Hukuk and enjoy a mouthwatering first dinner cooked by the families of the kibbutz. Group activity to get to know your fellow busmates for the next 10-days.
DAY TWO: THE GOLAN HEIGHTS Hike through the thick forest of the Golan Heights, one of Israel's least inhabited and wildest areas, full of bubbling streams, majestic waterfalls, and find yourself emerging from the trees at one of the best views in the country. Cool off in the Jilabon stream and trek to a beautiful waterfall where you'll explore a nature reserve in the heart of the Golan. Bite into mouthwatering pita filled with shwarma, falafel, or hummus in Katzrin and walk through the streets of a real village of the Talmud, in its true ancient location. Travel back in time at Emek Habacha, where you ll explore the site of one for the fiercest battles of the Golan from the Yom Kippur War. Stand where countless soldiers did, guarding the border of Israel and Syria at the Bental Observation Point (a dormant volcano), and crawl through the bunkers that were used by the IDF. Return back to Kibbutz Hukuk for a delicious dinner some R&R.
DAY THREE: THE GALILEE & TZFAT Dip your toes into the Nahal Amud, a bubbling stream that spills into the Sea of Galilee. Understand mikveh (ritual purity) with an "Inner Rhythms" workshop. Grab a falafel in the ancient city of Tzfat, where you ll walk along the cobbled streets, visit thousand year old synagogues, check out the local art scene, and explore the birthplace of Kabbalah and Jewish Mysticism. Immerse yourself in the life and responsibilities of being an Israeli soldier with an activity planned by your own! Return to Kibbutz Hukuk for a delectable dinner, some quiet time, and reflect back on the past few days in Israel.
TAGLIT- BIRTHRIGHT ISRAEL: ISRAEL EXPERIENCE DAY FOUR: JERUSALEM Wake up bright n early to drive to the Holy City of Jerusalem Travel back in time and experience once of the most tragic times in Jewish history at Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum in Jerusalem. Have a tour of Mt. Herzl and visit the memorials of Herzl, Rabin, and more (the leaders and brains of the Zionist Movement).! Haggle over fresh pita and dried fruits at the Mahane Yehuda Shuk, Jerusalem s open-air market. Taste some of Israel best hummus, falafel and fresh squeezed juice, or watch as a chef throws together your own handpicked ingredients to make a delicious, one-of-a-kind dish at Pasta Basta. Light a candle and recite the age-old Shabbat prayers, Kiddush, and enjoy a decadent, traditional dinner of schnitzel, potatoes, Israeli salad, challah, and much more at the Jerusalem Gardens Hotel.
DAY FIVE: SHABBAT Enjoy a relaxing Shabbat as a group. Say blessings over wine, get to know each other even better with a group activity, and take time to relax and reflect. Partake in the spiritual tradition, Havdallah; join hands and sing as you light the candle under the stars. Get a taste of nightlife in Jerusalem with a night out on Ben Yehuda Street, where you ll sip wine, take puffs of hookah, and dance the night away. Return to Jerusalem Gardens for the night.
DAY SIX: JERUSALEM & THE SOUTH Slip a note into the Western Wall and walk through the ancient streets of the Jewish Quarter in the Old City. Leave Jerusalem and head south! Picnic in the Negev: Enjoy a packed lunch of sandwiches, fresh fruit, hummus, and juice. Hike down Ein Ovdat, one of the most stunning canyons in the Negev Desert, take pictures of the wildlife, and cool off by the natural pools. Visit Ben Gurion's grave and his desert getaway. Learn about his visions for the future of the Negev and Israel's amazing agricultural developments. Travel to Kfar Hanokdim, a Bedouin village where you'll spend the evening tasting authentic Bedouin cuisine, exploring the desert, and learning about Bedouin history and life in the desert. Ride camels through the desert at sunset. Taste Bedouin cuisine and spend the night living like the Bedouins do with bonfire under the stars and a campout in a Bedouin tent for the night.
DAY SEVEN: MASADA & TEL AVIV Experience a Negev sunrise from the ancient fortress of Masada where you'll overlook the Dead Sea and Jordan. Learn about the history of the fortress, the people who lived there, protected it, and died fighting for their freedom. Enjoy a traditional Israeli breakfast of eggs, Israeli salad, bagels, hummus, and fresh fruit. Hike Ein Gedi, the largest oasis in the Judean Desert, and swim in the natural pools and waterfalls Rub on some mud and float around in the Dead Sea (the lowest place on Earth). Enjoy lunch at a café overlooking the Hebrew city. Have a group meeting to reconnect and reflect and prepare for tomorrow s volunteer project at Save A Child s Heart an Israeli-based international humanitarian project, whose mission is to provide pediatric cardiac care for children who suffer from heart disease. Spend the night a the beautiful Golden Beach Hotel overlooking the Mediterranean Sea.
DAY EIGHT: TZEDEK AND TZEDAKA Explore Tel Aviv s one-of-a-kind art scene with a tour of the city s famous graffiti art Wander through Nachalat Binyamin Market, Tel Aviv's incredible outdoor art and craft fair, the perfect place to pick up one-of-a-kind, handmade jewelry and art for family and friends. Volunteer work at Save A Child s Heart: This is the chance to truly make their day as you create activities with children undergoing heart treatment and give them well-deserved emotional support. Stay the night at the Golden Beach Hotel
DAY NINE: TEL AVIV Tour Jaffa and Neve Tzedek, Israel's oldest port city. Explore the first neighborhoods of Tel Aviv, listen to the stories of the pioneers that built them, the visionaries that saw beyond the sand dunes and feel the conviction that it would become a Jewish state. Take a stroll through the Carmel Market, haggle for trinkets and candies, and eat at one of the dozens of cafés in the area Party it up with the group as you get a taste of nightlife in Tel Aviv. Stay the night at the Golden Beach Hotel
DAY TEN: TEL AVIV & TAKE OFF Travel back in time at Independence Hall, the site of the Declaration of Independence announcing the State of Israel in May 1948 Chat with a representative from Israel Experience's Long-Term Programs Have your choice of lunch at some of Tel Aviv s funkiest cafés in the heart of the city Say goodbye until we meet again! Drive to Ben Gurion Airport