We have provided the following sample itinerary to give you an idea of what this travel experience is all about. The actual itinerary may vary slightly. A formal itinerary, including a list of confirmed accommodations will be sent to you 4-6 weeks prior to the start of the program. DAY #1 / Tuesday / Take Off! Depart in the evening Take-off and spend the night in the sky en route to Israel! DAY #2 / Wednesday / Introduction to Jerusalem Arrive to Tel Aviv s Ben Gurion Airport in the afternoon Meet Israeli guide and begin ascent to Jerusalem Welcome to Israel Shecheyanu at the Haas Promenade overlooking the Old City Check-in & orientation at accommodations DAY #3 / Thursday / Jerusalem s Old City Explore King David s Jerusalem at the City of David complex Walk through Hezekiah s ancient water tunnel under Jerusalem Enter the Old City s Jewish Quarter and navigate alleyways, tunnels and rooftops Tour of the Southern Wall excavations & Davidson Center Reflections at the Kotel The Western Wall Evening: Experience layers of Jewish history on the Kotel Tunnel Tour DAY #4 / Friday / The Exile & Continuity Begin traveling northwards along the coast Caesarea The Roman amphitheater on the beach BBQ lunch on the Mediterranean Beach Explore the Ein Hod artists colony in the Carmel Mountains View of Haifa from the Bahai Temple Gardens on Mt. Carmel Arrive to accommodations in the Western Galilee and prepare for Shabbat Kabbalat Shabbat service on the beach Festive Shabbat dinner at hotel Overnight: Beit Kay Guest House, Nahariya DAY #5 / Saturday / Shabbat on the Beach! Shabbat program at hotel Relaxed afternoon at the beach Evening: night out bowling Overnight: Beit Kay Guest House, Nahariya
DAY #6 / Sunday / The Western Galilee Hike to Montfort Castle in Nahal Kziv Park Explore the ocean caves at Rosh Hanikrah Tour of old Acco seaport and Crusader-era castle Traditional Druze hospitality and dinner in the village of Peki in DAY #7 / Monday / Mystics of the Galilee Walking tour of mystical Tzfat Birthplace of the Kabbalah movement Meet with Kabbalistic artist Avraham Lowenthal Explore Tsfat s colorful artist colony Volunteer at a local absorption center for recent Ethiopian immigrants Guided tour of the kibbutz community DAY #8 / Tuesday / Water & Israel Water walk down the Hatzbani River Relaxed rafting down the upper Jordan River Bike riding through the Hula Valley Nature Reserve Evening: Cruise on the Sea of Galilee with Israeli dancing DAY #9 / Wednesday / Perspectives from the Golan Heights Ascend the Golan Heights Water hike down Nahal Jilaboun Canyon View across Israel and her neighbors from atop Mount Ben-Tal Swimming in the Sea of Galilee Evening: Israeli movie night The Syrian Bride DAY #10 / Thursday / Zionism & Co-Existence Kineret cemetery pioneers and poets Coexistence workshop at Hanaton with Beduin youth Atlit Camp The Holocaust and migration to Israel Evening: BBYO B Yachad Event
NOTE: If you wish to take part in the Host Family Weekend, please arrange for your host to pick you up at our scheduled accommodations on Thursday night and return you to our scheduled accommodations on Saturday evening. DAY #11 / Friday / Israeli Arts & Culture Mifgash activity with Israeli teens in Herzliya Shopping at Nahalat Binyamin street festival Walking tour of old Jaffa seaport and artist colony Relax and enjoy the Tel Aviv lifestyle along the beachfront Kabbalat Shabbat ceremony and festive Shabbat dinner at hotel DAY #12 / Saturday / The Day of Rest! Speaker- Geo-Politics of Israel with Neil Lazarus Relaxed morning and Shabbat program Sports, pool and relaxation time Evening: Group night out at Jerusalem s Malha Mall DAY #13 / Sunday / Elective Week Travel northwards for start of Elective Week Option #2: Culture & Innovation Tour - Walking tour of Jaffe - Meet with the founder of Mifalot Sport for Education Development and Peace - Evening: Visit Nalag at to see a performance by deaf and blind actors DAY #14 / Monday / Elective Week Option #2: Culture & Innovation Tour Based in the Tel Aviv region - Graffiti tour of Tel Aviv - Go on a culinary tour of Shuk HaCarmel, an open-air market - Tour Habima, the national theatre of Israel - Relax on the beach - Hear from a panel of Tel Aviv artists - Evening: Night out at the Tel-Aviv Port DAY #15 / Tuesday / Elective Week Option #2: Culture & Innovation Tour Based in the Tel Aviv region - Visit a desalination plant - Tour Tel-Aviv University and visit the planned green building
DAY #16 / Wednesday / Elective Week Option #2: Culture & Innovation Tour Based in the Tel Aviv region Travel to Kibbutz Hanaton for service learning experience Overnight: Kibbutz Hanaton Guest House, Galilee DAY #17 / Thursday / Service Learning Community service projects and cultural exchange Overnight: Kibbutz Hanaton Guest House, Galilee DAY #18 / Friday / Service Learning Community service projects and cultural exchange Overnight: Kibbutz Hanaton Guest House, Galilee Day #19 / Saturday / Service Learning Shabbat programming on kibbutz Overnight: Kibbutz Hanaton guest House, Galilee DAY #20 / Sunday / To The Negev Desert Tikun Olam program at Hanaton Dig-for-a-Day Archeological Seminar at Beit Guvrin Sde Boker Ben Gurion s grave and contemporary Zionism overlooking Wadi Zin Canyon View of the Ramon Crater from the crater rim DAY #21 / Monday / Eilat and the Red Sea Early morning hike to Mt. Zefachot overlooking Israel, Egypt, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia Guided snorkeling at Coral Beach Nature Reserve on the Red Sea Relaxed afternoon at the beach Border tour - Bus tour along Israel s border with Egypt s Sinai Peninsula Water Activities DAY #22 / Tuesday / The Desert Blooms Hike the Red Canyon trail deep in the Negev Desert Desert ecology seminar at Kibbutz Keturah s Arava Institute Drive northwards to the Judean desert Camel trekking in the Judean Desert and "Hafla style Bedouin tent dinner feast Bonfire party and night out under the desert stars Overnight: Kfar Hanokdim Bedouin Tent, Judean Desert DAY #23 / Wednesday / Masada and the Dead Sea
Sunrise climb to Masada via the Roman Ramp trail Tour of the Masada desert fortress complex Descend Masada via the Snake Path trail Swim under the desert waterfalls at Ein Gedi Nature Reserve Floating & beach time at the Dead Sea and packed lunch Return to Jerusalem in the late afternoon DAY #24 / Thursday / Remembrance and Renewal Yad Vashem Holocaust Memorial Mt. Herzl National Cemetery Discuss the meaning of a modern Jewish State on the campus of the Knesset Shopping at Ben Yehuda Street pedestrian mall DAY #25 / Friday / Jerusalem Prepares for Shabbat Help prepare Shabbat meals for the hungry at a local soup kitchen Ammunition Hill Explore the future of Jerusalem Explore Mahane Yehuda marketplace and group shopping for picnic lunch Group picnic style lunch at Saker Park Re-enter the Old City Walk along the Rampart Walls from Jaffa Gate to Zion Gate Experience the energy of Kabbalat Shabbat at the Western Wall Walk back to hotel for final Shabbat dinner DAY #26 / Saturday / Shabbat in Jerusalem Option to attend Shabbat services at local synagogues Walking tour of Jerusalem neighborhoods Evening: Group night out at Mamilla outdoors pedestrian mall DAY #27 / Sunday, / Celebrating Israel! Volunteer at Save a Child s Heart Machon Ayalon The story of the Haganah and the founding of the IDF Independence Hall Recount the establishment of the modern Jewish State Final reflections at Yitzhak Rabin Square Wrap-up session in Jaffa overlooking Tel Aviv Closing dinner feast at Dr. Shakshouka Restaurant in Jaffa Return to Ben Gurion Airport to board an overnight flight back to New York
DAY #28 / Monday / Shalom and L Hitraot! Arrive back to New York in the early morning