ARRIVAL Israel Family Tour Sample Itinerary Day One: Tuesday, January 3, 2017 Following Individual arrivals in Israel, meet in the hotel lobby (transfers may be requested at supplemental cost). Stop at the Haas Promenade for an overlook of the Old and New City of Jerusalem and to recite the traditional shehechiyanu blessing. Welcome dinner at Ima, one of Jerusalem s favorite Mid-eastern restaurants. Overnight: Jerusalem Day Two: Wednesday, January 4, 2017 THE LAYERS OF JERUSALEM Proceed to the Old City and begin with a walking tour through the Jewish Quarter for visits to archaeological treasures and other highlights, among them: A walk along the Rooftops of the Old City for a behind-the-scenes look at the various communities in Jerusalem and how they live alongside each other The Cardo, the main street of Jerusalem in the 6 th century King Hezekiah s First Temple-period Broad Wall Hurva Square, the central square of the Jewish Quarter Stop at the Kotel (Western Wall) and experience the special atmosphere of this holy site. Walk through the Western Wall Tunnel, the underground continuation of the Western Wall alongside the Temple Mount. Explore the Jerusalem Archaeological Park, including the Davidson Center, Robinson s Arch and the Southern Wall steps where Jewish pilgrims entered the Temple Mount 2,000 years ago. Lunch on own in the Old City. Free time in the Arab bazaar. Return to the hotel. Adults: Challenges and Triumphs of Religious Pluralism and Social Justice in Israel: Dialogue with Anat Hoffman, Executive Director of the Israel Religious Action Center (IRAC). Youth: Shapes and Faces of Israel: games and activities with the tour guide. Dinner on own, perhaps at the Old Train Station Plaza, a central neighborhood hub for food, entertainment, culture, and enrichment. Overnight: Jerusalem
THE POWER OF MEMORY Day Three: Thursday, January 5, 2017 Adults: Visit the Yad Vashem complex, the Jewish National Memorial to the six million Jewish victims of the Holocaust, including: The Avenue of the Righteous The Children s Memorial A concluding Memorial Service Returnees: The Exhibitions Pavilion The Art Museum The Sculpture Garden The Valley of the Communities Youth: LaDa at Yad Vashem for Kids - ולחיות :לזכור Special children/youth program at the Yad Vashem complex, the National Memorial to the six million Jews who perished in the Holocaust. Guided visits to the No Child s Play exhibit, the Children s Memorial and the Sculpture Garden use interactive programming, arts & crafts, and children s stories and diaries from the time of the Holocaust. Younger Children: Visit the Biblical Zoo, a beautifully landscaped habitat with a special focus on preserving Biblical fauna, geared to children of all ages (2-80). All: Take a multi-cultural tasting journey through the hustle and bustle of Jerusalem s Machaneh Yehudah open-air market: Enjoy the sights, smells, tastes and sounds of this vibrant area where Jerusalemites shops and lunch on own (if still hungry!). Tikkun Olam hands-on experience with Pantry Packers, a volunteer organization that provides food for the needy. Free time in the Mamilla pedestrian arcade, a very contemporary shopping area with a whiff of the past, located outside the Jaffa Gate of the Old City; dinner on own. The Night Spectacular at the Tower of David Museum: The walls of the Citadel serve as a stage for a night-time show a celebration of sight and sound that depicts the story of Jerusalem (weather permitting). Overnight: Jerusalem
DIGGING FOR ROOTS Day Four: Friday, January 6, 2017 Tree planting at the Jerusalem Bird Observatory, and gaining insight into the urban wildlife of Jerusalem. Drive out of Jerusalem and take part in an archaeological dig at the Beit Guvrin Caves; prepare to get your hands dirty uncovering pottery from the Hellenistic period, 2,300 years ago, followed by a crawl through the Maresha Cave Labyrinth (crawling is optional). Beit Guvrin-Maresha National Park was recently recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Lunch on own en route. Drive back towards Jerusalem. LaDa at The Geopolitics of Jerusalem - : ובליבה חומה :ירושלים Travel through the city of Jerusalem, exploring some of its political and diplomatic complexities including the Security Barrier to gain a behind-the-headlines insight into current developments. Return to the hotel to prepare for Shabbat. Kabbalat Shabbat services at a local synagogue or at the Egalitarian Kotel (Western Wall). Festive Shabbat dinner at the hotel. Overnight: Jerusalem SHABBAT IN JERUSALEM Day Five: Saturday, January 7, 2017 Breakfast at the hotel Optional Shabbat Services. Free Shabbat in Jerusalem for an opportunity to explore (on own): The renewed and wonderfully creative Israel Museum, with its wide-ranging and eclectic collection, from Archaeology and the Dead Sea Scrolls, to Jewish Life and Art, European art, contemporary Israeli art and the open-air model of Jerusalem in the Second Temple period. Walk along the Old City Ramparts The Biblical Zoo, a beautifully landscaped habitat with a special focus on preserving Biblical fauna, geared to children of all ages (2-80). Ben Kodesh Lechol: Havdallah overlooking the Old City. Free Evening in Jerusalem on Ben-Yehuda pedestrian mall or on Emek Refaim Street in the German Colony, with dinner on own. Overnight: Jerusalem
Day Six: Sunday, January 8, 2017 INTO THE DESERT, MASADA & THE DEAD SEA Breakfast at the hotel Check out of hotel and descend to the Dead Sea Basin. Stop first at Genesis Land, a Biblical-style encampment in the Judean Desert; delve into the Bible, take a camel ride and experience Biblical hospitality. Ascend by cable-car or walk up the Snake Path to Masada, Herod s mountain palace and the site of the Jewish Zealots last stand against the Roman legionnaires. Discuss Masada s role as a symbol of Jewish defence and its current significance in modern Israel. Float in the Dead Sea, use the spa facilities of a Dead Sea resort and enjoy a sumptuous buffet lunch. Travel south via the Arava to Kibbutz Yahel and check into the guesthouse. Meet with members of this pioneering Reform kibbutz. Dinner at the guesthouse. Overnight: Kibbutz Yahel, Arava Desert MAKING THE DESERT BLOOM Day Seven: Monday, January 9, 2017 Breakfast at the guesthouse. Drive to Kibbutz Lotan for an ecological program at the kibbutz to get to know their creative Jewish approaches to community life and the environment. Visit the impressive Timna Park with its new audio-visual program, ancient copper mines, modern man-made pool and many unique geological formations and hike through park for beautiful desert views. Lunch on own. Drive to Eilat for a free afternoon to enjoy some of the water sports (e.g. snorkling, swimming with dolphins, etc.) or perhaps visit the Underwater Observatory. Dinner on own in Eilat. Return to Lotan. Overnight: Kibbutz Lotan, Arava Desert
Day Eight: Tuesday, January 10, 2017 FROM THE DESERT TO THE GALILEE Breakfast at the guesthouse. Check out of the guesthouse and drive north through the massive Ramon Crater, the largest naturally formed crater in the world. Visit the gravesite of Israel's first Prime Minister, David Ben-Gurion, located at Sde Boker in the Negev Desert, overlooking the Wilderness of Zinn. Lunch on own en route. Travel north on Route 6 (Trans Israel Highway) towards Lake Kinneret. LaDa at Kinneret Cemetery - כינרת שלי :הו Enter the world of the early Zionist pioneers and learn about their hopes and dreams, their trials and tribulations and their ultimate success. Pause at the graves of legendary personalities such as Rachel the Poetess, Zionist philosopher Ber Borochov and songwriter Naomi Shemer (time permitting). Check into the hotel. Dinner at the hotel. Overnight: Kibbutz Nof Ginosar Guesthouse, Lake Kinneret Day Nine: Wednesday, January 11, 2017 SERENITY AND NATURE IN THE UPPER GALILEE AND GOLAN Drive to the Upper Galilee. Walk through the Tel Dan Nature Reserve, located on the largest tributary of the Jordan River, and explore the ruins of the great Biblical city of Dan. Explore Israel s security situation on the Golan Heights. Overlooking the Hula Valley from former Syrian fortifications, discuss the challenges Israel faced leading up to the Six-Day War. Cross the Golan plateau to the border with Syria, and a view of the abandoned city of Kuneitra and the nearby United Nations outpost, for an insight into the experiences in the Yom Kippur 1973 war. Option 1 Wine Tasting at a local winery on the Golan Heights. Option 2 Enjoy the culinary delight of a chocolate workshop at the De Karina Chocolate Factory at Kibbutz Ein Zivan. Visit a Druze village for a window into the unique world of the Israeli Druze community, with lunch on own. Drive to Tsfat, a center of Jewish mysticism for hundreds of years and a contemporary artists colony, including: Guided visits to the Ari, Caro or Abuhav Synagogues with their great stories and mystical messages. A stroll through the quaint Artists Colony and shop in the galleries and crafts shops. LaDa at Families in Tsfat - מטיילות בצפת :משפחות Find your way through the alley ways of Tsfat, uncovering the hidden words, secret codes and mystical messages on a family scavenger hunt through the Old City of the ancient Kabbalists. Return to the hotel. Dinner at the hotel. Family game night with the tour educator. Overnight: Kibbutz Nof Ginosar Guesthouse, Lake Kinneret
Day Ten: Thursday, January 12, 2017 THE COMMUNITIES OF ISRAEL Check out of hotel and drive to the Western Galilee. Visit Akko (Acre), a UNESCO Heritage Site, for a multi-layered experience from the days of the Crusades through contemporary Israel, including guided visits to: The restored Crusaders Fortress. The Ottoman Fortifications around the city. The famous British Prison of pre-state days, the site of the famous prison break re-enacted in the movie Exodus The Templar Tunnel to the port of Akko The colorful Akko shuk (market) Lunch on own. From the top of Mount Carmel view the Baha i Gardens and gold-domed Shrine of the Bab, one of the holiest sites of the Baha i religion. Continue along the coastal plain to Caesarea, one of the Land of Israel s most important cities in the Roman Period. Visit the Herodian theater and the new excavations along the Mediterranean shore, concluding with a visit to the ruined 900-year-old Crusader town. Enter the city of Tel Aviv, known as the city that never sleeps, with its centers of culture, recreation and national history, great beaches and fine stores. Check into the hotel. Dinner on own, perhaps in the renovated Old Port of Tel Aviv, with its wonderful restaurants, cafés and shops, right on the water s edge; OR at the Tachana, Jaffa s Old Railway Station, renovated and restored as a great pedestrian complex, with restaurants, shops and open spaces for people-watching. Overnight: Tel Aviv FROM DREAMS TO REALITY Day Eleven: Friday, January 13, 2017 Foundations of a City and a State, Ahad Ha Am to Bialik: Zionist ideology and the revival of the Hebrew language come alive as you walk down Bialik Street and through the Trumpeldor Cemetery. Strangers in a Strange Land: Explore the reality of the foreign worker in Tel Aviv as you walk through the streets of South Tel Aviv; explore the similarities with the issue of immigration in Australia. Visit the Ayalon Institute near Rehovot for an eye-opening tour of a clandestine munitions factory used during the British Mandate. Visit the Old City of Jaffa and stroll through the renovated artists colony and the old port and walk through the famous Jaffa Flea Market Shuk Hapishpishim. Lunch on own. Return to Tel Aviv and time permitting free time on the Nachalat Binyamin pedestrian mall, with its bi-weekly crafts fair and eateries; alongside is the colorful Carmel open-air market and across the way Sheinkin Street, with its hip cafés and funky chic shopping. Time to freshen up before Shabbat. Pop Up Shabbat Kabbalat Shabbat services as a group on the Mediterranean Beach. Festive Shabbat dinner at the hotel. Overnight: Tel Aviv
SHABBAT IN TEL AVIV Day Twelve: Saturday, January 14, 2017 Optional Shabbat services. Lunch on own. Free Shabbat in Tel Aviv with an opportunity (on own) to: Take in the grand art collection at the Tel Aviv Museum of Art Meander through the Old City of Jaffa Wander through the Tachana, Tel Aviv s newly renovated old train station, now a center of boutiques and good food, and one of Tel Aviv s blooming hot spots Walk or bike the Blue Route in Tel Aviv, with its beautiful coastline and Mediterranean atmosphere, from the Jaffa Ridge in the south to Tel Aviv Port in the north Walk through the trendy Tel Aviv Port Ben Kodesh Lechol: Havdallah overlooking the Mediterranean. Wrap up of the group journey. Special evening visit to Independence Hall, where David Ben-Gurion proclaimed the State of Israel on May 14th, 1948 Festive farewell dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight: Tel Aviv Day Thirteen: Sunday, January 15, 2017 DEPARTURE Check out of the hotel and transfers on own account to Ben Gurion International Airport for the departure flight to Australia.
Inclusions & Exclusions This Costing is based on estimated rates since we do not have rates for 2017 at this time by our ground agents ARZA World. Final rates should be available from the hotels in late October 2016, whereby an updated budget will be sent to you promptly should the need arise. 30-39 40-42 SINGLE SUPPLEMENT CHILD AS 3 rd ^REDUCTION HOTEL OPTION 1 $2,559 $2,399 +$740 -$150 ^Child (ages 2-18): Sharing in a room as a third ONLY Hotels Option 1 or similar Dates Nights Hotel City Room Category January 3-8, 2017 5 Dan Panorama Jerusalem Standard January 8-10, 2017 2 Kibbutz Yahel Arava Standard January 10-12, 2017 2 Kibbutz Nof Ginosar Kinneret Deluxe January 12-15, 2017 3 Dan Panorama Tel Aviv Deluxe (standard) *Room categories are based on standard run of the house unless otherwise noted Meals or similar Date Lunch Dinner January 3, 2017 On Own Ima January 6, 2017 On Own Hotel January 8, 2017 Dead Sea On Own January 10, 2017 On Own Hotel January 11, 2017 On Own Hotel January 13, 2017 On Own Hotel January 14, 2017 On Own Maganda *All breakfasts included Rates are per person based on double occupancy and a minimum of 30 full paying participants. Should the number of participants drop below the minimum listed above ARZA World will adjust the cost of the trip to reflect the additional expense of operating the program.
Price Includes 12 nights accommodation (including breakfast) as shown below 10 days of touring in a luxury, air-conditioned bus with licensed, English speaking tour educator All site entrance fees and program fees as per itinerary Meals as shown above Portage at the airport and hotels Special Features Your own personal account manager who will ensure that you will have A fabulous Israel Experience both before you arrive and when you are in the country Partner with our expert educational team in creating the best program for you Exclusive webpage for your trip, listing the complete program, highlights and details for participants to view Online registration and use of our Customer Service Center to handle all of the administration of your trip and take questions from participants Online trip management features for you Mishkan Tefillah for Travelers siddurim are available for use during your trip Price Excludes Tips to the tour educator and driver (recommended guidelines vary based on number of participants) For a group of 20 passengers and more: $8 per participant per day for the tour educator & $4 per participant per day for the driver In the case where a security guard and/or a youth counselor is included $1 per participant per day per security guard, per youth counselor Luggage: All tour packages allow one pieces per person and one carry-on bag. Excess luggage will be subject to a charge of up to $100 per piece. ARZA World shall not be held responsible for any damage to or loss of luggage/personal items. All damage/loss must be reported at time of incident and documented in writing by local authorities for submission to the insurance company. Transportation in evening when dinner is on own. Amendments to the program: In the event that any sites, programs or meals etc are added to the program, an additional fee may be required. Personal extras: Items of personal nature such as laundry, wines, mineral water, beverages, coffee, tea, food other than the table d hotel menu, passport and visa fees, insurance, and foreign port taxes, unless otherwise specified. Water or snacks on the bus. US and foreign airport taxes, Q fuel surcharge and border taxes when applicable. Value Added Tax is not included in our proposal and is currently not applicable to tourists visiting Israel. Should the law change you will be notified accordingly and V.A.T. will be added to your final invoice.