Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, and the Dead Sea

Upon your arrival at Ben Gurion Airport, you will be greeted by a VIP Agent who will fast-track you through passport control, assisting with your luggage. A private driver will then transfer you to your hotel.

This morning, you will meet your private driver-guide in the hotel lobby and depart for the ANU Museum - formerly known as the Diaspora Museum. This unique global institution tells the extraordinary ongoing story of the Jewish people. You will then visit Neve Tsedek, established in 1887 as the first Jewish neighborhood outside of Jaffa. Its Asian architectural style, narrow streets, and charming boutiques provide a unique retreat within the modern city.

Your day continues with a visit to Rothschild Boulevard, each side of the street towering with beautiful Bauhaus buildings, including Independence Hall. The Habima Theater, Israel’s national theater, and the Fredric Mann Auditorium, the home of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, are located at the northern end of this storied boulevard.

The rest of your day is at leisure.

Today can be spent at leisure, you may choose to explore the Carmel Market or Levinsky Market independently. The vibrant Carmel Market is home to the trendiest eateries in the Middle East, while the Levinsky Market is a cultural gem in the heart of the neighborhood of Florentin in southern Tel Aviv. Experience captivating aromas, sampling pastries, roasted nuts, and dried fruit – while sipping an Ouzo.

This morning, you meet your private driver-guide in the lobby and depart for the Sarona Compound, a 140-year-old Templar colony. This market houses fun boutiques, artist galleries, quaint cafes, and some of the city’s top restaurants and bars. Following that, you will continue to Jaffa (also known as Yafo), the ancient port city just outside Tel Aviv. The narrow passageways and ancient buildings in the Old City are worlds away from modern Tel Aviv. Explore fascinating galleries, shops, and eateries before returning to your hotel.

This morning, you depart for Jerusalem. Visit the Bahai Gardens Lookout, home to vast terraced gardens that cascade down the side of Mount Carmel. Continue to the city of Akko, also known as Acre, a UNESCO World Heritage Site and former Crusader city, filled with history. Following that, you visit Safed – the birthplace of the Kabbalah movement. Safed is not only one of Israel’s holiest cities, but also the highest city in the Holy Land. Set in the dense pine forests of the Upper Galilee, overlooking Tiberias and the Sea of Galilee, Safed is a unique blend of ancient grandeur and modern-day flair. Continue to your hotel for check-in and enjoy the rest of the day at leisure.

There is an optional visit on the agenda: to Caesarea, a historic port located on the Mediterranean coast, known for Caesarea National Park, which includes a large Roman amphitheater.

Today, you will visit the Mount of Olives, enjoying panoramic views showcasing the historic city of Jerusalem.

Continue to the Western Wall, the most religious site in the world for the Jewish people. Located in the Old City, it is the western support wall of the Temple Mount. Thousands of people journey to the wall every year to visit and recite prayers, which are either spoken or written down and placed in the cracks of the wall.

Explore the Western Wall Tunnels, walking through fascinating subterranean spaces exhibiting exquisite archeological findings. The tunnels are supported by many arches and contain stairways that connected the ancient city with the Temple Mount. Today, these passageways support streets and homes in the Muslim Quarter. You will then visit the Cardo, an impressive colonnade-style street dating back to the Roman Empire, located in the Jewish Quarter within the Old City.

Today can be spent at leisure or you may independently explore the Machane Yehuda Market. This is the traditional marketplace of Jerusalem, a myriad of sights, sounds, and smells – a true sensory experience.

This morning, you will depart for Yad Vashem, Israel’s official memorial dedicated to the victims of the Holocaust. Alongside your docent, you will explore interactive historical displays that include photographs, films, documents, letters, works of art, and survivor testimonies.

Next, you will visit the Israel Museum, featuring the most extensive collection of biblical and Holy Land archeology in the world – nearly 500,000 pieces. Marvel at the detailed model of Jerusalem from the time of the Second Temple and enter the dramatic Shrine of the Book to see the Dead Sea Scrolls.

Afterward, you will drive by the Knesset Menorah, Israel’s parliament, to see this iconic statue, before returning to your hotel for the remainder of the day.

Today, you depart for Mitzpe Ramon. Visit the Masada, an ancient fortress in southern Israel’s Judean Desert. On an isolated clifftop in the heart of the desert, a lofty plateau overlooking the Dead Sea, there once stood a magnificent palace. Ascend by cable car to the top for a breathtaking panoramic view. You will then continue to the Dead Sea Resort Hotel and partake in a rejuvenating, therapeutic experience. Following lunch, you depart for your hotel in Mitzpe Ramon.

This is a day for you to experience the varied amusements of the region.

This morning, you depart for Mitzpe Ramon’s Visitor Center, located on the edge of Ramon Crater and the gateway to the surrounding nature reserves. It also offers a museum and a memorial for Ilan Ramon, Israel’s first astronaut. You will then explore the region's unique geological formations and striking landscape by 4x4 jeep, before returning to your hotel.

Today brings a wine-tasting tour of the Carmey Avdat Winery. Located in the heart of the Negev Highlands, the estate is located on the remains of a 1,500-year-old agricultural settlement on the path of the ancient spice route. You will continue onto Kibbutz Sde Boker in the heart of the Negev desert, famous for being the home of Israel’s first prime minister, David Ben-Gurion, after his retirement. The statesman’s home and tomb are national monuments today. After the tour, return to Tel Aviv with your private driver for your final night in Israel.

It’s time to say goodbye today, with a transfer to Ben Gurion Airport and an expedited passage to your gate for your return flight home.