Israel Trip 2016 - May

Itinerary – First Draft

Day 1:          Sunday, May 29th:

Arrival and Check-in

Afternoon landing:       Flight info XXX0-VcXXX

airport pickup.

Check-in to David Citadel Hotel

Dinner:                          1868 (a 3 min walk from hotel).

Night in Jerusalem (1): David Citadel Hotel

Day 2:         Monday, May 30th: Jerusalem Part 1

Meet in Lobby @ 9:15

Leave for the old city (walk), 4 quarters, western wall, the city of David and the Southern Wall excavations. A full day, by foot – back by 5PM.

Dinner @ first station (flexible).

*** the option of hopping in and out of taxi’s is certainly viable.

Night in Jerusalem (2): David Citadel Hotel

Day 3:         Tuesday, May 31st: Jerusalem Part 2 –

with or without me – TBD – 

Mt. Herzl

“Yad Vashem” Holocaust museum

Israel Museum – open until late that night

Dinner @ Modern (in museum – highly recommended)

Night in Jerusalem (3): David Citadel Hotel

Day 4:         Wednesday, June 1st: Dead Sea and Masada

Meet in Lobby @ 8:45 and Head down to the dead Sea Area – stating with the famous fortified palace – “Masada” – visit the mountain top.

Lunch at Kibbutz Ein-Gedi + a short tour of the kibbutz.

Head to the northern tip of the Dead Sea – the beach area for a dip and float in the sea.

Head back to Jerusalem.

Dinner – TBD – Machneyuda restaurant possibly

• possibly night spectacular in the evening

Night in Jerusalem (4): David Citadel Hotel

Day 5:                    Thursday, June 2nd:  North Day 1

One of the best days of the trip!

7:30 am check out of Jerusalem hotel -  head up the Jordan Valley (heading north).  2.5-hour drive

Possibly stop at Kibbutz Sde Eliyahu along the way for a brief visit and pit stop.

“Mitzpeh Ofir” (the Ofir Lookout) amazing viewpoint overlooking the Sea of Galilee; Head up to the Golan Heights stopping at “Um el Kantir” an ancient Jewish village (2nd century) contemporarily being excavated. Stop at the Olive Oil factory in Katzrin – the “capital” of the Golan.

Head up to the “Mount Bental Lookout” overlooking the Syrian border.

Optional stop at the Chocolate Factory, at Kibbutz Ein Zivan. Maybe visit a local boutique winery.

Back to hotel – LONG DAY!

Dinner: either in hotel (in at Mitzphe Haymim) or at Decks in Tiberia.

Night in Scots Hotel (1). [ may be able to switch it to Mitzphe Haymim – will keep you posted]

Day 6:         Friday, June 3rd:  North Day 2

Breakfast.

8:50  Check out of hotel, load the car and leave by 9:00

Head to the city of Tzfat (Saffed) for a tour of the Medieval Jewish town and its contemporary artist colony.

Cross through the galilee to the Mediterranean port of Akko – lunch in Akko

If time permits a visit to the roman ruins at Cesarea (or do together on the 6th).

Head down to Tel Aviv.

Arrive in Tel Aviv around 5:00 pm. – I’ll be taking off since I’ll be trying to make it back home before Shabbat here in Jerusalem.

Check into Hotel– market house

Dinner: Catit or Herbert Samuel

Night in Tel-Aviv (1): Market House Hotel

Day 7:           June 4th: Tel Aviv –  Shabbat: Day at Leisure

Day on your own, lots to do and see in Tel Aviv, relax, eat, museum, The Sarona complex, beach etc.

Night in Tel-Aviv (2): Market House Hotel

Day 8: June 5th: Tel Aviv

Meet in lobby at 9:15

Head to the old port of Jaffa for a tour of the ancient port and old city. Continue through the first neighborhoods built in Tel-Aviv and then over to independence hall and the downtown area including the market.

Maybe include Ceasarae as well (depending on how much we want to fit in).

Night in Tel-Aviv (3): Market House Hotel

Day 9:         June 6th:  Fly out

Taxi to airport