Tag Archives:Masada
Israel Jewish Heritage Tour Itinerary
When you choose Israel Travel Advisory Service (ITAS) to deliver your customized Israel Jewish Heritage Tour itinerary – you’ve selected the very BEST! With 50 years’ experience in the Israel travel industry, ITAS offers the utmost care and attention to ensure an unforgettable Jewish Heritage tour experience. Whether you’re creating a vacation tour for family and friends, a relaxing business retreat or an epic educational experience, ITAS has the expertise to provide the highest quality Israel tour available. Your guests will not be disappointed in the level of service provided regardless of the size of your group. ITAS has prepared and executed trips for individuals and groups of up to 600 people. ITAS will assist you in selecting a departure date, flights, hotel accommodations, and historic, religious and cultural sites to see throughout Israel. The tour is designed to connect with participants from a Jewish perspective. There are numerous sites you’ll want to visit during your Israel Jewish Heritage tour itinerary. Some highlights include:
- Western Wall Tunnels – underground tunnel exposing the greatest portion of the ancient Western Wall
- Old City of Jerusalem – visit the unique shops at the Cardo Maximus in the Jewish Quarter
- The Israel National Museum – a world class museum housing the Great Isaiah Scroll among other Dead Sea Scrolls and priceless artifacts
- Masada – location of King Herod’s desert fortress
- Beit She’an Archaeological Park – Israel’s largest archaeological excavation
- The Dead Sea – float on the unsinkable waters of the Dead Sea
- Eilat – Israel’s southernmost port which sits on the Red Sea, Eilat is very much a resort city.
- Safed – charming ancient city with cobblestone alleyways, artist galleries and medieval synagogues.
- Yad Vashem – Israel’s National Holocaust Museum
- Caesarea – Roman ruins on the Mediterranean Sea shore
- Knesset – Israel’s parliament building
- The Baha’i Temple and Gardens – a UNESCO World Heritage site
Learn more about the top must-see sites in Israel
Sample Israel Jewish Heritage Tour Itinerary
Day 1
USA / TEL AVIV
Non-stop overnight flight from USA to Tel-Aviv.
Day 2
ARRIVAL / TEL AVIV / JERUSALEM
Upon arrival at Ben Gurion Airport, you will be meet your ITAS guide & driver then proceed to Jerusalem. Upon entering Jerusalem, you will have an opportunity to recite the “Shehechayanu” blessing. Welcome Shabbat at the Western Wall. Shabbat dinner & overnight: Hotel in Jerusalem.
Day 3
JERUSALEM
Enjoy a full day at rest to celebrate Shabbat or participate in a walking tour of the Old City starting with a 20-30 minute walk to reach the Old City. Enter the City via the Jaffa Gate & through the narrow cobblestone walkways of the Christian, Moslem & Armenian Quarters. Continue along the Via Dolorosa, the “way of sorrows,” to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. The walking tour ends at the “Tower of David”, where the Museum offers a photographic history of Jerusalem explaining the 4000-year-old story of the city. Take time to climb the ramparts of the citadel to enjoy a 360-degree view of the Old City and the New City of Jerusalem. Overnight: Hotel in Jerusalem.
Day 4
JERUSALEM
Enter the Old City via the Zion Gate. Walk through the restored Jewish Quarter, passing through the Roman Cardo. Walk within the Rabbinical Tunnel & the Davidson Center (Southern Wall excavations). Drive to the Israel National Museum to see the Shrine of the Book, housing the Dead Sea Scrolls, & a model of Jerusalem during the 2nd Temple period. Next, visit Yad Vashem, Israel’s memorial to the Holocaust, for a Yizkor service. Visit the Children’s Pavilion & the Valley of Destroyed Communities. Dinner at a local restaurant. Overnight: Hotel in Jerusalem.
Day 5
JERUSALEM / LATRUN / NEOT KDUMIM
Stop to view the bronze Knesset Menorah, situated across from the Knesset (Israel Parliament) building. Next, drive to Ein Karem to view Chagall’s famous stained glass windows at the synagogue of the Hadassah Hospital. Visit the Hertzel Museum on Mount Herzel, Israel’s military cemetery & pay respects at the tomb of Yitzhak Rabin. Drive through the Ayalon Valley to Latrun, and tour its Armour Corps Museum. End the day at Neot Kdumim, where you will have the opportunity to step into the biblical landscape of our ancestors (seven spices, Hag Ha’asif, the time of in-gathering & the four spices tour). Fulfill a mitzvah for the land of Israel by planting a tree. Dinner in a restaurant at Abu Gosh. Return to Jerusalem. Overnight: Hotel in Jerusalem.
Day 6
DEAD SEA / MASADA / EIN GEDI
Travel through the Judean wilderness along the shores of the Dead Sea to Masada. Ascend Masada by cable car to view the ruins of Herod’s desert fortress: palace, storerooms, bathhouse & waterworks. Eat lunch at one of the Dead Sea Hotel and after enjoy the spa facilities (optional) including the unique sensation of a “float” on the unsinkable Dead Sea. Continue your Dead Sea adventure with a visit to Ein Gedi, the oasis of the Judean desert. Take a short hike to the waterfalls. Enroute back to Jerusalem, pass the caves of Qumran, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found. Dinner on your own. Overnight: Hotel in Jerusalem.
Day 7
CAESAREA / ROSH HANIKRA / ACRE / LATRUN
Depart Jerusalem & drive to Caesarea. Explore the Roman Theater & the Aqueduct. Proceed to Haifa; ascend Mount Carmel; delight in the stellar view of the Mediterranean coastline & the stunning terraced gardens of the Baha’i Center. Visit the Druze Village of Ussifiya—time to learn about these unique Israeli citizens—including lunch. Drive along the coast to Acre, a former Crusader stronghold. Roam the ruins, including the knights’ center and dining hall. End the day with a visit to Rosh HaNikra for a cable car ride to the beautiful grottoes. Dinner & overnight: Kibbutz Guest House.
DAY 8
GOLAN HEIGHTS / GALILEE
Today we will explore the Golan Heights by jeep! Afterward, continue by motor-coach to Mt. Bental for an observation of Kuneitra & Syria. While in the Golan Heights we will also visit OZ 77 at Kibbutz Elrom, where you will learn the history of the Golan Heights. Visit one of Israel’s famous wineries where you will have an opportunity to taste the wine. End this day with a tour & lecture about life in the kibbutz. Participate in an Israeli folk dance lesson. Dinner & Overnight: Kibbutz Guest House.
DAY 9
SAFED / ZIPPORI / TEL AVIV
This morning will drive to the mystic city of Safed, home of the Kabala. This charming town, filled with cobblestone streets, lined with ancient synagogues & art galleries offers breathtaking views of the entire Galilee. We then continue to Zippori to see its large excavations of a prosperous city of the Roman period. End your touring day in Tel Aviv visiting the famous Carmel Market and Nachalat Binyamin, the arts & crafts market. Shabbat dinner at the hotel. Overnight: Hotel in Tel Aviv.
DAY 10
TEL AVIV / FREE DAY
Today is yours – to explore, shop, stroll along the seafront promenade or swim in the Mediterranean Sea! Late check out from the hotel. Farewell Dinner. Transfer to the airport for your flight back to the USA.
DAY 11
TEL AVIV / USA
Your flight back departs after midnight. Return home filled with a treasury of family-shared memories for a lifetime! Arrive USA the same day.
Contact Us to create your spectacular Israel Jewish Heritage Tour Itinerary!
Top Sites to Visit in Israel this Summer
Israel vacation tours are the ultimate dream for those of Jewish descent as well as those who have embraced and devoted their lives to Judaism. As the melting pot of Jewish history and culture, Israel has an abundance of historically and culturally significant sites and attractions that are definite must-sees when embarking on custom Israel tours:
Jerusalem’s Western Wall
One of the most sacred places in Judaism is the Western Wall or Kotel. It is among the most visited sites in Israel, attracting thousands upon thousands of visitor’s year in and year out. At sunset on Friday’s Jews gather for a magical experience at the Kotel as they welcome in the Shabbat together. The underground tunnels are also worth visiting, comprised of excavations beneath the wall. These tunnels reveal stunning structures from significant eras including the Hasmonean, Herodian, Mamluk, and Umayyad periods. The Western Wall tunnels will lead you to all kinds of exciting discoveries, including underground structures like the Western Stone, which is one of the largest building blocks in the world.
The Jewish Quarter
Jerusalem’s Jewish Quarter is something you do not want to miss. The Jewish Quarter isn’t only home to the Western Wall, but also a range of other important landmarks, like the Tower of David and the Temple Mount (Mt. Moriah). The Tower of David can be found near Jaffa Gate. This citadel comes alive at night with a spectacular sound and light show.
Masada
Masada is now a UNESCO recognized World Heritage Site. It was built by Herod the Great way back 30 BCE, as an imposing mountain fortress that offers incredible historical and cultural significance to the region. Among the ruins are Herod’s palace, terraces, store houses, bath house, and Roman siege ramp.
City of David
This site is exactly where King David established the kingdom he was promised. Today, the city is an amazing archaeological park rife with historically significant artifacts.
An important rule of thumb to remember when taking Israel tours is to gain the advice of an experienced Israel travel management company. Israel Travel Advisory Service can be helpful in planning out your visit to some of the country’s most sought after landmarks.
Travel: Life-Changing Vacation Tours of Israel!
While Israel is relatively new to independence (celebrating only 70 years of independent country-hood in 2018), its ancient lands have seen a great deal of history and are home to numerous sites that are sacred to Judaism. Aptly called The Holy Land, Israel is filled with sacred places that make for really unique attractions, especially for those looking for a rich “Homeland” experience, those who love history, or those who simply want to get a taste of life in one of the most sought after worldwide destinations. Nevertheless, Israel tours offer so much more than religious heritage as you can plan custom Israel tours around energetic cities with all the modern conveniences you could ever wish for—not to mention the country’s exceptional natural attractions and stunning Mediterranean beaches. If you are considering booking Israel vacation tours, here are some life-changing benefits you are setting yourself up to discover:
· Israel tours are always comprehensive, mainly because the country is such a small place offering so many fascinating attractions to see and discover. If it is a religious experience you are craving, Jerusalem is definitely the best place to start your tour. Jerusalem is home to all kinds of hard to miss attractions, from the Old City to the beautifully restored Jewish Quarter, the Menorah, and many stunning destinations of historical and biblical importance. From here, it is easy to take side trips to the stunning beaches of Tel Aviv, followed by other must-see destinations like the Dead Sea, Negev, Galilee, and Masada.
· Tel Aviv is so much more than its leisurely beaches. Some places of interest that you should definitely consider to include in your Israel tours itinerary include the Independence Hall, and the Mini Israel Park—a famous destination in Latrun where you’ll find impressive miniature versions of important landmarks in Israel. Old Jaffa is also a must-see for its ancient ruins.
· Israel Vacation Tours are not complete without a taste of the country’s superb nature. Situated in the heart of the Mediterranean, Israel is home to so many unspoiled beaches, with the added bonus of being close to the cities. Away from the coast, you’ll find unique and diverse natural wonders, ranging from deserts to lush hills and valleys.