9 Days Jewish Heritage Tour to Israel

The Holy Land is clustered with significant historical sites. Our 9 days Jewish heritage Israel tour covers many sites and activities that relate to Jewish ancient and modern history. The Golan Heights, the Jordan valley, Jerusalem, Tel-Aviv, and more. This specially designed tour proposal combines the best that Israel has to offer: Archaeological sites, scenic landscapes, cultural and food experiences, and much more.

Day 3 – Explore the Golan Heights

• Ascend the Golan Heights and reach the top of Mt. Bental. Here you can view both Israel and deep into Syria. You can also explore here an unmanned IDF bunker.
• Nearby visit the 1973 battle site “Valley of Tears“. Here, in October 1973 a small tank force heroically successfully held against a massive Syrian attack.
• Join an ATV tour next the Syrian Border to appreciate the beauty of the Golan’s countryside and its special geo-politics.
• Have a special lunch experience in a Druze village.
• View the site of Gamla. Here, 2000 years ago, the Jewish city was conquered in a brutal Roman assault. Today the site is part of a nature reserve. It combines the archaeological site with unique eagles nestling enclaves and breathtaking vistas of the Sea of Galilee.

Overnight: Tiberias

Day 4 – Traverse the Land and Greet Jerusalem

• Have an optional sail on the Sea of Galilee from Tiberias to Kibbutz Ginosar.
• See the unique first century CE synagogue discovered in 2009 in Magdala. Assess the meaning of the enigmatic decorated stone found in its center. Combine it with an optional visit to Capernaum‘s ancient synagogue.
• Visit the tomb mark of Maimonides and possible other Rabbi tombs marks in Tiberias.
• Assess the archaeological discoveries that may relate to the ancient Sanhedrin found in ancient Tiberias and Hamath Tiberias.
• Pass by Kinneret farm and cemetery, and learn about the first Jewish Pioneers here, who also founded the first kibbutz in the world (!).
• Have a typical Israeli “Al Ha-esh” lunch experience in Beit She’an, followed by a tour of the site’s rich remains from Roman times.
• Reach Jerusalem towards sunset and greet with a “Sheheyanu” from the Mount of Olives grand view of the city.

Overnight: Jerusalem

Day 5 – Unfolding Biblical Jerusalem

• Reach the city’s earliest layers uncovered at the City of David. Enjoy the 3d movie introduction at the visitors center and continue into the city’s ancient water systems.
• Walk along the dark and waterfilled “Hezekiah’s Tunnel“ or the dry and lit “Canaanite tunnel”, up to the “Pool of Siloam.
• Review the significance of the pool in the days of the temple, and ascend through the Herodian drainage channel, to the Southern Wall Archaeological Park.
• Appreciate the rich presentation at the Davidson Center, and head for lunch in the Jewish Quarter.
• Explore the Jewish Quarter at sites the “Burnt House“, or the Hurvah Synagogue. Combine it with some Judaica shopping in the “Cardo“.
• * In the evening you could go to the Tower of David Night Spectacle or the City of David Night time Show.

Overnight: Jerusalem

Day 6 – The Temple Mount and the Western Wall

• Ascend to the temple Mount. View the Muslim monuments and assess the remains that might relate to the Second Temple.
• Join a 1.5 tour of the Western Wall Tunnels, learning about the foundations of the Temple.
• Return for a visit to the Western Wall itself, and possibly joining the virtual tour of Virtual Tour of the Second Temple.
• Drive to Gush-Ezion for to train in an anti-terror facility. Practice on your Krav-Maga skills and some live shooting.
• Visit Herodium and learn about Herod’s lost tomb, and the use of the site by the Bar-Kokhba rebels.

Overnight: Jerusalem

Day 7 – Float on the Dead Sea

• Drive towards the Dead Sea. Optional stop on at Sea Level sign for fun and short Camel Ride.
• At Masada we admire the site which witnessed a great drama 2000 years ago. See the wealth of remains and assess its tragic end for the Jewish rebels.
• Have an authentic kibbutz lunch experience at  Kibbutz Ein Gedi , followed by a stroll in the kibbutz’ famous Botanical Gardens.
• Alternatively drive to one of the hotels by the Dead Sea for a lunch and swim experience.
• On the way back to Jerusalem stop for a view of the caves where the famous Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered (Qumran).
• If time permits, learn how Biblical Tsitsit was made at the unique Tekhelet Factory.

Overnight: Jerusalem

Day 8 – Track Goliath and Samson in the  Shephela

• Drive to the pastoral low hills countryside of the Shephela.
• Reach the summit of Tel Azekah and assess the reality behind the biblical story of the Battle site of David and Goliath.
• Tour biblical Lachish and learn about its devastation by the Assyrians in 701 BCE.
• Dive along the historical 1948 ““Burma Road”, and learn about the battles of providing Jerusalem with vital supplies during the War of Independence.
• Time permitting, join a tour of the 1948 Secret Bullet Factory (“Machon Ayalon”).

Overnight: Tel-Aviv

Day 9 – Be a Tel-Avivian

• Enter Independence Hall, on Rothschild boulevard, where the state of Israel was declared.
• Continue on Rothschild boulevard and learn how Tel-Aviv was established and developed into Israel’s metropolis.
• Continue to Jaffa and learn about its rich history. Stroll in its scenic alleys and enjoy its special art galleries.
• Continue to the Flea Market for a lunch break and chance finds of rare vintage memorabilia.
• Reach Rabin Assassination site. Here, in 1995 the Israeli prime minister was shot by opposition to the contemporary peace process with the Palestinians.
• Time permitting, visit the Palmach Museum, the ANU Museum, or try the extreme jet fighter flight simulator (“The Squadron”)!