Israel_June 2016.pdf

Discover the Holy Land! An In-Depth Deluxe Fully Escorted Tour of Israel

Featuring Tel Aviv (including Gay Pride), Haifa, Tiberias, Sea of Galilee, Jerusalem, The Dead Sea, Eilat, and a special private tour to Petra in Jordan.

May 31th, 2016 thru June 14th, 2016 (Twelve Nights)

Hosted and escorted by Richard Safaty and Omer Mizrachi, owners of Freedom Travel, Wilton Manors.

May 31th Tuesday Depart USA on any regularly scheduled flight to Tel Aviv, Israel. Arrival in Tel Aviv June 1st. Special contracted air fares available. Call for details.

June 1st Wednesday Upon arrival in Ben Gurion Airport, meet and greet assistance and transfer to the David Intercontinental Hotel. This Deluxe Beachfront hotel is located within the lively promenade area overlooking the blue Mediterranean and a white sandy beach. The David InterContinental is in the fashionable Neve Tzedek district, known as Tel Aviv's SoHo. The hotel offers views of the Mediterranean Sea and Old Jaffa City Each of the spacious rooms and suites overlooks the sea and the city of Tel Aviv. Our executive rooms include access to the executive lounge with complementary beverages and light food served throughout the day. Balance of the afternoon and evening at leisure.

One of the Many Outdoor Cafes in Tel Aviv City Center

A Charming Cobblestone Street in Jaffa

June 2th Thursday After a full and lavish Israel breakfast buffet depart for a city tour of Tel Aviv and Jaffa. This tour will include the ancient port of Jaffa where Jonah set sail and where Peter had his housetop experience at the home of Simon the Tanner and raised Tabitha from the dead. We will visit Jaffa’s landmark Church of St Peter and an archaeological dig that reveals a fortress built by the ‘Pharaoh of the Exodus’, Ramses II. We will walk along the charming cobblestone streets, now filled with boutiques and art galleries. After Jaffa our tour will continue with a visit Neveh Tzedek, one of the first Jewish neighborhoods to be built outside the walls of the ancient port city of Jaffa, Nachalat Benjamin Pedestrian Mall, Rotschild Boulevard, and Rabin Square. We will also make a special visit to Independence Hall. David Ben-Gurion proclaimed Israel’s Independence here in 1948. Today a museum, it houses exhibits on the signing of the Declaration of Independence and on the history of Tel Aviv from 1932 to 1971. Tonight, get ready for Tel Aviv Gay Pride which begins tomorrow. Evening will be free to go out and experience the active gay nightlife of Tel Aviv! Enjoy fine restaurants, bars, clubs, or attend one of the optional Tel Aviv Pride Parties!

June 3rd Friday Today is Gay Pride in Tel Aviv! This annual event, which attracts tens of thousands of visitors from all over the world, will begin at 10AM at Meir Park a short distance from our hotel. The parade will kick off with outrageous floats, marching bands, uplifting music and countless participants and spectators. The parade route will take you along the beautiful streets of Tel Aviv towards the city’s Charles Clore Beach where the famous beach party will be held from 3PM till sunset. The beach party which is just across the street from our hotel will feature some of Tel Aviv’s finest DJs and live performances of Israeli and International artists. Full details including best parade viewing areas, a parade route map, and optional party information will be distributed closer to the event.

The Boys at the Gay Beach

Enjoying the Pride Parade

Gay Pride Beach Party Tel Aviv

June 4th Saturday Feel free to sleep in after a big night out celebrating Tel Aviv Gay Pride! After Breakfast at our hotel, the day is yours to experience the city on your own. Free time to shop, or maybe go out to lunch on Dizengoff Street, the 5th Avenue of Tel Aviv. Take a swim in the Med, have lunch in one of the many restaurants along the Sea. There is plenty to do and see in vivacious Tel Aviv. Be as active as you like. The day is yours to do what you want to do. Our guide will have plenty of options to satisfy everyone. Evening at leisure.

The Panoramic Tel Aviv Coastline

June 5th Sunday After breakfast we will depart Tel Aviv and drive along the Mediterranean coast to ancient Caesarea. We will explore the astounding Roman and Crusader ruins including the impressive theater and aqueduct. Our tour will continue with a visit to the charming city of Zichron Yakov. This picturesque city is home to the Tishbi Winery. Located at the foot of the Carmel mountain ridge we will have an opportunity to walk the charming streets, tour the winery, taste the wine, and have lunch in their recently built Kosher Dairy Restaurant.

The Colorful Persian Gardens in Haifa

June 6st Monday After a full breakfast buffet at our hotel we will set out to visit Capernaum and the Mount of Beatitudes in the Sea of Galilee region. Capernaum, known as Jesus’ “own town” takes on a thrilling new meaning. As you sit on the stone benches of Capernaum’s ancient synagogue dating back to the 4th century, you’ll be reminded that right here, Jesus taught and healed a man possessed by an evil spirit. We will then visit the Mount of Beatitudes, as the name suggests, this is the hill upon which Jesus was said to have preached the “Sermon on the Mount” The lie of the land next to the church forms a natural amphitheatre sloping down to the lake side, so it is more likely that Jesus stood at the bottom of the hill, but this does not detract from the beauty of the church on its crest.

The Restored Roman Theatre of Caesarea After lunch we will continue north to the sparkling port city of Haifa. View the golden-domed Bahai Shrine and the colorful Persian Gardens. After our visit in Haifa we will continue to the city of Tiberias on the Sea of Galilee for an overnight at the Scot’s Hotel. The Scot’s Hotel is uniquely situated in the center of Tiberias with direct frontage to the Sea of Galilee. This five star boutique hotel is owned by the Church of Scotland. Tonight we will have dinner as a group at the hotel restaurant. The restaurant blends gourmet flavors from all over the world, with a hint of Mediterranean Galilee. The various dishes use local produce, herbs grown in the hotel’s garden, cheeses, fruit and vegetables, homemade jams and a selection of wines all from the farms of the North.

Capernaum’s Ancient Synagogue

June 6st Monday (…Continued) We will then drive to the city of Safed, one of Judaism’s hottest cities, where Kabbalah flourished during the golden age. Visit the ancient synagogues and the charming Artists’ Quarter. We will complete our touring today with a visit to Tzipori National Park. Known for its beautiful mosaics, this city holds a rich and diverse historical and architectural legacy. We will now drive south via the Jordan Valley to Jerusalem where we will check into our executive rooms at our new home, the ultra-deluxe Mamilla Hotel Jerusalem. Located in the heart of the city with magnificent views of the Old City walls, The Tower of David and Jaffa Gate, Mamilla Hotel is in the very center of Jerusalem’s rich cultural heritage and bustling daily life. A stay at this hotel is further enhanced by its location alongside Alrov Mamilla Ave- Jerusalem’s new shopping and entertainment experience overlooking the old city.

Yad Vashem Holocaust Museum

One of Safed’s Many Charming Art Galleries

June 7th Tuesday After a full buffet breakfast at our new home, The Mamilla Hotel Jerusalem, we are off to visit the new city of Jerusalem. Our stops today will include: Yad Vashem, the memorial to the Holocaust. Visit the Museum, Children’s Pavilion and walk along the Avenue of the Righteous.

We will then visit Mount Herzl, a national cemetery on the west side of Jerusalem, named for Theodor Herzl, the founder of modern political Zionism. Mt. Herzl is the burial place of three of Israel’s prime ministers.

The Gravesite of Theodor Herzl

Chagall Windows at the Hadassah Medical Center

We will continue on to the Hadassah Medical Center, one of the most advanced in the world; and a visit to its’ Synagogue with the wonderful Chagall windows. Our day will finish with a drive via the Supreme Court Building and the Knesset (Parliament) to the Israel Museum. Here you will see the Shrine of Book, home of the Dead Sea Scrolls and view the Scale Model of ancient Jerusalem from the second temple times. We will return to the hotel late in the afternoon to digest all that we have learned.

June 8th Wednesday After a full breakfast buffet, we are off for a full day of exploration of the Old City of Jerusalem starting with a breathtaking view of the city from the Mt. of Olives. Kings and Prophets, emperors and sultans, rabbis, bishops and sheiks have all left their mark on Jerusalem. You are never too far from the site of a miracle, a feat, or where a biblical event occurred. Today we will visit the Western Wall, the only remains of the second temple destroyed by the Romans in the year 70, c.e. Visit the Dome of the Rock on the Temple Mount. This is the third most sacred site in Islam. From the sacred rock, where the Temple stood, it is said that Prophet Mohammed jumped to heaven. We will visit the traditional Tomb of King David and the Room of the Last Supper. Proceed to the restored Jewish Quarter, walk along the Cardo, the colonnaded main street of Byzantine Jerusalem. We will walk the Via Dolorosa to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher wherein are the last five Stations of the Cross. We will then visit the Garden Tomb regarded by the Protestant world as the burial place of Jesus.

The Old City of Jerusalem

The Outdoor Market in Jerusalem

June 9th Thursday Today feel free to sleep in, go shopping, take a walk around the city, go to the pedestrian mall, or just plain relax. Today is a full day at leisure to do anything you want to do. This evening we will take in the Night Spectacular Sound and Light Show at the Citadel Museum. The walls of the Citadel serve as a stage for a nighttime show which is a celebration of sight and sound. Amidst the archaeological remains in the Citadel’s courtyard and to the sound of original music, the story of Jerusalem unfolds through giant breathtaking, virtual reality images.

June 10th Friday After breakfast and check-out of the Mamilla Hotel, we will bid farewell to Jerusalem as we travel via the Judean desert and the shores of the Dead Sea, the lowest point on earth (1260 feet below sea level) to the Qumran Caves, where the Dead Sea scrolls were found. We will continue to Masada. Ascend by cable car to this last stronghold of the Zealots in their struggle against the Romans. Visit the excavations, the ancient synagogue, the roman baths, and Herod’s Palace.

Masada, The Last Stronghold of the Zealots

Herods Dead Sea Hotel and Spa

June 10th Friday (…Continued) Then an opportunity to enjoy an “unsinkable” swim in the buoyant waters of the Dead Sea. Next stop, the Herods Hotel and Spa, the best beach, lunch and mud facilities at the Dead Sea. We will spend an afternoon enjoying the sun and surf. Changing facilities and lockers will be provided. We will then continue on to Eilat for overnight at the deluxe Dan Hotel, on the shores of the Red Sea. Eilat, a vacation destination for travelers from all over the world, lies at Israel’s southernmost tip. It is situated amongst the wondrous scenery of the deep azure Red Sea and the Edom Mountains. Tonight we will enjoy Shabbat dinner as a group at the hotel.

June 11th Saturday After a full lavish breakfast buffet at the deluxe Dan Hotel, today is a day to enjoy this international resort town. Take a walk on the promenade, visit the shops, take a dip in the Red Sea, or simply relax around the resorts multi level swimming pool. Eilat is a paradise for sea sports fans who enjoy diving, water skiing, swimming, and boating. Tonight try dinner in an outdoor café, have a drink in one of the many bars and restaurants, or take an evening walk along the shores of the Red Sea.

Early Evening in Eilat

The Treasury in Petra

June 12th Sunday A most unforgettable day touring Petra! We will depart this morning with a transfer from our hotel to the Arava border crossing. We will arrive in the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan and drive to the hidden city of Petra. We will start our visit with a horse ride, or, if you prefer, an exhilarating walk from the main gate to the entrance of the Old City. We will continue by foot to visit the rose red city of Petra--City of the Edomites and latter the Nabateans who carved a breathtaking empire out of solid rock hidden by a canyon over 2000 years ago. Visit the Treasury, made famous in the movie “Indiana Jones”. Beyond the Treasury you’ll discover soaring temples, elaborate royal tombs, a theatre, burial chambers and water channels. After lunch we will depart Petra driving to the resort city of Aqaba for a short panoramic tour before returning to the Arava border crossing and back to our hotel. For those choosing not to visit Petra, a full free day in Eilat is yours to enjoy.

June 13th Monday Today we will check-out of the Dan Hotel and board our domestic flight from Eilat to Tel Aviv. Upon arrival in Tel Aviv, we will drive to the city center, where you will have some time for some last minute shopping. We will then meet at a local restaurant where we will host a farewell dinner before we board our overnight international flight back to the United States.

June 14th Tuesday Arrival this morning back to the USA

Farewell Dinner at Goocha, Tel Aviv

What’s Included:

All Arrival and Departure Transfers

Personal Travel Hosts

Twelve nights upgraded room accommodations in all deluxe hotels

18 Meals

Deluxe Air-conditioned bus for the touring days

Professional English speaking licensed guide

All attractions and all entrance fees as per itinerary

An exclusive visit to Petra in Jordan

One way domestic flight Eilat/Tel Aviv

All Porterage at Hotels and Airports

Meet and Greet assistance upon arrival

All taxes and govt. fees.

Total Price $4,795.00 per person Double Occupancy Triple and Single Rates Available, call for details For Reservations and Information: Freedom Travel 2186 Wilton Drive Wilton Manors, Florida 33305 954-565-2345 [email protected]

Hotels:

David InterContinental Hotel in Tel Aviv

Scots Hotel in Tiberias

Mamilla Hotel in Jerusalem

Dan Hotel in Eilat