10 Days Taste and Flavors of the Holy Land
Day 1 — USA / ISRAEL. Tour members gather at the ticket counter at the airport three hours prior to our departure to Tel Aviv. Dinner and breakfast are served in-flight.
Day 2 — ARRIVAL IN TEL AVIV. Upon our arrival at the Tel Aviv airport, we are met and transferred to our hotel – situated on the shores of the Mediterranean Sea. Dinner is served at our hotel. Weather permitting; we suggest a walk on the beach.
Day 3 — SITES IN TEL AVIV – CARMEL MARKET – FALAFEL LUNCH – TOUR OF JAFFA – LUNCH ON OWN TEL AVIV. After breakfast, we start our day with a visit to the White City we will explore down-town Tel Aviv neighborhoods and boulevards, next we’ll enjoy a walking tour of Neve Tzedek, Tel Aviv’s new hip neighborhood. We will continue our visit at the Carmel Market, a colorful middle –eastern open market and enjoy a Falafel Lunch, the Holy Land’s Famous Fast Food. In the afternoon, we enjoy a tour of Jaffa (Joppa). Evening is free to explore on your own in Tel Aviv. Tel Aviv Overnight.
Day 4 — CAESAREA - HAIFA – DRUZE VILLAGE LUNCH – AKKO. Following a delicious breakfast, we will visit the ancient Roman town of Caesarea. Next we continue on to Haifa – Mt Carmel – Bahai garden view. Our travels now lead us to Daliyat el Carmel (Vine of the Carmel) is Israel's largest Druze village, here we enjoy the hospitality and lunch. To round out the day we will enjoy an evening walking tour of Akko. Haifa Overnight
Day 5 — NAZARETH – ANCIENT SPICE SHOP – LUNCH – CANA – TIBERIAS. After breakfast, this morning we will drive to Nazareth. We will visit the Church of the Annunciation and an Ancient Spice Shop where spices are ground on-site in the Galilee Mill, a historic 250-year-old building, bring the magic of Nazareth into your own home (http://www.elbabour-shop.com/). We will have a Shwarma lunch in the area. Next we travel to Cana for a visit. Finally we end our day in Tiberias for dinner and over night at our hotel.
Day 6 — SITES AROUND THE LAKE – ST. PETERS FISH LUNCH – WINE TASTING – TIBERIAS. Early this morning we enjoy a boat ride on the Sea of Galilee, later we drive along the lake’s eastern shore to visit Capernaum, the Biblical fishermen’s village known to be the village where Jesus lived & preached. Tour the ruins of the village and its outstanding ancient synagogue. Proceed to tour Tabgha - site of the Miracle of Fish and Loaves, with splendid view of the Golan Heights. For lunch today we will enjoy a Traditional St Peters Fish (Tilapia). Next we will take part in a Wine Tasting! We return to our hotel in Tiberias for dinner and overnight.
Day 7 — JORDAN VALLEY – NABLUS – ANCIENT SOAP PRODUCTION – KUNAFEH ORIENTAL SWEET SHOP - JERUSALEM. After breakfast we drive through the Jordan Valley to the Old City of Nablus, learning about the ancient soap production, famous Nablus sweets. For lunch today we will have Muskhan - a Palestinian Arab dish - composed of roasted chicken baked with onions, sumac, allspice, saffron, and fried pine nuts served over taboon bread. Next, we drive on to the West Bank town of Nablus, the home of one of the Middle East's favorite desserts: a cheesy, obscenely sweet pastry known as knafeh. Finally, we arrive at our hotel in Jerusalem for dinner and overnight
Day 8 — VIA DOLOROSA – CHURCH OF THE HOLY SEPLYCHER - OLD CITY ALLEYS AND BAZARS - KABAB LUNCH IN THE OLD CITY - JERUSALEM'S FAMOUS 144-YEAR-OLD TAHINI FACTORY. We begin this morning to walk the Via Dolorosa, the Way of the Cross, ending at Church of the Holy Sepulcher, the site where Jesus was crucified and where he was buried. We will continue on to visit the Old City Alleys and Bazars. Kabab Lunch in the Old City. We will visit a traditional tahini factory that has been grinding tahini for the entire Old City for 150 years. Return to our hotel for dinner and overnight.
Day 9 — WESTERN WALL – MACHANE YEHUDA MARKET – FREE TIME – FESTIVE DINNER ALONG WITH DABKE. This morning we begin our visits with the Western wall. For lunch today we will visit the Machane Yehuda Market and enjoy its fares. Free time. Tonight for dinner we will have - Maqluba or Maqlooba is a dish served throughout the Levant. It consists of meat, rice, and fried vegetables placed in a pot which is flipped upside down when served, hence the name maqluba, which translates literally as "upside-down. Enjoy Traditional Folklore show. Return to our hotel for dinner and overnight.
Day 10 — DEPARTURE TO USA. Early morning transfer to Tel Aviv for our return flight home - the end of a most enjoyable journey.