Israel revisited



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ISRAEL REVISITED

NOVEMBER 1 -12 , 2016

CO – HOSTED BY MIKE COHENE & JOSH KLEINMAN

Itinerary


Day 1 – Tuesday – November 1– Arrival and Welcome Dinner

Arrive at Ben Gurion International Airport.

Take a taxi from airport to Dan Panorama hotel in Jerusalem.

Check in to your hotel after 3pm. (guests arriving before 3pm will add early check in to the room cost)

Private assistance at airport and private transfers to hotel – NOT included (can be arranged at extra cost)

At 7 pm, meet in the lobby with Ami Dotan and walk to a restaurant near the hotel for a welcome dinner.

Dinner included

Overnight Dan Panorama Jerusalem Superior room

jerusalem from mt olives.jpg





Day 2 – Wednesday – November 2- Old City of Jerusalem

After breakfast, we shall leave the hotel for a whole day walking tour of the Old City of Jerusalem and the

City of David. We shall see the location of King David’s palace, hear and talk about different events which are

mentioned in the bible. But this time it will not be in a classroom or synagogue, but rather in the actual places

where these crucial events to the history of our people (and the world’s), took place. The pinnacle of our visit

will be to the City of David. We will be walking in the 530 meters long water tunnel that was dug 2700 years ago

by the biblical King Hezekiah, and it is the only engineering project in the world that is still functioning for

such a long time. The walk in the tunnel will take you a little bit out of your comfort zone, but it will be an

experience of a lifetime that you will want to tell you grandchildren about.

(if anyone prefers not to walk in the water tunnel, do not worry, there is a bypass)

Please follow the link of the city of David for further reading: http://www.cityofdavid.org.il/en/archeology

We shall then go to the Western Wall (Kotel), where we shall have the time to admire this magnificent structure

that had kept the Jewish people as a people for 2000 years of exile. We shall also visit the generation chain

experience, to further understand our historical roots. http://english.thekotel.org/content.asp?id=264

By now we will be hungry, so we shall walk to the best humus and falafel restaurant in the old city of Jerusalem.

The same restaurant I have eaten in since I was a little boy growing up in Jerusalem.

We now continue our tour of the old city, following the route Jesus took from the place of trial to the place

of the crucifixion. On the way we will try to understand Christianity, the routes of antisemitism, and the

history of Jerusalem through the generations. We will finish our day by walking in the Jewish quarter and ancient Cardo.

Back to the hotel for rest and dinner on your own. You might want to make some reservations at one of the excellent

restaurants of Jerusalem.

Lunch included



Overnight Dan Panorama Jerusalem Superior rooms

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Abu Shukri Rest. In old city market Hezekiah Tunnel




Day 3 – Thursday – November 3– New Jerusalem.

Out of the numerous sites we could have picked to visit on this day, we have decide on 3 that we thought were a must,

even if you had visited them in the past.

We will start the day in an emotionally hard visit to Yad Vashem. You will have time to visit the museum, totally

rebuilt and changed in 2005, at your own pace. We will then go to the remembrance hall, and to the children memorial.

Time permitting, we shall try and visit the valley of communities. http://www.yadvashem.org/

From Yad Vashem, and after taking a deep breath, we shall drive to the Israel Museum, comprehensively

renovated in 2010. We shall visit together the Shrine of the Book, the model of Jerusalem in 2nd temple period,

and you will have time to tour the museum on your own and have lunch in one of its restaurants.

http://www.imj.org.il/about/

After visiting the museum, we will meet with the colonel, who had participated in the peace talks with the Palestinians,

and was heading the planning of the separation wall between Israel and the west bank. We will hear his stories,

and he will take us to visit some of the points of interest along the seam line. After this visit, we shall have a somewhat

better understanding of the complex issues concerning Israel and the Palestinians.

We will go back to the hotel for a short rest, and walk to the Mamila mall for dinner on your own and a visit to the

night spectacle in the tower of David (weather permitting). http://www.tod.org.il/en/the-night-spectacular/



Overnight Dan Panorama Jerusalem Superior roomview the great isaiah scroll

the

Valley of the Communities – Yad Vashem Dead Sea Scrolls



Day 4 – Friday – November 4– Cave Land and Kabalat Shabbat

Today is a special day. Evening of Shabbat. We will start the day visiting a UNESCO world heritage site in the caves of Beit

Guvrin, unique, manmade caves over 2000 years old that had a role in Jewish history during Hasmonean period, then the

Bar Kochba revolt. We will also visit the Roman Period ruins on the site, including a whole roman amphitheater.



http://old.parks.org.il/BuildaGate5/general2/data_card.php?Cat=~25~~131474600~Card12~&ru=&SiteName=

From Beit Guvrin we shall drive into the Jerusalem mountains to visit the incredibly beautiful stalactite cave, also

known as the “Soreq Cave”.

http://old.parks.org.il/BuildaGate5/general2/data_card.php?Cat=~25~~739243154~Card12~&ru=&SiteName=

We will drive back to our hotel. After a short rest, we shall dress up for Shabbat and walk to the Kotel. We will see the

multitudes of people, ultra-orthodox, modern orthodox, and also non-religious, that come to the Kotel for Evening of Shabbat.

Today, instead of having our dinner in a restaurant or the hotel, we will go to the private home of a Jerusalemite family,

and have dinner in their home.

Dinner included



c:\users\עמי\documents\עמי\bells_cave.jpgc:\users\עמי\documents\עמי\הורד (1).jpg

Beit Guvrin caves Soreq stalactite cave



c:\users\עמי\documents\עמי\img469777.jpg Shabbat Shalom

Overnight Dan Panorama Jerusalem Superior room



Day 5 – Saturday – November 5– Dead Sea and Judean Desert

At Shabbat dinner at home we sing today is Friday, and tomorrow is Shabbat, the day for resting.

Therefore today we shall have a bit later wake up. After breakfast and check out, we will drive to the

Dead Sea area. On the way we will go through the town, settlement of Maale Adumim, to understand a bit

more of the settlement issue. We will drive near Qumran caves where the “Dead Sea Scrolls”, that we

had seen in the Israel Museum were found. We will go ahead to Masada, and try to understand the

legacy that the warriors there left us. Were they heroes? Were they religious fanatics? Maybe both?

http://old.parks.org.il/BuildaGate5/general2/data_card.php?U=no&SiteName=parks&ItemID=736559308&ValueWe will then go to the spectacular Ein Gedi oasis for a short nature walk. With some luck we will see

Hyrax and Ibex, but we are sure to see water running in the desert, and even waterfalls, and natural pools.

Masada Mud spa treatmentimage result for ‫ים המלח חופים‬‎
c:\users\עמי\documents\עמי\הורד.jpg

http://old.parks.org.il/BuildaGate5/general2/data_card.php?Cat=~25~~989817747~Card12~&ru=&SiteName=parks&Clt=&Bur=909872168

We will continue to our hotel. After check in we will have a chance to swim in the Dead Sea at the hotel’s

beach, and use the spa facilities.

Dinner included



Overnight Hod Hamidbar hotel, Ein Bokek Superior room



Day 6 – Sunday – November 6– Negev Desert Day

In the morning we will have another go at the Dead Sea and hotel thermals. We will then drive through

the Negev Desert to the David Ben Gurion garden tomb.

http://old.parks.org.il/BuildaGate5/general2/data_card.php?Cat=~25~~417599402~Card12~&ru=&SiteName=parks&Clt=&Bur=909872168

We then continue to the most authentic Bedouin lunch we can have as visitors. Our host, Salem will

explain to us the ways of life of the Bedouins in Israel, the conflicts between living in a modern state and

the wish to preserve the old traditions, and if he is in a good mood (he generally is) will tell us some folk

stories of his tribe.

We will then drive to our exclusive Hotel Beresheet, situated on the cliffs overlooking the Ramon Crater.

We will be able to choose one of two options. The first option, take a spectacular 2 hours jeep tour into the

Ramon crater ($35-$40 extra). The second option would be to spend some leisurely time in the hotel,

walking on the cliffs of the crater, or visiting the Ilan Ramon Visitor center.

Lunch and Dinner included

Overnight Bereshit hotel, Mizpe Ramon c:\users\עמי\documents\עמי\img-20150320-wa0011.jpg

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Ben Gurion in Sde Boker Bedouin lunch

Day 7 – Monday – November 7- Getting to Tel Aviv

Today we start our journey to Tel Aviv. On the way we will visit the town of Sderot, the town which had

suffered most from the rockets shot from the Gaza strip. We will go to a lookout overlooking the Gaza

Strip and have a local resident telling us about the situation in town. We will have a splendid lunch

cooked for us by a group of local women living in Sderot at their community center, as one of the many

activities aimed at “normalizing” life as much as possible for the population. We will then continue to Tel

Aviv. After check in and rest, we shall leave our hotel for a scenic night tour in Jaffa, and then we shall

continue for a very emotional experience. Our dinner will be served by deaf or blind waiters, and we will

see (and participate) in a special show played by deaf and blind actors, at Nalagaat Center for the blind

and deaf, situated in the Jaffa port. http://nalagaat.org.il/en/

Lunch and Dinner included

Overnight Dan Panorama Tel Aviv deluxe rooms

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Iron dome protecting Sderot deaf and blind actors at Na Lagaat



Day 8 – Tuesday – November 8– Enjoy Tel Aviv

Today you are going to experience one of the most emotional visits of the tour. This is the visit to the

Palmach Museum, which is not a museum in the ordinary sense of the word. You will be participating in

the journey of a young group of Israelis, in pre state Israel, and how they had given us the State of Israel.

Many of the visitors I had taken there, go out with tears in their eyes

. http://www.palmach.org.il/Web/English/TheMuseum/Default.aspx

To complete the independence experience we shall visit Independence Hall, the location of the

declaration of the Jewish State of Israel, after 2000 years of not having independence. We will

understand the meaning of leadership, by understanding the huge gamble that Ben Gurion took, by

deciding on declaring independence, in spite of the American opposition to the move. http://eng.ihi.org.il/

For those who have been to Independence Hall, you might want to get an earlier start at Shuk ha’Carmel

and Nahalat Binyamin.

In the afternoon, we will leave you to walk around the Shuk ha’Carmel food and vegetable market, the

nearby artisan market of Nahalat Binyamin, and again, you might think of making a reservation at one of

Tel Aviv fine restaurants making it a world center of fine eating.

Overnight Dan Panorama Tel Aviv deluxe roomsc:\users\עמי\documents\עמי\ראשית-באוהאוס_d60d7ea5.png

c:\users\עמי\documents\עמי\800px-pikiwiki_israel_15638_azrieli_towers_in_tel_aviv.jpg

Modern Bauhaus



Day 9 – Wednesday – November 9– Heading North

We are leaving Tel Aviv. But do not worry, we will be back for the last night of our tour. We will drive

north along the coastal plain of Israel. Our first stop will be at the Rothschild family garden tomb in

Zichron Yaakov, which was one of Baron Rothschild favorite colonies. The Rothschild Foundation is still

active today in philanthropy work in Israel. One of its projects is maintaining the garden tomb of Baron

Edmond de Rothschild and his wife Ada, as one of the most beautiful gardens in Israel.

http://www.ramat-hanadiv.org.il/en

From here we shall continue our way north and stop at one of the most beautiful lookouts in Israel,

overlooking the Baha’i gardens and shrine, and the gulf of Haifa. All the way to Akko, our next stop at the

other side of the bay. http://www.ganbahai.org.il/en/

When we arrive in Akko, it will feel as if we are walking in a living authentic museum. We will enter the

halls of the crusaders who had some temporary success in taking over the territory of Israel from the

Muslims. We will walk the market which is still the market of old Akko. And we will see the magnificent

Mediterranean Sea walls which were successful in stopping Napoleon’s invasion to Israel. http://www.akko.org.il/en/

When we finish our tour of Akko, we shall start crossing the Galilee from west (Mediterranean) to east (Jordan Valley), and arrive at our very scenic nature hotel in Kibbutz Hagoshrim.

Dinner included



Overnight –Hagoshrim Hotel boutique rooms

גנים בהאים - חיפה c:\users\עמי\documents\עמי\אולמות_האבירים_עכו_העתיקה.jpgc:\users\עמי\documents\עמי\ako_ilan_malister.jpg

Baha’i Gardens Akko – sea wall Halls of Knights



Day 10 – Thursday – November 10– Birds, Upper Galilee & Lebanon Border

We start our day at sunrise. This is the best hour of day to visit Agamon Hachula bird sanctuary. Israel

is between the sea at the west and the desert to the east. Therefore it is an essential corridor for

migrating birds from Africa to Europe in the spring, or in the dates of our tour from Europe for wintering

in Africa. We therefore have in the skies of our tiny country about a billion migratory birds every year. As

Israel is also actively concerned with nature preservation (unlike most of our neighbors who are more

concerned with self-preservation), many of the birds choose to rest, feed, and even winter here. Israel

has become a main bird watching shrine for ornithologists from all over the world. Our tour will take us

in a wagon to see the birds and other wildlife of this incredible JNF project.

http://www.agamon-hula.co.il/?lang=en_US

By now we will be hungry, so we will return to our hotel for breakfast. We then drive to Safed, the mystical

kabala town for a tour and some shopping in its many art galleries, jewelry shops, and even a weaving

center. We are now ready for some lunch and wine. So we shall drive to Adir winery, one of the many

wineries in Upper Galilee area, taking advantage of the excellent conditions for growing wine grapes.

http://www.adir-winery.com/?p=64

After we are happy because of the wine we will go back to the complex reality of Israel. We will drive

along the Lebanese border to Kibbutz Misgav Am where our local host will tell us about how normal life

is possible on the border fence. We will be able to compare the situation here to the one we had seen in

the Gaza strip, and the border with Syria which we will see on tomorrow. Back to our hotel. Those who

wish, could take a short walk along the water streams that feed the Jordan River, just outside the hotel.

Lunch and Dinner included

Overnight –Hagoshrim Hotel Boutique rooms

c:\users\עמי\documents\עמי\f0_0400_0000_liorkislev.jpgc:\users\עמי\documents\עמי\avi-325x225.jpg

Agamon Hachula Wine tasting at Adir Winery



Day 11 – Friday – November 11 Golan heights, Ending the Tour in Tel Aviv

After breakfast, drive to visit the heart-breaking Helicopter Crash Memorial at Shaar Yashuv which

consists of 73 large stone structures. Each of these represents one of the Israel Defence Forces soldiers

who were tragically killed in transit, on their way to duty in Southern Lebanon in 1997, when two

helicopters collided. The collision of twin Israeli Air Force helicopters in the Galilee was the worst

helicopter disaster in the history of the State of Israel. All 73 passengers, including eight crewmembers,

were killed. We then start climbing the Golan heights. We will visit Har Bental, which is one of the extinct volcanos, forming the current border between Israel and Syria. Many times when I visit the mountain with tourists, it is possible to see and hear the Syrians fighting their civil war. In the mountains there is also an Israeli military bunker that will be held by the army in case of conflict. Below the mountain, is the “valley of

tears” where a crucial tank battle took place in Yom Kippur war in 1973.

http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/Society_&_Culture/geo/bental.html

From here we shall start heading for Tel Aviv. On the way we shall stop at Kibbutz Masada for a coffee

break and an explanation of the Kibbutz movement and the radical changes it is going through.

We shall check in to our Dan Panorama Tel Aviv hotel, rest for a while and go together for our farewell

Shabbat dinner in one of Tel Aviv restaurants, for talking and thinking on our past 11 days and nights in Israel.

Dinner included



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*** Here we end our tour. Those who go on the 3 day Petra extension are welcome to consult with Ami Dotan. Those who are not, are on their own for extensions, going home and anyone who needs help in their plans are most welcome to consult with Mike or Josh.



Day 12 – Saturday – November 12Checkout

We will check out this morning and bid each other goodbye.



Price, Meals, and Accommodations

Cost of land tour November 1-12, 2016 – Josh and Mike

$US 3150 -------$US 500 required as deposit by December 31, 2015.

Single supplement: $US 1200

Including:

11 hotel nights 4.5★ and 5★ hotels as per itinerary or similar,

10 touring days including transportation and guiding (not including airport transfers)

11 breakfasts, 8 dinners, 4 lunches

Entrance fees & activities as per program

Not including:

Optional activities or extensions

Tips to the guide, driver, hotel staff, etc.


  • There is an option to prearrange VIP assistance upon arrival at Ben Gurion Airport for a cost of $100- $150 depending on how many people.

  • It is also possible to prearrange transport from Ben Gurion Airport to hotel in Jerusalem for $150 for up to 7 people.

  • Day 6 Jeep Tour option is $35-$40 per person.

  • Diesenhaus/Unitours Cancellation Policy:

-Up to 45 days, no cancellation fee

- 45-30 days 20% cancellation fee

- 30-20 days 30% cancellation fee

- 20-7 days 40% cancellation fee

- Less than 7 days full price of the trip


  • We recommend that you purchase cancellation insurance from an independent provider such as your credit card company or BCAA/CAA.

Letter From Our Guide Ami Dotan

Dear friends.

Some of you already know me from previous times that I have guided you in Israel. This fact makes my job a bit easier. My name is Ami Dotan, and I will be the guide of your tour when you arrive in Israel in November 2016.

I have raised the idea to extend your stay in Israel in a few days and go to Petra in Jordan. When I guide tours which come directly to me, I always add Petra to the Israeli itinerary. I see it as a once in a lifetime opportunity not just because of the “wonder of the world” which Petra is, but also because the Israeli Arab conflict is always present, Either in news bulletins abroad, or when we talk about it during the visit. For many, especially in the younger generation, it is also a source of criticism towards the state of Israel. So the opportunity you will have to closely see and experience a real true friendship between an Israeli and an Arab, will be an eye opener.

I am also aware of the security concerns. My best answer is that I never guide in a place I would not take my own family to (that is 4 kids ages 19, 16, 8, 3). I am just waiting for them to agree to come with me. I go to Petra about once a month or two, and the feeling is very secure and friendly. Having said that, I also monitor closely the situation in south of Jordan, and if doubts arise, I will cancel the trip.

I will describe the Petra part of the itinerary day by day as it will happen for our group.



November 12. Saturday -

The tour ends on Friday night. Those who join the Petra extension are not anymore Josh and Mike’s responsibility but mine. We will take an internal flight from Tel Aviv to Eilat. We will cross the border into Jordan and drive to Wadi Rum. Those of you who remember the movie “Laurence of Arabia” that is the place it was filmed. Historically that is the place Laurence had arrived after crossing the desert in order to conquer Aqaba from the Turks in World War 1. The place is of outmost natural beauty, and after having tea (first of many) in a real Bedouin house, we will jump on the backs of pickup trucks and drive for lunch in the desert, and visit the most spectacular sand stone natural “Bridges”

We will then drive to check in our nice Petra hotel.

If we are lucky, (and usually I am) we will be invited to dinner at my Jordanian friend home. We will talk about how he was born in a cave in Petra, and then moved to housing outside the archeological site.



November 13. Sunday

The whole day is dedicated to walking in Petra.

There are few Places in the world I know that exceed their reputation. Petra definitely is one of them. We will visit the “essential” Petra, but also try to climb the 700 mountain steps to the Monastery, and an incredible lookout over the Israeli Negev desert, across the border.

Although some capability of walking is required, for those who find it hard to walk, there are carriages, donkeys, mules or camels that will carry them in Petra and to the top of the stairs.

Actually, I plan for anyone who wants to ride a camel back, just as the ancient Nabatean traders did when they rode camel caravans of Hundreds of camels for 2-3 months and more in the desert, supplying the Roman Empire with spices, incense and silk.

We will go back for a rest at the hotel

At night again we shall go out for a “night Activity” with Bedouins. I leave the details as a surprise.



November 14. Monday

After breakfast in the hotel we will visit another beautiful site called “little Petra” and then drive to the border and cross to Eilat. You will then have the option to choose your flight time to Sde Dov in the city of Tel Aviv, or directly to Ben Gurion airport if you have a flight leaving on the 14th back home.

You may also choose to stay a few more hours or days in Eilat. The main attraction being of course the coral reef of the red sea. You could even take an instructor, on a one on one basis who will take you on a guided scuba dive, which again, is a lifetime experience and you do not need any previous knowledge. Just the will. The ages fit for the dive is 8-88.

If anyone has any further questions or doubts please do not hesitate to contact me at



amidotan58@gmail.com or Skype.

Hope to see all of you in Petra.



Petra, Jordan Extension November 12- November 14

Petra extension is US$ 1455, all inclusive:

Tel Aviv to Eilat internal flights return. Transport from Eilat airport to border and back.

Both Israeli and Jordan border taxes, tips for Jordanian staff, all meals, 2 nights out, Local guiding and Ami fee,

All entrances and transportation in Jordan, camel and donkey rides in Petra, night activities, 2 nights in 4-5 star hotel, etc.

Single supplement, $US 150

Does not include: carriage in Petra, (if needed), personal expenses - extra drinks, souvenirs etc.

This extension price is all inclusive except private expenses such as souvenirs, beer at the hotel etc.



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