Thursday, June 26, 2008
Depart on your way to London

Friday, June 27, 2008
Arrive in London
Orientation Tour: Pass the famous London landmarks including, The Houses of Parliament, Piccadilly Circus and more.
Visit Madam Tussauds Wax Museum where you can take photos with the stars!
Kabbalat Shabbat Overnight: London

Saturday, June 28, 2008
Enjoy a walking tour of London.
Start at Hyde Park and continue to Wellington Arch
Next view Buckingham Palace, residence of Queen Elizabeth and the Royals! If we get lucky we may get a glimpse of the Changing of the Guards!
Continue to St James Park, Westminster Abbey, Westminster and Big Ben
Visit the Tower of London - a thousand years of Kings, Queens, Traitors and magnificent Jewels. Explore the dungeons and stand on the execution site of 3 English Queens!
Havdallah
Ascend the London Eye, the giant Ferris wheel, for a magnificent view of London
Evening cruise on the Thames
Overnight: London

Sunday, June 29, 2008
Start the day with a visit to the Jewish quarter of London. Visit the famous Bevis Marks synagogue. Hear stories of famous English Jews such as the former Prime Minister Disraeli.
Visit Windsor Castle, an official residence of the Queen and the oldest occupied castle in the world.
Onward to Oxford - the University City (and see where they filmed parts of Harry Potter!)
Overnight: London

Monday, June 30, 2008
Depart London for Dover making a stop at Leeds Castle, a special blend of heritage, beautiful grounds and conservation. Explore the maze and search for the secret underground grotto!
Cross the English Channel from Dover to Calais by ferry
Pause in Calais, for a ceremony marking the Normandy Landings and liberation of Europe in World War II.
Drive through the French and Belgian countryside to the picturesque city of Bruges, Belgium. Known as the "Venice of the North", Bruges is a splendid medieval city of quaint lanes and quiet canals.
Relax in the uniquely beautiful square lined with antique buildings and colorful cafes
Enjoy a walking tour of Bruges by night.
Overnight: Bruges

Tuesday, July 1, 2008
Depart Bruges for Brussels, the capital of Belgium.
Visit Grand Place, the magnificent medieval square in the heart of Brussels.
See the Manneken Pis, for a glimpse of Belgian humor.
Stop for a short visit to the Great Synagogue built in 1879 and left untouched during World War II.
Travel to Amsterdam passing by Antwerp, one of the largest diamond centers in the world. The city has a large Hassidic population where 90% work in the diamond industry.
Stop in The Hague, the old Royal and government city of The Netherlands where Queen Beatrix lives and works. It is also the site of the International Court of Justice.
Visit the miniature city of Madurodam and see models of canal houses in Amsterdam. View working windmills, boats traversing the harbor and trains crisscrossing this mini-city.
Continue to Amsterdam, the city of canals and dykes, chocolate, cheese-one of the most colorful cities in Europe.
Overnight: Amsterdam

Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Full day in Amsterdam
Visit the Anne Frank House, city tour with a visit to the Jewish Quarter, the Portuguese Synagogue and the Van Gogh Museum.
Cruise along the famous canals while gazing up at Renaissance buildings and other highlights.
Overnight: Amsterdam

Thursday, July 3, 2008
Drive into the pastoral Dutch countryside to Zaanse Schans to see a typical Dutch town with green wooden houses, exquisite gardens and historic windmills.
Continue to Volendam a picturesque fishing village and lovely harbor.
Enjoy an authentic Dutch cultural experience - a bike ride along the canals!
Visit a wooden shoe factory. The Dutch invented wooden shoes to walk the muddy lands they reclaimed from the sea!
Overnight: Amsterdam

Friday, July 4, 2008
Depart Amsterdam for Paris
Afternoon city tour in Paris. See the highlights of the city of lights!
Ascend the Eiffel Tower - symbol of Paris
Cruise along the Seine River
Kabbalat Shabbat
Overnight: Paris

Saturday, July 5, 2008
Optional Shabbat morning services
Walking tour of Paris, starting with the Tuileries Garden and Place de la Concorde
Pass the hotel where Theodor Herzl wrote "The Jewish State" and hear about the notorious case of Alfred Dreyfus
Walk the Champs Elysees to the Arc de Triomphe.
Havdallah
Find your way to Montmartre, the highest hill in Paris for dinner and a breathtaking panoramic view of the city.
Overnight: Paris

Sunday, July 6, 2008
Visit Versailles - the magnificent palace built by Louis XIV. See the gorgeous gardens, sparkling fountains, splendid buildings and monuments.
This afternoon travel to the medieval town of Provins, where we travel back in time for two fabulous performances. "The Eagles of the Ramparts" is a splendid aerial show of birds of prey. The birds swoop at 200 kilometers an hour at the commands of their masters, a marvelous first authentic experience of falconry with costumes and imposing musical themes.
Next we dive into the heart of a medieval legend of a knight as he returns from the Crusades to the love of his life. But first he must fight for her! You will see it all in the moat of the Ramparts where the spectacular fights on horseback take place right in front of your eyes!
Return to the 21st century and Paris.
Overnight: Paris

Monday, July 7, 2008
This morning visit the Louvre - an ancient Palace filled with priceless art including the famous Mona Lisa. See the sites made famous in Dan Brown's controversial book "The Da Vinci Code".
Tour the Jewish Quarter, known as Pletzl and Rue des Rosiers. Walk the narrow ancient street lined with Jewish restaurants, synagogues, bakeries and bookstores.
Overnight: Paris

Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Drive to the airport for your flight to Israel
Shalom and Welcome to Israel!
Shehehianu ceremony overlooking Jerusalem at the Haas Promenade
Enjoy a spiritual visit to the Western Wall.
Festive welcome dinner.
Overnight: Jerusalem area

Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Start the day with a visit to the Israel Museum to see the model of Jerusalem from the Second Temple period and the Dead Sea Scrolls, housed in the dramatic Shrine of the Book
Walk the Old City Wall promenade from Jaffa to Zion Gates Visit Mt. Zion and the tomb of King David, founder of Jerusalem.
.Enter the Old City through Zion Gate as Jewish Warriors have done for generations. Take in Highlights of the Jewish Quarter, including the Broad Wall, the Burnt House, and the Cardo-an 1800 year old market where you can still shop today!
Explore the Southern Wall Excavations.
A unique "Jerusalem by night" tour including the Western Wall Tunnels.
Overnight: Jerusalem area

Thursday, July 10, 2008
Participate in a morning of community service activity. We join in picking fruit to donate to the needy or help prepare packages for Israeli soldiers - lots of fun and very worthwhile!
In the afternoon, head to the City of David. Prepare to get wet while walking through Hezekiah's Tunnel.
Evening visit to the famous Malcha Mall.
Overnight: Jerusalem

Friday, July 11, 2008
Depart Jerusalem for Tel Aviv.
Pause at Latrun to see the Armored Corps Memorial and tank park
Explore Old Jaffa and hear tales of Napoleon, Andromeda, and Jonah the Whale
Continue to the Nahalat Binyamin Pedestrian Mall and walk one of Israel's most fashionable spots- trendy Shenkin Street.
View Tel Aviv from the top of Azrieli Tower.
Take a dip in the Mediterranean Sea
Return to Jerusalem
Kabbalat Shabbat
Festive Shabbat Dinner
Shabbat programming
Overnight: Jerusalem

Saturday, July 12, 2008
Shabbat morning services
Enjoy a Shabbat leisure walk through Jerusalem neighborhoods - Yemin Moshe, Mishkanot Sha'ananim, Nahalat Shiva and end in Ben Yehuda Street for Havdallah and dinner.
Evening visit to the Ben Yehuda Pedestrian Mall.
Overnight: Jerusalem

Sunday, July 13, 2008
Meet your new Israeli friends who will be joining the group for an icebreaking activity
Depart Jerusalem area and head to Caesarea. Visit the ancient Roman Harbor and famous Theater.
Visit Zichron Ya'akov to hear tales of wine, spies, love and betrayal.
Continue to Ossafia, for lunch and home hospitality in this Druze village
Visit Atlit, an immigrant camp from pre-statehood days where "illegal" Jewish immigrants were held until freed by the Palmach.
Follow their escape route with a hike up the Carmel Mountain, ending at Ha'Etzba "The Finger" pre-historic cave.
View the spectacular Bahai Gardens in Haifa
Overnight: Western Galilee

Monday, July 14, 2008
Explore Akko's Crusader fortress and its secret underground escape passage
Descend by cable car to the grottos carved by the waves into the limestone cliffs at Rosh Hanikra
Head to Zfat, city of Mystical Judaism (Kabbalah), to explore the narrow alleyways lined with old synagogues and fascinating artists' galleries
Overnight: Sleep under the stars at in the Galilee (organized campsite)

Tuesday, July 15, 2008
Spend the morning at the Sea of Galilee with water sports, banana boat rides and more!
Visit the Kinneret Courtyard to hear of the pioneers who settled the region
Nature Hike in the Galilee
Overnight: A Kibbutz on the Sea of Galilee

Wednesday, July 16, 2008
Peer deep into Syria from Mt Bental and see the "ghost" town of Kuneitra
Visit the Talmudic Synagogue at Katzrin
Enjoy a water hike on a tributary of the Jordan River to the Devorah falls.
Head to the Gamla bird-watching site and spot some eagles! Don't forget to watch out for the vultures!
Overnight: Kibbutz on the shores of the Sea of Galilee

Thursday, July 17, 2008
Meet Israeli soldiers guarding our country at the Lilach outpost
Next more thrills zip-lining, rock climbing, rope bridges and other adventurous activities in the area.
Experience a kayaking adventure on the Jordan
Overnight: Tel Aviv

Friday, July 18, 2008
The rest of the group heads to a water park for some splashing good fun!
Off to the Carmel Market -Tel Aviv's bustling and colorful, outdoor market and see the residents buying all the provisions for Shabbat. Marvel at the huge variety of fruits, vegetables, breads, olives, pickles, spices and much much more.
Head to your Israeli friend's home
Overnight: Shabbat Home Hospitality with your Israeli friends

Saturday, July 19, 2008
Shabbat with host families
Overnight: With host families

Sunday, July 20, 2008
Say goodbye to your Israeli friends
Experience the state-of-art Palmach Museum, an exciting and theatrical audio-visual experience
Relive history with a visit to Independence Hall
Pause at Rabin Square to remember, reflect and speak of Peace.
Evening get together party
Overnight: Tel Aviv

Monday, July 21, 2008
Start the day with a visit to the Ayalon Institute to see a secret Palmach ammunitions factory from the time of the British Mandate and where Israeli peers join us for ice-breaking activities
Participate in an Archeological dig at Beit Guvrin
Explore the fascinating Bell-shaped caves at Beit Guvrin
Visit the Air Force Museum at Hatzerim
Enjoy a camel trek in the desert
Bedouin "Hafla"- feast and hospitality
Overnight: A Bedouin tent in the Negev Desert

Tuesday, July 22, 2008
Hike up the mountain fortress of Massada - site of Herod's palaces and where the brave Jewish defenders chose death over slavery at the hands of the Romans.
Walk through Ein Bokek a fresh water oasis on the shores of the Dead Sea.
Swim (float) in the Dead Sea
Drive south along the Arava valley to Eilat - Israel's premier resort city on the Red Sea.
Overnight: Eilat

Wednesday, July 23, 2008
Spend the whole day in Eilat!
Visit the Underwater Observatory and let the fish look at you! Snorkel at the Coral beach and marvel at the exquisite coral reefs and exotic tropical fish.
Overnight: Eilat

Thursday, July 24, 2008
Depart Eilat via Mitzpe Ramon
Hike the magnificent Red Canyon with its amazing array of colorful sandstones.
Stop to enjoy the view of the world famous and unique Ramon Crater.
Hike to Ein Avdat and visit Ben Gurion's grave at Sde Boker
Enjoy a spooky night hike through Nachal Havarim-the White Clay Canyon
Overnight: Mashabei Sadeh

Friday, July 25, 2008
After a chance to sleep in this morning we head for Nitzanim on the Mediterranean Coast.
Hear stories of the heroic resistance of Kibbutz Nitzanim during the War of Independence and see the Monument commemorating the "Female Hebrew Fighter"
Travel to Tel Aviv where friends and family may pick up participants. (FNB)
Overnight: Tel Aviv

Saturday, July 26, 2008
Optional Shabbat services
Walking tour of Tel Aviv neighborhoods such as newly gentrifying Neve Tzedek
Pass the Bauhaus buildings, designated as World Heritage Sites by UNESCO
Relax at the beach, work on your tan, wander along the promenade, cool off with a swim in the Mediterranean and enjoy "people-watching" as Israelis flock to the beaches.
Havdallah
Overnight: Tel Aviv

Sunday, July 27, 2008
The group re-gathers in Tel Aviv.
Start the day with a visit to Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Memorial
Then tour Mt Herzl to the graves of Herzl, Rabin and Golda Meir
Continue with a fabulous view of Jerusalem from Mt. Scopus. Hear about Hadassah Hospital and The Hebrew University - an Israeli enclave in Jordan!
Farewell visit to the Western Wall
Recap your visit at Mini-Israel and see it all over again!
Enjoy a fun farewell dinner
Travel to Ben Gurion Airport

Monday, July 28, 2008
Early morning departure
Shalom U'lehitraot

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