Incredible Israel & Jordan

Welcome to Israel!  Based on the majority of arrival times a representative will meet you at the airport and escort you through passport control, baggage claim and customs. Should you arrive at a different time, it’s a very easy cab ride from the airport to our first hotel in Tel Aviv.  We’ll be waiting for you!

Check in at The Alexander Hotel 

We look forward to our welcome dinner together at a local Tel Aviv restaurant.

Good Morning Tel Aviv!

Our day with start with a bountiful breakfast that Israel is known for … original farm-to-table dining!

Put on your walking shoes (don’t forget the sunscreen) as we explore the vibrant Tel Aviv scene as well as a tour of the Levinsky market to learn about the influx of immigrants from around the world into the complex tapestry of people that is Israel. We’ll learn about and get a taste of their various histories and cultures.

We'll continue on to the ancient port city of Jaffa on our privately-guided “Walk & Wine” tour.

This afternoon relax and enjoy some free time to wander at your leisure, exploring the many neighborhoods before dinner.

We will conclude our fabulous, first day with dinner at the iconic Tel Aviv restaurant “Night Kitchen”

We will bid farewell to Tel Aviv's exciting vibe as we make our way up north along the Mediterranean coastline learning about spices and agricultural life in Israel.

Our first stop will a spice farm in the middle of the Galilee region. As you will learn, the Middle Eastern cuisine is all about variety and a combination of spices. 

We’ll continue to Kaima Farm to meet the people who have created a “sustainability” project, utilizing organic farming to help marginalized teens overcome their challenges and learn life-building skills.

Only a short drive remains to our hotel, overlooking the Sea of Galilee – Galilion .

Our final stop of the say will be checking into our hotel in the Galilee before heading to a meal with Israeli Chef, Gadi Elias.

Enjoy a bountiful breakfast at the hotel before we venture towards the Golan Heights – the most northern area of Israel.

Our first stop will be to meet a local woman, Naama Szterenlicht, who is an artisanal forager and local tonic brewer. 

In the afternoon ride a golf cart or a bike and enjoy the scenery through the HULA valley. This area is the scene of a migration for over 500 million birds along the Syrian-African rift.

We will head back to the hotel for some down time before we make our way to dinner at the Golan Heights winery. We will enjoy a chef created dinner in the wine cellar. 

Enjoy another wonderful breakfast at the hotel before we check out and make our way towards the magic of Jerusalem.  Before we leave the north we will meet a retired, female Lieutenant from the intelligence unit of the Israeli army. She will share the present geopolitical situation along the northern borders of Lebanon and Syria.

Then we will have a “lunch & learn” experience with a Druze family in the Galilee. We will meet them in their home, learn a bit about their (secret) religion, their culture and taste some of their most well-known dishes. 

Traffic dependent, we will make a stop atop the Mount of Olives (or the promenade) for a beautiful overlook of The Old City of Jerusalem.

Welcome to Jerusalem, your base for the next few days!

Dinner together tonight will be at a special Jerusalem favorite. 

Enjoy breakfast at the hotel before we go out and greet the ancient alleyways of the Old City of Jerusalem.

Early wake up to arrive at the Temple Mount (security allowing) before we begin our walking tour of the 4 quarters of the Old City including the: Christian, Jewish, Armenian and Muslim Quarters.

Take notes because after the tour of the Old City, it’s your time to wander, go back to re-visit certain areas or enjoy some R&R at one of the many cafes.

Today is also time for the Optional Tour to Bethlehem (to be reserved in advance).

This evening we will enjoy a dinner based on biblical dishes and spices... before we make our way to the enjoy the light show on the ancient walls of the Tower of David. 

Enjoy a bountiful breakfast at the hotel before we venture out to learn about the modern history of Israel. 

Our first stop is an emotional stop at Israel’s Holocaust Museum. It’s certainly an difficult few hours but an important and meaningful visit.

We will quickly shift gears to meet our Chef escort for the afternoon, Atalya. We will enjoy a food tour and cooking class in her beautiful home in Ein Karem. 

Atalya’s personality is as magical as her food!

No trip to Israel is complete without a visit to the desert and, of course, the lowest place on earth – the Dead Sea!

We’ll drive south from Jerusalem for the day as we make our way towards the desert. 

Our first stop will be to the ancient Roman fortress of Masada. 

We will then continue onwards to the Dead Sea … get ready to slather the mud, walk on salt and experience the famous float!  (We’ll give you instructions on the do’s and don'ts)

Our last evening together in Israel will be yet another chef experience located in her magnificent cooking studio above the famous outdoor food market … Chef Tali Friedman will create our farewell dinner. 

After a hearty breakfast at the hotel, for those of you not joining on the extension to Petra and Wadi Rum in Jordan it is time to say goodbye. The memories and friendships you made will last a lifetime.

You will be transferred to the aiport for your departing flights.

As we bid farewell to those not continuing to Petra and Wadi Rum in Jordan, we will head to the airport (with an overnight bag) for our transfer into Jordan.

Upon arrival in Eilat, we will be met at the airport by our drive who will transport us to the border between Israel and Jordan. We will walk across the border to meet our Jordanian guide and driver.

Now it’s time to travel to one of the 7 Wonders of the World. Upon arrival in Petra, we will walk through the Siq as we head to the Treasury, with visions of beauty all along the way.

We will have a quick lunch in Petra before our journey to Wadi Rum and our overnight in the beautiful stargazing “tents.”

Our dinner will be a Bedouin feast, under the stars. Glorious!

Good morning to the beautiful desert of Wadi Rum!

After a breakfast at our AICHA Bedouin Camp we will set out for a jeep tour of the surrounding area, the beautiful rock formations as well as a visit to the “neighborhood” of the Bedouins, the desert people.

We will say goodbye to our hosts at the camp and make our way back into Israel.  We will be met by a transfer to bring us back to the airport for our flight to Tel Aviv.

Check in to our hotel: Rothchild 65

Relax a bit before we head out for our final farewell dinner in Tel Aviv

Alas, our adventure has come to an end; it's time to say goodbye to all your new Girls’ Guide friends. After breakfast in the hotel this morning, we’ll transfer you from the hotel to the airport.