HIGHLIGHTS
Day 1. Welcome to Israel
Meet your Tlalim Israel Academy representative at the airport and transfer to your youth hostel in Jerusalem (by private bus or rail).
Free time to explore Jerusalem’s Nahlaot neighborhood, a community steeped in history that feels like a trip back in time to the latter half of the 19th century, and a visit to the nearby Mahane Yehuda market or “shuk” as it is known locally, for unique culinary experiences on offer and a window into Israel’s rich and diverse cultures.
Day 2. One City, Three Faiths: The Many Faces of Jerusalem
Join your English-speaking tour guide for a four-hour tour of Jerusalem’s Old City. Explore the relationship between Jerusalem and the three monotheistic faiths.
Judean desert to visit a Bedouin encampment and partake of a traditional meal while learning more about this ancient community of desert nomads.
Optional Nighttime Activity: Let’s Count the Stars! Experience complete and utter silence, pure fresh air, and a pitch darkness unspoiled by the light pollution of the cities.
Day 3. The Wonders of the Desert
Sunrise in the Desert: The Mountain that became a Symbol. High above the Dead Sea, the story of Masada begins over 2,000 years ago with King Herod who decided to build a mighty fortress epitomized by its daring and remarkable architecture.
Enjoy a Dip in the Desert at the Ein Gedi OasisThe Ein Gedi National Park protects a desert oasis that has for millennia nourished various local cultures. A guided hiking tour of this desert preserve offers plenty of opportunities to learn about this unique ecosystem as well as a chance to wade or take a dip in its cool waters.
The Wondrous Dead Sea – The Lowest Point on Earth Thanks to the water’s hyper salinity, you will be amazed by how buoyant you will be, but don’t forget to take an iconic photo of yourself covered in mud from head to toe from a rejuvenating mud bath and then again while floating in its waters.
Day 4. Tel Aviv: The Nonstop City
Head out for a four-hour guided tour with an English-speaking tour guide in Tel Aviv – the cultural capital and beating heart of this country. Stroll down Rothschild Boulevard to experience both the historical heart of the city and today’s urban hipster hangout. Thanks to its vibrant art scene, Tel Aviv continues to be a magnet for young artists from all over the country.
Day 5. The Jaffa Flea Market
Steeped in mystery, this bustling and colorful market, with its stores and stalls hidden away along adjoining alleys and byways, feels as if it was torn from the pages of A Thousand and One Nights.
CULINARY EXPERIENCES
OUTDOOR EXPERIENCE
HISTORY
PEOPLE TO PEOPLE