Israel Grand Tour - Heritage Tours

12-day, 11-night comprehensive, private tour of Israel’s most iconic locations.

Israel Grand Tour

– Highlights –

A VIP TOUR OF THE CITY OF DAVID, GAINING SPECIAL ACCESS TO SOME CURRENT EXCAVATIONS WHICH ARE NOT OPEN TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC. (JERUSALEM)
BEHOLD THE DIVERSE AND MAGICAL LANDSCAPE OF NORTHERN ISRAEL FROM ABOVE ON A PRIVATE HOT AIR BALLOON FLIGHT. (GALILEE)
EXPLORE THE RAMON CRATER (THE LARGEST OF ITS KIND IN THE WORLD) AND ITS SCENIC DESERT SURROUNDINGS ON A ONE-OF-A-KIND PRIVATE HORSEBACK TOUR. (NEGEV DESERT)
LEARN ABOUT CONTEMPORARY ISRAELI CULTURE ON A PRIVATE GRAFFITI TOUR THROUGH THE NEIGHBORHOODS OF TEL AVIV. (TEL AVIV)
GET A TASTE – LITERALLY AND FIGURATIVELY – OF ONE OF ISRAEL’S MOST VIBRANT SHUKS (MARKETS) ON A CULINARY TOUR. (TEL AVIV)

– Accommodations –

THE EFENDI HOTEL, AKKO
BAYIT BAGALIL BOUTIQUE & SPA HOTEL, GALILEE
MAMILLA HOTEL, JERUSALEM
BERESHEET HOTEL, NEGEV DESERT
RITZ-CARLTON HERZLIYA, TEL AVIV

This is a Sample Itinerary

What is the sample itinerary?

These are real trips designed for clients, with passions and parameters as wide-ranging as you can imagine.

We’re all about “made-to-order,” so don’t think of these trips as “ready-to-wear.” We want to whet your appetite and show you possibilities.

Have fun looking through one or two. See what makes your heart race. Then, call us and we will create a trip that’s perfect for you – with everything you want and nothing you don’t. That’s what we believe travel should be.

– Itinerary –

1 Night –Akko 2 Nights –Galilee 3 Nights –Jerusalem 2 Nights –Negev Desert 3 Nights –Tel Aviv

DAY 1: ARRIVAL & HEAD NORTH

Arrival and travel North, stopping to discover Roman ruins in the port city of Caesarea along the way.

DAY 2: NORTHERN COAST

Take in the changing landscapes as you explore sites along the Northern Mediterranean Coast. Highlights of the day: Tour the well-preserved structures in the crusader city of Acre (Akko), the formal terraced gardens in Haifa that are a formal pilgrimage site for those of Baha’i faith, and descend the world’s steepest cable car to the stunning sea grottoes at Rosh HaNikra on the border with Lebanon.

DAY 3: GOLAN HEIGHTS & GALILEE

Start the day with a nature walk in the Banias Nature Reserve, home of the largest waterfall in Israel. Ascend to the top of Mount Bental for a panoramic view over Israel’s border with Syria where you’ll learn about the geopolitical situation. Enjoy a tour of a boutique vineyard and taste unique locally-made wines. Take in the beautiful landscape on your private sunset jeep tour. Finish the day with a hot air balloon flight and see the country from a unique and magical perspective.

DAY 4: GALILEE

Explore the enchanting hilltop city of Safed (Tzfat), home of Kabballah (Jewish mysticism), artists’ colony, and famous candle factory. Visit significant sites of Jesus’ ministry, including the Mount of Beatitudes, where the “Sermon on the Mount” occurred and Magdala, where you’ll find an amazingly-preserved first-century synagogue and city. Enjoy famous Druze home hospitality for a special lunch in the home of a local Druze family.

DAY 5: JERUSALEM

Dive into the layers of history in the Old City of Jerusalem, a place that serves as a beacon for Jews, Muslims and Christians alike where, within its walls, the distinct quarters reflect the rich diversity of this sacred land. Visit the Western Wall, trace the Via Dolorosa through the Christian Quarter to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, ascend the Temple Mount, wind through the cobbled alleys of the Arab Quarter and gain insider access to excavations at the City of David.

DAY 6: JERUSALEM

Visit the Israel Museum, where more than 5,000 years of cultural treasures are housed, including the prized Dead Sea Scrolls. Hear the personal accounts and testimony of a Holocaust survivor on a special guided tour of the Yad Vashem complex, Israel’s official monument to the victims of the Holocaust. Tour of Machane Yehudah market, rub elbows with locals doing their typical shopping, and sample tasty local treats along the way.

DAY 7: JUDAEAN DESERT

Head out to explore famous sites against the picturesque landscape of the Judaean Desert. Ascend the desert fortress of Masada, a UNESCO World Heritage site, embark on a unique kayaking tour of the of the Dead Sea, exploring salt formations in more virgin sections of the sea, followed by the typical mud and float at a nearby beachfront spa. Enjoy a nature walk in the beautiful oasis of the Ein Gedi springs before continuing south to Beresheet.

DAY 8: NEGEV DESERT

Explore the Ramon Crater (the largest of its kind in the world) on your one-of-a-kind private horseback ride for a very special experience in this magical desert landscape. Head to a local winery to learn about the surprising history of wine-making in this desert region and sample unique wines. End the day with a private star-gazing tour where you’ll be amazed viewing the star-filled night sky above with no light pollution.

DAY 9: NEGEV DESERT & TEL AVIV

Pamper yourself at the luxurious spa and enjoy the breathtaking views overlooking the Ramon Crater before you head north to Tel Aviv. Stop at the desert home of first Prime Minister, David Ben Gurion and visit Atachlit, a unique village that serves as a center for preservation of Ethiopian Jewish culture.

DAY 10: TEL AVIV

Discover why Tel Aviv is known as the ‘White City” on an intimate stroll, viewing remarkable Bauhaus architecture that makes Tel Aviv a UNESCO World Heritage Site and visiting Independence Hall where the state of Israel was declared in 1948. Contrast this with a tour of the ancient city of Jaffa, with its enchanting alleyways, artists’ galleries, Arab heritage and superb views of Tel Aviv. Stop by the famous flea market to test out your bargaining skills! Get a taste – literally and figuratively – of one of the most colorful and important shuks (markets) in Israel on a Culinary Tour of Levinsky Market.

DAY 11: TEL AVIV

Board a speed boat to roar along the coast and relish the view of Tel Aviv from the water. Next, explore the street art scene and gain insights into contemporary Israel culture on an artist-led graffiti tour through local neighborhoods. Tour the renovated Templar town of Sarona, making sure to stroll through the indoor food and spice market, and end the day sipping on wines from around Israel at The Tasting Room.

DAY 12: TEL AVIV & DEPARTURE

Enjoy time at leisure before you transfer to Ben Gurion International Airport for your departing flight.