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Sunday, October 14
(depart 9:15 AM)
 Depart
Tel Aviv via Jaffa which served as port for Jerusalem 3000
years ago. Continue south to Mikve Yisrael, Israel's first
agricultural institution established in 1870 by Frenchman
Karl Netter, and financed by Adolf Cremieux and the French
"Alliance". Pass the city of Ramle, the only city in Israel
established by Moslems. Napoleon lived here in a monastery
for several weeks. Pass Nesher's cement factory and enter
the corridor leading to Jerusalem. Pass through biblical Emek
Ayalon, the monastery of Latrun and hear the story of "Jesus
and the good thief". Continue up through Shaar Ha-Gai, the
only approach to Jerusalem during the 1948 War of Independence.
See the burned out military transports en route and the Burma
road - the alternative road to Jerusalem. Pass Golan-Globus
Cinema City, and the Castel fortress overseeing the entrance
of Jerusalem. Hear about the battles of Abdul Heider Husseini
and the Palmach fighters. Pass by the churches of Ein Kerem
and the Yad Vashem Memorial to the six million Holocaust victims.
Pass Mt. Herzl, the Knesset and tour Israel's new Supreme
Court building. After lunch (not included) visit the Old-City
of Jerusalem and tour by foot, Mt.Zion, King David's Tomb,
the Room of the Last-Supper, Dormition Church, Zion Gate,
and three Old City Quarters: Armenian, Jewish and Christian.
Visit the Cardo, the Western Wall, Via Dolorosa, Church of
the Tomb, and exit the Old City via the Jaffa Gate. We will
return to Tel Aviv via Jerusalem's northern highway passing
the Prophet Samuel's Tomb and other sites. Return to Tel Aviv
about 7 PM.
(price €79)
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Depart
Tel Aviv and continue north through the orange groves of Sharon
to Netanya. Follow the coastal road through the greenery of
Hadera to King Herod's ancient Roman port city of Caesaria.
Tour ancient port, Hippodrome, Crusader buildings and experience
the museum and film taking you back 2000 years. Pass Zichron
Yaakov and hear about the vineyards and city Baron Rothschild
built nearly 100 years ago. Pass the Carmel Mountains, Stella
Maris, Bahai Gardens and exit Haifa north towards Acco. Break
for lunch (not included). Visit Crusader sites and UNESCO
Heritage site of the underground city. Tour ancient port city,
the marketplace and time permitting, the citadel prison where
the British jailed Israel's Lehi and pre-state fighters. Return
to Tel Aviv about 6 PM. 
Descend
through the beautiful scenery of the Judean Desert to the
lowest point on Earth - the Dead Sea. Drive along the sea,
pass by Qumran where the Dead Sea Scrolls were found and continue
to Masada - the ancient fortress built by Herod the Great
in the 1st Century B.C.E. which was the last Jewish stronghold
during the revolt against the Romans. Bring water, hat, walking
shoes, bathing suit & towel (there will be time for a dip
in the Dead Sea). Lunch not included. 
Tour
Jaffa the ancient port city and the shuk (marketplace), Mosque
Hasan Bek, and experience ancient history from biblical Joshua,
Romans, Greek, Macabbeans & Napoleon. Visit the Etzel Museum
describing Israel's modern history until the 1948 War of Independence.
Afterwards tour the first homes of Tel Aviv in the Suzanne
Dalal Center. Witness the rejuvenation project of this almost
100 year old section of Tel Aviv.