Note: Arrival and Departure Transfers are not included in package pricing and 30 days prior to departure Gutsy Women we will secure all air arrangements and advise cost of group transfer and times or women have option to secure a private transfer with Gutsy Women Travel or transfer on their own.

DAY 1

Sunday – Arrival at ben Gurion airport. Individual meeting & assistance by our Gutsy Women Representative, and transfer to Crowne Plaza Hotel. Overnight Tel Aviv. After you have settled in there will be a ‘Welcome Get Together’ with refreshments and meet your Local Tour Manager to go over your program.

DAY 2

Monday – Drive along the coast to Caesaria, built by King Herod the Great and capital of Judea under the Roman rule. See the aqueduct and tour the huge amphitheatre and ongoing excavations of the both the Roman & Crusader ruins. Continue along the Carmel Mountain Ridge to Ussafiya, one of the Druze villages and learn of this unique minority living only in Israel, Lebanon & Syria. Tour the village and visit an ancient oil press from said to be dating to biblical times. Enjoy home hospitality of hot herb tea, black coffee, home-made cookies and freshly baked pita bread straight from the “taboon” (local oven) at a Druze home and learn of the Druze women’s way of life. Drive north to Akko the capital of the crusader kingdom after the fall of Jerusalem. Visit the ancient crusader town, tunnels and see the colorful market. Dinner & overnight Kibbutz Lavi Guest House. B, D.

DAY 3

Tuesday – Drive to Nazareth and visit the Church of Annunciation and Mary’s Well. Continue to the Sea of Galilee and see the ancient wooden boat recently discovered by a fisherman, and said to be dating some 2,000 years ago. On to Capernaum, the center of Jesus ministry. Visit the ancient 2nd century synagogue and Peter’s house. Drive to Tabgha site of the miracle of multiplication of Loaves & Fishes and visit the Church of Multiplication, 4th century mosaic floor. Arriving at Mt Beatitudes, visit the church and site of the Sermon on the Mount. Return to kibbutz Lavi, and meet with a kibbutz member who for a short tour and lecture of the kibbutz way of life, and in particular – the religious kibbutz way of life. Dinner & overnight Kibbutz Lavi Guest House. B, D

DAY 4

Wednesday – morning: half-day Galilean culinary tour (2 different tours taking into account the availability of different local foods for each season). January: Winter Bounty of Edible Wild Plants. Drive to the Herb and Spice Farm in Bet Lehem Haglilit for an introduction to the local foods of the Galilee and the edible wild plants that grow during the short winter season. Then, walk into the nearby hills of the Alonei Aba Nature Reserve to learn how to identify the different edible plants, and enjoy the profusion of wildflowers that make this one of the most beautiful winter-time destinations in all of Israel. And finally, we will make the short trip to a nearby Bedouin village, where we will enjoy home hospitality with a local family – and a meal which centers around the wild plants that we have seen.

After the culinary tour, depart to the Golan Heights for a tour of the Katzrin olive oil press, learning of the many uses of the olive oil. Continue for a short tour and wine tasting at the world famous Golan Winery. Dinner & overnight Kibbutz Lavi. B,L,&D

DAY 5

Thursday – Drive south along the Jordan Valley to the lowest place on earth, the Dead Sea; arriving at Ein Gedi, national park, the unique oasis in the desert for a short walk. On to Masada, the last stronghold of the Jewish zealots against the Roman Empire in 70AD. Ascend the mountain by cable car and visit the ancient synagogue, bath-house and King Herod’s Palace. Descend the mountain and drive to one of the spa hotels along the Dead Sea for lunch and an unsinkable swim in the mineral rich therapeutic waters of the Dead Sea. En route to Jerusalem, we will stop and visit the world renowned factory of “Ahava” the Dead Sea cosmetic factory, basing all its products o minerals from the Dead Sea. Arrival at Jerusalem. Overnight Mt Zion Hotel B,L, & D

DAY 6

Friday - Jerusalem New City: drive past the Knesset, Israel’s parliament and see the symbol of the Menorah, to visit the Israel Museum, which houses the Shrine of the Book and the Dead Sea Scrolls. Visit the Model of Jerusalem as it was 2,000 ago. Continue to Yad Vashem, Israel’s memorial to the Holocaust Victims of World War 2. Walk along the Avenue of the Righteous, visit the Children’s Pavilion and the museum. After lunch (on own account) drive to the orthodox quarter of Mea Shearim and see their preparations for the Sabbath. Continue to the Western Wall, the holiest site to the Jewish people and see the Sabbath prayers. Enjoy traditional Shabbat dinner at the hotel. Dinner & o/n Mt Zion Hotel. B,L,&D

DAY 7

Saturday – Jerusalem Old City: Drive to t Olives for a panoramic view of the city. Visit the Church of All nations, King David’s Tomb and Room of the Last Supper on Mt Zion. Enter within the Old City walls and walk along the ancient Roman road, the Cardo. Walk to the Western Wall and see the Temple Mt. Continue along the Via Dolorosa and visit the Pool of Bethesda & St Anne’s crusader church. See the Ecce Homo Arch and reach the Holy Sepulchre. At lunch, sample the Falafel (ground & fried chickpeas served with salad in pita bread). Time permitting – enjoy shopping in the colorful bazaar. Farwell dinner (dairy menu) at Ana Ticho House, home of the first eye doctor in Jerusalem, Dr Ticho and his wife the artist Ana Ticho – one of the first houses outside the Old City, built in the second half of the 19th century in an Ottoman architectural style. Overnight Mt. Zion Hotel. B,L, &D

DAY 8

Sunday – Day at leisure until individual departure transfer to Ben Gurion Airport.

Kibbutz Lavi Guest House

Mt. Zion Hotel

Crowne Plaza Hotel Tel-Aviv