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Day One: March 7, 2009
Depart your getaway city for Tel Aviv, Israel abroad scheduled jet service. (Provided for Air Package participants only.) (Meals aloft)

Day Two: March 8, 2009 – Tel Aviv
Upon arrival, transfer by motorcoach to the Carlton Hotel. (Transfer provided for Air Program participants only.) This evening, attend a Welcome Reception and Dinner at the hotel. (Meals aloft, D)

Day Three: March 9, 2009 – Tel Aviv, Caesarea & Akko
Educational Focus: The Kibbutz - A Uniquely Israeli Experience. Discuss the origins and societal benefits of the rural kibbutz (the Hebrew word for “communal settlement”) system established in 1909. Excursion: Bauhaus Beauty. Tel Aviv’s White City was built from the 1930s-50s. Admire its buildings-an outstanding representation of the Modern Movement. Afterwards, depart Tel Aviv for Lower Galilee. Excursion: The Mediterranean Coast. En route, stop in Caesarea, built from about 25-13 B.C., and explore the Roman amphitheater and aqueduct. Then, visit the port city of Akko. The nearly intact Crusader fort displays a fascinating portrait of medieval Israel. Enjoy lunch at a restaurant in Akko. Upon arrival, in Lower Galilee, check into the Kibbutz Lavi. Kibbutz Lavi Hotel (B, L, D)

Day Four: March 10, 2009 – The Sea of Galilee
Educational Focus: Meet the People. Participate in a discussion with local residents and learn about modern life in Israel. Excursion: Upper Galilee. Travel along the northwest shore of the Sea of Galilee to the Mount of Beatitudes and the ancient fishing village of Tabgha. See the Golan Heights, near the former Syrian town of Quneitra. Excursion: Sailing Storied Waters. Embark on a scenic cruise on the Sea of Galilee. (Weather permitting) After a restaurant lunch in historic Katzrin, tour an olive oil factory and taste regional wines. Kibbutz Lavi Hotel (B, L, D)

Day Five: March 11, 2009 - Haifa
Special Event: Go Green. Join the world’s largest reforestation effort in Israel and participate in a tree-planting ceremony. Excursion: On the slopes of Mount Carmel. In Haifa, see a panoramic view from above the gold-domed Baha’I World Centre and its elaborate terraced gardens. Enjoy an authentic Druze lunch near Haifa. The remainder of the evening is for exploration on your own. Hotel Dan Panorama (B)

Day Six: March 12, 2009 - Jerusalem
Educational Focus: Is it Finally Time for a Peace Deal? NPR correspondent Linda Gradstein presents her professional assessment of Israeli-Palestinian relations. Excursion: The City of David. Visit the Temple Mount, the Western Wall and the interpretive Davidson Center. See the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and view the Garden of Gethsemane from the Mount of Olives. Savor a tasty falafel lunch at a restaurant in the Arab Quarter. Hotel Dan Panorama (B,L, D)

Day Seven: March 13, 2009 - Jerusalem
Educational Focus: A Holocaust Survivor Remembers. Join a Question-and-Answer session with a Yad Vashem guide for a personal account of his/her experience. Excursion: A Poignant Monument. Visit Yad Vashem, the Holocaust Memorial Excursion: The City of Peace. See Knesset, the Israeli parliament, en route to the bustling Machane Yehuda Market. Enjoy some time in the market on your own. Hotel Dan Panorama (B)

Day Eight: March 14, 2009 - Masada & the Dead Sea Excursion:
Judean Desert Drama. Atop an isolated plateau, the fortress of Masada was built by King Herod. Following capture by Jewish patriots, it became a symbol of the kingdom of Israel after destruction in A.D. 73. Roman army siege works are well-preserved in the surrounding camps and attack ramp. Travel down to Ein Bokek on the Dead Sea. Excursion: A Sea of Salt. Descend 1,378 ft. (420 m) below sea level to the shoreline of the deepest hypersaline lake in the world. After lunch at the Hod Hotel, you may opt to indulge yourself in a spa treatment, relax on the beach or swim/float in the mineral-rich Dead Sea. Tonight, back in Jerusalem, gather with fellow travelers for a Farewell Reception and Graduation Ceremony. Dinner follows at a nearby restaurant. Hotel Dan Panorama (B, L, D)

Day Nine: March 15, 2009 - Jerusalem - Frankfurt
The morning in Jerusalem is at your leisure. This afternoon, depart for Tel Aviv and board a flight to Frankfurt, Germany. Upon arrival, check into a hotel located near Frankfurt Airport. (Overnight provided for Air Program participants only.) (B)

Day Ten: March 16, 2009 - Frankfurt – Home
Continue on the trans-Atlantic flight from Frankfurt Airport to your home airport. (Provided for Air Program Participants only.) (Meals aloft)

NOTE:
Itinerary schedule may change due to local conditions. Many excursions in this program involve an element of walking as some of the finest attractions are located in areas not closely accessible by motorcoach.

 
Featured Lecturer Linda Gradstein
Since 1990, Linda Gradstein has been the Israel correspondent for National Public Radio. She has won several esteemed awards, including the Overseas Press Club Award for her coverage of the assassination of former Prime Minister Yitzhak Robin, and was part of a team that won the Afred I. duPont-Colombia University Award for excellence in broadcast journalism for reporting on the Gulf War. During your program, she will lecture on the topic, Is it Finally Time for a Peace Deal? In her coverage of this conflict, Linda has spoken to hundreds of ordinary Israelis and Palestinians, as well as officials. She has traveled all over the West Bank and Gaza Strip. She has a unique perspective on a situation that many say is the last intractable conflict in the world today.
Exclusive Highlights
  • Tour the cosmopolitan city of Tel Aviv on the Mediterranean coast.
  • Admire the lovely Baha’I Gardens in Haifa on the slopes of Mount Carmel.
  • Trace the shores of the Sea of Galilee to ancient biblical sites.
  • Visit the legendary landmarks of Jerusalem, Israel’s capital, including the Western Wall, the revered Temple Mount, the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and the poignant Yad Vashem memorial museum.
  • See the stark beauty of Masada and feel the calm ambience of the Dead Sea.
  • Enjoy an extensive meal program, including eight breakfasts, five lunches and five dinners, in addition to in-flight dinning service. Tea and coffee is included with all meals, plus wine with dinner. Take advantage of leisure time to try the local cuisine independently.
  • Sample authentic regional specialties at featured local restaurants.
  • Attend a special Welcome Reception.
  • Gather for a Farewell Reception and Graduation Ceremony followed by a Farewell Dinner at the hotel. Informative educational programs, presents by local experts, will enhance your insight into the region.
  • All excursions: - See the highlights of Tel Aviv.
    - Step back in time among the ancient ruins of Caesarea and Akko.
    - Travel throughout Upper Galilee and the Golan Heights. Cruise on the Sea of Galilee, weather permitting.
    - Admire the cityscape of Haifa.
    - Explore Jerusalem’s Old City.
    - Experience the monuments of Modern Jerusalem, including a visit to Yad Vashem.
    - Discover the fortress of Masada - Marvel at the Dead Sea.
Included
  • Round-trip schedules jet service to and from Israel.*
  • Motorcoach transfers, round-trip, between the Israel airport and the hotels, including baggage handling.*
  • One night in Tel Aviv at the Carlton Hotel
  • Two nights at the Kbbutz Lavi Hotel
  • Four nights at the Hotel Dan Panorama, Hotel, Jerusalem
  • An extensive meal plan, including a breakfast daily, and five lunches and dinners. Take advantage of opportunities to sample the local cuisine at your leisure.
  • Some meals are served at local restaurants and feature a culinary experience of authentic regional specialties.
  • A Graduation Ceremony, Farewell Reception and Dinner.
  • Informative educational programs, presented by local experts, will enhance your insight into the region.
  • All excursions included.
  • Consultation services of Passenger Service Representative prior to departure.
  • Services of a professional Campus Director and Expert English-speaking Local Guides throughout your stay.
  • Detailed travel and destination information to assist you in your planning.
  • Deluxe travel wallet.
  • All domestic and foreign governmental airport/departure taxes and fees.*
  • Automatic $250,000 Flight Insurance for all passengers ticketed by AHI International, subject to policy terms.*
  • Provided for air-inclusive participants only.
Accommodations
Carlton Hotel, Tel Aviv
Kibbutz Lavi Hotel

Hotel Dan Panorama

 
DATES
March 7-16 , 2009
COSTS
$2,295 land only, per person based on double occupancy until September 9, 2008. After 9/9/08 add $100 per person. Roundtrip international air additional. Assistance booking air available. Pre - or - post extend your stay for independent travel.
ACTIVITY LEVEL
Moderate
SUMMARY PAGE
HIGHLIGHTS
Tel Aviv • Jerusalem • The Dead Sea • Galilee • Haifa • UNESCO World Heritage Sites
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