Israel: Timeless Wonders
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Overview
Highlights
- Tel Aviv touring including “White City” of Bauhaus architecture
- Jaffa’s ancient port
- Artists’ village of Ein Hod
- Overnight stay on a working kibbutz
- Biblical sites of Tiberias, Nazareth, Mount of Beatitudes, Sea of Galilee
- Winery visit and cooking class
- Five-night Jerusalem stay at legendary King David hotel
- Jerusalem touring including Yad Vashem Holocaust memorial, Old City, Western Wall, Church of the Holy Sepulcher, Israel Museum, Ein Karem
- Dead Sea Qumran Caves
- Fortress ruins of Masada
What's this trip about?
Details
Travel Themes
Destinations
Attractions
Activities
Trip includes
- $4,695 air & land inclusive plus $789 airline taxes and fees
- Round-trip air transportation from listed cities
- 10 nights’ accommodations in Deluxe, Superior First Class, and unrated hotels
- 22 meals: 10 breakfasts, 6 lunches, 6 dinners
- Extensive sightseeing as described, including all entrance fees
- Services of an Odysseys Unlimited Tour Director
- Private motorcoach transportation throughout your trip
- Luggage handling for one bag per person
- Gratuities for local guides, dining room servers, airport and hotel porters, and all drivers
- $100 frequent traveler credit towards your next Odysseys Unlimited tour ($200 after 3 tours; $300 after 10 tours)
Itinerary
Depart U.S. for Tel Aviv, Israel
Arrive Tel Aviv We arrive today and transfer to our hotel. As guests’ arrival times may vary greatly, we have no group activities or meals planned and are at leisure to explore or relax as we wish.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Tel Aviv Today we encounter the vibrant modern city of Tel Aviv, Israel’s arts and culture capital. Our tour features Independence Hall, where the state of Israel was declared in 1948; the “White City” district of distinctive ...
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
Tel Aviv/Upper Galilee We travel north along the coast today to Caesarea to see the ruins of an ancient Roman amphitheater and harbor. We continue on to the artists’ village of Ein Hod, set amidst olive groves at the foot of Mt. Carm...
Meals: Breakfast and Dinner
Mount Bental/Tiberias Today begins with a special tour of the kibbutz followed by a visit to a local winery. We continue on to Mount Bental in the Golan Heights for a panoramic view of Israel, Lebanon, Syria, and Jordan. Next: the ru...
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Tiberias/Nazareth This morning we visit the Mount of Beatitudes, where Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount. Then the New Testament comes to life as we travel to Jesus’ boyhood home of Nazareth, now a center of Christian pil...
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
Tiberias/Jerusalem On our way to Jerusalem today we stop at the archaeological site of Beit Shean, where ongoing excavations have revealed the ruins of numerous cities dating as far back as the 4th century BCE. We travel on to Jerusa...
Meals: Breakfast and Lunch
Jerusalem Our day begins with a tour of Yad Vashem, Israel’s living memorial to the Holocaust set on a 45-acre site on the Mount of Remembrance. Then we travel to the Judean Hills to the picturesque village of Ein Karem, where we enjo...
Meals: Breakfast
Jerusalem This morning we visit Jerusalem’s Old City for a tour of the excavated tunnels beneath the Western Wall. Then we visit the Church of the Holy Sepulcher, traditional site of Golgotha where Jesus is believed to have been crucified and buried. The remainder of the day is then free to explore Jerusalem independently or return to the hotel.
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Jerusalem/Old City We return to the Old City today, starting at the original settlement of the City of David, dating to at least the Middle Bronze Age of 1800 to 1550 BCE. Our guide gives us an in-depth account of Jerusalem’s ...
Meals: Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
Jerusalem/Masada/Dead Sea Today we travel to the shores of the Dead Sea to explore the Qumran Caves, where the Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered between 1947 and 1956. We continue on to the ruins at Masada, the celebrated mount...
Meals: Breakfast
Depart Tel Aviv for U.S. Very early this morning we transfer by motorcoach to Tel Aviv for our connecting flights to the United States.
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Dates & Availability
Check Current Availability, prices, specials with Odysseys Unlimited.
The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.
Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.
Odysseys Unlimited Reviews & Ratings
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We recently returned from a tour to Israel through Odysseys Unlimited. This was our fourth tour with Odysseys. Again, we were not disappointed. Our guide, Yanay, was...
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Excellent, experiences interesting and worthwhile.
Just finishing up my first tour with OU...Insider’s Japan. We experienced 2 typhoons during this trip (we purposely went the later part of October because typhoon se...
Tour Operator
Small Groups: Our Only Focus
Small group travel is all that we do – just 12 to 24 guests on our own custom-designed tours. And it’s all we’ve ever done, from the day we opened our doors in 1998.
We design and operate our tours specifically for small groups, rather than adapt a conventional tour to take fewer guests. And while you’re sure to find tours with fewer guests, or lower prices, or labeled “Deluxe” (with the prices to match), you won’t find the combination of value, quality, superior accommodations and amenities, and guaranteed small groups that we offer.
We do this by creating and operating our own tours, and offering them to you without any middlemen. We work closely with our airline, hotel, and other travel partners to secure the lowest rates possible. Then we put those rates to good use by offering our tours at an excellent value – not necessarily the lowest price, but the best ratio of price to experiences, quality, and service.
We invite you to compare our tours with those of other travel companies and see for yourself. You’ll find that Odysseys Unlimited offers the best package of small group travel and premium quality – at an excellent value.
The Small Group Experience
The small size of our tour groups allows us to move about more flexibly and efficiently; enjoy more spontaneous encounters; and experience a degree of freedom and independence simply not available to travelers on conventional group tours of 40 or more.
Traveling on your own you’d see the major sights, but chances are you’d stick close to the traditional tourist routes. Our goal is to show you the major sights and take you behind the scenes: into private homes and traditional villages, to local schools and neighborhood restaurants. And you’ll travel in the company of experienced, knowledgeable tour directors and guides who share their countries – and their lives – with you, bringing destinations alive in a truly personal and meaningful way.
Not only do these opportunities enhance your travels, but someone else makes the arrangements and manages all the details – leaving you free to savor the small group experience.
Extensive Included Sightseeing
Our small group tours include a great deal of thoughtful and engaging sightseeing and activities, from camel-back rides, rainforest walks, and scenic excursions to guided museum tours, home visits, cultural performances, and wine tastings. In major cities there’s usually free time to explore on your own after a guided city tour.
Respect for Your Freedom and Individuality
If you’ve avoided taking group tours, preferring to travel on your own, we think you’ll be pleasantly surprised by our level of service, independence, and value. And if you’re a veteran of traditional group tours, we’re confident you’ll be impressed by the many advantages of small group travel, as well as by the high quality and outstanding value you’ll enjoy with Odysseys Unlimited.
We offer the best of both worlds: the value, ease, and comprehensive itinerary of a group tour, and the freedom, quality, and service that sophisticated travelers demand, and deserve. Should you choose to sit out an included tour or two and go off on your own, you’re entirely welcome to do so. And we think you’ll appreciate having the occasional lunch or dinner on your own, away from the group.
Our Tour Directors Make the Difference
We believe personal attention is key to an outstanding travel experience, so we’ve ensured that it’s a hallmark of Odysseys Unlimited. It starts with our travel counselors when you reserve your trip, then continues on the road with your tour director. Our professional tour directors rank among the best in the business; their love of travel is surpassed only by their desire to share their enthusiasm and knowledge with others. And traveling in a small group means your tour director will have more time to spend with you and to share the personal insights that can add so much to your experience.
A Variety of Accommodations
We know that hotels aren’t the main reason for traveling. But good accommodations can enhance your overall tour experience, and great accommodations can contribute to a great trip. So we select hotels that we believe are best for a particular trip and experience – those that offer the best combination of quality, value, and atmosphere for each destination. Our hotels in major cities are usually centrally located so guests can get around easier; our unique lodgings are often out of the way, offering our tour members a local ambiance larger groups never experience.
Our lodging options are divided into three segments:
Excellent Hotels
These are the Deluxe, Superior First Class, and First Class accommodations we use in major cities, including well-known chain hotels and independently owned properties. You can expect excellent service and amenities in these well-located properties.
Unique Lodgings
Perhaps our most interesting lodgings, these properties cater to small groups and independent travelers, and generally are not available to conventional groups of 40 or more. From the historic paradores of Spain, to a French farmhouse, to a Japanese ryokan or a Tuscan villa, these accommodations often are destinations in themselves.
Small Ships
We leave the mass-market big ship cruise experience to others, and instead focus on the smaller, more intimate ships that ply distinctive waterways. As you cruise along the Yangtze River, the Turquoise Coast, or through the Patagonian ice fields, among others, your small ship is as much a part of the journey as the places you visit. These vessels let you see the life of a country up close, and allow you to disembark frequently to explore. And while they may vary from simple and comfortable to truly deluxe, these ships generally feature a casual onboard atmosphere, single-seating dining, and amenities such as lounges, boutiques, and plenty of open deck space.
Most Gratuities Included
Experienced travelers know that tipping is an expected element of worldwide travel; but at times it can become a nuisance or inconvenience. For that reason, we’ve eliminated the worry by including in your tour price all gratuities for local guides and drivers, hotel and airport porters, and dining room servers. Gratuities for your Odysseys Unlimited Tour Director and shipboard personnel (if your tour includes a cruise) are not included and should be extended on a voluntary basis, in recognition of truly excellent service.
What Your Tour Price Includes
We design our tours to be highly inclusive, while still making it possible for you to exercise some personal preferences. So we include all the essentials – airfare, accommodations, most meals, extensive sightseeing – but leave some room for you to explore on your own or to enjoy a few meals away from the group.
In general, every Odysseys Unlimited trip includes:
- Travel in a small group of just 12 to 24 guests – guaranteed
- Round-trip air transportation from listed cities; plus all flights within your tour
- Accommodations
- Many meals: all breakfasts, many lunches and dinners – and you’ll also have the opportunity to dine on your own, without the group
- All advertised sightseeing (plus all entrance fees and admissions)
- Singular activities and more intimate cultural encounters possible only with a small group
- The services of an experienced, professional Odysseys Unlimited Tour Director
- Gratuities for local guides, dining room servers, airport and hotel porters, and all drivers
- Luggage handling for one bag per person
- $100 frequent traveler credit toward your next Odysseys Unlimited tour ($200 after three tours; $300 after 10 tours)
Fully Refundable Deposits
A deposit of just $375 confirms your reservation, which you can make with a personal check or major credit card: American Express, MasterCard, Discover, and VISA are all accepted. Best of all, your deposit is fully refundable up to 95 or 125 days before departure (depending on the tour). It’s easy to reserve your tour with us; simply call toll-free, 1-888-370-6765, Monday through Friday from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., Eastern Time.
Six-Time Honoree Travel + Leisure’s “World’s Best Tour Operators” Award
We are honored that Odysseys Unlimited has been named six times as one of the “World’s Best Tour Operators” by readers of Travel + Leisure in the magazine’s prestigious annual poll. Based on surveys completed by thousands of readers and travelers, the “World’s Best” list judges tour operators on their staff and guides, itineraries, activities, destinations, accommodations, food, and value.
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Logistics
Accommodation
Cancellations and Refunds
You will receive a full refund for any cancellations made up to 95 days before departure (125 days for In the Wake of Lewis and Clark). If you must cancel your tour, the effective date of cancellation will be upon our receipt of your notification. Refunds for cancellations are subject to the following per person charges:
For all tours (except as noted)
Prior to departure
Charge
95 days or more
Full refund
94–65 days
25% of tour price
64–45 days
50% of tour price
44–30 days
75% of tour price
29–0 days
No refund
10 Breakfasts, 6 Lunches and 6 Dinners
Post-Tour Extension
Jordan: Petra & Amman: 5 days/4 nights for $1,395 total price
Single Supplement: $395
Discover the “rose-red city, half as old as time” on this exciting exploration. Plus: the capital of Amman.
Your Tour Price Includes
- Private motorcoach transportation Jerusalem/Petra/Amman
- 4 nights’ accommodations: 2 nights in Petra at Mövenpick Resort (Superior First Class); 2 nights in Amman at Kempinski Amman (Superior First Class)
- 9 meals: 4 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 2 dinners
- Extensive included sightseeing of Petra and Amman
- Services of an Odysseys Unlimited Tour Director
- Gratuities for dining room servers, airport and hotel porters, and all drivers
Please note: This trip involves considerable walking on uneven or cobblestone streets and at sites of ancient ruins. You should be in good physical condition to enjoy the tour to the fullest.
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