Israel Family Journey

Calling all adults and families! Experience the beauty of Israel on this 10-day tour for adults and families with an optional 2-day extension to Eilat on the Red Sea. Join travelers from across North America to experience Israel's rich history, modern culture, and natural beauty. The itinerary is full of Israel's must-see sites like Jerusalem, Masada, Caesarea, Dead Sea, Sea of Galilee, and the Judean desert. Along the way, we also experience Israel's off-the-beaten-path charm, culture, and ever delicious food.

10 Days Not Enough? Extend to Eilat & Petra

Extend your stay relaxing at the Red Sea resort city of Eilat and spend a memorable day visiting Petra – Jordan’s rose-colored Nabatean wonder of the world. Eilat resort extension add-on costs $600/person (based on double occupancy) and includes two nights accommodations in Eilat with breakfast daily, round trip domestic flights and all transfers between the Eilat Airport and the accommodations in Eilat. Exact domestic flights will be booked according to the travel needs of individual participants. The guided Petra day trip costs an additional $230/person and includes round trip transfers from Eilat accommodations, entrance fees, guide, and lunch (not kosher). Border fees are extra (~$55/person).

Celebrating a Bar/Bat Mitzvah During the Trip?

The Israel Family Journey experience can also provide the opportunity to celebrate a bar/bat mitzvah in Israel – or even celebrate the anniversary of your own bat/bar mitzvah. Contact us to make custom arrangements.

Is this Experience Right for Me?

The Israel Family Journey is intended for both adults and families with a spirit for adventure. Each day is packed with experiences that are designed to give you the full flavor of Israel. The itinerary is Jewish heritage-focused, all meals are kosher, and there is no bus-based touring on Shabbat. In other words, this tour is designed for Jewish travelers of all backgrounds and ages looking for an active experience. Group sizes typically range from 15-40. Membership or prior affiliation with BBYO is not necessary to participate in the Israel Family Journey.

About Our Travel Partner

The Israel Family Journey experience is organized and operated in-house with our travel partner, Authentic Israel; which means we can provide the highest level of customer service and a truly "authentic" experience in Israel. References are always available upon request.

Early Registation Discount & No Risk Registration!

Register at least six months in advance of the program start date and automatically receive a $100/person discount! Sign-up now by completing the program registration form and take advantage of no-risk registration terms!

The following are confirmed upcoming Israel Family Journey trip dates. Additional program dates may be added upon request. See below for information on how to arrange your travel to Israel.

The program formally begins on Thursday evening with dinner included at the Jerusalem hotel. Participants arriving early or late can be accommodated by special arrangement.

Getting to Israel

The base price for Israel Family Journey does not include international flights. Participants are responsible for arranging their own air travel to/from Israel. As part of the program package, participants will be met at Ben Gurion International Airport upon arrival on Thursday and escorted to the group hotel in Jerusalem at no extra cost. Participants will be escorted back to the airport on the final Saturday night in time to catch overnight flights back to North America.

Each Israel Family Journey program includes the following packaged services:

• VIP greeting at airport and transfer to Jerusalem for start of program
  
• 4-star hotels and kibbutz country guest house accommodations
  
• Licensed Israeli tour guide throughout program
  
• Two meals daily, including all Shabbat meals
  
• Luxury private air-conditioned touring bus
  
• Site entrance fees and activity costs
  
• Not Included: International flights, gratuities (suggested $100/ adult), one meal/day, hotel incidentals, travelers insurance (optional), and local medical insurance (optional)
  

The Israel Family Journey trip is based on the following core itinerary elements. Actual itineraries and final hotel locations may vary slightly and will be re-confirmed approximately 2-3 months prior to arrival. Meals included: L=Lunch / D=Dinner / B=Breakfast

DAY 1 / Thursday / Arrival in Israel!
- Arrive to Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport on self-booked flight
- VIP greeting and transfer to Jerusalem hotel
- Check-in and group dinner at hotel
- Evening: Tower of David – Sound & Light Show
- Overnight: Prima Kings Hotel, Jerusalem [D]

DAY 2 / Friday / Ancient Jerusalem
- Breakfast at hotel
- Panoramic intro to Jerusalem from the Haas Promenade
- Tour of the City of David archeological park
- Walk through Hezkiah's water tunnel by candle light
- Enter the Old City and explore the rooftops, alleys and tunnels of the Jewish Quarter
- Reflections at the Kotel – The Western Wall
- Experience layers of Jewish history on the Kotel Tunnel Tour deep under the Old City
- Option to experience Kabbalat Shabbat at the Kotel - Festive Shabbat dinner at hotel
- Overnight: Prima Kings Hotel, Jerusalem [B / D]

DAY 3 / Saturday / Shabbat in Jerusalem
- Breakfast at hotel
- Option to attend Shabbat services at local synagogues
- Shabbat lunch served at hotel
- Guided walking tour of local Jerusalem neighborhoods
- Free time to relax at Independence Park
- Evening: Experience Jerusalem nightlife on Ben Yehuda pedestrian mall
- Overnight: Prima Kings Hotel, Jerusalem [B / L]

DAY 4 / Sunday / Contemporary Jerusalem
- Breakfast at hotel - Explore the Yad Vashem Holocaust Center
- Visit to Har Herzl National Memorial
- Walking tour of the Knesset & Supreme Court grounds
- Tree planting ceremony in the Jerusalem Bird Observatory
- Experience the color of Mahane Yehuda marketplace
- Dinner at Anna Ticho House Restaurant in Jerusalem
- Overnight: Prima Kings Hotel, Jerusalem [B / D]

DAY 5 / Monday / Judean Desert - Breakfast at hotel
- Early morning travel to the Judean Desert
- Ascend Masada via cable cars or hike up the Snake Path
- Walking tour of the Masada complex
- Short nature walk to the desert waterfalls at Ein Gedi
- Check-in & relaxed floating at the Dead Sea
- Evening: Camel riding & Bedouin tent dinner feast
- Overnight: Prima Spa Club, Dead Sea [B / D]

DAY 6 / Tuesday / The Galilee
- Breakfast at hotel
- Travel northwards to the Galilee along the Jordan Valley
- Walking tour of mystical Tzfat – Birthplace of the Kabbalah
- Explore Tzfat’s unique artist quarter and meet with a local Kabbalist artist
- Relaxed rafting on the upper Jordan River
- Sunset cruise on the Sea of Galilee with Israeli dancing!
- Lakefront dinner at Tiberias promenade restaurant
- Overnight: Ramot Guest House & Resort, Galilee [B / D]

DAY 7 / Wednesday / Golan Heights
- Breakfast at hotel
- Ascend the Golan Heights
- Nature walk to Gamla on the Golan Heights
- Historical jeep trek through the Golan
- View across the region and crawl through former Syrian bunkers on the Golan's Mount Ben-Tal
- Evening: Relax at the Hamat Gader hot springs
- Dinner at Hamat Gader
- Overnight: Ramot Guest House & Resort, Galilee [B / D]

DAY 8 / Thursday / Mediterranean Coast
- Breakfast at hotel
- Begin travel westwards towards the Mediterranean Coast
- Overlook of Haifa from the Bahai Gardens on Mt. Carmel
- Traditional Druze hospitality & lunch at Ussafiya Village
- Visit to Caesarea - the Roman amphitheater on the beach
- Arrive to Tel Aviv in the late afternoon
- Sunset walking tour of the ancient Jaffa seaport
- Overnight: Dan Panorama Hotel, Tel Aviv [B / L]

DAY 9 / Friday / Founding of Modern Israel
- Breakfast at hotel
- Crawl through the Bar Kochba caves at Beit Guvrin
- Tour the Ayalon Institute and learn story of the Haganah
- Recount modern Israel's founding at Independence Hall
- Explore the Nahalat Binyamin street festival in Tel Aviv's Neve Tzedek neighborhood
- Festive Shabbat dinner served at hotel
- Overnight: Dan Panorama Hotel, Tel Aviv [B / D]

DAY 10 / Saturday / Shabbat on the Beach!
- Breakfast at hotel
- Option to attend Shabbat services at local synagogues
- Shabbat lunch served at hotel
- Guided walking tour of Tel Aviv’s “White City” district
- Experience a "Tel Aviv-style Shabbat" on the beaches of the Mediterranean Coast!
- Return to airport for overnight flights home [B / L]

Registration for the Israel Family Journey is slightly different than most other BBYO Passport experiences. To sign-up, download the Registration Form.

NOTE: Registration and payment for the Israel Family Journey is managed by our travel partner, Authentic Israel

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Program Costs

Main Program: $1,950/Person
• Price based on double room occupancy (two per hotel room)
• Supplement for single room occupancy: $650/person
• Discount for children 13 and under (in double or triple room): $200/child
NOTE: Main Program package price does not include airfare

Eilat Add-On Package: $600/Person
• Price based on double room occupancy (two per hotel room)
• Supplement for single room occupancy: $250
• Discount for children 13 and under (in double or triple room): $50/child
• Guided Petra day trip from Eilat: $230/person
Petra tour includes round-trip transfers from Eilat, local guide, entrance fee and lunch (not kosher)
Border fees not included (~$55/p)

Traveler's Health Insurance: $2.50/Day
• Treatment in Israel without deductibles, co-pays or paperwork
• Does not cover pre-existing conditions
• Supplemental fees for travelers age 65 or older
• Must be ordered at least seven days prior to arrival

NOTE: Even if you have a North American health insurance policy that covers you abroad (including traditional travel insurance), you would still need to pay out-of-pocket in Israel for care, collect receipts/documentation, and make a claim back in North America. This local health insurance policy provides a far more simple solution for receiving care in Israel.

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Early Registration Discount

Register at least six months in advance of the program start date and automatically receive a $100/person discount! There are only a limited number of spaces available, so we encourage you to sign-up early.

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Payment & Cancellation Terms

In order to reserve your place on the program, a $250/person deposit fee is due with registration. Full payment is due no later than 60 days prior to trip start date. The trip deposit is fully refundable up to 120 days prior to program start date. Participants who cancel within 120 days of the program start date will receive a refund, minus the deposit. Participants who cancel within 30 days of the program start date are not entitled to a refund.

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Traveler's Insurance

BBYO Passport has partnered with Travel Insurance Israel to provide an optional discounted travel insurance package. According to the terms of this policy, children under the age of 18 traveling with parent(s) are covered for FREE. The cost of the policy is a function of the total cost of your trip, including airfare booked on your own. The policy must be issued before final payment in made on the program, and some benefits are only available within 14 days of registration. Take advantage of it!