Pre-stay, ride-parallel, and post-stay touring opportunities for visitors on the “Wheels of Love” bike ride delegation in support of the ALYN Hospital.
Menu:
Pre-Stay Dates: October 18-22, 2023
Ride-Parallel Tour Activities: October 23-26, 2023
Post-Stay Dates: October 26-30, 2023
Download a PDF of this Tour & Terms
Pre-Stay Dates: October 18-22, 2023
Included:
4 nights’ accommodation at hotels per itinerary
1 guide for four days of private touring 4 days of private transportation
3 lunches & 1 dinner
Light tasting tour at Mahane Yehuda market
All entrances and activity fees
Dedicated pre-trip customer service and on-ground support
Not included:
Travel insurance
Single Supplement = $425
Meals not mentioned in the itinerary
Gratuities for hotels
Anything not explicitly mentioned in the included section
Pricing: $1,995 based on a minimum of 10 travelers
Itinerary
Day 1: Arrival – Wednesday, October 18, 2023
Arrive at TLV airport and transfer to your Jerusalem accommodations. We will include an early afternoon and late pm transfer to correspond with flights.
Overnight: Montefiore Hotel, Jerusalem
Day 2: Welcome to Israel – Thursday, October 19, 2023
Start off with check-in for Wheels of Love. Obtain assistance with bikes from mechanics. Begin the day with an orientation to the Land of Israel from the ancient agricultural terraces of Sataf in the Jerusalem hills. Head to Kibbutz Tzuba for lunch before a light hike to the top of an ancient Tel, taking in a spectacular view and discussing the evolution of Israel’s pioneering community model. Continue to “Nabi Samuil,” a lesser-known site whose remains mark the burial site of the biblical prophet Samuel, according to Abrahamic tradition. Discuss the surrounding landscape of both Jewish and Arab villages, tracing regional development through passing historical epochs.
Overnight: Montefiore Hotel, Jerusalem [B, L]
Day 2: West Jerusalem – Friday, October 20, 2023
In the morning, head to the Yad Vashem Museum for a sobering remembrance of a historical tragedy and its reverberations in contemporary Israel. Visit Mt. Herzl next door to discuss how service and sacrifice figure prominently in Israeli national identity. Head to the bustling Mahane Yehuda market for a few quick tastes from among its diverse vendors, followed by time to find lunch and explore on your own. Choose from various options for attending Kabbalat Shabbat services nearby before gathering for dinner as a group.
Day 3: Jerusalem Old City – Saturday, October 21, 2023 (Touring by foot)
Morning options include Shabbat services, time on your own, or a neighborhood tour in downtown Jerusalem with your guide. Lunch provided at the hotel.
In the afternoon, take a tour of the Jerusalem Old City, passing its four quarters, and stopping at key landmarks. Visit the Western Wall, touching ancient stones and understanding the significance of this monument within Jewish tradition. Discuss tensions around current developments on the Temple Mount / Noble Sanctuary and its importance to three Abrahamic faiths. Walk along the Roman Cardo beneath the Old City floor, past the Hurva synagogue of the Jewish Quarter, and continue to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, which houses six Christian sects (optional entrance).
Overnight: Montefiore Hotel, Jerusalem [B, L]
Day 4: Ein Gedi & Masada – Sunday, October 22, 2023
Begin the day with a visit to the viewpoint atop the Mt. of Olives, then ascend (optional) to the Temple Mount / Noble Sanctuary for a walk through the tranquil plaza surrounding the Dome of the Rock. Head into the Judean Desert, stopping for a walk to the Ein Gedi oasis and continuing to Herod’s mountaintop fortress of Masada. Ride the cable car to view the extensive excavations revealing technologies of Roman antiquity and the story of Jewish rebels who took refuge here some 2,000 years ago. Continue to the “Wheels of Love” hotel in Beer Sheva.
Ride-Parallel Tour Activities: October 23-26, 2023
Included:
1 guide for four days of private touring with transportation, driver, all entrances and activity fees.
Not included:
Lodging/overnight accommodations (must be arranged through ALYN for $300 per person)
Gratuities for guides and drivers
Pricing: $350 per person per day based on a minimum of 8 participants
Itinerary
Monday, October 23, 2023 – Desert Visions
Head to the “development town” of Yeruham to learn about the communities and industries strengthening Israel’s periphery. Continue to a stunning viewpoint from the final resting place of late Israeli Prime Minister, David Ben Gurion, who dreamed of a desert in bloom. From Sde Boker, drive to Mitzpe Ramon for an afternoon jeep tour of the remarkable crater landscape below.
Tuesday, October 24, 2023 – The Envelope
Meet local change makers in one of Israel’s most resilient cities: Sderot. Visit the local cinematheque, founded in 1999 as the first institution dedicated to cinematic culture in southern Israel. Hear from leaders of a local trauma relief organization, walk to a viewpoint towards the Mediterranean Sea, and stand beside the Path to Peace Wall in the nearby community of Netiv HaAsara. In the afternoon, take a journey on Israel’s “Salad Trail,” an interactive tasting tour featuring the fruits of desert agriculture.
Wednesday, October 25, 2023 – Traditional Cultures
Visit a rural Jewish community in the upper Negev to hear what draws both veteran Israelis and new immigrants to a slower lifestyle further from the urban centers. Next, pass through the town of Hura to visit the remarkable project Wadi Attir, a groundbreaking initiative of a Bedouin community establishing a model sustainable farm that leverages traditional values. Visit Tel Arad, a settlement dating to Canaanite times and resettled by Israelites from the 11th century BCE, before arriving at Ein Bokek for an afternoon beside the Dead Sea.
Thursday, October 26, 2023 – The Way to Jerusalem
Make your way north, stopping in Kiryat Gat for coffee and conversation with a member of the Ethiopian Jewish community to learn about their journey to Israel and their unique customs. Participate in “Dig for a Day” exercises at Beit Guvrin for an interactive introduction to the techniques of archaeological excavation and research. Stop near Beit Shemesh to see the remarkable formations and stalactites of the Sorek Cave, before continuing to ALYN Hospital for closing ceremonies.
Post-Stay Dates: October 26-30, 2023
Included:
4 nights’ accommodation at hotels per the itinerary
1 guide for four days of private touring
4 days of private transportation per itinerary
1 transfer from ALYN hospital to group hotel
1 lunch & 3 dinners
All entrances and activity fees
Dedicated pre-trip customer service and on-ground support
Not included:
International airfare
Travel insurance
Single Supplement = $520
Meals not mentioned in the itinerary Gratuities for hotels
Pricing: $2,275 based on a minimum of 12 participants
Itinerary
Day 8: Wheels of Love concludes – Thursday, October 26 (Transfer from ALYN to hotel) Check into your hotel for an evening to relax before the tour picks up the following day. Group dinner included.
Overnight: Yearim Hotel [D]
Day 9: Journey North – Friday, October 27
Head north into the Galilee for a visit to Tsippori, a city dating to the era of the Maccabees and serving as seat of the Jewish Sanhedrin in early Talmudic times. Reach the hilltop town of Tzfat for an exploration of Jewish mysticism through the small alleyways and artist galleries of the Old Town. Reach your accommodations before Shabbat for dinner as a group and an evening at your leisure.
Overnight: Kibbutz Guest House/Resort near Sea of Galilee [B, D]
Day 10: Golan Heights – Saturday, October 28 (Guide, Driver) Optional, for those not traditionally observant of Shabbat.
Possible itinerary:
– Hula Valley to view rest-stop for migratory bird populations
– Mt. Bental view into Syria and geo-political discussion
– Banias mini-hike to waterfall
Overnight: Kibbutz Guest House /Resort near Sea of Galilee [B, L, D]
Day 11: Akko & Haifa – Sunday, October 29 (Guide, Driver)
Begin the day with a visit to a unique project bringing together Jewish and Arab residents of the Galilee region in the field of healthcare (or hi-tech). Continue to Akko for a walk through the Old Town, Templar Tunnels, and Ramchal Synagogue. Head south to Haifa for a view over the Bahai Gardens and continue south to Tel Aviv for an evening at your leisure.
Overnight: BY14 Hotel, Tel Aviv [B]
Day 12: Tel Aviv & Departure – Monday, October 30 (Guide, Driver)
Enjoy a brief tour of the Jaffa Port, passing through the popular Neve Tzedek neighborhood along the way. This quaint neighborhood is home to creative boutique shops and a range of cuisines. Learn what inspired the name “White City” as you browse the unique Bauhaus architecture along picturesque Rothschild Boulevard. After a visit to ANU: Museum of the Jewish People in the afternoon, continue to Rabin Square for a discussion on leadership and prospects for Israel’s future. Head to the airport for your departing flights.
Payment & Cancellation Policy: All cancellations must be received in writing and will become effective as of the date of postmark for appropriate credit minus the following fees.
- Initial deposit of $99 is non-refundable. A credit will be issued should any tour not reach sufficient numbers.
- Once a tour meets the minimum number, a second invoice of 50% of the remaining tour fee will be issued.
- Final payment due by August 19, 2023.
Terms:
- Up to 60 Days Prior (before August 19): All deposited payments minus the initial deposit of $99 will be credited towards a future tour (valid until April 2025).
- 59-46 Days Prior: 40% of tour cost
- 45-21 Days Prior: 80% of tour cost
- 20 days prior or less: 100% of tour cost
Email us at Shoshana@windingwaytravel.com
Winding Way Travel 