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AHI: Israel
October 10-19, 2009
Itinerary
Day 1
Depart your gateway city for Tel Aviv, Israel, aboard scheduled jet service. (Provided for Air Program participants only.)
Day 2
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.
Day 3
Tel Aviv, Caesarea & Akko
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.
Local Flavor: A restaurant in Akko hosts you for lunch.
Upon arrival in Lower Galilee, check into the Kibbutz Lavi.
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.
Day 4
The Sea of Galilee 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.
Local Flavor: After a restaurant lunch in historic Katzrin, tour an olive oil factory and taste regional wines.
Excursion: Sailing Storied Waters. Embark on a scenic cruise on the Sea of Galilee. (Weather permitting.)
Educational Focus: Meet the People. Participate in a discussion with local residents and learn about modern life in Israel.
Day 5
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 Bahá'í World Centre and its elaborate terraced gardens.
Local Flavor: Enjoy an authentic Druze lunch near Haifa.
Journey south to Jerusalem and check into the Hotel Dan Panorama.
Independent Exploration: The remainder of the evening is at your leisure.
Day 6
Jerusalem
Jerusalem 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.
Local Flavor: Savor a tasty falafel lunch at a restaurant in the Arab Quarter.
Educational Focus: Is it Finally Time for a Peace Deal? NPR correspondent Linda Gradstein presents her professional assessment of Israeli-Palestinian relations.
Day 7
Jerusalem JerusalemExcursion: A Poignant Monument. Visit Yad Vashem, the Holocaust memorial.
Educational Focus: A Holocaust Survivor Remembers. Join a Question-and-Answer session with a Yad Vashem guide for a personal account of her/his experience.
Excursion: The City of Peace. See Knesset, the Israeli parliament, en route to the bustling Machane Yehuda Market.
Independent Exploration: Enjoy some time in the market on your own.
Day 8
Masada and 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.
Local Flavor: 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.
Day 9
Jerusalem/Frankfurt Independent Exploration: 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.)
Day 10
Continue on the trans-Atlantic flight from Frankfurt to your gateway city. (Provided for Air Program participants only.)
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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. 
Jerusalem Excursion: A Poignant Monument. Visit Yad Vashem, the Holocaust memorial. 
Independent Exploration: The morning in Jerusalem is at your leisure.