JTZ & FRIENDS GO TO ISRAEL
REDISCOVER ISRAEL WITH A COMMUNITY OF FRIENDS
MARCH 1-11, 2026
Return to Israel to cover new ground and explore off-the-beaten-path treasures on a tour that coincides with the celebration of Purim – an especially colorful festival as celebrated in Israel!
Together, we’ll discover the sweeping Mediterranean views from the Carmel Mountains and the vast canyons of the Negev Desert. We'll revisit Jerusalem and Tel Aviv from a new perspective, and we'll tap into the innovative spirit that defines nearly every aspect of Israeli society today.
This fully guided small group touring experience is hosted by Jo-Anne Tucker Zemlak (JTZ!), bringing together friends (and friends of friends) for a shared travel experience. Join us for this special journey together!
PROGRAM COSTS
$3,845 in a double occupancy room
$4,820 in a single occupancy room
Program costs are based on a minimum of 10 travelers in our group. Should we reach at least 13 travelers, a $450/person discount will apply!
THE EXPERIENCE
This projected itinerary is subject to change based on local conditions and availability
Sunday, March 1, 2026
Depart for Israel on a self-booked flight
A suggested flight will be designated in Fall 2025
Monday, March 2, 2026
- Arrive at Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport in the afternoon
- VIP greeting and meet our staff team at the airport – the journey begins!
- Check in to our hotel along the Tel Aviv coast
- Discover the complexity and beauty of Hebrew graffiti art in Florentine, a trendy neighborhood of Tel Aviv
- Welcome dinner at Ola Ola Restaurant in the Carmel Market
OVERNIGHT: Leonardo Gordon Beach, Tel Aviv
Meals Included: Dinner
Tuesday, March 3, 2026
- Volunteer at the Jaffa Institute – An innovative charity dedicated to combating poverty
- Join in the colorful festivities of Tel Aviv's Purim parade
- Celebrate the spirit of Tel Aviv at the Nahalat Binyamin street fair and the Carmel Market
- Discover the richness of Jewish Ethiopian culture, experience a traditional coffee ceremony
- Museum of the Jewish People (Diaspora Museum) on the campus of Tel Aviv University
OVERNIGHT: Leonardo Gordon Beach, Tel Aviv
Meals Included: Breakfast
Wednesday, March 4, 2026
- Depart Tel Aviv and head north along the Mediterranean Coast
- Learn about the remarkable story of Hannah Senesh, a poet and brave Holocaust liberator, at Kibbutz Sdot Yam, her home in British Mandate-era Palestine
- Atlit detainee camp – Recount the story of how Jewish refugees fleeing the Holocaust were greeted during the British Mandate Era
- First Aliyah Museum – Explore the Jewish People’s 19th Century return to the Land of Israel
- Check in to our accommodations in Zichron Yaakov, the historic pioneering town founded by Baron Edmond James de Rothschild in the Carmel Mountains
- Tasting and tour at the Tishbi Winery in Zichron Yaakov
OVERNIGHT: Elma Arts Hotel, Zichron Yaakov
Meals Included: Breakfast & Dinner
Thursday, March 5, 2026
- Explore Haifa, Israel's most diverse city, including a walk through the Bahai Temple Gardens and a visit to the Technion Visitor Center
- Break for lunch on own in Haifa's Wadi Nis Nas neighborhood of Haifa
- Rosh Hanikrah – Descend into the ocean-swept caves on Israel's far northern border
- Travel to Jerusalem and check in to our centrally located hotel
OVERNIGHT: Prima Kings, Jerusalem (Deluxe Rooms)
Meals Included: Breakfast & Dinner
Friday, March 6, 2026
- Morning: Yad VaShem World Holocaust Remembrance Center
- Discover the treasures of Jewish literary history at the National Library of Israel
- Mahane Yehuda – Browse this colorful open-air market as Jerusalem prepares for Shabbat
- Check in to our hotel in Jerusalem and prepare for Shabbat
- Evening: Kabbalat Shabbat at ZION: An Eretz Israeli Congregation in Jerusalem
- Shabbat dinner is included at our hotel
OVERNIGHT: Prima Kings, Jerusalem (Deluxe Rooms)
Meals Included: Breakfast & Dinner
Saturday, March 7, 2026
- Program Options:
- Shabbat walking tour in the Old City, including a visit to the Tower of David Museum
- Day tour of Masada and the Dead Sea (extra cost)
- Evening: Tower of David Night Spectacular sound and light show in the Old City
- Dinner on own at the Ben Yehuda Pedestrian Mall
OVERNIGHT: Prima Kings, Jerusalem (Deluxe Rooms)
Meals Included: Breakfast
Sunday, March 8, 2026
- Depart Jerusalem and head south to Israel's Western Negev Desert
- Meet with members of Moshav Netiv HaAsara to learn how this community of peace activists is grappling with the past and looking to the future
- Break for lunch on your own in Sderot
- Bear witness to the devastation of October 7, 2023 – including a visit to the site of the Nova Music Festival Memorial, the Tekuma car cemetery, and the Sderot Police Station Memorial
- Travel to the Negev Desert and check in to our hotel on the rim of Wadi Tzin
- Dinner is included at the hotel
OVERNIGHT: Kedma Hotel, Negev Desert
Meals Included: Breakfast & Dinner
Monday, March 9, 2026
- Descend into the Ramon Crater – view the geological phenomenon of the "Carpentry Shop"
- Off-road desert canyon jeep tour in the Ramon Crater
- Explore the wonders of the world's largest erosion crater at the Ramon Crater Visitor Center
- Explore the ancient Nabatean spice route settlement of Avdat in the Negev Desert
- Tasting and tour at the Boker Valley Winery in the heart of the Negev Desert
- Dinner is included at the hotel
- Evening: Desert star-gazing experience with Astronomy Israel
OVERNIGHT: Kedma Hotel, Negev Desert
Meals Included: Breakfast & Dinner
Tuesday, March 10, 2026
- Sde Boker – Visit David & Paula Ben Gurion's modest home and learn about the remarkable story of Israel's first Prime Minister and his unique vision for Israel's future in the desert
- Visit to the Hatzorim Israeli Air Force base & museum in the desert
- Head north, breaking for lunch on own along the way
- Machon Ayalon – Honor the bravery of the pioneers who helped establish modern Israel at this secret underground munitions facility
- Explore the ancient port city of Jaffa and browse the Jaffa flea market
- Wrap-up conversation and closing dinner at Florentina Restaurant in Tel Aviv
- Return transfer to Ben Gurion Airport and board an overnight flight back to the USA
Meals Included: Breakfast & Dinner
Wednesday, March 11, 2026
Arrive back to the USA in the morning
WHAT'S INCLUDED
We'll provide the service so that you can focus on the experience
- Licensed Israeli guide/program leader daily (armed)
- Motorcoach + private driver daily
- Accommodations per the itinerary with porterage included
- Programming per the itinerary
- All meals per itinerary (kosher)
- Airport greeting & assistance on arrival and departure based on one designated flight
- All applicable taxesAn additional 18% tax applies for Israeli passport holders only at hotels
NOT INCLUDED
- Guide and driver gratuities (suggesed at $100-$150/person)
- International flights
- Local medical insurance and/or travel insurance
ENROLLMEMT TERMS
- A $250/person deposit is due with your registration and is non-refundable 120 days prior to the program start date
- All program costs are in US Dollars
- The balance is due no later than 60 days prior to the program start date, after which payments are non-refundable
Unique exceptions are considered on a case-by-case basis - Cancellations must be made in writing
- The program is subject to a minimum participation of 10 travelers registered by November 1, 2025 and a max group of 25 travelers.
- We encourage travelers not to purchase non-refundable flights until the program is fully confirmed.
- Payments may be made by check or credit/debit card, however, a 3.5% processing fee applies for credit/debit card payments (does not apply to initial $250 deposit)
NOTE: credit card fees are not refundable - Authentic Israel reserves the right to deny participation according to its sole discretion