MARCH OF THE LIVING FOR ADULTS

UPCOMING PROGRAM DATES

APRIL 22 - APRIL 28, 2025 | Poland Only
APRIL 22 - MAY 3, 2025 | Poland + 6-Day Israel
APRIL 22 - MAY 6, 2025 | Poland + 9-Day Israel

An "Israel only" option, including March of the Living-organized celebrations on Israeli Independence Day, is also available

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2025 REGISTRATION UPDATE

Registration is now open for the 2025 March of the Living for Adults. Sign up commitment-free with confidence, and take advantage of this year's program costs for a limited time. Availability is limited.

"Thou Shalt Not Stand Idly By." - Elie Wiesel

Join a once-in-a-lifetime journey of remembrance and renewal as part of the Adult Delegation to the International March of the Living.

REMEMBRANCE IN POLAND
Together, we'll celebrate the historical achievements of the Jewish People in Europe and bear witness to all that was lost. Our program in Poland will take us to the cities of Krakow, Tarnow, Lublin, and Warsaw, and it coincides with Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Memorial Day), when we will march in unity with thousands of young people from Auschwitz to Birkenau and take part in a special ceremony attended by dignitaries from around the world.

RENEWAL IN ISRAEL | Optional
Participants have the option to continue to Israel for a tour designed for travelers returning to the Jewish Homeland anew. Together, we'll make new discoveries in the Carmel Mountains, Ramon Crater, Jerusalem, and Tel Aviv. Our itinerary coincides with the national holidays of Yom HaZikaron (Memorial Day) and Yom HaAtzmaut (Independence Day). Together, we'll observe the national siren where the entire country stands in honor of those lost, and we'll experience the authentic joy of celebrating Israeli independence, dancing in the streets of Jerusalem.


The March of the Living for Adults is a highly emotional experience. More than a tour, this is an opportunity to bear witness to one of history's darkest hours, recommit yourself to the Never Again imperative, and reinforce Jewish values of compassion, tolerance, and action.


Organized jointly by BBYO Passport and Authentic Israel, our program is an official delegation to the International March of the Living and is  led by our acclaimed Jewish educators and professional guides.

PROGRAM ITINERARY

Explore our projected 2025 itinerary, subject to reasonable change based on local considerations

PART I | BEARING WITNESS IN POLAND

Travelers make their own flight arrangements to Poland and are encouraged to arrive a day in advance at our Krakow hotel by prior arrangement with our office. A recommended flight will be designated for travelers wishing to arrive together on Apri 22nd with connecting options across North America.

TUESDAY | APRIL 22, 2025 | The Kazmierz Legacy

  • Our recommended flight arrives to Krakow in the late morning
    Travelers arriving on the designated flight and other flights arriving in the same timeframe will be accommodated with a complimentary airport transfer
  • Check-in to our hotel in central Krakow – meet our staff team and get oriented to the journey
  • Introductory walking tour to Kazmierz – Krakow's historic Jewish Quarter, where we honor the proud legacy of Polish Jewry dating back to the 14th Century – including stops at the Remu Synagogue, the Tempel Synagogue, old Jewish cemetery, and Jozefa Street
  • Evening: Welcome dinner at the Krakow JCC, the center of a modern Jewish revival, where we will meet with the Executive Director, Jonathan Ornstein

OVERNIGHT: Qubus Hotel – Kraków, Poland
Meals Included: Dinner


WEDNESDAY | APRIL 23, 2025 | Confronting Auschwitz & Birkenau

  • Arrive at the grounds of Auschwitz II-Birkenau where the full horror of the extermination of 1.5 million Jewish People is palpable (packed lunch provided)
  • Continue to Auschwitz I, where we will tour the watchtowers, fences, cell blocks, wall of death, crematoria, and Arbeit Macht Frei Gate
  • Close out the day visiting the surviving synagogue of Oswiecim, located just minutes from Auschwitz-Birkenau, to honor what was lost and to process the experience together
  • Return to Krakow for dinner followed by a group night out at Old Town Market Square – the biggest Medieval plaza in Europe

OVERNIGHT: Qubus Hotel – Kraków, Poland
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner


THURSDAY | APRIL 24, 2025 | Yom HaShoah – Holocaust Memorial Day

  • Trace the history of the Holocaust at the Krakow Ghetto, the Plaszow Labor Camp, and view the Oscar Schindler Factory from outside
  • Return to Auschwitz, where we join thousands of travelers from around the world in unity for the March of the Living (lunch is provided en route)
  • Take part in the official Yom HaShoah ceremony at Birkenau attended by political leaders and dignitaries from Poland, Israel, and beyond
  • Depart the Krakow region and travel through Poland's Galicia countryside to Lublin
  • Pack an overnight bag for check-in to our Lublin hotel, where a catered dinner is served

OVERNIGHT: Hilton Hampton Inn Hotel – Lublin, Poland
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner


FRIDAY | APRIL 25, 2025 | Lublin & Majdanek

  • Morning walking tour of Lublin, including a visit to the Chachmei Lublin Yeshiva, a famed center of Jewish learning and the site of a massive Nazi book burning
  • Arrive to the Majdanek concentration camp, originally set up for prisoners of war but soon turned into an infamous death camp for Jews and Poles (lunch is provided en route)
  • Continue on to Warsaw, check in to our accommodations, and prepare for Shabbat
  • Evening: Option to take part in a communal Kabbalat Shabbat service at the historic Nozyk Shul (orthodox) or Beit Warszawa (egalitarian)
  • Reconvene for a catered Shabbat dinner experience at our hotel

OVERNIGHT: Radisson Blu Sobieski Hotel – Warsaw, Poland
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner 


SATURDAY | APRIL 26, 2025 | Warsaw Ghetto Uprising

ALL TOURING DURING THE DAY IS ON FOOT

  • Free morning or Shabbat service options followed by a group Shabbat lunch
  • Uprising! – Explore the remains of the Warsaw Ghetto and learn about the Jewish community's famous revolt along the Route of Heroes and at the Rappaport Memorial
  • Umschlagplatz – Gathering place before transfer to Treblinka Death Camp
  • Visit the groundbreaking Museum of the History of Polish Jews(POLIN)
  • Evening: Dinner, havdalah, and group night out in Warsaw's Old Town

OVERNIGHT: Radisson Blu Sobieski Hotel – Warsaw, Poland
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner


SUNDAY | APRIL 27, 2025 | Treblinka

  • This morning, we travel north for a solemn visit to the stark Treblinka Memorial in the forest (lunch is provided en route)
  • Return to the city for a visit to the Warsaw Jewish Cemetery – one of the biggest Jewish cemeteries in the world – where we will be inspired by the life stories of Jewish leaders from preceding generations
  • Visit the Jewish Historical Institute of Warsaw to view the “Oneg Shabbat” Archive – a hidden testimony to the experience of Jews who lived and died in the Warsaw Ghetto
  • Evening: Wrap-up session and celebrate the end of our journey over a closing dinner

OVERNIGHT: Radisson Blu Sobieski Hotel – Warsaw, Poland
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner


MONDAY | APRIL 28, 2025 | The Journey Continues

Transfer to Warsaw airport for onward flights:

  • Flights to North America | Our designated flight departs Warsaw in the early morning (TBD)
    Travelers flying on the designated flight and other flights departing in the same timeframe will be accommodated with a complimentary airport transfer
  • Flights to Tel Aviv | An optional group flight will be offered for purchase
    We expect the group flight will take off for Israel either on Sunday evening or Monday in the early morning (TBD)

Meals Included: Breakfast

PART II | ISRAEL REVISITED

MONDAY | APRIL 28, 2025 | The Land of Renewal

  • Arrive at Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport and head north to the Carmel Mountains region
  • Check-in to our hotel in Zichron Yaakov, the historic pioneering town founded by Baron Edmond James de Rothschild in the Carmel Mountains (guaranteed check-in at 3pm)
  • Meet in the hotel lobby at 6:30pm to gather as a group and depart for dinner
    An optional walking of Zichron Yaakov will be offered to those arriving earlier in the day
  • Evening: Shehecheyanu at the Caesarea Aqueduct Beach followed by a welcome dinner at the Aresto Restaurant in the Caesarea Port

OVERNIGHT: Elma Arts Hotel, Zichron Yaakov (Deluxe Rooms)
Meals Included: Breakfast & Dinner


TUESDAY | APRIL 29, 2025 | A Young Nation of Immigrants

  • Celebrate the pioneers who risked it all for a new beginning in the Land of Israel at the Beit Ahronson Museum
  • Experience how Israel absorbs its immigrants of today at Yemin Orde Youth Village- including a shared lunch with the student community
  • Atlit Detention Camp- Learn about the challenges faced by Jewish refugees arriving on the shores of Israel following the Holocaust
  • Evening: Take part in a local ceremony commemorating the start of Yom HaZikaron –Israel's Memorial Day
  • Dinner is included at the hotel this evening

OVERNIGHT: Elma Arts Hotel, Zichron Yaakov (Deluxe Rooms)
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner


WEDNESDAY | APRIL 30, 2025 | Remembering the Sacrifice

Today is Yom Hazikaron, Israeli Memorial Day 

  • Depart from the Carmel Mountains and travel toward Jerusalem
  • Stop en route at Khan Sha’ar HaGai, the site of a key battle for Jerusalem in the 1948 War for Independence – observe a minute of silence as the national Yom HaZikaron siren sounds
  • Arrive to Jerusalem and sample your way through Jerusalem's iconic Mahane Yehuda open-air market using the "Shuk Bites" tasting card
  • Celebrate the reunification of Jerusalem in 1967 by recounting the story of Ammunition Hill
  • Evening: Dinner on your own and join Jerusalem's Erev Yom HaAtzmautcelebrations!

OVERNIGHT: Herbert Samuel Hotel, Jerusalem
Meals Included: Breakfast & Lunch


THURSDAY | MAY 1, 2025 | Celebrating Independence

Today is Yom HaAtzmaut, Israeli Independence Day

  • Option #1 - Day tour to Masada and the Dead Sea
    (an extra $145/p cost applies – email us to include this day tour)
  • Option #2 - Free day to enjoy Jerusalem on your own
  • Option #3 - Celebrate Independence Day in Jerusalem taking part in March of the Living's parade from City Hall to the Western Wall
  • Evening: Attend a special Yom HaAtzmaut concert and event sponsored by March of the Living International with dinner included

OVERNIGHT: Herbert Samuel Hotel, Jerusalem
Meals Included: Breakfast & Dinner


FRIDAY | MAY 2, 2025 | Returning to the Old City

  • Explore new discoveries at the City of David complex, including the recently excavated Herodian Road, once used by pilgrims on their way to the Temple
  • Enter the Old City at Zion Gate and explore the ancient Jewish Quarter, including a visit to the restored Hurva Shul
  • Break for personal exploration and shopping time in the Cardo area of the Jewish Quarter
  • View of the Temple Mount from the Aish HaTorah rooftop and proceed to the Western Wall
  • Return to our accommodations and prepare for our Shabbat in Jerusalem
  • Kabbalat Shabbat options followed by a Shabbat dinner is at our accommodations, joined by Lone Soldiers in the IDF

OVERNIGHT: Herbert Samuel Hotel, Jerusalem
Meals Included: Breakfast & Dinner


SATURDAY | MAY 3, 2025 | Shabbat in Jerusalem

All touring today is on foot

  • This morning is free to enjoy Jerusalem on your own or attend Shabbat services
  • Shabbat lunch is included at our accommodations
  • Afternoon: Return to the Old City to tour the world heritage sites of the Christian Quarter and Arab Shuk (bazaar), including a visit to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher
  • Evening Options:
    • An optional airport transfer is included for those departing on overnight flights
    • Group night out at the First Station – a vibrant cultural center on the site of Jerusalem's original train station

OVERNIGHT: Herbert Samuel Hotel, Jerusalem
Meals Included: Breakfast & Lunch

NOTE: Travelers have the option to end their program on Saturday night, and a transfer will be provided to Ben Gurion Airport this evening at no additional cost. This package option does not include the hotel in Jerusalem on Saturday night unless otherwise arranged in advance.


SUNDAY | MAY 4, 2025 | Israel’s Biblical Landscape

  • Depart from Jerusalem and travel to the Judean Hills
  • Explore a region rich with Biblical history on an off-road jeep tour of the Judean Hills
  • Marvel at the terraced hillside grapevines, and then enjoy a tasting and tour at the Tzora Vineyards winery
  • Take part in the cross-generational tradition of planting a tree in Israel at Neot Kedumim Biblical Nature Reserve’s JNF forest
  • Check in to our Tel Aviv hotel along the coast
  • Evening: Discover gourmet Ethiopian cuisine and be inspired by its female founders at Balinjera Restaurant

OVERNIGHT: Tal by the Beach Hotel, Tel Aviv
Meals Included: Breakfast & Dinner


MONDAY | MAY 5, 2025 | Memory & Service in the Western Negev

  • Travel to the towns and kibbutz communities of the Western Nevev to bear witness to the devastation of October 7, 2024 – including a visit to the site of the Nova Music Festival
  • Break for a traditional Moroccan-style lunch in the border city of Sderot
  • Take part in a volunteer project in support of the Western Negev communities
  • Return to Tel Aviv, stopping to visit the Yaakov Agam Museum of Art – discover the life story and iconic works of Israel's pre-eminent modern artist (time permitting)
  • Evening: Free evening and dinner on your own in Tel Aviv

OVERNIGHT: Tal by the Beach Hotel, Tel Aviv
Meals Included: Breakfast & Lunch


TUESDAY | MAY 6, 2025 | Arts & Culture in Tel Aviv

  • Our final morning begins at ANU – The Museum of the Jewish People on the campus of Tel Aviv University – view the Codex Sasson display and celebrate the diversity of Jewish life and traditions from around the world
  • Break for lunch on your own in Jaffa with time to explore the Jaffa Flea Market
  • Discover the complexity and beauty of the graffiti art in Tel Aviv’s Florentine neighborhood – including the moving public art created to memorialize October 7th
  • Celebrate the spirit of Tel Aviv at the Nahalat Binyamin Street Festival and Carmel Market
  • Evening: Final shopping time, wrap-up session, and closing dinner at Sarona Market, the historic German Templar Colony transformed into a cultural center
  • An optional airport transfer is included for those departing on overnight flights

Meals Included: Breakfast & Dinner

WHAT'S INCLUDED

  • Airport transfers for those traveling on the recommended flight and other similarly timed flights
  • A Jewish educational guide accompanies the group throughout
  • A local tour manager and security escort accompany the group in Poland
  • Centrally located hotels per the itinerary
  • Breakfast daily and additional meals per the itinerary
    All meals are included in Poland for the 2025 program (kosher)
  • Luxury private touring bus with A/C
  • All programming costs per the itinerary
  • VIP reserved seating at the Yom HaShoah (Holocaust Memorial Day) ceremony and Yom HaAtzmaut (Israel Independence Day) celebration
  • Remote audio headsets
  • March of the Living backpack and rain jacket

NOT INCLUDED

  • International flights
  • Travel Insurance
    Protect your investment, and plan ahead for the unexpected with a travel protection plan
  • Medical insurance
  • Staff gratuities
  • Hotel incidentals

2025 PROGRAM FLOW

Map of Israel Travel Itinerary

 

 


ARRANGING TRAVEL

Travelers arrange their own trans-Atlantic incoming and outgoing flights. Recommended flights are designated for travelers wishing to travel to and from Poland together. These flights are recommended based on the availability of connecting flights from many North American airports. Complimentary airport transfers are provided for travelers flying on the recommended flights or similarly timed flights.

LEARN MORE: Travel Plans 2024 [Example]

NOTE: Travelers wishing to arrive early can be accommodated at the group hotels based on the group hotel rate and according to availability.

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2025 PROGRAM COSTS

Double Room Occupancy Single Room Supplement
Poland Program
Land costs only
$3,250/p $575/p
Poland + 6-Day Israel Program
Land costs only
$5,750/p $1,375/p
Poland + 9-Day Israel Program
Land costs only
$6,500/p $1,675/p
Warsaw to Tel Aviv flight
Details to be announced
$TBD/p $TBD/p

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ENROLLMENT TERMS

Sign up for March of the Living for Adults by completing the online Registration Form

  • To reserve your spot, a $250/person fully refundable deposit is due at the time of your registration (all program costs are listed in US Dollars)
  • The deposit becomes non-refundable as of December 15, 2024
  • The balance is due by February 1, 2025, after which all payments are non-refundable, and exceptions will be considered on a case-by-case basis at Authentic Israel's discretion
  • Separate payment and cancellation terms may apply to the group flight (TBD)
  • Cancellations must be made in writing, and we encourage you to obtain a travel insurance policy
  • Payments may be made by check or credit/debit card, however, a 3% processing fee applies for credit/debit card payments (does not apply to the initial $250 deposit). Note: credit card fees are not refundable
  • Authentic Israel reserves the right to deny acceptance on the tour according to their sole discretion

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FAQs

Who staffs the tour?

March of the Living for Adults is led by a professional Jewish educator/guide who escorts the tour on a 24/7 basis. Our program leader is joined by a local tour manager and a security escort in Poland.

Will we be traveling with teens?

March of the Living for Adults is an official part of the overall March of the Living initiative, but we travel independently of the many teen groups who comprise the majority of the program. We stay at separate hotels, have separate meals, and we travel with our own separate staff team. For those who wish, there will be opportunities for some shared moments with the BBYO National Teen Delegation.

How active is the touring?

Because we want you to get the most out of your travels, our touring days are full, and there is quite a bit of travel on foot. While none of the walks are strenuous, you will find at the end of the day that you have taken a large number of steps. Be prepared for an average of 3-4 hours of walking a day over all manner of surfaces (e.g., cobblestone paths, uneven walkways, etc.). Travelers requiring walking support or with mobility constraints will not be well accommodated on this program.

Is the tour kosher and Shabbat observant?

March of the Living for Adults is a pluralistic Jewish travel experience open to all. Group meals are kosher and other meals are on own at the traveler's discretion. All touring on Saturdays is on foot, and there are opportunities to participate in local Shabbat services.

How are special dietary needs accommodated?

Travelers can note any special dietary needs as part of online registration. We will coordinate with our catering partners to arrange special accommodations wherever possible.

Can I leave Poland or Israel earlier than the official dates?

Yes. Please contact us to make special arrangements.

How do I get ready for the trip?

Detailed pre-trip material is distributed approximately four months prior to arrival and travel planning guidance (2024 example) is available now. You'll also be invited to a trip Facebook group to connect with fellow travelers before the program and stay in touch afterward.

How does Authentic Israel approach safe travel?

Providing safe travel experiences is our guiding consideration. We appreciate our responsibility and the trust that travelers place in us. We care about their well-being like family. Key security-related protocols that we follow include:

  • Traveling on private transportation only
  • Traveling with a licensed Israeli guide at all times who has been trained in security response
  • Traveling with a security escort (Poland)
  • Avoiding travel to areas of heightened concern
  • Use of hotels with a guard and a secure area (Israel)
  • 24/7 support from our headquarters office in Israel
  • Close coordination with the Israeli security services via the "Situation Room"
  • Willingness and ability to modify our programming, staffing structure, and/or overall protocols as needed based on actual conditions where we travel.

Finally, in the rare event of an acute security event, we have issued full refunds in the past, and we will continue to follow this principle should we deem the situation appropriate.

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to reach out to us to learn more about our approach to providing travel experiences that are safe, meaningful, and joyous.

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REAL REVIEWS FROM REAL TRAVELERS

We know you'll love the March of the Living experience, but don't just take our word for it. Check out these real reviews from past travelers who have completed the journey.

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