This tour is designed to give visitors a glimpse into the lives of those living in West Jerusalem and Tel Aviv while having a chance to learn about the history of the cities in modern times. Visitors will also learn about the complexities of Israeli culture all while visiting several neighborhoods that encompass the mosaic of Israeli Jewish society, from the Ultra-Orthodox, to the secular.
Timings at each location are approximate, and visitors have the flexibility to spend more of less time at each stop.
* In order to not offend the sensibilities of the residents of West Jerusalem, please wear modest dress - men and women - covered to the neck, to the elbows and below the knees. For ladies, skirts below the knee are preferable, otherwise pants (trousers ) are acceptable. Your cooperation is appreciated.
Inclusions & Exclusions
✔ Dinner
✔ In-vehicle air conditioning
✔ Breakfast
✔ One night accommodation - (double or triple occupancy except single person)
✔ Personal English-speaking guide
✔ Pick up from your hotel in Jerusalem
✖ Lunch
✖ Gratuities
✖ Alcoholic drinks with meals
✖ Single room except as specified
✖ Any personal expenses
✖ Food and drinks, unless specified
✖ 3/4 * Hotel Upgrade, if needed
Departure & Return
Departure:
,
8:30am at YMCA Three Arches Hotel, King David Street 26, Jerusalem, Israel
Itinerary
West Jerusalem
1
To start the tour off, you will take a walk along the Musrara neighborhood which was an Arab community until 1948. Today, it is made up of both Ultra-Orthodox and Middle Eastern Jews, as well as an increasing population of artists and bohemians.
Duration: 60 minutes
2
Me'a She'arim
The nearby Ultra-Orthodox neighborhood of Mea She'arim is a large closed community of devout Jews who dress differently than most Israelis, and refrain from normal contact with the largely secular Israeli society and the outside world in general. You'll have an opportunity to briefly see how they live and learn about their culture.
Duration: 60 minutes
3
Jaffa Street (Jaffa Road)
Walking along Jaffa Road and the neighboring Street of the Prophets, the tour takes you on a journey to see the first monuments, businesses and historical events that made modern Jerusalem what it is today. You'll see some of the beautiful and historic sites like the Ethiopian Church and the Ticho house, hidden within today's bustling downtown which paints a picture of a city that went in two generations from medieval to cosmopolitan to one separated by new and violent national lines.
Duration: 2 hours
4
Mahane Yehuda Market
Lunch will be in the lively Mahane Yehuda market where Israelis from all walks of life can be seen shopping. It is the biggest outdoor market in West Jerusalem.
Duration: 60 minutes
5
Mount Herzl National Cemetery
After lunch, you'll take a trip on the tram to Mount Herzl. The plaza around Herzl's tomb is where the annual ceremonies are held, which begin in somber remembrance and are followed by parades and fireworks for independence day. Around the plaza is an ever-expanding military cemetery and the tombs of Israel's political leaders.
6
Yad Vashem - The World Holocaust Remembrance Center
Next, we will go down the hill to the other side of the memorial – the Yad Vashem holocaust museum. Here, we will tour the intriguing historical museum and see the well-known Children's Memorial and explore the connection between the tragic history of European Jewry, the founding of the state of Israel and the violence and displacement of the 1948 war while analyzing and discussing the ways Israel chooses to tell its history, and the things it chooses to leave unsaid.
After the tour, you will transfer to your homestay in Jerusalem where you will enjoy dinner with an Israeli family.
Duration: 2 hours
Jaffa - Tel Aviv
1
The day begins with a pickup from your homestay. The tour moves into Jaffa Old City where the guide will briefly speak about the history and development of the Old City.
From the Old City, the tour moves onto the Palestinian Arab neighborhood of Ajami, where a handful of Jaffa's Arab population still live, mostly in poverty. Due to the neighborhood's closeness to the sea, the area has greatly developed over the years.
Duration: 2 hours
2
Neve Tzedek
The next leg of the journey is through the Jaffa Market and then on to the Neve Tzedek neighborhood which came to be in 1887 by a group of Jaffa Jews looking to upgrade the quality of their lives from the impoverished Old City. Even though Neve Tzedek has remained part of Jaffa for decades, the pattern of new Jewish neighborhoods and increasing inter-communal tensions made way for the establishment of Tel Aviv.
Duration: 2 hours
3
Rothschild Boulevard
Rothschild Boulevard is the next stop on the tour. The street became a known image of the Zionists efforts to make Tel Aviv into a European-style city with beautiful Bauhaus buildings. The boulevard was also the site of the modest beginnings of the 2011 social protest movement which eventually brought tens of thousands of Israelis to the streets.
Duration: 60 minutes
4
Tel Aviv
From downtown Tel Aviv, you will walk towards the area near the new bus station, reaching the Neve Sha'anan neighborhood. As you get closer to this area, you will notice the changes of the street demographics. The diverse community has several ethnic shops, cafes, and restaurants.
Duration: 60 minutes
5
The tour will end at a unique open-air library in Levinski Park, which was created for the benefit of the residents, where you will be picked up to return to your homestay for dinner with a family in Jerusalem.
In the morning, your host family will see you out, as you continue on your journey to your next destination.
Duration: 60 minutes
Cancellation Policy
If you cancel at least 6 full day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a full refund.
If you cancel between 2 and 6 day(s) before the scheduled departure time, you will receive a 50% refund.
If you cancel within 2 day(s) of the scheduled departure, you will receive a 0% refund.
Additional info
• Wheelchair accessible
• Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
• Public transportation options are available nearby
• Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
• All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible
• Suitable for all physical fitness levels
• Travel Document: A current valid passport is required on the day of travel.
