Kibbutz Volunteers Reunion Tour

The Program

July 8-16, 2012

The itinerary is suitable for all ages, including children, therefore it is planned for the summer holiday and will include "children's attractions".

Itinerary

Sunday

Arrival at Ben-Gurion Airport, Tel Aviv, then transfer to a kibbutz guesthouse near the Mediterranean coast. Those who arrived earlier may travel there independently or join the bus en-route, at major junctions on the Tel-Aviv – Haifa highway. Early evening leisurely walk to watch the sunset over the Mediterranean Sea, followed by a welcome dinner and acquaintance among the participants and with the organizers.

Monday

After breakfast, visit Caesarea's Old City and the Roman Port and Theatre. Enjoy the impressive findings and new methods of demonstration. Continue to the "Old Kibbutz Courtyard" and be a Kibbutz Member for a few hours, including a tractor ride around the kibbutz yard and animal farm.

We will participate in a discussion about the changes which have occurred in Kibbutz life over the last 30 years. Travel to the Sea of Galilee and visit the "Cradle of the Kibbutzim" in Degania and Kinneret. In the evening, we will visit the ancient Roman city of Beit Shean, brought to life after sundown. Dinner and overnight at a kibbutz guesthouse near the Sea of Galilee.

Tuesday

We will climb the Golan Heights and visit observation points to view the Galilee and the Syrian and Lebanese borders and hear about the strategic security situation along the Northern border. We will continue to the Banias Nature Reserve and walk along the main tributaries of the Jordan River, followed by rafting (summer tour) on the Jordan River. In the afternoon we'll visit Safed and immerse ourselves in its atmosphere of Jewish Mysticism. Travel back to the Sea of Galilee and our guesthouse for dinner. In the evening, we will sail across the lake, singing and dancing to those good old songs…

Dinner and overnight at a kibbutz guesthouse near the Sea of Galilee.

Wednesday

We will travel via the Jordan Valley to the Dead Sea and have an easy trek to David's Stream and Waterfall. Enjoy the Dead Sea experience with bathing, floating and therapeutic mud. Ascend Masada by cable car and visit this famous World Heritage Site, then descend via the Roman siege rampart. Continue to the desert Bedouin camp of Kfar HaNokdim and enjoy Bedouin hospitality with a camel or donkey ride and festive dinner by the campfire. Overnight in a Bedouin tent (sleep on mattresses - sleeping bags and blankets supplied, or bring from home if preferred).

Thursday

Travel to the Large Crater and the desert oasis of Ein-Yorqe'am. Continue north to Bet Guvrin and Maresha – the "Land of 1000 Caves" and experience the underground world of ancient Judea. In the evening we will arrive in Jerusalem and settle into our hotel. Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.

Friday

In the morning, we will visit Yad-Vashem – the olocaust hHolocaust Memorial Museum. Then depart for Tel Aviv and explore some of the interesting older neighborhoods in this vibrant metropolis. We will visit the renovated old Tel Aviv Port area and its boardwalks, cafes and restaurants, then we'll visit the colorful Old Jaffa. There will be time to visit the Jaffa Flea Market to shop for souvenirs. In the afternoon we will experience the famous Carmel Market and Nahalat Binyamin open mall, before going to the Promenade at sunset for the special Shabbat events there. Dinner and overnight in Jerusalem.

Saturday

Today we have a long, full day visiting all the major sites in Jerusalem – from the Jaffa Gate to the Old City, walk down the market street, visit the Jewish Quarter and the Roman Cardo, visit the Western Wall, with a lookout point over the Temple Mount and continue along the Via Dolorosa to the Church of the Holy Sepulcher. We won't miss the essential Old City Bazaar and hummus either. In the evening, we will attend the spectacular Sound & Lights show at the David Citadel. Afterwards you are free to enjoy the city nightlife and have dinner on your own. Overnight in Jerusalem.

Sunday

Today we conclude our week of reunion/tour/seminar. Traveling back to the kibbutz, we will visit historic institutes and sites, such as the "Ayalon Institute" near Rehovot and Kibbutz Negbah. In the late afternoon we will travel to a kibbutz guesthouse and join in a farewell event in a kibbutz with old friends and new memories, along with good food and exciting music.

Monday

Transfer to the airport for return flights or take an optional visit to other parts of the country. See you again soon!

Optional

Visit your Kibbutz

We would like to offer our assistance in organizing a visit to the kibbutz where you worked as a volunteer. If this is of interest to you, we will try to locate specific members who you would like to meet, or someone who can show you around.

We suggest planning this for the days after the end of the tour. Please contact us by email or telephone for more details.

Flights and other services

If you haven't purchased your flights from your local agent or from the internet, please contact us, we would be happy to take care of all your flight arrangements for you, as an optional service.

As soon as your flights are booked, please send us your flight schedule so we can coordinate your pick-up and transportation accordingly.

Price

Land operation price for March is $1080 per person sharing double room
Land operation price for July is $1130 per person sharing double room
Single Supplement is $285 in March, $305 in July

Discount for first child (age 7-18) sharing parents' room - $60
Discount for second child (age 7-18) sharing parents' room - $90

Payments can be done in Euro or British Pound according to exchange rate at time of payment. Please contact for actual rate in € or ₤.

Registration

In order to get a registration form, please fill the application form. After we receive your completed form, we will assign you a space on the tour and send you notification for your confirmation.

Payment

After you receive our registration confirmation and in order to secure a space, please pay a registration fee of $150. Half of the registration fee ($75 per person) is non-refundable. We will send you bank details for transfer of payment in Europe, UK, US and Israel.

Balance of payment must be paid before 45 days prior to trip.

Cancellation

Cancellation announced 90 days or more prior to day of arrival – We will refund 50% of the registration fee.
Cancellation within the limits of 90-30 days prior to arrival – 20% of the full amount is non-refundable.
Cancellation within the limits of 30-15 days prior to arrival - 50% of the full amount is non-refundable.
Cancellation within less than 15 days prior to arrival – No refund.

We recommend that each individual purchase insurance to cover tour cancellation due to medical and other reasons.

Questions & Inquiries

Please email any question to volunteers@amsalem.com

You may use toll free telephones from your country in order to speak free of charge with our staff. Please find list of toll free numbers (we have additional toll free telephone from other countries. Please send an e-mail with the country that you need).
From all countries our extension number is 5556.

The tour is operated by Amsalem Tours, Ltd, Tiberias, Israel.